42! Hehe.
And in case you were wondering, in written passages: Harry's writing is plain text, "Ginny's is in quotes", Tom's is italics, Ron's is bold, and Hermione's is underlined.
NOTES GINNY MOLLY WEASLEY WED SEPTEMBER 2 TRANSFIGURATION.
"Transfiguration = a1wZcv2/a2v1 where w = wandpower, Z = constant, c = concentration, a1 = bodyweight of original object, a2 = bodyweight of intended transformation, and v1&2 = viciousnesses both original and transformed (?)"
"?"
"Tom are we going to be transforming vicious things? I thought you said no animals!"
Viciousness has nothing to do with whether the animal will bite you, you know, it's a measure of how complicated...
"She's explaining it now. HOLY BLOODY MARY SHE TURNED HER DESK INTO A PIG"
Seems a bit unnecessary. What did she need the pig for?
"It's back now as a desk but it was BLOODY BRILLIANT! Pardon my French. I want to know how to do that! Do we really have to have all of these little numbers memorised before we can do THAT? SHE made it look easy!"
Good Transfigurers do. Don't worry, you'll be gorgeous at it.
"Thanks, Tom."
So the teacher's a she for you? In my day it was a nosy chap called Dumbledore, I wouldn't have thought he'd give up teaching for anything.
"He didn't. He's our headmaster."
Ahh, I thought he might end up there. How do you like him?
"He's clever and funny but I think he might be a bit mad."
Very mad. You remember those legends we were writing about earlier? We had one that he wasn't a man, he was a clever magical invention by wizards far up in the Himalayas. Don't ask me how that one got its start.
"McG JUST AX Q I DIDN'T HEAR GOT TO GO"
H.J.S TIMETABLE, NOTES, HOMEWORK
Sept 2
Herbology Homework: Read chapter on Mandrakes & that
Notes: Harry, what did that Lockhart want to talk to you about?
Wanted to warn me against trying to get too famous. Thinks that's what the flying car thing was about. Said that there was plenty of time to be famous when I grow up and that I should be happy with the little fame I've got from defeating You-Know-Who and not try to be as well-known and beloved as him all in one go.
You're joking.
Nope. At least he didn't mention sending an owl.
Still, Finch-Fletchley likes the bloke? I'd love to see Ginny have words with him!
Who, Justin or Lockhart?
Maybe both. Though with Finch-Fletchley's Eton credit and Lockhart's five-time Most-Prattish-Face award maybe it's better to keep her away from both of them until she's out of her hero-worship phase!
Sept 2
Transfiguration Homework: TRY TO REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT WE LEARNED LAST YEAR
Review pp 55-90, "Animate-to-inanimate Transfiguration"; read pp 135-140, "Etymorphosis" (ha-ha)
Notes: Ron needs a new wand, stat
Beetles are almost as evil as Mandrakes
It is more necessary to fully understand the mathematical and physical properties of the desired result of the Transfiguration than those of the original object; hence, transfiguration of animate to inanimate is much simpler than transfiguration of inanimate to animate (get Hermione to explain later)
"What's up after lunch?" Ron asked as they left Transfiguration. His wand was still smoking, and Harry wasn't entirely sure that the papers in Ron's bag weren't about to ignite.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts," said Hermione promptly and, it seemed to Harry, a little breathlessly. Ron noticed, too, and he frowned at her.
"Is it in the same room as last year?" Ron asked. "Here, let's see your schedule…oi! Why've you got all of Lockhart's lessons outlined in little hearts?!" Hermione snatched it back, blushing furiously.
They finished lunch early and spent the rest of break in the courtyard, Hermione with her nose buried in Voyages with Vampires and Ron and Harry talking about Quidditch.
Harry became gradually aware that he was being watched. He glanced behind him.
"All right, Harry?" a mousy-haired boy said, turning bright red the moment Harry looked at him. He clutched an ordinary Muggle camera. "I'm, I'm Colin Creevey, I'm in Gryffindor too. D'you think—would it be all right if—can I have a picture?!" He raised his camera hopefully.
"Er," said Harry, nonplussed. "Why?"
"So I can prove I've met you," said Colin Creevey eagerly, edging further forward. "I know all about you. Everyone's told me. About how you survived when You-Know-Who tried to kill you and how he disappeared and everything and how you've still got a lightning scar on your forehead" (his eyes raked Harry's hairline) "and a boy in my dormitory said if I develop the film in the right potion, the pictures'll move." Colin drew a great shuddering breath of excitement and said, "It's amazing here, isn't it? I never knew all the odd stuff I could do was magic till I got the letter from Hogwarts. My dad's a milkman, he couldn't believe it either. So I'm taking loads of pictures to send home to him. And it'd be really good if I had one of you" he looked imploringly at Harry "maybe your friend could take it and I could stand next to you? And then, could you sign it?"
