The Gryffindor Five: Memoirs

Right then, well... I suppose I'm making the first entry in here. I guess I'd best identify myself. This is Lily. Evans, you know. Well, you all know. And you, well, you're a best friends diary, so I don't know which of the others will open this first. Rebecca gave one to myself and Alice for Christmas and she has one also. The instructions are a bit perplexing, apparently I can use you as a real diary, but if I get together with Becca and Alice, we can pick a password and use this to communicate with each other. For now though, I suppose I'd best pick a password, there's a prompting for it on the front flap that's glowing red. The instruction book says it will grow red until I pick a word to act as my password and then it will turn green. Apparently anyone can read what I write until I start using a password and that just won't do. Who knows what the Marauder's would do if this fell into their hands. There's another prompting below that one for a group password. I'd best discuss that with Alice and Becca first, so I guess I'll make this entry a private one. Hold on a bit.

Right then, my password for myself is Hogwarts. I'd best remember that one, shouldn't be difficult.

Now I'll begin my first official entry. My name is (still) Lily Evans and I'm a witch. How wicked is that? I only learned this past July. My family is made up of Muggles, so it was a bit of a shock. Fortunately, Mum and Dad took to it well enough and let me come off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, to learn how to be a proper witch. Petunia... well, she wasn't as happy. But never mind her. I get to take all kinds of classes like Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms, that's my favorite. There are other classes too, of course, and we get to take even more classes when we start Third Year. How exciting! I really can't wait! The other day I overheard the professor's talking that they might make Care of Magical Creatures, one of my regular classes, one of those electives that you begin during your Third Year. I hope they don't make that change until we've already reached Third Year, most of the time, I rather like that class.

I mentioned Rebecca and Alice above. They're two of my best friends here. Rebecca Longbottom gave both Alice and I these diaries for Christmas. They both left to go home yesterday for the holidays. Oh my, hold on a bit.

Wicked. Just as I was talking about Rebecca an owl from her house just turned up in my dorm room (that's where I'm sitting right now, I'll tell you all about it in a bit). She sent a note saying that it'd be so much quicker to use our diaries instead of owls to communicate over the break and if I didn't mind, how about we use the word Gryffindor for our group password. I sent her back a reply with her owl saying that that was fine and I'd wait for a confirmation from her that Alice agreed too before I wrote it in.

Anyway, let me tell you about my friends. I'll finish up with Rebecca. I met her on the Hogwarts Express, she let me sit with her and her brother, Frank. They were talking about how their mum had just taken to wearing really weird hats. Their descriptions were so funny, I was in fits. It was a very nice trip actually. She's a pretty good student, which is good because I go a bit... well, nutters, when it comes to my grades at times. She's very pretty too, but I don't think she notices it and she really loves sports. I catch her and Peter Pettigrew talking about Football and Rugby sometimes, which, seeing as how I'm Muggle born, I know of... just not much about it. She's dying to go out for the Quidditch team next year and I bet she makes it too.

My other super best friend is Alice Smith. She can be a bit of a ditz at times, which I guess sounds a little mean, but I don't mean it that way. It's good for me, I think. I'm a bit too serious at times. She always makes me calm down when I'm in a studying fit. She always worries about her looks, which I guess I can understand a bit and all, but I'm not too girly most of the time. Nowhere near as not girly as Mel, but... well, I'll tell you about her in a bit. She's sort of chubby and she dwells on that too much, but I actually think she's quite pretty. Cortessa told her once that she reminds her of the way angels should look and I think she hit it right on the head. Alice does remind me of an angel most of the time.

Cortessa Maris and Melissa Denezyuk are my other two dorm mates and they're dear friends too. I suppose the only reason that the three of us are slightly closer to one another than to them is because they're so close already. The two of them knew one another before Hogwarts. Melissa's mum is a witch, but her dad is a Muggle and she was raised like one. Her mum didn't even tell her dad until Mel's letter from Hogwarts came. Melissa still chuckles when she talks about her dad's reaction. Tessa has been Melissa's next door neighbor and best friend since they were just about born, but Tessa's from an entirely Muggle family, like me. Neither of them expected they'd be here, I suspect. Talk about two opposites though! Tessa spends hours getting ready every morning, it's insane. I sometimes think she's mad. She likes to flirt with all the boys too, I swear, she'd happily live with her head in the clouds. I actually suspect she's got a bit of a crush on Sirius Black, a boy who is an entry in his own right (well, perhaps not entirely his own... but like I said, another matter completely). And then there's Melissa, who doesn't seem to care a lick about her own looks. I think she could be really pretty if she ever tried, but she doesn't seem to make an effort and I happen to agree with her. I think there's a time and a place for that kind of fuss, but everyday lessons certainly isn't one of them. Mel, however, believes there is never a time of a place for such fuss. I suspect that if Hogwarts ever had a Ball, we'll have to hog tie Melissa to get her into dress robes and then kidnap her to get her to the actual event... which could actually wind up being an amusing time.

