logandiggory

[logandiggory]

I looked forward to the upcoming months with hope that it wouldn’t be nearly as dull and insufferable then the last which felt as though it had been several years. I flipped through the pages of my newest and most prestigious edition I had owned, given to me by my best friend Neville. The copy was in amazing condition and smelt of the bookstore from which it had been on display. Mr. Scamander’s signature was written in a chestnut colored ink inside the front cover of the leather bound edition. The leather was dragon hide friendly because it was against his wishes to harm any creature in this way especially with something that he created. I tuck it into my rucksack and head off for the Great Hall. The smell of breakfast welcomes me as I walk through the wooden doors. Students were in their usual placement with their groups of friends, just as I was planning on doing as well. I looked for the auburn haired girl, which was nearly the easiest way to spot the group. The two other dark hair boys followed and I found them sitting nearly in the back of the room. Neville waved when I walked closer and I threw my hand up a little before sitting next to him.

“Morning Logan, Goliath has something to show us after breakfast.” Neville says as he practically inhaled his bowl of cereal. I look across the table at Susan and Goliath with a small smile. She was eating a pastry with icing and he was trying to decide what kind of jam to put on his toast. Three jars sat in front of him as he examined each of their labels. I took a serving of the eggs in a basket and began eating. The four of us had become friends after returning to school from Christmas holiday. It was Goliath who brought us all together one day, but ever since we all had been hanging out daily. It was a good dynamic between all of us. Anyone who hadn’t known would have assumed we were all friends since first year not only for a couple months. For my birthday, they had a little party which consisted of cupcakes, music, and paper crowns near the black lake. It was a good day, one that I think was probably one of the better days of my life. It was brilliantly simple but meant a lot more to me than anyone could have guessed.

Goliath lead us into the Forbidden Forest as the sun began to shine. Susan was off put by a he idea of entering a place that we had been warned about since first year. As for Neville and myself, we had explorations into the forest looking for various plant life and creatures. Spring had come sooner than normal but no one was complaining, as the winter months were dreadful. The light shone through the trees making a wonderful scenic view.

“I found this while following a unicorn.” Goliath started.

Susan cut in, “A unicorn? Was it beautiful?”

I looked at Susan with her eyes a glow of wonder and amazement. Goliath turned his head and nodded.

“They’re not in mating season just yet, and it’s rare to season them until late spring.” We walked through a clearing of vines and then there it was, something that I hadn’t even known about Hogwarts; it stood before us a waterfall with rushing waters that fell into a small lake below. No one spoke at first because we were all busy staring at the amazement that was a waterfall in what seemed like the middle of the Forbidden Forest. I took a deep breath, indulging on the unfamiliar but feeling it fill my lungs in no way that I had ever felt before this moment. There was a slight smell of Maybe it had been an allusion or some kind of magic, but nevertheless it was amazing. Susan walked cautiously to the edge of the waterfall and looked down. It hadn’t been over eight feet of a drop but no one seemed to want to jump. Goliath looked between the three of us knowing all too well that we weren’t going to act. To free his hands, he dropped his rucksack onto the grass and held his wand between his teeth. He quickly tied his hair away from his face and turned to look at us before jumping off the cliff. Susan squeaked as she ran to edge again, Neville and I followed behind.

We looked down and saw Goliath splash up and shout “It’s a hot spring!” The cerulean water encompassing him as he swims to the edge of lagoon. Susan begins unlacing her shoes and places her mauve parka upon them. Standing before us in her flowered jumper, denim trousers, and woollen socks; she was smiling which was an uncommon sight. Goliath was cheering her on as she tucked her hair behind her ears, Neville and I clapped and continued the chant that Goliath had started. She stepped off the edge and she was gone with a shriek before plunging into the water. Her hair flowing in the water as she swam to Goliath.

Susan shouted, “Come along, it’s really fun!” I looked at Neville who was rather hesitant. I slipped off my shoes and placed my glasses into the left one before taking a glance back to him, and then I was falling as time fell slowly. I felt my heart pounding and I couldn’t hear anything not even the sounds I was making. The water rushed around me as I submerged into depths of the warm water. I opened my eyes and couldn’t see nearly anything, not because it was dark water but because I had taken off my glasses. I kicked my legs and waved my arms frantically as something briskly touched my leg. I could see something in a shadowy sort of way, which was really unsettling. Upon surfacing I noticed Neville as also in the water removing my question about what must have glided past me.

All four of us met at the middle and proceeded to play a muggle game called Marco Polo. In this game, one person says Marco while the others say Polo but during the game, the first person has to have their eyes closed and they have to find the others. After about five or six rounds of this game, we decided that we should probably retreat from the water and dry off ourselves with a help from magic.

Goliath took us down another path, on what we assumed was the way back to Hogwarts but was another surprise on a day of wonder. It seemed as though he stopped in the middle of the Forbidden Forest to take a break from walking but then he conjured a ladder and leaned it against this huge tree. We all took a moment to bask in the amazement that was his secret treehouse. Made of wooden planks, he assembled this treehouse not from magic, and it shown in the craftsmanship. Complete with a deck on the front, this treehouse was by far the nicest one I’ve ever seen. I began to climb the ladder first and sat on the deck and dangled my legs off the side. Susan removed cups from her rucksack and Goliath brewed blueberry and pomegranate tea. The warm tea warmed me internally as I took in the view from within the trees. There is no point in explaining how wonderful the sight was to anyone who wasn’t there because I’m sure they wouldn’t be able to fathom it in their imagination.

Susan suggested a game of would you rather, which was vetoed and replaced with a game of similar nature but had anonymity that we all agreed was better. No one wanted to answer the more honest questions unless it was accompanied with a level of security that writing on pieces of parchment could solve. The night took on a different scent of warm bread, that had been snuck from the kitchen and a simple warming smell upon them, nonalcoholic cider, and herbs as they cleansed us from any negative energy something Goliath had added before we took our leave. As the sunset, we headed back to Hogwarts for dinner.

The common room was not as busy as I had expected it usually had been, most of Hufflepuff house were enjoying the nicer weather or hanging out in the courtyards. I had taken a seat on the couch and picked up a book with two witches chasing a cat. I slowly flipped through it making myself look busy. I had read this book before so it would have been easy to explain what it was about had anyone asked. She walked into the room toting a small cat that I had known was not hers, but her roommates instead. I stood up and approached her. She smiled at me, holding the cat with her arms reached out. It purred as i took it in my arms, burying its head in my shoulder.

“Could we talk...somewhere a little more private?” I asked in a low tone. She nodded, as he took the cat and placed it on the floor. We began walking and only stopped when we were in an abandoned corridor. Apparently there was a fire in one of the classrooms, not the fire that killed Professor Binns, but one that almost took the lives a nearly the entire classroom because the locking mechanism on the door was cursed. Now and for nearly twenty years, this corridor containing only two classrooms remains empty. I sat down and placed my head in my hands. She sit quickly and put her arm around my shoulders.

“Logan, what’s wrong? And before you try an dismiss that there is something the matter, let me say that I’ve known you for almost six years so I can tell when something is going on with you.” Poppy pat my shoulder and looked up. My heart and my mind were both in a race, one sliding past the other trying to make it to the finish line. I felt queasy and began questioning if I were going to be sick. A couple times, I tried opening my mouth to speak and nothing happened. After what had to be at least five minutes of silence, I blurted something that wasn’t even close to what I was trying to say.

“Poppy, when did you know that you liked Seamus?” It felt like the lamest thing to say, but she nodded her head.

“When I was twelve I began thinking about that, but dismissed it because I was twelve. Then when the Yule Ball happened and he went with one of the French girls, I was really upset. I think that’s when I knew. Have you never felt like that before. Wait, do you have a crush on someone?” She looked full of excitement as her smile grew wide. I could feel my face go flush as my heart began to race. I began stammering and rambling, I was going to be sick or at least I thought as though I would be. Poppy’s smile got smaller until she spoke,

“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.” She stood up and offered her hand, I took it and stood up. She began to walk away, turned around and said in a cheerful tone, “But you’re going to tell me later!”

[logandiggory]

Logan looked down at his plate with a few russet potatoes and a slice of toast with blackberry jam. The Great Hall was still filling up with the students who intended on taking their time getting to the second term feast. Perhaps it was because a bunch of them fell asleep on the train and were woken by aurors walking through the train to prevent sleeping students from missing their destination. A whole lot of first years came in together giving Logan the impression that they had done precisely that. The quiet in the hall gave him the time to reflect on the events from the past holiday break. He took a sip from the goblet of whatever nonalcoholic mead was on the table and faded into his thoughts.

