MJs Hogwarts Journal Chapter 39

Friday 7^th February

Potions this morning was so brutal. Professor Snape made us brew a potion that is supposed to be able to cure common poisons caused by bites and stings. This seemed really interesting and important, if it wasn’t for the fact that it was impossible to make. Snooping around the classroom, Professor Snape kept barking, “Wrong!” “No!” and, “Didn’t you read the instructions?” These comments were usually followed by, “Five points from Gryffindor,” or, “You’re lucky. I should deduct five points from Slytherin for that,” but luckily for us he never did. Jed says it’s because Snape can’t bring himself to damage the house points of his own House – lucky us.

We bumped into Josie’s class on our way to the Great Hall. Her class were just coming down the staircase. Having just had Charms with her Head-of-House, Professor Flitwick, whilst we came up the opposite staircase from the Potion’s dungeon. “I’m never gonna get it,” Josie sulked folding her arms, a stern glare in her eye. There was no, “Hello,” or, “How are you?” she just went straight into a sulk.

“Stuck on a spell?” I asked her, rolling my eyes. “I know the feeling.” I’m never going to get the Transfiguration Avifors spell that changes something into a flock of birds with a flash of blue light.

“Stuck?” Josie cried. “They might as well kick me out of Hogwarts now. I’m never going to get it?”

“Get what?” Jed and I asked her.

“Wingardium Leviosa,” she sighed, throwing a hand in the air.

“What?” Jed laughed. Josie threw him a scowl. “But that’s the easiest spell,” he exclaimed. “Everyone can do it – even Crabbe.”

“No, it’s not easy,” Josie snapped. “Everyone else in the whole school can do it, but I can’t.” She stomped her foot and leant against the wall, refusing to move.

“But Josie,” I told her as calmly as I could. “You can do Tarantallegra… the hardest First-Year Transfiguration spell – they aren’t going to get rid of you.”

“If I can’t do the easiest spell, then what’s the point?” she sighed. “I might as well give up now.”

Okay, this had to run deeper than just one spell. Josie couldn’t possibly be this wound up over a spell that she was only just trying to learn. I rubbed her shoulder, half smiling at her. “It’s okay,” I whispered, pulling her into a hug. “You can tell me.”

“Leave her, MJ,” said Jed, as he turned towards the Great Hall. “If she’s gonna sulk about some stupid spell then leave her.”

“Fine,” Josie shouted at Jed over my shoulder. “I’m failing Potions too. There, are you happy now!” No, I wasn’t. As her eyes watered, Josie buried her head in my shoulder. “I just don’t get it,” Josie sniffed. “There are so many words that look the same and I get them all mixed up. And then you’ve got Professor Snape shouting at everyone constantly and The Hufflepuffs all go ‘round helping one another. You have Jed and I bet Professor Snape isn’t one for shying away from helping out those in his own House.”

Okay, this was more than just one spell. This was a proper cry out for help. I always assumed that Josie got on fine in Potions, just like all of her other classes. She’s never shown any inkling of struggling before… Then again, she faked being tired and said she wanted to go to bed early when Jed asked her a Potions related question… and thinking about it, she did use that spell to take extra Potions books off that top shelf out of the library last week. Oh no, I never realised any of that before. I didn’t pay it any attention, because I didn’t think that there was anything wrong. She’s one of the smartest girls I know, so I just threw a blind eye. “I’m sorry,” I told her, hugging her tight. “Josie, why didn’t you tell me?” Looking up at me, she shook her head.

“The words… they just dance around, mocking me,” she sniffed, pulling out of my embrace. “I don’t know what t’ do.”

I managed to calm her down and get her to walk to the Great Hall with us. It was lunchtime and I could tell that Jed was getting agitated. Finding spaces on the ends of both the Slytherin and Ravenclaw tables, Jed sat on the Slytherin side, whilst I sat with Josie (behind Jed) at the Ravenclaw table. I really didn’t care if anyone said anything. I was willing to bite their head off.

“I thought about asking Hermione, from Gryffindor, for help, but I know you two don’t like her,” Josie muttered as we sat down.

“That know-it-all!” Jed exclaimed. “Why d’you always have to be perfect all the time,” he growled at her. “You can’t just settle for the fact that you’re average just like everyone else.” Now that was harsh and way out of order.

“I never said I wanted to be perfect,” Josie cried.

“Oh, shut up,” Jed barked. “That’s all you ever do. Show off. So what, if you can’t do one stinking spell? Who cares?” Everyone in the Great Hall was staring.

“Jed,” I whispered. “Don’t.”

“Fine!” Jed yelled. “Take her side. Let her go off to the Gryffindors. Just don’t come back to us to show off once your buddy-buddy Granger’s taught you how to do everything.”

“You know,” Josie cried, “Sometimes I wonder why I bother helping ungrateful people like you. If I didn’t maybe I wouldn’t be struggling with my own work.” Jed’s face turned red. Pushing herself up from the table, Josie ran off.

Great. Now I had to choose. They were both in the wrong. Jed shouldn’t have shouted at Josie for wanting help when she needed it and when she was so upset, but Josie shouldn’t have said what she just did – she was well out of order. Either way, she was the one crying. Leaving the Great Hall, I ran after her.

I found Josie crying at the bottom of the stairs, around the corner from the Great Hall entrance. Pulling her up, I managed to persuade her to come with me. Knowing that the entire school would be on their way to the Great Hall for lunch now, I needed to get her as far away from here as possible. Taking Josie outside, I led her to the first place that popped into my head: Hagrid’s.

Knocking on the door, Hagrid greeted us with smile and led Josie and me inside. Upon seeing Josie’s blotchy face, Hagrid got me to explain everything that had just taken place. Whilst I was talking to Hagrid, Fang got up from his rug and placed his head on Josie’s lap. I watched her as she stroked his ear. It made me smile. Fang always knows when you need him.

