Hogsmeade was amazing! Almost all the Hogwarts students were there (except for the first and second years, of course), so it was packed! Alison and I hit Zonko's for supplies along with the Weasley twins and a couple of other school pranksters, so we'll have plenty until our next Hogsmeade trip.
I was trying to push Alison closer towards the Weasley twins, but she wouldn't budge and turned the shade of a tomato...or red Weasley hair. Something like that. I'm beginning to think maybe she's gotten hit in the head with a couple of Bludgers. She has to talk to them sooner or later!
Josie's ingredients for her love potion were quite expensive, and I'm not sure if we can have it ready in time for the Ball. She picked up some "Quick Brew! Instant Potion!" thing, but I am not sure it's going to work. Love potions take time, don't they? Hopefully the Quick Brew will work, but if it doesn't, the worst it can do is backfire, right? Or turn Malfoy into a toad for an hour. It is currently sitting in her room with her spare cauldron, and last I looked it was black.
Oh dear, the Ball is in a few hours. Time to go wake Alison up. I think she forgot about it entirely.
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Hogsmeade! The end of October is one of my favorite times of year because of the Halloween Feast, but now it’s even better with the addition of a trip to Hogsmeade. I’ve been there before – it’s where the Hogwarts Express Train Station is, but I’d never had more than a glimpse of most of the town.
It’s so enchanting, a lot like my Aunt and Uncle’s little village where I spend summers. Very different from Cambridge, a lot like Diagon Alley only magnified to include more than a few streets. Ora and I hit Zonko’s shop first thing, and we got some choice prank materials that should last us until the end of the year! If that Pansy Parkinson shrieks at us one more time, we’ll most certainly be able to get her back.
So, the Weasleys were also in Zonko’s. Ora kept poking me and trying to get me to go over and talk to them, but I was sure they didn’t even know who I was and most certainly wouldn’t want to talk to me, given that I’m not only a Slytherin but only a third year as well. Leah came in a few minutes later and poked at me as well, until I agreed to at least go browse near where they were looking. I’m sure I turned about three shades of red, and I felt rather stupid. I don’t think they noticed me at all, which was all for the better. Although I was looking at the floor mostly, or trying not to look at them, so I really don’t know. Ora won’t leave me alone about it!
Afterwards, we gathered nearly all of the Snogs girls and went to the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer and snacks. It was great, since we finally had a chance to sit around somewhere else than the Chamber. Not that I don’t like the Chamber, but it’s getting chilly outside and sometimes a draft creeps in since it’s in a slightly run-down section of the castle. The Three Broomsticks was very cozy and cheery. Then we had just enough time to buy some chocolate frogs and stop by the Shrieking Shack before dusk, when we had to be back at the castle.
Practice is early tomorrow morning, since it’s Sunday, so I’d better get some sleep! I’m never very awake that early, and I don’t want a black eye right before Halloween!
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Oh I'm furious! Mum owled today. It seems that Lucius will be making an appearance at our annual All-Hallows-Eve ball. Not only that, but he's bringing that horrid woman Narcissa! She truly does not deserve a man as great and beautiful as Lucius. He is a true visionary and deserves someone so much better. The woman does little more than file her nails and take journalists on tours of the Manor grounds. I know it was an arranged marriage, and that sullying the Malfoy name with a divorce would be unheard of, but still. Lucius could simply kill her or have her killed. Of course, Draco does seem to be attached to her and there is that nasty little historical precedent of male heirs of the Malfoy household killing their fathers. I suppose Lucius is only being prudent.
This does it. I am resolved. Narcissa must be taken out of the equation – the sooner the better. I know I said that I would never stoop to the level of charms but this might be an exceptional case. I must save Lucius from this ninny. He is sure to thank me later once I have rid him of her dead weight.
I'm leaving a note for Ora and the others. I may require a bit of help on this one. My trip to Hogsmeade just became vital. A little love potion to Lucius, and something terminal for Narcissa, and I will have what I desire at last. Now, I just have to find the appropriate recipes and obtain the components. If that git of a Gryffindor girl Granger can manage a Pollyjuice potion, I can certainly manage this! Why bother with Draco when you can have his father instead. I'll show Mum, and I'll do it by the end of the year.
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It’s been a really wonderful week. On Saturday I met Ora’s friends in the Chamber of Snogs, and it’s truly an amazing group. There’s Alison, who’s actually the great Slytherin beater I saw the other day, Gwen, from my own House, Josie from Ravenclaw, and Leah from Hufflepuff. I’ll bet the school doesn’t have another group of friends like this! They made both me and Rolan welcome, and Ora glommed Rolan. He gave her a long-suffering look for the “cute doggie!” part, but I think he secretly liked the attention anyway. It was really funny.
Potions this week has so far been doable, for which I’m really thankful. I don’t think I can bear being in Professor Snape’s constant bad graces, though I suppose the Gryffindors as a whole come close to it anyway. Maybe I should go ask Professor Flitwick for a charm that will let me sink into the floor on bad Potions days.
Anyway, the truly amazing thing was what happened this morning. This really tiny owl flew by and dropped an equally tiny envelop into my lap. There was a note from Syrien inside: “Be yourself and don’t worry about the rest.” And then I noticed that the envelop was actually my permission form to Hogsmeade! Somehow Syrien had known about it without me telling him and signed it and had it delivered to me! How had he known that I would want to go to Hogsmeade after all? I mean, I didn’t even know it myself until I met Ora and the others. I’ll really have to ask him next time. But now I’m really looking forward to the weekend.
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I've been hearing rumours that Potter's not going to make it to Hogsmeade this year because his muggle aunt and uncle didn't sign his form. That's kind of sad when you think about it, but I suppose Lysienne might be able to keep him company. She doesn't seem to keen on going, though I don't know why. I definitely want to go to Hogsmeade! It sounds like so much fun!
I've heard that the butterbeer's great Three Broomsticks, and that I absolutely have to get myself down to Honeydukes for sweets and Zonko's for their fun prank-like things. It will be so much fun! Halloween morning is barely days away!
As for studies and things, they've been going fine. Today, Lysienne joined our small group. There aren't a terrible many of us there most of the time, but it's a nice quiet place to be if you want to be away from people...or if you want conversation from Gilbert and Serge. They say the most interesting things sometimes.
I've also seen that Artemis boy hanging around near the halls sometimes. I think I've walked past him enough times to know that he's either spying on me, or spying on the chamber. If you're looking for the right thing, Gilbert and Serge are hard to miss. I'll have to ask them about it sometime, I suppose.
In the meantime, off to celebrate! Because the day of the Hogsmeade trip is very close!
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I’ve been wanting to go back to the Chamber of Snogs, but have been swamped with homework these past two nights--Transfiguration last night and Herbology tonight. I guess I should be thankful that I’m not taking Muggle Studies, because Hermione seems to be spending a lot of time on that class, even though she’s already familiar with that world. Somehow I think I’d do a lot worse at it.
Everyone seems really excited about the Hogsmeade trip at the end of this month. It seems somewhat interesting from the way from the way the other Gryffindors describe it, but I haven’t been paying much attention because I hadn’t planned to go. I didn’t think I’d want to, so I didn’t tell Syrien about the form we were supposed to bring back. I’m regretting it a little now, but not that much. After all, having the Qudditch field to myself for a day will also be fun.
Harry’s been looking rather down after the announcement about Hogsmeade. I’ve heard things about his aunt and uncle, and they don’t sound like very pleasant people. I’ll bet he wanted to go to Hogsmeade with his friends. I really think Professor McGonagall should make an exception for him. Sometimes the school rules are really just a bit silly.
This morning I sent an owl with another letter to Syrien. I’m not sure if this one will have any more luck than the first, but I asked him to search as long as he could. Maybe Syrien be home by now, or at least somewhere where it’s safe to receive letters. I really, really hope so.
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Thank the blue skies for Hogsmeade! I'm about to lose my mind. Why did I ever sign up for Muggle Studies? I spend all my free time in the library writing scroll after scroll. I never see anyone! I don't even see much of Churchill. He's always off with that mongrel Crookshanks these days. I wish I knew what they are up to.
I've only managed to make it here to the Chamber four times since school started. At least we'll all get to be together for the outing. I can hardly wait. I know that everyone's going to want to go to Zonko's. I guess we can all meet up there.
Things in Ravenclaw are quiet, as usual. Nothing shocking or exciting ever happens to any of us. Professor Snape just picks on the Gryffindor and leaves the rest of us alone for the most part. Professor Lupin is the big mystery. You know, I think he's got some kind of curse of something. He has days when he looks worse than Nearly Headless Nick! I think I'll talk about it with the group while we're in Hogsmeade. Between the lot of us, I bet we can figure it out.
Oh, here's a note from Alison. Sounds like she's doing great with Quidditch! I'm so chuffed for her! Too bad the Slytherin team is a bunch of meatheads. I will say this, at least Draco has half a brain. He might even be good enough to beat Potter to the snitch with that new broom of his. I guess we'll have to see when Slytherin and Gryffindor meet on the field. I know who I'll be rooting for!
As much as I hoped to meet someone tonight, I guess I'll have to go. It's getting late. I'll leave a note about meeting up at Zonko's and see what they think. I miss everyone so much…
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Quickening Potion and pixie wings today. I didn’t even try to give an excuse this time, just concentrated on keeping back the "how would you like it if your arms were ripped off and tossed into a pot" when the potion turned an ugly bog green instead of the pale green it was supposed to be and Professor Snape gave me a scathing put-down that made me so angry I wanted to cry. I do not have a talent for forgetting key ingredients!
I threw my Potions textbook into a corner of the bed after dinner and went for a prolonged walk with Rolan.
Two hours of wandering aimlessly through deserted corridors tired me out enough to finally stop rather childishly plotting to dump bubotubor pus in Professor Snape’s pumpkin juice. It wouldn’t have worked anyway, because the smell would definitely have alerted him. Though enlisting the help of the house-elves wasn’t a bad idea.
When I finally started taking notice of my surroundings again, we were somewhere in the out of bounds area of the third floor again. Since I was there anyway, I asked Rolan to take me back to the painting from the other night. The girl from Slytherin, Ora Yang, had appeared so suddenly that time that I was sure there was a hidden passageway around there somewhere, and I was curious to know if we could find it.
When I got there, however, Ora was already there as well, talking to the boys in the painting. I didn’t know whether or not to disturb them, but then Ora saw me and said hello and then introduced me to the boys in the painting, Gilbert and Serge. We started chatting when they went back to kissing. It turns out that she’s actually from a Chinese wizarding family and knows quite a bit about the Asian forms of wizardry. It was quite fascinating because I’d never studied Asian magic before.