The cemetery was barely covered in the white powder which confused Logan a bit as the whole of the town was nearly to their necks in snow. He walked over the hill and watched the people in the shops nearby file into them quickly as another gust of wind blows through. He pulls his coat together and keeps walking forward until he comes to a patch of snow that looks out of sort. He squints a little and pulls his glasses from his pocket. He bends down placing his knee on the snow as he sifts through the snow. He recovers a small green twig that he knows is not in fact just a stick. He places it betweens his hands to warm it as he continues walking until he gets to the curve and takes a left on a newer area of the cemetery. Logan picks up the green, stick-like creature and places it on the striped blanket before observing it for harm. He notices that it’s arm is twisted in a way that it shouldn’t be. Without causing more harm to the creature he waves his wand over it. It was something that Hagrid taught him, not exactly the hardest of healing spells but something that would heal most creatures. He opens his journal to make an entry. He begins with a sketch of the creature followed by it’s classifications, much like the way Newt Scamander had done previously. Had you asked Logan who he aspired to be like you would be correct to assume he would say Mr. Scamander. He always carries a copy of Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them with him nestled safely in his leather briefcase. The briefcase was probably his most treasured possession as well as the many things that held residence in it. He holds his wand up to the briefcase, mutters a spell, and places the small creature inside. With the sound of the smallest blade of grass breaking, Logan turns his head to see someone approaching. Logan immediately recognizes the boy with the messy black hair and the lightning scar. Logan seems to get up to leave when Harry speaks up, “There’s no need. We can both remember him. Pay no attention to me if that makes you feel better.” He smiles and pulls a biscuit from his pocket offering it to Logan. He wipes his hand on trousers before taking the biscuit with orange bits, “Pumpkin?” He hesitated to take a bite as he placed the stub of a pencil between the crisp sheets of his new journal. Harry laughs before answering, “ I think so. It’s a Weasley recipe. I’m staying up there during holiday.” Although Logan had never stayed at the Weasleys he had visited a couple times with Amos and Cedric a few years ago. The Weasleys house had been absolute madness, including the twins throwing cauldrons into a rather putrid pond, nearly setting their house on fire, and then there was an explosion in the garden shed. Logan just assumed that it must always be like that at the burrow. “I’m at my Uncle’s over holiday, which probably doesn’t compare to being at the Weasleys.” Logan fidgeted with the tarnished gold latch on his briefcase. Harry cleared his throat before speaking, “If you want to come over on New Years Eve there will be fireworks, just over the hill at the Weasleys.” Logan nods, “I just might take you up on that.” The two went their separate ways after leaving leaving an assortment of conjured flowers.

BANG! Logan looks to his right as a plate fell from the table and hit the stone floor. A couple students helped to clean up the mess with a flick of their wands and another student consulted the small boy as he cried about spilling his food. Logan cut a potato with his fork and began to think about the day before Christmas.

Logan is seen walking into an empty shoppe with the intent to buy Christmas gifts for his closest of kin. There he finds an assortment of candied fruits, something that he knows his mother will love. Convinced to purchase two fruitcakes from the older baker who insisted that his family will love them. The fruitcake, a sign of greetings, cake made from fruit pieces and other bits Logan simply couldn’t make out on closer inspection sat in the basket as he continued to walk around the shoppe. The smell of fresh snow engulfed the small store as the windows were nearly covered by it. The old baker kept his eyes to his knitting as he watched a scarf magically construct itself. The colours, like the flag waving from a corner of the stuffy little hobble, were vibrant even when the days were not. Logan picked up a stack of cinnamon sticks wrapped in a orange ribbon, felt their texture and placed them into the wire basket. Shrimpy, his moke-salamander hybrid, was an odd sort who raided the house of cinnamon after ten at night. After his aunt caught sight of the scaly thing she nearly threw a stunning spell when she saw him licking the bowl of potpourri.

As his eyes roamed from shelf to shelf, he felt a little guilt that he hadn’t been spending as much time with his family because after all it was the holidays. He looked back to the baker and wondered about his life. Did he have a family? Maybe he had a wife, four children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren; or maybe he was just alone? Perhaps he had a cat named Mr. Tuffs that slept at the end of his bed, keeping his feet warm at night. The somber old man’s tired eyes matched Logan’s as a loud crashing sound drew their attention. He checked around the wooden floor to make sure that he hadn’t dropped anything. There wasn’t even the slightest thing present on the surrounding area. The old baker spoke up, “Ei’ don’t be worrin’ ‘bout that lad, the bar’s next door it is, and they often get rowdy ‘bout this time of year.” Logan nodded quickly picking up a jar of pickled beets and shuffled to the cash register. Pecan taffy was chosen last minute as it was too tempting to pass up given his occasional sweet tooth. “Happy Christmas to you an’ yours!” The elder man gingerly placed the items at a leisurely pace as Logan fished coins from his pocket. The last galleon in his pocket was slightly warm to touch as he didn’t realize he’d been turning it over time and again whist shopping. “Happy Christmas” he replied back shivering at the cold he was about to face. Before he could leave his neck was greeted with what seemed like a hug, made of the most vibrant yarn. He knew almost instantly that this must’ve been the scarf the baker was working on. “But I can’t.” Logan mumbled to the man almost guilt-riddled. He waved a hand and said, “It’s a gift. Besides no one ever buys my pickled beets and it seems like a fair trade.” Logan smiled as he wrapped the scarf tighter around his neck. “Happy Christmas and Happy New Year.” He bared his biggest smile upon sight of the old man’s toothy grin and waved farewell to the old baker until next Christmas.

Logan tugged on the scarf he currently wore, something that a girl on the train snickered at, thinking about how although it wasn’t the nicest scarf he owned it was the one that made him the happiest. He brushed his hand over it as he finished eating the food on his plate while falling back into his thoughts.

After returning to his Uncle and Aunt’s home, he places the presents on the table next to the fireplace. Upon the mantle sits a reminder of the reason that he often feels lonely, especially around the holidays. He breaks eye contact with the shiny trophy and takes for the kitchen, as the smell nearly carries him there. The smell of freshly baked biscuits and a newly baking pie allowed his senses to clear and he had an idea. He took for the stairs and made his way into the basement. He pulled his wand from his pocket and illuminated the dark room. He walked to the large mirror something that might be a vanity mirror if it had been on a dresser with a seat in front of it. It was leaned against the wall and had collected a layer of dust. Logan sat in front of it and wiped his sleeve over most of the surface. The blue eyes stare into the mirror as he sits focusing on his own appearance. He notices there are grey eyes staring back; he leans in as he investigates the change. With concentration, he seems to manipulate his physical features and looks at a stranger he created. Almost every feature was different something that Logan decided was important to practice. He closed his eyes and opened them to see himself again, which was a bit of a relief. He thought for a moment and repeated the process to produce someone that made his heart tinge. He touched his face tracing his cheekbones and almost had to force himself to change his appearance. It had felt like so long since he had seen him. He forced his eyes closed and to clear his mind. One after another he practiced his appearance changing from one person to another. A girl with huge eyes and stringy blonde hair to a boy with large teeth and brown hair to a boy with the lightning scar. After being exhausted from physically changing himself he took himself upstairs to eat a feast of the most delicious desserts he had eaten in a while. He even tried the fruitcake something that wasn’t too bad even though his eleven-year-old self would have told him otherwise.

Headmaster Dumbledore made a short speech before sending the students off to their common rooms. Logan looked into the crowd of students making their way out of the Great Hall and spotted the tall ginger Ravenclaw whom he had an awkward experience just before leaving before the holiday. Logan didn’t know exactly how any of it happened nor why she had liked him in that way because she was a girl that all the boys were after. The puzzling situation could have had Logan scratching his head in that comedic way he saw in Muggle films. He saw her approaching him and decided against running away from the situation that others would more than likely eavesdrop on. Her long red hair cascaded from a plait and a purple headband and matching jumper weaved through the students standing around talking to their friends. Logan stood still fidgeting with his scarf until she was standing directly infront of him. She leaned in, and he could smell her sweet smelling perfume, and said in a low voice, “Can we talk?” It was three words that he didn’t want to hear because it never lead to anything good. They walked outside of the hall and down a hall that barely had visitors. She spoke first, something that Logan found refreshing because he was never the first one to start conversations. “I know I was forward when we went to the party together, but I just want confirmation that you don’t feel the same way that I feel about you. I mean I completely understand if you don’t but I can’t go on assuming that you do when you didn’t contact me over holiday.” Logan cleared his throat and began stuttering over his words before they came from his mouth, “Eleanor, I’m s-s-sorry about th-that. I just h-had a lot g-going on and I…” Before he could finish his thought he was cut off by Eleanor, “Logan, it’s okay. I understand. Family stuff during holidays are tough, my parents are divorced so I really do understand how crazy it gets.” Logan shakes his head, “El I’d like to be friends with you.” She smiles softly, “I’d like that too. We’d better be off to our commons before someone takes off house points and we both know that either of our houses will like be affected in that way.” She laughs and Logan follows as they walk in different directions towards their common rooms.

While in the Hufflepuff common room, the students are celebrating coming back to school something that happens everytime there is a break from school. The younger students usually make decorations from the craft books and supplies that line a whole shelf on one of the bookshelves in the commons. There is usually refreshments and light food served as well, even after the feast that they just left. Sometimes Logan would make an appearance during something like this but after the confrontation that he had just encountered, he decided against it. He made himself cozy in his bed as he read a book about Magical Sea Creatures of Norway, just one of the books that he got as a gift for Christmas. Logan hears the crowd getting smaller as time passes and a couple hours until midnight there is hardly any noise coming from the commons. He moves from his bed and makes his way into the small circular room and by this time there is a student making the sofa his bed. This isn’t uncommon in Hufflepuff common room, it is rather common in fact. Logan has fallen asleep on the sofa himself once or twice and was woken up in the morning by someone offering him coffee. Another thing about waking up in Hufflepuff commons is you will always wake up with a blanket over you and a pillow under your head. No one knows who started it but apparently it’s something that has happened for decades without actually making it a rule. Logan picks up a knit blanket from the stack upon the table and places it on top of the guy with his hair covering his face. For a moment Logan thinks he recognizes him but passes up the idea when he remembers that Goliath is a Slytherin. Why would a Slytherin be sleeping in Hufflepuff commons? Sure it was easy enough to get in, that wasn’t the question.

