The Gryffindor Five: Year 1

Quidditch

Oh sweet Merlin, I think I'm scarred for life. Honestly. The five of us wandered back into the Common Room looking shell shocked and it was like the whole House was waiting for us! The Common Room started applauding and laughing, welcoming us to "teenagehood". Well I don't know about them, but I'm still only eleven and if all that is part of growing up, I think I'd prefer to remain eleven forever. All five of us blushed so red. Even Tessa and stuff like this never gets to her... we made a dash for our dormitory but before we could get there the Marauders turned up and Sirius and James started cackling, Peter too, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had no idea what he was laughing at. Only Remus was decent enough not to laugh, but we were all so red by then, I think even he was biting it back. And then Frank came in and I though I just wanted to sink into the floor, until I happened to glance at Alice who looked like she just wanted to die and ran for the dormitory, the rest of us followed her and now the five of us are all sitting here, each of us in our bed with trying not to look at one another. Lily and Alice have their diaries out too, but I don't think I want to start any kind of group discussion at the moment.

There's got to be a spell out there to stop you from growing up. First thing in the morning, I'm going to the library to find it.

-Rebecca

Acid Pops

EW! Oh my goodness, I can't even phrase coherent thoughts right now. No wonder all the older girls laughed at us when that stupid bulletin went up. Note to self, next year, I refuse to laugh at the other girls. I'll just look at them with sympathy and if any of them ask me what's coming, I'll let them know. That was just the cruelest thing to spring on someone with no warning at all.

After dinner the five of us started for the stairs, and since we'd eaten with the Marauder's, they were with us, and Remus pointed out quietly that we were supposed to go to a meeting, now, weren't we? And then the four of us started towards Classroom Eleven and we realized Lily was still standing on the steps and we were like, Lil, its mandatory! And she was like, I've got so much homework... it can't be all that important, can it? I mean, the boys don't have to go. As soon as she said that the boys ran up the stairs so fast it was like they were shot out of a cannon. We talked her into coming and we got to the classroom and realized that the First Years from all the Houses were there. I swear Becca was shooting darts of death with her eyes at Bellatrix Black, who was sending them right back at her, and at Mel, who just ignored her, which seemed to make her even angrier.

Anyway, once we got there, I went over to talk to Melody, since we don't see too much of one another when we're here and while we were catching up she started telling me that she likes Peter Neder, a Hufflepuff in our year and that she thinks he likes her. So they might start dating. Sometimes I think she's loony, but maybe I'm just a little jealous too... I wish Frank liked me. But that has nothing to do with this... or well, on a very basic level, I suppose it does, but... ewww. Anyway, while we were talking Madame Pomfrey came in and started setting stuff up. Papers and somesuch and she had a bag. Then she asked us all to move over and stand by the wall, so we did and she charmed the chairs all into straight rows pointing to the front and got rid of the desks. Then she told us to sit down and said we were going to watch a movie, like Muggles do. The Slytherins all snorted and made gagging noises but Madame Pomfrey told them all to be quiet and then pointed her wand at the front of the room and it projected a movie onto the wall that we all sat down to watch.

The movie was... just a horror. But at least it was dark and we didn't have to talk during it.

About half an hour later the lights all came back on and Madame Pomfrey walked to the front of the class and I looked around, all of us, down to the last Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin were beet red. Yes, even those oh-so-calm-cool-and-collected Slytherins.

Then Madame Pomfrey reached into the bag and started pulling out various things and explaining their uses. Oh goodness, it was the most horrid half an hour of my life and some of that stuff I was already more than well aware of, I just never figured it would need to be discussed in public! When she asked if there were any questions at the end, I've never seen twenty girls shake their heads no so quickly. When she excused us, we just about ran out of the room and no one was looking at one another, much less talking. The first noise that any of us Gryffindors heard after that was Melissa mumbling "Little Dipper" for us to get into the Common Room and then the horrible applause and...

Frank showed up and I knew he knew. I could tell from the look on his face. You could just tell they all knew, every single one of them. Someone had even told the boys. I just wanted to die. So I ran into the dormitory and jumped into my bed. The others followed and we haven't said a word to one another since. This is just far too embarrassing. I suppose someday we'll have to speak to one another again... but. Oh Merlin, what a night.

Always,

Alice

Hogwarts

Um, wow. Well this evening has been terrifically embarrassing. I'd ask for a second opinion from one of my dorm mates, but as the general consensus for dealing with this at the moment seems to be a stunned silence, I'll wait a bit.

I see no reason to really detail the events of the evening. They'll be burned into my head until I die thanks to Madame Pomfrey. I did, however, learn that Tessa has completely invented several of the things she's told us this year, or her older sisters thought it would be amusing to misinform her. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume it was the latter.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, the crazy nurse whips out a banana. Sweet Merlin, I thought I was going to collapse and die right there.

Okay, this silence is ridiculous and I need to talk. Maybe Alice or Becca will respond. Tessa looks entirely distraught at all the ill conceived ideas she once had. Although, Mel looks just fine, a bit red still, but I'd bet she's already dealt. Holy cow, she actually just got up and walked out of the room. If she's down in the Common Room, she's officially the bravest person I've ever met.