I was asking about Asian magical creatures when Rolan suddenly sat up and looked down the corridor. It couldn’t have been Filch because he wasn’t being all growly, and he only got that expectant look for someone he’s met before. So I whispered to Ora that I thought someone was coming down the hall. She looked thoughtful for a moment, then turned to the boys and asked them to open the door. It appeared in the wall and swung open, and Ora beckoned me inside. The door shut behind us—just in time, because we could hear faint footsteps coming down the corridor. We both listened as it got closer and closer and then stopped right in front of us. There was no sound for a long time, then the footsteps started again, this time growing softer until they disappeared.
Ora looked puzzled and wondered if anyone knew about the Chamber of Snogs besides her and her friends. I must have looked a bit confused, because Ora then explained about how she and her friends had found this secret room, adopted it, decorated it, and dubbed it the "Chamber of Snogs". The room was furnished with various pillows, rugs, chairs, a couch, a low table, and other odds and ends. It looked really cozy—a perfect place for friends to meet.
I think it’s wonderful that she has friends from all the Houses, even from Gryffindor. They sounded like really neat people. Before I left, she offered to introduce me, and I happily agreed.
I feel a bit nervous about it now, but I still look forward to meeting them.
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This school year has been flying by so fast – I can’t believe it’s nearly Halloween already. And that means our first Hogsmeade trip is coming up! I’m so excited, I’ve heard that Zonko’s Joke Shop is beyond belief. I’m thinking maybe Ora and I can pick up something useful there…
Thinking back over the term so far, it’s been going pretty well. I really like DADA, but Professor Lupin’s been looking particularly downtrodden recently. Ora wondered aloud if he had some muggle disease, but honestly the only thing I could think of was mono, and I don’t think that's the problem. But still, that man looks like he could use some sleep. And I have half a notion that some of the Snogs girls would be willing to give him something more… But that’s their priority, not mine.
Recently, my priority has been with trying to stay alive during what Flint calls “practice.” All right, they’re not that bad, but really, I think his idea of strategy leaves something to be desired. Granted, the entirety of the team excluding Malfoy and myself are great hulking gits, and their best strategy really is to just throw their weight around, but seriously, Flint can’t expect me to do that. Malfoy doesn’t have to, all he has to do is catch the snitch and stay out of the way. I’ve been trying to work things out with Derrick, the other beater, but so far he’s just given me blank looks. I don’t think he really understands. Ah well, I don’t claim to be a great strategist myself, all I do is hit bludgers, I suppose. Ora’s offered on more than one occasion to put in a good word for me with Malfoy, but I don’t know how much good it’ll do. Maybe I will have her do it, though. It can’t hurt, I suppose. But I still think we’re dead when it comes to the Gryffindor game.
Speaking of, Gwen and I have a plan to sneak into each other’s common rooms. We’re not sure how we’re going to do it yet – she said she overheard that last year Potter, Granger, and Weasley used Polyjuice potion, but she’s afraid to try that. I guess I don’t blame her, what with her luck with potions. But I don’t really know how else we’re going to manage it. And I don’t know when I’ll ever get a look at the Weasley twins up close, short of during a game. Ora thinks I should slap a note on one of them during said game, asking them out. I think I’d die of mortification – they don’t even know I exist. No, there’s got to be a better way…
Maybe I can tail them during this Hogsmeade trip. They’re sure to be in Zonko’s, and I’m going there myself, aren’t I?
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Professor Lupin looks like he got hit by a whirlwind. Or something like that. He looks absolutely terrible; even worse than when I first saw him, if that's possible. Of course, Malfoy made his usual jokes about undernourished, poverty-stricken Lupin, but I really feel bad for the guy. Maybe he has some serious Muggle disease that can't be cured by magic or something. I remember my parents telling me something about those. I would ask Professor Lupin, but he's being very quiet about it, so I guess I shouldn't pry into other people's business. I do wonder what is going on. Maybe I'll look into it if I have any free time.
Alison seems to be having fun on the Quidditch team, I haven't heard any complaints coming from her way, though I do suppose it would be a bit awkward for her as the only girl on the team. I might have a word aside with Draco about treating Alison nicely, she is the best beater in Slytherin; and sometimes Draco forgets that I come from a powerful wizarding family too (even though I socialize with Muggles). Perhaps I should remind him that my dad is also quite high in the ranks of the Ministry of Magic (being an Ambassador and all), and that he'd better not get on the wrong side of me.
That ought to put Draco in place. Sometimes, I think his head is a little bigger than it should be. That's why I need to pop it for him every once in a while.
But if things keep going like this, I don't think I'll ever get the chance to ask him on a date, because he won't like me anymore.
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Professor Lupin came to class looking truly alarming today—almost as bad as the beginning of school. There were shadows under his eyes, and his hands were shaking just the tiniest bit. Everyone in the class was concerned about him, but he just smiled and started the lecture like he usually does.
I seriously wondered if I should try to ‘touch’ him to see if I could figure out what was wrong. I mean, there are other ways of Healing besides those commonly used by wizards, and maybe one of those can help him. But on the other hand, he would probably already know, since he is a very knowledgeable wizard. And besides, since I don’t have any formal training in using Healing, it would probably have taken longer than something that could be seen as accidental, and how could I possibly explain that?
I argued with myself all throughout the class, but finally decided that it would probably be wrong to do it without telling him. And since it definitely looked as if he didn’t want to talk about it....
Now I wish more than ever that my letter had reached Syrien. I really miss being able to ask for his advice.
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A barn owl dropped a letter into my lap today, and for a moment I thought I’d actually gotten a reply, but then I recognized my own handwriting and realized that it was the letter I’d sent out. I don’t know why I felt so disappointed; I did expect something of the sort when I’d sent it out, of course, since Syrien had told me before I left that he might need to travel under a cloaking spell for a while. At least he promised to be home for Christmas. But Christmas is still more than two months away! I felt really alone after that--which is silly, because he said that he would be here if I ever needed him. And besides, I’ll always have Rolan. It’s just that I really wish I could talk to him right now.
I decided to take one of the long ways back to the Gryffindor common room so I could calm down a little before I got there. I chanced to pass Professor Lupin and Professor Snape engaged in conversation at the foot of one of the staircases. It was very strange; Professor Snape said something that sounded really irritated and waspish, but as I got closer, I heard Professor Lupin reply, “Thank you, Severus” in a voice that sounded sincerely grateful. When I passed them, Professor Snape glared and Professor Lupin smiled and waved.
Syrien once said that we should always try to see people as people instead of dismissing them with labels like “stupid” or “evil” or “know-it-all”. I admit that I have a hard time doing that with Professor Snape because he’s so...unpleasant! But I guess he must have his good points too if he’s willing to do a favor for Professor Lupin. I can never figure out if he actually enjoys teaching, though. Well, maybe if tormenting students can be counted as “enjoys teaching....”
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Potions today actually went smoothly, thankfully. We were making a wound-cleaning potion, which will definitely come in handy. As with most potions used for healing, the ingredients were all plant-based, to my relief. Everyone seemed to do really well with the potion, too, since no one got one of those scathing put-downs only Professor Snape is capable of. Strangely, he seemed out-of-sorts (more than usual, I mean), but preoccupied at the same time.
The potion turned a rich purple. When it was tested on a volunteer--a Gryffindor, naturally--it smoked and by his expression probably stung a little. I bottled most of my potion to take with me--who knows when it’ll be useful to have on hand?
Professor Lupin also seemed rather worried about something, though he was less obvious about it than Professor Snape. He was as attentive as usual to teaching the class and answering our questions, but he also seemed a little...distant. I don’t know, maybe I’m reading something that isn’t there. Or...well, certainly it’s understandable to be a little preoccupied with the hunt for Sirius Black still ongoing and Dementors lurking outside the school grounds. But still....
This week in DADA we’re studying kappas, creatures that live in ponds and like to drown travelers and little children. I wonder if Professor Lupin will show one to us like he did for the boggart and the Red Cap? That would be certainly be interesting.
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Red Caps are thoroughly nasty creatures. We’d read up on them for Defense of the Dark Arts, and today Professor Lupin actually brought one to class and demonstrated how to ward against them.
According to the book, Red Caps love bloodshed and lurk around dungeons or battlefields waiting to bludgeon those who are lost. They have the thoroughly disgusting occupation of dying their caps with the blood of those they bludgeon. Ugh. I hope Professor Lupin didn’t find this one within the castle itself. I’d hate to encounter a Red Cap while Rolan and I are exploring; I wouldn’t know what to tell Rolan if he caught one.
On the up side, there are now three cats wandering around the Gryffindor tower! They all appear to be good friends. One is Hermione’s cat Crookshanks, of course. The second is Whiskers, who belongs to Artemis Moongrove, a boy in my year. They seem really close, like me and Rolan. I think the third cat belongs to someone in another House because I only see him occasionally.
Strangely, they all seem occupied with stalking Ron’s rat, Scabbers. Well—I suppose on the surface it’s not that strange; they’re cats and he’s a rat, after all, but wizards’ pets are pretty good at putting such prejudices aside. Like Rolan—he was a bit disgruntled about the cats roaming in his territory at first, but I think they’re friends now, too. Of course, he still pretends disdain when I’m around, but wolves are a bit silly like that. Still...I don’t think Rolan likes Scabbers either, though he stays away because I told him to. I wouldn’t want Ron’s pet to get hurt, but I wonder why they all dislike him so much?
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Longbottom passed out in Potions yesterday. It was quite a sight. Okay, so he passed out because Professor Snape was teaching us the Videormori, which is supposed to make the drinker look like he's dead. I'm not sure whether Longbottom had drunk enough of the potion, or whether he just passed out because of the look Snape was giving him. All in all, it was quite amusing, though he was extra hard on the Gryffindors yesterday. I suppose its his revenge for that Boggart incident with Longbottom. He's never going to see the end of Professor Snape, that kid.
Some people have been prowling near the Chamber of Secrets, and that sort of worries me. I talked to Gilbert and Serge and made sure that they won't let in anyone else but us.
Well, the Gryffindor girl, she seems quite nice. I think her name's Lysienne or something like that, and she's third year like me. It was very amusing to see her goggle at Gilbert and Serge as if she had never seen boys kissing before. I'll have to ask Gwen about her, but I'll have to ask the rest of the Snogs girls before I can invite her in. She had quite a cool wolf though, he looked like a very nice fellow. I've never met a wolf before, and he was very well behaved.
So after my last class today, went down to the Chamber to study, and Gilbert and Serge were giggling, telling me they had seen the most 'absolutely shockingly gorgeous' boy walk past last night. After a bit more questioning, it appears as if he lingered around quite a bit. They don't know his name, they didn't talk to him much, but I suspect there were both staring after him for quite some time.
You know, sometimes I wish one could get more information out of paintings.
At any rate, I'll be on the lookout, because heaven forbid our Chamber gets overrun by boys.
