Echo left with a letter tied to her leg, the tawny relieved to be free of the house. Amisty had listened to Harry.
It had been about a week and a half since Echo got to do any long distance flying, and made it incredibly clear how antsy she was being cooped up inside in the miserable house.
Dear Draco,
Sorry for replying so late, Harry's trial and everything kept me a bit busy. I actually have been working on my shifting! Plenty of time to do it with nothing happening around me, and with all the Disillusionment Charms all over my house barely any Muggles can find it I don't really have to worry about being seen...
It was much easier to lie over letters, she had learned. If only she could make excuses over writing in person.
But, then again, it'd be rather odd to see her whip out a quill and scrap of parchment whenever she wanted to tell a little lie.
There was barely any time for her to read, let alone find time to practice her shifting. She really tried to find moments for it, though, and Lupin seemed very determined that she learn how to control it as well.
A part of her mind made her think it was because he didn't have control over his own shifting, and it saddened her immensely. But she worked even harder whenever the thought drifted into her mind, to make him feel better.
...It's getting easier, thanks to you, and I'm getting the hang of it. One day, maybe I'll be able to do it without even thinking. Like my mother! I wonder how long it took her to get control over it. She didn't have help... or background knowledge, for that matter. I'm lucky to have you, I guess, even if you can be an obnoxious prat sometimes. And I say that with love, by the way.
See you soon, Amisty
She smiled as her owl flew off, somewhat jealous.
-=+=-
The Hogwarts letters finally arrived. It wasn't very interesting, just the book list and the same reminder about the beginning of term, but it gave Amisty something to look forward to.
"Two new textbooks," She called to Hermione over the list, throwing the envelope addressed to her. "The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, and Defensive Magical Theory."
"Must mean Dumbledore got a new Defense teacher," Hermione replied, tearing open her own letter and promptly letting out a loud shriek of excitement.
"What?" Amisty asked, wincing.
"I've been made a Prefect!" Hermione almost shouted, bouncing up and down around the room, flashing the scarlet and gold badge.
"Surprising no one!" Amisty joked, leaping up to her side. "Let me see it!"
Hermione passed over the badge, still beaming giddly. It was bright scarlet and gold, a decorative capital P over the roaring Gryffindor lion.
"I bet Harry got it, too!" Hermione declared, her cheeks pink and eyes glowing.
"Oh, congratulations, Hermione!" She beamed, pulling her friend into a tight hug and pressing the badge into her hand again. "Let's go tell the boys, shall we?"
They raced to their room, throwing the door open. Ron, Harry, Fred, and George all looked up at them.
"Did you -- did you get -- ?" Hermione stumbled over her words in her excitement, eyes locking on the badge in Harry's hand. "I knew it! Me too, Harry, me too!"
"No. It's Ron, not me," Harry shook his head quickly, handing the badge over to the redhead.
"It -- " Hermione blinked, "what?"
"Ron's prefect, not me," Harry repeated, his green eyes dark.
"Ron? But... are you sure? I mean -- " Hermione began, looking completely and utterly shocked.
Ron suddenly straightened his posture, remarking loudly, "It's my name on the letter."
"I.... I well... wow!" Hermione seemed to recover, her cheeks now pink from embarrassment rather than joy. "Well done, Ron! That's really -- "
"Unexpected," George finished, nodding.
Amisty slapped his arm.
"No, no, it's not..." Hermione shook her head furiously, going red. "Ron's done loads of... he's really..."
She was saved from the awkwardness, thankfully, as Mrs. Weasley pushed the door open with an armful of fresh robes.
"Ginny said the booklists had come at last. If you give them to me I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while you're packing," Mrs. Weasley told them, sorting out the robes. "Ron, I'll have to get you more pajamas, these are at least six inches too short, I can't believe how fast you're growing... what color would you like?"
"Get him red and gold to match his badge," George replied slyly, opening his mouth before Ron could even get a word in.
"Match his what?" Mrs. Weasley, completely absorbed in folding her laundry.
"His badge. His lovely shiny new prefect's badge," Fred elaborated, rolling his eyes and putting quite a bit of excess drama into his tone.
Mrs. Weasley paused.
"His... but... Ron, you're not...?"
Ron showed her his badge, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
She shrieked, "I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!"
"What are Fred and I, next-door neighbors?" George exclaimed scathingly as he got shoved out of the way as Mrs. Weasley rushed to embrace Ron and pressing kisses all over his face.
"Wait until your father hears!" She beamed, completely ignoring George. "Ron, I'm so proud of you, what wonderful news, you could end up Head Boy just like Bill and Percy, it's the first step! Oh, what a thing to happen in the middle of all this worry, I'm just thrilled, oh Ronnie -- "
Amisty's lip twitched.
Fred and George were pretending to vomit behind Mrs. Weasley, and even though she didn't want to admit it she couldn't help but find the whole situation funny.
For Merlin's sake, Ron was redder than she had ever seen him!
"Mum... don't... Mum, get a grip..." He muttered, plainly embarrassed as he struggled to push her away.
"Well, what will it be? We gave Percy an owl, but you've already got one, of course," She asked, stepping back.
He stared at her, mouth slightly open, "W-what do you mean?"
"You've got to have a reward for this! How about a nice new set of dress robes?" Mrs. Weasley suggested, positively glowing.
