The fall of 2020 was a busy time for Lily and company.
James had Wandmaking lessons with Olivander every Monday and Wednesday night at 11 p.m. in the History of Magic classroom.
James, Albus, Devon, and Lily met every Sunday in the Room of Requirement to continue their lessons on Potter-Dursley family history.
Devon, Fred, Roxanne, Ainsley, Stephanie, Samantha, and Lily had Quidditch practice every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7 p.m. and James and Hugo also always came out to support them.
Then there were the mandatory library sessions on Fridays for everyone.
And of course, there were still the regular classes.
Hugo, Devon, Ainsley, Stephanie, Samantha, and Lily had their wandwork classes (Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, etc) on Mondays and Wednesdays and their wandless magic classes (Herbology, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, etc) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, ending these days with History of magic in the afternoon.
History of Magic classes were an excellent time and place for conversations between friends as Binns never noticed who was or wasn't paying attention.
On Thursday, September 17th, 2020, Ainsley had an announcement.
"Hey," said Ainsley to Hugo, Devon, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily "I have an announcement to make."
"What is it Ainsley?" asked Lily with interest.
Ainsley had an odd expression on her face, she was smiling but she also looked sad.
"This is bittersweet for me," said Ainsley in a kind of half cheerful half sad voice.
"Go on, Ainsley," said Lily encouragingly, "We're all behind you 100%."
"Well," said Ainsley with a small smile, "You know how my career ambition is to become a Healer just like Amy? Well, Starting in September of 2021 I will no longer be attending Hogwarts as I will be transferring to the Ultimate University of Wizarding Healing. The Ultimate University of Wizarding Healing is a school for witches and wizards that teaches a curriculum that specifically designed as a training curriculum for Healing. It is a five year program for students from third year up to seventh year of their magical education. Students who are successful at the Ultimate University of Wizarding Healing will be able to start Healer jobs at age eighteen as the program us rigorous."
"Congratulations, Ainsley!" chorused Hugo, Devon, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily in very proud voices.
"Thanks," replied Ainsley warmly.
"That's so sweet!" said Samantha happily, "It's beyond awesome that you have a specific field you want to pursue and have the opportunity to attend a school with a program specifically tailored to that. That's wonderful Ainsley. Bittersweet? That makes no sense, this can only be a happy thing."
"The sad part," said Ainsley, getting out the words with difficulty, "Is having to have the great friends I've made at Hogwarts behind. It it is t-truly s-sad to k-know t-that- began Ainsley before starting to cry, "That in less t-than a y-year L-Lily and Hugo and De-Devon and Samantha and Stephanie and J-James and F-Fred and Roxanne will all n-no l-longer be part of m-my life."
"Friends come into and go out of life, that's just part of life," said Samantha dismissively, "That's why you should NEVER allow yourself to become emotionally attached to other people in the first place. Emotional attachments lead to sadness and grief."
"Exactly, Samantha," agreed Stephanie.
"You d-don't understand," said Ainsley as her tear rate increased.
But Devon knew exactly how Ainsley was feeling. This was the way he had felt when he had left Todd, Gary, and Miles behind in the muggle world to take up his place at Hogwarts.
"I know it's hard," said Devon gently as he pulled Ainsley into a hug, "While it's a truism of life that opportunity is more important than friendship, it is also one of those tough realities of life when you have to leave friends behind."
But Lily had another idea.
"Ainsley," asked Lily, "Does the Ultimate University of Wizarding Healing have summer school?"
"No," answered Ainsley simply.
"Then we can still be a part of your life going forward," said Lily kindly.
"How? "asked Ainsley doubtfully.
"Easily," said Devon crisply, "Whenever we all get together over the summers we can still invite you to be a part of that. Just because you won't be at Hogwarts anymore doesn't mean we can't include you. Note how my old muggle friends, Todd, Gary, and Miles, joined us at my house for New Year's and at Potter Manor over the summer."
"Ainsley we WILL make sure that you can continue to be a part of our lives moving forward and that's a promise," said Hugo fiercely.
"Thanks, all," said Ainsley weakly.
"If I may ask?" said Devon curiously, "Why are you making this announcement here and now? Wouldn't after Quidditch practice have been better so that James, Fred, and Roxanne would know as well?"
"I will tell them after practice tonight but I wanted those in my own year to know first." replied Ainsley, "Though, as close as I am with James, perhaps I should have waited. Still, he and the rest will know soon enough."
"To be able to attend a school that is specially designed to the very career you know you wish to pursue is a wonderful opportunity for you, Ainsley. You should be ecstatic about having that opportunity," said Samantha matter of factly.
"To be able to follow in Amy's footsteps is a beautiful thing for me," said Ainsley in a proud voice while also drawing herself up proudly.
"Ainsley," said Lily loyally, "I hope you go on to become the greatest Healer in the world,"
"So do I," chorused Hugo, Devon, Samantha, and Stephanie.
"I love the fact that Ainsley wants to go into a career field where she can help people too," said Hugo warmly, "That says a lot too."
"Indeed," agreed Devon and Lily.
"It kinda all ties together," said Ainsley radiantly, "It's both the fact that I want to follow in Amy's footsteps AND that I want to help people. The very reason I hold the Healing profession in such high esteem is the fact that I saw through Amy how big a role the profession plays in helping people by watching her work."
"That's wonderful, Ainsley," said Lily happily,
"The thing that strikes me about Ainsley as a person," said Stephanie thoughtfully, "is that's she's multi dimensional. She's a prankster and loves to have fun but she's also a brilliant student. That she really wants to make a difference is another layer."
Ainsley smiled.
"That's exactly what I strive to be," said Ainsley brightly, "I would hate to be a one dimensional person."
Hugo, Devon, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily all smiled at Ainsley. They were all happy that their friend had such a wonderful opportunity.
