Dear Dennis,
I have a fair amount of homework. It isn't overwhelming, but I can't say that it's a lot less than last year. It might even be more! But the fact that it's all magic theory and spells makes all the work worth it when I'm able to cast the spell properly! I'm sure you'll know what I'm talking about next year! And I'll be able to help you, if you need it!
Oh! I never thought of that! It would be cool to be able to turn invisible! I think I'll go ask someone or visit the library tomorrow to check!
We're talking about a Slytherin here! I doubt they'd pass the opportunity to put something dangerous in Hogwarts and blame someone else for it. There probably is a monster in there, I don't know what kind, but there is one.
I still hope it's a joke though.
The Professors have started a Duelling Club though, so they must be worried! It's Lockhart and Snape together. Honestly, I just want to see Lockhart beating Snape! After everything he's done in his books, Lockhart should be able to do that, right? Apparently not, though. Snape wiped him clean off his feet. It was hilarious! Lockhart went flying backwards like a ragdoll!
In the Duelling Club, everyone found out that Harry could speak Parseltongue (the language of the snakes) so everyone thinks he's Slytherin's heir now, and attacking people. That's impossible though! Harry can't be evil – he isn't anywhere as mean as the people in Slytherin. Besides, one of his best friends is a muggleborn like us! I doubt he would ever want to harm one of his friends! Or anyone really, if he rushed to save everyone like he did last year. The entire school is terrified of him, except his friends and a pair of redhead twins a couple years above us. They keep making jokes about it in the Great Hall! It's brilliant!
There's been another attack since then (the first was the cat that the caretaker owns. I don't know if I mentioned that last time…). All the Professors are worried now. Even Lockhart and Dumbledore, though they are trying hard to hide it. Everyone has to move in groups now. That's why it took so long to send this letter – I had to wait until there were at least another three people who wanted to send their mail as well. I'm in a Gryffindor group with this girl with red hair. She's always writing in this diary! I think she should have been sorted into Ravenclaw with how she acts! If the diary leaves her sight for more than a minute, she freaks out! Nothing can be that important, right?
The Professors said that if it got too bad here they would send out letters to our parents. I don't want to worry them before I know, for sure, that everything that's happening isn't just some Slytherin's idea of a joke! I think Mum and Dad might pull me out of Hogwarts! I'd hate that!
Don't worry! I always keep my camera on me! It feels strange to not have it around my neck! I'd forgotten it once, and it felt like I was missing something the entire day (no one wanted to come up to the dorms with me). I think I'd definitely impress Harry if I got a picture of the monster!
Harry got injured during a Quidditch match this afternoon. A stray bludger (a violent sort of ball in Quidditch, but I'll tell you more the next time I see you) hit his arm. You could hear the sound of breaking bone! It was terrible! Harry still managed to catch the snitch though! I'm planning on sneaking into the Infirmary after curfew tonight, and maybe take something with me if I can!
If the Infirmary food is anything like hospital food, I'm sure he'll appreciate it! Just don't tell Mum and Dad I'm sneaking around after curfew, or I'll be in trouble!
- Colin
