The sunrise over the coast was beautiful too, but it was on the other side of the shore.
While the rosy light of dawn had yet to fade, Loren and Hermione arrived at the train station in Key West. They stepped aboard the slightly noisy train, found their seats in the carriage, and opened the window. Like ordinary people without magic, they leisurely followed the tracks and the early-autumn breeze all the way back to New York.
"When did you buy the tickets, Hermione?"
"I asked Nancy to buy them before we came here."
"Watching the sunrise and sunset, taking the train back..."
Loren shook his head, his shoulder brushing against Hermione's. She was soft and warm, and the love in his heart was nearly overflowing. "Miss Granger is so romantic."
Hermione sat by the window, quietly admiring the scenery outside, a faint curve lifting the corner of her lips.
They did not arrive in New York until evening.
Any later, and they would have missed dinner.
Taking the train was merely for the experience. When it came to actually getting somewhere, they still had to rely on magic. The moment they stepped off the platform, they found a corner and Apparated away, returning to the hotel they had chosen that night.
They were somehow given the same room number again. The two did not linger, taking their meal vouchers and preparing to fill their stomachs first.
The moment he entered the hotel restaurant, Loren paused.
Well, well. The restaurant was full of familiar faces.
Aurors from the Ministry of Magic, members of the Order of the Phoenix, and the American Aurors responsible for security that night—most of the wizards had yet to leave. They were speaking with employees of the American Magical Congress at the tables, discussing Voldemort, the