Shrimpy meets eyes wth Logan before diving off his shoulder and onto the sleeping Goliath. They meet eyes again before Shrimpy turns its head and shrinks in size and slips under the blanket. What wizard has cinnamon on his person, even when he’s sleeping? How was Logan going to get this tiny no more than two inch creature from Goliath without waking him up? He could use Accio but it shouldn’t be used on living things including humans nor creatures. Logan lifted the blanket and shook it gently before noting that he would have to search the guy for Shrimpy. Goliath woke up rather soon after Logan started whispering “Shrimpy” in hopes of him coming upon request. Goliath snorted and groggily said “I’ve never been called that before.” Logan was so embarrasses that he could have crawled into the wall and lived there for the remaining school term. “U-Uh no. It-it’s my crea-pet. Pet. I think it’s in your pocket.” Through sleepy eyes Goliath said, “Sorry can you run that by me again? Your pet is in my pocket?” Logan spoke quietly as his cheeks were pink in colour, “Just. Just-can you check your pocket. Please?” Goliath looked confused, “Uh sure.” He checks his trousers pockets and finds nothing but he continues to check other pockets on clothing. “Is it invisible per chance?” Logan shakes his head “No it’s a salamander who loves cinnamon.” Goliath pats himself in an overdramatic way before stopping and looking towards the back of the sofa as a broken cookie emerges from the cushion and a regular sized Shrimpy appears. “I don’t know mate, that doesn’t look pocket-sized. Considering you said that it shrinks I’d say it wasn’t a muggle salamander nor a fire-dwelling salamander. I think you’ve got yourself a moke. As they tend to shrink and often have odd behavior when it comes to strangers.” Logan nods and continues to hold onto Shrimpy as he shrinks in size. He shakes his head. “Sorry about him. He’s doesn’t like anyone except Hagrid and myself.” Goliath waves his hand, “It’s alright, he’s just a curious moke. I dabble in care of magical creatures myself. In fact, the best chapter in the book you’re reading is the chapter about the hippocampus, there are not only photographs of the creatures but an interview by a muggle that was nearly eaten by one or so he says.” Logan laughs a little and looks at the book, “Interesting. Can I ask why you’re sleeping in here instead of your commons?” Logan hopes that this question does not offend Goliath as he glances his eyes to the floor. Goliath laughs off the question and says with joy in his voice, “It’s the most comfortable!” Logan hands him the blanket that was placed on him earlier, “If you don’t put it on yourself, someone else will. It’s Hufflepuff unspoken tradition.”

[logandiggory]

The night started out like every other party that Slughorn hosted. There was a bunch of guests with dates, music, and beverages. What can I say there wasn’t anything different than the last one except the winter holiday theme. There weren’t any decorations that could hold attention more than Eleanor in her dark blue dress. We danced to a few songs before taking a photograph with the professor in his usual obscure party attire. We had a small snack and a couple drinks that were gladly not spiked. Neville wore a uniform and served drinks, something that he did gladly rather than Marcus Belby handing out towels in the washroom. Luna was here with Harry Potter which was a bit odd because out of everyone, you wouldn’t think that the famous Harry Potter would bring someone like Luna.  Draco Malfoy also showed up to the party but didn’t have an invitation but apparently wanted to be attendance because I suppose he thought that this sort of party was actually fun.

After a bunch of people left the party, there was really no point in staying so I walked Eleanor back to her common room. We had an awkward goodbye that consisted of a sort of hug/handshake that ended in a kiss. Don’t ask me how it happened but it did. I have tried replaying that moment in my head but it’s confusing every time I think about it. I just know that I wasn’t the first to make the move. And because I kept replaying the moment in my head on my way down to my common room, I somehow ended up walking to the Slytherin dungeons. I tried to knocking on a stone wall before I realized that it was not in fact the barrels that would give me access to Hufflepuff commons.

After I finally got to the common room after being questioned for wandering the halls and being let off without a warning because my roommate was on Prefect duties, I sat down to a cuppa. There were snores coming from the students that fell asleep during a wizard chess game. There were homemade cards drying on the tables to be taken home tomorrow. I hadn’t found the right gift for my mum yet although I had been looking in every shop in Hogsmeade with absolutely no luck. Call me complicated but there’s something in finding the perfect gift that takes time. It’s sort of how the wand chooses the wizard that I feel that gifts do in the same way. Last year I was in a store near my uncle’s house and a gift literally fell from the shelf onto my shoe. I picked it up and it literally had my mother’s name on it. Ruth was written across a dainty little teacup that somehow didn’t break when it dove for floor. How it landed on my shoe I’ll never know, but I do know for sure that it choose me. I plan on visiting that store again in a couple days to see if something like that happens again.

With the morning fast approaching, I head off to bed to dream about the holiday break. I have a couple nightmares before I ultimately wake up with the sunrise. The unopened envelope finds itself in my hands after nearly two months of it being in my possession. I tore the end and pulled the yellowed parchment from the ivory envelope. The handwriting was far worse than it was on the address portion so I picked my glasses up from the bedside table. The letter was not only telling me that he was sorry for his actions but that he wished for me to “Talk some sense into your mother because her home is with me”. I found myself laughing at the way that he thought would make me turn to his side. Hadn’t he remembered that I was the one to tell her that she shouldn’t live with him in the first place? I helped her get away from him during the summer and we left with a couple bags on our backs. When he was at work my uncle Amos and my mother went into the house and packed up her belongings and she has been living there since.

[logandiggory]

I stared at the ivory envelope placed on the table beside my bed. The idea of sleeping passed through my mind and onto the flat white parchment resting within reach. It was addressed from my paternal guardian, something that seemed foreign to me just as he was in the eyes of this society. He stood out in a crowd of his peers and was not one to fit into being a stereotypical Ministry worker. His short black hair began thinning as of recently but his thick facial hair remained. He spoke with an accent to uncover his place of origin, but he hardly ever spoke his native tongue with an exception to a few words that were always present especially when he had a drink in hand.

His handwriting was barely legible; something that leads me to believe that there was a reason that he did not have a writing position at his job at the Ministry. Through the starlight, the envelope seems to shimmer although it had zero glowing properties. During my first year at Durmstrang, his letters were arriving frequently to the point that I had a letter almost every day. While at Hogwarts, I had only received two letters. A letter from my father when I first arrived at Hogwarts that wished me luck at this school, while also wishing me luck in ‘choosing the right house.’ I hadn’t understood what he meant by that as a twelve year old but as a sixteen year old, I shudder at the idea. What compels someone to tell their child to ‘make the right choice’ and then frown upon their ‘choice’ that wasn’t even a choice in the matter? I knew my father was disappointed to find out that I had been placed in the house that had been known for taking the rest, but in his eyes it was the ‘easy choice’ and the ‘weak choice’. I fumbled with the idea that I had been placed in the wrong house for years. My ideal house would be of one that chooses to exceed in learning and knowledge, while I had been placed in a house that had been complied of many types of students. I felt that having a library in my common room would be the best option since I had spent so much time there in the past years. Our common room had a few books lying around that students left behind to read when they had downtime, which seemed to be rare. The books were placed such carelessly around the room that you would have thought that they were abandoned. I often took time to pick books off the ground and placed them on the round tables near the fireplace. I knew that they would eventually be read and taken back by their owners, therefore placing them on a table for quick sight and away from shoes was the best option.

My father, whom I had known less in the past five years and I didn’t care to speak to, had no reason to write me in the first place and just knowing that a letter addressed to me from him made my head spin. I thought of my frail mother, so small and powerless, against the man that often placed his hand upon her. Every fiber of my being hated that man for what he did to her. I could never see how they ever got along in the first place. I tried to imagine a time when he was kind and when she wouldn’t cower at his presence. I tried to think about the stories she told me about how they met when they were in there twenties. I had been conceived a year after they married, a joy for my mother and a threat for my father. He never wanted children and he made this clear to her, even threatening to leave her if she had this child and eventually doing exactly what he said. After coming around to the idea of being a father, he allowed us, back into his home that they once shared. I grew up having two families, my own which consisted of my mother and absent father and my Uncle’s family including my cousin who was only three years older than I was. I lived at their house for my first five years of life and lived with them when my mother had to work. My father was always at work or traveling for work and was never home. My mother was my favorite person because although I only spent a few hours a day with her, I knew that she need me and I always loved to make her smile. My uncle told me stories from when I was young and I used to do everything to turn her bad days around. My cousin and I put on puppet shows from my favorite storybook, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. With homemade sock puppets and an old refrigerator box, we put on shows that would entertain our parents. Through tired eyes, my mother smiled and watched these shows that seemed to go on forever.

A loud snore woke me from my thoughts and I opened my eyes to see to envelope that I had been carrying around for nearly a week and a half. The tattered parchment and loose seal stared me down once more before I tucked it under my pillow and thought about my mother until I had fallen asleep. The last image of her before I crashed into the pit of darkness was her thick black hair blowing in the wind as she waved goodbye to me as the train took me away for my first day at Hogwarts.

