The Diary of a Witch, Volume I

CHAPTER 3: NOVEMBER

Friday, November 1, Breakfast, Great Hall,

 

Well, we’re all alive, so I’m guessing the teachers got the troll. The only damage it did was to the girl’s bathroom on the first floor, which is a shame because that’s the nicest one in the school. It’s going to take the weekend to get it fixed. I know this because I overheard Filch grumbling about all the work he was going to have to do. I didn’t pay any attention to him at first because he’s always grumbling about the work he has to do, but then I heard Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster talking about the damage the troll made.

 Huh, that’s weird. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger are talking over at the Gryffindor table, and it looks like they’re having a civilized conversation. It’s not weird to see Potter and Weasley together, those two have been joined at the hip since day one, everyone knows they’re best friends. But I was under the impression that they didn’t like Granger at all and vice versa, I mean for the past month she’s been glaring at them every time she saw them. But now she’s helping Potter get something off his wand. Ewww, what IS that stuff? It looks like slime.

Sunday, November 3, Dorm Room,

 Gryffindor is so busted.

 Harry Potter is their new seeker.

 Mandy just told me that she and Hannah Abbot saw him practicing with the Gryffindor Quidditch team as they were walking back from their late night detention (they got it for passing notes in Potions class). They saw him flying a Nimbus 2000, lucky stiff.

If Hannah Abbot knows now, then the entire school will know by tomorrow night. Hannah’s an okay person but she’s a total gossip, no way will she be able to keep something this juicy to herself. On the plus side, if Potter’s on the Gryffindor team then that means they might have a good chance at winning the match on Saturday. It would be nice for someone to put Slytherin in their place. Or at least make Malfoy shut up about how Slytherin is better because they’re all purebloods. If I have to listen to that speech one more time in the Great Hall, I’ll have to get ear plugs. Or punch him. One of the two. Even Owen’s wanted to take a swing at the guy, and he’s one of the least violent people I know.

Monday, November 4, Dinner, Great Hall,

 I was right. The whole school now knows that Potter is on the Gryffindor team. The team captain, Oliver Wood is furious. See, they were trying to keep it a secret in hopes to use Potter as a secret weapon. Now he’s going around trying to find out who spilled the beans. I think he suspects the Weasley twins, Fred and George, who are beaters for the team of leaking it out because I saw him threatening them earlier in the hallway.

I could save him the trouble and tell him it was Mandy and Hannah but I like them and it’s kind of entertaining watching him trying to figure it out. Owen and I have a bet going on how long it will be before he gives up. Who needs TV?

Tuesday, November 5, History of Magic,

 It’s starting to get really cold. Winter is just around the corner. Damn. I hate Winter, it always comes way too early here for my taste. But then I come from California so I guess I’m the only one who thinks that the fact that I can see my breath in the air when I breathe is just plain WRONG.

You want to know what else is wrong? The fact that Hogwarts DOES NOT HAVE A HEATING SYSTEM!!!! I’m serious. They have fireplaces, torches and candles, that’s it. My room is freezing during the night. I now know why they put up those blue and silver draperies around my bed, so I don’t freeze to death during the night. There is a staff full of wizards here, why can’t one of them come up with some sort of warming spell? I thought Dumbledore was supposed to be some sort of magic genius. He discovered the twelve uses of dragons’ blood for crying out loud, so heating the castle should be no problem. But no, I’m stuck wearing my dragon hide gloves inside and looking up spells to keep warm.

I can’t wait until spring.

Wednesday, November 6, Lunch, Great Hall,

 People have been pretty stupid about the news of Potter becoming Seeker. Some of the first years are jealous because as a rule first years don’t make the house team and now he’s the youngest Seeker in a century. So they’ve been telling him they’ll be sure to run under him with a mattress. Malfoy of course started this, he’s always doing his best to try and make Potter look bad. He always fails too, unless he’s in Potions class at the time, but that’s because Snape helps him. Snape hates Potter more then anything, I heard he picks on him constantly in class even when he isn’t doing anything and getting the potion right.