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Wow, talk about a good year for learning. We're covering great stuff in our classes, except for maybe those flobberworms in Care of Magical Creatures. Poor Hagrid.
But, in DADA we've gotten to work with both Boggart's and now, we're going to be working with Red Caps next, which should be interesting.
My explorations of the castle are proving more fruitful this year than ever. Unfortunately, because of the Dementors, I can't be outside as much, but there's plenty do to inside the castle itself.
Last night, I was out wandering when I saw my housemate Lysienne's wolf Rolan, with her following close behind. I got out of range of his sharp nose, and followed them to a corridor and a picture that I had seen before. However, I should have payed more attention, because it's got a secret chamber. Interesting. I'll definitely have to look into this more.
I also managed to get out of potions with some spare Dragon's Blood. I know it's not all that honest to take from Professor Snape, but how often do you get the chance to get such a powerful spell ingredient? I mean, it's such a wonderful spell ingredient. I'm really going to have to research some nice potions so that I can really make it worth it.
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Potions today was an absolute disaster. I feel like I got dragged into the roiling thunderstorm of Professor Snape’s class by the collar, and came out at the end of it bedraggled and well-fried.
Damn the man. He acts like actually helping someone would terminally sprain his so-called teaching style. And Heavens forbid that he actually show some sensitivity!
After two years I’ve become mostly accustomed to working with the grisly things that make up potions ingredients. But not today’s.
Now I know why we were assigned that horrible reading last night.
When I got to class today the Slytherins and even some of the Gryffindors were talking excitedly about the day’s lesson. Hermione was already there with Ron and Harry, and I overheard her telling them that this potion, the Videormori, was invented by Rowena Ravenclaw herself. Unlike the Draught of Living Death, the Potion of Seeming Death puts the drinker into a sleep that is actually physically indiscernible from death; the sleeper stops breathing, her heart stops beating, her skin becomes cold to the touch. It has been used to great effect by various wizards and witches to fake their own deaths.
I was wondering how someone who has taken Videormori would look to a Healer when I saw it in the list of ingredients. Dragon’s blood. For a sleeping potion.
That explained Hermione’s excitement. She’d have actually completed her reading, of course.
The potion was one with a simple procedure, though its ingredients had to be handled with care. No doubt Professor Snape had set up explosion-containing wards around the room.
Which didn’t help me at all.
I got through most of the potion pretty well until it came to adding the drop of dragon’s blood. I couldn’t even manage to pick up the vial.
As a result my potion turned out thin and almost as translucent as water. The professor forced Neville Longbottom to drink half the cauldron before he finally passed out—and at that I think it was more from sheer terror of having to stand next to Professor Snape for so long than any effect of my potion. At least it didn’t have any bad side effects—not that the professor cared, of course.
Insufferable man.
I had to lie about forgetting the dragon’s blood, and I stuttered so badly that I’m sure he knew that I wasn’t telling the truth. But then he made some nasty comment about how all Gryffindors have their brains permanently in petrificus totalus anyway and stormed off to torment some other poor third-year. I’m just glad he didn’t force me to redo the potion—I think I would’ve either thrown up or attempted to dump my half-cauldron of non-sleeping potion over his head out of sheer frustration.
But still, the afternoon bothered me so much that, rather ironically, I couldn’t sleep. So Rolan and I went out for a walk. Since it’s no longer safe to roam the Hogwarts grounds outside the castle, we’ve started exploring the maze of rooms, corridors, dead ends, illusions, and who knows what else that makes up Hogwarts. It’s really quite fascinating. Whoever built this place had a really twisted mind.
After about a half-hour of aimless wandering, Rolan suddenly started leading me down a passageway that I had never seen. I think he’d picked up the scent of Mrs. Norris on the prowl. Rolan, of course, would have been more than happy to provoke a fight with her, but since I really didn’t want him to be kicked out of the castle—all those Dementors! *shudder*—I told him to keep away from her.
We ended up in front of this picture of...uh...two boys...who were...well—kissing. Okay, I admit it: I stared. It was unbearably rude, but they didn’t seem to mind—well, they weren’t paying much attention to anything but each other, really. I mean, Rolan gives me those really slobbery wolf-kisses to tell me he’s happy to see me, but I’d never seen two people do that before. So I was still staring when this girl materializes next to me—and I’m sure I blushed straight to the roots of my hair. But even though she was Slytherin she was actually quite nice and didn’t seem to have the prejudice that most Slytherins hold against Gryffindors. We introduced ourselves and it turns out that she’s a third-year like me. I guess I really should start paying more attention to the people around me.
It was actually unexpectedly fun to talk to someone about...just anything like that. But it was late, and I really needed to get back to the tower. So after a little while I said good night and followed Rolan back.
It’s a good thing the Fat Lady doesn’t care about silly things like curfews.
I wonder if I can find my way back to that corridor...?
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Tonight’s Potions homework: "the Fifty Most Important Uses of Dragon’s Blood."
Damn.
"While many parts of the dragon (including hide, heart, liver, and horn) are highly prized as potions ingredients, dragon’s blood is an especially coveted addition to countless mixtures. Due to its incredibly magical nature, dragon’s blood can be added to virtually any potion to strengthen its effects, often by a factor of two or more. However, the scarcity of dragon’s blood means that it is almost never used except in those potions where it is an essential ingredient. The following is a list of the fifty most important uses of dragon’s blood:
Restoraserum – a potion used to counteract the effects of magical backlash; in its most powerful form, able to wake one who has been drained into backlash coma
Yumesui – a potion originating from East Asia which evokes a dream and locks the drinker into it until either the potion wears off (which could take several days) or the antidote is applied
Hypnosium – a potion which forces the drinker into a hypnotic state; most often used in ancient times to control the drinker but has fallen into disfavor since the invention of the Imperius Curse
Veritaserum – a potion which prevents the drinker from lying; in its more powerful forms, forces the drinker to tell the truth"
There were five more pages listing the various uses of dragon’s blood, but the fourth potion was as far as I got. In the interest of not losing my dinner, I decided to turn to Divination homework instead—the first time, I’m sure, that I actually looked forward to it. Looking up patterns of tea leaves is mindless and boring, but at least it’s calming.
I don’t know what I’ll do if we get tested on this stuff. I really doubt that Professor Snape will accept something like "I don't need to know this because I'll never use it anyway." But, dammit, I'll bet he's never even talked to a dragon.
I wonder how many points he'd take from Gryffindor if I told him that?
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I was singing along to the Musicalis Charm today when someone shoved past me, remarking in passing that I was scaring the paintings and armor away. I stopped and stared after him. It was Draco Malfoy, who was heading in the same direction I was, Nimbus Two Thousand and One in hand. I almost turned around and went straight back to the Gryffindor tower, but Rolan was growling after him. He senses my moods much too well sometimes. Then I decided that I wasn’t going to let someone who probably doesn’t even know what an oboe is to drive me away by being nasty, so Rolan and I continued on our way to the broomshed.
It was a gorgeous day, and the first time we’d been out in a while. Standing in the grass and wind immediately restored my good mood, and Rolan and I played tag until we finally meandered our way to the broomshed. Then I borrowed a broom and took off while Rolan loped behind me on the ground. It’s really too bad he doesn’t like flying. When I first learned the Wingardium Leviosa Charm, I used it to levitate Rolan so we could fly together, but he was airsick for a day afterwards and refused to approach me whenever I held a broom after that.
The Slytherins were out practicing, so I just circled outside the Quidditch field, enjoying the sun on my face, the wind through my hair, and the sense of total freedom I get when I’m flying. The Slytherin team had gotten some new players, and I hovered for a moment to watch. I still don’t like how easy it is to get injured in Quidditch—like the way Harry had gotten his arm broken last year, but it is an exciting sport to watch.
The Slytherins seem to go for size over everything else, except for Malfoy and one of their Beaters, a girl. The Gryffindors all think that Malfoy bribed his way into the Slytherin team, but I think it would also be fair to say that he is not bad as a Seeker. It was also easy to see how the girl made the team; she was an expert flyer, very good at predicting the movement of the Bludger, and had impressive aim. I think she’ll give Fred and George Weasley a run for their Galleons during the next Gryffindor-Slytherin match.
On my second trip around I noticed that the Gryffindor team captain had also come out for a flight, but he was much more intently focused on the practice than I was. He waved at me absently as I swung past. On my third circle around the field I suddenly noticed that Rolan was nowhere to be seen. I flew higher to look for him, and finally found him at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, a small grey dot standing next to a small black dot. When I touched down next to him, however, his companion was gone. Actually, I guess that’s not too surprising, since most creatures from the Forbidden Forest are very shy. Though I hope next time Rolan will introduce us.
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Alison made the team! I'm so happy for her! It looks like her good skills and my not-so-discreet words with Draco payed off quite well.
Unfortunately, since the Quidditch tryouts are over, we have detention with Professor Lupin after our classes every day for a week. I never thought the punishment for wandering around after curfew were so severe. I suppose that means I will have to be more careful in the future, especially since it appears that our DADA teacher has taken to prowling the school at night. It's not fair! How come teachers get to wander about at will and the students have to stay in their common room?
Well, detention could be far worse. I can't imagine how horrible it would be with McGonagall (she'd probably make us write essays or read out of our books) or Snape (he's not even nice to his own Slytherin students when we earn detention), so I suppose I got off lucky by having Professor Lupin.
Mostly, he just makes us tidy up the DADA room, but he's nice enough to let us use magic to straighten up the shelves and clean the tables. He even taught us a couple of more efficient cleaning spells! I've never had a Hogwarts teacher as nice as Professor Lupin. Now I'm starting to feel bad for him because Draco is always turning his nose up at the shabbiness of Professor Lupin's robes.
Okay, so I know that Professor Lupin is a bit threadbare, but he's a nice man and a good teacher and I can overlook the state of his robes for that. He even gave Alison and me a sneak peak at the creatures next week: Red Caps! Apparently they like to hide in places where there have been lots of bloodshed, waiting to lost and confused people to bump into them. I'd never even heard of them spoken of before, poor jumpy Professor Quirrel never really taught us too much, and Professor Lockheart's (I used to call him Professor Blockhead but most of the girls in the common room usually seemed to be too busy sighing to really notice that we weren't learning anything) classes were a joke. At least the work slackened off a bit that year, though there was this general tension over the Chamber of Secrets and that whole deal.
At any rate, it's time for detention with Professor Lupin again. Maybe I should ask him whether or not he will teach us any defense against the Black Asian Arts. I'd heard a bit about them from my parents, curses and such, but I wonder if we'll learn about those this year.
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I am going to kill Professor Trelawney. I am! She kept me after class and made me late for quidditch tryouts; it was dark by the time I got there and the team looked about ready to leave. Everyone else must’ve tried out already because I was the only other person there. Malfoy gave me this look that made me want to curl up and die. Either that or knock the life out of him, but doing that probably wouldn’t have increased my chances of getting on the team any. In fact, I’m sure it would have made them negative.