Love from,

Lily

Gryffindor

So... how 'bout them Quidditch scores, Becca? -L

Gryffindor

You do realize I'm sitting less than fifteen feet from you if you wanted to talk about something, Lil, don't you? -R

Gryffindor

Sometimes it's easier to write things down than to actually speak up about them. -A

Wise words from the blonde in the corner. Oh, and to the best of my knowledge, Ravenclaw flattened Slytherin this past Saturday. Pro scores I can't recall off the top of my head. But let's just cut to the chase, so what did you lot think of that oh so educational assembly? -R

You did just hear me groan as I read that, I assume. It would've been nice to know what we were walking into. -L

Some things are just not meant to be discussed in a group like that. My "friend" is one of them. -A

Are you implying you've already gotten it? -L

Well yeah, and my mum and I had a perfectly lovely, if not equally horrifying chat then. I didn't need another one. Don't you? -A

No. -R

No. -L

Oh. -A

Was your chat as detailed? -R

Um, no. My mum felt absolutely no need to explain to me what boys were going through. I really never needed to know that. -A

Ugh, I know. Now every time I do something weird I'm going to be wondering what weird boy version Frank is going through. Yuck. Ick. I think I'd just prefer to remain eleven forever. -R

There's got to be a potion for that. -L

I've thought of that. I plan to check the library tomorrow. Want to join me? -R

No. I think I can handle this. Well... I figure I might as well try anyway. None of those symptoms she explained have caught up with me yet. When they do, I may well ask you what your research concluded. -L

Do you both think I'm the only one of... all of us? -A

Who knows? Ask the others. -R

Oh, that'll be a bloody brilliant conversation. -A

How would it be worse than this? -L

I'd actually have to say it aloud to the other two. Speaking of which, where do you suppose Mel went? And there goes Tessa now. I wonder. -A

Who knows? If you are the only one, so what? How long have you...? -L

Only since the winter holidays. It's not overly pleasant. This joy of womanhood story they feed you is absolute bull. I assure you. I'd happily never have a child if I could avoid that every month. -A

So only twice then? -L

Yeah. -A

May I ask if either of you was unsure as to whether you should laugh or cry when Madame Pomfrey pulled out that banana? -L

Let's not even discuss that banana. -R

Go answer the door, Lil. You're closest. -A

Lazy bums. -L

What on Earth is a prefect doing here? We'd best giver her our attention. -A

Hogwarts

Well hello February. All the girls seem to be over the horrid embarrassment of Friday. I think we're a rather resilient bunch. Today I had the worst case of hiccups and it wound up turning into one of the strangest conversations I've ever had. I was walking out to the Quidditch pitch with Alice and Peter Pettigrew for our Flying lessons (which I absolutely hate by the way) and they started again.

"I hate these hiccups. Nothing I try stops them. Maybe there's a spell." (Which I said in between hiccups.)

"I'm sure they'll stop, Lily. After all, no one's ever died of hiccups before." Was what Peter said.

"Oh, that's not true, Peter." Alice said and we both looked at her like she was nuts. "No Muggles have, because when you leave them alone they do go away, but plenty of witches and wizards have tried just about everything to cure them and one wizard cast a spell on himself which just wound up making him hiccup so many times in a row he didn't have time to catch his breath and he asphyxiated to death. Tragic really. Lots of witches tell that story to their kids when they complain about their hiccups to warn them from trying to charm them away."

How disturbing is that? Every time I think I'm starting to get a handle on the magical world, something new becomes deadly. I told Becca that at Flying and she laughed and said that that was definitely what mum's were supposed to say, but she didn't think she believed it. Then she said Frank bought every strange story their mother ever told them. I wonder what other things parents say in this world. Maybe it's a boggart under the bed rather than a boogeyman, but that's a little disturbing since that could well be true.

After the lesson Remus and I had to stay to help Madame Hooch put the brooms away. We both got caught talking and she decided it would be suitable punishment. I think we both got off easy since neither of us make waves in class. Thank goodness Flying isn't a regular class. Meeting once a month is more than enough for me, but if the weather is bad in March, we get to skip it completely, so cross your fingers, diary. Anyway, I told Remus that Becca's birthday is coming up and I had an idea for what I wanted to get her (Alice was explaining that there are enchanted action figures in the magical world, like a walking talking Barbie, I assumed and while I was sure Rebecca wouldn't want anything Barbie like, Alice said they have Quidditch players too.). We both thought it would be great if we could get together with the other girls and get her two whole teams so she can make them play games, but we couldn't figure out how to actually procure them. When I mentioned it to Remus though, he said that I should try sending out an order by owl to one of the stores in Hogsmeade. I'll have to mention it to Alice because I think it would be a really great gift.

I really worry about that boy, he looked so sick all day and then, instead of coming back to the Common Room, he headed off to the Hospital Wing again. I think I'm going to ask him what's wrong with him, maybe I can help somehow.

Love from,

Lily

Acid Pops

I despise those brooms. Lily always says she hates them, but she can actually fly, she's just scared of heights! I keep falling off and I look like a spectacle whenever I get near one of those dumb things. When I grow up, the only reason I'll have a broom is to sweep my kitchen floor, thank you very much.

Lily, Tessa, Mel and I are getting Becca Quidditch figures for her birthday. I hope she likes Puddlemere United and Transylvania, since those are the teams we asked for. The four of us couldn't remember which is her favorite team, but we thought it might be one of those. Hopefully it's not the Cannons... if it is I guess she can just train Transylvania to beat Puddlemere into the ground.

Becca's been in her own little world the past two days working on some sort of letter to Frank. Speaking of whom, I'd kind of like to get him a gift too... but I have no idea what to get him. Ack, and I'm nearly late... herbology tutoring you know...

Always,

Alice