"Dear lord," drawled a voice, and Draco appeared. Harry noticed immediately that he had Crabbe and Goyle in tow, and was strutting a little in consequence. "Giving out signed photos, Snapey?"
"Sure," he said coolly. "You want one? You can send it home to your dad. That'll prove that you're chummy with me to anyone who's interested. I'll do for your friends, too, though there'll be a delivery charge."
"Somehow I don't think my father would appreciate it as much as…what's-your-name…would," said Draco, casting Colin a disparaging look. Colin, whose body was about as thick as Crabbe's neck, clutched his camera tighter and threw his head back.
"You're just jealous," he said.
"Jealous? Of him?" Draco chuckled. "So sorry, Snapey, but I'd rather have no scar at all than a scar on a face as ugly as yours."
"Maybe you should get a couple," said Harry. "It might improve your appearance."
"It'd take an entire face transplant to do that," said Ron.
"I bet Weasley would like a signed photo, Snapey. It'd probably be worth more than his whole house."
"Eat slugs, Malfoy."
"Careful, Weasley…If you put another toe out of line…"
"You don't have to worry; your mummy'll be 'right there to make sure you're all right'…"
Colin stood worriedly in the centre of the three boys, his fingers tightening on his camera until it looked as though it would snap, his eyes darting among them.
"I…I just wanted a picture," he whispered.
"And a picture you shall have!" exclaimed a genial voice, and Harry had a general impression of turquoisishness as Professor Lockhart swept in among them. "Well, now, if it isn't Harry Snape! And Mr Malfoy, I think, progeny of the great pureblood Malfoy line?"
Malfoy raised an eyebrow,
"And Colin Creevey? Harry offered you a signed picture? I have an even better idea—a signed picture of the three of us. You can't say fairer than that!"
"What?! No!" said Draco. Harry tried to squirm out of Professor Lockhart's grip, but Colin quickly raised his camera to his eye and, snap! Harry was briefly blinded by the camera's flash and then the bell rang and everyone was being shuffled along to their next class.
"You'll pay for that, Snape," hissed Draco.
Harry felt like he already had, since Lockhart insisted on personally escorting him through the halls, giving him sage advice about fame and notoriety all the time, and only released him outside the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"You could've fried an egg on your face," whispered Ron, sliding into the seat next to him. "Even Malfoy looked a little less pasty white than usual. Blimey, Harry, you'd better hope Ginny and Colin Creevey never meet…"
"Dear Tom, today I met a boy named Colin Creevey...
"He sat next to me in Charms. He's very nice and kind of funny-looking with a really wide mouth, he's six days younger than me, he only found out that he got in about two weeks before the start of term. But guess what! He said he'd got a picture of Harry and Lockhart and Draco Malfoy all together; he says he's going to develop it in Mobipotion (he'd never seen it before, can you imagine? Being raised by Muggles must be weird) and they'll move and he's going to get them all to sign it. He says I can have a copy if I want. I'm going to keep it under my pillow forEVER."
Sept 2
DADA Homework: N/A
Notes: This bloke is SO FULL OF IT
These test questions are ridiculous. You happen to remember how old he was when he first realised he wanted to "help wizardkind by ridding the world of monsters and demons"?
No. You remember whether or not he takes his tea with lemon?
No. Is this going to be the whole class? Somehow I don't think where Gilderoy Lockhart went on vacation in 1983 is going to help us in the real world.
Hermione sure seems to think he's the dog's bollocks. She's writing an epic, look.
That's just Hermione, Ron.
Little hearts, Harry, little hearts. This is a problem!
What do you care?
...Well, he's a git, is all.
Maybe they'll get married and have gorgeous children.
Oh god, I hope they take after her. I can't take any more of his face. I think I'm going blind from the reflection on his teeth.
Actual notes-notes: Cornish pixies—Lockhart says more dangerous than they look. Can't see how they coul[ink blot]
"Dear Tom…"
You know, you don't have to start every entry like that. It's not like you're writing a letter.
"Oh. Then what should I say?"
How about "Hi, Tom"?
"Hi, Tom."
Hi, Ginny! What's up?
"ALL sorts of things happened today so far, for one: Professor Lockhart, who is only the handsomest Professor in the whole school though I think maybe he's not as clever as he looks, gave us a test in Defence Against the Dark Arts on the VERY first day, and I got a FIFTY. That's ONE PERCENT away from being a FAIL. This could bring down my whole grade! Tom, what am I going to do?!"
Don't worry. If it's a test on the first day it's probably not a huge part of your grade, it's probably a diagnostic or something. And if it is an important test, you can usually ask for extra credit. If that fails just flutter your eyelashes at him until he melts and marks your grade up.
"Do YOU do that?"
Ha! More or less. You just have to learn to charm the people you need. Smiles and flattery will get you everywhere with some people; some people appreciate bluff honesty and cheerful camaraderie; sometimes you just need to be a nice, sympathetic person and then they'll listen to anything you say. You need to learn to tell the difference.
