Author's Note: Owing to the depressing lack of interest in chapter 2 (ZERO reviews! None at all! That's really depressing) this story is being placed on hold so I can write stories that people are actually reading. I don't really know why I'm writing this author's note, seeing as no one is reading this, but anyway. This is going to be the last chapter for a while, until I can be bothered writing any more.
October 31st
It's Halloween!
I can see that.
Don't make fun of me!
I wasn't.
…good. There's going to be a Halloween feast, I'm so excited!
Ooh, the Halloween feast! I'd completely forgotten about that!
Did you have them when you were at school?
Yes.
Tell me about it.
Umm…well, the Great Hall used to be decorated- pumpkin heads, the whole lot. Instead of all food, they serve candy as well.
Candy?!
Yes.
Wow! I want to go now!
Calm down Padma, you still have a whole day of classes.
Oh…party pooper.
That's not very nice.
Yeah. Sorry.
You didn't really mean that either.
No, not really. Oh, did I tell you? I got a letter from Mother yesterday!
Have you written back?
Of course. Parvati got one too, but she wont let me read it. So I'm not letting her read mine either.
That's…
Immature, I know. But I can be immature if I want to.
So you can.
Oh, I better go! I have DADA with (shudder) Quirrel in about two minutes. Bye Alex!
Bye Padma. Don't forget to tell me about the feast!
I wont.
*****
Well, how was it?
Um…there was a troll.
Very funny.
Alexandra! I'm serious!
…a troll?
Yes!
Are you alright?
I'm fine.
Your writing looks different.
I'm fine. My writing looks different because I'm writing in my bed. The common room is too noisy. Everyone's talking about the troll, and nearly all the food that was sent up is gone.
Okay. Tell me about the troll.
Well, I didn't actually see it. We were eating the feast (and there was candy, just like you said) when Quirrel came running in. He was yelling about a troll in the dungeons and then he fainted- so much for the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. He's completely hopeless.
The troll Padma, tell me about the troll!
Oh, right, sorry. So, of course, everyone panicked. Professor Dumbledore asked all the prefects to take us back to the common rooms, and the teachers were going to go to the dungeons after the troll.
Wait a minute…
I know! The Slytherin Common Room is in the dungeons, and ours is just outside. Bit stupid really, it would have made more sense for us to go to the Library, or stay in the Great Hall. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were all right; their common rooms are nowhere near the dungeons.
That doesn't really make much sense, does it.
No, not really. So Penny led us all to the common room, though we were really scared that we'd walk around a corner and the troll would be right there. I mean, even though there was a lot of us we're only students, there's no way we could take on a troll.
I'd imagine not.
So now everyone's in the common room, talking about where the troll might be and stuff. Mandy, Sally-Anne and I are all up here because it was getting really scary. Lisa's still down there, I don't think she's frightened because she's muggle-born, and doesn't really know what trolls are like.
They are rather frightening.
I know! Oh, at least one good thing came out of this.
What?
I saw Draco screaming. It was really funny, I wasn't screaming. Neither were a lot of the Gryffindors, but they're meant to be brave, aren't they?
Yes.
That was good. I wish I had a photo of it. Oh…I think something's happening in the common room, everything went quiet all of a sudden. I'm going to go see what it is.
Come and tell me.
Okay.
You wont believe what happened!
What? Tell me!
The troll escaped from the dungeons and-
Oh, no!
No, it's all right now. Anyway, it escaped from the dungeons, and walked to the girl's bathroom.
Well, I suppose of all the places it could go that would be the best. There wouldn't be anyone in there.
No, that's where you're wrong. Parvati told me just before dinner that Hermione Granger had been in there all day, ever since Charms class. Apparently Ron Weasley (he's Fred and George's little brother, also in Gryffindor) had insulted her after Charms, said that she was a nightmare and it was no wonder that she hadn't any friends.
What a horrible thing to say!
I know! If I'd known I'd have slapped him. Anyway, Hermione overheard him saying it, burst into tears and ran to the bathroom. She was still in there when the troll came in.
Oh no! Is she all right?
Yes. You'll never guess who saved her!
The teachers?
No, silly, they were still in the dungeons looking for the troll.
Who?
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley!
No!
Yep. They noticed that she was missing when their prefect was taking them to the common room, so they went to go get her. That was when they realised the troll was loose. So they rescued Hermione!
How?!