Everyone here seems to think that I'm a bit of a constantly studying know-it-all, but the four of them know that I'm not always. Admittedly, most of the time, yes, but sometimes I just get these wicked ideas that are far too much fun to pass up.

For instance, a few weeks ago I was walking down one of the corridors with- oh dear, Remus is hollering up the steps for me to come and get some dinner with him. I'll tell you all about what happened a few weeks ago when I get back.

Love from,

Lily

Acid Pops

Hmmm... a diary. Well this is quite a cool gift. I've already picked my password- Acid Pops. I don't think Melody will guess it, since she gave me one a few years ago and it burnt a hole right through my tongue... oh, mother was so mad. It should be nice having a private diary to tell everything to and that I can use to talk with Lily and Becca whenever I want. Or well, I suppose when they've got to have their diaries open too, or maybe it's like mail. Well... we'll see. I just sent Becca's owl back to her house saying Gryffindor would be a fine group password, but I have to wait for her owl back that Lily agreed also.

Where does one begin with a diary? I guess at the beginning. I'm Alice Smith. What a horrid name, don't you think? It's so... plain. Like me. But anyway... my friend Cortessa once told me I looked like an angel. I think she's nutters. But anyway... My best friend Rebecca Longbottom gave me you. She gave Lily one just like it. Lily Evans is my other best friend. We all go to Hogwarts, but I'm home for Christmas holidays. My twin sister Melody goes to Hogwarts too. She's in Hufflepuff though. I'm a Gryffindor. I wonder why sometimes, I'm really not very brave. I don't think I'll ever have enough courage to amount to much of anything sometimes... but maybe that old hat knows more than I do. I think it's a good thing we would up in different houses, we fight a lot. I love Mellie and all, but does drive me mad and I her at times. We're so different despite being twins. You know, I was so surprised at the number of twins in my year. Three different sets that I know of! Myself and Melody are the only two split into different houses though. Rebecca and her brother Frank are both in Gryffindor. Poor Frank, he had to room with the Marauders. No wonder he opted to find best friends in different houses. He's such a sweet boy, always nice to me. I was homesick during the first few days and one day it was just too much. I ran out to sit by the lake and have a good cry and Frank found me. He didn't run away like most boys do, he just sat with me and started talking after a bit, trying to distract me I suspect. But maybe he's most used to girls, all those years being around Becca and all. The other set are these two positively dreadful witches in Slytherin, ugh. I think they might be Sirius Black's sisters or something because that's their last name too. If they are, I can see why he never mentions them.

Anyway, oh, what was I going to say? I've lost my train of thought. Oh, mum is calling me. I'd best go, I think she wants me to do dishes. The Muggle way... honestly, like we need Muggle Studies lessons in our home now during the holidays. How dreadful.

Always,

Alice

Quidditch

I bought you more to communicate with the others, but I guess it won't hurt to write in you for a bit while I wait for their replies about our password. I'm Rebecca Longbottom and I'm eleven, but I'll be twelve in February. I'm waiting for my brother Frank to finish his dinner. I swear, the boy eats unbelievably slowly sometimes. When he finishes, we're going to head over to a clearing back through our woods. A few other witches and wizards live nearby with kids our age and we try to get pick up games of Quidditch going on there. It's not too cold out, so we might find some of them there. I'm a bit nuts about sports really. Next year, I can try out for the Quidditch team and I intend to. I'm either going to go out for Beater or Chaser I think, but I'm not decided yet. So many people are leaving the team this year. It's very exciting. Right, well. I'm going to go bother Frank and try to get him to dump that massive mound of peas into the potted plant on the table so we can get going. Hopefully next time I open you I can talk with Lily and Alice.

-Rebecca

Hogwarts

I just got back a reply owl from Becca. Gryffindor is definitely going to be our group password, although I'm a bit worried now. It's pretty simple to figure out if any of us loose our diaries. I doubt that I will, but Alice... well. We'll see I guess. Come to think of it, I suppose Hogwarts isn't all that original either, but I'll just try to keep anyone from taking you.

