MJs Hogwarts Journal Chapter 41

Thursday 27^th February

I really am hopeless at writing in here, aren’t I? So much for my New Year’s Resolution. Well let me see, what is there to catch up on? Arh, right, so I actually managed to catch Blondie the other day, when was it…? I think it might have been the Saturday or Sunday after Valentine’s Day. I had just been talking to one of the paintings when he walked by. “Morning MJ,” he said with a nod.

“Hi Malfoy,” I said turning to face him. A grin was plastered on his face. “My, someone’s in a good mood.”

“Yeah well…” he said with a shrug. He brushed a hand through his hair. He’d swept it to the side – that was different. “What’s there not to like?” he asked. I smiled at him. It was nice seeing him jolly instead of out to get people all the time. It was a rarity, but a nice one.

“Actually, can I ask you something?” I blurted out, wanting to catch him before he disappeared.

“Sure,” he shrugged. “Ask away.”

“Did you see Josie in the library on Friday?” I asked twiddling with my thumbs. Being too close to Blondie without anyone else around made me nervous. I guess I didn’t like not being able to read him. Like now, he seemed so at ease and calm, but within a second he could be spiteful. It’s not that I couldn’t handle him – I’m sure I could. It’s just that I don’t like being caught off guard.

“Yeah, I saw her,” he said with his signature Malfoy smirk. He ran a hand across the back of his neck. “Why? Did she say something?” His eyes dropped to his feet as he bit his bottom lip.

“Only that she saw you really,” I told him. “You showed her some card or something.” I tried to be a vague as possible.

“Nothing else?” he asked, shooting his eyes at me. I shook my head.

“I don’t think so,” I said with a frown. He blew out a breath. “Why?” I asked. “Was something wrong?”

“No,” he said, as the corner of his mouth poked up. “Well, nice speaking to you, MJ,” he said waving a couple of fingers at me. Then he left. Well so longs as nothing bad happened. Even Blondie didn’t seem to want to tell me the whole story though. I’ll squeeze it out of one of them, eventually.

*

Okay, so what’s next? Lessons. Right, I’ve been trying my hardest to pay attention in Professor Binns’ History of Magic. It’s so easy to get distracted though. It’s not that the Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager weren’t interesting – after reading up about them myself, they were – incredibly interesting even. It’s just that monotone Binns drives you made after a couple of seconds of being stuck in his classroom. The boys are always goofing off in Binns’ class and it’s sometimes kind of hard not to join in. Yeah, I want to learn, but I want to have fun too. And using Professor McGonagall’s Alteareh spell to turn a stick into a needle and poke it into Crabbe’s arm as he stared off into space was technically learning. I was practising my magic and found out that Crabbe is scared of sharp objects. That may be a point that I need to remember for a future occasion – you never know.

Transfiguration itself hasn’t been too bad. I’m still struggling with the Avifors spell and I’m still getting some of the transfigurating formula confused, but I’m not overly worried. I’ve got until the third week in May before our exams. It’s the same with Charms really too. I’m not behind everyone else, like I was worried that I would be. If anything, I’m on an even playing field. I’m doing better than some people in my class, but at the same time there are others better than me. It’s a nice mix really. So longs as I do well enough in my end-of-year tests to prove to my parents that they didn’t waste their time sending me here, then I’ll be happy.

*

This morning’s Defence Against the Dark Arts class went downhill again. Professor Quirrell hadn’t been too bad since the Weasley twins had been forced to stop the constant barrel of snowballs from whacking him in the back of the head. But today we learnt nothing, hence the fact that I’ve actually been able to catch up with writing in here – Quirrell never noticed a thing, he was too busy hanging up garlic necklaces around his classroom. They stunk so bad. I can still feel myself gagging thinking about it now. Yuck! No wonder vampires hate the stuff. Next time, I’ll think twice before eating garlic bread. I don’t think I could stomach it for weeks, after sitting in that classroom.

*

Me and Jed found Josie at lunch – she was just about to leave the Great Hall as we came in. How she managed to eat that fast, I’ll never know. We called her towards the Slytherin table, so that we could walk to Herbology together. “Guess what?” she gasped, as she neared us. Before we even had the chance to guess, she told us, “Professor Snape’s agreed to go over some Potions stuff with me in his office straight after last lesson.”