At least I get a reprieve. He pretty much leaves me alone when I’m not having klutz attacks or getting into one incident or another. So glad I’m not Potter. It’s bad enough when he only picks on me a little.

 The people who aren’t saying he’ll be terrible are automatically assuming he’ll be fantastic. Jeez people, the guy has enough pressure, don’t add to it. I’m really glad I’m not famous because I don’t have to worry about people’s expectations, I just have to worry about my own.

Thursday, November 7, Defense Against the Dark Arts,

 I just had a near death experience.

 I ran into Snape. Literally.

 He gave me detention for running in the halls. Jerk. I was late to class again because of him and Quirrel took off three points from Ravenclaw. I got to stop reading mysteries during break. I always end up losing track of time and end up running to class. On the bright side, I get exercise.

 A funny thing though, Snape was limping when I ran into him. When I fell to the floor because of the impact I saw a claw mark on his leg, a really BIG claw mark. Guess he tangled with a wild animal and lost. Wish I knew who did it so I could congratulate it. Just kidding.

 Sort of.

Friday, November 8, Library,

 Everybody has Quidditch on the brain. Especially the boys.

 Owen is no exception. He’s been chatting my ears off about some Quidditch team he’s nuts about called the Thunderbolts or something like that. Now I’m not what you would call a sports nut. Baseball, football, soccer, and basketball all bored me to death much to the disappointment of my parents who were sports fanatics. They never figured out how they got a daughter who thought that sports were boring.

 But Quidditch sounds interesting and I’m looking forward to going to my first real match. From the sound of it, the game sounds like a mixture of basketball, football, soccer, and baseball all in one and played on broomsticks. Owen says the game is really fast paced, especially in the pro leagues. I guess he would know. He’s been to a few matches here and there. See, his mom works at the Department of Magical Games and Sports at the Ministry and the employees there sometimes get free tickets for them and their families since they pretty much organize the games. His mom is as nuts about Quidditch as he is.

 I wonder if the Ministry has a department of magical art? Maybe I could work there if the whole artist thing falls through. I can’t wait until tomorrow!!!!

Saturday, November 9, Common Room,

 THAT WAS SO COOL!!!!!!

 Quidditch is THE BEST GAME EVER!!!!!

 You know Ravenclaw will be having Chaser spots open next year, maybe I’ll try out for the team then. Two of the Chasers will be graduating this year. If I try out, I’ll have a legitimate excuse for Angela about why I want to buy a broom. Somehow I don’t think the excuse ‘they’re really cool and really fast’ will go over well with her.

 Anyway, the game started two hours after breakfast so I headed up to the castle with Owen, Mandy, and Hannah (the four of us sometimes hang out together). We got good seats near where all the teachers and the commenter (a third year named Lee Jordan) sat. The seats were near the front and we could see the field and the players.

Lee Jordan was really funny, he had trouble keeping neutral and often took the side of Gryffindor even though McGonagall was sitting near him and tried to get him to give a unbiased view. She didn’t always succeed. Madam Hooch was the referee and she made some pretty good calls. She was fair and told off the players who needed to be told off.

 The first part of the game was mostly the Quaffle being passed back and forth between the Gryffindor chasers (Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, and Alicia Spinnet) who I think are very good. They only let Slytherin steal it two times before they scored first earning ten points thanks to Johnson.

 After a few more passes of the Quaffle the Snitch was sighted. Potter and the Slytherin seeker, Higgs, raced after it and just as Potter almost caught it Marcus Flint, the Slytherin team captain, slammed right into him. I totally agree with Jordan that it was an “obvious and disgusting display of cheating.” A penalty was awarded to Gryffindor and they scored ten more points.

 Then Slytherin scored after that, that’s when everyone started to notice that Potter’s broom had started to go nuts. Seriously, it kept trying to buck Potter off like it was an out-of-control bronco or something. This kept going on and the Weasley twins tried to him, everyone was watching Potter and Flint scored five goals during this time (cheater).

