The Diary of a Witch, Volume III

THE DIARY OF A WITCH, VOLUME III

CHAPTER 4: DECEMBER

Wednesday, December 1, Latin,

TOP 5 PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE:

1) The beach. Any beach. Particularly in California. God I miss the beach.

2) In a forest, laying on my back, just listening to the sounds of nature.

3) My room. In bed. Sleeping.

4) In a tree finishing up The Phantom of the Opera which is REALLY GOOD despite the sad ending.

5) ANYWHERE BUT HERE!!!!!

Thursday, December 2, Library,

How is Granger doing it?

She is not only taking Latin but Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies, Divination, Ancient Runes, and Arithmacy! Add those to her core classes and she's taking THIRTEEN COURSES! I'm having enough trouble just taking ten. She's insane, I tell you. How is she getting to all the classes? I know for a fact that half these course are at the same time at once so she would practically have to be in two places at once! What is she, cloning herself? It wouldn't surprise me if she found some way to do that, this IS Granger we're talking about.

Why bother taking Muggle studies anyway? She's a Muggleborn like me, she all ready knows about Muggles. I asked her just now and she said it's fascinating to study Muggles from wizards POV. Weird. She's sitting across from me and I can only see the top of her head because there are piles of books around her. She doesn't watch it, one of those piles is going to topple over.

Ten Galleons says she cracks by the end of the year.

Friday, December 3, After Potions, Before Transfiguration, Transfiguration Classroom,

DAMN!

I blew up a cauldron in Potions class. Snape WAS NOT HAPPY. He gave me a weeks worth of detention and took off ten points from Ravenclaw because I missed step ten in the Potions recipe. He's still a bit sour about Neville's Boggart and has been taking it out on him and everyone else. Talk about holding a grudge.

To make matters worse everyone was snickering at me so I can expect some teasing during the next week.

I HATE POTIONS!

Aw, man. Fur just sprouted out of my knee. Got to go. This is really gross.

Later Friday, December 4, Great Hall, Dinner,

NOTES PASSED TO ME DURING TRANSFIGURATION REGARDING CAULDRON INCIDENT:

Hide the Cauldron!-Terry

Very creative way to lose points, Johanson.-Turpin

Congratulations J, I don't think I've seen Professor Snape glower quite so much-Mandy

A weeks worth of detention with Filch? That's harsh as you Americans would put it.-Padma

Hey J, could you do that when we have a test? It could get us out of it!-Anthony

These are just some of the notes I got. The others I threw away in disgust at the student population. How did they manage to sneak these past McGonagall anyway? Every time I try passing notes in her class I get caught and get a stern lecture.

Saturday, December 4, Dorm Room,

I have a snake tongue.

This is wrong on so many levels. Being a Wild Mage is the pits sometimes.

Sunday, December 5, Great Hall, Breakfast,

THINGS TO DO:

1) Clean Gandalfs cage

2) Repot Giggling Geraniums

3) Figure out x-mas gifts for friends and family on low budget

4) Essays for Charms, HoM, Potions, and DADA.

5) Reading for Transfiguration and Herbology

6) Rune and Latin translations

7) Finish reading The Phantom of the Opera. Try not to curse at author for torturing poor Eric.

8) Laundry.

Tuesday, December 7, Divination,

How am I supposed to concentrate on Trelawney's prattling when it's SNOWING outside!? I'm still not a fan of cold but it looks so pretty! All white like a Christmas card. I love the holiday season.

Yesterday I helped Hagrid decorate the Christmas trees in the Great Hall. I asked him how Buckbeak was doing, even though I sort of all ready know he hates being tied up. I've tried telling Buckbeak jokes to cheer him up and have brung chicken legs to him when Hagrid isn't around but it's not the same as being free. Plus, being a Hippogriff, he doesn't always get my jokes.

Potter is going to die again. Sure gets a lot of death omens for a thirteen year old.

Wednesday, December 8, Common Room,

All Quidditch practices have been canceled until the end of January much to Davies and Wood's chagrin. It's kind of a relief to me though. Schoolwork has increased and my broom kept frosting up during practice. A lot of the twigs have fallen off. I'm going to try and have it looked at in Hogsmeade during our next trip.

