The Diary of a Witch, Volume IV

THE DIARY OF A WITCH, VOLUME IV

CHAPTER 5: January, 1995

Late Friday, January 1, Dorm Room,

MY NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS:

1) Ignore weird feelings around Owen. THEY ARE NOTHING, JUST HORMONES. IGNORE THEM AND THEY WILL GO AWAY!

2) See Madam Pomfrey about stomach problem.

3) Perfect Latin accent

4) Get Gandalf and Rowena to actually get along, not merely tolerate each other (if you can call it tolerating...)

5) Stop procrastinating on HoM and Potions essays

6) Read Scarlett Letter even though it sounds depressing as hell.

7) Act normal around Owen to avoid questions

Saturday, January 2, Outside Infirmary,

Madam Pomfrey says I'm not sick.

But I HAVE to be sick. That's the only explanation for these weird flips in my stomach or whatever you want to call them. I mean, what else could it be??? Plus, despite the fact that I haven't had a drop of alcohol I keep thinking the following:

a) Owen has a very nice laugh

b) His eyes are amazing

c) He's very funny

etc. etc.

See???!!! Being sick is the only possible explanation for me thinking stuff like this. Maybe I have a mental disease I don't know about...Maybe I should write Grandfather and ask him if there's been any history of mental illness in the family? Come to think of it, where is he anyway? Last Angela said, he was in Paris. But that was in October...

Sunday, January 3, Great Hall, Breakfast,

THINGS TO DO:

1) Ignore flips in stomach

2) Ditto weird thoughts about Owen

3) Finish up reading assignments

4) Finish details on sketch

5) Finish packing up Christmas decorations in dorm room.

Monday, January 4, Great Hall, Breakfast,

I officially HATE the Daily Prophet.

I swear the paper is becoming a freaking tabloid! If it wasn't for the fact that I enjoy the crosswords and comics and need the sports page to keep up with Professional Quidditch I'd totally be canceling my subscription.

On second thought, it isn't the Daily Prophet I hate, it's Rita Skeeter. Look at what she and that sorry excuse for a newspaper did:

DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE

Albus Dumbledore, eccentric Headmaster

of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and

Wizardry, has never been afraid to

make controversial staff appointments,

writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent.

In September of this year, he hired

Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, the notoriously

jinx-happy ex-Auror, a decision that caused

many raised eyebrows at the Ministry of

Magic, given Moody's well known habit of

attacking anybody who makes a sudden

movement in his presence. Mad-Eye Moody

however, looks responsible and kindly when

set beside the part-human Dumbledore

employs to teach Care of Magical Creatures.

Rubeus Hagrid admits to being

expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, has

enjoyed the position of gamekeeper at the

school ever since, a job secured for him by

Dumbledore. Last year, however, Hagrid

used his mysterious influence over the

Headmaster to secure the additional post of

Care of Magical Creatures teacher, over the

heads of many better qualified candidates.

An alarmingly large and ferocious

looking man, Hagrid has been using his

newfound authority to terrify the students

in his care with a succession of horrific

creatures. While Dumbledore turns a

blind eye, Hagrid has maimed several

pupils during a series of lessons that many

admit to being "very frightening".

"I was attacked by a hippogriff, and

my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite

off a flobberworm," says Draco Malfoy,

a fourth-year student. "We all hate Hagrid,

but we're just too scared to say anything."

Hagrid has no intention of ceasing

his campaign of intimidation, however. In

conversation with a Daily Prophet reporter

last month, he admitted to breeding

creatures he has dubbed "Blast-Ended

Skrewts", highly dangerous crosses between

manticores and the fire-crabs. The creation

of new breeds of magical creatures is, of

course, usually closely observed by the

Department for the Registration and

Control of Magical Creatures. Hagrid,

however, considers himself above such

petty restrictions.

"I was just having some fun," he

says, before hastily changing the subject.

As if this were not enough, the

Daily Prophet has now unearthed

evidence that Hagrid is not-as he has

always pretended-a pure-blood. He is not,

in fact, even pure human. His mother, we

can exclusively reveal, is none other than

the giantess Fridwulfa, whose

whereabouts are currently unknown.

