The Diary of a Witch, Volume IV

THE DIARY OF A WITCH, VOLUME IV

CHAPTER 3: NOVEMBER

Sunday, November 1, Great Hall, Breakfast,

            Oi...Skeeter sure laid it on thick, didn’t she?

            The way she’s going on about this fourth champion thing in the Prophet you’d think it was Potter’s destiny or something. “The-Boy-Who-Lived now has a chance to prove his worth”; where the heck does she come up with this stuff?

            Also, what is up with Potter and Weasley? For the first time in like ever, they’re not sitting next to each other. What’s up with that?

Monday, November 2, After Classes, Library,

            I’m sitting across from Hermione who asked if she could study with me. Apparently, the reason Weasley and Potter weren’t sitting next to each other yesterday was because they had an argument. I can tell she’s a little stunned about it too because those two NEVER fight. Weasley and Hermione, you kind of expect them too, but not Weasley and Potter. I think the world just spun off its axis or something. Hermione has wisely decided not to get in the middle of it and so decided to study on her own instead of with one of them. The two of us get along okay so I guess she figured why not have a study buddy. I don’t mind. The two of us have been sitting here rolling our eyes at each other over the giggling girls who keep shadowing Viktor Krum. Poor guy, can’t even study in peace.

Tuesday, November 3, After Classes, Library,

            Oh my God, people are being completely stupid about this second champion thing. It’s not Potter’s fault that someone felt the need to make his life harder. Honestly, I feel kind of sorry for the guy. I mean, think about it: how would YOU feel if you suddenly learned that at age fourteen you were expected to compete in a tournament where people have DIED? I would be more then a little pissed, personally. Plus, everyone’s giving him a hard time for it.

            The Slytherins are giving him a hard time because well...he IS Potter. Except for Blaise, but that’s only because she doesn’t give a damn about house rivalries. In her opinion, grades are more important. You know if Hermione wasn’t a Gryffindor, and she wasn’t a Slytherin, those two would probably be the best of friends.

             The Hufflepuffs are all outraged because they think Potter is trying to take away their glory or whatever. See, Diggory is really the most gifted student their house has had in awhile, he’s like their star or something. So in their opinion, Potter becoming the second champion is stealing their limelight. At least that’s how Owen explained it to me in Divination. Like Blaise, he doesn’t give a damn about house glory. Well, except for Quidditch matches; then he’s all for Hufflepuff up until they don’t get to play for the Quidditch Cup and then like the rest of us he roots for Gryffindor.

            As for my house? Well, they all think Potter entered his name like everyone else. While they’re not as mad as Hufflepuff is, they’re not crazy about Potter right now either.

            Personally I say WHO GIVES A DAMN???

            So there are two champions for Hogwarts. Big whoop. This just means more chances for Hogwarts to win. Why am I the only one who sees this? Whether or not Potter or Diggory gets the cup does not matter because either way IT IS A HOGWARTS VICTORY. Duh.

            I’m with Blaise and Owen: house rivalries are totally stupid and a complete waste of time. We all go to the same school, HELLO.

 

Wednesday, November 4, Dorm Room,

            You know what? The decision to visit the winged horses Madame Maxime brought with her was a good one because I have now met Artemis. Who is Artemis? He would be that cute guy I mentioned earlier, you know, the one with the white hair and nice smile? His name is Artemis Williams. He also has the cutest French accent by the way. Luckily he speaks perfect English because his father is apparently some sort of Ministry diplomat person who visited from England and decided that he liked Paris better and decided to move there permanently. Then he met Artemis’s Mom and well...you get the idea. So he knows English and French. Pretty cool, huh? I’m still amazed that his Dad managed to teach him English successfully. Mom tried to start teaching me Chinese when I was little but I’ve forgotten half the language now and have no idea how to translate any kanji.

            Artemis is a nice guy too. Quidditch crazy, I’ve yet to meet a guy who isn’t, and is a writer. At least that’s what he’s hoping to do when he graduates this year. He’s got a job lined up with the French newspaper all ready. Reporting used to sound like a interesting prospect to me but I don’t know...I don’t think I would want to work for the Daily Prophet, the way their articles have been going lately.