I fell asleep faster than I thought was possible and woke up earlier than I usually did. The tattered envelope slightly wearing into my palm upon consciousness as a small paper cut formed on my ring finger. The sunlight shines through the small round window next to my bed. I kick my feet from under the warm blankets that layer my bed; the cool floor wakes me up better than a cup of coffee. I shove the envelope in my pocket as I pick up my briefcase and take a brisk walk to the Professor’s stone cabin before breakfast.

“It’s a tea for allergies. It tastes like peppermint and it really works” he says as he drinks half of his tea in one taking, the burlap bag floating in the white and blue teacup.

I knit my brow, “I heard of his teas but have yet to try them. I’d ask him someday but he always looks so busy.” Neville tosses a tea bag in my direction.

I pick the brown tea bag up from the table, “What’s this for? I don’t have allergies thankfully.” I push it around my palm, the scent of mint filling my nose.

Neville shakes his head, “It’s a study aid. It helps with focusing on the books.” He picks up his teacup for another taste.

I took the bag and tucked it into my pocket, “Thanks. How much do I owe you?”

He shakes his head and raises a hand, “No. No. It was nothing.” He stirs the tea bag with a spoon. 

I cracked the egg with the backside of my spoon and dipped it into the egg, “Are you attending the tutoring group? I’m supposed to teach a care of magical creatures master class. I think they have an opening for an Herbology teacher.”

Neville bites his lip and slightly slouches, “There’s probably someone better to teach it than me.”

“I object!” I hold up my spoon as a bit of yolk falls to the table, “Neville Longbottom, you’re the best Herbology student in our year and they want someone that is in sixth year to teach it! Don’t doubt yourself; you could even be the next Herbology teacher at this rate!”

He smiles a little and eats a strip of bacon, “I don’t think I’m that good…”

I cut him off before he finishes his sentence, “I think you need to have some self-confidence tea Neville.”

He snorts a little and looks up from his breakfast, “If only he sold it in a tea. Who knows what could be accomplished if he could sell something like that?”

“Maybe it’s best that he doesn’t sell it. Gryffindors are already daring enough.” I point to a bunch of Gryffindor students stuffing their faces of breakfast food in a rush while being cheered on by other Gryffindors. One student spits eggs all over the table and everyone laughs while another throws his hands up and yells “I’m the champion!” as food sprays from his mouth. 

[logandiggory]

I sat against the cottage awaiting any news from the only person that I believe could be my only hope. My hands shook from the sudden emptiness. Tears filled my eyes and warmed my face. Loss is something that seems to be closer than life itself. I ran my fingers through my hair pushing it out of my face. Tiny pebbles stabbed at my legs making me more uncomfortable than I had felt. I could feel a tear run down my face before I could connect that I was actually crying. With my knees pulled up to my face, I knew it would be harder to identify me as a student sitting outside of the Professor's hut. After what had to be about an hour, the door opened with a creak and the bearded professor walked out with a small box and a grim expression written across his face. The giant man’s house was dark on the inside and only let the smallest amount of sun through the broken shutter to the left of the door. Inside the hut felt warm and much more inviting than the weather that had numbed my cheeks. I took the wooden box wrapped with twine and thanked him for his help. His solemn expression narrated the scene without a single word said on his part. His eyes were wet as the overflown tears filled his beard with large teardrops. I was joined on my trip into the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest by the boy that I would consider my best friend. His face remained in a permanent frown as we walked through the piles of snow crunching under our shoes. His dark hair tucked under a dark navy knit hat matching his jumper. Across his back, he wore a leather strap connected to a shovel. We reached a point that seemed suitable for the burial of such a magnificent creature, under a large tree with twisted branches. The sky was clear and full of clouds. For a moment I felt as though he were with me sitting on my shoulder. Creating a small enough pit into the snow buried land; I placed the ligneous box into the earth. I traced the letters into the small pile of snow, H-E-N-R-Y.  I closed my eyes for a moment before standing up and handing the shovel back to its owner. The dirt and snow fell from the shovel leaving a pile between the two of us. The wide-eyed boy made an exchange as he placed his knit hat onto my head. I looked into the shovel’s reflection and looked around quickly. “No-one saw mate” he spoke in a whisper.

From across the room sat a girl with long blonde hair similar to Luna’s hair in length not in color. She wore a white dress with flowers and a knit wrap that she held across herself in a protective way. A teacup sat on the table along with a collection of crystals. The colorful crystals were placed into a line from what seemed to be a random assortment of gemstones. There was also a stone on a necklace among the multiple necklaces that she wore. She seemed to be meditating and looked as though it had been a part of her daily schedule. The scruffy guy that I had seen days earlier in the greenhouse came from behind her and sat next to her with a parchment that he studied. His clothing had been very similar to what he had worn that day in the greenhouse. His hair covered most of his face as he messed with something in his rucksack. He sat quietly beside the girl and that’s when I noticed the similarities between the two. They must have been siblings; they could have even been twins. The guy conjures up a cup of tea into a tin container revealing a few scars across his face. Although the scars were noticeable, most of them seemed to have been there for years while only one was a more vibrant hue of red. He sips his tea quietly while she continues to meditate. Both content in the moment the pair gets a few glares and glances from students moving across the Great Hall. The two were perfect examples of outcasts not giving a damn what others thought of them. They just weren’t scared to be themselves. This is something that I often struggled with personally. The guy finished off his tea and placed it onto the table with a clunk. The girl opens one eye and quickly swipes the shiny container peering into the bottom. She turns her head towards him and it looks like she tells him something that makes him smile, which in turn makes her smile a little. The nonverbal communication between the two nearly confirmed what I assumed about the two being related. I finished up my tea and placed the teacup in the middle of the table before I tucked an unopened letter into my robe pocket.  

I crawled into the common room full of noise and laughter. Someone had set up the record player that had occasionally showed up during holidays and after Quidditch games. I made my way through the crowd and found an empty place to sit on the carpet, under a hanging spider plant. A short ginger boy spoke up as the music lowered, “This will only be a short general meeting about any upcoming events or news. I’ll give the floor to Ernie MacMillian.” The taller version of my roommate for the past five years took to the center of the room. He spoke about the Apparition class, upcoming Christmas holiday, and Slughorn’s holiday party for those invited. Following the announcements a few individuals spoke of tutoring clubs and clubs that could be joined including a newly formed music appreciation club. A young girl wearing a colorful knit scarf stood up and spoke in a small voice, “For anyone needing any help with any problems you may be having, Goliath Lovell sells homemade teas.” She pushed her blonde hair behind her ear as she sat back down quickly with a cup of what I assume is this homemade tea. A few groans and mutters fill the room as the room parts to dormitories. I walk into the partially darkened room as a familiar voice rants into the void. “He’s a Slytherin honestly. Would you buy anything that Malfoy would sell you? It’s probably laced with something that will kill you.” Zacharias’ voice was the only one present in the room as the rest of my roommates had their curtains drawn for either sleep or the idea that they were asleep. “Why is it that Slytherins are always seen as bad? There are plenty of bad people in other houses if you ask me.” My words sounded deeper and harsher than they did when they were in my head. His face was turning red, “Was I talking to you?” I picked up my rucksack and planned on spending a bit of time in the library in preparation for a test that we are having in Defense against the Dark Arts during our next class. Zacharias’ back was faced to me as I left, “Who are you to speak Diggory, honestly. If we are going to talk about hypocrites, I think you should look into a mirror. Your dead cousin was more in his short life than you’ll ever be.” I pressed my wand into my palm forcing it into danger of breaking, “Smith, keep his name out of your mouth.” My jaw was clenched so hard that it was beginning to hurt my teeth. The shorter boy stood blocking the doorway, “Oh so you are jealous of him and all of his glory? You’ll probably end up like your father.  Everyone knows that he is a drunkard.” I took another step forward with my wand bearing into palm, “Move before I make you move.” His short stature stood like a statue in the doorway as I took my robe from the end of my bed. “Coward” he mumbled under his breath as he walks to his four-poster bed. I tossed my robe on and headed out of the common room. I I passed an oval mirror and looked at a face other than my own. I realized that I had no reason to hide in the shadows, so I simply tossed the hood over my newly blonde hair. “Hey Ernie! Ernie!” A voice seemed to be chasing me. “Hey Ernie, Hannah’s waiting for you on the other side of the castle.” I smiled, nodded and waved to the Prefect. The dark-haired Ravenclaw boy pushed his hair out of his eyes before taking to the stairs. The nearly empty castle echoed with my footsteps as I made my way to an isolated tower on the North end of the school.

[logandiggory]

I woke up, from an accidental nap, to the sound of first years exploring one of my favorite places in the castle. Not only were the children gasping at the amount of books that were present, they were also attempting to get into the restricted section but were threatened to be escorted out of the librarian. I glanced at the book resting in my hands, Magical Color Theory, a book about how colors are perceived in the magical world. Had this not been research based, I wouldn’t choose this topic for pleasure reading because it is much more theoretical than I usually lean towards. I pick up my quill dipping it into my ink and scratching notes onto a short piece of parchment. I waved my wand over the parchment watching it dry instantly, and then I rolled it up in a cylinder. With another wave of my wand, the book on the table shut and rose above my head placing itself in its home on the dark wooden shelves. I tucked the parchment roll into my robe pocket and took a detoured route to the common room.   I noticed her from across the crowded room sitting in the chair with the best view of the fireplace. She was curled up with piece of parchment presumably a letter from home. I approached her quietly and sat on my feet next to her chair and looked on into the flames. I didn’t speak too soon as to spook her. A few young Hufflepuffs came into the common room giggling at something. She sat up and folded up the parchment placing it on her lap, “What’s that?” She pointed to the parchment resting in my hand. I passed the roll to her as she took it gently. She took a moment to read over the information written in the royal blue ink. She looked at me before leaning over to give me a hug, “Thank you” she whispered. She leaned back and pulled the necklace from under her collar. It had been another color just a few days ago, something that I noted happened only once in a while. The small vial glowed with a golden color reminding me of Felix Felicis. She twisted the chain and the liquid spun slowly as if it had been filled with honey.