Bloodthirsty and brutal, the

giants brought themselves to the point of

extinction by warring amongst themselves

during the last century. The handful that

remained joined the ranks of He-Who-

Must-Not-Be-Named, were responsible

for some of the worst mass Muggle

killings of his reign of terror.

While many of the giants who

served He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

were killed by Aurors working against

Dark Side, Fridwulfa was not among

them. It is possible she escaped to one

of the giant communities still existing

in the foreign ranges. If his antics during

Care of Magical Creatures lessons are

any guide, however, Fridwulfa's son

appears to have inherited her brutal

nature.

In a bizarre twist, Hagrid is

reputed to have developed a close

friendship with the boy who brought

around You-Know-Who's fall from

power, thereby driving Hagrid's own

mother, like the rest of You-Know-

Who's supporters, into hiding. Perhaps

Harry Potter is unaware of the

unpleasant truth about his large friend-

but Albus Dumbledore surely has a duty

to ensure that Harry Potter, along with

his fellow students, is warned against

the dangers of associating with part-giants.

Can you believe this?!

Skeeter better hope I don't run into her anytime soon because I have a few things I want to say to her and it involves every dirty word in french that Gerard ever taught me.

Later Monday, January 4, Great Hall, Lunch,

According to Owen, Hagrid never showed up for Care of Magical Creatures today. Instead some lady named Grubbley-Plank or something like that showed up and taught the class about unicorns. He says while it was nice not to worry about getting burned it was kind of boring compared to the Skrewts. He's probably the only one in the class who thinks those things are cool.

But you do know what this means, right? Hagrid is hiding! He's letting Skeeter win! Doesn't he have a backbone?! He should be suing the Daily Prophet for slander! I thought Hagrid was in Gryffindor when he was in school!

I don't know who I'm more mad at, him for taking this or Skeeter for the article.

Tuesday, January 5, History of Magic,

Still no Hagrid at all today.

You know what really bugs me about that article? I mean, besides the unfairness of it. Malfoy's comments. "We all hate Hagrid?" Excuse me, I do not hate Hagrid and no one I talk to on a daily basis hates him either. Not even Blaise, one of the few Slytherins I'm friends with, does though she's not crazy about the Skrewts. I know several people who like him just fine.

I made sure to tell Hagrid this too in the owl I sent him this morning during breakfast. I've tried going to his hut but he's not coming out. I know he's in there despite the fact that the place is locked up. Fang is in there and he sent me a mental picture of Hagrid sitting glumly at the fire when I asked him if Hagrid was in.

But anyway, since when does Malfoy speak for the entire student body? Last time I checked we didn't have a spokesperson. If we did, I can bet it wouldn't be Malfoy.

Wednesday, January 6, Ancient Runes,

Still no Hagrid.

He hasn't responded to my owl either. Mostly because Gandalf couldn't get into the hut. He apparently locked all the windows and doors and blocked the fireplace. I kind of wish he hadn't because Gandalf ranted for half an hour about this.

Thursday, January 7, History of Magic,

No Hagrid.

You want to know another thing that bugs me about this? Where exactly did Skeeter get her information? I highly doubt Hagrid TOLD her he was a half-giant. Hagrid isn't the sharpest crayon in the box but he's not a total idiot.

Also, does she have SOLID PROOF that Hagrid's mom supported Voldemort? Some how I doubt it. Yes, a lot of giants supported him, but if you actually READ some history books (according to Owen at least) NOT ALL GIANTS supported him. In fact, there was a good majority that just stayed out of the war.

To be quite frank, those giants might not have joined Voldemort in the first place if the Wizard World had been a little less narrow minded. I mean, there are some pretty harsh laws out there restricting giants. So why were they so surprised that Voldemort was able to recruit them? He probably promised them more freedom or something if he came into total power.

It's like what that dude who wrote Utopia was saying, if you make harsh laws against people what do you expect to happen? They'll revolt, that's what. I mean isn't that pretty much why America was created? Or why there was a French Revolution or a World War II? Had King Louie whoever been a little nicer to the peasants he might not have gotten axed. Had there not been harsh punishment on the Germans after WWI then Hitler might not have been able to recruit all those Nazis to start World War II.

