Ravenclaw Common Room.

Late at night and I am actually not supposed to be down here at this hour, but I can't sleep. I cannot stay one more minute in my dorm room. It is way too suffocating in there. I forgot, over the summer how weird it is sometimes living with four other girls.

Hopefully, next year I will make Head Girl and will not have to worry about sharing a room with anyone.

Hmm.

Thought!

Speaking of Sharing Rooms With People, I wouldn't mind if Heathcote Barbary were to be held back another year so he could make Head Boy and share a Common Room with me. Some people might think that if you are stupid enough to get held back in the first place, then maybe you don't deserve to get rewarded with something like being Head of the Prefects, but in Heathcote Barbary's case, I disagree. That boy's face is way too nice to not have with us another term around.

Heathcote has a girlfriend right now (they always seem to, alas) but Pretty Suzy Carmichael is a 7th year like him, so by July, if Heathcote doesn't want Suzy to expect a ring on her finger and lots of babies, he should be getting out of that relationship. By July I also expect to have at least kissed a boy for the first time, so I think Experience-Wise I will be up to date and ready for Some Action.

Ready for Some Action?

Merlin, I am lame.

I came down here to clear my head by writing, and all I seem to be doing is making my thoughts more jumbled. Oh well.

It is my fault anyway that I let my own need for revenge against Black dick me around today.

Several times, Black had given me an out to tutoring him, and what did I do? I declined. I declined, because as much as I do not want to be around Black, I think I will enjoy knowing I am annoying him much more.

Petty, but whoever said I couldn't be?

With boys, you sometimes have to sink down to their level if you want to win.

It is Thursday tomorrow, and that means I have Potions again; though this time it's only an hour-long class. I am looking forward to seeing Sluggy, because he sent me a note (in the same vein as McGonagall perhaps), saying that he Has Something of Import to tell me about. I am hoping it is an Invite to His Slug Club and not some homework proposition of some sort.

I am glad no one is down here with me. I always feel uncomfortable writing in front of people, because I know that they are staring at me thinking, "What is she writing? Is it about me? Is she writing that she wants to snog me? Well, I don't want to snog her!"

I know that if I did not have this journal spelled private-o, my inner thoughts would be pasted all over Hogwarts as soon as Mara could get her fat grabby hands on them. Not that I'm sure people would care all that much about what some Mousy Ravenclaw 6th year Girl has to say, but the possibility of Notoriety is enough to make me very careful whenever I write.

McGonagall almost confiscated this yesterday when she saw me walking in the hall with my head buried deep in it. I think she thinks I am Deranged and Possibly Scarred By The Horror Going On In The World and writing constantly is the only thing I have that is preventing me from jumping off The Astronomy Tower like A Crazy.

I think McGonagall may be right.

I have a tutoring session with Black tomorrow, or so said the note from McGonagall (news on Slug Club Front coming soon!). Right after Dinner, The Black Hole is supposed to meet me in Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration Classroom. Evidently, Professor McGonagall will be overseeing the first couple sessions until Black gets comfortable and accepts the fact that yes, he really does have to do well in History of Magic, his Head of House told him so!

Because of this, I am back to feeling smug.

Black cannot possibly act up that badly with a professor in the room. And so I am confident that for a while at least, I will actually make some head-way on his thick head.

Perhaps I can get Evans to convince Potter that Black should behave anyway, regardless of a Minder Being There? Perhaps I also want to get hexed by Charms Expert Evans for even daring to suggest such a Nasty Thing as her Pleading To Potter.

I am finally starting to yawn again, so I think I am going to put this away.

Until tomorrow, My Beloveds!

The Great Hall, Afternoon.

"How was Arithmancy?" I asked Camilla, setting my pack under The Table at my feet. Lucille took a seat next to Tamara, and the two of them commenced a hushed conversation complete with intermittent giggling and several "really?"'s on Tamara's part. "Could you pass the rice, please?"

Camilla nodded, still chewing on a biscuit. Her Thursday morning class apparently got out ten minutes before Lucille's and mine which I would consider unfair if it weren't for the fact that (from what I hear) Arithmancy is a very hard subject. Something to do with adding the numbered-values of letters to get one single number…my head ached, thinking about it. "It was okay," she said. "Professor Cecil gave us a chart to do, but we don't have to finish it until next week, so I should be okay."