            Anyway, Artemis and I met as I was chatting with Destine and Angelica (Madame Maxime’s two winged horses, they’re female). I bet I must have looked weird talking out loud to animals but hey, there was no one around at the time and speaking mentally to animals and plants all the time tends to give me a headache after awhile. That’s why I usually keep a Headache Cure potion in stock in my room, just in case.

            But Artemis didn’t seem to think it was weird. He was more impressed by the fact that Destine and Angelica actually seemed to like me. They don’t have the best temperaments. Though it’s for a good reason they tell me. Being around children tend to make them irritable. I’m sure the single-malt whiskey they’re fed all the time doesn’t help matters.

            Anyway, after introducing ourselves we ended up talking all the way up to dinner time. I didn’t mean to be so nosy about Artemis but I couldn’t help it. I found out that he actually lives in Paris! I’ve wanted to go to Paris my whole life. It’s like the art capital of the world and I’ve always wanted to go to the very top of the Eiffel Tower. Not to mention see the Mona Lisa, the place where the Impressionists used to work, the Louvre, Lexington Gardens, and all the rest. That’s just the Muggle stuff too. There’s a ton of more in the wizard parts of Paris. Hermione Granger went to Paris last summer and she told me about them.

            Yes, I’ve read several travel guides and books on Paris. What can I say, I’m obsessed. I can totally understand why Artemis’s dad wanted to move there. It sounds like a cool city.

            Luckily, Artemis didn’t seem to mind my questions. In fact he answered them and then started to ask me stuff about England. First thing he asked was why my accent was different then everyone else’s. I’m not as American sounding as when I first came here but my accent is still different, plus I still tend to use American slang. Anyway, then the two of us sat and talked about the differences between England and France. It was a pretty lively discussion and fun. Afterwards he and I promised to meet tomorrow. He seems to have a knack for languages and he said he would help me with my Latin because frankly...it needs help.

Thursday, November 5, Common Room,

            Okay, what the hell?

            I thought Smith had finally gotten the hint that I didn’t like him. But suddenly he shows up when Artemis was helping me with my pronunciation. I wasn’t doing very well with it because I kept concentrating on his hands. He has very nice hands. They’re kind of big but not too big with long fingers which is probably good for writers. I know it helps with art because long fingers help you balance pencils and paint brushes better I think. I don’t know if it’s that way for everyone but it is for me.

            I also kept looking at his hands because I’ve been practicing drawing them lately. So I’ve been noticing hand differences in everyone. I just hope no one ever catches me staring at their hands because then they’d think I was weird or something. Well, I am kind of weird, but you know people don’t have to KNOW.

            Anyway, Artemis is going on about what parts of Latin you emphasize and I’m sitting there looking at his hands when out of the blue Smith shows up and demands to know who Artemis is. Then he got in between us and said if I wanted help in Latin, all I had to do was ask him and yadda, yadda. Yes, I know he has an O in Latin but then so does every Ravenclaw except for me. So he doesn’t have right to brag about it if you ask me. I have gone to my friends for help in Latin but they’ve all declared my accent a lost cause. It’s either going to be really bad or just kind of okay. Never excellent like our professor tells Mandy her accent is all the time.

            Luckily Smith interrupted just before the dinner bell sounded so Artemis and I could escape. As we walked to the Great Hall Artemis looked at me slyly and said, “So, I guess he has a crush on you, huh?”

            Someone please kill me now.

Friday, November 6, Dorm Room,

            Oh, that’s nice.

            Stupid Ernie MacMillan has decided he’s going to make buttons that say the following: Potter stinks; support Cedric Diggory, the TRUE Hogwarts champion.

            Yeah, REAL mature Ernie.

            I can’t believe Justin is helping him either. Potter practically saved his butt in second year. I thought the two of them were sort of friends. So much for Hufflepuff loyalty. I swear Justin has no backbone sometimes. I can tell he doesn’t really want to make these buttons but he’s going along with Ernie’s suggestion anyway. Wimp. He’s just going to blindly follow whatever Ernie is going to do despite the fact that it’s wrong, not to mention mean.

            What I also can’t believe is that they had the nerve to ask ME for help! In front of Fred and George too who were telling me about their latest joke ideas in the library. Those Headless Hats sound wicked, I can’t wait to see how those turn out. Anyway, Fred and George glared at them hard because Potter is a friend of theirs and I also glared because quite frankly Ernie MacMillan is almost as annoying as Zacharias Smith. Then I told them quite politely to go jump in the lake. I hope they don’t because Aqua the Giant Squid wouldn’t be pleased about it. She already complains about having to share the lake with the merpeople and other creatures who live under there.

