Quidditch, Christmas and Erised
Same disclaimer as before: J. K. R. owns it.
September 17th
Dear Diary,
Harry Potter got his broom this morning at breakfast. It's not like he deserves it, seriously, it's only going to encourage him and that incorrigible Ron Weasley. It was very brave of him to go after Malfoy, especially since he'd never flown before, but honestly- he could have been killed, or worse, expelled-
I don't know why I'm writing this. I've written that before, about a hundred times this past week. They nearly got me expelled- imagine that, Hermione Granger, expelled after barely a week. Well, I'm not speaking to them, not that they seem to mind. They could at least pretend to care.
They were bragging to Malfoy about the broom, and he tried to get Harry into trouble again- as if the teachers didn't know he had a broom! You just can't have something like that at Hogwarts and expect the teachers not to know about it!
Anyway, Professor Flitwick gave me extra credit in Charms today for my technique, so it's not like I care about what they think, anyway. I have more important things to worry about.
Hermione
September 25th
Dear sister,
Here's the Hogwarts toilet seat we promised. We took it from the Prefect's bathroom, so it is even a deluxe model, much nicer than the ones we get to sit on. It's a little black, though, sorry, but if you think those burn marks are bad, you should see the rest of the toilet! You can hang it on your wall next to the pictures of Harry you put up last month.
-Gred and Forge
October 7th
Dear half-wits,
Mum nearly fainted when I tried to hang a toilet seat on my wall. I had to tell her that you'd Transfigured it from an apple core, which is of course a lie.
Archer and Sierra are going insane without Ron and Harry to blame for their mischief. Actually, that too is a lie. They're blaming Vera and I. I'm counting on you to help us get them back. You owe me one, remember?
Love,
Ginny
P.S. I do not have a picture of Harry on my wall!
October 31
Dear diary,
I am in so much trouble. I just lied to a teacher. To a teacher! Harry and Ron must be a bad influence on me. I don't care though, after what we just went through- oh, my hand is still shaking…
Okay. I'll take this one step at a time.
Today in Charms, Professor Flitwick paired Harry with Seamus Finnigan and me with Ron. Neither of us was happy with that, but you won't catch me talking back to a teacher! Anyway, I tried to help him with Wingardium Leviosa- he was saying it all wrong and his wrist-flick was absolutely awful- but he wouldn't have it. It's his own fault if he gets a bad grade in that class. When I was leaving the classroom, I heard him tell Harry, "It's no wonder no one can stand her. She's a nightmare, honestly." Well, they hadn't exactly been my best friends, either! I couldn't help but cry when he said that. What had I ever done to him besides try to help and keep him out of trouble?
So I ran off to the bathroom to have a good cry where nobody would bother me (or so I thought). What I didn't know was that there was a mountain troll on the loose in the school! What I didn't know turned out to be very bad for me, because I got locked in the bathroom with it!
I screamed. Really, really loudly. My throat will be sore for a week.
Then, Harry and Ron came bursting in. Ron distracted it by throwing a pipe at it and yelling (I'm sure it didn't notice the pipe, but it was a good idea) and Harry jumped on it. The troll wouldn't have noticed that either except that when Harry jumped, he shoved his wand up the troll's nose. (You should have seen it when it came out; I am never doing that with my wand!) Then Ron did Wingardium Leviosa on the troll's club and dropped it back on the troll's head. (I guess it's good that I helped him learn that, but I'm not going to mention it.) The troll went out like a light, thank goodness.
This is where it gets a little fuzzy. Some teachers came in then- Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall, I can't remember if there was anyone else- and asked what was going on. I couldn't very well have let Ron and Harry take all the blame, after all they had saved me- so I told Professor McGonagall it was my fault and that I'd gone after the troll thinking that I could take care of it myself. (You should have seen the look on Ron's face when I said that.) She took five points from Gryffindor, but she must have given some to Ron and Harry for knocking out a mountain troll after I left.
