Title: Diary of a Hufflepuff
Author name: Darkforest214
Category: General
Spoilers: Books 1 through 5
Rating: PG-13
Summary: This story was inspired by 'George at the Lake' It's basically a diary of my main original Character.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Aka... I own nothing (except for the few characters I came up with...)
A/N: I'm going to try something different here... My latest idea for a story is a Diary of Olivia James. My main, original character as depicted in 'George at the lake.' I want to start with her first year and move on through her life at Hogwarts. I thought this could be an interesting idea so I started writing it, and I even have future parts of it planned out. But it starts with her first year...

Diary of a Hufflepuff

Olivia James

September 2, Noon
I'm spending my free period out on the grounds with Ty and Cousin. This morning we had History of Magic with the first year Ravenclaws. Oh man is Professor Binns boring! I was asleep within the first five minutes of the class! This one boy James, he's also a first year Hufflepuff, almost fell out of his chair! Luckily Binns didn't notice, he just kept on lecturing in his droning, wheezing voice. Cousin had Herbology with the second year Gryffindors this morning and I think Laura had muggle studies. I'm not sure though, haven't seen her since breakfast.

I do have potions warned me to try and remain unnoticed. But from some of the horror stories I've heard... Gotta go, don't want to be late.

Live, Laugh, Love

—Olivia James

7:30 pm

Back in the common room and we just came back from dinner. Tyler is working on his potions essay. Can you believe it? Snape gave us homework on the first day! Why don't I tell you from the beginning...

The lesson started off with a rather tricky potion. It was supposed to be a light purple color but mine was dark purple, almost blue and Ty's was brown. James, that boy I mentioned earlier, managed to get his potion right...

"And what do we have here Mr.—?" Snape snarled as he went around the room.

"James Wade, sir," he said.

"At least it's the right color, Wade," hissed Snape, "Unlike yours," he said, indicating Tyler's potion. Ty shuddered and looked down at his feet. "If you would have read carefully you would have noticed that step 7 says to add diced caterpillars."

After class we got out of there as quick as possible, walking right behind James.

"Good job," I said, trying to start a conversation with him. He blushed slightly and murmured something. "What?"

"Sorry...I said, thanks, potions is my favourite subject. Even if Snape is, well...unpleasant..." he said smiling.

You know what, he's rather cute when he smiles...And I think Ty knew what I was thinking because he cut me off and started asking James if he could have some help next lesson.

According to Laura the red headed twins, Fred and George, already landed themselves in detention with Mr. Filch. They're just trying for attention...

I'll keep you informed in case anything interesting happens...

Live, Laugh, Love

—Olivia James

September 7, 1:30 pm

Had lunch a while ago and came back to the common room. Tyler is acting strange again, but more on that later.

It's only been the first week and we've already been loaded down with homework. We have potions with the Ravenclaws and it's still too soon to tell which house he despises more. And Professor Quirell is one of the oddest teachers on earth! He's extremely paranoid and always acts as if a werewolf is about to pop out from behind his desk. Laura told me that he wasn't like that last year. She said he use to be a bit more confident but after his last trip he hasn't been the same. Rumour has it that we have flying lessons next week! Too bad it's with the Ravenclaws...I wish we could spend more time with the Gryffindors (and less time with the Slytherins). It seems like none of the houses get along well with the Slytherins.

I remember the warnings that Cousin and Laura gave us on the train...

"Be careful around the Slytherins," said Laura.

"They're a tough lot," said Cousin. "Don't mess with them unless you are one of them..."

"And if either of you two are sorted into Slytherin, good luck," said Laura. "Because you seem so nice that you wouldn't last long in there."

"But don't worry too much," said Cousin, her tone lightening, "You'll probably end up in one of the other three..."

"Uh, thanks...we'll keep that in mind," I said. I looked over at Tyler and his face had gone pale and he looked sick. "Ty, are you okay?"

"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine...just feeling a little motion sickness," he said.

