THE DIARY OF A WITCH, VOLUME V
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which the main plot of this fanfiction revolves around nor wrote the dialogue that comes directly from the book.
CHAPTER 8: APRIL
Thursday, April 1, Great Hall, Lunch,
You gotta love Fred and George, for their seventeenth birthday they went all out this year. They played a prank on Umbridge. No one has dared to do so since she's been here but we all should've realized that the twins would grow tired of not pranking someone they openly dispise. Somehow they rigged her breakfast plate (I suspect they bribed House Elves to keep quiet) and her cereal blew up, literally. Umbridge was sputtering for hours afterward and since the cereal and milk flew up to form Happy Birthday, Fred and George you knew it was them. McGonagall gave them detention but I could tell that she (along with all the other teachers) were trying hard not to laugh. Us students had no qualms: we laughed hard and didn't bother to hide it. I even noticed a few Slytherins cracking a smile.
Friday, April 2, Great Hall, Dinner,
Note: bet one Galleon on Hufflepuff winning tomorrow (I have no high hopes so I bet small but hey, you never know in sports).
Saturday, April 3, Ravenclaw Common Room, After Quidditch Match,
Hufflepuff lost. In a loss of 150 to 20. Ouch.
So we have to play Slytherin AGAIN to see which of us goes to the Quidditch Final after Easter break. I've decided that I'm going home on break because there's no way I'm staying here. Owen says he will come get me over the Floo network the morning of the wedding. I asked what about his Mom and he rolled his eyes and said his Mom would be going even crazier then she already is that morning and he would be more then happy to get away from her by that point. I guess planning a wedding is stressful. When I get married I'm getting a priest, telling the groom when to show and that's it. Maybe I'll wear a dress, I don't know. It'll depend on my mood.
Sunday, April 4, Great Hall, Breakfast,
TO DO LIST:
WAY TOO MUCH. No wonder Hannah broke down last week in Herbology what with all this work they're giving us and she's in about five clubs on top of being a Prefect; she has it WAY worse then I do. Although being on a Quidditch team is sort of equal to being in two clubs.
Monday, April 5, Common Room, Dorm Room,
Oh my God, I think I'm going to be sick.
The D.A. was discovered tonight and just when I got the Patronus Charm too (it's a butterfly for some weird reason). I was helping out Colin and Dennis Creevey when Dobby the House Elf came and told us all that she was coming and Potter realized at once that he was talking about Umbridge. Then he looked at us and yelled, "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? RUN!"
We all ran towards the exit and split up in different directions. Owen, Mandy, and I all decided to head towards the library since it was closest. Since Ravenclaw house is near the library we briefly considered letting Owen hide out in the common room but he said that would get us into more trouble, then the next thing we knew, we were cornered by a group of Slytherins who were there with Umbridge.
You know what though? D.A. turned out to be very helpful because we managed to Stun them all and they were six and seven years! HAH! Then we hid in the library in bookshelves way in the back for about an hour and then headed to our dorms when we thought it was safe. Mandy is terrified that we're going to be expelled but I don't think we are because I just got word from Fawkes and he told me that he and Dumbledore had left Hogwarts and that it was made so they couldn't expel anyone in the D.A. because Dumbledore took full responsibility for it.
Oddly enough, that doesn't make me feel any better.
Tuesday, April 6, Great Hall, Lunch,
That vaguely sick feeling I had yesterday? Yeah, it's now way past vague and into I-feel-like-I'm-About-to-Throw-Up territory. UMBRIDGE IS NOW HEADMISTRESS OF HOGWARTS.
Stupid Educational Decrees.
On top of that, she has made the Inquisitorial Squad which apparently is a select group of students who go around doing her dirty work. I just witnessed Malfoy taking points from Potter, Weasley, Hermione, and Ernie. Ernie looks pissed because he's never lost points for his house; a fact that he's reminded everyone of for the past five years and enough that Owen and Justin occasionally want to smack him.
I REALLY cannot wait until Easter break now.
Later Tuesday, April 6, Charms,
Fred and George have GOT to be behind these. There are sparklers going on all over school. They're driving Umbridge and her cronies up the wall and I LOVE it. Just now there were some going on in the Charms classroom and Umbridge had to come and get rid of them. Professor Flitwick of course could have easily done the job but I think he enjoyed watching Umbridge go crazy. He pointed out the different spells that were used on the sparklers to the class and after Umbridge came he said, "Thank you so much, Professor. I could have gotten rid of them myself, of course, but I wasn't sure whether I had the authority."
Flitwick is cool sometimes.
Wednesday, April 7, Great Hall, Breakfast,
Fred and George's fireworks lasted all through the night and I believe there are still the stray one here and there. Oh, I was right, there went one through the hall just now. Everyone is currently cheering. I went up to Fred and George last night and found out they are calling them Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-Bangs and got a starter set for five Galleons for a later occasion (like say after I finish my O.W.L.s). I also found out that they've already procured a business spot thanks to the money they've made over the years. Fred told me if I need a job right away to come on over.