[logandiggory]

“Nev?” my question lingering in the air as the breeze wrapped itself around my face. He muttered as he pulled his arm from the black almost frozen water. “No luck?” I continued to quill notes onto the parchment. He shook his head and quickly dried off his hand with his scarf before applying a cream followed by his gloves.

“No luck but we can at least say we tried.” His face was full of disappointment but he still managed to look hopeful. “Soon as the lake freezes over there will be no hope for finding any until it warms up in the spring.”

He was referring to a water-based plant that was often used for it’s healing properties but was rather rare in Scotland. It has purple leaves underwater that turn blue once emerged. The Flos Miraculum is a plant that Neville Longbottom himself hasn’t been able to find but has been looking for since his second year at this school. This very accomplishment would grant Neville an award from Professor Sprout of what would be at the least house points but he’d know she’d be proud that he hasn’t given up on finding such a plant after all this time.

We traced back to the Greenhouse in which Neville made a compelling case as to when he would attempt to look for the plant again. Professor Sprout told him she was proud of him and that he always could do extra work in the greenhouse if he wanted to. She motioned to a Hufflepuff girl in our year. She was clipping leaves with such patience that only meant that she was enjoying her extra side project. She paid no attention to us when we entered nor in the moment and looked to be in her own world. Professor Sprout smiled, gave a little wave and walked into another room of the greenhouse. The girl still working with her back to us grunted as she worked on an exceedingly stubborn plant.

There was a knock on the glass windows, followed by a guy with long messy hair staring at us from outside the greenhouse. His hair looked as though he had been attacked by the wind and his eyes were borderline crazy. He was looking at the small Hufflepuff girl and miming to a large jar that was balanced on his right palm. “ZORA!” He yelled through the glass windows, “ZORA! LET ME IN. ZORA!” She sighed loudly and placed the clippers down before unlocking the door to let him in. The older boy was hovering over the girl in height and used this difference to make her reach for the jar. She perched her lips, “Fine, I didn’ wanna see ‘em anyway.” He walked by with the large jar lowered as he nodded to the pair of us as Zora ran after him. The thick round leaves were an indication that he had stored a dozen trimmings of Dittany in the glass vessel. “Professor Sprout?” His voice carried through the greenhouse as he went looking for the older witch.

[logandiggory]

“Eleanor.” I gestured to the girl with the auburn hair sitting on my left.  She smiles at Poppy as she glazes her toast with orange jelly, “Poppy, but you already know that. I suppose. So Eleanor” “-Call me El” She interjects as she takes a biscuit from the serving plate. “El, how did you meet Logan?”  Eleanor’s smile dropped and she looked over her shoulder, “Guys are prats.” Her words were spoken quickly as she glanced to me, “Except theur o' course. you’re not even prat-ish int' least.”  I look at Poppy trying to hide my expression, “What El is trying to say is that we met because her ex broke up with her-like the prat he is and I invited her to Slughorn’s party.”  I looked at Eleanor; she was looking across the room at who I will assume was her ex-boyfriend because of her furrowed brow. “I’ll give you a hint of what you missed of the party because unfortunately I have an eidetic memory,” I took a deep breath. The night overshadowed the day as shadows emerged from the dark. The lights illuminated the castle as visitors made their way down the halls. Students and Professors in their finest robes infused the stone corridor with splashes of colors. The rich emerald, the deep ruby, and vibrant amethyst made the castle feel even more alive. The remainder of the boats docked and emerged onto the lit pathway leading them inside. The visitors were a diverse cast of wizards and witches, all which were unknown faces. I peered around as other students were all struck in the presence of the visitors. I couldn’t name anyone in the group especially at the distance in which I stood from them. I looked down at my clothing, the jumper that had seen better days and my pants had implied that I hadn’t thought about attending the party. The invitation was crinkled in my pocket. I sighed and walked a pace before stopping in my tracks. I hadn’t put much thought into going to this event because of the lack of appeal. My best friend had invited his friend, Luna, as his plus one therefore I didn’t want to be a third wheel of such. I ran across (I gestured to Eleanor) who was dressed up and sitting at the bottom of the staircases. That’s when I asked her to go with me to Slughorn’s party. The room had been expanded to accommodate the amount of guests. They were loud, cheerful, and fancier up close. The twinkling lights lit the room and hid any impurities that may have been present. Neville and Luna approached with Butterbeer in bottles, and soon after Professor Slughorn appeared with drink in hand.  He was more talkative and cheerful than ever before in class.  He even made us take a group picture, just as he migrated around the room. We saw you from across the room and you looked like you were sick. Eleanor took you to the lavatory and I talked to Seamus. After that I met up with you two in the bathroom and I made a potion that would make you feel better; something that my father taught me how to make at the age of ten and by now it’s something I could do in my sleep. Eleanor took you back to the common room, and I went to give Seamus a dose and he wasn’t there. I’m not really sure where he went and I couldn’t find him so I assumed he went back up to his common room. I believed that he really did so I didn’t question it when I couldn’t find him.   I looked at Poppy, so that is all you seemed to have missed while you weren’t in your right mind. So how’s Seamus doing? I haven’t seen him this morning and I’m guessing he’s having a really bad hangover. Poppy puts her fork down, “He spent the night in the hospital wing, after he was nearly killed by the moving staircases. Those things are hazardous!”

[logandiggory]

I pressed the wire piece up the bridge of my nose and peered down upon the parchment.  The runes were a bit smudged but were legible.  The first line read ‘At half past twelve’ the second half was written with more haste.  There were enough runes to make up an essay and yet they were on one page.  The secondhand specs were something that I had picked up on my latest trip to Hogsmeade.  The loads of homework and studying had been straining my eyes;I have been using the frames whenever I had to read anything.  No amount of Reparo could help the excuse of earpieces that kept falling off or going crooked.  The only thing that mattered was the actual glass which helped to magnify and clarify with such precision.  The common room was practically empty at five in the morning, there were a couple students snogging in the corner and another sleeping in one of the chairs but it was nothing out of the ordinary for such early in the morning.  My day usually began around four-thirty in which I woke up, showered, got dressed, and I began studying somewhere around five.  When they started serving breakfast, the common room would fill up and become noisy; I take a break and get some breakfast as it is impossible to study with the traffic in the common room.   By now it’s after seven and I’m finishing up my breakfast and finishing my studying.  My homework is done so I go to the library and get my usual table in the middle of the library but away from everyone that goes in there to talk.  Eight is when classes begin so I rush to the classroom in which my first course takes place and then I’m in classes until dinner.  Saturday and Sunday are different because I do admit to have free time.  If I spend it with Neville and Luna, they usually want to go on school grounds and look for creatures and plants which is not something that I oppose doing.  Henry was squirming in my robe pocket and removed him and placed him upon the armchair.  Twirling the feather in his presence was something that he enjoyed.  Not only did he try to bite at it but he also would move his head as though he was in a trance.  A voice came from the opening doorway, “Excuse me, could you get help? My roommate seems to be having a fit of some sort.”  The voice echoed with panic as it disappeared.  I rushed out the common room and obtained the on-call healer from the hospital wing.  Although I couldn’t go to the room to see if I could help, because of the no boys in the girl’s dorms policy, I did find out a few minutes later that the girl was fine when the nurse left the common room without an escort. “Oi Logan you scared me, I thought that no-one was awake right now!”  The voice spoke without presenting itself but I could tell whom it belonged to.  “Why are you awake?”  I spoke up as the figure made an appearance and sat to my right.  “Funny thing actually, my wand woke me up.”  She said with exhaustion as she twisted her hair into a bun on the top of her head.  “What do you mean exactly?”  I asked while pouring her a cup of tea. “I was sleeping then my wand was suddenly blinding me, it woke me up with what seemed to be a flashing Lumos that I didn’t cast.  So I sat up to see what was going on and I heard someone from the next room.  There was a girl on the floor and she was tossing around and shaking.  I stood there and tried to think about what to do but before I could do anything, my wand took over.  It was like it was in fourth year when the French girl fell in the water and wasn’t breathing.  My wand took over and saved her and that’s what happened this time.”  She held her wand as though she was scared of it and placed it onto the table. “Maybe it’s like I told you then, it might be you but you just don’t think it is.  Maybe you know that you are casting but on a more unconscious level.”  I removed my glasses and hung them on my collar.  “When did you start wearing glasses Logan Diggory?” She said as she placed two lumps of sugar into her teacup.  