Saturday, November 8, Great Hall, Breakfast,

            There’s going to be a Hogsmeade visit on the twenty-first! That means I can finally get my pottery wheel! The money Grandfather sent for my birthday has been just sort of sitting there in my money box along with my leftover cash that I’ve saved up. I can’t wait to get it. Then I can get to work on everyone’s Christmas presents. Though I’m not sure if Firenze would have a use for a vase....hmm....

            Plus, Hogsmeade will get me away from all the stupid people who keep giving Potter a hard time. They’re really starting to get on my nerves. Owen, Mandy, and Padma are about the only ones I can talk too right now without feeling annoyed and that’s only because they don’t really care about the tournament. I can talk to Hannah as long as she doesn’t mention it. She hasn’t lately because I sort of went on a rant sometime last week about how the house rivalries are completely useless, and bullying Potter is stupid, yadda, yadda. That was the gist of the rant anyway. After that, she’s sort of left the subject of the two champions alone. Who says Hufflepuffs aren’t smart?

Sunday, November 8, Great Hall, Breakfast,

THINGS TO DO:

1) Avoid all Hufflepuffs except for Owen and Hannah.

2) Finish HoM, Herbology, and Transfiguration essay

3) Practice Summoning Charm until I finally get it right

4) Memorize antidotes for Fridays Potion quiz

5) Finish Hemmingway book

6) Continue hand sketches. Try to be more discreet about hand studies.

7) Meet Artemis Monday, Wednesday, Friday for lesson. Give him guide book to London for the trip the Beauxbatons students are taking next weekend.

8) Start sketching out vase/pottery ideas for Christmas presents

Monday, November 9, Latin,

            Okay, so it wasn’t just that book.

            Hemmingway is way depressing writer. A brilliant writer, yes. Just really depressing.

            A little while ago this summer I tried to read The Sun Also Rises. Yeah, REALLY depressing. Totally killed my summer vacation cheer. But I thought, okay, maybe it was just THAT book. So I read The Old Man and the Sea next. Also depressing. Plus I wasn’t crazy about fish after it and Giselle is really big on fish so dinner was kind of hard after that.

            Deciding that third times the charm, I picked up another one of his books: For Whom the Bell Tolls. You know what? It was even worse! Obviously Hemmingway and I need to part ways. I am just not the right kind of person to appreciate his books I guess. Now I need a light hearted book after all that angst. I mean GEEZ, no wonder the guy was an alcoholic what with all the depressing stories he was writing. Or the alcohol CAUSED the depressing stories to come about.

Tuesday, November 10, Divination Notes,

-Owen, I have two planets in one house, is that even POSSIBLE?

-Um...I think only under extreme circumstances like wars, plagues, and stuff.

-Somehow I doubt the end of June will be extreme.

            -Well, we DO have exams then.

-True. You think she’d buy that?

            -I don’t think you should push your luck.

-Damn; I’ll have to start over then.

Wednesday, November 11, Library,

            Okay, I STILL keep getting two planets in one house for June. I think I’m just going to have to come up with something really extreme for then. I wonder if this has anything to do with that danger Firenze and the other centaurs saw in the stars? I doubt it though. I mean, Divination is a crock. Isn’t it?

Thursday, November 12, Charms,

            HELL YEAH!

            I FINALLY got the Summoning Charm to work! MORE THEN ONCE!

            Time to break out the bottled Butterbeer I have stashed away.

Friday, November 13, Great Hall, Dinner,

            I am so disappointed in Justin.

            He and Ernie managed to get the Potter stinks buttons to work. Now all the Hufflepuffs, Slytherins, and a majority of the Ravenclaws are wearing them with pride. Ernie was gloating earlier about how when he heard what they were planning, Malfoy wanted the first batch. Well that’s no surprise. Everyone knows he hates Potter and would take any chance to humiliate him. Not that the chances he’s given always work.

            So now there are these stupid buttons going around. At least they were smart enough not to offer me one.