I believed him then, but now that I look back to that moment on the train... Between that and the sorting, I don't know, but he just hasn't been himself lately.

Take today for example:

When I came down to the common room on my way to breakfast this morning he was sitting by the fireplace waiting for me. I just walked past him because he's been doing this all week and it's really starting to bug me. He's suddenly become the protective "older" brother... So I walked past him and sure enough he got up and followed me.

"Tyler, what's wrong?" I asked him, my voice full of irritation.

"Nothing," he said as usual.

"You can't lie to me, so don't try," I said. He walked behind me and I refused to turn and look at him.

"I know," he said with a sigh. "But I can't tell you the truth either."

"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" I said, turning on him in anger. Sorry, I don't usually swear but he's been so dodgy lately that I couldn't help it.

"Please, Ollie, just drop it," said Tyler. He had this odd, sad look in his eyes. I don't know what's going on but he's acting so weird...

"No, Ty. You have to tell me. Please, ever since the sorting ceremony you've been acting funny," I said.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You never let me out of your sight!" I said, shocked that the answer wasn't obvious. "At night you wait until I go to bed before leaving. You wait for me before breakfast. You're paranoid about us being separated in the crowded halls between classes. At least at home you let me live without you as my shadow." I vented my frustrations on him and he looked hurt, which of course made me feel guilty...that's sibling love for you...

"It's something the sorting hat said, but I'd feel better not telling anyone...I'm sorry," he said. I knew he wasn't lying this time. We continued walking in silence until we reached the Entrance Hall.

I stopped Ty and turned to look at him. "Mind giving me enough freedom to be alone sometimes? We don't always have to be together you know."

"Sure, I guess...Sorry that I've been your shadow for the last few days," he said.

"Good, now I can go to the library without wondering which shelf you're hiding behind..." I said. I gave him a quick hug and we were about to enter the Great Hall when the Weasley twins came out.

The first one, I think it was Fred, greeted us with a "Have a rotten day!" and the other one, which I'm pretty sure was George said, "Smell ya later!" We told Cousin about the encounter and she groaned.

"What?" I asked.

"If I were you I'd either stay in the common room all day or disappear into the library for a while," said Cousin.

"Why the library?" asked Tyler.

"Those two, in the library? HA! You must be joking! They rarely go there, too much information lies in the library..." said Cousin. "Besides, if you're not careful you'll end up smelling like stink bombs well into next week!"

"That's horrible!" said Tyler.

"I don't know, I find them interesting..." I said. I don't know why, but it's true.

Must people find the Weasley twins entertaining, but the Cousin downright hates them. Ty thinks I'm too positive when it comes to other people. He's always telling me to be more careful and use better judgment, but I like to try and see past the flaws of people's personalities. However foolish that may seem...

Anyway, after breakfast we all went outside, despite Cousin's warnings. It's just too nice a day to be spent cooped up inside one's common room. I ran into James, not literally, but by the lake. He said that his mother used to tell him stories about the giant squid before she had gotten too busy at work. We talked for a while, I told him about my family, and he told me about his...he's a really nice guy... Too bad I had homework that need done; he is so easy to talk to. I guess that's it for now... As always I'll write more as more happens.

Live, Laugh, Love

—Olivia James

September 10, 9:30 pm

Tyler is acting strange again...and once again he keeps telling me that nothing's wrong. At least he isn't following me around anymore...

I got to talk to James some more, he's so nice, very interesting too. Turns out he grew up in a remote Scottish village too! His mother works for the Department of Mysteries, he's really proud of her. It's not easy getting a job like that. But even though he's proud he's worried about her and frustrated with her. She's always working and never around...neither of his parents are...

"Both of your parents work for the Ministry?!" I said as we sat out by the lake talking.

He nodded. "My dad is an Auror and my mum works in he Department of Mysteries," he said, a slight hint of bitterness in his voice.

"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing his tone.