But I highly doubt anyone in the Ministry of Magic has read Utopia. Not many people have, I'm just this big weirdo who reads whatever books she can get her hands on when she's bored. But I personally think the book should be required reading for anyone going into government. Maybe the world would be a nicer place.

Friday, January 8, Potions Notes,

-Owen, I'm going over to Hagrid's place after classes, you coming?

-J, WE'RE IN POTIONS; and you gave me grief for passing you notes in second year!

-I know we're in Potions. That's why I'm making this short: ARE YOU COMING?

-FINE. Now quit writing! I don't fancy the idea of disemboweling anything this weekend.

Later Friday, January 8, Latin Notes,

-Mandy; I'm going over to Hagrid's place this afternoon and MAKING him talk. You're coming right?

-Umm...okay, I'm worried about Hagrid too, J but he's kind of not talking to anyone right now. Hermione said he isn't even talking to her, Potter, or Weasley.

-They weren't using the right tactics.

-What 's your tactic going to be? Storm the place?

-If that's what it takes.

-JUBILEE...

-What?! It's for his own good! Laying down and letting Skeeter get away with this is not right!

-J, Hagrid is an adult. Let him handle this in his own way and worry about your grades instead.

-Hey, my grades are fine!

-What did you get on your Potions practical?

-Umm...I don't remember.

-I'm sure you don't. Let Hagrid work this out on his own.

-Fine. I'll get Padma to come with me and Owen.

-Owen and me.

-Whatever!

Later Friday, January 8, Ancient Runes Notes,

-Hey, Padma, can you come with Owen and me to Hagrid's place after classes?

-Still planning on storming the place huh?

-Okay, it's not STORMING, it's INTERVENING and it's for Hagrid's own good.

-There's a Charms Club meeting after classes today remember?

-Oh yeah. Well, we can go AFTER Charms Club.

-After that is dinner.

-Then we'll go after dinner.

-After that's study group.

-Then we'll go...look are you coming or not?

-I'm sorry J, but I think how Hagrid deals with this is up to him.

-Fine, suit yourself.

Later Friday, January 8, Dorm Room,

It didn't work.

Operation Smack Sense into Hagrid (Terry came up with the title) failed miserably.

Not that we didn't try our best. I managed to talk the guys (Owen, Terry, and Anthony) along with Blaise to come with me. Blaise took some convincing but she came eventually. She's one of the few Slytherins who doesn't buy into the pureblood crap. Also, I could be imagining things but I think she and Anthony have taken a real liking to each other. They've been awfully cozy ever since they went to the Yule Ball as "just friends". Lately wherever one goes, the other follows or just happens to be there.

Anyway, we all went down to the hut after study group, which is this thing my friends and I have been doing lately due to the increase in work, and here is what happened when we got there:

[we all arrive at the hut and look around. Windows are dark but I hear Fang muttering to himself inside about owners who go through mood swings so I know Hagrid is in there]

ME: I think he's in there.

ANTHONY: [frowns at the hut and then looks at me] How do you know?

ME: I hear Fang.

[others all stare at me strangely and I realize my mistake because Fang is being quiet for now]

OWEN: [says very loudly] So THAT's the scratching noise I'm hearing!

[I silently ask Fang to start scratching which he happily does. I give Owen a look of gratitude and he winks at me when the others turn at the noise. My stomach starts doing the weird flip thing again and I ignored it. I've gotten good at ignoring it]

BLAISE: Well, just because Fang is in there doesn't mean Hagrid is.

TERRY: Only one sure way to know if he's in there. [he turns to the hut and takes a deep breath and shouts at the top of his lungs] Hey, Hagrid! You in there, man? We want to talk!

[he's met with total silence]

OWEN: [snorts, and says sarcastically] Brilliant move, Terry. Really. I'm very impressed.

TERRY: Well, do you have any better ideas?

[voice comes from behind us and we all jump at it]

MCGONAGALL: I have one idea. You can go back to the castle.