Friday, December 10, Great Hall, Dinner,

Headmaster D just announced that the next Hogsmeade trip is going to be next Saturday, the day before we all leave for the holidays so this will be a perfect time to buy gifts. I just need to figure out what to get everyone...

Saturday, December 11, Dorm Room,

I DID IT!

I fully transformed into an owl! It was so COOL.

Except for when I became human and was naked. THAT wasn't so cool. That was embarrassing. Luckily Firenze turned around before I transformed back and none of my cloths were damaged when I transformed. He said that with time I'll be able to transform and keep my cloths but for now...lets just say I better make sure no one's around when I transform.

Firenze gave me next weekend free from our magic lesson to celebrate and told me to enjoy my vacation.

I can't believe I finally did it!

Tuesday, December 14, History of Magic,

CHRISTMAS PRESENT IDEAS FOR:

ANGELA: Wizard Appointment book that I saw in that one store...the one that automatically clears up and rearranges the dates for the new year.

GERARD/GISELLE: Framed wizard photo of the two of them on their wedding day and memory book to record landmarks in their marriage.

JACOB: variety of magic teas from Magic Tea Company.

JESSIE: T-shirt featuring her favorite band. Buy at that store back home.

GRANDFATHER: beats me.

FIRENZE: blanket because he lives in a cave and that sounds really cold

OWEN: Potions in Mythology and Legends; Which are Real and Which are Fantasy and the Recipes For Them.

MANDY: Advanced Spell Theories.

HANNAH: jewelry box (buy plain one decorate at Hogsmeade)

PADMA: Charms They Don't Teach You At School But Are Helpful.

SUSAN: nail polish set

TERRY: Chasers Throughout The Ages

MAX: CD of group he likes

ANTHONY: puzzle book

JUSTIN: invisible ink and jelly slugs

QUIDDITCH TEAM: handmade Ravenclaw house team pins.

Thursday, December 16, History of Magic,

PLACES I NEED TO GO IN HOGSMEADE THIS WEEKEND:

Magical Boxes and Carriers for a cheap plain jewelry box.

One Sickle Books to order books

Honeydukes for candy stash, jelly slugs, and goodies to put in families stocking

Wizard Music International for Max's CD

Parchment and Ink for invisible ink

Quality Quidditch Supplies to get my broom checked out

Three Broomsticks for Butterbeer!

Saturday, December 18, Dorm Room,

Oh no.

NO, NO, NO!

OWEN KNOWS!

HE KNOWS I'M A WILD MAGE!!!!

How could I have been so STUPID!? Healing a cat in broad daylight? What was I thinking? I bet it was the Butterbeer I had. It always makes me a bit more crazy then usual. I don't get drunk like house-elves can but if I have three like I did today, I can act a little...silly. Well, this is it. No more Butterbeer for me. Nope. I'm not having anymore then one at a time from now on.

Okay, so I didn't technically use my powers in broad daylight. To my credit when Selina (the cat) came up to me with a stick somehow jammed into her leg I pretended to take her to the vet and then wandered down this path that no one really takes and sat on a big boulder. I would have been more careful but she was losing blood and was pregnant with kittens so it was dangerous for her. It's a miracle she was able to find me at all.

I was so busy healing her that I didn't even see Owen turn the corner and see me. Bet I was sight. According to animals when I heal this blue light sort of surrounds me and my eyes go all blue until there's no pupil but I don't see that because I'm to busy getting inside the wound. To me it feels like I'm shrinking and getting on the animals fur sprinkling magic on the wound like Tinkerbell or something. It was also sort of tricky because when I was mending the muscle tissue the cells sort of mistook me for a virus so I had to fight them off. Yeah, that was fun. I'm proud to say I kicked major cell butt and mended the wound at the same time.

I finished and went back to normal only to find Owen standing across from me staring at me in...come to think of it, I couldn't really decipher the emotions on his face. They ranged from shock, to awe, to confusion, and then back to shock. I've been replaying the conversation we had in my head over and over again just to see if I could have said or done anything different. Could I have? I really don't know. Here's what happened:

ME: Owen! Uh...how long have you been there?

OWEN: [in stunned voice like he's not sure about what to say] Five minutes.

