MJs Hogwarts Journal Chapter 25

Thursday 14^th November

I have no idea how this is going to get me to pass Defence Against the Dark Arts? It’s a shame because Professor Quirrell was doing so well on Hallowe’en, but now he’s just a stuttering mess. This morning, in class, Professor Quirrell started snivelling about some Curse of the Bogies. Apparently, it’s a curse that blocks your opponent’s nose with bogies so that they can’t breathe. Okay, it would be pretty funny to try on people. I have a few in mind that might deserve it. I won’t write any names down right now, because I’m writing at the table in the Great Hall and someone might see. The actual spell was Mucus ad Nauseam. I think it’s pretty much pronounced as it’s written – mucus-add-nausea-ee-am.

Oh goodness, I’ve completely lost my trail of thought. Malfoy of all people dropped himself down next to me and started a conversation. “Say, MJ,” he said with that arrogant smirk. “You wouldn’t happen to be able to help me out, would you?”

“Sure,” I said with a shrug and a smile. What on Earth could Blondie want with me? Surely there are others? Oh well, maybe he actually considers me as a friend now. Perhaps I was wrong to picture him in a negative light before. Now that we’re all in Slytherin, we’re like family. And I must admit, he hasn’t exactly been a jerk towards me.

“What’s up?” I asked tilting my head in his direction.

“Crabbe and Goyle aren’t any help, so I was hoping I could pick your brains,” he said and took a glance at my book. “What cha writing?”

“Stuff,” I said with a shrug. I placed the quill inside the page and closed my book. “So,” I said as I turned to face him. “Why’d you need my brain?”

“Yeah…” he said as he folded his arms on the table and leaned forwards. “So…” He pinched his lips in as he took a gaze across the room. Bringing his sight back to me he asked, “Unique or traditional?”

“Unique or traditional what?” I asked with a shrug. Am I supposed to be a mind reader now too? He pinched his lips in again and shrugged.

“I dunno?” he said in a strange wandering tone. “Anything. Everything. That’ s why I’m asking.” He did that gaze around the room again. Okay, so he was up to something. Did traditional refer to pure-bloods and unique refer to everyone else? Unique was a very positive word to pick if that’s what he meant.

‘Oww, think Mel, think,’ I told myself as I watched him. It was hard to see what exactly Malfoy was looking at. His bluey-grey eyes darted about from left to right too frequently for me to lock on a target. ‘Maybe the eye thing’s to throw you off,’ I realised. Giving a deep sigh I shrugged. Blondie’s eyes shot straight back to mine. “I guess…” I told him trying to pick my words carefully. “That tradition is good,” I answered. “So longs as it’s following something for a positive reason, tradition’s fine.” His eyes dropped to the table as he smirked, but it wasn’t the huge cocky grin that he usually sports. As his shoulders drooped, he looked a little dejected. Maybe I’d just ruined his plan?

“I do like a little uniqueness though,” I added. ‘Why did you say that?’ I screamed to myself. I’d already given him what he wanted – or should I say, what he didn’t want to hear. I guess part of me just wanted to see his reaction to both. My stomach tingled as his eyes met mine.

“But if you had to choose, one or the other?”

“Can’t I have a little of both?” I said with a bit of a nervous laugh and a shrug. Pinching his lips in again Blondie shook his head.

“Afraid not,” he replied with a raise of his eyebrows. “Imagine you’re baking a dessert. You really want the chocolate cake, but everyone’s expecting you to bake a sponge cake. Which do you pick?” Thinking about it for a second a smile broke out across my face.

“I’d bake a little of both,” I replied. He gave me a sigh and prodding his elbow up onto the edge of the table, he dropped his head into his hand.

“Okay,” he muttered. “Bad example.” I wasn’t trying to be difficult; I just didn’t see why picking a specific one would matter so much.

Malfoy’s eyes danced around the room while he hummed – seemingly deep in thought. Straightening his back, Blondie looked at me once more. “I’ve got it this time. Fool proof,” he said with a nod. “You need to buy a dress.” I pressed a hand to my mouth as I started to giggle. “What?” he exclaimed, as his cheeks became pink. “It’s just an example for you – not me. So, you need to buy a dress,” he went on. “Your parents want you to buy a traditional one – something like what your grandmother wears. Your friends want you to buy something that’s hip and trendy. But you keep going back to something that’s more unusual – let’s say somewhat fashionable, but not in a trendy way; it’s not what everyone else is wearing, but you really like it. You know that no one will really approve of your choice, so which do you pick?”

