During the final days of the school year, a distinct shift was noticeable between the two previously separate groups of second-year Hufflepuffs. The tragic death of Hannah Abbott's mother marked a profound turning point in the relations between the two factions, leading to a significant rapprochement from both sides. For the first time since their arrival at Hogwarts, they were confronted directly with the harsh consequences of the war, and this experience forced them to mature considerably. They realised that war was not some distant, foreign concept; on the contrary, it was a tangible threat, and attempting to ignore it would only lead to more profound pain in the long run than they would originally suffer.
Thus, it was no longer uncommon to see the two groups socialising or studying together for the upcoming examinations. This didn't mean they stopped interacting with their other friends; quite the opposite, their friendships were too strong for that. However, it did signify that they were spending more time together as a unified group.
Then came the arrival of the final examinations, bringing with them a palpable nervousness that permeated the entire school, affecting students and teachers alike. The students plunged into a frenzy of revision, desperate to pass their exams, while the teachers faced the arduous task of preparing these assessments – a far more complicated undertaking than it might seem at first glance. Consequently, it was very easy to find many individuals who had adopted the library as their quasi-permanent residence, or, in Harry's and his friends' case, the not-so-secret room of the young Hufflepuff.
It was during this period that the teachers informed the young Hufflepuff that, since he had not yet completed the sixth-year syllabus, it would be foolhardy to allow him to sit the end-of-year examinations.
"You're in the midst of the sixth-year syllabus right now, Harry," Professor Sprout said, setting formalities aside as she poured her student a cup of tea. "That in itself is quite an achievement, considering it has only been three months since you began your sixth-year studies, but you are not yet ready to take the corresponding examinations."
"I know, Professor," the boy replied, accepting the cup. "I was already warned that it was highly likely I wouldn't have time to finish the syllabus before the end of term."
"What I wished to tell you is that we have considered that if you study diligently during the summer, so as not to lose momentum, it is very likely that by the time the next academic year commences, you will finish the material very swiftly," Professor Sprout continued. "So, you can already begin to contemplate what you wish to dedicate the rest of your life to… You have very little time left to ponder it."
After that conversation, Harry briefly considered what he wanted to do after school. After all, he still had one more year of studies to formally complete, but he had practically finished his preliminary academic training. He raised his doubts with Ginna, but she merely smiled enigmatically and told him not to worry, that he would make a good choice. For the first time, Harry didn't curse his inability to glimpse his own future, which would surely help him resolve all his uncertainties about what lay ahead. Well, he always had Remus.
On the thirtieth of June, Harry found himself staring at his trunk with annoyance. He did not want to go home. His parents would barely notice his presence, and if they did, it would only be to reproach him for not having interceded for his brother when Brian was punished. It had been difficult for him, but he finally understood that his parents' preference for his younger brother and their much better treatment of him was not right. He wasn't foolish; he knew that parents often had a favourite child, no matter how much they claimed otherwise, but what his parents did was sheer negligence towards him, and that had nothing to do with mere favouritism.
It had been hard to witness his brother receive letters and parcels from their parents day in and day out, while he had not been sent a single letter all year. And although it had hurt, it had served to make him realise much more quickly that it was not worth continuing to try to please his parents. As long as they continued to believe that Brian was the child of prophecy, there would be nothing to be done. The best and most truthful thing was to consider Uncle Remus his father, and perhaps… in time, Ginna could become his mother figure. Yes, that would be for the best; it would hurt less.
Still, he desperately didn't want to go home. Instead, he would much rather spend the holidays elsewhere, or even remain at school. Being invisible for two months to everyone except Remus and his brother was not pleasant at all. For a few days, he had considered asking permission to stay at school, but he knew perfectly well that they would refuse, so it was foolish to ask. Although he hadn't voiced his reluctance, his friends had noticed his unwilling feeling to return home, and while they offered him encouragement and understanding, none of them were entirely sure how they should help him.
"Ready to return?" Ernie Macmillan asked, seeing that Harry had finished packing his trunk.
"Guess."
"You don't seem to be looking forward to it."