 That’s when all of a sudden in the teacher’s stand Snape caught on fire and knocked over people with his flailing. They were able to get the flames out and by then Potter had been able to get his broom under control and was speeding off across the Quidditch pitch. He sped toward the ground and believe it or not CAUGHT THE SNITCH IN HIS MOUTH! I’m serious! I’m surprised he didn’t choke. Despite Flints whining of “he didn’t catch it. He SWALLOWED it!” Gryffindor was declared the winner at 170 points to 60. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and get my two Galleons from the Weasley twins.

Late Night Monday, November 11, Dorm Room,

 Well, good news is that I no longer have to fear the third floor corridor entrance, because I now know where that creepy voice came from (no I am not going crazy). It came from the three-headed dog that is guarding the entrance. The VERY LARGE three-headed dog that guards the entrance.

 See, after I started to realize that the voices I was hearing were plants and animals I figured that the voice I heard that night must have been an animal that was being territorial or something. Animals can be like that sometimes, you should hear the birds go at it in the courtyard outside. But I haven’t had a chance to prove my theory because every time I’ve been near the entrance either Snape or Filch has been skulking near there. I swear those two are incohoots to make lives miserable for students.

Anyway, I finally decided to go tonight. I ran into Mrs. Norris but she didn’t snitch on me. See, I’ve made a deal with her: I bring her a can of tuna a week and she leaves me alone. She agreed as long as I don’t cause property damage. Getting tuna is no problem because Giselle sends me a care package once a month that is full of health food. Unfortunately tuna is always in there even though I can’t stand tuna. So this way, I’m not wasting the cans. I don’t mind the trail mix and the granola bars. Whatever else is in there I usually give to Owen, resident health food nut.

So I went into the corridor after doing the Alohamora charm on the door and found myself with a half asleep three-headed dog who told me his name was Fluffy, of all things. Still haven’t figured out how they came up with that name. I would have named him something like Killer, but that’s me. I had to explain to him I wasn’t there to take anything because he accused me of trying to steal “it.” Whatever it is.

He finally started to listen to me when he realized I could hear him and then was all “oh, you’re the one the others have been talking about.” I’m not sure if I am, but I shrugged anyway, it either was that or get bitten. He sighed and then said, “then I won’t try to bite you like the others but you better leave soon, you’re not supposed to be here.”

 “Others?” I asked.

 “Yes, students like you earlier this year. Then on Halloween two men tried to get past me, one had a purple cloth around his head and the other was dressed in black. I wasn’t able to bite them though. I did get the black robed man with my paw though.” He sounded very proud of himself when he said this. I just kind of went “oh” and left.

 He had to be talking about Snape and Quirrel. I don’t know any other men who wear purple turbans on their heads and dress all in black. Plus, Snape did have that claw mark after Halloween. But why were they there? The only explanation I can come up with is that one or both of them are after whatever the “it” is that Fluffy is guarding.

 Normally I’d warn the Headmaster or something, but then I’d have to explain how I know about Fluffy and why I suspect the two of them and I’m thinking that “the three-headed dog you have guarding the third floor entrance told me he saw them try to get past him” won’t go over well.

No, I’m going to keep this to myself for now. I’ll have to keep an eye on Snape and Quirrel. Who knows, maybe I’m blowing this out of proportion and they were just trying to feed Fluffy or something.

Thursday, November 14, Library,

 NOTES ON THREE-HEADED DOGS

ANCESTORS: Cerberus, first one. Lived in Greece and guarded the temple of Hades. His ancestor was the fifty-headed dog which is now extinct (thank God). In mythology he guarded the gates of the underworld making sure no souls escaped.

Cerberuses’ father was a fire breathing giant covered in snakes and his mother a half woman, half serpent who ate men raw (okay, gross). Note to self: cross breeding is BAD.

Note: drool makes aconite when it is on the ground (EWWW!).

WAYS PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN PAST HIM (JUST IN CASE):

-nymph Psyche (who was part wizard) snuck past by feeding Cerberus a drugged cake, as did some dude named Aeneas.

-Orpheus played a soothing melody that lulled him to sleep.