[logandiggory]

The crisp wind blew through the pages of my textbook as I lay on the grassy lawn listening to my best friend talk about how difficult non-verbal spells were. I held my wand in the air and watched as I levitated my book over my head. “How’d you do that?” He just stared at me with his dropped jaw. “It’s really unfair that you can do that already. I’m hoping that I’ll get it before the end of the year.” “You have to clear your mind and focus as you repeat the incantation clearly in your mind.” I lowered the book onto my stomach. “Easy for you, but you’ve probably been doing advanced magic since you began Hogwarts.” He picked Henry up and put him into my robe pocket. “In coming” he warned in a small voice. “Look what we have here, a couple of love birds?” The vaguely familiar voice was overshadowed by asinine howling. I rolled my wand into my palm and watched as Goyle rose six foot into the air as he swayed from side to side. Crabbe who was standing next to him was screaming as he attempted to pull him down with no success, he ran away after apologizing to his idle familiar. After a moment of staring at the antagonizer, I let him free and he ran off presumably to his other flunky. "Come on Nev, let's find Luna to let her know that we're going to Slughorn's dinner later." I picked up my book and we began to walk to the castle.                                                            *** The office was larger than any that I have seen before, had all Professors had offices this size and had an enchantment to make it look smaller to students? Maybe being a Professor wasn’t as bad as it would seem. I pulled my blazer down and straightened my tie. I felt overdressed already and I had only seen two other attendees. "I thought you said that you were going to dress up? I feel like a prat and probably look like one too." I nervously tugged on my tie. Neville shook his head and took a seat; I walked over to the large round table and sat next to him. The table had many small bowls containing fresh, warm bread cut into slices. I watched as another student ate a piece of bread, before I took a piece for myself. It was amazing, nothing like the bread that they served at Hogwarts. This bread must have been imported from The Three Broomsticks. I watched as a pitcher of clear liquid appeared in the middle of the table. Leaning forward, I filled my glass before another student entered and sat down. How many people were invited to this dinner? I began to question all of the students that met up with Professor Slughorn on the Hogwarts Express and hoped that all of those students wouldn't in fact be joining us. As students filed in, the large table began to look smaller. Poppy sat on my right displaying six miniature creations in which she explained how she came across these items in the Junk Shop. “And you have no idea what they do?” I held one in my palm as light reflected onto it. “I was thinking that they were to make something, all of them together make one invention. Slughorn was showed me his pocket watch that my father made and it was amazing. I wish I could just figure out how these go together.” She said putting them back into her bag sitting on her lap. After the table filled up with an exception of a couple seats, Slughorn pulled out his pocket watch and claimed that the dinner will start now. Food appeared on the table in courses, five courses to be exact. By the end of the dinner, I’m sure that we all had stomachaches. The food was not only delicious but very filling; during the third course I imagined that I would have to adjust my belt. Slughorn spoke to each of us letting us why we were chosen leaving some of us to assume that we were chosen not for our talents themselves but because of who our families were. At that point I knew that at least half of us weren’t like our relatives and probably wouldn’t make the club if that’s what he wanted from us. If only he knew that I was very different than I seemed.                                                      *** “Did you hear what he said about the parties? He’d invite famous witches and wizards to them and we would have parties?” Neville said as we walked down the staircase from our Professor’s office. “That’s only if you are invited into the club and with his high expectations of members, it’s possible that the group he had tonight will be only half by then.” I took the steps quickly before noticing that my friend was still halfway up the stairs, “Neville, are you coming?” His tone was gloomy, “Are you saying that we won’t be chosen?” I walked up a couple steps, “I’m trying not to get overly excited about the club because what if, you know? I mean of course a few of those other guys are shoo-ins, but we’re not like those guys we have to work for everything we are given. I’m sure that it makes us stronger in the end, but it’s just not easier for us either.” He nodded and followed me down the staircase, “Do you want to go to Hogsmeade and hang out with Luna in The Three Broomsticks? She was going to Hogsmeade for supplies, she should be finished shopping.” He gave me a slight smile and hurried past me.

[logandiggory]

The windowpane was allowing a heat wave through the tiny bedroom overlooking the water.  My stacks of books were recently flipped through by both myself and the wind.  The brown leather bound book lay on the floor revealing my scribbled notes.  The page was marked in black ink, a little smudged but still legible.  The title on the first line: How to reveal yourself, followed by bullet points.  I watch from the corner of my eye as a Flitterby landed upon the nose of my newest pet; a mix of Petaurus and Jarvey.  The outcome was a handful that liked to jump and attempted to speak.  Hagrid had forgotten to tell me that it would attempt to mimic every word that was spoken unless it was in a dark place, like a robe pocket or drawer.  He was white with large brown eyes that would stare you down unless you fed it.  Hagrid had given him to me before summer break as a gift for helping him to train the lot.  The bronze doorknob began to twist as the door stayed bolted shut.  There were a couple more twists of the doorknob, followed by a bang and muffled threats.  It was dinnertime, my least favorite part of the day because it was accompanied by quick judgments of a wizard that had been working for twelve hours.  Every night he would come home and complain about everything that happened at the Ministry followed by everything under the sun.  I’m sure that some of the things that he told my mother and I shouldn’t be shared but it seemed to leak from his Scotch glass.  His favorite topic of the week was how many oblivations have taken place.  Of course then he would complain about dinner, to my mother with bandaged hands from working as a seamstress in Diagon Alley.  She worked as much as he did only to receive zero gratitude and only a quarter of how much he made.  The wizarding world was unfair to squibs, which was something that needed to be addressed but never seemed to change.  My emotions somehow slipped from my grip, something my father noticed before I did.  “I thought you learned to control that, do you want to be called a freak?”  He slurred in between his sips of liquor. I could feel my face getting hotter with each passing second until I couldn’t hold my tongue any longer.  “This is who I am and the sooner that you realize that it, the better.”  I saw my reflection in my fork; it was something that I had oppressed for so long.  “The dinner isn’t to your liking? Probably because it doesn’t taste like Whiskey.”  He stood up to reveal his full height, which was only a couple inches taller than me and something that he thought would silence me.  My mother muttered my name under her breath, as she cowered in her seat.  “It’s fine Mum, because he’s not going to do anything to either of us.”  My wand pointing at him, I noticed his wand from across the room. 

I somehow got both of us out of the house with only a few items and used the Floo Network to get to my Uncle’s house.  He welcomed us to stay as long as we needed to, which lasted for the remainder of the summer.  Neville and I would sneak into the house when he was at work to obtain items that we left behind something that was both fun and essential.  By the end of the summer, I found myself sleeping on Neville’s grandmother’s couch. 

“Wake up, my Grand said she would take us to Diagon Alley today.  I heard that there were new shops open including Weasley Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George’s shop.”  He was wearing a poorly knit grey jumper already unraveling at the sleeve and eating a muffin. 

I rolled into the floor and stared up at him, “I’m so tired, I didn’t get to sleep because this thing wouldn’t sleep.”  I said removing the small creature from a box on the table. “Maybe you should give him a name. They tend to listen to you better when given a name to respond to.”  Neville suggested finishing his muffin.  I shook my head, “I can’t think of anything that would work for him. I feel as though his name should reflect upon who he is, but I have nothing.” “What about Henry? He looks like a Henry.”  Neville picks him up and sets him onto my shoulder. 

[logandiggory]

With my hand in my pocket, I retrieved the shiny coin as I flipped it into my palm.  I glanced down as it glowed.  “Maggie?” my voice sounded smaller than I wanted it to.  The blonde girl turned around with a smile across her face, “Yeah?” She held up her finger, “Hold on.”  She says goodbye to her ginger-haired friend.  Then she stepped closer to whisper, “You’re in the D.A. too right?”  I nod, “I’m Logan Diggory.”  Her smile dropped a little, “Right, yeah. What’s up?”  I opened my hand revealing the coin with my outstretched arm.  “This is yours, right?”  She picked up the coin and I watched as she turned it over and double tapped each side before placing it into her robe pocket.  “Thanks, I thought it was lost forever.”  I could feel my face heating up, “Can I ask… what it’s for?”  Her eyes were back to me, “It’s how I communicate with my dad.  He’s kind of protective worrying about me and all.”  “Understandable… I’m sorry but I have to go, studying in the library.”  I held up my stack of five books balancing in my left hand.  “That’s cool, I’ll see you around.”  She pulled her coin out of her pocket and flipped it in the air.  “Quick, Heads or tails?”  She bit her lip expectantly. “Heads”  I said turned half-way between door and her. She took her hand from off the coin, “Heads. Huh, nice guess.”  I turned around and ran into Neville holding his favorite plant, which squirted both of us with the stinksap.  I heard a small chuckle from Maggie as I looked down at my robes covered in dark green liquid.  “That smells gnarly.”  Maggie said from behind me, as I stared at Neville. “Sorry, I was coming to find you. I thought that you forgot-” Neville held up his plant and nodded as to confirm that it was okay. “I’m guessing you guys are study partners?”  She continued to add from behind my back. She walked around to Neville, “I’m Maggie.”  She held her hand out then hesitated before changing her gesture to a small wave. “Neville Longbottom”, he said in a low tone. “Scourgify.”  I used the spell to clean the sap from Neville, the area, and myself.  The girl with red hair ran up and clung onto Maggie’s arm, “You’ll never guess what just happened!” “I’ll see you guys later?”  Maggie said with a smile as she left with the girl. I looked at Neville, “Thanks.” He looked back at me, “I said I was sorry.  Are we going to study in the library? Should I bring it to the common room?” Neville nodded toward his lumpy plant. I nodded in agreement, “Yeah, that would probably be for the best.” 

[logandiggory]

A small token sits in the middle of the hallway, no-one claiming it as their own.  The silver shines and draws me to it.  Picking it up, I flip it over to reveal that its origin location.  Salem is written across the backside of the coin.  I rub the coin as it has a slight glowing element.  I place it into the middle of my textbook and walk to class. 