"And I'm not. Just thinking about two months with Brian, uninterrupted… It gives me shivers."
"Totally understandable," Justin Finch-Fletchley muttered. "I'd try to be as far away from him as possible."
That elicited a few chuckles in the dormitory. After all, if even a Hufflepuff wanted to be away from someone, that person must be truly unpleasant. The truth was that Brian had earned a very poor reputation during his time at Hogwarts. He had no friends, and from what Hermione and Neville had told Harry, his own roommates could barely tolerate him. Obviously, school had not been what his brother expected, but quite the opposite. No matter how much the teachers turned a blind eye to his transgressions of the internal regulations, Brian had expected everyone to fall at his feet, just as they did at home. After such an unfavourable year, he would undoubtedly try to seek revenge on a territory he knew well and knew was unsuitable for his brother.
Not long after, the trunks vanished from the dormitories (obviously the work of House-Elves) and were most likely already in the train's luggage carriage. That held a clear meaning: it was time to leave and go home, however much they wished to stay or delay the inevitable moment. So Harry picked up the basket where his cat was and headed to where his dorm mates and friends were waiting to return home.
"Ready, Harry?" Neville asked as soon as he saw him.
"As much as I can be," the young Hufflepuff muttered.
"Don't worry, you'll see, everything will be fine," Hermione said optimistically. "I'm sure that even if it's just a little, your parents will be happy to see you, and besides, there's Remus."
"Guess…"
"Besides," Draco said, looking at him seriously, "I've been thinking that if things get ugly, I can invite you to my house."
"Hmmm… Don't take it the wrong way, but don't you think your father wouldn't like it? After all, my father is an Auror, and your father…"
It didn't need to be said aloud; everyone understood that what he meant was that Lucius Malfoy belonged to the Death Eaters. This was no secret within the group and usually didn't pose any problems, although the Slytherin often felt too uncomfortable discussing it. That time was no exception.
"Well, it is true that he wouldn't be very amused…" the blond boy murmured. "But you're my friend, and that comes first."
"Thank you very much, Draco."
Once on the train, each relaxed as best they could. Terry and Hermione began a complicated conversation about topics of magical theory that had nothing to do with their age and that only Harry would be able to understand. Neville and Athenea were having a debate about exotic plants while flipping through a Herbology book that the Gryffindor possessed. Draco, Jonathan, and Harry played a game of Exploding Snap, trying to ensure that none of the other occupants of the compartment could be harmed in any way by the explosions.
The journey was very quiet; no one came in wanting to bother them (meaning Brian), and each one explained what they thought they were going to do during the summer holidays. Between games, excursions, and resting from school, the vast majority were going to be very busy. The most exciting part of the whole journey was when Fred and George appeared in the compartment, wanting to have a fun time and show them the beginnings of what was going to be their company: "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes." They hadn't started producing yet, but they had grand ideas and plans; in fact, they showed them a few scrolls with their blueprints and joke projects.
"These ideas are very good," Hermione said, looking at the parchments. "If you manage to develop them, you will have a large market and a very good response from consumers."
"I would at least buy several of these things," Draco murmured, also looking at the projects. "In essence, what you need is an investor… someone with money who believes in your ideas."
"We had thought…"
"…of asking for a loan from Gringotts."
"Mmm… It has its disadvantages. The idea is good, and they would surely grant it to you, but you would have to provide collateral, and also the interest rates are very high. It is best to have an investor."
"But where…"
"…will we find one?"
"Who knows," Harry laughed innocently. "He could be anywhere. If you start with students, a family member may be interested in investing."
When the train arrived at King's Cross, everyone said goodbye, promising to send each other owls so that they could keep up to date with their summers. Draco insisted again on inviting him to his house, despite the fact that his father would not like the idea, and Harry was again forced to refuse. It was not his plan to cause the blond any trouble.
As soon as Harry left the magical area of the station and returned to the Muggle side, he saw his parents, who were already excessively spoiling their youngest son, who was surely explaining to them how dreadful his classmates had been and how he had not liked his first year at all. Harry sighed, sensing it was going to be a very long summer.
