You know, it's really hard to keep up with everybody when you forget to pack your journal with you when you go home.

Home wasn't all that great. I'd been looking forward to it since September. Mum was annoyed that I wasn't doing right by my teachers, and how didn't I have respect for them? I explained to him all about the little games they'd been playing at. Mum said that I must be exaggerating, trying to save my own skin. That's not like her. Though she's distracted by Alexander. Her new beau. He said I sounded like I needed some good discipline. And she let him ground me. Dad wasn't happy, I sent him an owl. He came to visit without Jacob of course. He believed me though and argued with mum about letting me come back. She won, obviously.

This past holiday just sucked.

Happy new year and all that garbage.

New Years Resolutions feel a bit silly to be thinking of now.

Does anybody remember me?

Is tomorrow really the 30th? Time's flown by actually now that I think of it. In a really slow way. Morag can I start thinking about the holiday's now? December is just around the corner, and you said September was far too early. I think I'll start thinking about Christmas lights. They usually cheer me up quite a bit.

I just realized, I've made my date visit with Cornelia on my birthday. Tomorrow, that is. I picked Wednesday at random as well, so perhaps it was my subconscious telling me to choose the 30th in particular. It remembered perhaps, but I surely didn’t really.

Does anybody else forget about their birthday? I haven't really thought about them since I was about eleven or so. Maybe it's because I'm busy at Hogwarts, I don't have anybody to remind me it's coming. Mum used to, but I think with her new boyfriend and all she probably forgot this year, as she's written less and less as this last month has gone on. I mean, I'll be seventeen, which is quite important, as I'll be able to apparate and do magic without worrying about getting in trouble for it, but at the same time with everything that's going on it seems rather anticlimactic at this point.

Then again this whole year’s been quite like that, so really why break the trend?

I’ve been a little wrapped up in myself lately. Possibly because so many people have been so ill, I figured it best to not congregate with the germs. Ugh, I hate germs, I’m constantly wiping things down with my handkerchief around the commons and in our room. I did though, for the first time in my life, see the sun rise last weekend. It was very lovely, and even if I was tired for the rest of the day afterwards, it’s something I won’t soon forget. Thanks Cornelia, it really was a very nice time.

I must have drifted off at around four. It was nice in the common room. The fire was going and it was completely quiet. I was snuggled up in my blankets and Cornelia had just told me a wonderful story about Star People, and I must have just drifted. I didn’t mean to. I started awake though, pop of the fire, and I noted that she’d drifted off a bit too. I sat there looking at her sleeping for a little while. I’ve never seen anybody sleep before either. Except for perhaps my dad napping on the couch… but that surely isn’t the same. It was very peaceful and sweet. I almost had the guts to steal a kiss, but then chickened out. Besides, what fun would that be if she’s asleep right?

I’ve had a hug from Cornelia every day this week in the morning. It’s quite a nice thing to have. I suggest more people give each other hugs. Might make this place a little more cheery. And we know they hate it when we’re feeling good.

Lucy, I have the homework for you, whenever you want it.

Hm. I can't seem to remember where I put my green sweater.

Miss Stalk.

The dorm is clean.

And I am wearing trousers.

My land is at your fingertips, whenever it is you wish to explore it.

...

And none of that was dirty, for the record, Perpetua.