“Poppy, where is the new girl from-Maggie?”  I inquire putting my book onto the table next to her. “From across the pond. Salem-I think why?”  Poppy says looking up from her notebook. “Just wondering, thanks.”  I pull the chair from against the table and sit down.   “I hate this class.”  Poppy muttered under her voice.   Defense against the Dark Arts was a class that had been better in prior years, but fell behind in delivering it’s fill of informative information this year.  The bitter woman had told us to sit and not talk, read but not perform, and the class hadn’t yet started today.  I open the book, which would have been more suited for an eight year old learning about magic, in fact I think that I had a similar book when I was six years old that my mother picked up for me at the secondhand book store after one of her shifts.  This course was the reason that I had things against theories that didn’t quite pan out.  I opened my textbook and pulled out the coin, which flickered gold from the center as it was held.  I placed it into my trouser pocket and proceeded to pay attention to the instructions, but my attention stood with the coin.

[logandiggory]

I stepped onto the train with my rucksack in hand and a book in my other.  Walking down the hallway and I heard whispered that were at a hush when I passed the carts.  I shuffled into an empty cart tossing my book into the seat and closed the shade.  Privacy had been a problematic element over the course of the summer.  A small knock appeared on the door and it slid open slowly.  I lifted my head over the top of the book and studied who stood in the center of the cart.  “Hello Logan, I’ve been trying to find somewhere to sit.”  “Hi, sit down.” I signal to the empty seats in front of me.  Neville sits down placing his potted plant onto the floor.  “You left this at my uncle’s house.”  I held out a small book entitled Herbal Medicine. “You should let Poppy borrow that sometime, she was looking for a book like that.”  I placed my book onto the seat beside and looked out the window, watching the landscape over the horizon.  The hills were rolling over the land and the sun beaming over them.  I took in the view and closed my eyes.

Just like every other year since I had been at this school, there was a new teacher for Defense against the Dark Arts.  This year in particular was different as the new professor stood upon the stage and delivered an unwelcome speech.  The grunts and scoffs were not something that seemed to bother her; she simply smiled and proceeded until someone came in causing a distraction.  A student, I presume not wearing her uniform walked through the Great hall doors causing everyone to turn and look at her.  She must have just arrived to Hogwarts as she was holding some of her belongings.  The new professor halted her speech in which she proceeded to look at the Headmaster, who was already aware of the situation.  After the speech concluded the Headmaster took the girl by the arm and sat her at the Gryffindor table.  I noticed her staring at the ceiling; she was in such amazement of the magical ceiling of floating candles.  Her face lit up at the food placing itself in front of her and the biggest smile made its way across her face.

There are a few things that I know about the new girl. Number one her name is Maggie.  Number two she in in Gryffindor house.  Number three she has a body guard.  Number four she is a transfer student. 

I’m sitting next to Neville and Luna as they discuss burrowing cockatrice while filling their stomachs with the porridge.  The Gryffindor table was filling up as soon as they noticed Maggie sitting there.  My first class began in a half hour with History of Magic; I shut my book and finished my juice before excusing myself to retrieve my rucksack from the common room. 

[logandiggory]

I look down at the banner of gold and black, Diggory was written with black paint that began to blur my vision.  The cold air breezes through the room and relives me from the affect the paint.  Outside other students roamed aimlessly on the school grounds as they walked hand in hand with their significant other.  Students from the other schools have meshed with those of Hogwarts.  On a bleak weekend, I would find myself either reading books for class or hanging out with my friends.  My newest friend, Neville, had common interests including Herbology.  Neville has been a great study partner because he is as interested in learning more, in the same way that I am.  I’m almost finished with a book that he let me borrow; the healing power of plants on animals is astonishing. 

During the second task, I found myself behind the banner that I made as I watched the calm water from the Black Lake.  Although I secretly wanted to see the giant squid as curiosity always kept me away from the lake, I would have a great view of it if it swam below us.  In the stands, everyone looked practically the same.  Same desolate expression upon everyone’s face as we watched for an hour as the champions were underwater.  Mumbles of death and cheating were all around as I tried to see into the murky water.  After an hour, the champions were judged and Cedric won the challenge and was tied with Harry Potter for first place.  The third challenge would crown a winner and end the year as one that we wouldn’t forget.

[logandiggory]

“Blimey Poppy, you-look really pretty.” That was all that came from my mouth.  She stood across from me, her hair in her usual curls yet they seemed different. Maybe it was the dress, her floor-length powder blue dress that she wore in the most confident way without knowing it.  Her smile overtook the room when I walked in and she made me feel lucky, because I was her date.  We escorted each other to the Great Hall and discovered the secret of the Great Hall during Christmas. 

Although I have never stayed at Hogwarts during holiday, I would have imagined it looking the same year-round.  This Christmas the Great Hall, not just the Great Hall all of Hogwarts seemed to be more decorated because it caught so many other students off guard as they made their way into the room that we had three meals a day in.  The Yule Ball was obviously going to be a special dance; Hogwarts hadn’t hosted one in over 100 years.  I really hoped that Hogwarts had new music.

The fresh pine filled the air and reminded me of home, which was a bit of comfort.  I’m not saying that I would rather be home, because that isn’t the case.  I’m just reacting to this familiar reminder.  This morning was actually a lot greater than they were when I was at home, because this morning started with Cedric waking me up.  My first reaction was ‘Why are you in my room?’ but he was a prefect and he has been in our room before.  For some reason I woke up under a heavy blanket covered with presents.  Mr. Mature thought it was funny and laughed as I unburied myself.  There was a note from my father, which was more than his usual gift to me.  I sat it to the side, as it was something that I would open later.  I really wasn’t in the mood to let him remind me that I was a disappointment to him and ‘to the family’ which he had only ever said.  My mother on the hand was the most generous person.  She worked in the Second-hand Robes shop in Diagon Alley and she didn’t make enough money to buy me all of the things that she did.  My father being the greedy man he is would keep his money in a different vault and didn’t give money to my mother or me.  We were the family that he didn’t know that he didn’t want, but got before he could realize it.  Why am I even thinking about him? Let’s get back to my mother.  She wasn’t able to go to a Wizarding School and although she doesn’t say it, I know that she is always upset about it.  Where would she be now if she could have experienced the things that I have while at Hogwarts?  She wouldn’t be working at a Second-hand Robe shop, that’s the answer.  About half of the presents were from my mother, the rest being from Cedric’s parents.  They practically adopt me when I don’t go home because my mom thinks ‘it isn’t the best time for me to go home’ which is why I usually stay with the Diggorys.  In case you were wondering about why my last name is also Diggory, would be because of that man that helped to create me.  He thought that it was a better idea if I kept my mother’s maiden name and she did the same, so we are Diggorys.  Right, I’ll get back to the big smiling tosser at the end of my bed, who continues to refuse to help me with the gifts.  He handed me a gift that I recognized as the gift that he gives me every year because it is something that we play every year after opening gifts.  Gobstones, the game of fate.  I mean this because sometimes you can’t win and you get squirted with one of the worst smells imaginable.  Ced is the type that usually wins because luck always seems to be on his side.  When I was younger, before I was accepted to Wizarding School, he always let me win because I was a little kid that didn’t seem to understand the rules.  Now that I’m older, he doesn’t do that anymore and well I have to take a shower after playing the game.  We played snake pit and of course I lost.  I came back to the common room and had to shower because no one would care to smell that, no one.  I pulled my perfectly wrinkle-free suit from my trunk and hoped that it would fit since my mother sent it a few days ago via our owl, Oran.  He’s a short eared owl and our ‘family’ owl.  She picked it out for me and I have been hoping that I hadn’t gotten taller since she last saw me or this would be disastrous.  I guess luck was finally in my favor because it actually fit me pretty well and it wasn’t completely horrible.  It was a basic black suit with a white shirt and black vest.  I would be blending in, as I wished to. 

Among the crowd of formally-dressed students, we gathered together and waited patiently for someone to start this dance.  Professor Dumbledore announced that the champions would be dancing first with a select few other dancers from each house; I hoped that we wouldn’t be chosen.  Professor Sprout walked in the other direction and chose two other couples, which meant she wouldn’t choose us.  I exhaled and stood straight again, as if slumping would have decreased our chances.  The music began from the school orchestra and the dance began.

I wouldn’t say that I’m the best dancer.  I had never taken dancing before the one that Hogwarts had.  My dance partner, Leanne, decided to choose me but let me tell you that I wouldn’t have chosen her.  She kept smiling like a maniac and instead of focusing on dancing she would just stare at me, as if she were hypnotized.  It was utterly confusing and a bit annoying actually.  I just wanted to tell her that I didn’t know how to dance and that I needed to focus on dancing and she needed to as well.  Poppy didn’t have a good dance partner either.  Zacharias Smith is prat, and that’s putting it nicely.  I would know he’s one of my roommates.  He’s the only one that doesn’t clean his room and just shrugs when someone mentions it, and then he’ll complain about the quality of house elves.  During dance lessons he was being extremely rude and I had my fists clinched practically the entire time. 

