Final Days

                                    

                                          
Ivy:
                          
Over the next week, we spent hours studying for our exams and made preparations for the summer. We only had two weeks left of school and I was becoming increasingly stressed when I hadn't received a letter back from my mother about the summer.
                          
"Ivy seriously just come stay the summer with me," Oliver said as the two of us walked to the Black Lake during our free period.
                          
"You know what I'm gonna say to that," I replied.
                          
"I just don't understand why you don't want to," he replied, his tone sounded a little hurt.
                          
"Oliver, it's not that I don't want to, I do want to," I stressed, "I just can't.
                          
"Why?" He asked as we sat down underneath a tree by the lake. I sighed, trying to figure out how to phrase my words. 
                          
"Because staying with you would make this real."
                          
"Make what real?" he asked, furrowing his brow.
                          
"I guess," I sighed, "It would make my parents practically abandoning me a reality." He nodded his head as my words registered with him, and he put a hand on my leg, telling me he understood. "I do want to stay with you, and I do want to meet your parents and Allison," I said gently, "But I'm ready to admit that they really left quite yet."
                          
"It's ok, I understand. I'm sorry if it felt like I was pressuring you."
                          
"You weren't," I assured him, "You just want to help and I know that." I leaned against his shoulder. "Can I tell you something," I looked up at him.
                          
"Yeah?"
                          
"I think I have a crush on you," I said, cracking a smile. 
                          
"I think I have a crush on you too," he chuckled. 
                          
We talked by the lake for a while and relaxed before heading back to the castle for our next classes.
                          
x x x
                          
    Ivy, 
                          
I'm sorry I couldn't respond sooner. I'm not sure that it would be the best idea for you to come to America. Your father and I are both very busy and we are working on a confidential project at the moment. Plus, you have your friends in the U.K. 
                          
     Love,
                          
            Mum
                          
Great. Wonderful. Absolutely amazing. I grabbed a quill and some ink, jotting down a passive aggressive response. It's not like she could do anything about it anyway. 
                          
Mum,
                          
   I'm staying at my boyfriend's house in Scotland. You'd know who he was if you asked. If you have an issue, feel free to come talk to me in person. 
                          
       -Ivy
                          
To say that Oliver was ecstatic when I took him up on the offer to stay at his house was the biggest understatement of my life. The boy had practically sprinted to the Owlrey to write his parents.
                          
x x x

                          
Exam week went by quickly. I could already tell that I did well in the subjects that mattered. We spent a lot of the weekend with our seventh-year friends, knowing we wouldn't see them next year.
                          
Over the last week of school, I played a pickup game of quidditch with Terrence and some of his friends. Once again, the issue of who would be my seeker next year was knawing at me. I would have to figure something out and talk to Malfoy.
                          
I also spent time learning about Oliver's hometown and family. I loved listening to him talk enthusiastically about what we should do over the summer and describe what his parents and sister were like. 
                          
x x x
                          
I'll admit, on the last day of school I shed a tear or two when hugging Terrence goodbye. He'd acted as sort of a big brother to me all throughout his time at Hogwarts, and I truly was going to miss him.
                          
"I know you'll miss me terribly but, try not to cry too much over the devastation of my absence," he smirked while hugging me.
                          
"I'm not crying," I said unconvincingly, pushing his shoulder. He patted me on the head like a puppy, grinning before saying goodbye to his other friends. 
                          
I walked over to meet Meghan, Marcus, and Oliver, the four of us grabbing our bags to find a compartment on the train. Adrian and Alyssa joined us too, but left after a couple of minutes to "use the bathroom." 
                          
"Oh I'm sure they'll be using it, just not to shit," Meghan remarked, making the four of us laugh.
                          
We all talked for awhile, having to stifle our laughs when Alyssa and Adrian returned. I leaned my head on Oliver's shoulder as the train pulled away from the station, gazing out the window as the castle grew smaller and smaller. 
                          
End of Year Six