Author's note: I published two chapters at once, you might want to go back and read the previous one first. I'm not familiar with the English grading system so I assumed Hogwarts uses the wizarding system for everything, not just OWLs and NEWTs.
I don't own anything. Nothing. Nada.
July 15
It's late in the evening, and I'm back in Suburban Hell.
I passed all my exams! And so did Miranda and Lilian!
I had Outstandings on most of my subjects, except for Transfiguration and History of Magic, which I got E's on. So, all in all, not so bad. I suppose I'll just need to study harder in History of Magic and Transfiguration… Well, Transfiguration is a lost cause. Still, I got O's on most!
Now onto the slightly more dubious news.
Once in the confines of our room, Ivy squealed what she seemed to have been dying to say all day:
"Look what I can do!"
And she changed her hair a dark purple.
And I know enough to know what it means. There was no trigger for accidental magic.
Ivy is a Metamorphmagus.
And I sat down and told her I am so enormously proud of her.
"But Ivy? You'll need to hide it at school, okay?"
She blinked. "Why?"
"Because… there might be people who… who will use your gift. They might make you do things you don't want to. So… none of you say what Ivy can do, okay? This is important. It's Code Clementine Shortbread."
(Code Clementine Shortbread is when it's something so important that we lay down our differences and unite- this usually means they do what I say. It's only been used once before, on Christmas Morning three years ago- as you might have guessed that's where it got its name from.)
They nodded solemnly.
"Good. So, what else has happened?"
July 16
Well. My books, wand and writing supplies have been tossed in the cupboard, so I guess I'm going to have to work a little miracle with my homework. Unless I'll be able to steal them back.
July 17
No… Aunt Petunia can't honestly be that stupid…
Turns out I am able to steal them back, seeing as how I was just placed in the cupboard… the same cupboard all my homework is in… I can't believe I'm related to these people. Now, what did Snape set us again?
Oh, wait. It's too dark.
Gah.
July 18
I wonder how much trouble I'd get in if I did an underage Lumos charm.
I wonder if I could defend myself by saying I'm a Ravenclaw addicted to homework.
I wonder if there's a flashlight in here somewhere.
I'm dizzy.
July 25
This Greek philosopher, Plato, wrote about people sitting in a cave. A cave illuminated by torches. And all these people have ever known are the shadows of people outside, shadows on the walls illuminated by torches. Never have they seen the light.
That hits home a little too close.
I'm getting way too pessimistic.
July 28
I feel like a cat, sleeping so much, only without the thrill of hunting. It's boring here.
August 23
I've received the letter with school supplies and went to Diagon Alley myself this time- I took the Knight Bus. For extra reading, I've gotten some books on Metamorphmagic, conscription and Arithmancy- I'm really looking forward to the electives next year. I've also bought some extra potions ingredients, too- Miranda is so frightened of Snape, she almost never manages in Potions class, so we figured to practice outside of the classroom and hope the castle doesn't go up in flames. I've also gotten some more wizarding children's books and a wizarding chess set for Harry, Ivy and Zachary.
August 24
(They promptly abandoned the books.)
I mean, they're fairy tales! Literal fairy tales! How do they hate fairy tales?
At least, they're getting some fun out of the chess set. Zachary is a little young for it, but Harry and Ivy are playing quite fanatically. I've been studying the book on Metamorphmagic, writing notes in the margins and highlighting important parts to leave it behind for Ivy.
Our Defense textbook for this year seems to focus on magical creatures, which I am a little anxious about- would it be dangerous? Shouldn't it be?
August 30
I've been feeling kind of dizzy lately. But it's probably nothing.