Saturday, November 14, Great Hall, Breakfast,

            Oh my God. Rita Skeeter is one of the most lying reporters that I have ever read. If Potter said half this junk I’ll eat my combat boots. I mean PLEASE, no fourteen year old guy (or self-respecting girl for that matter) would ever admit to crying in front of ANYONE, much less a reporter. Also, Potter and Hermione are so NOT dating. If she’s going to date anyone it’ll be Weasley. Those two argue like an old married couple already and I’ve seen her blush around him one too many times not to at least suspect that she has a crush on him. The pool for her and Weasley getting together has doubled since last year.

            But, I appear to be the only one who uses logic around here because everyone else, including some Ravenclaws, all think he really admitted to crying and are now giving him yet more grief. You know, this sort of thing wouldn’t happen in the U.S., if one big time reporter like say...Dan Rather, printed one untrue fact about someone, that someone would not only be able to sue him, but ruin his entire career. Considering Dan Rather has been on the news for like EVER, that’s saying something. Unless the reporter happen to write for the tabloids. Then they would get away with it because NO ONE believes the tabloids anyway.

            God, I miss the US sometimes. The place is hardly perfect but it’s imperfections are what makes the place fun I think.

Sunday, November 15, Great Hall, Breakfast,

THINGS TO DO:

1) RELAX! Homework is all finished!!!!

2) Order owl treats and cat food for Rowena and Gandalf

3) Find place other then library to study. Those girls following Krum around are working my last nerve.

4) Find way to get Krum’s autograph. Wait until at least after the first task so he can prepare for it in peace. Well, as much peace as he can get anyway what with all those girls.

Monday, November 16, Ancient Runes,

            Those lessons with Artemis are helping! I got an O on my last oral exam! I’ve never gotten an O on those! Usually I get an E! I’m going to have to find a way to thank him for the help. I think I’ll buy him a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks during this weeks Hogsmeade visit.

Tuesday, November 17, Dorm Room,

            I think I have a date. At least it SOUNDS like date. I don’t know, I’ve never had experience with this sort of thing and I’m not into romance books like Padma, Mandy, and Hannah are. I’m more of a classic literature kind of gal. Somehow I doubt Jane Eyre is really a good guide to modern dating.

            I ran into Artemis at the library after classes and I showed him my test score which he congratulated me on. All very innocent right? Then I suggested buying him a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks this weekend and he said, “Sure, it’s a date.”

            It wasn’t until I was walking out of the library and to Ravenclaw House when his words finally sunk in. I must of stood in front of the Warted Witch with my mouth open in shock for ten minutes before she finally got irritated and said, “Do you know the password or not?”

            But now I’m confused: is this a date, or not? I mean, just because Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks SOUNDS like a date, doesn’t necessarily mean that it IS. I meet Owen for Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks all the time but they aren’t dates. They’re get togethers with a friend.

            How do I manage to get myself into stuff like this?

Thursday, November 19, Dorm Room,

            Okay, I’ve debated and debated about whether or not this is date and you know what?

            I’m still clueless about what to call it.

            It’s time to talk to the experts.

Friday, November 20, Latin Notes,

-Padma, I need your help.

-I’m NOT helping you in Potions again, J. The last time I did my hair was weird for weeks.

-It was NOT and I don’t need help in Potions anymore thank you. I’m actually doing okay in there. Okay for me, anyway.

            -Well then what do you need help with?

-Um...dates.

             -WHAT???!!!

-I think I may have a date tomorrow. Only I’m not sure if it actually classifies as a date.

-YOU’RE GOING ON A DATE!!!??? This is GREAT! Who is it? Owen?

-NO! It is NOT OWEN! Why would he ask me out on a date? Geez. We are JUST FRIENDS, okay? It’s Artemis.

-The cute French boy?! You’re going on a date with the cute French boy!? The OLDER cute French boy!?

-Okay, if you don’t simmer down, I’m asking Mandy for help instead.

-Okay, sorry, this is just so exciting. You’re the first one of my friends who can tell me what dating is like.

-Hello, I don’t know for sure it’s a date, remember? Hence, why I’m writing notes to you.

            -Oh, right. Well, what’s the situation?

-Um...well, since he’s helped me with my Latin I decided to treat him to Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. We’re going to meet after the carriages drop us off.

-I thought you were going to get your pottery wheel? It’s all you’ve been talking about for weeks.

-Oh, I am. I’ll get it as I show him around town. He wants to see One Sickle Books too.

