Reality Bites Harry Potter

Summer of Changes

Shay and I are spending the summer with Minnie. I've been writing Theo and Pansy alternatively since we got home. Minnie actually had the talk about the birds and the bees with me! It was so embarrassing, but I understand where she's coming from. Shay laughed at me, but soon turned horrified when Minnie started to tell her about it. I snickered as Shay frantically told her that Mrs. Weasley already had the talk with her. She also explained that her and Fred were just friends for right now. And then from there Minnie asked me about my future since I'm starting my fifth year now and I'll have to deal with O.W.L's. I'm not looking forward to it because this year I'm going to be busier than ever. Luckily for me, I won't have to throw Quidditch into the mix because of the Triwizard Tournament. "I still want to become a Healer," I said, frowning. "I read all the books Professor Snape recommended to me. I just had a lot going on last year."

"I understand," Minnie said smiling. "I'll talk to him to see if we can start you with an easier level. I reviewed the material he had you read and it's way too advanced for someone your age."

"Thank you, Minnie." I said smiling.

"I'm just impressed you managed to read it all." She said shaking her head.

"I had to read a lot of reference books to understand what I was reading." I said grimacing. "I think he was just trying to test my willingness to learn."

"I don't know why. You have exceptional grades in all your classes." Minnie said shaking her head. "You got high marks on all your exams last year."

"Shay did too," I said smiling as I remember her telling me all about it. "She was really excited."

"It didn't help that you had incompetent teachers in her first and second year." Minnie said shaking her head. Oh, she doesn't know that one day she's going to say that Lockhart was more competent in teaching than Umbridge. And I can't wait to witness it!

"I'm just glad Professor Lupin is going to stay on as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." I said smiling. "He's really good at teaching others."

"Yes, he was always good with helping his classmates with homework when he attended Hogwarts." Minnie said smiling. Later on that evening, Shay and I were sitting in our room.

"You okay?" I asked her. We hadn't really had the chance to talk on the train ride home.

"Yeah," She said smiling. "I think Angelina and I are going to be great friends this summer."

"That's surprising." I muttered.

"I wasn't expecting it either, but I'm willing to try if she is." She said shrugging.

"I'm happy for you." I said smiling. "How are things with Fred?"

"We've decided to start over as friends." She said frowning. "While I'm glad he still wants to be my friend, it kind of sucks. Why can't I have what you and Theo have?"

"Shay, how relationships work depends on the people putting the effort in." I said sympathetically. "Mine and Theo's relationship is working out well because we don't have as much stuff on our plate and we're willing to wait for each other for whatever reason. Your relationship with Fred was hard because you both had needs that couldn't be met by the other person. Plus, there was a lot of miscommunication and not enough time spent between you two." She looked like she was going to argue with me. "But I'm not blaming either of you for how it went. You both obviously have things you need to work on and by starting over, it gives you time to work on them."

"You're right..." She said sighing. "I'm just impatient, I guess."

"Don't I know it," I said chuckling. "That's one thing you can work on this summer." She stuck her tongue out at me and I just held my hands up in surrender. Minnie called us down for dinner not too long after and then it was off to bed. I was exhausted from getting my stuff all packed up last minute and then rushing to get to the train on time. Yeah, it wasn't completely my fault. Pansy distracted me with a game of Exploding Snap. Theo and Blaise joined us and Pansy and I just got very competitive. We were up until two in the morning playing because Pansy and I got into a war over who has the last laugh. Finally, Blaise said he was going to bed and Theo suggested we should go to bed too, or we'd be tired in the morning. At that point, we gave in and ended it on a truce. I woke up late the next day, nearly missed breakfast, and nearly missed the train. It was a nightmare that I'm glad is over. I'm just glad Sirius and Buckbeak are both okay. It seems like Harry will get to hear from Sirius more now. I hope Harry gets to spend all the time he can with Sirius. I don't plan on letting him, Remus, Tonks, or Fred to die. I'd try to help Collin and Dennis too if I'm able to reach them on time. I shook my head. I need to stop thinking about that and focus on going to sleep.