I must admit, I was really intrigued. Was Blondie actually asking me for fashion advice? Shouldn’t that best be left to Pansy, Scarlett and Priscilla – that’s more their expertise that mine. And what was with the, ‘Somewhat fashionable, but not in a trendy way,’ line? Was he really that deep into fashion? I know he said that it was hypothetical, but the detail… He was playing mind games with me – he had to be.

He stared at me long and hard. What was he waiting for? What answer was I supposed to give? It had to run deeper than clothes, because I was completely lost – I still am even now. I wriggled my shoulders a little to try and shimmy myself around a bit and out from his direct stare. Glancing up at the rest of the room a head of copper hair bounced into view. A smile crept onto my face as I spotted Josie. Just then, I realised exactly how to answer Blondie’s question. I spun myself back around and said, “It shouldn’t matter what anyone else thinks. If you parents want you to decide on something you hate and you’re not that keen on what your friends like either, you should ignore them all and do what’s right in here,” and poked him right where his heart is. His cheeks turned a little pink and he began ruffling up his hair. “I guess I would have been stuck on that one too,” I confessed. “But I’ve learnt from a pretty cool Ravenclaw that being yourself is the best thing you can possibly do,” as I said this I turned to the place where I had last seen Josie and smiled.

My smile grew even bigger when I realised that she was standing at the other side of the table from me. She waved, seemingly oblivious to anything that I had just said. “Are you okay?” I asked her, seeing how she never appears at the Slytherin table.

“Yeah,” she replied with a nod. “I was just wondering if you wanted to walk to Herbology together.” She smiled at me, before looking over at Blondie. “But if you’re busy with Draco…” Gripping her right elbow with her left hand she gazed down at the table. “I can meet you in class.”

“No,” I blurted out. I didn’t want Josie to think that she couldn’t be around me if I was with any Slytherins other than Jed. “The three of us can go together, if you like?” I suggested.

“Nah, thanks,” said Blondie as he got up from the table and patted me on the back. “I’ll catch up with Crabbe ‘nd Goyle. Thanks MJ.” He looked up at Josie and gave her a smile as he slid his hands into his pockets, before walking towards the boys further down the table.

Looking back at Josie, I noticed that her blushing cheeks had turned a deep pink. “You alright?” I asked her, as I fumbled under the table for my bag. Josie nodded before glancing over at Blondie and the boys.

“He’s never smiled at me like that before,” Josie whispered as she stared over at him. “Did I do something wrong? I wasn’t interrupting anything was I?” she asked, and her cheeks turned an even more vibrate pink.

“Not really,” I said as I stuffed my journal inside my bag. Hopping out from the table, I walked with Josie out of the hall. “He was acting a little odd though – asking me some weird questions about tradition versus unique. Any ideas?” Josie shook her head. “Come to think of it,” I added. “I’ve never seen Malfoy smile before either. Smirk yeah, but never smile.”

“D’you think he’s okay?” Josie asked, hugging herself as we stepped outside of the castle.

“I wouldn’t worry about Blondie,” I told her, as I shook my head a little. “The only thing wrong with him is that his ego’s bigger than he is. He’s probably just trying to stir up trouble.” Josie hummed in agreement and we never spoke another word of it.

The whole thing played on my mind for the rest of the day though. Blondie must have been hinting at something. It definitely sounded as though it was related to being pure-blooded. Maybe Jed had accidentally let something slip about me being Muggle-born and he was just checking to see if it were true. Could it really be that simple? And if so, what was with the silly questions? Could he not just come straight out and tell me? Hmm… I guess not if he didn’t want Jed on his case. Oh well, we’ll see. I’ll just have to be on guard.

*

Just a quick update on the Malfoy Mystery. He acted completely normal for the remainder of the day. He mocked Sherri and Lawrence (two Ravenclaws) in Herbology; he stuck with Crabbe and Goyle during our last two lessons – I can’t comment on Astronomy, because it hasn’t happened yet. He didn’t seem to interact much with Jed since he spoke to me at lunch… but then again, he doesn’t always if Jed stays with me all evening. Maybe I should have said something to Jed. There’s a chance he could know something. There’s also a chance that I’m overthinking this too. It’s just that every time I have a thought about Blondie, I’m always drawn back to what I saw on the train. After the four of us had been talking, he went and muttered something to his two bodyguards and the three of them started chuckling – smirks plastered on their faces. Something isn’t right here, and I won’t rest until I find out what.

