IT'S GOING TO MY BIRTHDAY V. SOON! What is that, being seventeen now? It's a strange feeling, mates, something like feeling old and becoming nostalgic. I should start telling boring stories with useless morals like me grandpa did. Now when I was twelve ... juuust kidding.

And, uh anyway, it's March. Finally. I mean, Ron's birthday, Gryffindor kills Ravenclaw (unbelievable catch, Harry), my marks went from getting Trolls to Dreadfuls (which I suppose is an improvement), and spring is sort of here. How can you not like March?! Blimey, there's only a couple months 'til the year's over, I swear it was September yesterday.

Apologies for lack of making sense, but I'm too excited.

[ private to Gryffindors ] Is it just me, or are the Slytherins getting worse? If it's even possible, I mean. Probably just jealous that they haven't got a chance at the Cup and that they're going to lose to Hufflepuff next match, eh?

I've decided that February is a boring month. The Valentine's Day Ball was nice; I'm still surprised certain prefects didn't try to ruin it. Speaking of prefects though, Padma was again a fantastic date.

Good thing this month is almost over, because it means MARCH is coming! (I'm really up to date with my months, y'see.) And clearly, everyone knows March includes my birthday and St. Patrick's Day, which bests St. Valentine's Day every year, unless you're willing to prove that a box of chocolates is better than a bottle o' firewhisky. In any case, I still win, HAH. Just messing, of course, but I'm bloody excited to get this lousy weather out of the way, too.

And honestly, that Stephen Cornfoot thinks he's such a witty chap. Didja see him at the ball, he spilled that punch all over some girl? Just tasteless.

Also; was there something with the professors on Thursday? I swear they were a bit loopy all day.

current mood: bored

Yes, yours truly Seamus Finnigan has been caught studying. I've decided that I might attempt to study more, which is why I haven't been on this bleeding machine in ages.

What's happened, eh? Well, latest thing I remember was Zachy's New Year's Eve Party. I swear, I cleaned out me stock of firewhisky and rum, but Smith tells me that there wasn't any left by the end of the night. You pigs, all right! The party was nuts, anyway. Though I swear I saw Lavender snogging some arse-faced looking boy. Not that we're "together," or anything, I swear. Just good friends, right? Girls can drive a boy mad, you know?

Anyway, me father sent me a copy of Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man." I think he tried to hide it from Mother though, it seemed to be hastily sent. Good reading for the night though, but Joyce is rather too wayward and wild for me likings. Brilliant man, just a little mad in the mind.

Right, so studying! Merlin, I've really got to, I was hoping for a group study? Hermione? You always know you can lend a fellow Gryffindor some help? But Padma, the Finch book was really swell, makes Potions much more simpler for my simple brain. Many thanks again.

I swear I saw Lavender spying on me in the Library today. I was only studying with Padma, it's not exactly anything for her to get so worried over, right? I swear she flew from the Library when she saw me, though. And Vati's going to blame me for countless things. Any ideas, mates?

current mood: studious

Everything's gone bloody mad! First, I walked into the Quidditch match last weekend and see Dean's brilliant banners burning in flames. You should have seen Dean, he was real upset with that, but we showed those sodding Slytherin. I swear, though, the entire Gryffindor House was in the Hospital Wing, but the players had it the worse, by far. Didja see Katie Bell? I hope everyone's better from that, anyway.

And then, if the game wasn't mad enough for everyone, I still can't believe what happened in Hogsmeade! I was just off in Three Broomsticks with a few of my good mates, enjoying a good butterbeer since the weather's been cold, then we all heard running, screaming, and the like. You know what happens next, anyway. I just can't believe it though ... what's going on with the wizarding world?

And Parvati, has anyone seen her? I checked up in the Hospital Wing, but with last week's game and the latest Hogsmeade ... ordeal, Madam Pomfrey looked as if she was going to lynch the next person asking to visit someone there, so I left.

It'll get better. No, really. I've promised to give out free hugs, I'll be in the Common Room soon.

[ private to self ] I just received an owl from my father, he said me mam was too distraught to write. Been shaking since she heard the news. I don't know, after the whole truth about Harry came out, I didn't follow Fudge nearly as much as she did, still. She loved that man, said that he's the only one keeping the Ministry right these days. I don't know if I agree, but still, it's so ... tragic. And I'm scared out of my effing wits; Death Eaters in Hogsmeade? It's just one thing after another, I can't imagine how the rest of the school is handling all this. Espeically, the prefects looked so stricken, except for the Slytherins. Busy looking smarmy, as usual. How could you just stand there and watch? Even if you don't like Fudge, he's still your leader, and I suppose it's the duty of us wizards to stand behind him? I'm not sure anymore. It's all too confusing. It's hard to be yourself nowadays. It's hard to be anything nowadays.

current mood: stressed

It's been real quiet around the castle lately, after the madness of that potion! Sure was silly wasn't it, I must've sounded like a madman. All apologies.