-Hmmm....well, this is kind of tough to decide. Did he ask or you?

-Me.

            -Well...I don’t know.

-Damn.

-How about this. You dress up a bit and go. If he takes your hand while you walk or flirts with you, it’s a date. If he doesn’t, then it isn’t.

-Dress up? Why do I have to dress up???

-Just in case. You want to make a good impression don’t you?

-He’s seen me in my school uniform and in the mornings, Padma. I think the time for good impressions has passed.

-Well, it’s still a good idea. So what are you going to wear?

-Um...clothes?

-Oh brother. Okay, after classes you, Mandy, and I are taking a look at your wardrobe. You have to have SOME nice clothes.

-What’s the matter with my clothes???

-We’ll talk about it later, the professor is coming this way.

-Nice avoidance tactic.

Later Friday, November 20, Dorm Room,

            So apparently I have no “date clothes”.

            Hmmm. I wonder why? Possibly because I’ve NEVER BEEN ON A DATE???

            I don’t know why Mandy and Padma won’t let me wear jeans like I wanted too. I mean seriously, Artemis has met me after classes and by then I’ve changed into my normal clothes. So he knows I prefer pants to skirts. He’s going to wonder why I suddenly show up in a skirt. But he dresses really nice so I guess I might as well make an effort.

            Luckily I was able to make them realize that dressing up for Hogsmeade in the middle of November is stupid because it’s really cold out there this time of year so stockings and what not are not appropriate. Finally they found an outfit I can deal with: my short denim pleated skirt that is slightly frayed at the hem, with black leggings under it, a heavy rainbow colored sweater that I have, neon pink star earrings that I made, and my combat boots. I also just changed my bangs to neon pink to match the outfit. That along with my school cloak and house scarf will keep me pretty warm I think. Plus I’ll look nice, but not TOO nice you know?

            I still don’t know whether or not this is a date but if it is, at least I’ll be dressed okay.

Saturday, November 21, Hogsmeade, Three Broomsticks,

            This is not a date. He hasn’t taken my hand or anything. Not that he’s had a chance to try because guess who showed up just as we entered the art store. Go on, GUESS.

            Owen, Anthony, and Terry.

            Is it a coincidence that they just happened to show up at Magic Art? I don’t think so. Especially considering the fact that the three of them invited themselves along for my little tour of Hogsmeade, despite Mandy, Padma, Hannah, and Susan’s best attempts to get them to leave Artemis and I alone.

            I’m so having word with those three when we get back to Hogwarts.

Later Saturday, November 21, Dorm Room,

            I am going to KILL Owen. Slowly and painfully KILL him. I don’t care if I get sent to Azkaban for it. Actually, if I tell the judge my side of the story I’m sure no jury in the world could convict me. If they even have juries in the wizard world. Come to think of it, I have no clue how trials and stuff work here. Oh well, I guess I’ll just pray I don’t get in trouble for something. Which means no killing Owen. Damn. Oh well. I can still hex him. I haven’t hung around Blaise for nothing. She’s like a walking encyclopedia sometimes of the most obscure hexes and jinxes.

            Why am I going to hex Owen? Well, if your supposed best friend suddenly interrupted a possible date with a cute guy along with all your friends wouldn’t YOU want to kill said best friend? But it isn’t just that he interrupted the possible date. Oh no, he then proceeded to grill Artemis on EVERYTHING. Who his Dad was, who his Mom was, did he smoke, did he drink alcohol. Oh and my personal favorite: did he realize I was fourteen? Who is he, my Father?

            After the grilling was done, Terry and Anthony started chatting with him and what was a possible date turned into me just sitting there watching the boys talk and glaring at Owen hard. Artemis took it in stride though. He actually seemed kind of amused by the whole thing. But then he’s pretty laid back so that isn’t really surprising. I just don’t know what got into Owen. I know he tends to be all big brother with me sometimes but GEEZ, this is a little excessive don’t you think?

            I haven’t seen him since the Three Broomsticks, he’s conveniently been absent ever since then. Probably knows I’m plotting my revenge. Well, he can’t hide forever. He forgets once more that I am a Wild Mage. I have animal friends and plants who can track him down for me. It helps being connected to nature sometimes, it really does.

Sunday, November 22, Great Hall, Breakfast,

1) Corner Owen. Tell him off. Also hex him.