[we wince and turn to find her and Snape looking at us severely]

SNAPE: What are you all doing here?

[we kind of stand there and then my friends TURN TO ME. Nice, huh?]

ME: Umm...we're looking for Hagrid.

MCGONAGALL: I'm afraid he's not here at the moment.

BLAISE: Where is he?

SNAPE: That's none of your concern, Zabini.

MCGONAGALL: It's getting dark, you should all get back to the castle.

[I start to say something but Snape interrupts me]

SNAPE: NOW.

Well, you just don't argue with Snape when he glares at you like that. Not unless you want a big fat detention.

You know what? If Hagrid wants to hide from society I say let him. I have other stuff to worry about. Like the fact that when Owen practically dragged me away from the hut I couldn't even protest because all I could think of at the time was how warm his hands felt on my arms.

So yeah. I'll just have to settle for sending a nasty Howler to Skeeter.

Sunday, January 10, Great Hall, Breakfast,

THINGS TO DO:

1) Ignore feelings and stomach

2) Look up illnesses that have stomach symptoms

3) Finish HoM, Charms, and Herbology essay

4) Latin verbs worksheet

5) Reading for Potions

6) Questions at the end of chapter 20 for Transfiguration

7) Update Astronomy and Potions record

Monday, January 11, Library,

I finally did it!

I finally got Viktor Krum's autograph!

I meant to get it sooner but I've been sidetracked what with schoolwork, the Yule Ball, and stuff like that. I didn't want to be one of those stalker fangirls either who keep following him around in the library. I'm sure that's very annoying for him. I mean, he's in his seventh year so he's got to be studying for N.E.W.T.s by now and those girls cannot be helping.

Anyway, I went in the library to return the books and check out a book on illnesses when Hermione called me over from a table (and got glared at for it by Madam Pince) and who was sitting with her? Oh come on, guess. Yes, Krum was. Hermione wanted to know if I understood this one assignment we got in runes that is slightly confusing. The two of us chatted about it for awhile and I tried to ignore the fact that Victor Krum was RIGHT THERE.

Then as if suddenly remembering it, Hermione introduced the two of us. I couldn't stop myself from blurting out, "Um...you probably get this a lot, but can I have your autograph? I promise, I won't bug you afterwards."

Krum was very nice about it, I'll give him that. If anything he seemed kind of amused by me. Which I'm not sure is a good thing or not but whatever, I got my autograph, I am now going to spellotape it below so I won't lose it.

Tuesday, January 12, After Classes, Great Hall,

You know, I was so mad about the Skeeter thing it slipped my mind when Owen mentioned that Grubbly-Plank brung actual unicorns to Care of Magical Creatures. I didn't remember it until Hannah cooed about them earlier today.

I hope I can visit them soon and get some sketches or paintings in before she gets rid of them. I'm still mad about the Hagrid thing but still...UNICORNS!

Friday, January 15, Ancient Runes,

THINGS TO BUY IN HOGSMEADE:

-canvas

-green oil paint, white oil paint

-detail brush

-Anatomy of Unicorns by Lucinda Elric

-CD for studying, getting bored with No Doubt

Saturday, January 16, Hogsmeade, Three Broomsticks,

You know what's the coolest thing about the Three Broomsticks? Watching the people. Really, it's absolutely fascinating. Especially when you're at a table like mine where you can see almost the whole pub. Hannah is the only one of my friends who gets this because she likes to watch everyone too.

Last year we even made up a game where we guessed who was who, why they were meeting each other, what they did for a living, etc. etc. We kept trying to out do each other and see who could come up with the wildest explanations. Susan and Padma sometimes joined in while the others would just shake their heads at us and judge whose story was better.

But I'm the only one here right now because I managed to find all my stuff right away. It pays to know the entire layout of the art store, the bookstore, and the music store sometimes. So I'm waiting for the others and nursing a Butterbeer while I'm waiting.

It's pretty crowded right now; I had to save seats for everyone by putting a Deflection Charm on the chairs around me. The Deflection Charms makes people not notice whatever object the spell is put on even if it's right in front of them. This spell is one of the many reasons why it pays to subscribe to Charms Today.

