This is my wonderland

Ouch! That game was a little more brutal than the ones I'm used to watching at home. These foreigners are really playing to win.

...Though we English, Irish and Scots that are living in Germany would be the foreigners, but still...

Growing group, I'm sorry but I've got to prepare for duels tomorrow, so I won't be able to help with the project tonight. I hope someone can keep me updated when I get back.

Some of these folks are rather scary

They're certainly keeping us on our toes, aren't they?

I still can't get over how excited I am, I spent most of the night and most of this morning jumping up and down with Emmeline. We both made it, we'll both be going! I'm sure they had a good reason to pick Emmy. Oh, and congratulations, Dai! Don't listen to Potter and his cronies (Not Remus), you deserve to go as much as anyone.

But... they should have picked Frank! I'm angry!

It's probably much too soon to talk about this, but does anyone have any idea what kind of events these GCTs would have? What the Headmaster said was a little cryptic. Like, how could anything involving Astronomy be an event?

I think if we can narrow them down we'd have a better idea of who would be more likely picked.

Emmeline? How are you feeling?

I don't bloody believe this.

Can we not have a holiday without us trying to off each other?

Bloody dafties.

It's the third week of July already. Before I know it I'll be back in school, and I feel like I haven't done anything.

I feel like going out. Do you all know that I've never been to the Museum of Quidditch?

Well, the word is finally off my head now. Thanks, whoever's responsible. Real swell of you, that. Arse. Bloody gits.

I had a lot of fun though, and if anyone is wondering, I had to read these two Muggle books I had sent to me on the American gangster lifestyle. I know it wasn't perfect, but I think just pretending to be a tough guy who didn't care about the law was fun for a while. Only as make-believe, though.

Because Crime Doesn't Pay!

That was a very eventful year. It makes me wonder to what the next year has to bring. I'm looking forward to it.

And now to take a nap!!

Where almost to the end! Just tough it out, Alice, you can do it.

Ugh, this has been so tiring, I can't believe it. And they call NEWTs "nearly exhausting". I'm starting to dread those already, and they're years away.

Oh well. Almost done, and then I can relax a little. Oh, it's Greta's 16th birthday today(ish), isn't it? Happy Birthday, Greta.

I don't want to talk anymore about what happened yesterday. I wasn't there ..I could have been but I heard it involved you two and Snape so.. but from what I hear, Black and Potter are prats and they've been punished already, I'm sure. What is wrong with you two? You think you're just the most brilliant thing since cheese. Unbelievable.

Well, the DADA exam went very well, at least.

So, Herbology. If I can't get at least an E on this Professor Sprout will disown me...not to mention my Uncle. I think I've got it handled. No more time for catching up now. Oh, I'm sure I'll do fine.

Charms went okay. I think I handled the one about the different kinds of secrecy charms out there, though I only listed six of them, and one of them was a Silencing Charm, so I don't know if that'll be accepted. But I got the Fidelius Charm at least. I'm so glad I read about that ahead of time. Once I thought of it I actually thought we'd be asked to know it! That's terror.

Uh... what else. I'm sure I forgot something. Ha. I was able to do a Banishing and Summoning charm with no problem thanks to practise. I saw more than one person have their object fly and hit the instructor in the nose. That was a little fun to watch.

Overall, it was more difficult than I thought it'd be. Are all OWLs going to be like this? Ha...

Okay, need to relax now.

Defense Against the Dark Arts is tomorrow. Well, I took part got second place in the dueling competition, so I shouldn't do so badly. Dare I relax about this? I wish! Think I'll sign out a copy of Self-Defensive Spellwork, just in case.

So it's a costume ball, is it? I really have no idea what I want to go as. I guess I have my work cut out for me.

It's so exciting!

But studying first, worry about the costume later. Don't let the excitement over the ball get to you, or your OWLs will peck your eyes out. You'll be sorry!

Well, our Quidditch season ended on a low note, but on the bright side at least we don't have to worry about it anymore. It doesn't look like Dai or Emmy are worrying, so nobody else should either.

I wonder what our OWLs are going to be like? I asked my parents, and they just said to expect them to be difficult. Great help, that. I know there'll be official instructors for our exams-- real experts I hear. Real old. I wonder what it'd be like, being a teacher for so long?

Studying is all well and good, but it'd be nice if we had something else to do. As a group. Other than Quidditch. You people are so crazy about Quidditch. Maybe I'm just a square.

