Boxing Day

Lazed about ALL day. Can't say how great it is to just do absolutely nothing.

27th Dec

Went to see Hagrid. Me and James helped him with the rats cage. Its not really a cage, more of a hutch sort of thing. First off we got another wooden crate, then built some little compartments. One was for sleeping, one was for food (I am planning to ask Mimi for two little bowls, one for food, one for water) and another for exercise, or fun. Its got a whole load of ramps and tunnels and ladders in it. So has the sleeping area. Well, not a whole load. It has a platform with a little house sort of thing on top, with a ladder leading up to it. The "house" is filled with straw for Rosie and Jim to nestle in and so is below the platform.

Then, with Hagrids help, I carved a stencil saying Home Sweet Home for Rosie and Jim, then painted it onto one side.

I was pretty pleased with that. And grateful to both Hagrid and James for helping. I gave them both a hug. Hagrid went quite red, but James looked pleased.

I introduced Rosie and Jim to their hew home as soon as we got back to Gryffindor. Unfortunately, because of the staircase rule, James couldn't be there, but I gave him a commentary on their explorations afterwards.

28th Dec

Played with Rosie and Jim today. They make such a cute couple! I think Ebony is getting jealous, but she knows to stay away from them. I'll buy her some catnip to make up for it.

29th Dec

We went down to Hogsmeade today, where I spent a vast majority of my Christmas money.

7th Years are allowed on their own, but they have to have permission from their Head of House. McGonagoll let us go.

It was only me, James, Sirius and Rachel. Anna had a cold, so she didn't want to come, so Remus stayed behind to keep her company. I thought that was so sweet.

Sirirus bought a massive stack of fireworks for New Years Eve. I told him that Muggles have them, and he thought it was a good idea. James bought a crate of Butterbeer, and me and Rachel bought a mass of sweets. We are planning to have a celebration on New Years Eve, in case you haven't guessed.

First off we went to The Toy Box - a shop that sells a selection of 'magical gifts for young and old' - where Rachel and I bought a cute blue flop-eared rabbit that squeaks 'We Love You' when you squeeze its tummy. Cheesy, I know, but we think it'll make her feel better.

Then we (meaning Rachel and I - the boys waited outside) trekked into Gisele's (the shop that supplied me with my Ball dress).

'Ah! Lily! Rachel!' smiled Gisele when she saw us. 'Did ze dresses do ze trick?'

'Definitely.' I replied. 'See that one out there? Black hair and glasses?' I said, looking through a rack of jeans. 'That's James, my boyfriend.'

Gisele peered out of the window. 'Eh… I see ze black hair, but no glasses.' he strong French accent sounded uncertain. 'Are you sure?'

'Yeah, there's two of them. One has glasses, the other doesn't.' I said, joining her at the window. I looked out. Sirius was leaning against the front of Magical Diamonds, but James wasn't there. 'Huh. Where is he?' said Rachel, holding a fluffy purple sweater and a pair of jeans.

'Dunno. Not far probably.' I said turning back to the rails of clothing.

An hour later I was laden with bags. I had a bought a new top to wear on New Years Eve (black off the shoulder style made of floaty material and studded with sequins - so-o-o-o-o sexy!) and a denim miniskirt (which I'm not going to wear New Years Eve, I just liked it a lot) and some white and red sneakers. I also bought some toys for Rosie and Jim, and a catnip ball for Ebony.

As we sat around a table in The Three Broomsticks, I noticed Sirius and Rachel really hitting off. She was laughing at one of his jokes, and I realized this was the happiest I'd seen her in a long time.

30th Dec

Anna loved her bunny!

New Years Eve - 7pm

It is all set up - a party for the Gryffindor Christmas Lodgers (aka US!). Sweets, cakes, crisps, sandwiches and Butterbeer. Soooooo nice!

Still New Years Eve - 11.27pm

Around ten we got bored of sitting around and eating, so we played Spin the Bottle! I can't deny that the results were not satisfactory…

I got dared first to draw a moustache on a portrait of Sir Ramsey Poight. Then, I had to stuff 30 Every Flavour Beans in my mouth (luckily I got to spit them out afterwards, there is no way on earth I would have been able to chew all those by next Christmas!).

But the best one, and possibly most risky, was me and James had to go along the corridor to the cleaning cupboard and do whatever we wanted for seven whole minutes. That was Anna's idea. She watches far too many American TV programmes in the holidays. Apparantly it's a game called Seven Minutes in Heaven that she stole the idea from. Whatever.

So James and I went into the closet and closed the door. There was no light. We sort of sat there for a couple of seconds, in silence.

'What will happen if we get caught?' I asked James.

'Dunno.' he said. 'Probably we'll get strung up by our ankles in the dungeons until we rot away.'

I laughed.

'So,' continued James, brushing my hair away. 'I'd better give you something to remember me by…'

I swear that was the most magical seven minutes of my whole life. I think we even got to second base.

New Years Day - 0.19

OMG! WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!

So after we'd finished with Spin the Bottle, we set up the fireworks, ready for midnight, with some left over Christmas crackers as well, we all sat on the squishy armchairs in a circle around the fireworks, with Anna's radio tuned in to the WWWN (Witch and Wizard Wireless Network), listening to the songs as they finally counted up to midnight. And when it struck midnight, Sirius let off the fireworks with a wave of his wand, and we all cheered, pulling crackers and watching the fireworks dance around the room.

Naturally, James and I were sharing a chair, and proceeded to play tonsil-tennis when New Years Day came about.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

When we had pulled apart, James dug around in his pocket and pulled out this little box and handed it to me.

'What's this?'

'Open it.'

I pulled the lid off, and stared incredulously at the contents.

'What's this for?'

He looked uncomfortably embarrassed. 'Well, you know.. I thought you might like it. It represents our first official date thing or something. I'm not very good with this romantic stuff.'

'What are you talking about? This is great! Thank you so much!' I swooped down on him and showed my thanks.

Then I clipped a silver bracelet around my wrist and stared at the tiny silver charms on it - a bat, a cat and a broomstick. Hallowe'en. Very appropriate.

Get it?