I don't really know- I wouldn't have thought fourth years would have been able to knock out a troll, let alone first years. But that wasn't the story they told the teachers.
What?
Hermione lied for them so they'd get out of trouble.
So how do you know the real story?
There are secret passages leading from our common room to the other houses' common rooms.
I was wondering when you'd discover those.
I didn't discover them, Cho Chang did. She told me about it, so we went looking to see if there were any more. The Slytherins know about theirs, but I don't think the Hufflepuffs or the Gryffindors do. So, when we heard that some Gryffindor first years had defeated the troll, we went through their passageway and listened to them talking about it.
That's very sneaky.
I know. Oh well, Rowena Ravenclaw wouldn't have put the passages in without good reason.
Somehow I doubt spying on the other houses was her reason.
You never know, it might have been.
Or they might not.
No point in worrying, it's not like we can ask her.
True.
Oh, the prefects are sending us to bed now. I was hoping we could go back to the feast.
There will be other feasts Padma.
I know, but I'm still disappointed. I'd better go, Penny's frowning at me and I don't want to make her angry.
Goodnight Padma.
Goodnight Alex.
November 15th
Sorry I haven't written in so long.
It's all right, I'd imagine you'd be very busy.
Yes, I have. Alex, you never told me it was so cold here in winter!
I completely forgot.
I don't believe you. How could you forget this? I'm freezing! Especially in Astronomy- midnight, in a tower. My cloak isn't warm enough by half, I think my lips turn blue before the lesson is finished. I know I shiver and my teeth chatter, Draco keeps laughing at me. He doesn't shiver. His teeth don't chatter. I hate him.
It can't be that bad.
Oh, yes it is Sandra.
Hello Katerina!
Call me Kat, it's easier.
Sorry Kat. I'm glad someone agrees with me.
Oh yes. I went to Hogwarts for a year as part of an exchange program.
You didn't go all the time?
No, Kat's French. She went to Beauxbatons.
Really?! Wow! What's it like there?
Not as cold as Hogwarts.
I thought I was the diary personality, not you Kat.
No need to get huffy, Sandra, I was just saying that it is cold at Hogwarts. I'll go now.
Oh. All right, bye!
Bye Padma.
Why are you so rude to her? There's no need to get jealous.
I'm rude to her because when I was her diary she was rude to me. Typical of the French.
That's not a very nice thing to say, Alex!
Yes, well, I've never really liked the French much.
Oh. Well, anyway, guess what?!
What?
Tomorrow's the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin Quidditch match! I'm going to go watch, even though Ravenclaw's not playing, because I feel like cheering on the only first year Quidditch player.
Which would be Harry, if my memory serves.
Yep. Draco says that Harry only got the place on the team because he's Harry Potter. That's really dumb, Draco's just upset because he didn't get on the team.
Very perceptive.
Not really, it's really obvious. Draco even wrote to his father to try and get on the team- that's … I forget the word now…
Nepotism?
What?
Nepotism. It sort of means getting things you don't really deserve through family connections.
Ah…nepotism…yes, that's exactly what it is.
What were you thinking of?
I don't know really, I was going to say "unfair" but nepotism sounds better. Mandy thinks that Draco is a spoiled little brat, and I agree with her.
Mandy seems a very shrewd judge of character.
Umm… yeah, I spose so. She's my best friend- I hardly ever talk to Parvati now.
Really?
Yeah, it's strange. I thought we'd talk heaps and stuff, but we don't. I mean, we talk a lot- in classes, before or after meals, but we have other friends now. Parvati and Lavender are best friends, they do everything together, just like me and Mandy.
I seem to remember there being another girl in Gryffindor.
Yes, Hermione.
Do Parvati and Lavender not like her then?
No, they like her just fine. But Hermione's best friends with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
That's unexpected.
I know! One minute they hated each other, then they're best friends. Strange. Oh well. I talked to Blaise the other day.
What about?
Nothing much. Pansy was listening in, and I wanted to hit her in her ugly, squashed in face.
Padma! That's a horrible thing to say!
So? Pansy deserved to get slapped. Everyone hates her because she's so stuck up. She told Blaise that he needs to "learn his place" because her father could "buy the entire Zabini fortune out of his pocket change."
When did she say that?
In Astronomy, when they were sharing a telescope. Blaise told Pansy that her star chart had an error in it, and she said that to him.