Friday, April 9, Hogwarts Express,
GOOD-BYE UMBRIDGE!
Sunday, April 11, Manor, Bedroom,
It's actually good to be home. Grandfather is coming home tomorrow from his business trip to Paris so I'll be spending the day in cars and waiting at airports. Joy. But it's still better then being under lock and key at Hogwarts.
Monday, April 12, Airport,
Note to self: feeding airport security dogs is not good idea. Get dirty looks from security and they begin to think you are terrorist despite the fact that it was just bologna from your sandwich you giving them and they were begging.
Tuesday, April 13, Manor, Bedroom,
What does one wear to a wedding?
I've never been to one so how am I supposed to know what to wear? Besides which, it's a Wizard wedding to boot. Owen was no help either because on the train ride home I asked him and he looked at me and shrugged and said, "Clothes?" Boys.
Thursday, April 15, Manor, Bedroom,
I've finally decided to just wear a dress I have that is somewhere between casual and dressy and that's not white because I've been told it's taboo to wear white at a wedding if you're not the bride. I go tomorrow to stay at the Shacklebolt family place until the wedding on Saturday, April 17 (I had written the date earlier wrong in here due to fatigue and stress from O.W.L.s).
Friday, April 16, Shacklebolt Family House, Guest Room,
I like Shacklebolt's family. He's the only child and you can tell his Mom and Dad are just brimming with pride over their son. His mom is an awesome cook and I'm not sure who's more eager about this wedding: Shacklebolt and Owen's Mom or Shacklebolt's parents. They adore Owen's Mom and Owen himself (Mrs. Shacklebolt kept telling Owen he could call her grandma which caused him to blush adorably) and Mr. Shacklebolt was curious about what the Muggle world was like (he's grown up in the wizard world and has never been near many Muggles).
The Shacklebolt place is in Godric's Hollow which is a wizard village. Their house is a brick two-story with an attic and basement and a front yard and back yard with a wrought iron fence all around it. The place is of course brimming with magic. Shacklebolt's father apparently designs magical items for a company and his mom is a cook at a local restaurant nearby (which explains her excellent food) and between the two of them they're well off. Neither of them apparently expected to have a son working for the government and they evidently don't think much of Fudge which frankly makes me like them even more. I wonder if they know their son is in the Order of the Phoenix thing?
Saturday, April 17, Shacklebolt Family House, Guest Room, Three Hours Before Wedding,
Well, the guests have started to arrive and I'm staying here until absolutely needed because I'm sorry, it's a mad house down there! I swear everyone and their sister is down below. I've seen practically all the members of the Order including the real Mad-Eye Moody, Shacklebolt's partner Tonks, and even some of the Hogwarts professors (who I assume are here to escape Umbridge as well). I met several co-workers of Mrs. H whose names and faces I've already forgotten because there were so damn many that I don't know how I'm going to remember them all. Then I met the mysterious Hollins Clan themselves and now I know why Mrs. H and Owen avoid them with every fiber of their being.
To start with, Mrs. Hollins Mom and Dad (Owens grandparents) came along with her sister who is a few years older and is married with her own daughter. Can we say snobs? Mrs. H is Muggleborn so all her family are Muggles. That's fine, I'm Muggleborn too so I obviously have no problem with Muggles. In fact none of the people here did have a problem with them even though you could tell they were severely out of place because they were the only ones not in wizard robes. But there was no mistaking the family resemblance because they were all blond like Owen and Mrs. H (except for the husband of the sister who had brown hair and looked around dubiously a lot).
I could tell right away that Mrs. Hollins parents don't care for the life their daughter has chosen. If I couldn't guess from the sneering way they looked around at the house and the people in it, I would have guessed by the way they completely ignored Owen and bragged about how their other daughter's husband got promoted in his job and that their granddaughter was getting top marks in her school. No one even asked them to talk about that. The granddaughter also happened to look at me behind Owen and sniffed.
Something tells me they aren't going to stay for the reception and no wonder Owen is going to be giving away his mom instead of the father who is usually the one to do it.
Later Saturday, April 17, Manor, Bedroom,
Oh my God, I can't breath.
