20 February, 1972
Okay, so this is going to be potentially embarrassing, my birthday is in nine days, leap day, February 29. When someone figures out the math I will be the laughingstock of the entire school. Since I was born on a leap day I'll only be 3, sort of, it will be the third actual birthday after I was born, but obviously I've been alive for longer than that. All of this won't really matter when they find out though. It's also the day of the full moon, so at least Remus won't be there, but all of the girls will be and that will be just as embarrassing. I have a feeling the Slytherins will be vicious about this. No one will make fun of me like they will. I can hear them now, toddler jokes. Well, nine more days and then I'm done.
Annicka Llewellyn
Annicka entered the Great Hall hesitantly on the morning of her birthday, joining her friends near the center of the Gryffindor table just before the morning post, "Morning!" Lily greeted her as she sat across from her friend.
"Hi," Annicka replied, no one noticed the tone of nervousness in her voice. She looked straight up to the ceiling when she heard the hoots of hundreds of owls overhead. Luthien circled and landed with a large parcel from her parents. Annicka couldn't help smiling as she took the card from Luthien's beak.
"Is that from your parents?" Mary asked interested by the large size of the parcel.
"Yeah," Annicka answered shortly, quickly occupying herself with reading the card from her parents.
"What's the occasion?" a male voice asked from a few seats down. Annicka turned slightly to look at Potter as she answered in restrained tones. "Today is my birthday."
"What? Why didn't you tell us?" Lily asked ginning at the good news.
"Because I didn't want anyone to –" Annicka's explanation was cut short by the bout of hysterical laughter coming from further down the table, "Laugh," she concluded. Annicka sighed as the whole group turned to look at Sirius Black, who the laughter was coming from.
"What's so funny?" Peter asked, thinking he missed the joke again.
"She's only three!" he gasped between chuckles.
"What?" Frank Longbottom asked, voicing everyone's confusion.
"Today is February 29th that only happens every four years! That means this is Llewellyn's third birthday!" Once again Black burst into laughter, followed by most of the people in earshot. Annicka picked up her things and left the table, barely managing to get to the door before a group of Slytherins converged on the door.
"What is wrong with you?" Lily asked Sirius angrily.
"What? It's funny!" he defended himself.
"That's not why she left," Alice replied.
"There was a group of Slytherins behind you," Margo added.
"Idiot," Mary concluded. All four girls left the table to go after their friend.
29 February, 1972
Well it happened, just like I thought it would. Black did the math and he was laughing, more than necessary in my opinion, and the Slytherins found out. So I've had to deal with embarrassing jokes all day. Though I have to say the most embarrassing moment was when Professor McGonagall stepped in and made them sop during class. Besides it just made things worse later. I'm so tired I think I'm just going to go to bed, homework be damned.
Annicka Llewellyn
10 March, 1972
I know I haven't written in a while, but I've just been consumed with my classes, and homework, not to mention fighting with Black. Who knows, maybe now that I've made his life miserable for a while he'll leave me alone . . . on second thought, I doubt it. Well, I guess I had better go now, Remus is waiting.
Annicka Llewellyn
25 March, 1972
The teachers are becoming strangely enthusiastic, or something, about the subjects they teach because they have been giving us a lot of information in class, and assigning us a lot of work. Even Lily and Remus are beginning to look frazzled and they are the smartest people in our year. Well I'd better go, lots of work to do.
Annicka Llewellyn
30 March, 1972
Remus just got back from his monthly "trip", he seems more tired than usual and I'm a little worried that his friends have figured out the truth. They've been acting strange since he got back. I swear, if Black and Potter abandon him now I'll rip them to shreds.
Annicka Llewellyn
"Hey Annicka," Remus greeted her as she sat next to him at a table in the library.
"Is everything okay?" she asked noticing he wouldn't look her in the eye.
"They know," he answered quietly, still looking down.
"What did they say?" she asked knowing instinctively what he was talking about. She pulled out her school books as she waited for him to answer.
"Just that they know about my condition," he said with a shrug.
"Anything else?" Annicka felt that he was keeping something back.
"They said I was stupid for thinking I needed to keep it a secret from them," Remus finally admitted with a small smile.
Annicka smiled in response, "Good," she paused, "do they know that I know?"
"No." he objected, "I didn't think you would want them to know."
The two of them were silent for a moment, "Alright, let's get some studying done," Annicka opened her first book and started reading the assigned pages.
15 April, 1972
Remus has been so happy since his friends accepted that he is a werewolf. I know it's been one of his greatest worries. I find myself getting almost jealous of all the time the four of them are spending together now, but I know that's just plain stupid. Good night.
