Saying goodbye to Severus and Draco had been…strange. With the remaining two weeks left of summer, she and Draco were both returning to their respective homes to be with their families and prepare for the school year.
Because of her occasional assistance with his work that summer, Severus was giving her credit as an independent study project, which would boost her Potions marks for the school year. Draco had been offered the same reward, as well as a certificate presented stating he had completed an internship under a Master of Potions. If he returned for a second summer, he would receive a second certificate which would give him a year's credentials as an apprentice.
They had eaten their last meal together in their little cottage by the lake. Severus had embraced them both and stood back watching as the two teenagers embraced on their own. He still didn't know yet what was to be made of them.
The final two weeks were a swirl of Order meetings and last-minute press junkets, sitting in on Ministry meetings and ensuring she and Harry were ready for another school year. She had a bad feeling creeping in on her, warning her there were dark surprises lying ahead.
"What's the plan for our annual prank display?" Fred asked her as their group trudged through Kings Cross Station on September 1.
"Do what?" She shook herself, still not quite awake. She noticed their disappointed expressions and realized she had forgotten all about their tradition.
"Oh wait, of course," Jamie tried to pep herself up, plastering a grin to her face. Her mind was spinning as she tried to come up with an idea on the fly. "I was just thinking and maybe we could…."
"Brilliant, Shack, just brilliant," Fred praised her, wiping tears of joy from his eyes as he pounded her on the back. George picked her up, spinning her around before planting a wet kiss on her cheek, causing her to shriek and squirm away from him.
"There's the Jamie Shacklebolt we know and love, poppet," George prodded at her, his best old timey newscaster voice on. "I oughtta buy you a ring and house, you darling gal!"
"I'll pass, but thanks," she chuckled. In a quick ditch effort, she had decided to blend prank with profit, and ensure her cousins stayed happy with her. Their train compartment had been turned into a pop-up Weasley Bros. joke shop, testing out their merchandise they had been lugging to sell during the first semester. Charmed orange and lime green, with shelves and treats and all kinds of colors, it had been a huge hit and they had sold out completely.
The rest of the gang had donned orange and green pinstriped blazers and sparkling top hats, selling merchandise and putting the word out for students across the train to come by. It had been hot, hot, hot, and rather than shut a good opportunity for business down, the trolley witch had set up outside their compartment and had been cleared out as well.
Pockets were lined, and everyone had a good time.
Jamie couldn't help herself, as she was taking down their posters they had hung up in the windows outside their compartment, by comparing the day to the same time last year. She had pulled Cedric into the loo and had her way with him, setting off the chain of events for the rest of the year.
Cedric should have been on the train this year. He should have been getting ready for his final year in school. It occurred to her, she had never asked him what he wanted to do after he graduated, what his plans were.
Her feet were moving on their own accord as she made her way toward the end of the train, where Slytherin took up residence and where train comparts were far emptier. She told her friends she was going to check on something, ignoring their concerned looks. No one forgotten what had happened.
Jamie slowed her feet as she began subtly peeking in the windows of train compartments. Some of the students made faces at her or turned their heads to whisper in ears of their friends, but she ignored them.
A telltale flash of platinum blond hair caught her attention and she paused. Smoky silver eyes met hazel, she twitched her head and kept walking. Moments later, the compartment door slid open and she heard footsteps following her.
It was in the caboose where she found an empty compartment, and she tucked herself inside. Draco joined her only heartbeats later.
"Everything alright?" He greeted her. His hair had been trimmed, he wore a neat, pressed black suit. For a moment, she was worried he had closed himself off from her once again.
"Everything is…everything," she admitted, shrugging. Hesitating only briefly, she flung her arms around him, hugging him. Her face was pressed against his chest, and she squeezed her eyes shut. After a millisecond, he was hugging her back, his cheek pressing against the top of her hair.
"It's only been two weeks, little fungus," he teased her quietly, she could hear the smile in his voice. She laughed, squeezing him tighter.
"I missed my best friend is all," she said.
"I missed you too."
"We'd also wish to welcome our new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher, Professor Delores Umbridge." Dumbledore was saying, he made brief eye contact with Jamie, watching as Jamie's eyes slid to the pink clad toad lady sitting beside Severus. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she looked to Severus, who had his deepest sneer on his face and gave a not so subtle shake of his head. Bad news.
"I'm sure you're all join me in wishing the Professor good luck," Dumbledore said, as if he was struggling to swallow a lump of tasteless bubblegum. Jamie felt the corners of her lips twitch. At least she and the headmaster seemed to be in agreement of something for once.
She eased back onto the bench, reaching for the jug of pumpkin juice as Dumbledore began making his other back to school announcements. The gang were shifting in their seats, eager to start goofing off and digging into their meal. There was a large bottle of gin waiting for them back in the girl's dorm room.
"Hem, hem," the toad lady interrupted, rising from her seat. Dumbledore worked hard to keep the withering look from his face as Severus' and Professor McGonagall's eyes nearly rolled out of their heads. Neither Professor had particularly good poker face.
"Thank you, headmaster, for those kind words," she strolled to the front, not so subtly shifting Dumbledore away from the head podium. "How lovely to see all of your bright, happy faces smiling up at me!"
Jamie covered her mouth, trying to school her features as an almost hysterical giggle threatened to come up. Literally not one student was smiling at this woman. Severus looked as if he were on the verge of having a stroke, he was fighting so hard to keep his cool.
"I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends," she continued.
"Less likely," the twins muttered, and Jamie actually did guffaw, covering her mouth as she tried to appear to have burst into a coughing fit. The toad lady sent a look toward them and Dumbledore gave a cough as well.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young wizards and witches to be a vital importance," Umbridge beamed down at them. "Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school, progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected, and disprove practices that ought to be prohibited."
"Hermione, translation please," Jamie turned to the girl, who sat diagonal to her at the table. She had a bad feeling in her gut, noticing Hermione looked just as troubled.
"You know what she means," Hermione murmured, looking disturbed.
"I think I do, but I want to hear it in layman's terms, please," Jamie was gripping the pitcher handle so hard, her knuckles were white.
"It means the Ministry…or other parties, are interfering at Hogwarts," Hermione said loud enough for the rest of their friends to hear. "Your summer of progress, Jamie…well, I have a feeling they are going to do their best to reverse it while you are away at Hogwarts."
Dumbledore forcibly led the rest of the students in a round of applause, droning out the shattering of the pitcher in Jamie's hands.
"You've gotten quite good at shattering drinkware in your hands as of late, Shack," Alicia said playfully, though slightly exasperated, trying to lighten the mood after what appeared to be a major setback for the summer.
"Right, it could be a new record," Angelina said, forcing a smile on her face as she slid over on the bench a cloth napkin ready in her hand. "We'll need you to go easy, tiger, or else they'll be putting out an emergency order for new china by November."
Jamie forced herself to smile, holding out her hand. Katie tapped it with her wand, healing it.
"I know they've instructed you to be behave this year," Angelina continued. She had a look of determination on her face. "Given your new role and all…but, I don't think it's too early to say you need to give them hell."
"Hear, hear!" The twins chorused.
"We need to give her a chance," Jamie said, watching as everyone around her cringed. "Seriously, we'll make trouble when it's time, but for now…I want us to keep our eyes and ears open, and specifically, make sure we know what she's up to."
"Ooh, secret spies," Lee said gleefully. "I could vibe with that."
"Hell yeah."