I think that she's a very materialistic girl. I don't think I'd like her much.
I agree. And I don't know what she's talking about, her family doesn't have that much money.
I take it that yours has more?
I don't know. Draco's definitely does. I think Harry would too.
Harry? Harry Potter?
Yes.
Why would he have so much money? The Potters weren't that well off when I was at school…they had money, but nowhere near the Malfoy's league. Not that I could talk, the both had more money than my family.
That's the first time you've ever mentioned your family.
Is it? How strange. Tell me, how did Harry end up with so much money?
Harry's entire family is dead.
I thought it was just his parents.
No, his whole family. He was the sole heir to all the Potter's money.
I see. Than he would have a great deal of money then.
Yeah, I think so. All his equipment is the best, like Draco's. Ron borrows a lot of Harry's stuff.
Why's that?
Because the Weasleys don't have much money- a fact that Draco likes to remind Ron of every time he sees them. Draco is so annoying. This is a stupid conversation.
Why?
Because it's all about who has the most money, and that's really petty.
I see. I'm glad you think that.
Money isn't everything. I have to go, it's almost time for dinner. Bye Alex!
Bye Padma.
November 16th
Hey Alex! I haven't got long, I'm meeting Justin in the library to help him with Potions in a minute. I just wanted to tell you about the Quidditch match.
All right then, tell me.
Well, I was sitting with Parvati, just behind Ron and Hermione. The Gryffindors had made this banner with "Potter for President" and a lion on it- it had charms on it as well! Hermione did them, which is really impressive because Prof. Flitwick had to do ours. I didn't really understand the slogan though.
Why?
Because England- and Scotland, where Hogwarts is- are part of a monarchy, so we don't have a president. "Potter for Prime Minister" makes more sense.
Yes, but it just isn't the same. "Potter for Prime Minister" doesn't quite sound right.
I suppose. Anyway, the game was going much faster than the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw game. The Gryffindor team is really good, if the Slytherin team actually followed the rules they wouldn't have stood a chance.
If they followed the rules? What do you mean by that?
They had so many fouls! The first time the Seekers saw the Snitch Harry was in the lead…
Is he as good a flier as you thought?
Far better. He's amazing. But, just when he was about to catch the Snitch, Marcus Flint (he's the Slytherin captain) blocked Harry on purpose, and really violently too- he sent Harry spinning off course. It's a good thing he can fly so well, if it had been me I would have crashed. But Lee Jordan (the commentator) was so funny- he's in Gryffindor too.
Wouldn't it make more sense to have an unbiased commentator for the Quidditch matches?
That's what I thought, but apparently no one else wanted the job. I asked. Anyway, he was really funny, saying stuff like "after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating", "after that open and revolting foul" and, my personal favourite "Marcus Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone I'm sure". I laughed so much at that.
He sounds like quite a character.
He's Fred and George's friend, what do you expect?
You have a point.
I wouldn't normally write this much about a Quidditch game (especially one that Ravenclaw didn't even play in!) but the strangest thing happened.
What?
Harry's broom starting bucking and spinning like mad. It looked like it was trying to throw him off!
No broom would do that to it's rider!
I know! I figured it had to be a jinx, and a powerful jinx to get past all the protective charms on racing brooms.
You're a very bright girl Padma.
Yes, well, no student could manage to perform a jinx like that, so I started looking at the teachers' stand. I read somewhere that if you're jinxing someone you must keep eye contact, and two teachers were staring at Harry and mumbling under their breath.
Who?
Guess.
I don't know, Padma, tell me! Besides, you don't have time to guess, aren't you supposed to be meeting Justin?
Not for another 5 minutes, and I'm already in the library. All right, I'll tell you.
Good.
It was Snape and Quirrel.
Alex?
Sorry, I was thinking. One must have been performing the counter-curse.
Yes, that's what I thought. But before I could figure out which one it was something knocked Quirrel over, and then Snape's robes caught fire.
I'm sure that happens every day, especially in winter…
No need to be sarcastic, I know someone must have set fire to them. I think it might have been Hermione, she was missing through all of it. Oh, you'll never believe what Marcus Flint was doing while all this was happening!
Probably something against the rules…
Well, not really, but it did seem wrong somehow. He grabbed the Quaffle while everyone was trying to help Harry and scored five times! Draco was complaining really loudly, you could hear him clear across the pitch.
Why was he complaining?
