Exploding snap anyone? I will even settle for tic-tac-toe. I need some entertainment. I have a paper that I really don't feel like working on. At least it is almost Christmas. Is anyone staying here? I used to enjoy the holidays but this year just seems off.

I don't have a date for the ball. That sucks. I don't know what else to say. I have went alone before. I was looking forward to taking Hannah until her parents decided to remover her after the attack. I did try to owl several times but I never got a response. They may have moved. I wish she had more of a spine to stand up to her parents' actions.

I also want a date although the prospects don't seem to be to good. I might go anyway. What about everyone else?

I am still the king of Exploding Snap. Anyone feel like losing a few games?

I have been really bored lately. Quidditch practices have been shortened due to the attack in the great hall. There has to be staff there the whole time. I just want all this shite to be over with so we can get back to something normal. I don't see it happening.

I am just not buying into Potter actually attacking Nott. There are all these claims of him performing the spell, but I just don't see it. It is entirely possible that he was aiming at a death eater if he did do it. I couldn't see a thing. Maybe he heard something.

I don't know what to say really. That is a dangerous spell. It cut him wide open.

Wasn't he saying something about someone grabbing his wand? He was holding it though. We did see that. I guess I am undecided. I hate not knowing what to think. It's a bit early for all those stupid Slytherins to start cheering.

I didn't actually think a simple thing would be much of a problem. Of course you all probably know that I refer to the wonderful sludgebomb sent to Ms. Skeeter for her years of hard work to make our lives hell. I would rather expect people would say that it's about time. Really, somebody needs to send her a Thank You gift, or are we just accepting what she does as a fact of life when she hurts us or people we care about? I don't regret doing it. It really was funny.

I don't know what to say about the quidditch game. It upsets me that our teams were attacked. There were some old Hogwarts students involved. I hope they are alright and this is not the start of another war.

[Private to Hannah]
Are you still mad at me?

The deed is done. I delivered a package to Rita Skeeter at the Daily Prophet and it was a certified stink bomb. The owl gave it a good shake and when she opened it, it promptly blew up. Her clothes were covered with muck that actually settles deeply into skin and material. The smell takes about a week to wash out. This mornings Prophet had a whole article on it. I don't care that they said she exposed so-called lies. I don't have those. I just care that she smells like fresh Hippogryff shite.

Today is a good day.

The next DA meeting will be on Sunday at 1pm.

[Private to DA]
I still feel strange having to make the announcements in public. I don't know how you feel about it but the headmistress said that since we got the school to endorse the group, we had to post meetings openly. I think that needs to be changed. There has been talk lately of Slytherins acting a bit off. Has anyone seen any of that?

Anyway, Sunday, take the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack. Be there at one?
[/Private}

[Private to Hannah]
After the meeting, do you want to visit Honeydukes before going back?
[/Private]

I have detention tonight for hitting some lad for asking for the millionth time why I didn't write anything in my journal about what happened at the ball. What I did at the ball does not need to be broadcasted to the entire school. It wasn't a big deal, just a kiss. It was between a girl and I but once again, the hag decided that because I said nothing, that it meant nothing. I want to say publicly that I have enough respect for this girl to keep it between us where it belongs and that I do like her, very much...AND...I want her to go out with me again.

Does that answer anyone elses' questions?

Merlin, I never thought I would find this book. Honestly how I managed to keep it is a story all by itself. It is good to be back at school. There are so many who complain about it but I can't. I missed the last year in all that rot so I actually haven't taken all this before. I am better at this stuff than those who have though. It makes me wonder if they are actually in remedial classes or they failed the first time. Ha, it would serve them right - some of them. Okay, it would serve the snakes right.

Did I hear there was going to be a Halloween ball? I kind of missed them.

[Private to friends]
All my instincts tell me there is something going on. Have you gotten that impression?


[Private to Ernie]
What is up with you lately? You haven't said much to me lately, or anybody.