October 8th, 2000
Wow, I can't believe how much time has passed since I wrote in this journal. I really did mean to write in you every day, but I've been busy, and then I forgot all about this. From now on, I'll leave this under my pillow so that I will remember to write in it. I am going to ask one of the prefects or someone older to make it so that no one but me can write in this. I've read horror stories, and I've seen on the telly when people have had their diaries read publically, and that would be so embarrassing! I don't know how much of my secrets I'll write in this, but I probably will.
So, the classes here are so cool! Yes, they are real magic! I am actually doing magic. On the first day of school, I was still unsure of how real this all was. I know that seems odd, but part of me kept expecting it all to be some trick and that this was just some boarding school I was going to. Part of me wondered if my parents went through some major scheme to get me to accept it. They knew how unhappy I was about starting secondary school, and I probably wouldn't have accepted some normal boarding school right away. I didn't admit that in my first entry because then I might have spent the rest of the train ride disappointed or something. Even after I met Brad and Belinda I kind of wondered if everything was set up.
It's all real though. I, Amelia Miller am actually a witch, and I am actually learning how to do magic. How brilliant is that? Not all of the classes are magical. The only ones we do magic in are Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Charms. Though we do make real potions in Potion's class, and sometimes we do have to do some magic in it, but mainly it's just making potions. The other classes are Herbology, Astronomy, (which we do at night) History of Magic and we did have Flying Lessons. They're over now. Yes, Flying Lessons where we learned to ride brooms! Can you believe it? I suppose out of everything that isn't that unbelievable.
My favourite classes are Herbology, Charms, and Astronomy. I've discovered magic isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Transfiguration is so hard! It's taught by a young teacher named Professor Hardvick, and most of the girls pay attention just because he is handsome. They don't even care if they are good at the class. I do because I hoped I'd be good at everything for once, but I'm not. It took me forever to turn a pin into a match. Some people do it right away, but not me. Right now I'm struggling with turning a fork into a spoon. That was our latest assignment.
Defense Against the Dark Arts is okay, and it could be fun, but we're learning about dueling, and I've learned I am not good at defensive magic. We were taught the shield charm, but I just can't do it. I can't wait until we start learning about darker creatures, that will be our next unit. I don't like basic dueling at all. Maybe I'll get good at it someday though. It's taught by a nice lady named Professor Moore. She said if I want, I can ask for help. I think I might take her up on her offer. I've avoided it so far because, at my old school, people called me a goody when I asked for help. I need to do well though.
Potions, I just cannot do. I'm hoping soon I'll get good at it, but everyone I've made always makes some kind of unpleasant smell, and it looks nothing like it should. Professor Slughorn can't even remember my name. He always calls me something different every class even though it's been more than a month.
Astronomy is just so fascinating. I've always loved the stars, and it's one of my best classes. I know where the position of the stars are from all the reading I did as a kid. I've always wanted a telescope, and now I finally do.
Herbology is taught by a really nice lady called Professor Sprout. I've heard she is retiring soon, but I hope not. I've always been really good with plants. Karen always kills them, but mine have always survived, and so far, I've done really well with the plants. They have some really neat ones.
Charms is taught by a little old man who looks like an elf. I don't like to brag, but I've managed to do every spell so far. It's why it so upsetting that I can't do the spells in Defense or Transfiguration. I don't get it. I was one of the first ones to light my wand with the lighting charm, but I can't transfigure things. Brad told me everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but it still doesn't make sense to me.
History of Magic is so boring! It's taught by a ghost teacher, and all he does is drone on and on. I thought I would enjoy it because then I can learn more about the Wizarding World, but I feel almost ready to sleep after fifteen minutes in class.
Flying Lessons were fun, and I was actually quite good at it, but they're done now. I miss them because first years aren't even allowed on brooms. But soon there will be Quidditch games. That's a sport played on broomsticks. I don't know much about it except what I've been told, but I promise I'll write about it after the first game which is coming up very soon. It's Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. All the houses compete against each other, and then the best team wins the Quidditch House Cups.
The houses compete in another way too. We have to earn points for our houses throughout the year. The house that wins the most points win the House Cup. So far, Hufflepuff is in the last place, and Ravenclaw is in first, but I've been told it changes all the time. Slytherin lost a lot of points a week ago because a fourth year Slytherin was teasing one of the Gryffindor first years. I'm not sure what happened except that they called them a blood traitor.
