Ever since Albus's miraculous survival and strong bonding with James and Lily, there had been a major change in him that was becoming clearer and clearer.
The very thing that Albus was worried about when he had initially felt uncertain about the idea of trying to become more closely bonded with James and Lily had come to pass.
Albus had grown more and more distant from Rose and Pamela.
Meanwhile, in addition to becoming strongly bonded to James and Lily, he'd grown quite close with Hugo, Devon, Ainsley, Stephine, and Samantha.
In a sense, Albus had in fact switched groups.
This showed itself most clearly on the journey from Hogwarts before Christmas and to Hogwarts after New Year's when Albus had sat with Devon, Hugo, James, Ainsley, Samantha, Stéphane, and Lily on the Hogwarts Express rather than with Rose and Pamela.
Albus felt very guilty about growing more distant from Rose and Pamela, especially since Pamela's letter to Harry and Ginny was the very thing that started him down the road of becoming tightly bonded with James and Lily.
When Lily had purchased her Narnia books at the book sale, something about Albus's face told her something was bothering Albus and she asked Albus to come up to her room before bed that very night.
"What is it Lily?" asked Albus curiously the nanosecond he had entered her room, "You can't have read all those Narnia books in a few hours to discuss them."
"Albus, " said Lily seriously, "When I bought the Narnia books today, I noticed a look on your face as though something was bothering you."
"Guilt, " admitted Albus, "Specifically, guilt about growing apart from Rose and Pamela. Let's be real here, I've switched groups now. Sure, we're still all part of the eighteen and I do look forward to seeing what Rose and Pamela create for the Hogwarts Drawing Competition. But on a day to day basis, let's face it, I'm more distant with Rose and Pamela than ever and I'm really part of your group instead now. That's the very thing I promised Pamela wouldn't happen when I started that process of bonding with you and James. The fact that Pamela's letter to mom and dad is what started the whole process of my strongly bonding with you and James in the first place increases my sense of guilt."
"I can see why that would bug you, " said Lily in understanding, "But you've done absolutely nothing wrong. In fact, your changing of groups has actually been for the best for everyone involved."
Lily was often a voice of reason and Albus's natural trust in her naturally caused Albus's feeling of guilt to decrease slightly when Lily said that his changing of groups had been for the best.
Lily continued, "Be honest, Albus, who do you have more in common with Rose and Pamela or Devon, Hugo, James, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie and me?"
" Devon, Hugo, James, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie and you, " answered Albus a nanosecond later, "That's actually been a surprising revelation for me, but it's true, and it's more true than it would have been in the past. Since we hit fourteen, Rose and Pamela, who were always a bit girlish to begin with, have become very interested in girl things that I couldn't care less about such as makeup, lipstick, shoes, fashion, doing their hair, etc. as well having become even more fond of gossip than they were in the past. "
"Exactly, " said Lily brightly, "Rose and Pamela actually LIKE the fact that you've grown apart from them. It gives more opportunities to spend time with each other doing girl stuff."
"I'm personally glad to have grown apart from them, to be honest about it, " admitted Albus, "I'm happy not to have to deal with girl stuff. Bear in mind that the girls in our group, yourself, Ainsley, Samantha, and Stephanie, aren't too girlish expect for your fondness for hot pink."
"True, " said Lily proudly.
"The thing is, I actually have a lot in common with Devon, Hugo, James, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie and you even though I didn't previously realize it: Quidditch, candy, fantasy novels, etc, " observed Albus, "Even my personally meshes better with Devon, Hugo, James, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie and you. The only thing I really have in common with Rose and Pamela is a love of academics and I do still greatly enjoy talking academics with Rose and Pamela before class every day."
"Bingo!" said Lily clearly, "Your love of academics was why Rose and Pamela were your best friends for so long in the first place but's all you have in common with them. Being myopically focused on academics prevented you, Rose and Pamela from discovering your other interests in the past. Rose and Pamela have found theirs and circumstances have allowed you to find yours. This is a good thing for all of you."
"Being part of your group is better for me than being besties with Rose and Pamela because of personality and interest similarities, " said Albus cheerfully, his guilt now completely gone.
"And it's also better for Rose and Pamela to be best friends without you, " said Lily matter of factly, "The truth is that you'd be in their way if you were still part of a trio with them. You and them both have happier and more satisfying lives because of the switch. Everyone in my group has loved having your company into the bargain. Sometimes these things just evolve like that."
"And, " smiled Albus, who now understood, "It's the best of both worlds. Rose and Pamela are still my best friends amongst my classmates and I still talk academics with them every weekday. I just don't spend time with them outside the classroom anymore unless all eighteen are meeting up for something. "
"Your changing of groups has allowed Rose and Pamela to become themselves more, you to become yourself more, and Devon, Hugo, James, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie and me to enjoy your company more. It all works out, " said Lily glowingly.
"It all works out, " said Albus cheerfully.
His talk with Lily had set him straight.
Switching main groups from Rose and Pamela to Devon, Hugo, James, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily was the best thing that could have happened for everybody involved and that included Albus himself.