"Well, tell me if you need any help," I offered. At Camilla's confused look, I added, "I know a person who's very good at it."

Cam started to smile. "Featherhead?"

"So!" I said. "Lucille!"

"What?" Lucy asked, still with her back turned to me. "I am in the middle of something!"

"What are you and Tamara talking about?"

"None of your business!" said Lucille.

Tamara looked over at me. "Hi, Evie! We were just talking ab-mmph!"

"Lucille!" Camilla and I said together. "Take your hand away from her mouth right now!"

Lucy shrugged. "Sorry, but I can't. Tamara," Lucille addressed her, "I really am sorry, but I want this to remain private for now, okay? I'll tell everyone later, I promise you."

Tamara nodded, eyes wide.

"You're so rude, Lucille," I said. "Such a bad friend, isn't she Tamara? Why, Camilla! Look at how she's manhandling her! Tamara's such a delicate girl. She surely doesn't need this abuse!"

"I know, Evie," Camilla agreed, and then shook her head. "It's outrageous, the stuff these Muggles teach their children these days! Vulgar!"

I nodded. "Absolutely horrible!"

Lucille and Tamara glowered at the both of us.

The Grounds, Half Hour Before Dinner.

On the Remus Lupin Front, I am still unsure of what is going on. Lucille has been getting giddier by the day, so I assume…

I assume Something Must Be Happening, but what, I have no idea.

According to Tamara—whom, I am sorry to say, Lucille, cannot be trusted with a secret!—Lucille is off on a walk with Lupin right now. I know this for a fact, because I am following a discreet ten feet behind the pair. It is very cold out, so I do not know what kind of first date Lupin thinks this is, but he is Not Scoring Any Points with me at all.

I am here to make sure No Funny Business ends up going down. The two know I am behind them of course. Lucille is periodically throwing Dirty Looks over her shoulder, and Lupin looks delightfully embarrassed, but I will not budge. The fact that Lupin won't talk to Lucille in a Public Forum is I guess what is bugging me. I do not buy the excuse that he is "Just too shy for that sort of thing," as Camilla puts it. Remus Lupin obviously has enough Audacity to single Lucille out for his Perverted Attentions, so I think he should man-up and be proud of his feelings.

The fact that I liked Remus Lupin before this year started is a moot point.

I had a Crush on Sirius Black before he opened his big fat gob.

Feelings change.

Transfiguration Classroom.

"Welcome, and sit down, Miss Ransom," Professor McGonagall greeted me, as I came in through the door, indicating a desk in the front of The Classroom. I smiled at her wrinkled face and took the chair on the right. The room was conspicuously absent of Sirius Black, but I knew he was coming, because all throughout Dinner he, along with Lucille (but that's no matter), had been sending me Looks. "We will start as soon as Mr. Black gets here."

"Alright, Professor," I said. "How are you?"

"I am doing fine, Miss Ransom, thank you for asking. Yourself?"

"Oh, I am doing fine," I said. "Fine. Can't wait for this to start."

"Hmm," Professor McGonagall said. "Is that so?"

"Yes, Professor. I have been very excited."

"Well, I suppose that must be a good thing."

"Yes."

"If you want," suggested McGonagall, "you can get your notes out and choose the ones from which you think Mr. Black will benefit the most tonight. I believe The International Warlock Convention of 1289 is relevant? He has an exam next week on the subject."

"I've already done that, ma'am," I assured her, extracting from my school bag a thick stack of parchments I had re-copied just for Black last night. In it, key points were underlined; sometimes twice.

"Merlin, Miss Ransom!" said McGonagall. "You did come prepared, didn't you!"

I shrugged, suddenly modest. "Thank you, Professor."

"Not at all," Professor McGonagall told me. "Oh good! Here comes, Mr. Black." I busied myself with reshuffling papers. "Hello, Mr. Black. Take a seat by Miss Ransom, please."

"Alright."

"Hello," I mumbled, feeling I had to be civil even though it galled me. I know I chose the current scenario through a combination of a desire to be a better-rounded Ministry Applicant and a desire to annoy Black but he doesn't have to make it so hard.

"Raisin."

I rolled my eyes. Black was such A Baby. "Professor? How long is tonight's session?" I asked.

"Two hours, Miss Ransom. I think that should be a good start for tonight. I also understand you have Prefect Duties, so I won't keep you later than what those will allow."