So anyway, I got there already out-of-breath and sweating, having run all the way from Trelawney’s tower, and Flint just laughed at me and said that first years couldn’t try out for the team. Malfoy looked ready to burst with laughter until I told Flint rather pointedly that I was Malfoy’s year and the best damned beater he’d ever see if he’d just let me try out. He looked kind of surprised but told me to get on my broom anyway, and tossed me a club. I was actually kind of curious as to how they were going to run the whole operation, and started warming up a little, doing some practice laps of the field. And then I saw Wood sitting at the far end of the stands – he must’ve come to watch the tryouts, trying to get a feel for his competition. Bloody brilliant quidditch captain.
But then all hell broke loose. Flint yelled something from the other end of the field, and before I could fly over to see what he had said both bludgers came rocketing towards me – the captain had set them loose on me, and since no one else was on the field they didn’t have any other targets.
It was crazy, I barely had time to think, I got hit a few times and I was pretty surprised myself that I never fell off my broom (or broke my glasses). I think they were expecting me to. At one point I noticed Wood had jumped out of his seat and had a look of horror – or something close – on his face, but I didn’t get any more than a glimpse because I was rather busy at the time. Anyway, I don’t know how long the “tryout” lasted but finally I managed to pull a turn that crashed both bludgers into each other. They dropped like a pair of rocks out of the sky, and I saw down on the field that Bletchley and Derrick were running out to wrestle them back into the box.
I don’t really remember landing, but I ended up back on the ground and Flint told me they’d get back to me tomorrow. The whole team had this really weird look on their faces, like they’d expected me to scream and run away instead of actually staying out on the field with the bludgers, because I really think they had. Anyway, they turned and left and the next thing I knew I was sitting on the ground with Wood standing over me, asking if I was all right and asking why I was trying out for the team if I wasn’t old enough.
I remember that I stood up, not knowing how I’d ended up sitting on the ground in the first place, to tell him that I was old enough, but I remember my head hurting a lot and I think I might have passed out. The next thing I knew, Madame Pomfrey was sitting me up in the hospital wing and asking if I was all right. I was pretty sore but obviously nothing had been broken or she would’ve thrown a fit. I wonder what Wood told her – she didn’t seem to know that I had been trying out, she only thought I was stupid enough to get hit by a bludger practicing on my own. So after giving me a bar of chocolate she shooed me out, telling me to mind my bruises, and I found my broom propped up outside the door. I nearly killed myself all over again running the whole way to the Slytherin common room because it was nearly after curfew and I was already due for detention with Professor Lupin. I think I owe Wood big time.
And then today Flint deposited a heap of green and silver robes in my arms after breakfast and told me practice would be at six every weeknight and that if I slipped up even once they’d find a new beater.
I can’t believe I made the team! I have to owl my friends – or at least tell Ora. I’m so excited! Detention tonight will be nothing!
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Homework is really starting to catch up with me. Suddenly it seems like every teacher is eager to assign mountains of work. I wonder if it has something to do with the teachers wanting to keep us from wandering around? Nobody is saying much about it right now, but I think they're still really concerned about Sirius Black. I admit that I'm not that worried about him; it's the Dementors I'm more frightened of. How can anything that sucks the happiness out of you GUARD us from anything? I wish the Headmaster would send them away. Just looking at them makes me feel like I'm walking under a shadow, and I don't know what Rolan would do if we actually encountered one. Probably something foolish and wolfishly courageous, and I don't want that to happen. At least he seems to be getting along a lot better with Crookshanks these days. They seem to have reached an agreement of some sort and are finally behaving like gentlemen around each other. Hermione doesn't look like she's noticed, since she's been rather like a dervish lately, going through a neverending pile of books and work. I have no idea how she's doing it all. I sometimes wish I had her academic drive and energy, but then I hear her mutter something about Muggles and electricity and two scrolls, and am rather relieved that my interests lie elsewhere. Now if only they had a class here that actually taught it, instead of bits and pieces from Potions and Charms and Herbology...!
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That Professor Lupin! I thought I'd never get down here again. Between my papers for Muggle Studies, curfew, and that man roaming the halls at all hours I can hardly get a moment alone outside the library. I never get to visit with my friends.
Ora has got to help me! Why did I sign up for this stupid course anyway? "Explain the Muggle need for Electricity." I'm supposed to write TWO SCROLLS of this! Merlin save me, I'm going to flunk this course. At least I don't have divination. That bat Trelawney is a complete fraud. The only people who really believe all that hogwash about star charts, crystal balls, and tealeaves are Muggles and idiots. It's worse than Charms.
At least Potions, Transfiguration, and DADA are going well. I guess Gwen is about to tear her hair out over potions and I just don't understand what the problem is. I don't get why people dislike Professor Snape so much. He's a fantastic teacher – so concerned about his students and so knowledgeable. Ok, so he gives the Gryffindors a hard time. You have to expect that! He's head of Slytherin and has to carry the banner for his house. I've never had a problem with him. Of course, Da speaks highly of him and so does Lucius Malfoy. I've overheard them after dinners talking about what a talented man he is and what a disgrace it is that Dumbeldore keeps passing him over for the DADA position. When Lockhart was named, I certainly agreed. I didn't learn a thing from the man. However, I have to say I disagree about Professor Lupin. He's already taught us how to deal with a bogart! I still like Professor Snape best though.
And it sounds like everyone is just as bored with Care of Magical Creatures as I am. As though anyone cares about feeding flobberworms. UGH! I wish Hagrid hadn't whimped out after the Malfoy incident. Draco is such a faker. Hagrid should have gotten something really dangerous, like a dragon, and made Draco give it a bath.
Alison's had a time of it trying to practice for tryouts. I actually had to owl her to find out how things were going. That's how bad it's gotten. Ora tossed me a note before dinner today and said Alison did really well and that Draco would have to be an idiot not to put her on the team as a beater but we all know what a Prima Donna he is. I'm sure he'll pass her over out of spite.
Churchill's found himself a couple of friends – both of them Gryffindor cats. One is named Whiskers and belongs to this boy named Artemis. I think he's got a crush on Ora. The other is an orange ball of fur named Crookshanks. He belongs to that know-it-all Hermione. You'd think Churchill would have better taste, but alas, no. I guess all three of them have been after Scabbers, Ron Weesely's rat. I can't say I'm upset about it. At least it keeps me from having to beg mum to ship me mice for Churchill.
I guess I shouldn't put things off any longer. I would love to stay and chat with the painting and wait for Ora but I just can't. I'll just leave a note here for her and hope she meets me in the library later.
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Flobberworms still. It's been flobberworms for only a few days, but it really does feel like a few years. The Quidditch tryouts were this afternoon, and Alison did great. She proved herself as the best bloody beater in Slytherin, but I still don't know if that's enough to convince Draco Malfoy to let her on the team. I tried to put in a couple of good words on her account, but I don't know whether or not he believed me.
Well, if she doesn't make it, I think I might just have to orchestrate a couple of Draco accidents, and see if I can dump the blame on Potter's shoulders. He gets in trouble enough anyway, it's not like it's anything new.
I was chatting with Gilbert and Serge last night, they finally let me move them, ever so carefully, into the Chamber. They said they hadn't been there in about twenty years, and it brought back a lot of memories. Apparently we aren't the only group to have used the Chamber of Snogs for gathering purposes, though our predecessors were a group of four Gryffindors. I asked for their names, but the boys didn't remember. It figures, I suppose. Paintings aren't known for their amazing memory abilities.
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I was walking back to the Gryffindor Tower on Sunday night after a small round of explorations with Rolan, when we met Professor Lupin on one of the staircases to the third floor. He looked rather melancholy when I saw him, as if he were thinking of something that saddened him, but smiled and greeted me when he saw me.
I said hi to him as well and was about to pass him when Rolan did the strangest thing. He circled around Professor Lupin excitedly, barked the way he would have greeted a brother, then stood up on his hind legs, placed his paws on the professor’s shoulders, and demanded to be petted. I was about to scold him for inconsideration (a grown wolf leaning against you is no small matter!) when Professor Lupin laughed and scratched Rolan between the ears. Then the professor turned to me and asked if he was mine. Rolan snorted at that, which made us both laugh, and I told him that Rolan belongs to me as much as I do to him.
Then I told him that we were all enjoying his practical lessons in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin has a presence exactly opposite that of Professor Snape: calming, welcoming, and patient. Talking with him almost felt like talking with Syrien—-maybe that’s why I felt like I’ve known him for a long time and that I could trust him. Rolan obviously thought so, too, since he refused to budge from the professor’s feet for the whole time we were talking.
Finally, though, I had to leave because of the curfew, and we said goodnight. In retrospect, it’s interesting how he was able to draw me out without revealing much about himself. Not many people have that effect on me. Rolan seemed to have communicated with the professor in his own way. I wonder what?
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I spent most of the day doing homework from my classes, mostly Potions and Transfiguration. Actually, I don’t mind Potions homework at all. It’s mostly learning about various Potions ingredients and their uses, which is very useful knowledge for a Healer to have.
Today’s reading from One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi was on the twenty-eight uses of the asphodel plant. There was something that immediately caught my eye: “powdered root of asphodel--added to an infusion of wormwood, makes the powerful sleeping potion known as ‘the Draught of Living Death.’” Strange that I still remember that from our first class with Professor Snape. Maybe I shouldn’t underestimate the man’s effectiveness as a teacher.
Apparently the uses of the asphodel are quite varied. In ancient times, it was believed that the flower planted near a tomb provided food for the dead. Its current magical usages are somewhat more prosaic. The asphodel’s roots are part of quite a few varieties of sleeping potions and as well as swelling-dissolving and antispasmodic potions. Its leaves bestow the temporary ability to summon and speak with specific spirits, and its petals are one of the many ingredients needed to make a love potion.
I wonder if Professor Snape has ever made a love potion? I guess it was all to the good that he never demonstrated it last Valentine’s Day; I can just imagine what kind of havoc that could create.
I guess I more or less understand Potions, but I still have a hard time with Transfiguration. It’s a fascinating class, but I don’t think I understand it at all. I mean, what really happens when you turn a beetle into a button? Does the beetle die? Or does its essence remain that of a beetle even when you sew the button onto your shirt? Wouldn’t it be horrible to live as a button when you were born a beetle? I think I’ll actually do better when we start transforming ourselves, because I’ll at least know what’s happening. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’re going to start doing that until much later.
Still, it’s rather useful to be able to transform owl feathers into new quills, because Rolan keeps making off with them. That’s his way of telling me I’ve studied enough and that it’s time to play.
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I hate to say it, but Care of Magical Creatures has become rather boring. Flobberworms are just not very interesting creatures. I couldn’t help but wonder what potions they were good for. Just another sign that Potions is getting to me, I guess.
