August 8, 1995, 12 Grimmauld Place
Mum's been working us to the bone again. The drawing room is the one room that we've spent the most time trying to clean. We've removed most of the tapestries, but some of them just don't want to budge. Mum reckons there's a boggart in the writing desk, too. It keeps rattling and shaking like mad.
During our lunch break, I took the time to examine the Black family tree. You'll never in a million years believe what I found out!
Draco Malfoy is related to Sirius!
Who would have guessed, but I think that all pureblood families are related. It turns out that Sirius's cousin, Narcissa, is Malfoy's Mum! So I guess that makes Malfoy Sirius's second-cousin or something.
There are an awful lot of burn marks on the tapestry. I guess that Mrs. Black banished those people from the family or something. Sirius's name isn't even on there. I wonder why.
It can't be because of Azkaban. Bellatrix Lestrange (who's related to Sirius, too, did you know that?) is in Azkaban, and her name is still on the tapestry, shining in all of its sickening glory. What could Sirius have possibly done to have his own name blasted off of his family tree?
Hmmm…I bet Harry knows.
Speaking of Harry, I think he's starting to think more and more about his upcoming hearing. He looks awfully pale, and I overheard Ron telling Hermione that Harry hasn't been sleeping through the night.
Not as if Harry usually gets a full night's sleep. Ron told me that he has frequent nightmares that wake him up before the sun even rises.
I wonder if Harry is still upset at Ron and Hermione for not telling him what was really going on? It's a bit stupid, really, because he found out in the end, didn't he? And why stay mad at your best friends because they swore on their lives that they wouldn't tell you a single thing?
Don't get me wrong. I would be pretty angry at my best friends if that ever happened to me. But I wouldn't hold the grudge for that long.
Ron and Hermione have stuck by Harry for almost five years. They're the most loyal friends I've ever seen. I just hope that Harry isn't upset with them. I don't think I can handle Hermione sharing her worries with me for the rest of the summer.
Harry hasn't said a single word to me since he arrived here two days ago. Not that I expected him to say anything to me. He probably things I still like him, and that's why he doesn't really pay attention to me.
Ah, well. It's not like a really care.
I did a most daring thing today. I wore my ruby necklace underneath my T-shirt for the entire day. It was like I had some sort of secret weapon. No one else knew that I was wearing it. Not even Hermione knows that I decided to wear it today. I feel rather proud of myself, actually, for keeping the necklace and Michael a complete secret.
Michael is still very persistent about the whole "meet me in Diagon Alley please" situation. He's gone to begging me in his letters. He says that he wants to see my "beautiful face" before we get on the Hogwarts Express. I couldn't talk for almost five minutes after I read that part.
Moving on…
I'm not even going to ask Mum and Dad if we can go to Diagon Alley. They seem so preoccupied these days, and I don't blame them at all. With Harry's hearing, and the Ministry treating Dumbledore like a piece of dung on the ground, not to mention all the trouble with Percy and the Order.
Besides, Mum just wants to keep us all safe.
Maybe an Order member will go to Diagon Alley and pick up all of our schoolbooks. But why am I worried about schoolbooks? We haven't even gotten our Hogwarts letters yet?
I need to see Michael. That's why I want to go to Diagon Alley so bloody much. I know I sound like some foolish little girl when I say I need to see Michael, but I really do. We barely even started dating once term ended, and all I've heard from him is just from his letters, and that's not enough to last me through the entire summer.
But then there's that whole "my brothers will kill Michael" situation if anyone catches Michael and I together, either in Diagon Alley or at Hogwarts. Fred, George, and Ron can't really do much at school, but once we get home from Diagon Alley if they ever do find out…that will be an utter and complete nightmare.
You know what I've just realized? I haven't listened to the Dream Lullaby all day! I usually start the mornings by listening to it while I get dressed, but lately with the cleaning starting up again, I guess it just slipped my mind.
My, I'm getting tired, and I haven't even had dinner yet. I think I'll go see where Hermione's got to.
Good night!
-Ginny
Longer chapter! I hope everyone's happy!
I would like to say thank you to all of my BLOODY FANTASTIC reviewers! Thanks so much for the get-well-soon messages. I'm feeling much better now, so expect more chapters in the future!
Puddlemere Night Stand will have to wait a few days. I was supposed to clean my room today, but I didn't. I wasted my entire day on the computer, and my mother's on a warpath today, so it wasn't exactly the greatest day to decide to not to clean my room. I can't even use the "I was in the hospital" excuse anymore, so I'm in BIIIIIG trouble.
And trust me, it's a complete MESS!
So I'll make my note very quick here.
Please, tell me how I did, and review!
-Rox