SELINA: [now completely healed and looking back and forth at us] This looks like a potentionally awkward situation. Thank you for healing me; bye.

ME: [watches her go feeling oddly betrayed and then looks at Owen] I don't suppose I can convince you that was a regular magic spell?

OWEN: You weren't using your wand, Jubilee.

ME: Right. Guess not.

OWEN: Care to explain to me how exactly you healed that cat without using any spell and why you were glowing blue?

ME: Magic? [said in joking tone may I point out]

OWEN: [glares at me and crosses arms. He got tall...when did that happen?]

ME: [muttering] I was kidding, geez.

OWEN: This is not the time, Jubilee.

ME: [sigh, I recognize Owens' serious look when I see it. NEVER mess with him when he's serious] Okay, fine. Have you ever heard of Wild Mages?

OWEN: [eyes grow comically wide] Of course. It's a rare form of ancient elemental magic. Wild Mages are magically connected to all forms of wildlife meaning plants and animals. [stares at me] You?

ME: [nods] Me.

OWEN: [stares at me.]

ME: Uh...Owen. Now might be a good time to say something.

OWEN: [continues to stare]

ME: [starting to get irritated] Hey, it's not that big of a deal!

OWEN: [snorts] Jubilee. Wild magic IS a big deal. Wild mages are extremely rare. There are only seven in the world. Eight counting you. Do any adults know about these powers?

ME: No one knows. Well, Firenze and the centaurs know. The animals and plants obviously do too. But know humans know.

OWEN: [blinks] Centaurs? What centaurs?

ME: The ones living in the Forbidden Forest. They sort of found out somehow and now one of them is teaching me how to use my powers. Want to see me shape-shift? It's really cool.

OWEN: [stares at me in disbelief] Shape-shift? And you've been going into the Forbidden Forest?

ME: Uh, yes. To both questions.

OWEN: [starts to stare at me again]

ME: Okay, the staring is starting to get annoying.

OWEN: [says slowly] How long have you known about these powers?

ME: [confused at change of subject] Umm...they started a little while after I turned eleven.

OWEN: You've known about this for nearly two and a half years and you've never told ANYONE except for some centaurs and wildlife?

ME: You know, that sounds really bad when you say it.

OWEN: [stares at me again with exasperation on his face this time]

ME: Okay again, staring is starting to get annoying.

OWEN: [turns around and abruptly leaves]

ME: Uh, where are you going?

OWEN: [continues to walk] I need to think.

ME: Think?! About what?

OWEN: [snorts and turns to look at me and says sarcastically] I don't know, Jubilee. I've just found out that my best friend is a Wild Mage and has been not only keeping it from me and everyone at Hogwarts for two and a half years but has been wandering around the FORBIDDEN FOREST with centaurs and leading some sort of double-life. What do you think I have to think about?

Then he left. I didn't say anything to him when he left. I JUST STOOD THERE.

The carriage ride back to Hogsmeade was horrible. Owen sat as far away from me as he could get and looked out the window not saying anything at all. Mandy and Hannah kept looking at the two of us in confusion because usually we're chatting about whatever so I can probably expect a grilling from Mandy soon.

I can't believe I just stood there. I'M SUCH AN IDIOT. How the hell did I get sorted into Ravenclaw?

2:00AM Sunday, December 19, Dorm Room,

Okay, why does he even "have to think" about this? What, he has to decide about whether or not he wants to be my friend or not? What kind of guy says that when they've just learned their best friend is a Wild Mage?

I mean really?

Monday, December 20, Manor, Bedroom,

I knew it was too good to be true. I just got this owl from Mandy:

Dear Jubilee,

All right, what was going on with you and Owen yesterday? Don't say I'm imagining things either because I can tell when you two are having an argument and you two are so having an argument. You sat with me, Padma, Susan, and Hannah instead of the guys like usual. When they visited for Exploding Snap you and Owen didn't so much as LOOK at each other.

Whatever stupid argument you two are having isn't worth almost three years of friendship. Besides I can't handle you all by myself, Owen is the only one who can make you see reason sometimes. I mean that in the nicest way possible. So whatever happened between you two suck it up and apologize. Unless it was his fault, then wait for HIM to apologize.