I wish we could have the hippogriffs back. I wish Draco Malfoy hadn’t hurt his arm. His arrogance is appalling. I think his parents should have taught him better manners. One day he might get really hurt, and then it won’t matter how “pure” his blood is.
It’s strange; I’d never heard those terms before coming here. Muggle, half-blood, pure-blood. I don’t understand why wizards hold non-wizards so much in contempt, and even less why having both wizard and non-wizard parents make you somehow less than having two wizard parents. Having a non-wizard parent doesn’t mean that you have less power, or that you’re less intelligent. Just look at Hermione! Malfoy mocks her for being a “mudblood”, but I’d be surprised if he can beat her grades in any class, even Potions.
I wonder what someone like Malfoy would think of me, someone who doesn’t knows anything about her parents. Is that better than having non-wizard parents? Or having only one wizard parent? What a silly way to think about your parents. Parents are parents, no matter how much or little magic they have. And I think Harry would agree with me about that.
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I'm worried about Alison. She hasn't been practicing Quidditch since we got caught by Professor Lupin, but tryouts are only two days away! Maybe I'll put in a good word for her to Draco while we're doing our assignments; if I just somehow let slip about what a great beater she is, maybe he'll be more inclined to let her on the team. It's not as if he's got a personal grudge against her, so let's hope won't be too bad.
Since Draco's little accident, Care of Magical Creatures has turned into a very dull class. Hagrid is making us take care of flobberworms. They're boring. Really really boring. They can probably take care of themselves even, I don't know why Hagrid has us poking at them. Probably because they're the only things he knows that are harmless enough that even Draco can't find some way to get himself hurt.
I haven't taken to wandering the halls lately, because I know that Professor Lupin sneaks around. I wonder what he's doing, but I guess it's really none of my business. I miss my conversations with Gilbert and Serge; they tell me the wildest things about whatever past tangled Hogwarts romantic relationships that happened to come their way. If there's one thing I learn from them, it's never to underestimate a painting. They can be quite astute.
Maybe they'll let me carry them into the Chamber occasionally at night so we can have chats. They're really leery of being moved, but I'm sure they trust me. I just don't want to be caught again. Last time it was Professor Lupin. The next time, I'm sure I'll get unlucky at get caught by Filch or Mrs. Norris.
Well, time to head back to the dungeons. Despite what many may think, it's not as dark down there as the hallways are. The common room is always well-lit with a cheery fire going to keep us nice and warm. I've done most of the Transfiguration work already, but I'm sure that there's some questions that'll pop up eventually. Right, don't forget to say good things about Alison to Draco.
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This week has been nothing short of frustrating. I haven't been able to practice once since I got detention - I'm not so stupid as to sneak back out there again - and tryouts are in two days! I'm worried, I wonder if there's anywhere I can practice without doing it on a broomstick. But then I wonder if that's even worth it. I just hope I make the team, I know there are a couple of other students trying out but I think I'm better than them on any given day. But if nerves take over I'm not so sure. And that git Malfoy practically owns the team. I don't know what to do about him. I'm thinking that perhaps I should just ignore him for the rest of the week, until it's all overwith, and that might keep me from punching his nose in.
Because he's so damned annoying in potions, what with Snape being so... well, snappy these days. Honestly, I know he's the head of my house but that man could do with some nerve-calming potion. He's been particularly easy to anger these past few days, making potions classes more of a Gryffindor point-reducing activity than anything else. I don't mind, I want our house to win the cup, but it's getting ridiculous. And Malfoy's snide little comments aren't helping. I've half a mind to step on his foot next time, maybe we'll all be graced by his girly scream again. And right in the middle of class...
Pansy un-shrunk her clothes, but the whole ordeal was nonetheless amusing. And at least she's less doting now that Malfoy's out of the hospital wing. That was absolutely awful, the way she'd go on and on about him. Awful. Too bad our charm didn't last longer.
I wonder what Lupin's going to make Ora and me do for detention. The last time I had detention with a DADA teacher it was that idiot Lockheart, and let me tell you, addressing fan mail envelopes and cleaning mirrors and dusting "awards" was the most boring detention I've ever had. Granted, it beat Snape's usual instructions to scrub the potions room with a toothbrush or McGonagall's charges to write a definition for every word in the index of the Transfiguration book, but still. Very boring. I wish they'd give me detention in the Dark Forest - I heard Potter, Weasley, Granger, and Malfoy went in there with Hagrid once for detention first year. Now that is a reason to get detention!
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I saw the sunset from the roof of the castle today, and it was really wonderful. Well, I didn’t really do it intentionally; I was thinking about wanting to find some place quiet and as far away from the dungeons as possible to be with Rolan for a while, when the staircase started shifting underneath me. When it stopped it was pointing straight up, so Rolan and I followed it to the top of the roof.
It was very windy up there, but breathtakingly beautiful as well.
I’m afraid the view was lost on Rolan, though. Wolves have a stubborn sense of propriety about where their feet are supposed to be, and that is not standing on the tower roof of Hogwarts looking down. Rooftops are for those silly black-feathered cawing creatures. Or the round-eyed puffy letter-carriers.
Still, I managed to convince him to sacrifice some of his respectability and sit with me for a while by promising him that we’d go exploring sometime soon where his feet were properly on the ground. We chose a spot at the feet of one of those gigantic stone gargoyles and watched the sky turn purple and pink and dusky orange.
I’m rather glad that the Sorting Hat didn’t make me a Slytherin, because I think I might die from mold and lack of sunlight in the dungeons. I don’t understand how anyone can be happy living in that gloomy place.
If I ever become an animagus I hope it will be something that can fly. Flying on a broomstick is fun--even though school brooms aren’t Nimbus 2000s--but wouldn’t it be so much better to be able to fly on your own wings? Dancing through the sky as a fierce falcon or a cheerful little lark...that would be absolutely wonderful.
Anyway, it started getting cold after the stars started coming out—though those were gorgeous in and of themselves—and Rolan reminded me that we were both hungry, so we made our way down and went to grab some food. It’s comforting to know, though, that there are some things even malicious potions teachers can’t touch.
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My housemate Gwen is having some troubles in potions. I think I'm going to volunteer some help for her, because it's really not fun to watch everybody in our house get picked on. I'd offer to help Neville, but the poor boy is beyond any help that I could offer. However, I think Gwen just needs a few pointers, I'll go talk to her when she gets back.
There are a lot of animals in Gryffindor this year, let's see, we've got my Whiskers, Hermione has Crookshanks now, Ron has Scabbers, Lysienne has that really cool wolf Rolan, plus the few odd toads and the like. I especially like Harry's owl Hedwig. He even let me pet her once.
I love this castle, though. There are so many things here to find. I've already found a secret passage this year, that I don't think even the Weasley twins have found yet. It's not a very useful passage (It only goes from behind the quidditch pitch to inside the castle, so I can't really think of any use for it) but, it's fun to think that you may have found something that somebody else doesn't know about.
Defense Against the Dark Arts is such a good class this year. We're actually learning things, and it's rather fun. We've dealt with a Boggart so far, which was interesting. It turned into an empty book for me...wonder if that means I'm afraid of not having knowledge? Hmm....
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Everyone dreads going to Potions these days. The sniping, the hawkish stares, the yelling, the malicious pushing. Every time I go there in I feel like I’m sitting on the edge of a thunderstorm, wondering when I’ll be the one to get zapped. Neville looks like he would rather volunteer to be Fred and George Weasley’s experimentee for a day than go in there with Professor Snape. Sometimes I wonder why he insists on showing up for class. But maybe that’s what the Sorting Hat saw in him.
Why does the man hate Gryffindors so much? Is he spiteful enough to extend a grudge against Harry Potter to his entire House? Then again—-why does he hate Harry so much? It’s frustrating to not know the answer to any of those questions—-and to suddenly care about it. Before it didn’t seem to matter so much, but now I don’t know when something will implode and…I don’t know what will happen then. I wonder if a House has ever rebelled against a teacher before. It doesn’t seem so far-fetched. I wonder if there’s a spell that would let him hex us all at the same time. But then again, I guess the Slytherins would leap to their House Master’s defense, and then it’d get really messy.
I don’t want to let the gloom of Potions ruin everything else, but I have this horrible sinking feeling that my luck’s going to run out and I’m going to mess up soon. I hate being yelled at.
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*screams*! Potions needs to die a horrible, violent, painful death! I HATE THAT CLASS SO MUCH!! It can burn in hell for all I care!
Look - I'm sorry I'm so inept. It's certainly no intention of mine to be this way. 'If only you'd study,' Mum says, 'if only you'd do your work, it's not that hard.' Bloody hell, mum, I'm sorry I'm not a hardworking Hufflepuff like you were. I'm sorry I'm a naive, stupid, headstrong Gryf. I'm sorry I don't calm down a little more. Well I don't care! I perfectly well *like* the way I am, and I'm sorry I'm getting poor marks in Potions! I don't even *care* how I do in the class - really, I don't. It's no skin off my nose.
I just wish Mum would pay more attention to some of my better classes. I'm doing fine in Herbology, great even. And I've had no incident in Care of Magical Creatures. Does she pay attention to that? Of course not. Not even when I explain to her that Snape's got it in for the Gryffindors, especially as of late.
Thank God Josie lent me her spare cauldron, otherwise he'd have even MORE to yell about, and I'd even *deserve* it. I can't bloody believe I actually *melted* the damned thing. I *really* owe her one for this.
*sigh*
I've been through worse, I'll get through this as well. It's going to take a lot more than one slimy, arrogant professor to bring me down. I just - I don't know, I wonder if I really *was* any better at Potions if it would help any.
God, I hate that class.
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I can now definitely tell you that Professor Snape is not happy. He's always taking every excuse he can find to pick on the Gryffindors in Potions, even at the very smallest mistake they make. It seems that he's also taken to picking on Gwen a lot (more than in past years, it seems), but usually when things get too serious, there's some sort of explosion, spill, or leak from Longbottom's direction that draws most (not all) of the attention away from her.
I've heard some interesting stories about Professor Trelawney and her Divination class (I'm not in it this year because I'm taking Arithmancy instead). Apparently Potter's supposed to be dying. While I don't particularly care about him (I know some of my other friends do), I would still be a little bit worried if he were to snuff it.
But then again, everyone says that Trelawney is just blowing hot air, and that she's making everything up. I don't know...I've pulled up a couple of texts on her, and some of her prophecies were quite accurate. I guess Divination is one of those hit-and-miss things.
Professor Lupin is great, he's probably one of the nicest professors I know. I'm still wondering why he looks so sickly and tired; he's shown a bit of improvement over the week we've had classes, but he still looks very weary. I'm afraid he's going to collapse and die or something, and we'll have to go back to the bad luck we've had in DADA teachers in the past. That would most definitely be very upsetting.
