Taking Chances and Making Changes - Chapter 3
Author's Note - This story is an AU. It follows canon events up until the end of Prisoner and beginning of Goblet. I know that I said that I would usually upload on a Wednesday or a Thursday but I got this chapter finished earlier than expected. Rather than waiting another day, I decided to post it. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer - I own nothing except my OC's. Everything else belongs to JK Rowling. Basically, if you recognize it from the books/films then it is not mine.
Hayley POV
"Girl, get up and get started on breakfast!" Aunt Petunia loudly screeched at me while sharply knocking on my door. I am used to my aunt waking me up like this as she has been doing this for years now. I quickly put on my glasses before throwing on some clothes from my small wardrobe. I give my long black hair a quick brush. My hair has always been unruly ever since I was a child. I soon gave up on leaving it down and threw it up into a ponytail. Once done, I headed downstairs to quickly get started on making breakfast.
After clearing up from breakfast, my uncle left for work and Dudley left to go to Piers's house. I was given a short list of chores as my relatives were wary of giving me too many and causing me to tell Sirius. I smirked to myself, amazed that such a simple threat would work so well. I got started on the list of chores, which took me just a few hours to complete. After I had finished I went back up to my room and found Hedwig waiting for me with a letter tied to her leg. I untied the letter, then gave her a treat and some water before sitting down at my small wooden desk to read the letter. I broke the seal of the letter, unfolding it slowly, hoping that I was allowed to switch electives.
"Dear Miss Potter
After receiving your letter regarding if it was possible to change electives, I am pleased that you have been able to come to the realization that it is in your best interests to choose electives that will better aid you in your future career choice. I have spoken to Professor Babbling and Professor Vector, who teach Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, respectively. They both expressed concerns about your ability to catch up, due to you wishing to join a year late. After reviewing your grades in other subjects, they have said that they will offer you two choices. Your first choice is to purchase the third year textbooks for Arithmancy and Ancient Runes from Diagon Alley, cover all of the curriculum covered and register to take the end of year test for both subjects at the Ministry of Magic before you return to Hogwarts in the fall. If you achieve a minimum of an Acceptable grade in both exams, then the Professors will allow you join your fellow 4th year classmates. Your other option is when you return to Hogwarts, rather than you taking the electives with your 4th-year classmates, you can join the third years for both subjects.
Please respond with your decision no later than the 10th of July.
Thank you
Professor McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
I smiled as I finished reading the letter. I was really glad that I got to change my electives. I wasn't too sure of which option was best, because if I decided to take the classes with the third years, it would be extremely embarrassing and the entire school population would know within a few hours, which was something I really could do with avoiding. On the other hand, I didn't know if I would be able to cover all of the curricula for both subjects well enough between now and the end of summer to be able to pass with at least an Acceptable grade.
I sighed as I put the letter down on the desk, and lay down on my bed. I thought over my options and almost debated sending a letter to Hermione and Ron to ask for their opinion, but I quickly shut down that idea. I needed to stop relying on my friends to make all of my decisions for me. After thinking on it for a while, I made the decision to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow and have a look at both of the textbooks to see if I felt like I could realistically cover all of the content over the summer.
Satisfied with my decision, I used my free time to look back through some more of my notes from different classes. In between what were mostly study notes on various assignments, I spotted a piece of parchment with what looked like a conversation on it. I put the other papers to one side and looked at the notes. I smiled, remembering that it was a conversation between me and Neville. Neville had decided to stay at Hogwarts rather than going to Hogsmeade to work on his Potions and Herbology essays that was due that Monday, and I had done the same. Luckily, because it was a Hogsmeade weekend, it meant that the library was quieter and less busy than usual. We had sat together and conversed over messages while working on our assignments together, helping each other when needed.
As I reread all of the messages, I smiled to myself, remembering how nice it had been to work on an assignment without the constant threat of an argument between Ron and Hermione breaking out at any minute. It was also nice to talk to Neville more and get to know him better. I mean, I did like Hermione and Ron, but it was nice to feel that I had other friends than just the two of them. I decided to write a quick letter to Neville asking him how his summer was going and if he wanted to meet up in Diagon Alley tomorrow at some point to catch up. I tied the letter to Hedwig and sent her off with the instructions to take it to Neville, as I didn't know his address.
When I came back up to my room several hours later, after I had finished cleaning up after tea, I noticed that Hedwig still wasn't back. I wasn't too surprised. To pass the time I made a list of which of my subjects I felt that I had was now able to understand much better, and which ones I still had to work on. The ones I was now okay with were Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology and Defence, whereas the ones I still needed to work on were Potions, History of Magic and Astronomy.
Just as I was beginning to get into my Astronomy textbook, I heard Hedwig taping on my window; I had shut it after sending her without realising it. I stood up to let her in, taking the letter and giving her a treat and water as usual. I quickly scanned Nevile's letter.