WBS,

Mandy

P.S. He didn't KISS you did he???? Padma and Hannah think he did and you didn't like it. I don't think that's the case because I've seen no indication that he likes you that way. Unless there's something about you two that you haven't told me???

P.P.S. DON'T put off your Potions essay. I know you J. Trust me; you don't want to put it off.

Okay, WHAT THE HELL??? WHY would Owen kiss me? Sometimes I wonder what goes through Padma and Hannah's head. Can't a guy and a girl have a platonic relationship that doesn't involve kissing?

Tuesday, December 21, Manor, Bedroom,

My reply to Mandy's letter:

Dear Mandy,

You're my friend and everything and I say this in the nicest way possible: MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. I am not denying or saying that Owen and I argued. But if we did it's none of your business, or beeswax as we like to put it sometimes in the States. If Owen and I did fight we will make up on our own. Though I do thank you for the advice. Sort of. I'm going to ignore the crack about not being able to handle me.

Tell Padma and Hannah that Owen DID NOT KISS ME and ask them where the hell they came up with that idea. Nothing could be further from the truth. Why would he kiss me anyway? We are JUST FRIENDS.

WBS,

Jubilee

P.S. I have started the stupid Potions essay. Happy?

P.P.S. Here's your X-mas gift. DO NOT OPEN UNTIL THE 25^TH! You can't anyway, I put a spell on it to ensure that.

Wednesday, December 22, Manor, Bedroom,

I finally broke down and got Grandfather some monogrammed cufflinks. Yes, I know, lame present but what was I supposed to do? Besides, it's not like he's going to even care. Half the time all he gives me is cash. Which I don't mind because usually I spend it on books, CDs, or art supplies. Last year's X-mas cash was spent on a CD I really wanted, this box set that had all the founders of Hogwarts autobiographies and Hogwarts; A History in it, and it renewed all my mail subscriptions.

That's when I realized I subscribe to a LOT of stuff. I mean look at the list: the Daily Prophet, Quidditch Weekly, Charms Today, Witch Weekly, and the Quibbler. I also get this free book newsletter along with a wizard catalogue that everyone pretty much gets and a music newsletter too. No wonder Gandalf gets snappy at me. All that stuff, not to mention all the regular owls. Good thing I bought him a huge box of fudge owl treats for Christmas.

Thursday, December 23, Manor Bedroom,

So I debated about whether or not to send Owen his Christmas gift because of this...I guess it can be called an argument. I don't know, I mean we didn't have cross words or anything. Owen walked away before that happened and we haven't spoken since. But then we left Hogwarts the next day so there wasn't much chance to talk.

Probably just as well. In the end I decided to send him the book. I mean why not? I bought it for him. I'm certainly not going to read a potions book in my free time. I much prefer Muggle fiction and myths then potion texts. So I sent it. Why waste two Sickles?

Friday, December 24, Manor, Parlor,

You know what's worse then one person singing Christmas carols loudly when they can't sing worth a damn? A whole room full of people singing Christmas carols loudly when they can't sing worth a damn.

Seriously, Jessie is the only one of us who can carry a decent tune but she's with her family right now. It's probably just as well because she'd be wincing at Gerard's tone deaf voice. I know I am. This is why you do not let Gerard near the eggnog. He spiked it when Giselle wasn't looking and now the whole staff, normally sane people, are dead drunk.

It's actually kind of fun though. I managed to take pictures and get a tape recorder going just in case no one believes me when I tell them Angela sang the Grinch song after someone mentioned my grandfathers' name. I won't use it for blackmail material. You know, unless I need too.

Friday Morning, December 25, Christmas day, Manor, Parlor,

Everyone's sleeping in and getting over their hangovers right now. Since I wisely drank hot chocolate instead, I'm the only one up. I just looked under the tree and Owen actually sent me a gift! This is a good sign, right? It means he still wants to be friends, right? I don't know because all he put with the gift was a name tag.

I opened up my stocking and got some pretty cool stuff:

-chocolate santa and coins

-candy cane

-orange (apparently this represents good luck for the New Year or something. Whatever)

-earrings shaped like stockings

-A SELF INK QUILL! That changes colors! You can also tell the ink to be any color you want it to be! For instance, right now, this entry is in green. Angela got this for me; as soon as she's not hungover, I'm going to thank her over and over again until she kills me to shut me up. This thing is so cool!

