Chapter Six: Week Six

Saturday 3rd December

McGonagall is furious. We knew she would be. We've lost 200 house points (20 each for individual stupidity and another 20 for group stupidity). And we've all got detentions. It could have been worse though. McGonagall thinks the Death Eater incident has taught us all a lesson. I guess it has taught us a lesson, but not about sneaking out or breaking school rules. It's taught us a lesson about what can be achieved when we work together, and what can be achieved when we stand up and say "we don't like this, stop it now!"

James has been very quiet today. With any normal person I'd say it's because of getting into trouble but I know James and I know that's not him. I suggested we went out for a walk but he didn't feel like it. I suggested that we play a game of chess but he said that he wasn't in the mood and perhaps Remus would play with me! Well James Potter I don't know. I never thought I'd see the day that you didn't want to spend time with me!

Perhaps he's gone off me? I mean, he is a nice kisser and I'll miss that but it's not like I saw any future in it so it wouldn't be the end of the world if he had would it? So why does that thought make me feel so funny? I know I joke about how much I like being adored but I'm not really that shallow am I? And James is nice enough and everything but he isn't the be all and end all of my life. So why do I feel so horrid at the thought that he might not want to be with me any more?

Oh I really have slipped up with my recent diary entries and have started writing as if I'm talking to a person. Note to self: must stop being girly.

Sunday 4th December

James hasn't gone off me – or else he is really good at faking still liking me! Actually I was kind of relieved about that which is silly and I was very enthusiastic with my snogging this evening. Very enthusiastic.

Had a really nice walk around the grounds with Jenny today. It's odd, she has been here just a few weeks and I feel like she has already become a closer friend than any of the girls in my year. Well I suppose that's not that much of a compliment given the girls in my year but still. Remus joined us for part of the walk. You know she really has reacted well to the whole W thing with him. Most people at least have a moment's pause when they find out – I know I did. But Jenny, it's like she has always known. I guess it must be that Werewolf teacher she had once. I think he's had quite an influence on her.

We talked a lot about friendship. She said a few odd things that do make sense but I don't know why she said them. Like about R and Sirius and James, how they are such good friends that they mustn't ever forget that. She didn't mention Peter; I guess she forgot. It's so easy to forget Peter sometimes, he isn't much of a personality and can't really compete with the other three who are such personalities that they kind of overwhelm him. I can't help thinking he'd be better off if he was friends with some of the more ordinary students.

We saw Snape wandering around but as soon as he saw us he headed off in a different direction. Can't help feeling pleased about that. I think he is avoiding Jenny, he has been less apparent since she has been here and told him off so thoroughly.

James hasn't gone off me – hooray! It's gone midnight now so I better get some sleep. I'm going to snuggle into my blankets and listen to the wind howling outside and dream of warm lips touching mine!

Monday 5th December

I hate Featherstonehaugh! Hate him hate him hate him! Why did we have to get such a useless DADA professor for our final year! Sirius said that Jenny said that when she had had a useless professor once they started a club to teach themselves and that her Harvey taught them. Have I mentioned how funny Sirius is when he says that name? He says it with such contempt honestly! I wonder if we should do the same? Not say Harvey's name like that, I mean start our own lessons. Jenny is really good so maybe she'd teach us? I'll have to think about that and ask her.

Tuesday 6th December

Jenny said she won't teach us as she doesn't know enough and besides she isn't sure how much longer she is going to be here! I didn't really think about her going. I guess it never registered before that she was only here temporarily. I know she wants to find out how Harvey is (and her brother and her friend) but I'm going to miss her when she does go. Being selfish I know. She says she isn't sure when that is going to be and that Dumbledore is trying to find out. That seems a little odd to me but I know there is stuff she isn't telling us so I guess it's related to that.

Alice was studying like mad tonight – she is determined to do well in her potions class tomorrow – determined to give old Slughorn a surprise. Jenny and I sat and played Wizards Chess for a bit. I told her what I've said before, about being worried for my parents and she said she understood. Her friend Hermia is Muggle-born too and she said Hermia was always talking about how concerned she was that they couldn't protect themselves. She says Hermia barely goes and sees them during school holidays any more because she thinks it might be dangerous for them if she was there. That never occurred to me really. I guess it's too late to worry about that now. I'm 17 and I can do magic outside of school so in a way I think they'd be better off if I was there because I can at least call for help if something happens. Of course that does mean I can't go and stay with James over Christmas – he asked me today.

Actually talking about parents, how can you be so concerned for them one minute and so frustrated with them the next? I had a letter from Mum this evening. She is dropping major hints about meeting James. Honestly, parents! James and my parents, they are from different worlds. The idea of those worlds meeting is just wrong. I don't know what it is with her. For the last couple of years she has been obsessed with meeting my friends. Very irritating.

I think I might go and stay with James over Christmas. Well, perhaps for some of the time. My parent's can't really complain – I mean I'm 17 now, of age. And it's not like they understand anything about my life anyway.

Thursday 8th December

James really is a fantastic kisser when he puts his mind to it.

Saturday 10th December

Jenny has gone!

We'd been out for a walk and talking about boys. Boys specific not boys general. I was talking about how Harvey sounded like such a hero and how James wasn't and that I wasn't sure if James and I were meant to be together. We came back to the castle because we were getting cold and then we bumped into this strange man. He looked really scary – he was tall, with long red hair, and had scars all over his face. I was going to call for a teacher but Jenny ran straight to him and threw herself in his arms. It turns out he is Jenny's older brother.

He went to see Dumbledore and Jenny and I went back to the tower so she could say goodbye to people. Only Remus and James were in the common room so I dashed off to get the other girls while James got the boys. She said goodbye to all of us. As I hugged her goodbye she said to me "Love comes in all shapes and sizes Lily. Good men, brave men, heroes and true loves. Trust me. Don't reject the love that comes your way." I'm not completely sure what she was trying to tell me. She said something to everyone. James won't tell me what she said to him – mind you I won't tell him what she said to me either.

After she left by Portkey, Sirius said, "I still think Harvey is a stupid name though!" and we all laughed – but not for very long.

Remus asked who it was who had come to collect her, I told him it was her brother. Peter said, "I wonder where he got the scars on his face." And Benjy replied "There's a war on, it could be anywhere." Makes you think. I looked at James and tried to imagine those sort of scars on his face. I don't really want to think about it.

We all kind of sat in a group quietly afterwards. No one really knew what to say. She's only been here six weeks but she has become so much of a part of our lives. I'm really going to miss her. So are the others I think. Remus was practically crying when she left and Sirius just sat there with a frown on his face staring into space. James came and sat next to me and put his arm round me. We all sat there for the longest time. Just saying nothing.