I've half a mind to ask him if there's anything that's bothering him, but really, that's prying and it's none of my business. I think I shall be watching him more intently though, especially if he takes to wandering the school at night as he caught me that one time. I've got to be more careful.
Pansy's got her clothes back, faster than I expected. Rats. And now that Draco has pronounced his full recovery (quite a bit after he actually recovered, I'm sure), Pansy has stopped simpering over him so much (you have no idea how hard it is to refrain from hexing her) and given everyone else some room to get close to him.
Draco actually works surprisingly hard when he puts his mind to it; sometimes I'll sit in his circle in the common room and work with him. I bet it's partly his father's influence, I heard that Lucius Malfoy is very strict. And the other half...well, probably to do better than Potter. They have a interesting rivalry.
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Professor Lupin seemed better today, and I’m glad. I guess it was just tiredness that first day. Professor Snape, however, has been particularly nasty ever since he made that appearance in Neville’s grandmother’s dress. He’s been baiting Harry and his friends a lot-—and that’s not very professional, is it? It’s so unfair that Professor McGonagall is fair while Professor Snape isn’t. She’s taken points from Gryffindor before while Professor Snape has never taken points from Slytherin. Not that he’s doing them any real favors by taking their side so much, but come on! Why do teachers expect us to follow the rules when they don’t do it themselves?
Geez, I never used to care about competition and things like this before.
At least I haven’t given Professor Snape any reason to pick on me in class. It’s strange; I can tell myself to ignore his cutting remarks, but he’s too good at making you feel like you’re the most incompetent person on earth. He’s really quite intimidating when he’s looming over your cauldron and looking at you like he thinks you might be useful if he could come up with some new potion with you as the chief ingredient. What’s really bad is that I know he’s doing it deliberately, but I still can’t help feeling intimidated. Ugh. And then, of course, anyone who stands up to him makes the entire House suffer. That just...makes me really angry.
Or maybe I’m thinking too much like a Gryffindor. I don’t think Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws suffer as much with him. So is it him? Or is it us? Or is it both?
Foolish Gryffindors, playing right into the devious Slytherin’s trap. The question is, how do we get out?
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My class in Divination is so contrary that it’s amusing. That it’s a class in the first place makes me want to laugh. I know that I have not a sickle’s worth of the Sight in my soul, no matter how much incense I inhale.
Honestly, I would not be taking the class if I had the Sight, and I highly doubt Professor Trelawney would be teaching it if she did. Aside from the fact that I would’ve been driven away by the sheer gaudiness of the classroom, it’s questionable whether a true Seer-in-training would be able to learn anything in those conditions. According to some of Syrien’s stories, it wouldn’t be the Seeing that is the problem for someone with that particular gift, but learning to control the vision. Maybe that’s why we sat gazing at the bottoms of tea cups for an hour, but wet clumps of tea leaves are still tea leaves no matter how hard I stare at them.
Professor Trelawney certainly seems like she has some small talent, but the charlatan-fortuneteller act is not doing much for her credibility. I’m still not sure whether it’s really bad taste on her part, or that she doesn’t want to be taken seriously at all. I’m inclined to believe the former. A true Seer wouldn’t so casually tell one of her students that he was going to die. Ugh.
But aside from that, it’s rather interesting to see how people react to being told their “future.” It’s quite an art to say just enough to make people think you’re telling them everything when you’ve told them nothing, and Professor Trelawney isn’t shabby at that.
So I guess instead of reading the stars I’ll be learning to weave believable tall tales this term. Figures.
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I’m back at Hogwarts, and a week has already passed. I can’t believe it. Maybe I’m finally getting used to this. (I’m definitely not telling Syrien that. Why does he always have to be right?)
Oh! There’s a new cat in the tower. He belongs to Hermione, and his name is Crookshanks. He’s quite a gorgeous creature, and very intelligent, too. He allowed me to pet him when Hermione wasn’t around. I think Rolan was a bit jealous, but most of it is probably shock that Crookshanks isn’t afraid of him. I’d better remember not to laugh at him, because that’ll make him feel even worse. He’s been going around stiff-legged and dignified all week, trying to prove he’s king of the tower, and now he’s sulking because I told him to be nice to Crookshanks. But I’m sure he’ll come around.
One nice thing about Hogwarts is that I don’t have to lie about Rolan being a dog anymore. I hated doing that. People here can accept him as he is when they realize that he is quite able to behave himself around people. Well, I guess wizards like keeping strange pets anyway--jeweled tortoises, salamanders, three-headed snakes....
Speaking of which, Hagrid is the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher. I’m really glad, because he loves animals as much as I do. Our first class of the year was wonderful, because I got to meet a hippogriff! He was very beautiful, with huge gleaming coal-black wings and a soft black hide. He was haughty as a young dragon, of course, but then I bowed to him, and he bowed back to me, and we took a ride together. I think we were in the air longer than any of the others. I felt guilty about keeping him to myself for so long, but...well. Then we landed, and found that Draco Malfoy had been hurt, and Hagrid led the hippogriffs away.
I wonder if any of them live in Ireland....
I also met my new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher on Thursday, Professor Lupin. My first impression of him was that he seemed rather tired, as if he were recovering from some illness. I didn’t sense any sickness, though, so maybe he was just up late preparing for his first class.
His class was really fascinating. I’d never heard of a boggart before, but it’s one of those nasty creatures that feed on fear. Professor Lupin is a great teacher; he even gave Neville the courage to face his greatest fear--Professor Snape! Oh my, the dress!--that hat!--the handbag! If only there was a spell to actually do that during Potions...maybe Neville would even succeed in making a potion successfully for once.
Still, wouldn’t that make a great Christmas present?
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Victory and defeat last night. First, the victory. Shrunk Pansy Parkinson's clothes with Alison. All of them, with the exception of the pajamas she was wearing that night. She screamed and started to cry when she woke up in the morning. Since she was a bit big for our clothes, she had to go bother a set from Millicent Bulstrode. I think she's still working on breaking that Shrinking Spell.
Unfortunately, on the way back from taking Alison out to the Quidditch Pitch, I bumped into Professor Lupin. He gave me this severe sort of look, and asked me where I was going. I just told him I was going back to the Slytherin common room. He asked me where I went, but I had the feeling he already knew so I didn't say anything. He just told me to go back to the dungeons, and that he wouldn't tell anyone.
Thank God for Professor Lupin. He gets points in my book for being a nice guy, despite being all shabby and sickly. I wonder what's up with him. Too bad he gave Alison and me detention. At least it's not for a couple of weeks.
On another bright side, Draco Malfoy got out the hospital wing today, acting all git-like around the Gryffindors in Potions (ironically, we were making a Shrinking Solution). That's all right, he likes to put on airs for Potter anyways, and everyone how disgusting it is that all the houses absolutely worship Potter. I enjoyed watching Snape torture Weasley with making him cut up Malfoy's daisy roots.
I'm just sad that I didn't have time to give him a jar of Bertie Botts. Oh well, Leah can keep hers. I would have hated to see his face if I fed him a vomit-flavoured one on the very first go.
I heard something very interesting after classes about the Gryffindors and their DADA class with Professor Lupin... (the boggart was easy to defeat actually; though I wonder why Professor Lupin's greatest fear is a white, shining ball...)
Snape will be furious when he gets back to Slytherin common room. The story of that Longbottom squib putting him in his grandmother's dress and hat spread around the school like wildfire. Now he's gonna get it, especially in Potions. Not to mention the fact that Snape seems grouchier than usual this year.
I look forward to more Longbottom torture in Potions. It's amusing to watch that kid try...and then fail miserably. If only Granger wasn't around all the time to help him, I think we'd have more laughs that way. I hope that Snape pairs me up with Draco in Potions soon. I've been waiting for forever.
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Well, school's been going well for me this year. I still don't really have any friends, except for Whiskers, but that's my fault really. *sigh* I really should do more than just explore and study...maybe even talk to someone.
The dementors are pretty interesting, if a bit weird at first. I've been trying to find out more about them, but they seem to be pretty tough subjects to get into - there's not a whole lot of material on them, just a little bit, and a spell to send them away, which was nice to know. Guess that they don't want the famous guards of Azkaban to get all figured out. Too bad.
This whole Sirius Black thing has got me a touch worried though. It sounds kind of silly, but I think I may like Harry. Great, one more thing to alienate me from the student body. I bet he likes girls, too, god, just my luck. *sigh*
Professor Trewlawney is such a cook. She just sits there, telling Harry about how horrible his future is going to be. Oh! I just wish I could hex her mouth shut sometimes.
Also, I've noticed that my housemate Gwen is friends with some interesting people from different houses. That's pretty cool, wish I could make friends like that. Good thing I've got a good cat. ^^;;
I've been thinking of talking to Harry, maybe getting up the guts to see if I could go out one of the nights with him and Ron. They explore almost as much as me. I'm pretty sure that Harry has an invisibility cloak, but I'm not sure. He comes and goes quietly, and quickly. Maybe I'll follow him some night, and see where we end up.
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That was close. That was closer than close. I don’t know what to think, other than thank the gods that Lupin is a reasonable person. And thank them that it wasn’t Filch who caught me.
So even though she didn’t want to come out and practice with me, Ora walked me out to the quidditch field tonight. We left the dungeon at midnight, figuring just about everyone in the castle would be asleep. At the door leading out to the pitch Ora waved me off and went back to the dungeons and I went out to start practicing. But then not ten minutes later I hear a voice, and I look down and I practically crash because Professor Lupin is standing there below me, yelling at me to come down. I almost didn’t – but then I realized that would get me in worse trouble so I had no choice but to land, and he just crossed his arms and looked at me. Then he said that he’d thought I was smarter than this, and all I could do was stammer an explanation about how I was practicing so I could make the team next week.
He’s actually really intimidating, you know, standing there in the moonlight looking down at you. But then his expression softened a bit and he said I wasn’t the first student he knew of to do something like this, but that I’d merely chosen to do it at a most inopportune time because of Sirius Black and all. I tried to explain that Sirius Black wasn’t after me, but he’d already begun shooing me back inside. He walked me back to the dungeons and I was starting to think I might actually get off with only a warning when he asked me when tryouts were. I told him they were next Wednesday, wondering why he’d asked, and then he said that I had detention next Thursday and to tell Ora that she did as well.
Apparently he caught Ora coming back to the dungeons and was curious as to what she was doing coming back from the direction of the quidditch pitch without a broom so late at night. Oh well, he still earns points in my book for giving me detention after tryouts. And I think I can handle detention with Lupin – it could be worse. Snape makes even his own house do awful things when we have detention with him. And don’t get me started on the time I had to serve detention with McGonagall.
But now how am I going to practice? I guess there’s always our lunch hour… This is getting more complicated than it should be. I wonder if I can just con everyone else in the house out of trying out.