-socks with dancing Santas on them from Jessie

All in all, not a bad start to the day. You know, I made an Energizing Concoction about a month ago that I still have a bottle of. Believe it or not it works and Snape gave me an O on it. When everyone wakes up I'll give them some of it to drink.

Later Friday, December 25, Christmas Day, Manor, Bedroom,

The Energizing Concoction did the trick. Gerard declared it the best thing the wizard world ever invented. So we were able to get Christmas dinner and Giselles apple tarts that rocked as usual. We also opened presents and here's what I got:

FROM:

GIRARD/GISELLE: stationary set with cats on it. Cute and very subtle. Really.

JACOB: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Oh my God, this thing is so thick...

ANGELA: the ink quill was it and that's enough.

JESSIE: the socks. She's kind of low on cash this year.

GRANDFATHER: pearl earrings. A nice gesture but it kind says how little he knows me because if he knew me at all he would know I'm not a pearl earring sort of girl. Where am I supposed to wear them anyway? Class? The library?

OWEN: a magic art caddy. Oh my god, this thing is awesome! It's small but folds out to reveal all these compartments for my colored pencils, paint brushes and all that stuff. It's spelled to hold everything and has a feather light charm on it. I am definitely making up with him when I get back to school. Or at least thank him more then I thanked Angela.

MANDY: sugar quills!

PADMA: Olde Charms You May Not Know.

HANNAH: Magical Plants Around the World.

SUSAN: magic beads! Really cool ones to make necklaces and stuff with! I love beads!

TERRY: renewed my subscription to Quidditch Weekly for me.

MAX: subscription to Magical Art Monthly. I didn't know this mag EXISTED.

ANTHONY: puzzle book

JUSTIN: paintbrush holder bag

TEAM: candy of various kinds, gift certificates to various stores in Hogsmeade.

Monday, December 27, Bedroom,

I'm a little confused.

Are Owen I arguing? At first I thought yes, then I thought maybe, now I don't know what the hell is going on. He sent me a thank you card for the book. Nothing much, just a picture of a cat waving a wand and the words thank you appearing. Simple. No note like 'oh, by the way, we're still friends'.

I finally broke down and wrote Mandy a letter saying that Owen and I did sort of have an argument. I didn't tell her what it was about though. I explained how we're asking and asked her if it could be considered an argument and what I should do about it. Here was her reply:

Dear Jubilee,

I don't know what Owen's behavior means. I could probably help you more if I had more info on what the fight was about but no. You have to be all stubborn.

But it looks like your friendship isn't totally over so that's a good thing, right? I mean, he sent you the gift so he doesn't totally hate you for whatever it is that you argued about and he sent the thank you card. So there is hope. Whether or not you too are having an argument is not important. What is important is that you two talk again.

My advice is this: give him space. You know Owen, he likes to think things through a lot before he decides on what to do. Just give him space to do that in and then when we get back to Hogwarts try to talk to him and see what happens. Chances are he'll have cooled off by then. I swear that boy should have been in Ravenclaw.

WBS,

Mandy

P.S. Thanks for the book! It's fascinating! I can't put it down.

Mandy is the only one I know who would find spell theory fascinating. It's completely amazing that the two of us ever became friends.

Wednesday, December 29, Manor, Bedroom,

I got my Charms Today mag today and it's great! There was an article on household cleaning charms and gave a list of charms and the techniques to do them. There was one that will clean animal cages! Yes! No more having to use pooper scoopers to clean Gandalf's cage! Let me tell you: that gets gross fast. Even if I've been using levitating charms I still have to smell the stuff.

There was also a Laundry Charm! So I don't have to drop my cloths off at the laundry room anymore for the house-elves to clean or write little notes telling me to remember to pick it up the next day. Usually you don't learn charms like this until mid fourth year which is why the fourth years on up never have to worry about it. But now I know it too and when we do go over it in Charms I'll all ready know it!

I officially love Charms Today.

Friday, December 31, New Years Eve, Manor, Parlor,

Note to self: champagne and chocolate = Not Good Idea.

Saturday, January 1, New Years Day, 12:01 AM, 1994, Manor, Parlor,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!