"Thank you, Professor."

Professor McGonagall nodded, and waved her wand. An hourglass appeared on her desk and she turned it over. "You two may start now." She began marking papers, ostensibly not paying neither Black nor I any mind.

"Okay, Black," I said. "I've copied down some of my notes for you. I want you to study them when we're not together."

"Fine," said Black, sounding Grumpy.

I paused. "…Are you alright with this? I mean I know…" I lowered my voice, lest McGonagall hear what I was about to say next. "I know Professor McGonagall is making you, but I'm not sure I feel comfortable teaching a person who doesn't want to learn."

Black shrugged. "Your fault, Raisin."

"I guess it is." I took a very deep, fortifying breath. Okay! To Business! "Now, first off, I would like to see the notes you've been taking down…or…" I glanced into Black's face. "Or, if there are no notes, then I would like you to very briefly go over what you remember of the class you had this week. When was it again? Monday?" Black nodded. "Alright. Monday. It's Thursday night now, so that means tomorrow is Friday…stop me if I'm wrong."

"Can we just get on with it?" said Black testily. "Why don't you just tell me what to study and I'll study it and then we don't even have to talk, how's that?"

I shook my head. "The problem with that is that I can't be sure if you're absorbing the information you're reading."

"There are spells for that," Sirius responded, like I was the Stupid Person.

"Any that you know of?"

"Well, I know of them, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have said anything!" Black snapped at me.

This, apparently, got McGonagall's attention. "Mr. Black!" she said. "Keep it down, please! I am grading your homework right now, and trust me when I say you want me to be as calm as possible!"

"Sorry, McGoogly-Pooh. I'm trying. But Raisin over here—."

"It's Ransom, Mr. Black. Please show her the proper courtesy." She paused. "Please show us both the proper courtesy."

"Right. Ransom. Well, she keeps on going on about how I need to review these notes she's given me, but she won't even give me the chance to do it! I'm not trying to be rude, but honestly! It's enough to drive even you mad, Professor McGonagall!"

Oh Christ. To borrow an epithet from Lucille.

I think it fits very nicely here, don't you?

Ravenclaw 6th year Girls' Dorm Room

Oh Fucking Christ.

Just about the Longest Two Hours Of My Life.

I've just gotten back. McGonagall extracted a promise out of Black that he walk me back to my Common Room after our session, and Black actually complied, leading me by the elbow like some misguided Arthurian Lancelot du Lac.

I have to go back outside in about five minutes to patrol The Hallways Of My Favorite Second Floor and so am (anxiously!) waiting right now for Mara to get her fat arse down here so we can leave. The downside of not being on friendly terms with the other 6th year girl Prefect of my House is that I periodically have to work with her.

If there is Dissension, like there of course is, then the time does not go by as fast.

Not that Mara and I ever walk The Hallways together—you can bet we split right the fuck up once we are out—but the time we do spend in each other's company is Rife with both Silence and Yells.

I think she is disappointed that she is not the one tutoring Sirius Black.

Haha!

I feel so smug.

For the most part, I don't like that I am tutoring Black—read: this evening's debacle—but if one upside to it is that I get to Annoy Mara, then that is Very Alright With Me.

"Okay," announced Mara; her fat form jiggling as she stomped down the stairs in stiletto boots. "I am here!"

"Lovely! Shall we go?"

"Yes, because the sooner we go the sooner I am back and away from you again!"

"Well, Mara," I said, following her outside, and closing the door behind us. "That would be true if it weren't for the fact that we sleep in the same bedroom. Alas!"

"Hmph!"

"Right. So, making our conversation as short as possible: I have decided I am taking the 7th Floor Hallway. You can have 2nd Floor."

"I don't want 2nd Floor," said Mara obstinately. "I want 7th."

"Well, I just called it, so you can't have it, sorry."

"I'm taking 7th Floor!" Mara told me. She emphasized this by moving to get in my face.

"Well, fine," I said, turning around and walking away, secretly cheering. "I didn't want your manky 7th Floor anyway."

"My 7th Floor is not manky!"

"It is if you've been stepping on it!" I called back. Walking fast—practically running now. The Stones Of The Castle Shook as Mara also ran to catch me up.

"Why are you such a twat?" she demanded from behind, huffing a bit.

"I have no idea! Why are you such a shitehead? These will forever remain Mysteries Of The Universe."