OWEN AND I JUST KISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I do mean ON THE LIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm not even sure how it happened. There wasn't even really a confession or anything. It was after the wedding and the reception. Owen's Mom and Kingsley went off too their honeymoon (Owen is going to be staying with the Shacklebolts till break ends) and there was still much partying going on. As I predicted Owen's grandparents and their snobby crew left immediately after the ceremony, depositing their gifts on the table without so much as a goodbye to Owen or his Mom. After a bit of dancing, Owen and I walked a little way from the party and I asked about his weird relatives and he started to explain that apparently his grandparents never wanted Mrs. H to go to Hogwarts and become a witch because they didn't think it was normal. But Mrs. H was evidently stubborn even at that age and so wrote an owl back saying that she would go but that she needed help getting supplies and someone from Hogwarts came and showed her around Diagon Alley the first time around then. Her parents stiffly gave her money for her education thinking that once she was done, she would come back and join the normal people. But of course, she met Owen's dad and became obsessed with Quidditch and we all know what happened there. Evidently, they've never forgiven their daughter for becoming a full fledged witch and therefore only send holiday cards with checks and completely ignore Owen's existence and dote on their oldest (normal) daughter and her snotty child (he assured me that I wasn't overreacting to that sniff, she really is a snob).
Anyway, we came to a private part of the backyard and by the end of the explanation it was night and there was this bridge over a pond that they have and the Shacklebolts had these glittery fairies all over the place and well...it was romantic okay? I mean hell, even the bridge sort of reminded me of that scene from Lord of the Rings where Arwen and Aragorn are having their couples moment. I'm not sure how we ended up kissing to tell you the truth; I believe I was ranting at Owen's jerky relatives and calling them all sorts of names and the next thing I knew I was being kissed.
Oh...THAT'S why he grinned at me after and said, "You talk too much."
Oh well, since he kissed me after that, I forgive him. Actually, we kissed for quite a bit before Mrs. Shacklebolt came and called us over to say goodbye to the guests. That made my likeness for her dim somewhat because she interrupted but I forgive her. After that, I had to quickly Floo home so I didn't get a chance to talk to Owen privately. But who freaking cares?
WE KISSED!
I know I have previously scoffed at girls obsessed with kissing, but now I understand why they're all gung ho about it: it's NICE. Especially in the right setting and with a guy you really like.
Monday, April 19, Manor, Bedroom,
How can I concentrate on schoolwork when all I want to do now is create something? Ever since Saturday night I've been brimming with ideas all of a sudden, but I have to face facts: I have a half done pile of homework to do and if I don't get it done I'll get detention. On top of that, I got a package from Hogwarts which says that apparently all fifth years are required to have appointments with their Head of House the first week back from break. In it was a bunch of pamphlets about the different careers that you could have. Not many of them geared toward art though...
So now on top of O.W.L.s they want us to decided our future before the end of the year.
Not asking much are they?
Friday, April 23, Manor, Dining Room,
After thoroughly reading through the pamphlets I've decided that I do not want the following careers:
Work at any Ministry establishment (though this was already decided as of this year)
Be a healer at St. Mungo's (Transfiguration NEWTmore math; HELL NO)
Train security trolls
Work at Gringotts (they want Arithmacy which is even more complicated math and a subject I've not taken)
Sunday, April 26, Hogwarts Express,
It's great seeing Owen. He's sitting right across from me and playing cards with Terry, Anthony, and Justin. Only he keeps glancing at me and smiling, which causes me to smile at him, and so we are both terribly distracted. Mandy keeps looking at the two of us suspiciously so I have a feeling she suspects something is up. I'm not going to tell her anything though because I don't know if Owen even wants to give the whole couple thing a try yet. I mean, what if that kiss was a fluke on his part? I hope it wasn't a fluke but it would be just my luck that he happened to drink a spiked Pumpkin Juice and therefore thought he was dreaming or that I was some other girl or didn't even realize what he was doing. Maybe I'm reaching there but hey, in times like these you never know.
So I'm not telling her a thing before I know what Owen wants to do about this and even then I might not say anything. I mean it's my business who I kiss.
Later Sunday, April 26, Hogwarts, Dorm Room, After Dinner,
Owen and I are actually a couple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After we got off the Hogwarts Express he asked to speak to me after dinner in private and I agreed. We all ate and then we ducked away from everyone else to the hallway with Room Eleven in it. For a minute we just sort of stood there looking at each other and Owen said, "So...Saturday...was nice."
I nodded. "Very."
"I wouldn't be opposed to doing it again."
Just to be sure we were thinking the same thing I said, "Doing what?"
He rolled his eyes, "Jubilee, you know what I'm talking about."
Have I mentioned Owen is cute when he gets that slightly annoyed look on his face? "Just checking."
"So you want to give this couple thing a try?" he asked tentively.
I rolled my eyes then, "Very romantic way of putting it."
"Hey, you know how I am about romance," he frowned. "You aren't going to start expecting me to hold your books, or bring you flowers and what not are you?"
"What good would you holding my books do me?" I asked. I've never gotten that to tell you the truth. "And no, I don't expect you to change. Though I wouldn't turn down you buying me Butterbeer now and then. Also, don't expect me to want to hold hands constantly or make out in public or anything."