“That’s amazing,” said Jed. “Snape actually agreed to it?” Josie nodded. “Wow… that’s a first.”

“I know,” Josie said as she hugged a book at her chest. “I just hope he can help.”

“Of course he can,” I told her. “And if you’re still stuck, just come to me and Jed – we’ll give it a go.” Leaning up from my seat, I gave her a hug. I was so happy for her. That’s exactly what she needed. A teacher to help her and let her know that she’s not struggling as badly as she thinks she is. See, I knew Snape wasn’t such a bad guy.

*

As always, the three of us sat together in Herbology. It was kind of a strange lesson. Professor Sprout had each of us come to the front of the room and assist her with a fierce, fighting plant – I think it was called a Mandrake Sproutling. Blondie made fun of almost everyone, whether they did well or not. He was so asking for detention. He spent the entire class acting up. Even Pansy had to tell him to cut it out, and she usually goes along with him. She was probably just nervous – she didn’t want him to laugh at her too. I don’t blame her. I felt the same. My palms grew sweaty as Professor Sprout made her way down the register.

Jed didn’t seem to have much trouble. Professor Sprout reassured him that he must remain calm, while he assisted her with re-potting the wriggling creature. It had the top of a leafy plant, with thin branches and spikey green leaves, but underneath where the root is, it looked like a little man with four arms and legs, kicking and punching at you the entire time. Professor Sprout had told us that it was a herb and its leaves are used to help heal a type of fever. It looked like a menacing monster to me.

When it was my turn, Jed wished me luck. Holding the sproutling by the stem, it swiped at me. I jerked back a little. It scratched my hand, but luckily, didn’t break the skin’s surface. As Professor Spout held the new, larger plant pot in front of me, I flung the thing forwards. It dropped inside and I threw the soil over it faster than I even realised that I was doing it. “Congratulations Melanie,” I heard as my heart hammered at my chest. I looked up. Professor Sprout was smiling at me. I relaxed my shoulders, letting out a breath.

Dropping back into my seat I whispered, “Phew,” as the professor called for her next victim, I mean student.

When she called Josie’s name, Josie gripped her head as she pushed herself up. “You okay?” I asked her, placing a hand on her arm.

“I’m fine,” she muttered. “Just a little dizzy.”

“Probably stood up too fast,” Jed told her. She agreed with him and made her way to the front of the classroom.

“Oow,” gasped Professor Sprout as she held out a small pot containing the creature. “This one’s a feisty one.” The professor’s arms jittered forwards, as she tried to keep a firm hold of the pot. Josie rubbed a hand to her forehead again, as she placed one hand on the stem of the plant. “Nice and steady now,” she warned her. “Now pull on three…” Gripping the plant’s stem with both hands, Josie nodded. “One, two, three.” What occurred next, in my eyes, happened in slow motion: Professor Sprout staggered backwards as the beastly creature flew out of the pot. Josie wobbled back too. She went over on her ankle. Her eyes closed. Her knees buckled. Letting go of the plant, Josie fell to the floor. Gasps and screams filled the air as the Mandrake Sproutling slithered across the floor. Leaping across the classroom, Professor Sprout scooped the sprouting up threw it into a heap of soil, whilst all eyes lay on Josie.

I fairly certain I’m not over exaggerating when I say everyone was worried – even the boys at the back stopped their stupid comments to see if she was okay. Professor Sprout lent over her and muttered something about petals. She told me and Jed to keep an eye on her, whilst she went to fetch them. I ran straight to Josie’s side. Jed followed close behind me. “Is she okay?” asked one of the Ravenclaw girls.

“What happened?” muttered someone else.

“She’s just a big lump,” I heard Pansy laugh at the back. “She’s overreacting.”

“Oh shut up,” Blondie sighed at her. He and Goyle got up out of their seats.