Oh hey, there's Hermione with Potter and Weasley. Over there is Bagman talking with a bunch of goblins who do not look happy. Not that goblins are normally a cheerful bunch, but still. Okay, what's THIS about? Bagman spotted Hermione and her friends and is now pulling Potter aside for a talk. What could they possibly have to talk about?

I could turn one of my ears into a hawks or something so I could hear what they're saying but I won't. It's wrong to eavesdrop and well, I don't want to run the risk of someone seeing my ear disappear. I'm sure that would raise a few eyebrows somehow.

I wonder if they've found that Jorkins lady yet. Owen told me that this lady from the Ministry has been missing for a few months now according to his mom who apparently has quite the network in the Ministry. Probably how she's able to score tickets to Professional Quidditch all the time.

Oh great. Skeeter just walked in. Wearing the tackiest yellow robes and magenta nail polish might I add. I'm all for standing out but at least do it TASTEFULLY.

Yoo-hoo! You tell her Potter!

You too Hermione!

Oh damn. They got to yell at her before I did.

Sunday, January 17, Great Hall, Breakfast,

THINGS TO DO:

1) Ignore feelings and stomach thing (continue to look up stomach flues, maybe I missed something)

2) Finish HoM and Potions essay

3) Update Astronomy record and Potions journal

4) Herbology project update

5) Rune and Latin translations

6) Order cat litter and owl feed for Rowena and Gandalf

7) Finish unicorn sketches, move onto painting one.

Monday, January 18, Great Hall, Dinner,

HE'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hagrid is finally back! Owen said he actually taught a lesson today (unicorns again much to his disappointment) and he's shown up for dinner just now!

It's good to have him back. Now, if only we could do something about Skeeter...

Thursday, January 21, DADA notes as I can't find my assignment book and I'm too lazy to do the Summoning Charm right now,

ADD FOLLOWING HEXES TO STUDY UP ON FOR MIDTERM:

Twitchy-Ears hex

Ice Freeze hex

Flaming Hair hex

Falling Ears hex

Bald hex

Sunday, January 24, Great Hall, Breakfast,

THINGS TO DO:

1) Ignore weird feelings and stomach

2) Finish HoM, DADA, and Charms essay

3) Study hexes for mid term

4) Herbology questions in book

5) Read up on love spells (maybe THAT'S what's wrong with me...)

Wednesday, January 27, Ancient Runes,

After much reading up on love spells (and dealing with weird looks from friends who thought me reading up on love spells was odd) I am forced to admit that I am not under a love spell.

Damn.

This bites.

Friday, January, 29, Latin,

You know what?

This Owen thing is totally Artemis's fault. Really! It is!

If he hadn't have made the two of us dance at the Yule Ball I never would've started thinking all these weird thoughts about Owen. If we hadn't of danced that night he would still be just plain old Owen: my best friend who happens to be a guy. But no, Artemis had to teach me how to dance. Now he's Owen, but I notice that he's cute and I notice all these other little qualities that I knew before hand but never really gave much thought too. Now I think he's perfect.

Okay, I know he's not totally perfect. No one is. Especially we teenagers. But still, as far as guys go, he's pretty awesome and perfect for well...me.

But I'm not ever, EVER going to say that.

Because not only is falling for your best friend totally clichéd. It wouldn't work. He just sees me as like a sister or something, like every guy I meet and become friends with.

What really ticks me off is that I can't even yell at Artemis for it. Because he would totally try to set the two of us up if he knew about this. The guy may not act like it, but he's a closet romantic; probably why he and Padma hit it off so well at the dance. He likes Jane Austin novels, okay? Need I say more?

So yeah; no one is ever going to find out about this...crush. Besides, it's probably just a temporary thing anyway. I mean, everyone gets crushes on their best friends at some point. I'll probably be over it in like a month.

Even if I wanted to tell Artemis off about this I wouldn't be able too. He's been kind of persona non grata lately. According to a short note he sent me after the holidays it's time for him to begin studying for the French equivalent of the N.E.W.T.s which will be in June. So I probably won't see much of him until at least May.