"Harry has been acting very strange lately, hasn't he?" Hermione inquired of Ron.
"Yea, I guess," Ron said, "maybe something happened over the summer – he's been quiet mostly."
"Ron, he was smiling during Potions. I think this is much worse than just something over the summer."
"What if he's possessed?" Ron said.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," Hermione said. "It's like he's a completely new person…"
Neville was doing much better than Jamie was. He blocked all her attacks effectively and hit her with all his.
"Harry, come on! You're much better than this! It's me, Neville Longbottom, against you, Harry Potter, my teacher, really. Don't go easy because it's me!"
"I'm not going easy on you!" she said frustrated. At least now she knew Neville's name.
Finally, the lunch bell rang. Jamie grabbed all her things and ran as fast as she could to the owlery. She needed to ask who Draco was, how to activate the Marauder's Map and where Dumbledore's office was.
She took out a quill, a bottle of ink and a piece of parchment. She started writing:
Dear Harry,
Are
you having fun? I hope you are, because I'm not!
It's unbelievingly hard for me to be you. Do you know how girly I am? Your friends are suspecting something. I beat Ron at chess and I made a half-decent potion. Are you as bad as Hermione makes you seem?
You forgot to tell me how to activate the Marauder's Map! I feel so stupid not knowing anyone's name! Who's 'Draco'? I asked him what his name was – you didn't mention him at all. Are you two friends?
Also, where's Dumbledore's office? I know you know, so I don't think I should ask anyone. How do I get there? I need to speak to him. Maybe I could be myself for a little bit. I don't know, but this would all be so much easier if Ron and Hermione knew. They probably will know soon the way I am. I'm getting very stressed, and when I'm stressed I feel like crying, but I can't! It's infuriating!
Hoping you're well,
Jamie
She reread her letter and felt satisfied. She was just sending Hedwig off when Ron and Hermione burst in.
"Who are you writing to?" Ron asked.
"Whom, Ron," Hermione corrected.
"What business of yours is it if I'm writing to someone?" Jamie said angrily.
"We're worried about you, Harry!" Hermione said.
"So I can't write a letter without consulting you two, can I? I'll remember that writing letters isn't normal, then." She starting heading towards the door, but Ron stood in her way. She felt trapped. "Move."
"No, I'm not moving, Harry." Ron said.
"There's nothing wrong! I'm fine, okay?" Jamie yelled. She felt threatened and wanted to get away. She didn't like being outnumbered and she was feeling claustrophobic.
"Did something happen over the summer or something?" Ron asked.
"No. I'm FINE!"
"Harry–" Hermione started.
Jamie pulled out her wand and aimed it toward Ron. "Move, Ron!"
Ron quickly pulled out his own wand. "What's with you?"
"You're being irritable because I sent a letter! That's a good enough reason!" she was on the verge of tears now. Her stress was getting the better of her.
"We just want to make sure you're okay, Harry," Hermione said, also almost crying.
"I'm alright, okay?" Jamie said, lowering her wand and turning away to wipe her eyes. She was kicking herself mentally. It had only been a couple days and she was already being questioned.
"If there's anything you want to tell us, we're here," Hermione reassured Jamie. Jamie nodded.
"I just need some time alone right now," she said, walking to the door and ushering Ron aside. Ron stepped to the right and Jamie went through the door.
The first day of Harry's training, Jessie challenged him to a duel. They went at it for a while until they were completely exhausted. Jessie had done better than Harry, though. The next day, Jessie gave him a book to study with spells to practice. Then today, he would use them in another duel.
"Did you practice them all?" Jessie asked as they were going outside.
"I got most but I couldn't get two of them down. They just weren't working!"
"Did you know any of them beforehand?"
"I knew the Impedimenta one and the Patronus," Harry said proudly.
"You've already learnt a Patronus?! Wow," Jessie said, impressed.
"Can you conjure one?"
"Yes, but I've just learnt! What shape does yours take?"
"Stag, you?"
"Panther," she finished, drawing her wand and preparing for the duel.
Harry drew out his wand and they dueled with newfound velocity. The new spells were much more powerful. Jessie still came out better, but Harry wasn't a sore loser. He understood that she was his teacher and he wasn't expected to surpass her.
"You did very well today, Harry," she said smiling while she was cooking.
"Thanks. You're real good too – I don't think I can ever beat you!"
"Nonsense. I've taught a few wizards, but you've progressed magnificently. You're the best, definitely. Soon you're going to be my teacher," she joked.
"Thanks, Jessie. Hey, look! Hedwig!" Hedwig had just landed outside the window.
"Uh oh, Jamie's having trouble being me!" he said, after reading the first paragraph. "She's girly and a lot better than me at chess and potions, apparently."
"You should have spent more time telling her about yourself. One night is not enough!"
Harry nodded and kept reading. "Crap! I didn't tell her about Malfoy! We hate each other, like born enemies or something. She thinks we might be friends!"
"Told you so," Jessie said teasingly.
Harry read the last of the letter. He grabbed his own quill and parchment and wrote in green ink:
Dear Jamie,
Sorry to hear that, really, but I suppose one night wasn't enough for me to tell you much.
I'm not that bad at potions! I just skip a little step by accident and Snape vanishes my potion! I'd watch out for him if I were you. Did you actually beat Ron at chess?! I didn't know that was possible!
You just have to tap the Marauder's Map and say, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" to open it and tap it again and say, "Mischief managed" when you're done. Draco Malfoy is NOT my friend. He is literally my worst enemy.
Now that you can activate the Marauder's Map, It'll show you where Dumbledore's office is. To get in, you'll see a great gargoyle. You have to tell it the password – any random sweet. It has been Sherbet Lemon, Cockroach Cluster, and things like that. Talk to him about either letting Hermione and Ron know or letting you be you sometimes. He'll figure something out.
You can do it!
Harry
It took him a while to write it. He was finished his dinner before the letter. But finally, he sent Hedwig out again.
"Do you think she'll blow it for you?" Jessie asked, worried.
"I don't think so. Dumbledore can fix anything. But by the sounds of it, I've changed a lot during the summer," he smiled and Jessie laughed.
"I'm going to have bath, Harry. Read any spell book. Today, I knew what was coming, but now you can surprise me."