I lied to a teacher! If anyone ever finds out, what will they think? Especially Professor McGonagall, I am supposed to be the responsible one. Granted, it wasn't very responsible of me to go off chasing mountain trolls…
At any rate, I have to study for Defense Against the Dark Arts now- maybe I can make up for my points by knowing everything in advance.
Hermione
November 4th
Dear Charlie,
This morning during break, we were outside, minding our own business, just keeping warm 'round one of Hermione's portable fires, when that stupid slimy git Snape walked over to us. He was limping badly (serves him right, whatever it was) and definitely looking to stick his overlarge nose where it didn't belong. Harry had Hermione's copy (well, okay, it's the library's, to be exact) of Quidditch Through the Ages, but Snape took it ("Library books are not to be taken outside the school," and five points from Gryffindor, my arse). He makes me so mad… I hate him almost as much as I hate Malfoy, and that's saying something.
Anyway, Harry left earlier to get his book back from Snape ("Better you than me," was the general feeling Hermione and I were getting), but when he got to the staffroom, only Filch and Snape were there. Harry says one of his legs is all bloody and mangled. He heard Snape say, "Blasted thing, how are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?" He must be trying to get past the three-headed dog that's in the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side. Harry, Hermione, Neville and I ran into it once before, and it was not a pleasant experience. He's guarding something; that evil snotrag must be trying to get past it. Suffice it to say that Harry didn't get his book back.
I have to go to bed now, because the light is keeping Harry awake and he's got a big Quidditch match tomorrow. Wish us luck,
Ron
November 5th
Dear Mum, Dad, Sirius, Allya, Remus, etc.,
I had my first Quidditch match this morning at eleven, just thought you'd like to know. Nothing out of the ordinary. We won, a hundred and seventy points to sixty. I didn't fall off my broom or anything, so don't worry. Hurrah, Gryffindor!
Harry
What's Going On
- Snape is a slimy, evil git ("That doesn't count, Ron!")
- Was spotted jinxing Harry's broomstick, nearly causing Harry to fall
- There's a three-headed dog called Fluffy guarding something on the third floor
- Snape has been bitten by said dog, and is presumably trying to get whatever's been hidden
- Fluffy is guarding some collaborative effort of Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel's
("Who's Nicolas Flamel?"
"That's what we have to find out, genius.")
November 7th
Dear ickle Lupins,
How's our favorite set of twins? Getting into loads of mischief, we hope, Archer. Watch out for our sister and yours- they have it in for you, we're afraid.
Please accept these water balloons full of bubotuber pus as a reminder of what lies ahead. May the best team win.
-The Weasley Twins
PS- it is absolutely disgraceful, Archer, that you've sided with that Black kid and not with your twin. We are watching you.
November 11th
Dear Gred and Forge,
What do you think you're doing, sending my innocent ten-year-olds bubotuber pus? Watch yourselves; Sirius wasn't amused when he found Sierra covered in the stuff. You have been warned.
-Remus
November 15th
Dear "Moony,"
Bring it on.
-Your Worst Nightmares
(Remus folded the letter with a small smile on his face and put it with the rest of the morning mail. He wondered what Allya would do when she found it. It was always possible that she'd go into a berserk rage and declare war on the Weasley twins, but he doubted it. Subtlety was her style, after all. In the weeks to come, he knew, Fred and George would be plagued by serious dilemmas- anonymous Howlers singing Opera at breakfast; frog spawn in their soup; and, perhaps worst of all, the suspicion planted in Professor Snape that they were the ones who'd written 'I luv Gryffindor' on the back of all of his robes in insoluble red ink. Of course, those were only the beginnings of suggestions; who knew what Sirius would do? Indeed, Remus would have to at least think of doing some of those things himself.
He shook his head as he admitted to himself that he probably wouldn't indulge in anything more than a few childish fantasies of how he'd like to get the two Weasleys. Remus would leave them well enough alone- for the time being.
"Vera, Fox," he called up one set of stairs at Hillside Manor. "You've got owls!"