- Josie -

MJs Hogwarts Journal Chapter 24

Monday 11^th November

This morning, I poured myself a bowl of cornflakes as the owl post arrived. Squawking overhead, the birds flapped about, malting a few feathers amongst the room, as they came to land by those who had post. Jed’s small speckled bird perched on the edge of the juice jug and dropped an envelope down in front of me. “Good girl, Peg,” Jed beamed as he stroked his owl’s head. “Not even an inch within my food.” Looking down at the envelope my eyes widened.

“It’s for me?” I gasped. I stared down at the envelope, before looking at Jed.

“Well…” he said, staring back at me. “Open it.”

I knew by staring at the handwriting on the envelope that it was a letter from Viki. Tearing it open, I made sure that I read it all through first before revealing anything to Jed. Who knows what my sister could have written? She apologised for the late reply, but said that Dad was against sending a letter with an owl. He had tried to get her to take it to a Post Office, like everyone normal, but it was Mom who managed to convince him that the Post Office might frown at the address and think it were a little strange, so he agreed to let Viki use Peggy.

She said that she and Mom were ever so proud of me for learning so many new things and how happy they were that I’ve already made lots of new friends. Viki told me that she knew that Dad was secretly proud too – he just didn’t want to admit to the fact that his daughter was a witch. I guess I’m okay with that. It wasn’t like I was after a huge congratulations and open arms. I just wanted to let them know how I was doing.

There wasn’t much to what she wrote. Most of Viki’s letter was her saying how jealous she was that I get to be a witch and cast magic spells and fly on broomsticks, while she’s stuck at home, in boring school with ordinary English, Maths and Science SAT’s to study for. I don’t think she quite grasped how difficult life is over here, but I’m not complaining. I wouldn’t give it up for the world. It really was nice to hear from her though. I found myself smiling from ear to ear all morning. Even Professor Snape’s stone glare and constant demand for improvement could not shake my smile.

*

Jed got detention. I’m not surprised really. He, Goyle and Trevor tend to be the regular pranksters – especially around Professor McGonagall. Trevor had already set fire to his textbook as he pretended to sneeze, but it was Jed’s spout of water that shot from his wand as he tried to make it look like sleeping Goyle had wet himself that earned Jed an evening’s detention with the professor. “Mister Edwards, what are the policies about messing around with magic in the classroom?” Professor McGonagall demanded as she towered over him.

“Only practise the spells in the classroom?” Jed responded with a cheeky smile. The professor sighed at him.

“Detention, Mister Edwards, is no laughing matter,” she told him with her stern stare. “You too Mister Goyle,” she said as she hovered over Gregory. “Detention. My office, straight after dinner.”

*

“It wasn’t that bad,” said Jed as he returned to the Slytherin Common Room, with Goyle, at seven o’clock. After dinner I had joined Scarlett, Pansy and Blondie around the fireplace in the Common Room. The four of us had been talking, whilst we waited for Jed and Goyle to return. Sitting down on the sofa arm next to Scarlett, Jed said, “She only had us clean her office,” with a shrug.

“Wiv no magic,” Goyle grumbled, as he stood beside Pansy.

“It wasn’t too bad,” said Jed, as I looked over at him.

“Well try not to make a habit of it,” I warned him.

“Nah, it’s fine,” Jed said. “The Weasley twins get into trouble all the time an’ they’re still here. Besides, it’s not like I did anything bad.” Scarlet gave a little giggle. I rolled my eyes – she was encouraging him. But in all fairness, the prank was pretty funny. I know of a certain individual or two that I’d like to try that spell on. Not mentioning any names of course.

- Josie -

MJs Hogwarts Journal Chapter 23

Friday 8^th November

Professor Snape’s Potions class was brutal. He was going through everything that we need to know for our end-of-term assessment next month, but he spoke so fast. It was beyond impossible to follow through anything that that man said. I know that the only way through it will be to study everything, but who has time for that? We have Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Astronomy, History of Magic and Defence Against the Dark Arts work to contend with. We have so much homework it is unbelievable. If I end out studying everything for everything, I don’t think I’ll eat or sleep for the next six weeks.

Luckily for Jed and I, we have a little secret weapon when it comes to studying. We call it: Josie. It’s not like we’re cheating. We aren’t copying from her or anything like that… it’s just… she actually listens and pays attention in every single class. Now don’t get me wrong, I do concentrate and listen too, it’s just that Jed and the boys are so funny sometimes that I can’t help but watch them and then I zone out and daydream at the most crucial moments. It’s like someone just has to mention the word ‘test’ and my mind switches off. But Josie, she seems to be able to remember everything that the professors say and in what order to study what and when and, well, we need her. She keeps Jed and I on task and points us at what pages in our textbooks that we should be on. Okay, I’d have figured it out eventually, but that really helps. I think everyone should be friends with a Ravenclaw. They really should.

