As the days and weeks trudged on, Minnie found her niche. She would spend the sunny weekends out by the Black Lake, sitting under a tree with Myrtle, complaining about how heavy the course load was and that the teachers couldn't possibly expect them to retain all this formation for their finals and what a waste of wonderfully good information it was.Minnie knew that as long as she kept talking, Myrtle wouldn't find something to dissolve into tears about. It was almost expected that Myrtle would be taunted or tormented in some fashion because she was different. Minnie really tried to understand, but not coming from a magical background, she missed hearing the labels of pure-blood, half-blood, blood traitor, and the name that she was called, mudblood.She had come to find out that Myrtle came from a family marked as blood-traitors. As far as Minnie could understand between Myrtle's sniffles and cries, this meant that her family accepted and welcomed all people into her family, magical or muggle, and for that she was looked down upon by some. Minnie, on the other hand, found this to be an admirable trait because that meant Myrtle's family would accept Minnie as friend.The friendship had become very close. The two were almost inseparable, when they had a free moment that is. Minnie had wished on several occasions that Myrtle could come into her common room so the two could gossip. Minnie had, of course, befriended most of Gryffindor house, such a friendly house it was. The girls in her dorm were splendid. They had often spent late nights gabbing about boys and handsome famous wizards. Minnie had learned early on that asking questions about the wizarding world and who's who was ok amongst these girls, where Slytherins and even some of Ravenclaw would turn their noses up at her if she asked such questions.

The month of October was gone in a flash. She welcomed the month with her birthday, finally 12 years old! Myrtle had given her a golden quill with red inlay in the base. Some of her Gryffindor friends had given her books on quidditch. One boy, whom Minnie fancied, had given her a handful of chocolate frogs, how sweet!

She became very excited and nervous for the holidays as this would be the first time she would actually have talked with her parents since her departure from Platform 9 ¾. She couldn't wait to tell them everything and explain all that she had learned. She wished that there was a way she could show her new skills to them, but as the law dictated, it was against the law for her to do magic, until she was 17 that is. 17 seemed such a long way away, a whole 5 more years!

The train pulled out, and it was quite full. Myrtle had taken her spot next to Minnie, as well as a few girls from their houses. It was a fun ride back home as all the girls couldn't stop talking about the things they fancied for Christmas. Minnie ended up with quite a good load for Christmas. A new stationary set, some wizarding books, a Gryffindor crest broach, and a Gryffindor locket with her parents picture inside. She was quite pleased and told Myrtle all about what she had received as soon as they boarded the train together at the end of the holidays. The ride back was much quieter as everyone was a little moody about coming back to school after having so much fun.