As she awoke on the Morning of April 5trh, 2021, Roxanne Weasley was struck by a sudden idea. To present this idea, she would need to request a meeting of the Hogwarts Planning Club. She thought about sending Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Lily notes with her request. However, she ultimately decided to go about her request in a different way. Roxanne had always been known for her shyness. She felt now that if she asked Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Lily for the meeting in person, it would be a way of showing she had opened up a bit. Therefore, Roxanne decided to make her request for a meeting of the Hogwarts Planning Club that evening to Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Lily at breakfast.
The Gryffindor table was somewhat subdued at breakfast as the Circle if Eighteen had seen four of its members have to go home. Todd, Gary, Miles, and Rachel had all gone home on Easter night when everyone else had gone to bed. Courtney, however, had been granted special permission to stay at Hogwarts the rest of the school year ahead of her starting at Hogwarts on September 1st.
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Gordon, Rose, Pamela, Roxanne, Courtney, Stephanie, Samantha, Ainsley. and Lily enjoyed a small breakfast of plain sausage biscuits, hash browns, and orange juice. As they'd all been eating a lot in recent days, this was a nice day to enjoy a smaller but still nice breakfast. Because they ate smaller portions on that day, Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Gordon, Rose, Pamela, Roxanne, Courtney, Stephanie, Samantha, Ainsley. and Lily had some time to talk before they needed to go to class. This was the perfect opportunity for Roxanne to make her request.
"Hey, " piped up Roxanne in a soft voice, "Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Lily, I would like to request a meeting of the Hogwarts Planning Club in the History of Magic classroom at 7 p.m. tonight. I have an idea that I would like to present. "
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Lily all responded with clear and resounding cries of "YES!" at the exact same nanosecond.
"That's awesome that you have an idea of your own you want to present rather than merely chime in on what's presented, " said James proudly.
"it's great to see you come out of your shell, Roxanne, " said Lily happily, "You seem to have gained some confidence. "
"Lily, " said Roxanne gratefully, "You have no idea how much being a part of the Circle of Eighteen has done for me. Before I became a member of the Circle of Eighteen, I had never been very close with any Hogwarts student other than my brother Fred. I've actually gained both a lot more comfort in being around and dealing with people and a lot more self-confidence from my experience being a member of the Circle of Eighteen."
"That's wonderful, " Roxanne, " said Lily brightly, "I'm really happy to see starting to come into your own a bit more."
"Why weren't you able to gain the comfort and confidence you gained from being part of the Circle of Eighteen from being part of the Hogwarts Planning Club itself?" Ainsley asked Roxanne curiously.
"Meetings of the Hogwarts Planning Club are fairly infrequent and somewhat formal, " explained Roxanne, "The Circle of Eighteen was more internment, more informal, and provided more real opportunities for me to bond with other people in meaningful way that allowed my comfort and confidence to flourish."
"The fact that Roxanne is asking us for this meeting in while we're face to face is really telling, " said Fred proudly.
"That's exactly why I chose to ask face to face rather than by note, " said Roxanne cheerfully, "I thought it would be a good way of showing how I've opened up."
Everyone smiled at Roxanne and she smiled back at them.
That evening, at 7 P.M. Hogwarts time, Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Roxanne, and Lily all walked at a leisurely pace from Gryffindor tower to the History of Magic classroom. As they reached the door, Lily pulled it open and held for Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and finally Roxanne before entering last herself. Lily shut the door behind her and Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Lily all looked to Roxanne.
"Okay, " said Roxanne with her newfound confidence oozing through her voice. "My proposal is this: I think it would be a really neat idea if this Saturday's Quidditch Final were to be played at night!"
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Lily, all grinned up at Roxanne.
"Roxanne, that's a brilliant idea!" said Lily excitedly.
"A nighttime Quidditch match has never happened at Hogwarts, " said James eagerly.
"Roxanne, " said Fred proudly, "I'm so proud of how far you've come. For you to have an idea of your own and call this meeting of your own accord is a wonderful commentary on how you're developing as a person."
"I know that, as president of the Hogwarts Planning Club, James would normally be the one to take this suggestion to McGonagall, " piped up Roxanne, "But, in continuing with the theme of me coming out of my shell, I'd like to take the idea to Professor McGonagall myself."
"That's an awesome idea, " said James approvingly.
"Bold, " said Lily joyously, "Roxanne, it's absolutely splendid to see you come into your own."
"If I may make a suggestion?" said James clearly, "I would like to suggest dissolving the position of president of the Hogwarts Planning Club. The Hogwarts Planning Clun shouldn't have a president. We should all be equals. "
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Roxanne, and Lily all nodded, and James said, "Raise your hand if you agree we should NOT have a president."
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Roxanne, and Lily all raised their hands.
"Any other business here tonight?" asked Lily calmly.
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Roxanne, and Lily herself all shook their heads, unable to think of anything else at the moment.
"Hey, Roxanne?" asked Lily, "Would you like me to accompany you to McGonagall's office?"
"Actually, " requested Roxanne softly, "Would all six of you be willing to accompany me to McGonagall's office?"
"YES!" cried Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Lily in unison.
"I hope to eventually reach a point where I'd feel comfortable going to McGonagall's office myself, " said Roxanne matter of factly, "But I'm not there yet. I'll be the one to make the proposal to McGonagall, but, as of this nanosecond, I need company with me to feel comfortable doing this."