I just got back from working on some homework in the Common Room with Remus Lupin. He's such a nice boy, even if he is sick all the time. It looks like he's coming down with a cold again and right before Christmas, too. How dreadful. He and I are the only two Gryffindors who decided to stay over the break. Mum and dad are arguing again so I thought it might be nicer here. Especially as Petunia and I... well. Anyway.

I was going to tell you about the Seventh Years before, wasn't I? Well, they made some sort of rude comment about me the other day in the Common Room when I'd snapped at them while I was trying to do my homework (I did mention that I'm a bit nutters about my work... didn't I?). When I walked past them they... well, they called me an insufferable know-it-all and there is nothing I hate more than that! So... I decided to get them back. Melissa still swears to this day that a strange gleam came into my eye and it was like I was possessed. She's usually the trouble maker in our group. I swear, that girl is going to be the death of me. I spend half my days waiting for her to get caught and I'm sure I'm going to be pegged as an accomplice when she is, even though (usually) I'm not.

At any rate, I pinched a few ingredients from Potions class and created a sort of shrinking dust. Then I got the other four girls (that lunatic Sirius Black calls us the 'Gryffindor five' but I'm pretty sure he doesn't realize that we know it) to help me rig up a Muggle type of prank. We stole (although Melissa likes to emphasize the word borrowed in place of stole during such occasions) a bucket from Filch. It was already madness, we'd stolen from two of the scariest people in the school: Professor Nackle and Mr. Filch. So then I rigged it up so that the next person to walk into the Seventh Years girls dorm room would get the contents of the bucket dumped onto them. We filled the bucket with the shrinking dust and ran off to hide and wait. I meant to just get the one girl who called me a know-it-all, but they all walked in at the same time... and to make a long story short, there were five very small Seventh Year girls for a few hours.

Well, I need to get some sleep. Remus and I are getting up early to go to the library and finish our vacation homework. Can you believe it? We're already going to be done by the third day of vacation! I think I might study some extra transfiguration. That class worries me so much and on the first day the professor turned her desk into a pig. It was the most wicked thing I've ever seen, I want to learn how to do it.

Love from,

Lily

Gryffindor

Alice? Rebecca? Well, I guess neither of you are here... well, I don't really know how you will be here. Odd, communicating through a book... anyway. If either of you check here.... leave a fun note, alright?

Love from,

Lily

Gryffindor

Lil? I guess it's like letter writing. I don't know what sort of fun note you want. I kicked Frank's butt in Quidditch this evening. We wanted to play a pick up game with a few of the other witches and wizards in the town, but no one else showed up. One on one with Quidditch isn't usually much fun. Studying already, I bet. Don't forget to enjoy the holiday! Are you all alone in the Tower? I really hope not!

-Becca

Gryffindor

My sister hid my Potions text. I swear I may kill her before the break is over. Fun enough then, Lil? I suppose that's not what you meant. Mum is taking me to see a Muggle ballet over the break. She's nutters about this Muggle obsession of hers. She said a friend of hers from work might join us with his wife. Wisel or Wiggley or something. I don't know. I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts and see you guys. The ballet, honestly... I think she's got cobwebs in the attic sometimes.

Always,

Alice

Quidditch

Frank is making fun of me for having a diary. "Don't go all girly on me, Beck, I don't know what I'd do." Well I am a girl, Mr. Smarty Pants. I think it just bothers him more that I might write things in here that I don't tell him. That git, sometimes I just want to smack him upside the head with a broom. Speaking of brooms, there's a new model out on the market called Cleansweeps. Oh Merlin, I'd just die if mum and dad got me one... not that that'll ever happen. "Quidditch! How unbecoming! You're a young lady, Rebecca dear. Now sit up straight." I swear, Mother still lives in the Dark Ages. It's a good thing it's just Frank and I. I feel bad for any other child who would have to deal with those outdated ideas.

-Rebecca

Hogwarts

Merry Christmas, diary! Today has been really nice. Mum and dad sent back some presents with the owl I'd sent with the last letter. One of them was a book full of Transfiguration tips. I still don't know how they got it. I'll have to ask them next time I owl home. And Petunia sent me a card! It was so nice. I sent her one, but I wasn't really expecting... and she was civil and everything. Maybe this summer won't be so bad after all.

This morning I was so excited that it was Christmas that I just forgot myself and ran up into the boys dormitory to wake up Remus. As soon as I shook him awake I realized 'Lily Evans, you are in the boys dormitory, jumping into a boys bed to wake him up. He could be entirely indecent, what are you thinking?' But fortunately, Remus didn't seem to mind and he was entirely decent. Pajamas are perfectly decent, thank you very much and seeing as I was still wearing mine, I figured we were on equal grounds in terms of embarrassment.