Because no one was counting the goals, so their team didn't get any points for them. It didn't matter, they were counted later on anyway.
Oh…right. So Quirrel was knocked over and Snape caught fire. What happened next?
Harry's broom stopped acting strangely, and Harry plunged into this dive. There is no way I would ever dive like that, I'd break my neck!
That's a good reason not to do it.
I'm surprised Harry didn't, halfway down he just let go of his broom and clapped his hands over his mouth- I honestly thought he was going to be sick. It wasn't the most graceful of landings.
He didn't hurt himself, did he?
Oh, no, he just landed on all fours and coughed. You wont believe what came out of his mouth.
What?
The Snitch! He'd almost swallowed it! The game ended, and a lot of people were a bit confused. Draco shut up though; the points that Marcus made were still added. It didn't make any difference, Slytherin still lost. I was going to congratulate Harry, but he was gone before I could. Oh, I better go, Justin's here. Bye Alex!
Bye Padma.
November 30th
Oh, it's so cold!
Hello again Padma.
How could you forget this? It's even colder now than it was before!
Where are you?
Library.
Why don't you go back to the common room, there are fires there.
Because I can't, I've nearly figured it out, and we go home soon so I wont have time to look stuff up over the holidays!
Figured what out?
What's under the three-headed dog.
Three-headed dog? Padma, what are you talking about?
Oh, didn't I tell you?
Tell me what?
There's a three-headed dog in the castle.
A what?
It's a long story.
Padma, you tell me what you're talking about. I don't care how long it takes; I want to know where you saw a three-headed dog.
All right.
And don't sound so reluctant. I'm supposed to be your diary.
Sorry. A week ago I was coming back from Astronomy when the staircase I was on starting moving.
Um…Padma?
Yes?
If my memory serves, the way back to the common room from the Astronomy tower doesn't take you near the moving staircases.
No, it doesn't normally, but the corridors you normally take are absolutely freezing, and this way is much warmer. So, anyway, I decided the best thing to do would be to just go through the door the stairs brought me to and figure out the fastest way back from there. But the door was locked.
Didn't you think that, perhaps, it was locked for a reason?
No, it was 1 am! I'm not my best when I haven't had much sleep.
I can tell.
Alexandra! You're the one whose making me tell you this story. Do you want to hear it or not?
Fine. I'll be good.
Good. I couldn't be bothered trying to find a way around- the stairs would just lead me back to where I'd come from. So I pulled out my wand and unlocked the door.
How?
Alohomora.
I didn't think you learnt that until the end of the year.
I told you, Flitwick lets us go ahead sometimes. So the door unlocked and I went inside and saw-
The three-headed dog?
Yep. There was no way I was going to stand there and wait for one of the heads to notice me, so I backed out of the room quietly. I was almost out when I saw the trapdoor.
Trapdoor?
Yes, the dog was guarding it or something. I figured there must be something pretty important in there, and then I remember the Gringott's break in. So now I'm researching stuff, trying to figure out what it is.
Sounds like you had quite an adventure.
I should have known you'd say that Kat.
Hello Kat. Do either of you have any ideas what it could be?
I thought you said you'd nearly figured it out!
Well, knowing that it's something important is pretty good.
Do you have any other clues?
It's not a murder-mystery Kat.
I know Sandra, but there might be more to it.
I cant think of anything. Oh, wait…
What?
I overheard Professor Dumbledore talking to Professor McGonagall about someone…
Who?
Nick, or Rick, though I think it was Nick. And someone else called Perenelle.
I can't think of anything.
Me neither. Sorry Padma.
Well, think on it for a bit- I have to go. I have this really long History of Magic essay due tomorrow.
How long?
6 feet.
That's a bit harsh for first year.
Yes, well, no one listens in History of Magic anyway, so Prof. Binns sets really long homework assignments to make up for it.
Why don't you listen in History of Magic?
Because Prof. Binns is the most boring person on the planet.
Professor Binns? It can't be…he'd be ancient, it's impossible…
What are you on about Alex?
The History of Magic teacher while I was at Hogwarts was called Professor Binns.
Same here. And he was extremely boring.
It's probably the same person. Prof Binns is a ghost.
Oh. That explains it. We never listened to him either.
Good, then you understand. I really have to go so I can finish writing that essay. Bye Alex, Kat.
Bye Padma.
Bye Padma.
December 12th
Christmas holidays begin tomorrow! I'm so excited about seeing mother and father again!