“I’m back, I’m back,” muttered Professor Sprout, more to herself than us. In her hands she held a bunch of huge, floppy, creamy-pink petals. They swamped her hands. “Okay, okay, back now everyone,” she said, as she knelt at Josie’s side. Standing up on my toes, I tried to see over Professor Sprout as she wafted the petals in front of Josie’s nose. Josie’s eyes flickered. I gasped. My heart fluttered. She was okay. Josie gave a groan as she tried to sit up. “Now dear, you gave us all a scare,” Professor Sprout told her as she helped Josie to her feet. “Are you alright? Should I get Melanie and Mister Edwards to escort you to Madam Pomfrey?”

“No,” mumbled Josie as her cheeks reddened. “I’m fine. Really.” As Josie took her seat, I threw my arms around her shoulders. Jed rubbed a hand against hers. I have no idea what just happened, but I’m so glad that she’s okay.

*

Professor Sprout let us all go a little early, due to Josie fainting. In a way this was good, because it meant that we could walk Josie most of the way to her next lesson and still not be late to Charms. I held an arm around her shoulder as we left the greenhouses. “I’m fine,” Josie insisted, brushing me off. “I don’t need any help.”

“But I was just-” I began.

“I’m fine,” she told me with a smile. “I don’t need extra attention – or any at all. Just pretend like I’m invisible.”

“Watch it!” Jed yelled, as Blondie and his cronies barged past us, as we approached the castle entrance. They ignored him and carried on. I gave Jed a soft smile – he could be caring when he wanted to be. “Don’t worry José,” he told Josie, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll get Malfoy later.”

Walking a few paces ahead of us, Blondie projected: “Can you believe Snape?” as he nudged Goyle in the arm. “That traitor’s giving the Ravenclaw private lessons.” The boys began laughing. “A Ravenclaw needing help – obviously got sorted into the wrong house, don’t you think?” As they cackled away, I glared long and hard at the back of Blondie’s head. “And what does Snape think he’s playing at, tutoring a Ravenclaw – he must be stupid.”

“That’s enough Mister Malfoy!” roared Professor Snape. “Detention.” Spinning my head to the right, Professor Snape was standing at the bottom of the staircase. That’s it; Blondie was in for it now. He really shouldn’t be so careless.

“Detention?” Blondie repeated with a whine. Seriously, did he actually think that he would get away with that? “Just not today, Sir,” he said with his usual smirk. “Not straight after school, I-”

“Detention. My office. Straight after your last class,” said Snape with his sinister stare, barely moving his lips. “I expect you no later than three minutes from your last lesson. Do I make myself clear?” Blondie nodded. With that, Professor Snape swept away down the corridor, his black robes billowing behind him.

Turning towards me, Jed’s eyes widened. We both looked at Josie, who was still staring ahead at the scene that had just unfolded. “I’m so sorry, Josie,” I muttered. “You’ve got Malfoy for company.” Straight after last lesson was the exact time that Josie said Professor Snape had promised to help her with Potions.

“Perfect,” she muttered rolling her eyes. “Just what I need, Mister Perfect seeing how imperfect I am at Potions.” She gave a sigh. “I’ll see you guys later,” she said as she forced a smile. “Library at five, yeah?” Jed and I agreed and watched her go up the stairs to her Defence Against the Dark Arts class.

*

After Charms, Jed and I made our way to the library. We wanted to make sure that we got our favourite spot, so that it would be easy for Josie to spot us when she appeared. Facing the doorway, Jed was first to spot her. “So, how’d it go?” he asked her. Looking up from my Charms book at Jed, I spun my head around to see Josie.

“Malfoy wasn’t a menace, was he?” I asked her.

“It wasn’t too bad,” Josie told us, as she dropped into her seat. “Professor Snape just had Draco sit in the corner, whilst he went over everything with me.”

“You missed the part where you thanked me for helping you with a way to remember the difference between Wiggenweld, Wiggentree and Wideye,” came the smug voice of Blondie behind her. Josie shuddered.

“Draco, are you following me?” she asked.

“Well, we wouldn’t want you to faint again, would we?”

“Shove off Malfoy,” Jed barked.

“Well,” breathed Blondie as he turned away. “You’re not terrible at Potions, by the way,” he added over his shoulder, glancing at Josie. I watched as she smiled at him as he carried on walking.

- Josie -