Day 2

6:20 AM

The story of how I woke up at five AM, feeling very, very annoyed:

Ron: Harry, wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

H: Mrumph Gsh Lyssss

R: WAKE UP! WAKE UP!

Neville: *whines* Mummy, it's Sunday...

R: Go back to sleep, Neville. Harry, wake up! *shakes Harry*

H: *opens eyes and feels murderous* WHAT?

R: Dumbledore says he wants to see us in his office, NOW!

H: Huh. How do YOU know?

R: One of his owls just flew in the window and nearly pecked me to death. Letter said we should go IMMEDIATELY.

H: ....

So here I am, awake at SIX TWENTY and unable to go back to sleep. Thanks Ron, thanks Professor. *sighs* Ron's asleep now, that bugger. Love him and hate him at the same time. Hermione? Believe it or not, she's in the library, looking up stuff on our "mission." Yeah, so about the "Oh so urgent" news Dumbledore HAD to tell us at FIVE AM... For one thing, he defended his unruly behavior with "thought you'd like to know before the others." Well, guess what? I don't. But, anyways, he told us that we were going on a "little trip" to - uhh what was it? - oh right, CENTRAL AFRICA. Awesome. Sounds like great fun. Will get to "experience real jungle life." He didn't even tell us how long we'd be there. *laughs weakly* Ha... ha... ha... Must be optimistic, must be optimistic, must be optimistic.... Hell, I'm out for breakfast. Later

10:50 AM

Quidditch break. Hope I'll be able to fly in Africa... Ginny's one of the new chasers this year. I picked her out myself, not because I like her, but because she's brilliant. Honestly. She's one of the best chasers I've ever seen. *grins* Plus, "watching my teammates play" is quite a good excuse to stare at her for ages without feeling guilty. *sighs* Just looking at her makes me feel better.... Hahaha, I never noticed before how sappy I could be. Oops, I guess I should go back to practice. ttyl.

5:00 PM

Just had an early dinner. Feel full, but it's all for a good cause. We're leaving tonight, I think. Prof McGonagall told me to pack up the things I thought I would need for a two-week trip. And so that's what I'm doing now. Or rather, that was what i WAS doing, until I got distracted by a certain red-headed girl... *allows mind to wander*("Ahem" says my inner Hermione.) *Snaps back to reality* Well, anyways, I've figured out what to bring. ("Pack carefully, Harry, you never know what you just might need") Yeah, whatever. List of things to bring: Muggle clothing (Long sleeved shirts and jeans to protect from bug bites and the sort, and slightly shorter clothes for the humid weather), books (Yes, Lupin's teaching us everything we need to know while we're away from school. Bugger), bug spray, my broom (thank god), my wand, and, of course, this fabulous diary(har har). Wonderful list, dont you think? Oh wait, Ron's calling me from inside his mucked up wardrobe.

5:05 PM

R: Harry, do you think we'll be needing dee -o - dor -ant?

H: Uh.. why do you ask, Ron?

R:*scratches head* Dean says Africa really makes you smell bad, with the weather and all the jungle animals.

H: Hmm... *thinks* Right, Ron, excellent point. I'll pack some too.

R: One last thing, Harry.

H: Yes?

R: What's dee - o - dor - ant anyway?

Uh huh. Another thing to add onto my list of "things to pack." Argh, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm actually nervous. How do they know some Death Eaters won't just suddenly pop out behind an elephant and kill me, anyway? Not like I'm afraid or anything... but it just feels like I'm putting everyone I truly care about into danger. They're being taken away from the protection of Hogwarts, of Dumbledore, into the deep jungles of Africa. What if something happens to them? Won't I be to blame? I've already... hurt so many people... Sirius... Cedric...

8:30 PM

In the great hall now, waiting for Dumbledore to arrive with the portkey. Feel like a zoo animal... the whole school is staring at us. Just heard Malfoy crack a joke about Tarzan. Hate him. Hate him. Hate him. Somehow, everyone knows about the trip. Dumbledore told us that they'd be told we were on a special trip for the "gifted," but apparently, someone leaked. Heh, must've been Parvati, never could keep her dumb mouth shut. But, of course, nobody knows the truth behind all of this secrecy except for Ron, Hermione, and myself. The others were informed that this was a top secret ministry survey, and that they've been chosen to participate. But that doesn't stop everyone else from calling them "Potter's knights." Brilliant, eh?

8:35 PM

Where is Dumbledore??? He's late!! Perhaps I should send Hedwig to him and see if he likes being pecked.

8:40 PM

Most of the people involved aren't looking too pleased. Ron and Hermione are conversing quietly but harshly in the corner, flipping through a huge book (about Africa, I presume). Heh. I'd bet a billion galleons that Hermione's trying to teach Ron everything she has learned from her day at the library, while he's taking in nothing but the sight of her - well - you know. Cho is sitting on the steps with Parvati, Padma,Lavender, and Susan Bones. They all have suitcases the size of rhinos and look very nervous. To the left of them is Neville, standing alone and whimpering to himself. I can see his diary sticking out of his robe pocket... along with Trevor, his lovely toad. I'd like to see the expression on McGonagall's face when he tells her he lost his diary. ("No, Harry, stop being mean") Shut up, inner Hermione. Dean and Seamus are standing next to the entrance, walking around in circles while waving nevously at their friends in the crowd. The Weasley twins are grinning in a sinister way at the crowd, waving their latest goodies around. (They had to come back to school to participate) And... Ginny... Ginny is sitting on her suitcase, a little left to the entrance, scribbling furiously into her diary as I am. She looks stunning. But I won't get into her... or I might not be able to stop. Luna Lovegood is standing next to Ginny. She looks like the only person who has managed to gain control of her composure. Grinning broadly, she's reading the latest edition of The Quibbler. Like, no sweat. And here comes - what the hell? Michael Corner? What's he doing here? What

8:50 PM

McGonagall just came over to talk to me. Says there's been a slight change of people who're going. First of all, Hagrid's not going, because he has some business to do with the giants. (darn, i was counting on him to teach me about the big, bad creatures of Africa, now i s'pose Hermione will do) And she's thrown in a few more people, just in case. Lemme read the list and I'll write about it later.

9:00 PM

BLOODY HELL!!! She's added some Slytherins in too! What the -

9:02 PM

She says, "Harry, calm down, calm down. We've realized that although there is a risk in letting them join this research, but Dumbledore says the clue could also lie in your enemies too. So that's why - "

Yes, I understand. I understood. I accept it, but that doesn't mean I have to listen to the explanation. This is outrageous. Completely outrageous. List: Pansy Parkinson (throws up), Milicent Bulstrode (however you spell that, throws up even more), Blaise Zabini (OMFG), Justin Finch Fletchley(decent), Hannah Abbott(uhh), Katie Bell(What??), Alicia Spinnet(Back after graduation), Michael Corner (Although he's going out with Cho now, I'm not too sure I like this guy. Ginny used to fancy him!), Terry Boot(Michael's friend, I think), Ernie Macmillian(he's ok), and Zacharias Smith (Oh, yes, my best friend Zacharias. I love him). Uh huh. Right. No comment. I cannot believe this, but I refuse to write any more about this bs. I don't even know these people all that well! Heck, I'd rather - oh, here comes the great Dumbledore, love him too. HE'S LATE THIRTY MINUTES!!! Ugh, probably won't write any more tonight, Hermione says portkeys that transport you across continents also throw you into unconsciousness for about 12 hours. Well, then, just in case she's right,(For she probably is) I might as well say good night. Good night... and **** those ******* Slytherin bastards!

Deeply irked,

Harry

a/n: To my reviewers: Thanks.