"We've already bought him some," Fred piped up, a bitter expression on his face.
"Or a new cauldron, Charlie's old one's rusting through, or a new rat, you always liked Scabbers -- " Mrs. Weasley began.
"Mum," He seemed hesitant to continue, but his expression was hopeful, "can I have a new broom?"
Mrs. Weasley's smile faltered.
"Not a really good one! Just -- just a new one for a change..." Ron added quickly, waving his hands.
There was a moment's hesitation, and she smiled again, "Of course you can... Well, I'd better get going if I've got a broom to buy too. I'll see you all later... Little Ronnie, a prefect! And don't forget to pack your trunks... a prefect... Oh, I'm all of a dither!"
Mrs. Weasley gave him one last kiss on the cheek and disappeared from the room, still murmuring happy little phrases under her breath.
"You don't mind if we don't kiss you, do you, Ron?" Fred asked sweetly.
"We could curtsy, if you like," George added sarcastically.
"Oh, shut up," Ron scowled at them.
"Or what? Going to put us in detention?" Fred goaded, a bright gleam in his eyes.
"I'd love to see him try," George snickered.
"He could if you don't watch out!" Hermione burst out angrily, and the twins burst out laughing.
"Drop it, Hermione," Ron muttered half-heartedly.
"We're going to have to watch our step, George, with these two on our case..." Fred trembled dramatically, eyes wide.
"Yeah, it looks like our law-breaking days are finally over," George sighed dramatically, and they Disapparated into their room with a loud crack.
"Those two! Don't pay any attention to them, Ron, they're only jealous!" Hermione fumed, glaring up at the ceiling that did little to muffle the gales of laughter coming from the twins.
"I don't think they are," Ron replied, frowning at the ceiling. "They've always said only prats become prefects... Still, they've never had new brooms! I wish I could go with Mum and choose... She'll never be able to afford a Nimbus, but there's the new Cleansweep out, that'd be great... Yeah, I think I'll go and tell her I like the Cleansweep, just so she knows..."
And Ron disappeared from the room. Harry turned away from them, packing away his robes into his trunk quietly.
His jaw was tight. Amisty's eyebrows furrowed.
"Harry?" Hermione shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, sensing the tenseness in his posture.
"Well done," Harry smiled, but it felt flat. "Brilliant. Prefect. Great."
"Thanks. Erm -- Harry -- could I borrow Hedwig so I can tell Mum and Dad? They'll be really pleased -- I mean, prefect is something they can understand -- " She explained, wringing her hands.
"Yeah, no problem. Take her!" Another flat smile as he dug around in his trunk.
The two of them traded looks, and Hermione went off to go call Hedwig from where she was perched on top of the wardrobe.
'I've got it,' Amisty mouthed as Hermione sent another concerned glance in Harry's direction.
'Are you sure?'
She nodded and Hermione left the room, closing the door with a soft click behind her.
"Hey," She walked over to where he was kneeled, crouching down next to him, "everything okay?"
He smiled wanly, "Can't hide anything from you, can I?"
She gave a small laugh, "Nope. I've known you for this long, practically lived with you. What's up?"
"I just -- I thought -- " He took a deep breath, shaking his head. "I guess I thought, maybe, if anyone was going to be a prefect that... well..."
"That it'd be you," Amisty finished, nodding.
His face screwed up miserably.
She sighed, "You know, Harry, if I were you I would've expected it, too, with all the hero crap you get yourself into. But there's bound to be a reason why you weren't picked, right?"
"I guess..."
"It's the first time Ron -- he -- it's the first time he's beaten you, Harry," She hated the words the second they left her mouth but there was no taking them back. "The first time he's done something you haven't. The best thing you can do is just... be supportive of him? Even with," She waved her hand, "you know."
He nodded, getting up from the floor as she buried her face in her palms.
"I'm so bad with words," She groaned, voice muffled. "Sorry."
Harry laughed, sounding much less like he was hiding his bad mood, "You're right, though, Am. Thanks, I needed that."
"Can't hide anything from me, remember that!" She grinned, straightening his glasses and turning to the door, her hand just hovering over the doorknob. "And just to remind you, I'm not a prefect either, so we can be lonely together."
"You can't be lonely together," He argued, green eyes sparkling.
"It's called an oxymoron," She countered.
He blinked, looking faintly offended, "Excuse me?"
"It's a grammar thing."
"Where'd you ever learn that?"
Amisty grinned, shaking her head and opening the door, "I've been roommates with Hermione for most of the summer and you're asking me that?"
"I mean... I went to a Muggle school and I still have never heard that word in my entire life," He replied.
"You went to a Muggle school until you were eleven," She pointed out.
"So did Hermione!"
"Yes," She nodded, stepping out the door. "But out of the two of you, I think Hermione was the one who paid more attention in English class, judging by how you spend your time in all of our classes at Hogwarts."
"History of Magic is boring!" He protested indignantly.
She snorted, calling back to the cracked door, "By that logic, so is Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts!"
"I do pay attention... most of the time."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Harry."
SUPER sorry about the late update, we lost power and with it lost our wifi from all the wind so I couldn't work OR post anything and I'm really sorry about that. But to be fair we're still on filler until we reach Hogwarts so it's not too bad. Thanks for reading!