That brought the twins down surely enough. Though Archer Fox was still clad in his pajamas, his sister was dressed and ready for the day. That was typical; this set of twins was one of polar opposites. Remus supposed it ran in the family.
They sat at the kitchen table to read through their letters- Fox wasn't at all put out that his sister had two letters, for his owl from Sierra was about three times as long as either of hers. Ginny Weasley didn't really care for him much anyway; she was still bitter from the time he'd put spiders in her hair. The good-natured jibes about her clumsiness weren't well-received either. Ginny Weasley had a temper to be reckoned with, and Fox absolutely loved making her mad.
This latest letter from young Sierra Black was more than full of spectacular ideas on how to do it, and he quickly read through it and stuffed it in a pocket. There was no use in getting caught, after all.)
*
December 10th
Messrs Fred and George Weasley,
Your detention will take place in the trophy room tonight at ten o'clock. I sincerely hope you've learned your lesson- it is not becoming of Hogwarts students to bewitch snowballs to pester their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, although I very much doubt it.
M. McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Minnie,
We got more than the usual one-sentence detention reminder! You must be growing fond of us. Fred thinks it's because you spend so much time yelling at us, but I know that it's really our secret Weasley charm. Don't feel bad, you're not the first to fall for it and you won't be the last.
George Weasley
PS- Can we clean the dungeon instead? There's nothing more to do in the trophy room; we put Non-Tarnishing charms on them last time.
Weasleys!
Your detention will still take place tonight in the trophy room. You will break the Non-Tarnishing spells, then you will use a Tarnish Charm, and then you will polish the trophies. By hand.
M. McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
December 17th
Dear Mum and Dad,
Is it OK if I stay at Hogwarts for Christmas? Please? Ron has to stay, and I don't want him to be lonely, however unlikely that is with three brothers at the school. He might get expelled for trying to beat up/actually beating up Malfoy. He already got five points taken off, even though he was provoked. Snape's a git.
Love,
Harry
December 18th
Dear Harry,
You may stay at Hogwarts over Christmas break, but we expect you home come Easter time! It's very sweet that you want to keep your friend out of trouble-
(Oh good, thought Harry, it worked)
-while his parents are away in Romania. Don't break too many rules,
Love,
Mum
P.S. I don't want to hear you talk about your teachers that way!
December 21st
Dear Mum and Dad,
Thanks very much for letting me stay here over the break. I'm having lots of fun with Ron eating roasted things like marshmallows that are sure to rot my teeth (according to Hermione, but then she's Muggle-born so she doesn't know about Plaque-Repellent Charms, plus she's not here to scold us as she's gone home for Christmas). We're also plotting the best way to get Malfoy expelled. Any ideas, Dad?
At the moment I am seeking refuge from said Ron, as he has just beat me four games straight at chess. Mercy!
Love,
Harry
PS- just in case this letter's a bit late, Merry Christmas.
December 25th
Dear Ron and Harry,
Merry Christmas! Please pretend these are sugar-free so that my Mum doesn't go totally bonkers and make me listen to a lecture on dental hygiene (again). Did you find out anything about you-know-who? Don't forget to check the library while I'm gone!
Love from
Hermione
Hi, Harry;
Merry Christmas! What's Hogwarts like? I can't wait 'til I get to go next year. It's dull being the only child. Funny; I always thought it would be wonderful.
Romania is boring. Charlie won't let me anywhere near the dragons. It's not fair; that was the whole point, to go see Charlie and the dragons.
Anyway, here's a new frame for that mad painting of yours (how is Morgana doing, anyway?) since Ron said you broke it again. Oh, and Mum's sent you a sweater and some fudge. I suppose I shouldn't have spoiled the surprise, but what are the odds that you'll open this letter before your presents anyway?
Ginny
Dear Harry,
Here's a little something to help you continue the family tradition. Your Mum doesn't know I'm sending this to you, so keep it quiet, would you? It should cover two or three people, at least for now, but make sure it doesn't get ripped.
Love,
Dad
Dad,
Is this what I think it is? Wow! Thanks!
