Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, I wouldn't be going to work shops that give you advice on how to pay for college. I would be rich and I would aim to eliminate poverty in several countries. Yup.
10/2/1996
Well, Ginny and I were on our way outside for a walk on the grounds after classes, but we were stopped in our tracks on the front steps by a road block. This "road block" was breathing and nauseating and took the form of my sister sobbing into the folded arms of Harry Potter. Ginny and I waited about the door, and listened to Cecily choke on about her tortured past to Harry, cooing in sympathy. He did not look entirely unpleased to be there either. Her tale was the one that she uses on nearly every guy, to explain either why she rejects or throws herself at them. She's been heartbroken ever since the death of her first true love, who died tragically in a muggle car accident. She tried valiantly to save him, and held him as he took his last breaths.
I nearly scoffed for laughter.
I should mention that Cecily Ambre's "first love" was in the first grade. And yes, he was involved in a swerving car incident that startled him into falling off his bicycle, but he only broke his arm and sustained no lasting injuries before moving out of state a month later.
Still, she sobs.
The odd part was that when I looked over at Ginny, she was braced against a wall and looked as if she was choking down sobs as well. At first I thought that she believed my sister's story, and almost laughed, but she shook her head and said it wasn't that before walking numbly away, presumably back up to her common room.
I'm not quite sure what was the matter, it was almost as if she fancied Harry, but I always thought she seemed quite happy with Dean.
Then again it wouldn't be the first time that Cecily Ambre has broken someone's heart.
10/4/1996
Cecily can transform herself so easily into a cat that she might as well be an animagus.
I hear that she offered to tutor the girl that is always with Harry and Ron (whose name, I now know, is Hermione,) and she apparently did not take kindly to the offer. Apparently Hermione is top of her class, and my sister is surpassing her in transfiguration.
10/10/1996
You cannot believe the nerve of my sister! Alright, well I was in history of magic again, in the midst of a very pleasant day dream I might add, and I felt this whisp weave about my ankles. I looked down, and what were staring at me but the crystal blue eyes of a slender black cat! Surely you can figure for yourself who the cat was. She blinked at me and pranced about for a few moments before scampering out of the class!
She has an awful amount of nerve, thinking that she can come and go from any class as she pleases.
10/11/1996
Cecily knows. About Michael.
She cornered me after lunch today and told me that she noticed I was staring at him yesterday. I must say, she is an excellent legilemens, I had no choice but to confess. She says that I should do something about it, and that she will be talking to me again tonight after dinner.
Damn.
10/11/1996 (later)
Cecily Ambre is actually being a help for once! As it turns out, the next Hogsmeade trip is planned just before this Halloween, and she suggested I ask him to go with me!
I told her that I could never possibly be brave enough, and besides, Ginny might slaughter me, but Cecily said that she will talk to him for me! She can be very charming, so I'm sure it will go over perfectly!
She's planning to ask him tomorrow, and despite how nervous I am I can hardly breathe for excitement.
10/12/1996
Tonight is the night!
10/12/1996 (later)
Cecily Ambre Giselle Aurora Madeleine Julliette Finch is the bloodiest, most awful, terrible witch ever to set foot in Hogwarts.
Well, she spoke to Mr. Michael Corner. According to Luna, she simply asked him if he was planning to attend to Hogsmeade trip and when he said yes, offered him some company. Her company. What she told me was that he was just so taken with her that she would have felt terribly guilty for turning him down, but that's rubbish. You'll excuse me if I'm taking Luna's word over Cecily's at the moment.
And she did this right as they were over by the lake, so Ginny knows now, and I've yet to face her.
I've been crying for the past hour, but fortunately it's been only Luna and I in the common room, as everyone else has been about enjoying their Friday.
Fortunately. Hah. I don't fancy myself saying that word again anytime soon.
10/13/1996
It was difficult to wake up this morning, and I'm not even out of bed yet. I am dreading the Moment I next run into Cecily Ambre. Or Ginny. Or Michael Corner.
10/15/1996
I really wish that Corner would just come to dinner at the same time as Cecily Ambre one day. Perhaps if he saw how she swoons over Harry Potter (the same way she did over Cedric, the same way she did over Krum…) he would be a bit discouraged.
10/16/1996
Alright, it's Tuesday morning, and I've completely given up on Michael. I walked right past him in the common room last night and did not so much as respond to his "hello." I feel quite proud of myself as a matter of fact.
Tomorrow I have History of Magic with him, and that shall be the real test.
As for now, I stonily avoided looking at Ginny all through Charms yesterday, but I could tell she was eyeing me. I'm going to ask her if she wants to take a walk on the grounds this evening where I can explain everything much better than my sister did. The truth is that I don't wish to lose Ginny, or her friends, as my friends. Luna is a dear, and she is my greatest friend in the world, but she's also been my only good friend for the past four years. I think having something fun to do on Fridays has been wonderful for both Luna and I.
Ginny is kind enough, I'm sure she'll understand.
Hopefully.
10/17/1996
I'm in History of Magic now, and I've only glanced at him a few times, but I haven't lingered once. Nor have I spoken to him.