"But isn't that manipulating people?"
Ginny, everyone manipulates everyone. That's just how people work. It's not a bad thing. And you don't have to be dishonest, you just need to choose what you disclose, which everyone does anyway. It's a bit like the difference between how you talk to your mum and how you talk to…I don't know…Harry Snape?
"I DON'T talk to Harry Snape. He even looks at me and I turn fuchsia and run out of the room."
So he does look at you?
"No…yes…sometimes."
Ginny, why can't you talk to him? You promised to introduce me!
"He terrifies me! What if I say something wrong and he hates me FOREVER?"
What if you never say anything at all and he passes over you for the rest of your life?
"Didn't you ever fancy someone? And weren't you afraid to talk to them?
I think you can do it, Ginny. Repeat after me: "Hello, gorgeous."
"Tom!"
All right, maybe not the gorgeous part. But try "Hello!" What's the worst that could happen? He'll throw you out the window?
"Are you teasing me?"
Have I ever teased you, Ginny? I'm not one of your brothers.
"No. You're more like a friend, aren't you? A friend I can carry around in my pocket."
That's something like!
"I need to go to class now, but I'll write some more later."
Do you have to be in class right now? You have no idea how lonely it gets, being…well…a book.
"You get lonely?"
Well, I am sort of a person, Ginny. And you're the first one who's written to me in fifty years. When you go, I miss you.
"Oh, Tom!"
Don't you ever feel like that? Isolated? Like no one even sees you?
"ALL THE TIME! You'd think I wouldn't, having so many brothers and that, but Bill and Charlie are gone and anyway they just see me as a kid, and Percy acts like I'm made out of china and will break if anything bad happens to me, and Fred and George tease me, and Ron thinks I'm annoying, and none of them EVER want to play with me, they think I'm just a girl, just their baby sister. And Ron always tells embarrassing stories about me as a baby RIGHT when Harry's around! I think he does it on purpose to get rid of me."
Don't you have any friends? A smart, cute kid like you?
"Ooh, thanks, Tom. I just don't know anyone here very well yet, and sometimes people think I'm annoying because I talk too much."
Well, I don't think you're annoying. If you ever feel the need to talk, you know I'm right here.
"I know, Tom. I'm so glad I've got this diary to confide in."
And I'm so glad I've got you to confide in me.
"Tom, the bell just rang. I don't want to be late."
All right. See you when you get back. Don't forget about me.
"Never."
Sept 3
Potions Homework: One Thousand and One Magical Herbs and Fungi p 107: Moondew
8 inches on Injection v Consumption Controversy, extra credit
Notes: Injection sometimes considered the more effective because of its immediate result in potions where diffusion through the body is necessitated (see: my dad's invisibility potion—remember to get a syringe from somewhere). On the other hand, stronger potions can be dangerous if not processed before effects become apparent
…ALTHOUGH if you think about it, the way some of these potions spread stomach acid would function as a catalyst in and of itself. Stomach acid's chemical composition would mean it would react well with that poison he mentioned earlier—that's probably why it's instant death to humans but doesn't work on centaurs and mermaids, different body fluids—and poisoners prefer consumption because first of all it's more easily administered and second of all—look up stomach acid possibility! Other thoughts: anything with lobalug venom would probably be inflamed by stomach acid instead of dissolved (FIND SOME SOMEWHERE—FAKE IDENTITY IF NECESSARY!)
This is not what Arbutus is lecturing about, mate. Come on, how am I supposed to stay on top of this class if Hermione won't let me see her notes and you don't stay on topic?
Injections can be dangerous, plus lots of wizards don't trust them because of Muggle associations, so clever wizards came up with their own non-Muggle ways of injecting (e.g. pointy drop spindles, rose thorns). Consumption still more innocuous and almost anyone can drink something whereas lots of people are scared of stabbing themselves, even with a rose thorn
Even stabbing sounds better than drinking that Invisibility rot
Maybe I don't need a proper syringe. If I can get a rose thorn of appropriate length that should do the trick eh? Or a drop spindle.
Don't be silly, Harry, you can't just dip a drop spindle in Potion and expect it to have the same effects. Didn't you hear when he said it's only to do with poisons and other potions that are effective in miniscule doses?
Nice of you to join us, Mrs Lockhart.
Mrs Lockhart?
She wrote it on the corner of her page, look.
I should think you'd have the common decency to look at your own notes and not CHEAT by reading off of mine
You know I can't understand a word he's saying. Keep taking notes, Harry.
I'm almost out of space on here, you lot, you're taking up the whole page in my ledger. Injection can additionally be painful, where consumption is at best unpleasant (Ron it's just fish juice and hair, it's not that bad…I lost the whole jar of it fighting Quirrell last year, I'm going to need to make some more.) A third method sometimes employed is external application, like vapour rubs. This only works with exceptionally thin potions that can be absorbed through the skin, or exceptionally thick potions that force their way through—like I said, vapour rub…