Love, Harry
*The cloak is amazing. Filch will never catch me. I could go anywhere… I'm going to the Restricted Section. I need to find Flamel.
Weird. I've never seen Hogwarts this way before. Does it change for you when you're invisible?
The library- okay, the Restricted Section is at the back. There- now which titles… Can't read it, can't read it, can't read it, oh! Is that blood? That's sort of disturbing… Can't read it… how about that one?
OH! That was most definitely the wrong book. That'll bring Filch running. Time to get out of here.
There he is- I hope I can fit under his arm…
Phew. Okay, now where am I?
"You asked me to come directly to you, Professor, if anyone was wandering around at night, and somebody's been in the library- Restricted section."
That's probably bad. Filch must know a shortcut…
"The Restricted Section? Well, they can't be far, we'll catch them."
Snape! Oh, flobberworms and Ron words… at least they can't see me. I'd better get up against the wall. Wait! There's an open door; if I can just squeeze through without moving it…
Safe. So now where am I?
Desks, chairs, wastepaper basket- must be an unused classroom. Wait a second; what's that?
Huh. 'Erised stra ehru oyt cafru oyt on wohsi.' A dyslexic mirror maker? Nah…
Woah! Who is that? I don't see anyone behind me; only in the mirror. She has eyes like mine… that baby looks sort of like Morgana used to… why is she crying? And who is-
Oh.
That's my mother, before she died, and my sister, too; that's Dad, but he looks different, too. I wonder what it would be like if my mother hadn't died. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't know how to play poker, but it would have been worth it…
Her eyes are just like mine, but she really does look a lot more like Morgana does now than anyone else I know. I wish I'd known her. I wish…
How long have I been standing here? Stupid, really; I'll just get myself caught my first night out with the cloak. Splendid idea, Potter, your father would be proud. Never mind, just get back to the Tower before Filch comes back again…
*
December 26th
Dear Ginny,
Thanks for the new frame; Morgana loves it. She's always had a thing for dragons. I wish it were easier to buy gifts from Hogwarts, then I could have gotten you something better than Chocolate Frogs. I suppose I will have to think more in advance next year, right?
As for Morgana, she is having a wonderful time. She can actually jump out of her frame and go visit the other portraits. You should hear the racket she makes when she's with that psycho knight, Sir Cadogan. Oh, and she says to tell you that she's not mad. Don't listen to her though; we all know she's barking.
You won't be bored next year, trust me on that one. I have to go finish an essay for Snape now (that git), so I'd better drag your brother away from his candy and get him to help. He's loads better at Potions than me (maybe because Snape hates me more than him).
Harry
December 27th
Dear Harry,
I've received more than one anonymous tip (if a piece of crystal can be considered anonymous at all) this week to warn you about something called a Mirror of Erised. It's probably best to leave it be for now. I have a feeling it'll be important later. Keep your nose clean, kid.
Love,
Aunt A.
December 28th
Dear Aunt Allya,
You were right. Too bad I didn't get that message a little sooner. Last night Dumbledore caught me in that room with the mirror. He scared the living daylights out of me, actually. He was very cryptic and kept saying things like "Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you." That's very deep, I'm sure, but I have no idea what else he means by that. I'm sure there must be a hidden meaning somewhere. Well, I'll let Hermione figure it out.
The Mirror of Erised actually shows the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. Well, that makes sense I suppose, I just have to make sure nobody ever finds out what I see in there- Ron sees himself as head boy and Quidditch Captain, and I guess that makes an odd sort of sense because it would be hard growing up with five brothers. Anyway, Dumbledore's moving the Mirror somewhere else, which is probably the best thing for me.
Do you really think Dumbledore sees himself with a pair of thick, woolen socks? What a nutter! He must have been kidding, but then I suppose not everyone would want to share what he'd seen…
Thanks for the heads-up, though. I will definitely be more careful in the future. I just hope next time Dumbledore doesn't jump out of the shadows at me.
Love,
Harry