Um... what do you think, Frank?

( Private )


Ahem. Well I heard the news from Peasegood that it seems our team is getting a little more gelled now; that they're starting to let bygones be bygones and concentrate on this last game. Good on them.. team! Those Some Slytherins like to boast: go and show them what boasting does on Saturday. I know you can do it!

In other news... there is no other news. I -- no.. but... well done with the Quibbler And, Emmy.

( Private )

Time for another update.

My career counseling went very well. It turns out that my misgivings about my marks were just me being a worrywart. They can stand to be better, but with a little hard work I can get them up to where I need to be, especially my Defense and Potions work. Becoming an Auror doesn't seem as far-fetched as it used to.

I haven't really talked to my parents at length about this. They're bound to be a little worried... after-all, an Auror isn't exactly the safest job to be in at the moment. I've considered being a Hit-Witch, and yes there is a difference, but... I've really got my heart set on Aurorship. At least at the moment. Who knows what the future will bring?

Listen Evan, a very belated Happy Birthday to you, and I'm sorry you feel so... you know... about your House.

Now Hufflepuffs, I really hope that whatever's going on can be resolved quickly. Your last game against Slytherin is coming up faster than some of you probably realise.

And last, but certainly not least: Frank Longbottom, you are still beyond a doubt the coolest bloke I know. Though I really wish you'd write me a little more...

I've really got to update more often.

I haven't updated my journal in well over a month. I have no idea why, I guess... I've been caught up with stuff. I should really be writing more often.

Hm. Even now I'm finding it difficult to find something to write about. I guess I could write abo... no, scratch that. Maybe about how I'm spending my Easter hols? Cleaning, mostly, helping dad in the tearoom. You can catch me at St. Mungo's most of these days, if you need to.

Um... that's it really. More next week, I hope.

Hufflepuff has become a lot more lively in the journal network lately, which is a great thing! That plus birthdays and Quidditch, dueling? it's really been excellent! Not all the attention has been positive though, which is not such a good thing.

So here's the deal: I'm not afraid to take points from my own Housemates. So behave yourselves. Please.

I don't need this, I've got enough on my plate. Dueling Bart..

We clear? Great. Thanks loves!

I'd like to thank all of you who sent me presents for my 16th, I really appreciate it. I still think some of you went overboard, but I thank you anyway, really!

And if you're planning a surprise something-or-other in the Common Room tonight, don't! Please!

Most of the time I don't really feel any different when I get a year older, but this time I do, a little. I sort of feel a little more mature. A teeny little bit. I'm not sure why. It could be a group of reasons, really.

Anyway, I've got about two dozen cupcakes with icing to die for, and there's no way I'm going to eat all of it myself. First come, first serve.

Why am I so worried? He's got all his Gryffindor friends helping him along I'm sure.

It's great to see so many Hufflepuffs competing. I think we've got a chance to do quite well! Not a great chance, but- I know we'll give it our all. Q, Emma, Dai poor Dai!, good chance! I'll be rooting for all of you!

But Snape... he can be frightening sometimes. I know he'll try to hurt him, just to prove a point.

Um...

I wish non-Hufflepuffs luck too, of course. Which kind, I'll let you guess.

Ha ha. He's going to try to hurt him, I know it. Maybe he'll forfeit-- no, he's a Gryffindor, of course he won't.

I wish m-my opponent, Peter, a solid match. I'm sure he's got a lot of skills his friends taught him that he's dying to show me.

Frank too? Maybe... but he's not really in that crowd. Oh, spirits!

Ben and Lily, I'm not sure who to cheer for. Same with Greta and Q. Ack! Best to cheer for everybody then, I guess.

Not everybody! Ohhhh .....


Good luck, Frank!

...

I think I'm over the holidays by now, and I'm finally getting into the swing of things. Christmas and New Years were very personal events for my family this year, like most years. I hear Professor Slughorn threw a big New Years party. Sounds nice. Hope you all had fun. The next time James Potter throws a party and if he invites me, I'll probably go.

Um, I guess I should warn students again about keeping a fair distance away from the monster tree. Another kid nearly lost an eye to that thing. Don't tempt fate, really. If you're not smart enough to turn it off, then just keep away from it.

What else. Oh, Dai, Emmy, well done!

I think that's all for now.