Anyway, you hear, the first match of the year is Gryffindor and Slytherin coming really soon, I'm thoroughly excited for it. I mean, it's always a brilliant time to see Gryffindor whip those sodding Slytherin into shape. I mean, look at all the other matches they've played! My point exactly. And Dean, d'you need any help with the banners?

[ Rest is hexed against Lav/Parvati ]
I talked with Lavender, a usual go-around the lake the past weekend. She seemed rather ... upset. Or disappointed, I couldn't tell, it was one of them. Said she heard a rumour from a girlfriend of this Hufflepuff boy she knew that I was seen snogging Padma. Now, I remember having a swell night, but maybe I got carried away? And she was a good snog at that, anyway, we had a good time. Maybe Lav needs to have a bit more fun, but then again, I guess after what Parvati did, it's hard to have a little bit o' fun.

Not that I don't fancy like her. Lavender, I mean. She's just al;jhasdgjhasldjg sometimes. That's Celtic, by the way.

current mood: bouncy

Merlin I'm still feelign a bit stragne it's sort of hard to type becuase my head is hurting a lot, even from when was that ball? Padma, you were teh best date ever, me mam would be proud that I've caught meself a prefect. I'm only joking, I thikn. I hope Lavender, you aren't mad at me for going with your best friend's twin sister, but I heard rather dirty thigns about Parvati, it was goign around all day today what (and who!) everyone was doing at the ball. Don't be worried about eithre of us, you know Parvati goes a little mad once in awhile.

Funny, I could've sworn I saw Oliver Wood at the Ball, but really I think he was done with Hogwarts ages ago. I was too busy dancing and talking, I must've been so annoiyng, I couldn't keep my bloody mouth shut! Kept yammering awya all night long. I hope Padma didn't mind, I can't even remember everything I was tellnig people about! I hope it aws nothing important.

The Slytherins were looking quiet smug at the Ball, but I think they were having a good tiem, or at least those oafs were. What're their names, right, Crabbe and Goyle. They must've eatne the whole lot of food at the Slytherin tabel! I think I even caught Malfoy laughing! I really do thikn that everybody had a gradn time.

So Padma, I hope I was'nt too embarassing.

current mood: crazy

I think I found out why Muggles are so angry all the time and shoot each other with metal things. It's because of these stupid boxes. I swear, I clicked on all the right things and the words don't appear! It's really quite confusing. Me father's been sending 'emails.' It's mad how all those words get to me through wyres. Boggling.

So. About this interhouse unity ball? What were they thinking? But I wanted to go with Lavender! But seeing as how no Slytherins will attend, it might be nice, actually. And as you know, yours truly is a dancing fiend. Slap on the ol' Irish dancing shoes and I'm set.

In other news, I'm needing serious help in Divination. And Potions. And Defence. You know how it's a rumour that a "Troll" mark exists? Well. It's confirmed. So ... Harry, how's about a little study group for Defence?

What am I supposed to do about the ball? I'm probably going to get stuck with some third year hag from Hufflepuff who won't dress like Lavender and doesn't smell like Lavender and can't dance like Lav and won't kiss like Lav and ... what am I supposed to do? Maybe I can ask Parvati to match me up with someone? I mean, I can't exactly ask Lavender to help me. That, and I get so nervous around her. Back home, I could get any girl I wanted, to do anything. Just smile at her. Feed her a little firewhisky and she'd love you. But Lavender? Merlin. How the hell did the professors think we'll survive? I don't know what to do. Sleep? Definitely.

current mood: sad

Hullo there! Seems like the whole school's got one of these things. My father was drooling over one of these boxes over the summer, so he had taught me (or, attempted to) how to use them. They're very shiny. Anyway, seems like the best o' rumours start up here. I would be mad not to join the crowd.

Speaking of rumours. That one about Hannah and Anthony is quite hair-raising. Always knew those Ravenclaws had it in them.

Lav, I'm deathly bored. Really, Potions is going to bore me to death before Snape kills me. Why did I even CONSIDER taking the NEWT level Potions? Anyway, Lavender, you fancy a walk around the lake?

By any chance, does anyone know what spots on the Gryffindor Quidditch team are open? Not that I'm stupid enough to embarass myself on a broom though ... Been practising all summer. Sort of.

current mood: bored