"Hello, Hayley. It is really nice to hear from you. My summer has been going well and I hope that yours is too. I spoke to my grandma about meeting up with you in Diagon Alley tomorrow and she said that I could go. I will be there at about 11 o'clock and we can meet up outside of Gringott's at 11.
See you tomorrow
Neville Longbottom"
I smiled as I put his letter down on my desk, glad that I get the chance to meet up with him tomorrow. It will be nice to spend some time with someone other than just Hermione and the Weasleys.
When I woke up the next morning, I was so excited that I woke up a few hours earlier than what was necessary. I spent my time getting a shower (trying to not make too much noise), and after showering I spent quite a bit of time getting my hair tamed. Instead of giving up halfway through and putting it up in a ponytail, I put it into a french plait. I then got dressed and went to get breakfast ready. Soon en, as I started to near finishing, everyone began to wake up and come downstairs.
Just like the day before, Uncle Vernon left for work and Dudley left to once again go hang out with Piers. As I cleared away from breakfast, I was surprised when Aunt Petunia didn't give me a list of chores. She stated that she was giving me a break from my chores for the day, because she was having the neighbours round, and she wanted me out of the house for as long as possible.
I went up to my room, checking the time and seeing that I had about half an hour until I needed to leave to catch the Knight Bus. I re-did my braid because it it had come partially messy after cooking. I then proceeded to put on my shoes and jacket, glad that I had bought some new clothes the previous summer that still fit. I double checked that I had my wand and the small coin purse that contained enough money for the Knight Bus along with my Gringott's vault key.
As I left the house I quickly headed to a more secluded area so that I could call the bus without anybody seeing. I called the bus like I had done last year and was still surprised at the speed at which it arrived. I got on and politely greeted Stan before telling him where I wanted to go. "The Leaky Cauldron please Stan," I said happily, handing him the money before taking a seat. Thankfully, I was better prepared for the speed that the Knight Bus goes and was mostly able to keep from flying forward out of my seat.
I was extremely pleased and relieved when I finally got off at my stop outside of the Leaky Cauldron. After getting off, I took a moment to let my stomach settle from the extremely bumpy ride before heading into the Leaky Cauldron. I still couldn't get used to the fact that even this early in the morning it was still quite busy. Luckily, I knew how to get through and carried on quickly through the back door, giving Tom a quick but still polite greeting while trying to avoid being mopped by the entire pub like I had the first time that Hagrid had brought me. Glancing at the time, I saw that it was almost eleven, so I made my way through the alley until I reached Gringott's. I noticed that Neville hadn't arrived yet, so I sat down on a nearby bench to wait.
Luckily I didn't have to wait very long until I spotted Neville and his grandmother come out of a nearby Floo. I stood up smiling, and headed over to them.
"Hey, Neville. It's great to see you," I said happily as I reach him.
He smiled as he turnsed to me. "It is great to see you too, Hayley." he said before turning to his grandmother. "Grandmother, this is my friend, Hayley Potter. Hayley, this is my grandmother."
"It is very nice to meet you, Mrs. Longbottom," I said politely, offering my hand for her to shake. We shook hands.
"It is very nice to meet you too, Miss Potter," she returned politely.
She then turned to Neville. "I will be picking up the things that I need and then we will meet back here in two hours for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron." Then she turned to me, and I noticed that she softened ever so slightly. "You are more than welcome to join us, Hayley..., if you wish."
I smiled at her and nodded. "I would like that very much, Mrs Longbottom. Thank you."
"You are most welcome dear," Mrs Longbottom said to me kindly, before turning back to Neville once again, handing him something which I then realise is his vault key. "Here is your key, Neville. Please be careful with it and don't spend too much money on useless things, okay?" he looked around, slightly embarrassed and offended at the same time. His grandmother then gave him a bright smile before walking towards her vault.
Once she was gone, I saw Neville visibly relax. I got the feeling that she must be like that a lot, if not all the time.
I turned to Neville smiling happilydd "So, how about we go to Gringott's first and then we go and look around the alley? I suggested.
"Yeah that sounds great." He nodded, slightly timid, before we made our way into the bank.
Once we had both gotten our money, we left the bank and started walking around the alley, looking at the different stores. We started talking about what we had been up to so far and I told him about my decision to change my electives. "I wrote Professor McGonagall a letter the other day about whether I could change my electives, and she said that I could, but I have to either take the end of year test in August at the Ministry or start the course with the third years. I haven't decided what to do yet, so I thought that I should have a quick look at the books before buying them. What do you think I should do, Neville?"
He looked at me, smiling. "That's great, Hayley, but it's not my choice. What classes are you taking?"