And in other news, Ora and I have decided to shrink Pansy Parkinson’s clothes. She can’t fit into any of ours, we figure it’ll be fun. I can't wait to see the look on her face!
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That big oaf of a gameskeeper ruined all of our fun! We didn't even get any time up in the air! No fun. Sirius Black wouldn't be able to get us on school grounds! Dumbledore would never allow that. Isn't that why we have the dementors? Even if they are creepy. Is it true that Harry Potter fainted dead at the sight of one? Blimey, if he did, then maybe I don't want to be out on the grounds where I might run into one.
And poor Gwen! It's a good thing that Josie's rolling in it, or Gwen'd be out one cauldron. Snape takes off points from Gryffindors enough as is, he doesn't need extra incentive.... I take that back. The more points that the Gryffindors lose, the more likely that Hufflepuff'll win the house cup... but I don't want it to be at poor Gwen's expense.
And I'll gladly donate a box of Bertie Botts to Ora, on the condition the she insists on feeding Malfoy them by hand! Anything to get that boy feeling better. I'd hate to have to play the Slytherin team not at its best. And I don't even want to think who'd they put up there as a seeker if Malfoy can't play. Can you imagine Marcus Flint going after the snitch! He'd run himself into the staff tower! That'd be a sight to see, but not a very challenging game. Even with Malfoy in as seeker, I think that Cedric could beat him to the snitch. it's all a matter of ratios. Cedric=cuter=better flyer. ok. so maybe it's Cedric=cuter=i want him (and us) to win.
I wish Ora luck with her shrinking charms. I'm sure that she's studied some ancient oriental form that no one's heard of for hundreds of years. That sounds like Ora. She should get Alison to help, 'cause a spell cast by two is twice as hard to break!
Now I've got to get caught up on the notes that I missed while I was out. Josie has double potions with me, I think I'll borrow her notes for the night. It's not like she needs them. She'll probably be her Ravenclaw self and have her nose in some higher-level potions book than necessary.
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Josie's dad told her to take a box of Bertie Botts to Draco in the hospital wing, and she doesn't want to. I'd do it, but I don't have a box of Bertie Botts lying around. I ate them all and left all the suspicious looking ones (you know, the grass, sardine, pepper, booger, and vomit ones) still in the jar. I don't think they'd make very good presents for Draco, though it would be amusing if I charmed them so they were all vomit flavoured.
I think I've decided to shrink Pansy's clothes tonight. I know she'll be whining about Draco all night, and I want some sleep. Perhaps I should give a her good sleeping draught to shut her up...or just plain hex her (though I don't think Snape would be very happy about that; I think he has the feeling that if we're going to hex anyone, it should be someone from another house).
I've found a good shrinking charm, it's one that's a bit older and not so commonly used, so Pansy won't be able to break it easily. It also stays for quite a few days. I am rubbing my hands in glee right as I speak.
Good thing Josie has a spare cauldron, or Gwen would really in deep trouble with Snape. He's always looking for any excuse to pick on the Gryffindors...not that I really mind that much because I want Slytherin to win the house cup this year. But poor Gwen, she's always so distraught and nervous in Potions...at least she's better than Longbottom. Haha, he's nearly a squib.
I think Alison is going to have to sneak outside tomorrow night to practice Quidditch. I guess it's all right, since no one in Hogwarts is up that late anyway. I know a way that can get her out, it's down a corridor that not many people go down, especially at night. I just hope that Filch and that nasty cat of his, Mrs. Norris, don't catch us. Snape will kill me, and I don't want to be expelled.
Hmmm, it's getting really late. I'm going to head back to the Slytherin common room. I have some shrinking charms to perform tonight.
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Poor Gwen. She just can't manage potions without a disaster. At this rate, she's never going to graduate. Thank goodness, I brought my old cauldron. Mum got me a new one this year so I won't miss it. I just wish I had been there to see her's melt. It must have been spectacular!
Hagrid is such a ninny. I can't believe he made us come back in the other night. He's worse than my Auntie Gert - always going on and on about the rules and worrying about some silly thing like a spider getting after you. How on earth is Alison supposed to make the Quidditch team if she can't get any time on the pitch? Will someone explain that to me?
Then there's Draco. Da owled me and wants me to take him a box of Bertie Botts. Oh why me! I know everyone thinks he's a dream but he's just such a boor. His own father looks down his nose at him. I wish that they'd stop trying to shove me at him every chance they get. Neither one of us is interested. The only thing he and I have in common is that we both think Potter's a self-righteous prig.
So here I am, hiding out when I've got a paper to do. I just can't get excited about researching muggle holiday traditions. Perhaps Ora will show up later and help me out. I never know where to start with muggles. Who can understand them? I mean, well, they're MUGGLES!
And I think I'm starting to like Professor Lupin. I don't mean like him, but I do think he actually knows what he's talking about. He's not a complete idiot like Lockhart. I think he might even pass Snape as my favorite Professor!
I should get going. I need to spend some time with Churchill. He's rather testy. I haven't given him a mouse since the start of term and I think he's going to bite me soon if I don't find a way to get him one. I should probably bring him with me the next time I come down here. At least he'd get some exercise. He's starting to get a paunch.
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What am I going to do? Hagrid made a big to-do about shoving us back inside when we went out to the quidditch pitch for a few laps today, and I have to practice! I’m not going to make the team on luck alone! Of course, I’ve decided that there is no way Sirius Black would care about me, of all people, and that he’s not going to come murder me. So I’m going out tomorrow night anyway; the moon’s half-full so I won’t attract attention by providing my own light, and I think even Hagrid goes to bed at a reasonable hour. Besides, one person out on the pitch doesn’t make all that much noise. Screw the rules. This is for quidditch! I’m already at enough of a disadvantage, not having been born a big, burly, stupid boy. If Flint passes me up for some idiot like Bole was, I’ll personally see that he meets with some rather painful… pain.
It just hasn’t been our day. Gwen melted her cauldron trying to do her potions homework… I’m kind of worried about that. Snape isn’t lenient with the Gryffindors when it comes to things like that, and I can’t very well partner with her unless Potter or Weasley does something Snape thinks is idiotic in class and gets us paired with Gryffindors again. And I just can’t count on that. I don’t know what she’s going to do – even a mail-order cauldron might take a few days, but she can give it a try. Maybe Josie has an extra cauldron; she likes potions well enough that she just might have one.
And apparently Draco is still whining about his “injury” down in the Hospital Wing. Gods, that boy needs to get over himself. I know just about every other girl in Slytherin fancies him something wild, but I just can’t see it. He’s not bad-looking, but one class sitting next to him is enough. There’s just not enough room for him and his ego and me on the same bench. I think even Gwen might fancy him a bit, but I can’t be sure and I suppose it’s not my place to ask. Although if she does, maybe I can convince her to find a way to sneak me into the Gryffindor common room if I’ll get her into ours. Oh well, all of this after Ora and think of something good to make that horrid Pansy Parkinson stay off our case for good. I can only stand to listen to that shrill voice of hers drag on and on and on about Malfoy for so long without wanting to hang myself. Sharing a room with her is beyond cruel and unusual. It’s just plain inhumane.
So. I’m off to find the easiest way to sneak down to the quidditch pitch in preparation for tomorrow. It’ll do me no good to get caught by Filch less than a week before tryouts. Dammit, if only I had an invisibility cloak.
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So today, after not being allowed outside (and I was really looking forward to racing tonight!), I decided maybe I could actually try to do the Potions homework for once - not that Snape would appreciate it or anything, but an attempt couldn't hurt anything, right? Wrong. started foaming, and it actually melted. My cauldron's gone. I don't know where I'm going to get a new one at this hour. Or ... even at all. We're allowed to go to Hogsmeade this year, so that helps, but I doubt we can go there alone at all, and ... *sigh* This is the last time I try to do Potions homework by myself, from now on I'm asking someone for help! I can't afford to have my supplies melting and exploding and everything. Damn, I really could have used a good race tonight. Oh well. Ora's set on trying to get us down to the Infirmary to watch Malfoy moaning in his sleep; apparently he's still "injured" from that hippogriff attack that made him scream like a girl. I want to know what makes her think I'd want to join her... ¬¬ ... In other news, Quidditch season's starting sooner than I thought this year. Our team had the pitch booked tonight, and I didn't even hear about it 'til after the fact - I sure wouldn't have minded watching, I love our team! We've got to win the Cup this year!! Maybe next time they're out we'll all go down for a bit ... I'm sure Alison and Leah would definitely want to come; though Wood might have a few issues since they are on their House's teams ... but I know neither of them would spy on us for strategy ... Alison'd be too busy staring at the Weasley twins (she's so silly), and Leah's got her eye on Wood, so ... no, I don't think Quidditch strategy is what they're after at all.
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Instead of doing the homework Snape assigned us, Leah dragged us all outside for a romp around the Hogwarts grounds...that is, until Hagrid saw us and practically shoved us back inside.
Okay, so I know that Dumbledore told us not to leave the school because of the Dementors (creepy things, they are), but if we're not leaving school grounds, we're still technically in the school, right?
Hagrid told us we shouldn't even be outside, and walked us back to the door. *sigh* The Daily Prophet still says that Sirius Black is on the loose. I bet half of all this hullabaloo at this school is Potter's fault, no doubt Black's out for him. Stupid Potter boy, ruining all our fun, making Dementors come guard our school. And he even fainted at the sight of them on the way here, so rumours say.
Draco is still in the infirmary, no doubt with Crabbe and Goyle's dull company and Pansy Parkinson (I swear she looks like some sort of pug dog. Draco should just tell her she looks like she fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down... and that he's not interested) simpering all over him. The things that boy does for attention. I'm not sure whether to give his head a lump or a good round of snoggage.
...probably the latter followed by the former. ^_^ Draco is so dreamy. I love his blue eyes. Unfortunately, I'm not the only one after him. All the girls my year in Slytherin (and some that are older) are after him, and I swear Gwen has a crush on him too...but she won't admit it. And I really want to move out of my room in Slytherin House. I don't mind so much being roommates with Alison, but it's Pansy Parkinson in the room that I can't stand.
Maybe I'll do something mean, like magically shrink all her clothes. Or paint her face while she's sleeping (so that she really looks like a pug!). I wonder if I can get Alison to do that with me.
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What a feast the other night! My little brother got sorted into Hufflepuff! Though the family was a bit worried that he'd turn out a squib, I knew he'd make it. I helped raise the kid, you have no idea how proud of him I am right now. And the beaming smile on his face when he came to sit at our table made my week.
Wah! I can't believe that I was sick the first day of school! I missed potions and herbology. Not that I'm complaining about missing potions. I love the subject, but that slime ball git of a professor... The man takes glee in seeing other houses' downfalls. He took off ten points for skipping the first day of classes. I didn't skip!... this time. Did I mention that he was a git?