"Nothing...It's just so frustrating!" he said, throwing a handful of small pebbles into the water. I indicated I was listening and urged him to go on. "They're never around much, when I was younger they were, but now...I barely remember them being there when I was growing up. Dad is home more often than Mum, but he's always tired and yelling at my sister and me to keep quiet. There aren't many other children in my village, and we're the only wizarding family in the area. It's tough growing up without friends, you're lucky to have Ty."

"I don't feel so lucky lately, with the way he's been behaving..." I muttered. "But yeah, it's a good thing I have him. But what about your sister, doesn't she qualify as company?"

"No, not really, she's two," said James sarcastically. "It's hard to explain to your baby sister why mummy and daddy don't tuck her in at night..."

"Oh," I said, not really knowing what else to say.

We sat there in a kind of awkward silence until James laughed. "Sorry, didn't mean to dump my life troubles on you," he said.

"Oh, it's no problem, really, I don't mind," I said.

He smiled, "Thanks, I've never really had anyone I could just talk to like this... You've really made me feel better."

"Uh, thanks," I said slightly confused. "But I, uh, I didn't really say anything."

He turned to me and smiled, "You didn't have to..."

James is a really great guy; I can tell we're going to be excellent friends...

Oh, funny thing happened the other day. Well, I though it was funny, but I can't say the same for Cousin...

I met up with Cousin on the way to dinner yesterday and when we were coming down the stairs from the third floor we heard some low, secretive sounding voices emitting from a nearby broom closet.

"C'mon, let's get out of here, it's probably the twins," Cousin warned in a harsh whisper.

No soon had she said that the Weasley twins burst out of the broom closet laughing. "Boy we really got Filch with that one, eh George?" said the first one, which had to be Fred.

"The look on his face when we—" George started to say, cutting off when he saw us.

"Well, well...What do we have here?" asked Fred, a mischievous look in his eyes.

"Maybe they've heard of our latest invention, we could sell it to you for a discounted price," said George. His gaze met mine and I almost blushed. When our eyes met my stomach squirmed. Does that mean that I like him?

"No thanks," said Cousin, some of the bitterness coming through.

"Ah, well, suit yourselves," said Fred with a shrug.

"You might regret it later," said George, meeting my eyes again.

"Wait, what is it? What did you invent?" I asked, I don't know why I said that, it just came out. All I know is George smiled and I felt all funny again.

"Well I'm glad you asked!" said Fred cheerfully.

"I'm not," Cousin muttered in my ear. "C'mon, we don't have time for this," she said as she grabbed my arm and dragged me away.

"Maybe some other time," I called out as she dragged me down the hall.

"I should hope not," Cousin hissed.

"Don't worry, we'll still give you a discount," Fred called out after us. I looked back and saw an amused look on George's face before being dragged around the corner.

"Would you let go?" I asked, being very irritated at this point. "Are you trying to twist my arm off?" I said sarcastically.

"Sorry," she said, letting go. "What do you think you were doing?"

"Just amuse them, they were just looking for a laugh," I said.

"The 'laugh' could have been us," said Cousin. "You haven't been here very long, you don't understand them."

"And you do?"

She opened her mouth and shut it without saying anything. She shook her head and finally spoke, "That's beside the point. They like to prey on first years and Hufflepuffs are common targets. If you keep acting like that—"

"Like what? Being interested in what they do? Laughing along when they're joking around? How is that going to hurt anything?"

"Wait until you become one of their jokes," she said bitterly.

I could tell she didn't really want to talk about it so I dropped the subject and we continued to the Great Hall in silence. Cousin ate fast and left as early as possible to avoid the Weasley twins and barely said a word to me at dinner. I asked Laura why Cousin despises them but she just shuddered and shook her head.

I think the twins pulled some kind of prank on them, I'll try and figure it out and let you know...

I'm going to go find James, I need help on my potions essay... Oh, and hopefully I'll find out why Tyler is still acting weird.

Live, Laugh, Love

—Olivia James