I can see that.
You know what's silly?
What?
We can't do magic in the muggle world. Does that mean that if we live in a wizarding village we can do magic?
I don't really know, Padma. We were allowed to but the rules might have changed.
It's just that I want to show mother and father all the things we've learnt. I might ask Professor Flitwick about it.
I'm sure he wouldn't mind if it was just for your parents.
Oh, you wont believe what the Weasley twins have done!
Padma? Didn't you hate being referred to as "the Patil twins"?
Yes…
You just did it then, to Fred and George.
I know, it's just so much easier to say that instead of their names. No one really calls Parvati and I the "Patil twins" anymore, because we aren't in the same house.
Just pointing it out to you, you can continue your story now.
Yes, I do tend to get side-tracked, don't I?
Yes.
Anyway, Fred and George bewitched these two snowballs to follow Professor Quirrel around and keep hitting him on the back of his head!
That's not a very nice thing to do.
Yes, but it was funny! Oh, you should have seen it; Quirrel was shaking and jumping at small noises (even more than he usually does) for hours afterwards.
I feel sorry for him.
I don't, and neither would you if you'd met him. He's creepy.
How is he creepy Padma?
I've seen him sometimes, talking to himself in empty rooms.
I hope you weren't spying on him.
No, I'd come to ask him about the homework, and he was whimpering, so I peered in the window, and there was no one else in the room. He was talking to nobody, and when he came out he looked like he was going to cry or something.
That's very odd. Do you think there was someone there who was invisible?
No, I think he was talking to himself. It was very strange; I hid behind a statue and waited until he was gone before I went back to the common room. That was a few days ago.
And you're only telling me now?
Well, I've been busy, I told you that. Oh, I have to go, dinner's about start and I haven't packed yet. The train leaves tomorrow morning, I'll probably write to you while I'm on it. Bye Alex!
Bye Padma.
December 13th
Hello Alex.
I take it you're on the train?
Yes. Did my writing give it away?
Yes. Did you ask Flitwick about doing magic?
Yes. He said I could use magic, but only at home, and only to show mother and father what I've learnt. Parvati's jealous.
Really? Why's that?
Because I can use magic and she can't.
Why can't she?
She didn't think to ask Professor McGonagall- her head of house.
Well…I suppose it's entirely her own fault then.
Yes, that's what I told her. She got a bit upset at that, and left to go talk to Lavender. It doesn't matter, Justin and Mandy are sharing the compartment with me. We're all writing now.
Do they have diaries as well?
I think so. Mandy definitely does, but it isn't enchanted. She says she's going to ask for one for Christmas. I think Justin has an enchanted diary though. He stops writing every so often to read something, and he just laughed at something. I'm going to ask him.
All right then.
Does he?
Yep! His name is Robbie.
Robbie? I don't think I know any other diaries called Robbie…
Don't you?
There's one called Roberta…her nickname's Robbie…
That could be his! What does her diary look like?
It's a small, red, leather-bound book.
That sounds just like Justin's! He thinks that Robbie is short for Robert.
Are you going to tell him?
…No. I'm going to let him figure it out for himself. Ooh, the sweets lady is here! I'm going to go so I can buy some Chocolate frogs. Bye Alex!
Bye Padma.
Well, I'm home.
Are you?
Yep. Mother met us at the station, she was so happy to see us that she didn't stop hugging us until we reached the car. I think she may have been a bit lonely at home.
Very likely.
But you wont believe what she said at dinner!
What?
That our table manners were "atrocious" and that we may have to start etiquette lessons with Draco again.
Etiquette lessons? I didn't think you had those anymore.
I wish we didn't. They're so boring- who cares which fork you use anyway? And Draco's mother teaches us, and she favours Draco so much. Mother said that she doesn't care how much we complain, we're going no matter what. Parvati and Draco are going to kill each other.
Why?
Parvati's in Gryffindor, Draco's in Slytherin. It's a match made in heaven.
Don't be sarcastic, Padma.
Sorry. It's nearly time for bed, I just wanted to tell you what's going on. I haven't asked Mother and Father about Nick or Rick, and Perenelle yet. I'll do it tomorrow.
All right.
I'm really tired…I think I'll go to bed early. Goodnight Alex.
Goodnight Padma.
Author's Note (continued): I love you people so much for reviewing!!! Just thought you should know.