"How can we hold hands in these crazy hallways?" he asked. "Besides, with Umbridge around, NO ONE can make out in public anymore."
"At least she's good for something," I muttered.
"Yeah." The two of us have always found the making out couples slightly nauseating. Especially the ones who try and eat each others faces off; although now I sort of understand why they get carried away I just wish they'd get carried away where I don't have to look at them.
"So, we're a couple now?" I asked quietly, feeling shy for the first time in my life. I've NEVER felt shy. Not once. Certainly never with Owen. Does liking someone always make you feel not normal?
"Yes," Owen said. We sort of smiled at each other and started to lean forward to kiss again but then we heard a polite cough and turned to find Firenze looking out of room eleven. I'm not sure which one of us blushed harder: me or Owen.
"I think you two had better head on to your dormitories," Firenze with a knowing smile. We quickly nodded at him and went on our way.
Monday, April 27, Dorm Room, After Dinner,
Holy crap.
Fred and George have really done it this time. They quit school!
I don't know why I'm surprised really, I mean from their behavior in the past weeks and their feelings on Umbridge and how the school is being run, you could tell it was coming. But I never imagined they'd actually DO IT. Especially since according to Ginny, their Mom is not exactly the easy going sort and highly disapproves of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
First off, let me just say that they did a brilliant spell somehow and managed to TURN A SCHOOL CORRIDOR INTO A SWAMP! Brilliant, right? Well, it would've been if they'd hadn't of gotten caught. Umbridge and Filch and the annoyance that is the Inquisitorial Squad managed to corner them in the Entrance Hall. By this time, the whole school had gathered and Umbridge told Filch to get some forms. When Filch returned he was practically brimming with joy at the thought of finally being able to whip Fred and George like he'd always wanted.
Umbridge took the forms and said, "You two, are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers at my school."
Fred said, "You know what? I don't think we are. George, I think we've outgrown full-time education.'
"Definitely," George agreed.
With that, they summoned their broomsticks which came crashing through wherever it is Umbridge had them.
"We won't be seeing you," Fred said as he got on his.
"Yeah, don't keep in touch," George added.
"If anyone fancies a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley. Our new premises," Fred said loudly to everyone.
"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat," George said, pointing at Umbridge (just in case some of us didn't get who he was referring too I guess).
Just as Umbridge and Filch rushed forward they flew into the air and Fred shouted, "Give her hell from us, Peeves."
The even better part? Peeves SALUTED at them! That's the most respect I've ever seen him show anybody! At that, all of us couldn't help but cheer and applaud because I'm sorry, they've finally done what I'm sure half of us have felt like doing for the past few months. I've also just discovered a little gift that Fred and George must have left for me beforehand: a box of selected assortments of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products and a note saying to use them well and send money when I need more.
You know what? I might just use them.
Tuesday, April 28, Great Hall, Lunch,
Owen just got back from his career appointment with Professor Sprout. He has decided that he wants to go into some sort of writing career or a career to do with history somehow. None of those careers apparently have a required N.E.W.T. except if he wants something in history he's going to have to continue history. I'd feel sorry for him except that he's EXCITED about this. Yes, I am aware that my boyfriend is slightly weird; I've come to terms with that fact a long time ago.
Wow...still strange to refer to him as my boyfriend. Neither of us have really called each other that yet and we haven't really told the others the change though I think some of the girls are suspecting something and not just Mandy. Susan has been eyeing us critically lately too. We haven't made the relationship obvious. Not that we've really had time to spend on our relationship between school and extra curriculars. When Owen meets me after Quidditch practice and walks me to Ravenclaw house is about the only private time we're most likely to get and the biggest change in our relationship so far (other then the kissing, I mean).
I've decided on the following career paths to tell Professor Flitwick tomorrow:
-Freelance artist
-Book illustrator
-Shop owner of some kind
-Jewelry maker
-Work in a pet store?
-Work in a greenhouse/nursery?
Wednesday, April 29, Latin, After Career Appointment
Well, Professor Flitwick was a little surprised by my choices. He admitted that a lot of the career advice they get aren't really geared towards creative fields. He said that if I wanted to work at a greenhouse I would obviously need at least an E on a Herbology N.E.W.T. but he didn't seemed to concerned with that since I always get Os in that class. As for the art...well there obviously isn't a art N.E.W.T. but he might be able to get me in touch with a few publishers that could maybe take a look at some of my drawings. I had brought a portfolio with me to the appointment to show him why I wanted to become a professional artist and he said while he wasn't an expert in the field he thought I had talent (in fact he quite liked one cartoon I did of Umbridge).
So I think my classes for my continuing education are going to be: Herbology, Charms, Ancient Runes, Latin, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Astronomy for the hell of it. NO MORE SNAPE AFTER THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO MORE MATH!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, just the subjects that I really enjoy.
END OF APRIL...TO BE CONTINUED...