Just as I had finished telling Hagrid everything, there was a knock at the door. “Hold on,” Hagrid shouted, as he rose from his chair. “I’m comin’.” Hagrid heaved the door open. Without being able to see who the visitor was, I knew straight away from Hagrid’s remark. “I think yer be owin’ someone an apology,” he said. It was Jed.

“I know,” came a mutter. Hagrid let him in, and Jed plonked himself down on the chair next to Josie. “I’m sorry,” he told her, looking more at her hands, than at her. “You’re right… I am ungrateful sometimes.” He shuffled a hand across the table towards hers, but stopped millimetres from her.

“I didn’t mean it,” she whispered, glancing over at him. “You’re not. Sorry.”

“There we are,” beamed Hagrid. “Now was that difficult?” He came up behind us and pulled the three of us into a group hug. Hagrid’s grip was tight, but the gesture was appreciated. “Now how’s about we ‘ave a cuppa whilst we try ‘n’ sort our Josie out, aye?”

Whilst Hagrid fumbled about with the crockery, I gave a small smile. I don’t know whether it was the accent, but something about whatever Hagrid said always made me feel better. Even though he’s like a teacher, he’s more on our level, if that makes sense. He never looks down to us. We’re all equal.

“It’s just you’re so smart,” Jed said to Josie. “It gets me mad when you start complainin’ you can’t do something, ‘cause there’s loads a things I can’t do.” He shrugged.

“You’re smart too,” Josie told him. “You just need to pull less pranks and stick your nose in a few more books.” She gave him a smile.

“An’ a few less detentions,” Hagrid added.

Once the tea was made, Hagrid passed the cups and rock cakes around. I swear this guy has an endless supply of rock cakes. They’re always warm and freshly made though. Taking a sip of tea, we returned back to Josie’s Potions problem. “I think askin’ Hermione’s a great idea,” beamed Hagrid. “She’s the smartest witch in yer Year.” Jed folded his arms and snorted, whilst I rolled my eyes.

“You know,” Josie murmured. “You don’t have to pitch fights with Gryffindor all the time just because Draco does.”

I stared at her. Is that really what she thought? That Jed and I just copied Blondie all the time. It was different. There was really hatred there. I guess because Josie seemed to see the best in everyone, she just couldn’t see it. Taking a gulp of my tea, my eyes widened. A lightbulb pinged inside my head. “Maybe you could ask Malfoy,” I told her. He is amazing at Potions – top of our class.

“No way,” Josie blurted out instantly. She shook her head.

“Come on,” said Jed, leaning forwards with a smile. “Why not?”

“Given an hour with Draco, he’d probably spend the first twenty minutes insulting my intelligence,” Josie said placing her head in her hand. “The second twenty bragging about himself and the last twenty minutes making me feel stupid for not understanding anything.” She rolled her eyes.

“Come on,” I sighed. “Malofy’s not like that. Give him a chance…” Did I really just say that? Oh dear. Am I softening up to Blondie? No, no, no. Never!

“MJ, I’m not in Slytherin,” Josie sighed. “Of course he’ll be like that. He’s the Draco Malfoy. I’m just some insignificant Ravenclaw – I wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Nah,” Jed laughed. “You’re the one Malfoy exception.” He winked at her, but I don’t think Josie noticed.

“Nope,” snapped Josie, holding a hand up in front of my face, halting us from any further comments. “Not Draco,” she said as she sunk in her seat.

“Josie’s right,” Hagrid muttered. “The Malfoy’s are nuffink but trouble.”

Leaning back in my seat, I twiddled my thumbs around the handle of the mug. I just wish I could help Josie. I mean I could try and tutor her, but would she understand what I was trying to say. I could give it a go. But if there’s something she doesn’t understand, and I don’t either… maybe it wouldn’t work so well. We could give it a go though, surely.

“How’s about askin’ a teacher?” Hagrid suggested. “Professor Flitwick would gladly help out one of his finest Charms students – not ter forget, yer a Ravenclaw…”

“D’you think I could?” Josie asked. “Others wouldn’t think it’s favouritism or anything by me asking, would they?”

“Course not,” said Hagrid with a waft of his hand. “That’s what teachers are there for. As fer Potions… Professor Snape’s not that bad once yer get t’ know ‘im.”

“Do you really think he would help me?” Josie asked, fiddling with a loose tread on her robe. “I thought he hated me.”

“Josie…” Hagrid sang out with a smile, making her look up at him.

Staring into her eyes, Hagrid said, “Professor Snape could never hate you. An’ I bet he’ll love t’ help. You can bet me a butter beer on it.”

Seriously? Professor Snape offer help to anyone? Is Hagrid mad? Jed and I are both Slytherins and we know that Snape isn’t that nice. Josie’s setting herself up for a world of hurt. “What if I go with you when you ask Snape?” I asked Josie. “We both can,” I added looking over at Jed – it was the least he could do after their yelling match.

“No,” said Hagrid. Jed and I both turned to him.

“But-” I began objecting.

“Josie needs t’ go alone,” Hagrid told us. Josie looked up at him and he smiled at her. “Professor Snape’ll say yes then… I know he will.” He winked at her.

Okay… either Hagrid has never sat in a room with Professor Snape or he knows something that we don’t. If you ask Professor Snape for a favour when on your own, he’s really sweet…? Nah, I don’t think so. Either way, upon leaving Hagrid’s, I promised Josie that no matter what happens, I’ll try my best to help her. Jed even promised too. I just hope that she’ll be okay. She has Potions last lesson – yeah, I’m writing this in Defence Against the Dark Arts, sue me. Professor Quirrell’s only snivelling about spider-bats anyway – whatever they are.

- Josie -