"I should be switching to arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Muggle Studies is pretty pointless, considering I grew up in the Muggle world." I explained with a smile. "Those two subjects seem quite interesting, but I heard that they can sometimes be a bit of a challenge," Neville said to me as we continue heading towards Flourish and Blotts.
"I heard that, too, but that's part of the reason why I chose them. I wanted my electives to be a bit more of a challenge, so that I have to think more and work harder to get better grades? I told him before beginning my story about what Remus had said to me at the end of the school year. He nodded and smiled supportively when I realise that we had arrived at Flourish and Blotts. Luckily, it wasn't too busy, as it was still quite early on in the summer.
We quickly found the Arithmancy and Ancient Runes books for third year, before Neville founds us a table so that I could quickly look through them to see if I felt as though it was possible for me to pass between now and August. I voiced my concerns to Neville and he turned to me.
"Of course you will be able to pass, Hayley. I'm sure of it." he told me kindly.
"Thank you, Nevill," I said genuinely. I immediately made up my mind and I resolved to write Professor McGonagall a letter informing her of my choice as soon as I got home that night.
After purchasing both of the books, as well as a few others that seemed interesting, we left the bookstore and continued to explore the various shops around the alley. I bought a number of things, including some more owl treats for Hedwig from Eyelops Owl Emporium, new stationery supplies from Scribbulus Writing Instruments and a new pair of seeker gloves from Quality Quidditch Supplies (my current ones were a few years old now.) Soon after we had finished our small shopping excursion, it was time to meet back up with Neville's grandmother to go for some lunch at The Leaky Cauldron.
Lunch was pleasant enough, even if I could practically feel Neville's uncomfortableness rise when his grandmother would pull him up on the slightest mistakes as well as make unnecessary comments about his forgetfulness. When it came to paying for lunch, I tried to refuse when Mrs. Longbottom said that she would pay for my meal, but she wasn't having any of it, commenting that because she had invited me to join them for lunch she would pay for me.
After we had paid and left the pub, Mrs. Longbottom informed me that they had to leave, and politely asked me if I needed help getting back home. I said that I was going to continue looking around the alley, and that I would be fine making my own way back on the Knight Bus. I walked with them back to the nearest Floo Point and I told Neville that I would write to him in a few days, before shaking hands with his grandmother before they flooed home.
After looking around the alley and seeing nothing else of interest to me at the moment, I walked back towards Gringott's to get some of my wizarding money changed into muggle money. I wanted to explore some of the shops in muggle London. After changing my money, I headed back through the alley and through the Leaky Cauldron, walking out into the muggle street. It was in that moment that I was thankful that Mrs. Longbottom had put a shrinking and feather-light charm on all of my purchases from Diagon Alley.
As I began to make my way up the street, being careful not to wander too far, I bought some new clothes, shoes, makeup and accessories. After exiting my final shop, I noticed that it was starting to get late and the crowd of people was starting to thin. I looked at my watch and decided to head back down to The Leaky Cauldron. Rather than getting the bus straight away, I went back inside the pub and waited until Tom was free from customers before asking him if he could place the same charms on my bags as Mrs. Longottom had done earlier. I ordered a pumpkin juice, choosing to sit in one of the corners so as not to attract too much attention to myself. Once finished I paid, and gave him a generous tip before going back outside to get the Knight Bus.
Soon enough, the Knight Bus dropped me back where I had originally boarded, and I began the short walk back to the Dursleys' hoping that Uncle Vernon was still out at work. Fortunately, when I turned the corner onto Privet Drive, Vernon's car wasn't in the driveway and I was able to make it back inside without a fuss. I quickly took all of my shrunken purchases out of my pockets and unshrunk them before putting everything away in my Hogwarts trunk, which was under my bed so that it was out of the way and mostly out of sight. Thankfully, Aunt Petunia had told me when I came in that I wasn't cooking for everyone tonight as Dudley was staying at Piers's house overnight and her and Uncle Vernon were taking the opportunity to go out for a meal, so I would be alone for most of the evening.
I hurriedly made my own tea so that I could eat it in peace before Uncle Vernon returned. Returning to my room, after I had finished clearing away my dishes from tea, I noticed that there was an owl perched on the window sill with a letter attached to its leg waiting somewhat patiently. I went over and untied the letter and rewarded the beautiful owl with a few treats. Unfolding the letter on my bed, making sure to be careful and cautious, I was glad when nothing happened. My eyes widened as I glanced at who had sent me the letter.
Author's Note - Yes I know I'm mean leaving it on a cliffhanger like that. Hope you are all enjoying the story and will continue to read it as it progresses. Please leave a review with who you think has sent the letter. If you get it right, then I will give you a shout out in the next chapter. Thank you to everyone who has read the previous chapters and an even bigger thank you to the people that have reviewed, favourited and followed the story.