A/N: Was the last chapter too short?

Disclaimer: Yeah you know.



Fri., Nov. 21

Oh my god. The wedding. It's in about a week and I haven't got a speech!

OK, I shouldn't be panicking. A week is ample time to write a speech and memorize it. They said it would be a short one, and no one really likes those long monologues at weddings anyway. I have no need to worry.

Except. Well you see, the thing is...I've never really been that good at public speaking. You'd think I would be, considering how I like to talk and all, but...I just get really nervous when I have to speak in front of a lot of people that I don't really know. And I have trouble memorizing things. . .

Oh god. I just need to calm down. A week is plenty of time to write a speech, memorize it, and get over my fear of public speaking. Plenty of time...Time is all I have. I'm thinking of going on holiday for a bit.

Oh, who am I kidding?! I'm gonna die up there!



Mon., Nov. 24

"Dear Madam Match. I'm about to get married to a wonderful man. But my daughter is having trouble accepting him. Her father passed away a decade ago, but she thinks of the marriage as 'replacing' him. I want to respect my daughter's wishes, yet at the same time, should I be expected to give up my happiness? Signed, Almost Married Mother."

Dear Almost. You should by no means give up your wedding because of your daughter's hostility towards your future husband. She needs to do something called Moving On –

Hmm. This might be a little too harsh. I think I'm in a bit of a crabby mood today. Everything seems to be coming out wrong.

Like this morning, I was talking to Seamus this morning and he was teasing me about my new column.

He was saying something like "If you're so good at giving love advice, then why can't you get a boyfriend?" And he said it all jokingly and all, but I just blew up at him.

"Ooh! Well maybe I'm too ugly or too stupid and I'll just live as an old maid forever! Well you know what, Seamus, you're not that good-looking either! And you're a 23-year-old wizard and you work for a magazine! A teenage girl's magazine!"

Seamus just stared back, dumbfounded. "Christ, Ginny, I was only joking," he said, his eyebrows raised. And then he left.

God. I don't know what got into me. I can't believe I said something so stupid and so mean. I just started yelling at him! Poor Seamus. He's not that bad.

Huh. Perhaps I shall try being nice and kind and considerate. It's a lot better than being mean and bitchy. People like it a whole lot more.

I think the no-boyfriend thing really struck a chord on me...Durr.

Thurs., Nov. 27

God, I've been so busy lately. It may or may not have something to do with technically having two jobs, but I think if I just rough it through, everything will be okay. And it'll all be worth it when the column comes out.

Oh! Some good news! I met up with my old friend, Luna Lovegood. I haven't seen her in such a long time; it was odd how she all of a sudden popped up – practically out of nowhere!

I was out on McCarthey Street during lunch break, looking in the windows of the old-fashioney shops and thinking of buying something to eat (which I didn't – in all the excitement I forgot to get something and now I'm a little bit hungry).

Well outside of some (creepy-looking) apothecary, someone called my name!

"Ginny! Ginny Weasley!"

"Hmm?" I squinted real hard at her; I had trouble recognizing the face. I finally remembered her from that dream I had a long time ago (Eugh! That reminds me – Harry Potter. Eugh!). "Luna? Is that you?"

"Of course it's me," she said seriously. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just going to get something to eat," I said, but Luna made a funny face.

"Here?" she said, pointing to the apothecary.

"No no! There's a nice little café down the corner. You've never been there?"

"No. This is my first time in this area. I came here to buy food for my pet horklump. I'm afraid he's gained a big of weight, and this is the only place I know of that sells a diet brand."

"Err. . . right," I said, "Isn't that the mushroom thing – the gnome feed?"

Luna glared. "They need help! They're almost extinct!"

"Right, right, that sounds...lovely. Well what have you been up to lately?"

"Oh, I've kept myself busy. Have you ever been to Western Samoa?"

"Um, no. But I might know someone who has been." Well, I think one of my cousins went there. Or maybe it was San Marino. Where is that, anyway?

"Really? Have they marched through a habitat of taro there? Because you haven't really lived until you've done so."

"Erm, I don't know. I'll ask. It sounds quite – quite fun."

"Oh, it is. But of course you have to be careful. Pranksters like to set off volcanoes – and you never know where some are located."

"Oh. Right. Well what were you doing in Western...Samoa, anyway?"

"I was giving this delightful presentation to the islanders on protecting the ramora. I want to educate as many people as possible!"

"Of course," I say, with no clue as to what she's talking about. How come I don't know this stuff? Did they teach it in Care of Magical Creatures class? Did I even take Care of Magical Creatures? It was too long ago...Ugh. I feel old.

"Anyway," continued Luna, "I think they really enjoyed my speech. Some people were moved to tears," she said seriously.

"Really?" I ask, interested. "You gave a speech? You wrote it yourself?"

"Of course," she said, "It was the one I always use."

"And you say – you say it made people cry???"

"Just get a little teary-eyed. Once someone was so moved by it, she Apparated right out into the middle of the Indian Ocean, just so she could 'save them herself'. It was very successful, though. I don't think she could swim too well."

"Oh!"

"Oh no, she just got a little wet, her wand got snapped in the water. Had a load of trouble explaining to Muggle authorities what she was doing out there, but in the end she was fine."

"Um, yes. But also, I have to get back to work now! I'm sorry, I didn't even realize the time!"

"Oh. Well nice running into you, Ginny –"

"Wait! Luna, we should go out for lunch or something together. Don't want to lose touch again, now, right?"

"Oh! Well, sure, I guess –"

"Great! I'm free any afternoon this week, ooh how about Friday!"

"That's tomorrow, isn't it?"

"Yes, but I'm just so excited to do some catching-up with you!"

"Oh, okay."

"So how about I meet you at one at the café down the corner I showed you?"

"Okay –"

"Great! – Well really must dash! Completely lost track of time with all this conversing we have done!" And then I walked briskly back to the office.

Okay, so lunch with Luna. She's really quite nice. And hopefully...hopefully, she can help me write a wonderful, moving speech. Or maybe write one for me?

Don't get me wrong, I would write one myself, but I've just been so busy! And I'm sure Luna would love to, she loves those oratorical kinds of things, I'm sure.

It does seem like I'm using her, though. . . But it's not like I'm going to make her, I'll just ask her politely. And I really do want to catch up with her and have a nice long chat. Nothing would be better!

I'm just hoping she wouldn't mind helping. I mean, it's just like helping the remorowhatever. It's giving help to those who need assistance!