On a more cheerful note, the young Hufflepuff was very happy when Remus came over for dinner that night (his parents had arranged a welcome dinner for Brian). Harry hadn't seen him since shortly after his OWLs, and he was dying to be with him; after all, letters were all well and good, but it wasn't the same. He had longed to be with him and to have their usual and very pleasant talks. And he was very happy when the werewolf put everything else aside to be with him. At least, Remus would always notice and appreciate him.
"How has everything been going at school? Any interesting news?"
"Not much… although Fred and George showed me their prank projects for their shop."
"Were they any good?"
"When they can open their shop, Zonko's won't stand a chance! Too bad they lack funds to start."
"Don't worry about that, I'm sure that in the end everything will be resolved. Who knows when an investor will appear?"
"That's what I told you…" Harry mused. "Draco has also invited me to spend a few days at his house…"
"Draco? Draco Malfoy? Lucius Malfoy's son?"
"The very same."
"You won't accept, will you? His father is a Death Eater…"
"No… I have not accepted, but not because his father bothers me, but because I would annoy his father," Harry laughed. "Can you imagine his face when he found the son of an Auror in his house?"
"It would be quite a sight… that's for sure," Remus chuckled.
The conversation evolved from there to Harry's final weeks at Hogwarts, as well as his studies. The fact that he had not finished the sixth-year material was not a reason for disappointed comments, as the poor boy had supposed, but quite the opposite. At all times, Remus told him how proud he was of him. After all, who could have said that they had sat their OWLs when they were twelve? That was a welcome change; after all, his parents hadn't acknowledged his mere existence after they came from the station, not even to despise him. And they were still angry about the punishment they had given Brian because of him… or that he would not speak in his favour as long as the "undeserved" punishment was taken away.
That fact, the boy did not care about. For the first time in his short life, he was convinced that his parents were wrong and that their unequal treatment was truly unfair. It had been difficult for him to realise, but it was what he was thinking at that moment. They would realise their mistake… Ginna had told him that he was not the child of prophecy, and sooner or later, that would become known.
It was also Remus whom he asked for advice regarding what profession he should choose. After all, he only had a year and a half of studies left, and perhaps the next one would be his last. With a little luck, he would finish the seventh year the following year.
"First and foremost, it would be best if it was something you genuinely liked," Remus advised. "Because if you choose something that has a lot of opportunities but you don't like it, you will be very unhappy."
"What do you mean?"
"For example, many Aurors are needed now, and it is a profession that has a lot of opportunities, but you hate fighting, and you would only do it out of necessity. So if you chose that profession, you would be very unhappy while you work," the werewolf explained. "I think the best thing you could do is ask for an apprenticeship… think about what you like the most and approach the Hogwarts professor who specialises in that. I don't think they will deny it to you, and that would make it easier for you to have a future and circumvent the legal problem of being a minor."
"You mean that despite achieving my NEWTs, the Ministry wouldn't allow me to use my magic?"
"It's possible… you know that everyone in the Ministry is steeped in bureaucracy. It wouldn't be surprising if you were denied the right to practise until you were seventeen while you're not at Hogwarts. Of course, your teachers can also intercede on your behalf… So who knows? You might ask Ginna…"
"It wouldn't do any good. She refuses to tell me anything about my future…"
"And why don't you look for it yourself?"
"Because of the curse of clairvoyance. One cannot see one's own future. That's why if I want to know what will happen to me, I should ask her, but when I do, she just smiles and changes the subject."
Remus laughed at the comment and then began to ask Harry questions about his Divination classes and about his mentor in general. After all, although they had spoken about her in a letter, it was not the same as in person.
It was fortunate that Remus had chosen to come to dinner because that was, in itself, the most interesting event of the entire summer. Not even his birthday was very exciting because that year they did not go to Diagon Alley, since they would go later, and therefore his friends could not give him any birthday party. Even if his parents had forgotten about him, that didn't mean that the rest of them would too. His friends sent him many letters asking him how he was and inviting him to spend a few days at their houses, although the boy politely declined each of them. He couldn't wait to return to Hogwarts.