Renee Helmer's Little Black Book
(Otherwise Known as a Diary)


26 September

11:33 am

Needless to say, I've been more diligent than usual about wearing my hat. Luckily my hair's become a little more tame. A few more washes with gobs of special conditioner should almost make it normal again.

Crys is going to get me into so much trouble! She really is getting into this idea of making me repulsive much more than I wish she would. But anyway, our next step is to get me a pet, a very repulsive pet, of course. Crys says a rat should do nicely. I ask her where are we going to find a rat that doesn't already belong to someone. Her answer is what worries me.

The Forbidden Forest.

Great, just perfect. I'm going to get myself killed by the time this is all over! Of course, it would almost be worth it not to have to see Rupert.

So the plan is we're going to sneak out during lunch while everyone else is distracted. It'll be safer in the day anyway. Then again, if we get caught, we're dead as it is.

Crys says she has some kind of potion that is supposed to attract rodents if all else fails. I just hope it's not going to attract every creature in the entire forest. I'd rather face Filch and his torturing devices he talks about.

Great, time to go. I do hope we come out of this alive.

1:00 pm

Didn't even have to go into the Forbidden Forest or use that crazy potion of Crys'! There was this huge rat scurrying just inside of this pin Hagrid had built next to his hut. I figured I might as well do him a favor in the process of getting myself a pet and spare that pin from rat infestation! He'd be grateful if he only knew.

So anyway, now I've got this huge rat, but he's pretty sweet. His fur's incredibly soft. But what's really weird is that his eyes never open, kind of like a newborn kitten. Well, I guess also like a newborn rat, which he obviously isn't because he's huge! I'll have to think of a name for him, but for now I've got Care of Magical Creatures. Yay!

3:28 pm

Figured out why the rat was in the pin.

He was supposed to be there.

I'm such a prat sometimes, I even amaze myself.

So Hagrid explained to us that there had been three Garlats, but now there are only two because one got away. I nearly turned myself in right there. How was I supposed to know?!

Oh, and it is just a baby. This worries me. He's going to be huge when he grows up. What am I saying when he grows up??? He's already huge!

Hagrid also said that they develop other strange characteristics and habits as they mature, but he wouldn't go into much detail. All we did today was make their feeding potion. I brought some extra back to give my baby. He was happy to get it.

I guess I should give him back to Hagrid though. So I might end up not having a repulsive pet for Rupert to scream at. At least the (big) little guy will be okay. I'm sure Hagrid will understand that I was only trying to help him out.

Awwww! His eyes opened up! He's soooooo cute!

OW!

He bit me.

Definitely going back to Hagrid. Now.

9:56 pm

Looks like I'm stuck with him after all. I took him back to Hagrid and explained that I thought it was a normal rat and wasn't supposed to be there because I didn't see the other two in there at the time. But when I tried to return him, Hagrid shook his head and said, He's seen you first. You're his mummy now.

Talk about your weird feelings. Hagrid telling you that you're a mum definitely ranks pretty high up there.

I asked him if he was going to tell on me, but he said no. Raising that little one will be punishment enough for you.

Great.

Oh well, he's still pretty cute, all curled up in a grey fluffy ball.

OW!

With teeth.

I showed him to Crys and Laura during dinner (Laura gave me a different hair gel that she promises won't turn my hair funny colors or react strangely with anything) and asked them for input on a name.

Laura suggested She said he's going to grow up to be as big as a R.O.U.S.--or Rodent of Unusual Size. I had no idea what she was talking about until she explained that it came from something called a movie she had seen when she was a kid. In this movie, The Princess Bride, R.O.U.S.'s attack the lovers in a swamp which spits fire.

Honestly, Muggles come up with the strangest things!

I didn't want my baby to eat me though, so Killer was a no.

Crys wanted to name him of all things. Then he bit her. I was rather proud of the little bloke for that!

Laura still wanted to name him something because she said it would be more effective in scaring off Rupert. She makes me wonder why she's in Ravenclaw and not Slytherin.

Anyway, after much debate, we came up with the name I think it suits him well enough, especially since he has these scary red eyes that look like they'd glow in the dark. At least it might keep Rupert off of me. Go get him, Venom!

Heh heh heh....