"Late again, Mr. Potter!" Professor McGonagall said for the eighth week in a row as Harry came bursting through the doors to Divination.
"Sorry Professor McGonagall, Professor Nocturne kept us late," Harry muttered, sitting down next to Ron.
"Where is your pass? Surely he must have given you a pass if he kept you late," McGonagall replied.
"He doesn't believe in passes," Harry lied. Secretly, he'd been in the kitchen, gulping down butterbeers.
"That is completely ridiculous, Mr. Potter! Every teacher in this school is supposed to give out passes to a student that gets out of their class late! You know that, I know that, everyone knows it!" McGonagall's voice was increasing in pitch and loudness. She was getting angry.
Suddenly, the doors burst open, and Neville came flying in. "Sorry, sorry pro...profess...professor...Nocturne...kept...late..." Neville panted.
"Did he give you a pass?" McGonagall asked.
Harry looked back and rolled his eyes. That was the signal. "No, he didn't. He doesn't believe in passes."
Professor McGonagall gave Neville a stern look. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, come see me after class, please." The class let out an "ooh", and some people even laughed.
"What'd she say?" Ron asked impatiently as Harry stormed out of McGonagall's classroom.
"Nothing that concerns you, Ron," Harry said angrily.
"I just wanted to know, you didn't have to get so uptight on me!" Ron growled.
"Ron, you've got to understand, what's my business is my business!" Harry screeched. "Now go off and do something...like spending some time with your girlfriend today!" Harry stormed off angrily as people gave him quizzical looks.
Harry lay awake in bed that night, unable to get any sleep. His eyes were closed, but the drowsiness wasn't coming.
"Harry?" Ron's voice called out to him. "Harry, are you still awake?"
Harry was still mad at Ron, so he decided to ignore his obnoxious friend.
"Harry, I just wanted to tell you...I'm sorry about being so nosy. I just thought, you know, that we were friends, and that you wouldn't mind telling me what happened. But, I know you want your space now-a-days, so I'll give you it." Ron seemed a bit less comfortable than he usually did. "I know you're still getting over all the excitement of last year, but it's time to move on. We don't have time to linger in the past. We've all got to live like birds and soar."
"Hermione told you to tell me that, didn't she?" Harry mumbled.
"Yes, but that's not the point. Harry, what's passed is past. You can't stay there. You've got to deal with whatever's on your plate right now, and that's the only thing that matters. You don't have to listen to what I'm saying, but it's the truth. You aren't like you used to be, and we miss you. G'night, Harry." There was a shuffling of blankets as Ron tucked himself back into bed.
Harry thought these words over for a long time. Maybe Ron was right. Maybe he was too caught up in the past, and that wasn't helping him at all. "Soar like a bird, eh?" Harry said to himself. His mind drifted back to what Dumbledore had told him. "And, if we each find our own way around certain barriers, we're as free as that bird." Harry suddenly smiled, finally having an idea to get his life back in order.