So, the three of us were in the library today after classes, just like everyone else in our Year. We managed to get one of the square four-seater tables and shoved all of our stuff on the fourth chair – the three of us had learnt that this was the best way to keep ourselves to ourselves.

Josie had just had Potions last, so she had gone through the tortuous ramblings of Snape like the rest of us had. “I don’t think that Professor Snape’s that bad,” Josie had declared upon hearing Jed groan about this morning’s class. “Sure, the work’s hard, but he’s not a bad teacher.”

“Is she for real?” Jed laughed, jabbing a thumb in Josie’s direction. “I thought Snape was only nice to Slytherins?”

“He is,” Josie added with a shrug. “I just don’t think he’s as bad as people say… even if Potions is really hard.” Jed scoffed at this.

“He probably just said you were brilliant ‘cause you’re the only one who got the answers right,” he laughed. Jed didn’t seem to think that anything could be difficult for a Ravenclaw –I have to admit, I often though the same. He wafted a hand at her and shook his head, before going back to writing. I watched the corners of Josie’s eyes well up as she clenched her fists. I wanted to say something, but I knew that I couldn’t. Jed would only moan that I was taking sides, and this was weak compared to some of the insults they hurtled at one another.

With Jed and Josie writing away, I thought back to what Josie had said: “Snape’s not a bad teacher…” I know how Jed took it – he thought Josie liked Professor Snape as a person, but I think I get what she means now. Sure, he may be strict and kind of grumpy most of the time, but you actually learn stuff from him. He has a good way of teaching is, I think, what Josie was trying to get across. He’s better than Goonie Ghosty Professor Binns anyway, even if he didn’t favour Slytherin.

As I was about to ask Josie if I had understood what she meant about Professor Snape, she got up and wandered over to one of the cases of books. It was only the first bookcase from our table, but she disappeared from sight around the other side. This is going to make a lot more sense of I just draw what this part of the library looks like:

There we go. Okay, so my drawing skills aren’t the greatest, but now I don’t feel as though I need to describe the whole thing and I’m less likely to get confused or forget what I mean.

I watched after Josie as she left to find a book. Staring at the spot where I last saw her, I expected her to pop straight back out again, but she didn’t. Instead, I saw Blondie make his way over from the other side of the library and down the same aisle that Josie did. When she didn’t reappear, I leant forwards over the desk. Squinting my eyes, I tried as hard as I could to listen for their voices. No luck. All I could hear was the rambling of older students on the tables behind. They were so loud. Jeez, didn’t they know this was a library? I wanted to shush them, but I knew this would only earn me cold and harsh glares. Biting my bottom lip, I clawed my nails into my palms. ‘He has to be up to something,’ I told myself. ‘He just has to.’

I pressed my fists down onto the table and was about to push myself up from my chair when Josie appeared from around the corner of the bookshelf. Her cheeks bright pink, a smile stretched across her face as she made her way back to our table with a book in her arms and slid into her seat. Blondie followed her out and brushed a hand against the back of his head as he went back to his table.

Folding my arms across the table, I leant forwards with wide eyes and asked Josie, “Are you okay?” Without looking over at me she nodded and curled a piece of fallen hair behind her ear. “Josie… tell me. What happened?” I whispered, sounding a little more demanding than I wanted to.

“Nothing,” she said looking over at me with blushing cheeks. Biting her bottom lip, Josie looked over towards Blondie’s table and smiled. He looked up from his book and glanced in her direction. Josie’s eyes fell immediately to her book and I noticed a smirk spread across Blondie’s face.

“That’s it,” it muttered tapping Jed’s arm. “Blondie’s up to something.” Dropping his quill, Jed lifted his head. Glancing over at Malfoy, Jed gave a shrug.

“How can ya tell?” he whispered.

“I dunno… I just can.”

I gave the boys a hard stare on the other side of the room. If a stare could burn a hole through someone’s brain, then mine could. Ever since that moment on the train ride here I knew that he was up to something, but what? Public humiliation seems to be the name of Malfoy’s game and I refuse to let that happen to Josie. Even if it takes me all year, I will confront him.

