Make a Note of it

by Cannibalistic Skittles

New school, new diary. That's the rules. Not that I'll have any trouble filling the pages. Diary, you had no idea what would be in store for you when I brought you away from those dull store walls. Tales of magic and intrigue, if you can believe it. And wait until you hear about the Professors...! [MC/Grabiner, journal entry style]

10. Really actually not that terrible

September 13th

Dear diary,

Today I was kidnapped by hillfolk, never to be seen again.

It was the best day ever!

…and by 'hillfolk', I mean Seniors.

Friday the 13th – considered a day of good luck for us, what a surprise – marked the end of Initiation. We were herded into the gym again, where we were berated, blindfolded, and tossed around (at least, I assume everyone was. I was. The blindfolds were efficient enough that I couldn't tell), then shoved into a bus.

We ended up having a surprise party. I introduced Damien to Ellen (which could have gone better, but wasn't a total disaster), and the Seniors gave their Freshmen gifts.

…Damien gave me butter. I guess this means he liked the poem!

Which brings me to the other noteworthy event of the day.

Professor Grabiner ran into me before class. (Not literally this time – I'm so proud of me.)

And he... apologized.

Apparently, it's considered a traditional Initiation prank for Seniors to order their Freshmen to profess their love for him. "The very thought of which fills them with horror," he said.

Poor Professor!

If he always reacts the way he did yesterday, I can't say I'm surprised, but to think of it like that…!

I still wish he had let me explain the other day, but from his perspective, his actions seemed perfectly reasonable. Mostly.

He gave me ten merits for the misunderstanding and lost class time, and another ten for having the courage to admit that I did it.

When I thanked him, he assured me that this does [i]not[/i] change anything, and we are [i]not[/i] friends because of this.

Ohoho Professor, it's far too late for that.

I've discovered an inkling of his humanity – with that, it's put the idea in my head. I have not had a teacher who hated me yet, and he is not going to be the first!

…was that the right laugh up there? A noblewoman's laugh – meant to convey deviousness but not necessarily evil-ness?

I think I just used the wrong laugh.

In all seriousness, though, I'm not as terrified of him as I thought I would be. He's certainly strict, but not unreasonable, and I am definitely making progress with my lessons.

Maybe I'll be able to survive in his classes after all.

-Illia