Reality Bites Harry Potter

An unexpected Ally

A few more days pass and it's the day that Buckbeak and Sirius would be leaving. It's a bittersweet feeling, knowing they'd be safe but I was going to miss them terribly. I skipped classes, knowing I wouldn't be able to focus properly anyways. I was hiding out in the library, trying but failing to focus on assignments that were due soon. "Can I sit here?" I hear a voice ask and I look up to see Angelina. "I'd rather you didn't. I don't like two faced people" I mumble and she frowns. "I'm not two faced" she says and I roll my eyes. "Then why have you been so close with Fred the whole time I've been dating him, and why does he think he's in love with you?" I ask and she sighs. "Because he's been my best friend since our first year, before you even started here, and just because you date him doesn't mean I can't be there for him. I really like you as a person but you seriously need to take a step back and look at how you're treating me and him. He loves me, he's not in love with me. The same way you love Alex or Susan or Hannah" she says and I frown. "Then why are you just now trying to befriend me? Why haven't you talked to me before the breakup?" I ask and she sighs. "Because it wasn't my place to get involved but honestly you both are acting childish. You have a lot going on and that's ok. He needs someone who can have free time and prioritize him and that's ok too. But you two are amazing friends and you're letting stupid stuff ruin that" she says and she walks away. What did she know anyways, I didn't need any more friends right now. I had plenty of friends and now was a good time to find one. I go looking for Alex, knowing she'd be the most understanding of how I'm feeling. I find her and she is writing a letter to her sister. "Are you ok? You look like you're about to fall apart" she says and I shrug. "I can't tell if I hate Angelina or I'm just jealous of her" I mumble and she laughs. "You have nothing to be jealous of. That girl is honestly the sweetest" she says and I groan. "That's what I was afraid you'd say" I say and she hugs me. "You're allowed to be a bitch for no reason sometimes. It's a right of passage for teenage girls" she points out and I laugh. "I don't like being so awful to people but it seems that's all I do anymore" I admit. "I wouldn't say you're awful all the time. You have a lot going on and so your patience level is low but that doesn't make you awful. Just work on deep breaths and try to be calm." Alex says and I nod. "Thanks, Alex. I'm glad someone understands" I say and she shrugs. "Izzy and I go through this often. Usually it's her telling me to take some breaths" she admits and I laugh. I notice the time and I rush outside, seeing the ministry showing up. "I need a distraction" I mumble, trying to think quickly. "I've got you" I hear someone mumble and I see Draco marching across the grounds. "Minister, can I have a word with you inside for a moment?" he asks, heading towards Hagrid's hut. The minister looks torn but Draco had a serious and angry look on his face so he decided maybe he should listen. They head inside with Hagrid right behind them, already preparing to have to defend himself. He was surprised to find that Draco was defending Buckbeak. I would have to thank him later but right now I was watching Buckbeak and Sirius take off towards the forest. I see them disappear just as the minister comes out. I head back to the castle, not wanting to accidentally give away their hiding spot. I see Angelina and Fred and they stop talking when they see me. "Look, I'm sorry I'm being so hateful right now. I just feel like you replaced me before you ever broke up with me. And I feel like you took him from me when I didn't even know I needed to be fighting for him. So it hurts a lot seeing you together all the time but I also know it's my own fault because I put so much pressure on myself with Hagrid and the animals and then with the Gingerpuffs and social status I didn't stop to think that I don't have time for a proper relationship. And that's my fault, I have to be the one to fix that. So I'm sorry" I mumble and Fred frowns. "I don't know what you think is going on with me and Angelina but it's not. Do I think she's pretty, yes, but I don't want to date her and she knows that. At least not right now. I didn't replace you, she didn't steal me, and stop thinking either of those things happened. Angelina has always been my best friend outside of George, you just didn't notice because she's not part of our group. You're a bit unobservant unless the person in someway either flatters you or wrongs you. Most of the school is invisible to you" he points out and I bite my lip. "It's not my fault, I can't just halfway interact with anyone. I'm either all in or not at all, I don't do halfway" I say and he laughs but honestly, it sounded cruel for once. "I don't think you realize just how much you half-ass most of your relationships. You're not the center of the universe, Shayla Harper. It's about time you took a step back and realized that" he says and I'm just about to defend myself when I hear Ron behind me. "And mum didn't raise you to be a little prick, either. She tried to apologize and you're being cruel for no reason. Come on, Shayla. You don't need to be around him right now" he says and I follow him, surprised he was coming to my defense. "You didn't have to do that" I say softly and he shrugs. "You remind me of Hermione, just more social instead of book smart. That has it's flaws though because everyone messes up sometimes but when the smart kids do it, everyone just piles on the bullshit with it. You don't deserve to be pushed down verbally just because you're hitting a wall right now. Fred is going to realize you're good for him eventually, trust me" he says, smiling as he walks away and I look up to see he's led me back to my commons. "Thanks, Ron" I say, heading inside and going to bed. It had been an exhausting day and I really hoped it would get easier soon.