-In mythology Hercules wrestled him to the ground.

 Okay, I hope I don’t have to get past Fluffy anytime soon because I can’t cook at all (Giselle banned me from the kitchen at home), I can sing okay but I’m no where near Orpheus’s level, and I don’t have super strength.

 Nothing’s been happening with Snape and Quirrel and I hope it will stay that way. In the meantime I have a Transfiguration essay to finish.

Saturday, November 16, Great Hall,

Malfoy has finally gotten it through his obnoxious head that his joke about how a wide-mouthed tree frog should replace Potter as a Seeker is not funny. Only now he’s gone back to taunting him about being an orphan. I’m about to leave because if I don’t I’ll lose my temper and give him a black eye, though someone seriously needs to do it.

 I hate it when people look down others because they don’t have parents. It’s stupid and not something you should laugh about. But then Malfoy’s probably been spoiled and coddled his whole life so what would he know about loss? Nothing, that’s what. Obnoxious little creep.

 I’m leaving before I sock him.

Wednesday, November 20, Dorm Room,

 Nothing much going on except that the teachers are piling on essays and a bunch of quiz’s and tests are coming up. Flying lessons are over because it’s way too cold to be flying. The brooms in the broom shed are all covered in ice. I ought to know, I had to de-ice them for my detention yesterday.

 I got detention because Snape found my characture drawing of him and didn’t like the way I exaggerated his nose and thought I was making fun of him. It’s a CHARACTURE you’re supposed to exaggerate features. Can I help it if he happens to have a large nose??? He has no sense of humor.

 Most of the birds are flying south, wish I could go with them. The other critters, like squirrels, are still here though. Unfortunately for me. That one that keeps waking me up because of his stupid singing is really starting to get on my nerves.

Saturday, November 23,

Well, now I know what I am.

 I just wish I didn’t. Know, I mean. I was really very happy ignoring this thing. Now I know that this thing is what’s called Wild Magic. Basically, it connects me magically to plants and animals. Soon I’ll start to get other abilities that include healing animals, making plants grow rapidly from seeds, and will be able to shape-shift into animals. Hearing them speak is the first power you get. The others should start when I’m around thirteen or so.

 Great. Just great. Did it ever occur to anyone that I might not WANT to be able to shape-shift? I mean really, regular magic is hard enough, now I have this stuff to worry about. The good news is that this gift is not unheard of, there are currently six other Wild Mages (that’s what they call people with Wild Magic) in the world. There are two in North America, one in Canada and one in the United States, two that live in the Amazon rainforest (married couple), one in Africa, and one in Australia.

 Which really doesn’t help me much but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one. I guess I’ll have to figure this thing out on my own for now. When I die, I’m having a serious talk with whoever hands out magic gifts up there in heaven because I got to say, giving an eleven-year old a gift like this? Can we say DUMB?

Sunday, November 24,

THINGS TO DO:

1) Try to find a book on Wild Magic

2) Finish History of Magic essay

3) Finish Transfiguration equations

4) Mandy’s Birthday is on Dec. 5, find gift

5) Try to convince squirrel outside window to SHUT UP

6) Ignore gift as much as possible

7) Laundry!!!

Wednesday, November 27, Dorm Room,

 It’s Thanksgiving time already. Well, in the U.S.A. anyway. They don’t celebrate it here in England so no days off from school. Thanksgiving was always great at my house. Mom was a professional chef so she’d make these huge dinners that were way more then Dad and I (despite our large appetites) couldn’t finish so we’d have leftovers for like a week. Mom’s turkey and rolls were awesome. I really miss her cooking. I really miss her and Dad actually...

 I have homework to finish.

Friday, November 29, Morning,

 Hah!

 I was finally able to block out the singing squirrel! I found a silencing charm in one of the books in the library and after a little practice with Owen cast it on my window. You know what I heard this morning?

 NOTHING! BLESSED SILENCE!

 Okay, I heard my alarm clock but that’s better then waking up to Do Re Me at five thirty in the morning. Have I mentioned I love magic?