Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Reading Suggestion: ¾ width.
A/N: Thank you for all your kind reviews. I'll have a go at revamping my old stories (unfortunately I deleted them from my external hard drive so will have to do the same concept but different writing, and as for this will try to focus on the emotion as one of you suggested.
Chapter 2: September 2, 1991 to October 31, 1991
September 2, 1991
Dear Diary
I am exhausted! I was so excited for classes last night that I stayed up until 1am reading my books for each subject. Oh, and despite memorising the map of Hogwarts – I am highly logical and remember pictures easily – I still got lost and was fooled by the trick stair. I fell in and was stuck there for at least five minutes before a third year found me and got me out!
The ghosts don't help either. I'll be walking along, and woosh. There goes all the warmth in my body. Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, is always friendly and willing to point us in the right direction but the resident poltergeist, Peeves, is worse than my cousin Graham. He takes any opportunity he can to prank anyone who crosses his path and does all he can to get them into trouble. I've also had a challenge avoiding Mr Filch, a grumpy old man who walks around practically attached to his evil, red-eyed cat and hates anyone magical. I mean, why does he even work here if he feels that way? He's one of the most horrible men I've met, and that includes the man that shoved me out of his way in Charing Cross one day. His cat, by the way, has the most ridiculous name – Mrs Norris… where does that even come from?! He's hardly Mr Norris. But she's as sharp and clever as they come. A single toe out of line and she whisks off to find him. It's creepy, really.
September 5, 1991
Dear Diary
We had our first astronomy class last night and it was completely worth the wait. It started at Midnight but literally nothing compares to seeing the stars from the top of the Astronomy Tower. Professor Sinistra is truly knowledgeable but possesses a kindness that not many do. We've begun learning the names of various stars and planets.
All of our classes are brilliant though. We learn about magical plants and fungi with Professor Sprout three times a week – she's eccentric but really loves what she teaches. My favourite subject is Charms. Professor Flitwick doesn't let his small size (I think he's part elf or goblin) stop him from performing some of the most wonderful magic. What muggles think are magic tricks have nothing on what he's showed us. He's so easily excitable though! As soon as he saw Harry Potter's name on the roll, he toppled off his books and onto the floor. I offered to help him up but he levitated himself back to the top of the pile and continued on.
And then today, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter were late to transfiguration. Harry is all anyone talks about right now, so his being late just added to the chaos. Professor McGonagall, our house head, is a deadly clever witch born in Scotland and an expert at changing things from what they were. After giving us a stern talking to, she turned her desk into a pig. We all got excited but then fell silent when when we realised it would take us years to get to that level of magic. Trying our first transfigurations was fun but clearly I was the only one who truly paid attention to the lesson because no one else managed to make their matchstick become a needle. Only me.
September 6, 1991
Dear Diary
Professor Quirrell is a joke. His classroom smells of nothing but garlic (and not the nice kind either) and he does nothing but stutter. I don't know how I'll learn anything from him this year. I've only just remembered his class now, if that tells you something.
On another note, we had our first potions class. Professor Snape is a very bitter specimen. I hardly dare even call him human… he swept in from the back, took the class attendance and then carried on to give a speech about what he supposedly can teach us. He then proceeded to grill Harry, who I'm beginning to feel a little sorry for. I, of course, knew the answers but it turns out Snape hates me just as much, for he snapped at me and took points from Gryffindor. Harry made it worse by giving cheek, but still, it wouldn't have made much difference. That man is basically the human version of Peeves – he takes any chance to tell someone off, as long as they're not a Slytherin (which, by the way, he's head of).
September 12, 1991
Dear Diary
Just when I thought things couldn't get crazier, they did! I don't know how he does it, but Harry Potter caused a kerfuffle again. We had our first flying lesson at 12:30, with Slytherin. I should have known it would be bad just based on that. I thought I knew what arrogant was, but Draco Malfoy takes the cake. Anyway, so he was gloating about how wonderful he was and how his father bought him lessons, when he was corrected by Madam Hooch (our professor) who said that his father was most definitely wrong. That shut him up for a bit, until Neville Longbottom had an accident. Neville is a boy in our house, known for being clumsy and today was no different. He mounted his broom too early, shot up into the air and then was thrown back onto the grass with a thump. I think we all heard the crack from where he was standing. Then Draco stepped in, noticing that Neville's Remembrall had fallen out of his pocket. He picked it up, flew into the air and yelled at Harry to come and get it. Harry, of course, being the idiot he is did just that. I was so worried – he'd never flown before. And yet, the grace with which he flew seemed to say otherwise. It was like he was born with the ability in his veins. Maybe that happens to some wizards.
Before we knew it, we heard a loud voice calling his name. It wasn't Madam Hooch though, it was Professor McGonagall. She looked rather angry and dragged him away, claiming there would be punishment for sure.
September 13, 1991
Dear Diary,
No one listens to me. Harry and Ron went off last night after curfew and did nothing but screw their noses up (at least Ronald did) when I begged them not to go. It seems like I'm the only who cares about losing points.
And then, to make things worse, I got locked out of the common room and had to go with them. We ended up running from Mr Filch's cat, Mrs Norris and found ourselves in the third floor corridor. However, we had no other way to run, so I quickly whispered Alohomora and unlocked the door. The three of us breathed a sigh of relief until we turned and realised there was a giant three headed dog standing on a trapdoor. Of course, neither of the boys noticed the trapdoor but I did. I wonder what it's for…
September 19, 1991
Dear Diary,
It's my birthday! Classes were great and the girls in my dorm made me a card and did my hair for me. I can't believe I'm 12. I miss mum and dad though.
September 20, 1991
Dear Diary,
Harry Potter has his first quidditch practice tonight. It turns out, as mad as she was, Professor McGonagall found her Captain and informed him that she'd found him a seeker. I heard Harry telling Ronald Weasley about it. I still don't like them much. That said, a few of us going down to watch but his owl delivered a broom this morning. I thought first years weren't allowed but when I asked, Professor McGonagall explained that these were special circumstances.
October 31, 1991
Dear Diary,
I'm lucky to be writing this. Firstly, I lost you – you were in a book that I'd checked out for light reading and then forgotten about due to homework. And second, I almost died tonight.
It started with Ronald arguing with me in charms class about how to pronounce the levitation charm, Wingardium Leviosa, and then getting snooty when I did it correctly. Then, I overheard him telling the boys in our year that I'm a nightmare and that it's no wonder people can't stand me. I burst into tears immediately, knocking Harry in the shoulder. I put my bag back in the dorm and ran down to the bathroom.
Soon after it grew dark, I decided to get up and wash my face. I'd been alone long enough. A loud growl alerted me to the fact that I was not alone. I looked to my left and saw two giant legs, holding up a large and heavy body. It was a troll, and it had it's club poised and ready for action. I couldn't help but scream… I wish I'd gone to the feast. Just when I thought I was going to be killed, Harry and Ron turned up and saved me. I'm so grateful.
I guess there are some things you can't share without liking each other and knocking out a twelve feet tall mountain troll is one of them. I still like Harry better than Ron, but we'll see.
A/N: And there we are. Hope you enjoyed.