But I'm most upset about missing free time on the Quidditch field. If I don't practice, that chaser position will go to someone else, and I've got to live up to my name! I hope Alison gets the beater spot, though I don't fancy her trying to knock me off my broom during a match. If she hits me, she owes me a chocolate frog! And oh can I not wait till Quidditch starts up for good. Whether or not I make the team, I can't wait to see Oliver Wood in his game robes. Damn, is that man sexy, even if he is on another team. Though, Cedric isn't half bad. Perhaps I shouldn't look so far afield for a pretty sight. ::sighs:: I'm such a sucker for a man in a uniform.
It's wonderful being back with friends. I've missed everyone lots, though we did manage to owl each other and chat though the flows a bunch over the summer. I even talked with Alison from one of those muggle telyphones. I even missed those two on our painting, even if they won't stop snogging long enough to say 'hi'.
I think I'm going to go grab the girls and drag them outside. I'm feeling better and we need to enjoy the lingering warmth of summer while it's still here! Maybe I can even convince Gwen and Alison to go a few laps on a broom.
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Thank the gods that Dumbledore has finally hired someone competent to teach us Defense Against the Dark Arts! Professor Lupin is actually intelligent and knows what he’s doing! This could be an interesting year… especially since none of us are used to doing any DADA homework. That idiot Lockheart never assigned us a thing. It’s probably because he knew he’d have to actually read all our papers.
But I hate Divination. Could there possibly be a more pointless class? I think not. And to make it worse, today Trelawney swooped down on me like a hawk while we were trying to read our tea leaves and started wailing something about how she could tell I had the Sight and that I had to begin training it now or it would forever haunt me. Pure rubbish, I tell you – I never Saw a thing in my life and I’m not planning on starting now. Unless it means Seeing myself making the Slytherin team.
I managed to get some flying practice in this afternoon before it got dark. The Gryffindor team had the field booked after dinner since they don’t have to try out any new players. But that meant I missed dinner to practice. I was glad the girls noticed and filched me some dinner from the Great Hall so I could eat in the Chamber when I got back. I would’ve watched the Gryffindors practice if I hadn’t had to memorize this potion for Snape. I know Wood must be practically foaming at the mouth to win this year’s Quidditch Cup, it being his last year and all. I don’t blame him – in fact, I don’t think I’d mind all that much if they did win. They probably deserve it.
All of us are still pretty laid-back about schoolwork, though perhaps that’s just because it’s only the start of term. I think Gwen’s kind of worried about her potion for Snape, but Josie’s trying to keep her from worrying, and I don’t think Ora’s worried about it at all. Although I don’t know what Leah’s been up to – she left before I got back from practicing so I haven’t gotten much chance to talk to her aside from yesterday. Maybe she’s trying to get off to a good start, getting research done in the library without us bugging her. Not a bad idea, I suppose. I’ve been trying to aspire to do my work, but I don’t know if it’ll work. Hasn’t happened before.
But aside from that is my personal goal to learn to tell the Weasley twins apart one hundred percent of the time. I figure that I probably won’t ever get them to talk to me if I can’t even tell which one is which. Either that or I could just call them Gred and Forge – that way I can’t be wrong, right?
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Third year. I still can't believe the hat sorted me to Ravenclaw! Don't get me wrong, I love my house but it's so humiliating not to be a Slytherin. When my da heard, I thought he'd die of embarrassment. All mum could do was say how it would make it harder for me to catch Draco Malfoy. As if I could be interested in that git! He screams like a girl! Oh, I know everyone thinks he's a dish – and compared to everyone else in our year I must say they're right – but he's not HALF as luscious as Lucius.
Oh. If only I could get him to drop that wife!
Anyway, I can't say I find most of the classes challenging yet. Only Snape and the new DADA instructor keep me from falling asleep. Thanks to my parents not sending me to mix with muggles in the farces they call schools, I seem to be pretty far ahead of my classmates. The only people, aside from Potter and Malfoy, who challenge me at all are my mates.
Speaking of them, can you believe I made friends with a mudblood? Da would be livid! Oh well, I don't care. I have to find a way to get Alison out to the castle at breaks though. She needs to practice quiddich and can't do it in the middle of Cambridge. Mum is still mortified that I don't care to play and that my broom just sits and gathers dust. Then there's Ora. She is so funny! Do you know that she comes down here just to talk to the boys in the picture? She says she wants to watch Potter and Malfoy shag! OMG!
Gwen seems to be doing OK. I ran into her in Flourish and Blotts when she was picking up her books. She always has such a horrid time in potions class. I'll see if I can pair with her and give her a hand.
I'd better go. The last thing I need is to get detention.
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I am so awake. I can't help it. I'm too excited. I don't want to go to sleep; I'm afraid I'll miss something. There's always something going on here! Always! Classes've started, and they seem to be going alright so far. It's not much to talk about, really - Potions is horrid as usual; Snape's given us homework *already*, and I think I'm going to DIE ... I swear, he's going to make me take the bloody thing myself, and I'll have done it wrong, and I'm going to DIE. ... Better to skip this one out and risk the point subtraction, embarrassing though that may be ... Divination's new this term, but looks the sort of thing it looks I can fake my way through. I'll just tell her that Potions will make me DIE, she'll go for it. Also new this term is the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher ... I have a feeling I'm really, *really* going to like that class. <3 What else is new ..? Honestly, it's really just great to be back for another year. I've missed all my friends so much! I've missed everything about this place ... oh, sure, it may be school, but we're together, and that's what counts! Call me strange for inter-House relations if you will, but I really love these girls, and when you get down to it, it doesn't matter what House you're in. And it's so good to see my House-mates again, too ... even those I'm not particularly close with ... Ah, well! It's a new year and anything can happen!
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It was an interesting train ride here, to say the least. Well, nothing much happened until we were nearly here and the train stopped and the dementors got on. Damn, those things give me the creeps. I guess they were searching the train for Sirius Black. Obviously they didn’t find him, but I heard from Draco (well, gods, who didn’t hear from Draco) that Harry Potter fainted when they got to his car. That’s really strange – I’ve never heard of anyone fainting around them before. But our new Dark Arts professor, Lupin, was there and I hear he managed to get the thing to go away. I saw him at the professors’ table at the feast last night, he looked dead tired and like he could use some food but aside from that, he is something to look at, I guess.
Although, of course, not as much to look at as those Gryffindor twins. Dammit, why are all the Weasleys sorted into Gryffindor? They are some good beaters. I mean, they’re really good. Wood doesn’t know how lucky he is. Well, no, he’s good enough that he probably does know how lucky he is. Even if Gryffindor hasn’t won the Quidditch Cup since I’ve been here.
Speaking of quidditch, our house team is short a beater this year. I’m going to go for it, tryouts are in a week and I’ve been practicing all summer. My parents sent me off again so at least I wasn’t in the middle of Cambridge where you can’t fly a broom without muggles seeing you. But I’ll definitely need more practice if I’m going to convince them to let someone like me on the team. Do you know how annoying it is when people always think you’re a first year? Very annoying. But I’m a good beater and I know it, and they know it, so there’s no way I can’t make the team if I practice extra all this week.
If this homework doesn’t drag me under – I swear, homework on the first day of classes is just wrong. But of course, leave it to Snape to give us homework after his first class. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great head-of-house, but as a teacher he needs to lay off a little. It’s all Neville Longbottom’s fault anyway, I swear you’d think he’d know the way to the dungeon by now. That kid needs help. I feel kind of bad for him, you know? I know he means well, but it’s still a little annoying when he makes everyone pay for his clumsiness.
So here I sit in our “Chamber of Snogs,” ignoring this stupid homework because talking to my friends is definitely more interesting. Everyone managed to make it here since things aren’t too busy yet, so Leah, Josie, Gwen, Ora and I can all hang out moderately carefree for a few days yet. Pretty soon I’ll probably be practicing every spare minute so I might not see them until tryouts are over. I should make sure my broom’s in top condition, too – it’s only a Nimbus Two Thousand, since Dad won’t buy me a new one, but I’m saving up for a Firebolt on my own. Those things are gorgeous. I don’t think I can get one for another few months, though. And if we get Hogsmeade trips this year, that could be even worse for my attempts at saving up…
Oh, but one interesting thing did happen today. We also had our first Care of Magical Creatures class – Hagrid brought in hippogriffs, which are beautiful creatures once you get over the way they kind of look at you like they want to eat you at first. I got to pet one today, it wasn’t too bad. Of course, Malfoy was a jerk and insulted the one he was assigned to, the thing snapped at him and he screamed like a little girl. It was kind of funny, if you ask me. That boy is either evil through and through, or really isn’t but doesn’t know how to act like he’s not. I haven’t decided yet. It’s bad enough I have to sit next to him in Transfiguration. If only he didn’t have the house team in his pocket…
Too bad it’s dark, or I could go practice now.
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The summer is over and my third year at Hogwarts has begun. I'm sitting here in the Chamber of Snogs after the first day of class with my best friends, Alison from Slytherin, Leah from Hufflepuff, Josie from Ravenclaw, and Gwen from Gryffindor.
We're quite a group, five girls as friends from all the different houses of the school. Funny how we met, really. We all managed to clamber onto the same car when the Hogwarts Express left Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters. It was an interesting ride as we talked and got to know each other. I guess first friends can't really stay apart.
My name is Ora Yang, and I'm in Slytherin House, along with little Alison. She's not really little, she's my age, but she's so small that everyone is still mistaking her for a first year. Poor girl.
I can't quite remember exactly how it was our motley group first stumbled upon the Chamber of Snogs. We don't know what it's really called, but we named it the "Chamber of Snogs" because the painting that guards the door is of two boys snogging. Funny that, I think Dumbledore keeps the weirdest things around the school for his amusement. And ours.
At the beginning of first year, we were snooping around that third-floor corridor on the right hand side that Dumbledore told us was "out of bounds." We didn't really want to die a painful death, but between two Slytherins, a Ravenclaw, a Gryffindor, and a Hufflepuff, we figured we could do anything.
Being silly little first years, we got lost of course. Then came Mrs. Norris around the corner with Filch right behind her. We spoke to the first painting we saw, asking the boys if they knew someplace they could hide us quickly. Then the door swung open, and we had found our secret, abandoned chamber.
After cleaning it out and "borrowing" a couple of furnishings from our various common rooms, the place became a sort of safe-haven for us, where we could talk, work, hang out, or just plain obsess about boys. Boys, boys, boys. Or in Josie's case, Men.
I can't believe my teachers gave me homework already. I'm barely a day into class, and it seems like the work is already piling up.
On a positive note, Draco Malfoy screams like a girl. I think he nearly died when that hippogriff attacked him today in Care of Magical Creatures. Well, I don't care if he screams like a girl. I still want him. ^_^
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