"You've made great progress, Roxanne, " said Lily encouragingly, "We can't expect you to make a full transformation at once and going to McGonagall is a different animal."
"Hard to believe McGonagall won't be around much longer, " said Albus thoughtfully, "Jill Kirke as her replacement as headmistress is still a bombshell to me!"
"Let's go, " said Roxanne decisively.
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Roxanne, and Lily left the History of Magic classroom for McGonagall's office.
"The Hogwarts Planning Club, " recognized McGonagall when they were all inside.
"I would like to present an idea, " said Roxanne, sounding a bit like her old shier self in McGonagall's presence.
McGonagall looked surprised, but said kindly, "Fire away. Roxanne."
"I thought, " began Roxanne slowly, looking uncomfortable but also feeling bolstered by the presence of Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Lily.
"You thought what?" prodded McGonagall encouragingly.'
"It would be neat if, " continued Roxanne slowly.
"Go on, Roxanne, " said McGonagall encouragingly.
"The Quidditch Final could be played at night, " finished Roxanne in a still slow, but not as slow and more confident voice.
"That's a fantastic idea!" smiled McGonagall, "This has never been done at Hogwarts and would be interesting to see the Quidditch Final played under the moon and lights. This can be easily arranged and will be done. Thank Roxanne. Before you go though, I wish to bring Jill Kirke in to have a word with you all."
McGonagall sent off an owl to Jill requesting her appearance in the Head's office and Jill turned up a few minutes and a few nanoseconds later.
"Jill, " said McGonagall matter of factly, "The current Hogwarts Planning Club."
"Listen, " said Jill seriously, "I wish to make some changes for the Hogwarts Planning Club when I become headmistress in September."
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Roxanne, and Lily all listened intently.
"I know you've all done a great job with the Hogwarts Planning Club, so this is not about any of you. But I believe the Hogwarts Planning Club could benefit from having different voices. As of now, all seven of you are Gryffindors, three of you are Potters, three of you are Weasleys, and all seven of you are either a Potter, a Weasley, or a Dursley. My wish is to change to composition of the Hogwarts Planning to be a four person club with a representative from each house with these representatives serving for one year and then changing each year to get different voices involved. " said Jill in businesslike voice, "Can you all see the sense in that?"
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Roxanne, and Lily all nodded.
"Lily, " said Jill clearly, "I wish you to be the first Gryffindor representative next year. I know you, more than any student in this school, are capable of listening to and working with students from the other houses."
"I would be honored to be the first Gryffindor representative, " said Lily in a tent of voice that simultaneously gave off pride and humility.
"Excellent, " said a satisficed Jill.
Turning to Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Roxanne, Jill said, "Are you six okay with not doing the Hogwarts Planning Club anymore after this year. It will stay as it is for the rest of this semester and the new Hogwarts Planning Club will begin in September?"
"Yes," said Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Roxanne together in simple voices. None of them were too attached to the club so it wasn't a big deal.
"Okay then, " said Jill, "The rest of you may leave, but I'd like Lily to stay. "
Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, and Roxanne left for Gryffindor tower while Jill sent out three owls.
A few minutes and a few nanoseconds later, three people entered, Slytherin Megan Nash, Hufflepuff Roger Romo, and a Ravenclaw boy Lily recognized by sight but did not know. This boy was of average size and height with black hair and black eyes, and a third like Roger.
"Introductions are in order, " said Jill happily.
The Ravenclaw boy, Roger, Megan, and Lily all smiled at each other.
Pointing at each of them in turn, Jill called out, "Travis Edwards, Roger Romo, Megan Jones, Lily Potter. "
With handshakes currently off limits, Travis, Roger, Megan, and Lily simply waved at each other and all called out "Hi, " at the same time.
"When the new Hogwarts Planning Club starts in September, " explained Jill, "Travis will be the Ravenclaw representative, Roger will be the Hufflepuff representative, Megan will be the Slytherin representative, and Lily will be the Gryffindor representative. I don't need much time from you guys tonight, but I wanted you four to quickly meet each other and know who you'll be working with in the Hogwarts Planning Club next year."
"It's good to see you again, Megan, " said Lily happily, "James says you're doing really well in your classes."
"I'm taking N.E.W.T. classes in Potions, Herbology, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Care of Magical Creatures, " said Megan proudly, "But Potions is my favorite."
"That's fantastic, " said Lily cheerfully, "Good to see you again as well, Roger."
"Great to see you again, Lily, " said Roger gratefully, "Remember that I was one of the earliest beneficiaries of Worthy Wands."
"I remember how you proved that to us at the Having Fun at Lily's Expense Party, " remembered Lily warmly.
"And I haven't met you, " said Lily to Travis.
"I'm in Roger's year, " said Travis matter of factly.
"I hope to get to know you better over time, " said Lily kindly.
Jill noticed how it was Lily who was leading all of these conversations and smiled to herself. This was EXACTLY why wanted Lily to be part of the New Hogwarts Planning Club. Her gift for being kindly towards students from other houses was unmatched at Hogwarts.
It may have been only a preview and it may have been brief, but there was reason for optimism about the new Hogwarts Planning Club. This optimism was furthered by the fact that Travis, Roger, Megan, and Lily all hung back to char for awhile.
Travis, Roger, Megan, and Lily were taking to each other quite nicely here and that made Jill feel great about what would come down the road.