10/17/1996 (later)
I've just returned from taking a walk on the grounds with Ginny. I planned to do that last night, but I didn't run into her until Charms this morning. She said that she understood, and was actually quite sympathetic. She also said not to feel badly because she had completely moved on the moment she learned what a sour loser he was after Ravenclaw lost the quidditch match last year. I just wish that I had learned all of this earlier.
Anyway, I need to get to sleep if I want to be awake for a Potions exam tomorrow, good night, Diary.
10/18/1996
I am now officially failing Potions.
10/19/1996
It's Friday, and I intend to spend my afternoon and early evening by the lake as I normally would. I shouldn't be so cool toward Corner, but nothing else feels quite as satisfying. Except, perhaps, murder.
But Ginny has agreed to help me fly today, and I really am looking forward to it.
10/19/1996 (later)
I made a score with the quaffle on the REAL quidditch field! I have hardly ever been so overjoyed.
Michael Corner saw it too, I believe.
10/23/1996
I have decided that my future career path must not involve Potions. I shall never pass. I always hoped that it was simply because of Professor Snape, but now that Professor Slughorn has taken over, I still seem to be just under satisfactory. Add to that that Snape now teaches Defense against the Dark Arts, a class I used to enjoy, and I now have two miserable subjects.
Actually I'm not really sure what I wish to me. I used to fantasize about being an auror, but I think I would be terrified if I ever had to confront a real Death Eater. Perhaps I could be a nurse, or even better perhaps I could cure animals. I honestly haven't the slightest idea.
The fifth years will be having career meetings sometime in the next month or so, so perhaps I will see if Professor Flitwick has any suggestions.
10/25/1996
I thought that I could make myself completely forget about Michael Corner, but as the first Hogsmeade weekend draws closer, I find myself dreading it. Perhaps I can do a great deal of studying for Transfigurations, and transform my sister into a toadstool. Yes, I believe that will do.
Better yet, perhaps I won't go at all.
10/27/1996
It's early Saturday, and I'm about to dress for Hogsmead, which I am going to simply because Ginny and Luna wont stop urging me to do so. However, I am not going to go plainly. This is one of my few opportunities to wear something other than my Hogwarts robes, and for once, I do want to take advantage of that.
I am going to wash and then comb my hair perfectly so that it brings out the richest brown that I could possibly get it to, and I am going to wear blue jeans with a bottle green sweater that matches perfectly with my eyes. And still I know that it will never be enough, but for once, I want to feel that I am something close to as worthy as my sister.
10/27/1996 (later)
Alright, I'm dressed and I actually look presentable. I almost put on makeup before seeing Luna's exasperated expression.
Luna does wear exasperation well for her usually dreamy face. Anyway, she thinks that I'm only up getting my shoes right now, so I should be going, but I shall bring you with me.
Wish me luck, Diary.
10/27/1996 (later)
The town does look splendid, it is decorated very festively for Halloween. We already stopped into Honeyduke's and picked out a vast assortment of chocolate frogs, pumpkin pasties and the like, and now Luna, Ginny, Dean, Neville Longbottom (a Gryffindor) and I have all piled into a booth at the Three Broomsticks for butterbeer. I have stolen away to the loo to write this until our drinks our ready. The only stab I've felt so far was when I first saw Michael Corner and Cecily Ambre, her hair blonde and perfectly curled today, heading up to Madame Pudifoot's. Still, by the way he glanced over at me on his way up the hill, the giddy feeling in my stomach tells me that he would much rather have been turning into the three broomsticks with us.
10/27/1996 (later still)
Diary, I had a wonderful day today, I really did. Corner was nothing more than a silly little crush, and already I've almost entirely forgotten about him.
Beside, Neville Longbottom does seem like a nice boy.
10/29/1996
I just ran into Ginny on my way to the Library, and she said that Michael Corner wishes to speak to me. He asks that I meet him by the front entrance at about 3 o'clock this afternoon. I honestly don't know if I want to see him or not.
10/29/1996
He likes me. As in, he genuinely likes me. As in, even despite my sister.
I bet Madame Puddifoot's was too frilly for him.
He also asked that I attend a Halloween party that his friends are having in one of the dungeons on Friday night.
I am so excited!
10/29/1996 (later)
He sat next to me at dinner tonight. Cecily Ambre looked particularly venomous, despite the enthusiastic attention that she was getting from Harry and Ron. Ginny threw a sympathetic glance over her shoulder at Hermione, and her eyes lingered on the scene for a moment. When she turned back, however, I could not mistake a gleam of sadness in her eyes, and I desperately hope that it is not related to Michael and myself.
10/30/1996
History of Magic is exciting again. I can't wait for the Halloween party, I am debating whether I should dress up at all.
10/31/1996
The party just ended, and it was very fun! A lot of the Gryffindor boys were there, as well as a few people from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw and even a few ghosts! That, and I believe Michael and I are officially considered a couple. He even held my hand occasionally at the party.
Diary, this has been one of the happiest days I've had in a long while.
