Lily, Alice, and Mary sat in the Gryffindor common room the day before the term ended. They had just gotten back from their last animagus training session for the school year. McGonagall had told them that they would be ready to find their animals in September, as long as they did the homework she gave them.
"I cannot wait for when we can learn what our animal forms will be!" Alice stated excitedly.
"Me too," both Lily and Mary said in unison. "Jinx!"
"But don't forget, after we do that, we have to start having training sessions with McGonagall every single day," Mary reminded her friends. "That's what the others are doing now."
"I know," Lily said with a sigh. "James is already complaining about it constantly. He says that it's so much work."
"James would spend the whole day flying if he could," Alice commented. "He hates anything that isn't fun."
"Yeah, but at least it'll pay off in the end," Lily said.
"Exactly!" Mary agreed. "He's going to be so happy when he masters his stag form! I still can't believe that Severus is going to be a bat though!"
Lily giggled. "That's Severus for you," she said with a grin. "He will make a great bat! Though, he didn't like that when I told him that. He glared at me!"
"Are you really that surprised, Lily?" Alice asked. "You know Severus Snape. He glares at everyone, even those he's closest to."
"I know, I know," Lily said with an irritated sigh. "I wish he didn't get so angry so easily."
Alice and Mary doubled over laughing. "Lily, don't forget Capella! She can get angry even easier than Severus!" Alice reminded Lily.
"I know she can, but at least she doesn't get angry as often," Lily shot back.
Alice and Mary laughed.
"What should we do today?" Mary asked.
"Study?" Lily suggested. "We have one more exam tomorrow, you know."
Alice covered her ears. "La la la la la!" she sang loudly.
"Oh! WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Mary shouted. "I DIDN'T HEAR YOU!"
"La la la la la la'''! La la'''!" Alice was still singing.
Lily huffed. "You two will be the death of me," she muttered. Alice paused, and lowered her hands.
"What did you say?" she asked.
"I said, you two will be the death of me," Lily repeated.
"Oh, you're welcome!" Mary said with a grin.
"I never said that was a compliment, and I definitely didn't say thank you!" Lily exclaimed irritably.
Alice scowled at her. All three of them burst out laughing.
"Alright, alright, let's study then," Mary finally said once the laughter had died down. She opened her Potions textbook.
"I can't believe we're going to be third years next year," Alice stated as she opened her Potions textbook as well.
"And we will get to go to Hogsmeade next year!" Lily exclaimed. "And this time, we won't be sneaking into Hogsmeade because of one of James' dumb ideas."
"I wish I had been there for that," Alice said.
"Same here," Mary agreed.
"But we got caught," Lily reminded them.
"Maybe you did, but it still would have been fun," Mary pointed out.
"Sure, whatever you say," Lily said with a sigh.
The three girls started studying. They were not looking forward to their Potions exam that next day. After a long silence, Alice spoke up with a question that had been on her mind for some time now.
"What electives have you two chosen for next year?" she asked, putting down her textbook.
"I'm taking Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes," Lily explained. "I would take every class, but Sirius warned me against that. He said it would be too stressful. I don't know how he knows that, but I suppose I'll listen to him."
"He always seems to know more than most people his age," Mary commented. "It's very strange. It's as if he can see the future."
"Now, that would be funny," Alice said. "But no, I don't think so. However, I must agree with you. It is strange that he somehow knows things that, to be quite honest with you, no thirteen-year-old should know."
"Well, doesn't being Heir to a pure-blood family, and living with the Lord and Lady of the family have something to do with it?" Lily asked, still learning about the pure-blood families.
"I guess it can, but only somewhat," Alice explained. "Many pure-blood families let their child grow up fully before teaching them to act like an adult, whereas other families teach their child to act as an adult way before they turn into one. But either way, there are just some things that thirteen-year-olds should not know."
"Honestly though, let's not worry about it," Lily said. "It's not our business. Anyway, what 'are you two taking next year?"
"Care of Magical Creatures and Magical Law," Alice said.
"Care of Magical Creatures and Magical Law," Mary stated.
"Oh yeah! That's a new class starting next year," Lily said. "And wow! We're all taking Care of Magical Creatures! I'll have to ask the others what they're taking. Also, you two are going to be in Magical Law together!"
"Yes," Alice and Mary said in unison.
Just then, the portrait hole opened, and in walked Sirius, Regulus, James, and Severus.
"How did it go this morning?" Lily asked.
James shrugged. "I can't wait until we're done," he admitted. "The lessons are fine or whatever, but I just want to be a stag and be done with the lessons."
Regulus snorted. "Yes, you've told us that plenty of times now," he responded.
"We'll get there," Sirius reassured him.
"By the way, what are you all taking for your electives next year?" Mary asked.
When everyone answered, each person said they were taking Care of Magical Creatures. "And I know that Capella is too," Regulus added.
"Wow!" Alice exclaimed happily. "So we're all taking Care of Magical Creatures together! That is so cool! Wait, but Regulus, you and Capella will only be second years. How are you taking Care of Magical Creatures?"
"Oh yeah, so the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress decided to change the rules a bit, and allow for second years to also have electives, starting next year," Regulus explained.
"Wow! That's so cool!" Mary exclaimed.
"Well, this will be fun, even though you and Capella will be in separate classes than us third years," Sirius said.
"Yeah," Regulus agreed.
Everyone spent the rest of the day talking and studying. It was a nice end to a nice year at Hogwarts. Sirius and Regulus were looking forward to the summer, because they would get to go to France. It was going to be a great summer.