Annicka Llewellyn
3 May, 1972
Now I know why the teachers have been so crazy, final exams are next month, and some law or something has just changed so we were really behind on everything. So, once again I have to go off and study, this is all so ridiculous . . . maybe I'll stay up here to study, it sounds like Lily and Potter are having another fight. I wonder if they'll ever get along.
Annicka Llewellyn
10 May, 1972 Studying. Ugh!
A.L.
25 May, 1972
Remus will be leaving soon and I can already see the cogs turning in Luscious Malfoy's head. Apparently I insulted him last week when I said that all Slytherins were nothing more than pampered brats. I just know that he's going to do something to get back at me that I won't be able to trace back to him. I really hat it when I can't blame him for what he does because I know that he doesn't ever fell regret. Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to suffer.
Annicka Llewellyn
Remus stood watching Annicka as she entered the Gryffindor common room looking anxiously over her shoulder. "Hey, Moony, what are you staring at?" James Potter asked joining Remus by the windows. Remus was already used to the nickname his friends had given him when they had discovered he was a werewolf.
"Annicka, she's been acting really paranoid lately," Remus answered never moving his eyes from her.
"Llewellyn? What would she have to be paranoid about?" James asked with a small laugh.
"I don't know, she won't talk to me about it," Remus shrugged his shoulders.
"You really like her don't you?" James felt compelled to ask.
"She's my best friend," Remus said without a thought.
James gauged Remus' response for a moment before saying, "In that case, we'll keep an eye on her for you."
"Thanks," Remus sighed in relief. That evening after Remus left James told the others about the promise he'd made. "Wait, you're saying we have to babysit her? She hates us," Sirius asked incredulously.
"Not babysit her," James argued, "just make sure nothing happens to her."
"Why?" Peter asked joining the conversation.
"Because Moony is worried about her," James explained again. Sirius just rolled his eyes, and Peter shrugged. The next morning Annicka was sitting at the Gryffindor table at breakfast, staring off into space, when she was pulled back to reality by her three least favorite boys suddenly sitting around her. "Hi!" James greeted her pleasantly.
"What are you doing?" Annicka asked.
"Eating breakfast," James replied. Annicka waited for almost a full minute for a better explanation. When she didn't get one she stood from the table, "Have fun with that," she retorted and left. For the rest of the day she had one of the boys with her at all times.
26 May, 1972
Something really weird is going on, all of Remus' friends have been following me around today. When I ask them what they want they just make up some flimsy excuse. I think Remus may have put them up to it for some reason. My new problems are as follows, they are even more annoying when they won't leave me alone, and the Slytherins seem to be even more excited than before – like they're looking forward to a fight. This is a disaster!
Annicka Llewellyn
Annicka had just left the Great Hall when she felt herself grabbed from behind and pulled off down a side corridor. James, Sirius and Peter had followed and heard her shout of surprise before it was cut off by a hand covering her mouth. They ran off after the sound and discovered Annicka surrounded by five Slytherins. The boys ran forward bowling over the Slytherins and pulling Annicka out. "What did you do that for?" Annicka demanded to know pulling her hand out of James' grasp.
"What?" James asked confused.
"We just helped you," Sirius argued.
"No you really didn't," she argued back, "because now they'll be even more determined to get me, and they'll come after you too."
"We can handle it," James assured her.
"Next time you take care of your problems, and let me take care of mine," she ordered. Annicka walked away, heading off to Gryffindor tower.
"I don't get it," Peter muttered.
"I told you, she hates us," Sirius reminded his friends as he walked away.
1 June, 1972
I am officially avoiding all contact with Sirius Black. He has ruined my day for the last time this year. In fact, if he comes near me again I think I'll kill him this time. He just told Randall Gains, a third year Ravenclaw boy that I fancy him. Before the rather embarrassing episode today I didn't even know Randall Gains' name. Now of course I have to try to concentrate on my studies while the entire school is laughing at me, again. Exams are here, and I'll be lucky to make it through the week.
Annicka Llewellyn
15 June 1972
I passed! All of my exams, I even got a few "Outstanding" grades. I'm getting ready to go home, just a few days now, and I will be with my family again, away from all of these stupid boys. Honestly I don't know what Remus sees in them, although Frank Longbottom seems alright, except for that last name – it's rather unfortunate. It's funny, I'm sitting in the same compartment as my last trip home and somehow it's staying empty. Every other compartment is packed, but mine is empty. I don't get it, but I suppose it doesn't matter. See you next year.
Annicka Llewellyn