Josie leant forwards over her work obstructing my view. My back tingled as I shuddered. My vision blurred. I pinched my eyes shut and I shook my head. I guess I had got a little carried away. “Come on José. What happened?”

“Nothing,” she insisted, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink. “Nothing happened.” I took another glance over at Malfoy and his mimickers. Josie must have seen my glare, because she sighed, “Fine,” and swiped a piece of loose parchment from her notebook. Dipping her quill into a different pot of ink (from the one that she had been using to write her essay) she began scribbling away on the piece of paper. I watched her write for some time. Eventually she looked up and glanced around, before sliding the piece of paper towards me. “I told you,” she whispered. “Nothing happened.” She looked from me to the piece of paper that she had just slid across the table and prodded her head towards it. As I took it from the table, Josie appeared to lose interest and went straight back to her work.

Nothing happened? This parchment was full of ink. Purple ink at that too. If it was that full, something happened…

Nothing happened? For a smart girl she’s not very bright when it comes to realising that something suspicious is going on. I guess she just thinks the best of everyone. Well I’m sorry José, but there is nothing good about this guy.

I know that I probably shouldn’t have done, but after we were finished studying and Jed and I were alone in the Slytherin Common Room, I showed him Josie’s little passage. I needed a second opinion and Jed knows Blondie better than anybody. Leaning back on the sofa, Jed sniggered several times as his eyes travelled across the page, before handing the parchment back to me. “What’s so funny?” I demanded. “Don’t you think he’s up to something?”

“Up to something?” Jed laughed. “Are ya mad? The only thing Malfoy’s guilty of is showin’ off. Now José on the other hand…” he smirked and shook his head.

“What?” I exclaimed, a lot more loudly than perhaps I should have done. Several students from other Years turned around to see what was going on. Holding my breath, I tried not to look at them. “What’s so funny?” I hissed. Pinching his lips together, Jed was trying to hide a laugh. “Tell me.”

I felt my cheeks heat up. Jed wasn’t taking me seriously at all. This was super important. This, this… big headed, egotistic, pure-blood, hot-headed punk was up to something and Jed could do nothing but laugh. Clenching my fists, I gritted my teeth to stop myself from saying something that I knew I’d later regret.

“You’re a girl,” said Jed rather matter-of-factly. “And you really don’t know?” Trying to show my impatience, I sighed at him and shook my head. Jed laughed again. “I actually can’t believe it… but it’s obvious… and I’m a guy…” Spreading out my fingers, I rolled my wrists, gesturing to Jed to spit it out already. “Ignorin’ the purple ink and Josie’s swirly, girly handwriting… I think it’s safe to say she’s got a crush.”

“What?” I exclaimed feeling the pulse pounding through my ears. “On Malfoy?” I honestly felt a little sick saying that. “No way! It can’t be. She’d have told me. I-”

“Don’t ask for my advice if you’re not willin’ t’ take it,” said Jed. “But you know I’m right.” Realising that I was still frowning at him, my eyes darted to the piece of paper in my hands. “Read it again,” Jed said as he pushed himself to his feet. “Sleep on it. Then tell me what you think.”

“Where are you goin’?” I called out to him.

“Bed,” was all he replied with a wave and walked off.

Alone, I curled up by the fire and read through Josie’s piece again and again and again. Leaning against the side of the sofa arm, my eyes lowered a little as I gazed at the page. The letters began to swirl around as I stared. I pinched my eyes shut and groaned. Now I could see both. Reading it through again, I picked up on the little hints that Jed must have seen that I never noticed before. The way she smiled at him. The way she blushed when he spoke to her. And that giggle. No! It can’t be. It isn’t. Forcing my eyes to focus I read it through again. Josie’s shy. It’s just her nerves being around someone else. It’s obvious. She so doesn’t have a crush on Blondie. Stupid Jed for sticking that disgusting thought in my head. And he’s a guy, so what does he know? I know Josie and she’d tell me if she liked anyone… wouldn’t she? Grrr! Why am I over thinking this? I hate Jed. I ask for his opinion on Malfoy and I get a response about something he doesn’t know anything about. Well I’ll show him. I’m right and I know it. Malfoy’s up to something. Okay, it’s been two whole months and I still don’t know what it is yet, but it’s something. And when I find out, who will be coming to me for advice? – That’s right, Jed.

Owh gosh, does that even make sense? I’m so tired. I’ve been over thinking this for nearly an hour. I’m so glad that tomorrow’s Saturday, because I really couldn’t handle classes at 9am. I’m off to bed.

- Josie -