2) Find Artemis and apologize for best friends’ momentary mental collapse.

3) Find Terry and Anthony and ask them what the hell they thought they were doing.

4) Set up pottery wheel and start working on Christmas presents. Not Owen’s though, because at the moment I don’t think he deserves one.

5) Finish HoM and Charms essay

6) Transfiguration equations

7) Look up hexes for DADA and ask Blaise for some hex ideas

Later Sunday, November 22, Library,

            Okay, Owen cannot avoid the library forever. He may have avoided me all day but he has as much schoolwork as I do and I know for a fact that some of his library books are due today so unless he wants to make a mortal enemy of Madam Pince he’s going to have to come here sooner or later.

Much Later Sunday, November 22, Library,

            Okay, fine. He CAN avoid the library.

            I hope he gets a big fat fine from Madam Pince.

Monday, November 23, Potions Notes,

-Owen, you cannot avoid me forever. You better tell me what that was about on Saturday.

            -We’re in Potions J, do not write notes in potions. Remember last time.

-I don’t care about that right now. I want to know why you were giving Artemis a hard time!

            -I was not giving him a hard time. Stop writing.

-Oh you were SO giving him a hard time.

            -I was not. Snape is coming this way. STOP WRITING.

-This is so not over.

Later Monday, November 23, Latin Notes,

-Terry, why did Owen decide to grill Artemis on Saturday?

            -He wasn’t grilling him. He was asking questions. There’s a difference J.

-He was grilling. WHY?

            -We’re just curious about this bloke alright? Quit being paranoid and get back to work.

-I’m not being paranoid.

Later Monday, November 23, Ancient Runes Notes,

-Okay, Anthony. What was with that grilling bit on Saturday? Remember: if you lie, you go to hell.

            -I don’t know what you’re on about, J.

-Yeah, sure you don’t. I’m also sure you don’t. Enjoy your room in purgatory.

            -I will thanks.

-Smart aleck.

Later Monday, November 23, Dorm Room,

            HAH!

            Take that Owen Hollins!

            Yes, I know cornering him in the halls and giving him the Bat-Bogey Hex was somewhat immature, but you know what? He deserved it. Remind me to thank Ginny Weasley for telling me about that hex. She says it works on her brothers all the time and after seeing the results I have to believe her. No wonder Fred and George tend to leave her alone.

            This will teach Owen to interfere with any dates I have from now on.

Tuesday, November 24, Great Hall, Breakfast,

            You know with this whole hunting down Owen thing I almost forgot that today is the First Task! People are still giving Potter a hard time of course because, alas, that is human nature. They keep saying stupid stuff to him like “We’ll have a box of tissues ready, Potter.” God, people can be so immature sometimes. I suppose I don’t have much right to talk but hexing Owen is totally different. He actually DESERVED that.

 

Later Tuesday, November 24, Dorm Room,

            That was so totally WICKED!

            I now finally understand the coolness of this tournament. It’s still not as great as Quidditch but it’s pretty cool nonetheless. Besides, there are very few things that are as cool as Quidditch.

            Anyway, after lunch, we went to a stadium that had been built a little ways away from the castle. Ludo Bagman was there and did the commentary like he did for the Quidditch World Cup. Basically the First Task involved each of the champions going up against a REAL LIVE DRAGON and having to collect a golden egg that was hidden in with actual dragon eggs. Considering how protective of their eggs dragons are this was no easy feat. The champions were armed only with their wand and points were awarded by the judges (Madam Maxime, Karkaroff, Dumbledore, Crouch, and Bagman) according to the spells they use, how fast they get it, if they get injured etc.

            First up was Cedric Diggory who went up against a Swedish Short-Snout. He did this transfiguration thing with a rock on the ground, turning it into a dog to distract the dragon. Pretty clever when you think about it. He did get the egg but the dragon spotted him and he got burned thanks to the flames so points were deducted because of that.

            Next up was Fleur Delacour who got the Welsh Green dragon. She tried this Entrancing Charm thing that actually worked! Unfortunately as the dragon snored a jet of flames shot out of her nose and Fleur’s dress caught on fire. Why she was even wearing a DRESS while going up against a dragon is beyond me. I mean, that’s kind of stupid don’t you think? Pants are easier to move around in and if she’d been wearing pants they wouldn’t have caught fire. Whatever, her loss.