Oh yeah, remember how I mentioned a war? A little over two years ago, there was a big war in the Wizarding World. Some evil man called You-Know-Who (no one will tell me the real name, but I'll find out soon) took over, and people like me weren't even allowed in school. There are some witches and wizards like the evil man who don't want muggle-borns in the Wizarding World. They care more about blood purity. They wanted to rid the world of us, and eventually all muggles. They wanted it to just be purebloods and half-bloods (though apparently, that was pushing it) at Hogwarts. I'm still learning the details, but the evil man was actually killed here at Hogwarts in May 1998. A boy named Harry Potter killed him.
But apparently, if the war were still going on, I would have had to prove where I got my magic from. That's what they did with Muggle-borns, and a lot had to go into hiding. I guess the ones who couldn't hide or couldn't prove where they got their magic from were killed or imprisoned, or even something called kissed. A lot of the younger muggle-borns were killed because they couldn't explain. I'm very lucky I guess. But it does explain why the world was kind of scary a couple of years ago. There were a lot of freak accidents, and it was always unusually cold and foggy. I guess that was all from the war. I wonder if Professor McGonagall kept that secret from my family so my parents would still send me. I'm still learning more about what happened. I'll update more when I can. I'm just glad Harry Potter got rid of the evil man and that I can be here. I wish I could meet him. He's very famous.
On a lighter note, I do have some friends but not a lot. I'm okay with that though. I'm still friends with Belinda and Brad even though they're in different houses. Sometimes we get together to study, and I sit with Brad in Charms class. It's the one class that he isn't better at me in, and sometimes we challenge each other. He's good at every other class though. Belinda is one of those people who are good at everything, and I think she is probably going to be one of those people who are popular. She gets along with everyone! I wish I had her confidence.
I have two best friends. I actually met Samantha (Sam for short) the first night here. Just as I put my journal away, she came in and introduced herself to me. According to her, the other girls didn't want to talk to her. So she came up to go to bed early, but then she found me. I later learned that the other girls didn't want anything to do with anyone but themselves. I'm not sure why that is because they just met at the Hufflepuff table after sorting, but for some reason, they keep to themselves. I tried talking to them, but when I did, they stared at me and then giggled when I walked away. If it hadn't been for Sam's warning, I would have taken it personally. Their names are Kendra, Tammy, Ming, and Chelsey. I'm honestly not sure why Sam and I didn't make the cut.
My other best friend is named Brennan. We weren't friends with him right away. Sam and I hung out together the entire first weekend here. She feels like a long-lost sister to be honest. I've never connected so well with someone before. We hung out together for a week when we bumped into Brennan at the entrance to our common room. To get into the Hufflepuff common room, you need to knock on the barrels in the tune of Helga Hufflepuff, but he'd forgotten how to. So we helped him out, and then I told him he could hang out with us. It was a Friday evening, and by that point, I'd noticed he was always by himself. I don't know why he doesn't hang out with the other boys. He hasn't told us that yet, and we never asked. The thing is, I saw him all on his own, and I saw that as myself if I hadn't met Sam. I didn't want anyone to be on their own. I knew full well that he could turn down my invitation, but he agreed right away. And from that moment, two became three. With Brennan, it's the same with Sam; it was an instant connection. I didn't even have that with Brad and Belinda, though we got along.
It's because of them that I haven't really managed to write in this, but I will start soon when I can. I had time today because they both went to bed early. I'm definitely not complaining! I have two best friends, and two friends outside of Hufflepuff. It's more than I expected. I just wish I could be better in classes. Sam slacks off, so she doesn't care, but hopefully, she soon learns. I bet you can fail at Hogwarts too and I don't want her to fail. Brennan is neutral when it comes to school work. He's good at it, but he doesn't get upset when he isn't good at something. For instance, he is bad at Potions too, but he doesn't care. Maybe I should take their attitudes on more, but all I've ever wanted to do was succeed in school as Karen does. She is good at everything, and she is popular. How can two sisters be so different? We don't even look the same.
Oh yeah and Karen does write to me. I just got a letter from her yesterday. I still don't know how she feels about me being a witch, but at least she isn't ignoring me. She seems interested in what I have to say. Tony writes me almost every day, so I think he is hoping he is a wizard too. Lately, he's been telling me that he does odd things, but I'm wondering if it's wishful thinking. I hope he is a wizard, but he is also nine, so he has a good imagination. Mum and dad write almost every day too. I should add that we use owls to communicate in this world. My parents weren't even surprised by that which is odd. I really think they are hiding something from me. I am going to ask them what is going on at Christmas. They seem too okay with my life. Sam is muggle-born too, and her parents were shocked.
Anyway, I should go to bed soon. I promise I'll write more after today. I'll tell you more about what I find out, especially when it comes to the war. If you ask me, there is a lot that people aren't telling me!
A/N: If anyone is reading this, I am going to update every day after this.