September 29th

Headaches: 0 (v. good)
Books read today: 1 (must be feeling better then)
Mysterious secrets of potions master alluded to: 1

10.30am - Am v. glad that am feeling considerably better now. Could not cope if had been ill much longer. Really hate being ill. Will write again later.

4.26pm - Have finished all catch-up work from illness, and now do not know what to do with self. Do not want to just sit staring aimlessly into the fire in the common room. Hmm, what to do?
4.29pm - Eureka-in-bathtub moment. Will get out telescope.

4.45pm - Is not really dark enough for looking at stars. Bother.
4.46pm - No matter, will look at castle grounds instead, and see if can see anything.
4.48pm - I spy, with my little eye, something beginning with 'S'... is Snape, skulking back from the castle gates. Looks like greasy potions master has been to Hogsmede. Wonder what he was doing? He's got a package with him... Mystery and intrigue all round.
4.51pm - Has gone into the castle. Must try and remember where his office window was...

4.59pm - Have found Snape's office window. He is unwrapping the package, but stupid window frame is in the way, cannot see what it is... He looks pleased though. Will keep watching just in case...
5.01pm - Was that a flash of... pink?
5.02pm - Damn. Stupid slimey Snape has closed the shutters. Must take this as opportunity to inform Harry and Ron of discovery.

5.30pm - In common room. Have found Harry and Ron with Ginny. Conversation ran thus:

"You three will never guess what I've just seen."
"Malfoy being nice to someone?"
"Nope."
"Filch kissing Madam Pince!"
"Ew! Ginny! No!"
"A hairbrush?"
"Ha ha, Ron, you're a riot. No."
"Thought not, by the state of your hair." Resist temptation to thwack Ron over head with largest book in my collection and continue on as if had not heard such offensive provacation.
"I've had my telescope out and I've just been watching Snape, he's been down in Hogsmede."
"Is there something you've been meaning to tell us, Hermione?" Am glad that have friend in Ginny at least, as she elbowed Harry for sarcastic remark.
"He had a package. He took it back to his office and opened it. "
"A package? What was in it?"
"I'm not sure, but whatever it was, Snape seemed very pleased with it."
"You don't know what it was?"
"No, but I did see a flash of..." Paused, could not quite believe myself saying it, let alone imagining the others hearing it.
"Of what, Hermione?" Hmm, can't really deflect attention now, have already committed myself. Must learn to keep mouth shut.
"Pink." Yes, Harry and Ron look typically unimpressed.
"Pink?" But wait, Ginny looks... interested? "That's hilarious! I wonder what it could be?"
"Ginny, you don't really think Snape has been ordering pink things from Hogsmede, do you?" Is stupid question, obviously she does. Like Ginny best.
"We'll have to investigate this further. Leave it with me, 'Mione, I'll be back with you shortly!"

And with that she ran upstairs. Am waiting for her to return.

5.45pm - Ginny has returned. It transpires that she was after her extendable ears, but seems that she cannot find any. Has owled trusty brothers Fred and George (cannot believe am calling Fred and George 'trusty', but then is desperately important situation) to provide more by return owl. Since is Saturday tomorrow and will have free run of grounds for most of day, have decided to leave sneaky investigating until then. Cannot wait to play detective and discover Snape's secret. Hope it is v. embarrassing.

September 30th

Secrets of Snape's discovered: 0
Thickness of plot: school-canteen gravy consistency

11.30am - Extendable ears have arrived! Have been chatting with Ginny, and have decided that would be best to perform reconnaissance on Snape's office (using telescope, of course) to determine optimum time for excursion to said office door.

11.45am - Snape's shutters are open, so obviously nothing going on at the moment. Must be patient.

12.30pm - Both getting hungry for lunch, so have decided to take shifts watching through telescope. Ginny is going to fetch main course from Great Hall.

12.50pm - Nice lunch, but still no sign of shutter-closing. Is own turn to go to Great Hall, to fetch dessert.

12.58pm - Was just coming back through portrait hole when was almost knocked over by Ginny running to fetch me. Shutters of slimey-Snape's office window have closed, and Ginny also swore she saw some pink! Scones can wait until later - time is of the essence!

1.04pm - Have arrived outside Snape's office, extendable ears in hand. Ginny has enlisted Luna Lovegood to help our cause, posting her in corridor to act as lookout in case of approaching teachers, students or Malfoys. Even without ears can hear v. faint something coming from inside door. Must apply extendable ears for clarification.
1.05pm - Is that music?
1.06pm - Ginny agrees. Classical music is coming from Snape's office. Along with shuffling noises and ocassionally Snape saying things like "-three, and-" and "-one and two, step-" and "-not like that, oh bu-" at irregular intervals. Is v. mysterious.

1.08pm - Argh! Can hear Luna's pre-arranged warning signal (talking loudly about Crumpled Horned Snorkacks). Time for Ginny and self to become scarce.

1.16pm - Met up with Luna again in less conspicuous location. Am not entirely sure what have managed to discover, but have decided in manner of accomplished detectives to go over the facts and hope that something will jump out at us. So far we know that:

1. Snape received parcel yesterday
2. Presence of pink was confirmedby self and Ginny, so is not figment of imagination
3. Noises from Snape's office included classical music, shuffling and counting to four.

Hmm, do not think that helps much. Ginny reckons that Snape has hidden daughter for whom he is smuggling in cute pink clothing and teaching to count to four. Luna is of opinion that Snape has something called a 'Jinglebacked-Hormsant' which is apparently pink and makes noises like Mozart piano concertos. Do not personally believe that either explanation is sufficient. Must gather further information.

1.22pm - Was about to go back upstairs when who but Snape himself breezed past us in unusually good mood. Hmm. Must now put off further investigations until tomorrow.