            Viktor Krum was after her and he got the Chinese Fireball. He hit the dragon in the eye with some curse. I didn’t get what he shouted because his accent is seriously thick. But it caused the dragon pain which I wasn’t so crazy about since I felt it. Plus, as the dragon was writhing, she trampled some of the eggs and I felt the babies DIE. So yeah, Krum wasn’t on my favorite list after that. He got points taken off for the trampled eggs but Karkaroff still gave him a TEN! Biased much?

            Harry Potter was last and he had the Hungarian Horntail who I could tell was in a bad mood from being in a cage already, she was saying several swear words when they brought her out. Personally, I think using the Summoning Charm to summon his Firebolt was kind of genius. It made perfect sense for a flyer and helped him get the egg a lot quicker then the other champions. Okay, he got a little burned at the shoulder but other then that he was the best one out there and promptly shut up Ernie MacMillan who I noticed was cheering by the end of his round.

            So now Potter and Krum are tied for first place. Now we just have to wait until FEBRUARY TWENTY-FOURTH for the Second Task. I can’t believe they’re going to make us wait that long!

Wednesday, November 25, Great Hall, Breakfast,

            My how quickly people change their minds. Now that he’s proved himself people are leaving Potter alone. I also talked to Hermione last night a bit and she says Weasley and Potter finally made up. I can tell she’s relieved about not having to divide her time between the two of them again. We’re still going to meet and study sometimes like we have been though. I think I can now officially call Hermione a friend instead of an acquaintance who I happen to run into sometimes.

            None of the people who gave Potter a hard time have said I’m sorry though, I’ve noticed. Owen told me Diggory walked into the Hufflepuff Common Room last night and told everyone to lay off Potter, apparently he gave Diggory a tip-off about the task that all the other champions knew except for him or something like that.

            Yes, I am talking to Owen again. After the Bat-Bogey Hex thing on Monday I guess he figured he’d better apologize because he did after the task. Boy, there was a lot of apologizing was going on after the First Task, wasn’t there? I have forgiven him. I guess. I just made sure he swore to apologize to Artemis also. He didn’t look happy about doing so but I glared at him and he quickly agreed. Hopefully now he’ll finally get it through his head that I can take care of myself.

Thursday, November 26, Dorm Room,

            I feel very stupid.

            Artemis is gay.

            Yup, you read that right, he’s into guys. At least he let me down gently. He said if he was ever into girls I’d be the first girl he’d go out with, but he’s known that he’s gay for a year now. I’m not mad at him. I also have no problem with the gay thing. I mean, please, I’m from California. Half the guys who worked at Mom’s restaurant were in same-sex relationships. So it’s no big deal to me.

            I just feel very stupid for not noticing it sooner. But then like Artemis said, he’s not usually very open about it. Most of the people at his school know, along with his parents, but for the most part he keeps it quiet. Which is perfectly understandable, because while a majority of the wizard world is okay with it, there are people like the Malfoys who think it’s disgusting, wrong, and whatever else people come up with to describe it nowadays. Narrow minded jerks.

            He didn’t tell me at first because he wasn’t sure how I’d react. Then that whole fiasco on Saturday happened and I guess he figured he’d better let me know before I did something stupid like fall for him. Which I haven’t done. I mean, this is just one of those stupid crushes people get you know? Probably in about a week or so I’ll get over it.

            It’s also kind of nice to know that had Artemis been straight, he would’ve liked me that way. That’s very flattering because sometimes I feel like I have this thing stamped on my forehead that says: tomboy, only to be seen as a sister.

            So thanks to Artemis I know that I’m not totally repulsive. That’s something, right?

            It really is too bad though. Jessie’s right, why is it always the cute ones who are gay?

            Somewhere out there, there is a guy who will see me as GIRL and not as their sister. Until I meet him however, I am going to have to put up with the I-like-you-and-all-but-not-like-THAT stuff.

            As the French are fond of saying: c’est la vie.

Sunday, November 29, Great Hall,

THINGS TO DO:

1) Finish HoM, Herbology, Potions essays

2) Perfect Charms for quiz on Friday

3) Start studying for antidotes test on the eighteenth

4) Star Charts for Divination (also write Firenze about continuing trouble with June month)

5) Order owl treats for Gandalf and cat food for Rowena