Anyway, since I realized that Remus and I were the only two left here during break, I decided to try and get him something, but I had no way to really get anything. So, instead I made him a scarf, like the one I made for the girls for Christmas. Oh no, it's not girly or anything, it's the Gryffindor colors and, I mean, I know we've all already got scarves.... but they're the only thing I know how to knit yet. I even managed to put pockets at the end so he can warm his hands. It was a bit messier than the others though, but he seemed to like it. I expect it's at the bottom of his trunk now, but... it really is the thought that counts.

What surprised me the most though was that he had a gift for me! He got me a really cool sweatshirt that says Gryffindor on back in yellow writing and it's a red sweatshirt. I've been wearing it all day. It's definitely up there with my favorite gifts received this Christmas, right with you, diary.

I feel kind of bad, Remus spent all of today looking right ill and he went to bed really early. What a dreadful way to spend Christmas Day! He even said that if he wasn't in his room in the morning, then he'd probably just gone off to the infirmary and he'd be back in a few days. I hope it's nothing serious. Well, I want to go and wish Alice and Becca a Happy Christmas and write quick notes to Mel and Tessa.

Love from,

Lily

Gryffindor

Happy Christmas, Alice! Happy Christmas, Becca! -L

Gryffindor

Are you still there Lily? Happy Christmas! And Happy Christmas to you too, Becca! Did you guys get everything you wanted? I got all kinds of cool things. Mum even got me a subscription to TeenWitch. I suspect Tessa will be nicking all my copies, but that's still alright. -A

Gryffindor

Dress robes. -R

What? -L

They got me dress robes. They're pink. -R

Oh my. -A

Frank laughed until I thought he would explode. -R

Oh no. They didn't get him that broom you wanted. The QuickSweeper? -A

No. No, actually, as soon as he finished laughing at me he started opening his own gifts, which included two dress robes. Neither of us got a Cleansweep, Alice. -R

Sorry. Cleansweep. Whatever, you know I know as much about brooms as I do about Advanced Arithmancy. -A

Well... Happy Christmas anyway. -L

Yea. Happy Christmas to both of you, too. How'd you guys make out? -R

I was just telling Lily that my mum got me a subscription to TeenWitch. -A

We figure Tessa will just nick all her copies. -L

Well she can have mine. Can you believe it? My mum got me the same thing. I wanted a subscription to Quidditch Illustrated, but noooo, that's 'unbecoming to a lady'. I swear that at this instant there's not a phrase I hate more. Frank did get that, but he promised he'd share. He knows how much I hate the holidays. My mum is such a nutter.

-R

Speaking of nutter mums, I've got that ballet thing to go to tomorrow. Lil, what exactly is that all about? -A

People dance, lots of music... the music is usually very pretty, but I'd be just as content to buy a record and listen at home. It could be worse though, your mum could've picked the opera. That just goes on positively forever. My dad's got some strange thing about them, always watched them on the telly at home. -L

Telly? -R

Television. -L

What's that? -R

You need to take Muggle Studies. -L

Well I can't exactly yet, now can I? Explain, Queen Witch of the Muggles. -R

I doubt Tessa would appreciate you bestowing that honor upon me without consulting her first. -L

Last I checked you were top of our class. But we can dispute it when we're all back. Really now, what's this telly thing? -R

It's a box that puts on shows and movies and stuff. It's for entertainment. It's like going to the ballet, but you can watch it at home. If my mum and dad let me have people over during the summer, I'll show you. -L

I'd rather watch the ballet at home than go. We have to dress like Muggles too. Mum and I went shopping yesterday. Apparently jeans and T-shirts aren't Muggle like enough for this or somesuch nonsense. -A

No, the ballet is a classy affair. Did you get a dress? -L

Yea, it's blue. I actually, rather like it. It's kind of like a short robe, with lots of bows and whatnot. If I could just get Mum to use a severing spell on all these blasted bows... Well, I'm being called to 'put down that book and get into bed young lady, we've got a very fun filled day ahead of ourselves tomorrow'. Hex me, please. -A

Night then, Alice. Leave us a note all about it tomorrow. -R

If I don't die of boredom. Yea, sure. Night, girls. -A

I'd better get to sleep too, Becca. I want to get up early and work on some Transfiguration. -L

I thought you'd have finished your work by now. -R

Oh, I have. I just wanted to work ahead a bit. I'll leave a note later. These diaries really were a great gift, Becca. Thanks. Night. -L

Night, Lily. Happy Christmas! -R