Poppy and I danced for a multiple songs before we took a break to get something to drink.  Our selection? Butterbeer.  Bottled to make sure that this night didn’t end with a massive headache.  There was an open punch bowl that was semi-monitored by Professor Moody.  We took a break and talked about the formality of the whole thing.  Then the most glorious thing happened, The Weird Sisters appeared on a stage in the Great Hall.  Needless to say, I was excited.  They were on tour in Ireland and have been since the beginning of the month, but they were here.  I hoped that they would play Do the Hippogriff because it was my favorite song of theirs and they played it first.  I grabbed Poppy’s hand and brought her into the soon to be mosh pit.  They were amazing.  I was so happy in this moment that I would have wanted to bottle it up for future reference when I’m not as happy.  I would remember this moment, for years to come and probably when I’m eighty-two.  Five songs in the band took a break and we decided that we should too.  Poppy saw her friend Theo at the refreshment table and spoke to him for a bit before we went to the food table.  There were a lot of food but I couldn’t decide what I wanted.  It was Christmas so fruitcake would have been great, but nope that wasn’t on the menu.  Poppy choose a chocolate biscuit and I chose a sweet roll.  Before heading to find tables, Poppy saw yet although familiar face, well two.  Seamus and Dean.  They were sitting alone looking terrible.  Poppy left and went to talk to them.  I don’t mind being left alone, I really don’t so don’t think that I’m complaining about it in the least but all I wanted was to sit down and relax.  I stood and glanced at the ceiling of the Great Hall.  Usually covered by a charm, at night it would look like the night sky which if it were any day but Christmas.  There were large ice sickles and snow flurries coming from it but melting before it could reach the ground.  Poppy walked back over to me quickly and I handed her a drink.  We walked back to the dance floor as I watched the Weird Sisters perform three more of their hit songs. 

The next thing I know we’re walking outside for some air and a light snow greets us as soon as we walk outside.  The snow fell in small snowflakes and had piled up since this afternoon.  I collected a cluster of snow in my hand and rolled it into a ball.  Poppy smiled at me and looked at the dark sky.  Although I knew it was late, I have never been outside Hogwarts this late at night.  What time was it?  I quickly withdrew my question because it was Christmas; we were at the Yule Ball it didn’t matter what time it was.  We didn’t have a curfew today, did we?  Usually they wanted us back in our common room fairly early, which I always am.  I don’t stay in the halls or wander around the school.  Some people do that, but it’s not that appealing to me.  Why would you risk losing points for your house?  An artic chunk of ice skimmed my face.  I turned at looked back at Poppy whose smile took up her face.

I shook my head and picked up some snow and molded it into my hands.  She ran behind a carriage and ducked.  I’ll say it right now; I wasn’t planning on throwing a snowball at her.  First off, it’s cold out here and second, she’s wearing a sleeveless dress and it’s freezing out here.  I was only making a snowball to scare her.  I look from the left to right of the carriage and decide to go to the right.  She was looking in the other direction on the other side of the carriage, craning her neck around the corner.  I walked up to her and tapped her shoulder and she squealed.  “LOGAN! Don’t do that!”  She said barely audibility through laughter.  “Aren’t you freezing? I mean you don’t have a jacket on.”  She nodded, “A bit, yeah.”  At this point, I wasn’t sure if she wanted me to take my jacket off and let her wear it, but I was kind of hoping she was because that’s what I did.  “Thanks” she said putting on my jacket, which almost seemed to swallow her. 

Me: Are the carriages always out here? Her: Yeah, I think so. Maybe they turn into pumpkins during the day.  Me: Why would they turn into pumpkins? Her: You know like in Cinderella? Me: What? Cinder-whata? Her: You’ve never heard of Cinderella? It’s a fairytale, a story. Me: No. I guess maybe it’s a muggle story, I’ve just never heard of it. Her: Well I know what I’m bringing you next year. Me: “Do you want to go back inside? You’re lips are turning blue.”  Her: “Well we should go inside then. We can get a hot beverage.”  Me: “Yeah, that seems like a good idea.”  I held my arm and she wrapped hers around mine, I could feel her shivering.  We walked past a group of Beauxbaton students and their dates running into the darkness.  With mumbled and multiple spoken word, I hear bits of words that taken out of context are odd.  I don’t know French, but some words that I heard include: oui, tu, mon, moi, and aller.  I knit my brows and look back at the group that had seemed to disappear.  We walk past a couple snogging against the wall as they practically push past us to meet their friends in the darkness.  Now I’m alone, standing in a dimly lit hall leading into the castle.  Poppy was gone, I looked back and watch the couple depart into a carriage.  “Poppy? Poppy, where are you?”  I walked back into the darkness and squinted my eyes, hoping that it would give me some sort of advantage that my wand could, if only I hadn’t left it on my bed.  I walked back into the hall and back into the castle looking around every corner.  “Susan, have you seen Poppy? Did she come in here?”  Susan looked up from her glass of blue liquid, “No, I’ll tell her you’re looking for her if I do.”  I nod and pick up a glass of Gillywater, “Thanks.”  I proceed to walk around the entire Great Hall looking for my date.  The funny thing was that I walked right past Donaghan Tremlett (from The Weird Sisters) and I forgot to say hello or tell him that I was a fan.  I noticed that he was getting mobbed by other fans and I thought that I shouldn’t add to that flock.  I looked around and to my surprise there weren’t a lot of people still in the Great Hall.  It seemed as though they moved the parties to their common rooms.  Maybe that’s where Poppy was, she could have went into the common room and if she were in there she would be in the chair right next to the fireplace.  She would probably be wrapped in a blanket and drinking a hot cup of tea.  “Dean, have you seen Poppy?”  He was talking to the Patil twins and gave me some nod and eyebrow raise.”  I looked behind me and Poppy was coming from a drink table.

“Have you been here since you left me?” “No.” She sniffed and looked to her right, “Bathroom. I was in the bathroom down the hall.” “Oh, you should have told me where you were going.” “I…umm…sorry, I didn’t know that you would be looking around for me.” “Why wouldn’t I? I mean you are my date.” “Yeah, do you want to leave?” “Do you?” “I asked you first, but in case you were wondering. I would like to leave.” “Are you going to tell me why were in the bathroom crying?” “What? I wasn’t…” “You’re eyes are red and your nose is pink. I’m rather observant.” “You don’t want to hear about it, trust.” “Poppy, you know you can tell me.” She shook her head, “Not here.” “Well let’s go back to the common room. Will you talk about whatever is bothering you there?” She nodded and put down the clear glass.

Back in the common room was rather crowded; it seemed that some upper year students had gotten their hands on a barrel of Firewhiskey and were acting completely mental.  A tall guy with dark blonde hair held out two cups and we waved them off. 

“Logan, that couple that walked past us snogging…it was Seamus and his date.” “The one’s that went into the carriage?” “Went into the carriage? What are you talking about?” “The carriages that were outside, they were snogging and went into one.” “Why would you tell me that?” “I was asking if that was who you were talking about.” “I thought you knew how I feel about him.” “Seamus? You like him…” She wiped her eye and made a streak on her cheek.  Her words turned into a flood of nonsense, from “He doesn’t even know her” to “How do I even look at him again” and “Do you think that they…you know...?”  That last one was really awkward but again I didn’t answer any of these because well I didn’t know what to say.  “Poppy, I think that it will help if you get some sleep.”  She stood up, “Yeah probably. I’ll see you in the morning, okay. Can we eat breakfast together in the morning? Eight?”  I nodded walked her to the girl’s dorm entrance, “Goodnight, see you in the morning.”  Her voice cracked, “Yeah, good-night.”  She left and I looked back at the fire waving its arms to get my attention, in which I put the flame out with a spell and went to my room.  As always, Ernie was snoring and the room was dark except a bit of light coming from a crack in Zacharias’ tapestry curtains around his four-poster bed. 

[logandiggory]

I woke up to the sun shining onto my face through a crack in my golden drapes that framed my bed.  Without knowing what time it was, I knew it was late. Not late, but later than I usually woke up every day while at Hogwarts.  Today was a special day, it was a weekday but we didn't have any classes today which was refreshing. Tuesday and not a single class, today was going to be great.  I opened the curtains and there was Ernie getting dressed in the middle of the room. 

"Morning Ernie, what time is it?" I climbed off my bed and pulled my trunk from under my bed. "My watch says it 9:23am. Why are you just now waking up? You're usually the first to wake up." "I got in late from the library last night, well this morning."  I pulled my grey jumper from under a small stack of books.  "Does this have anything to do with that girl. What's her name, umm-Poppy, is it?" "Poppy? What about her?" I said quickly grabbing my mahogany messenger bag. "You go with her, right? Don't be shy, I go with Hannah." Ernie beamed. "She's my best friend. Besides I was in the library studying with my cousin. I'll see you at the tournament."  I left the room before Ernie could brag about his girlfriend to me anymore and besides I was already running late for breakfast. 

I got to the Great Hall and to my surprise Poppy was sitting alone at the Hufflepuff table, her face lit up when she saw me walking towards her.  With a hand motion that told me to sit down next to her I placed my bag down on the stone floor and sat on the bench on the right side of her.  She drank her cup of tea that she always drank, during every meal and in the common room.  Tea must be something that is routine in her home.  I imagine that she makes a pot of tea for her mother and herself and they sit down and talk about their day, over a cup of freshly brewed tea.  Or maybe it was her father that always drank tea and she just picked it up from him and continues to drink tea throughout the day to remind herself of him.  I fill my plate halfway full with food and fill a glass with orange juice.  The orange juice was unknowingly extra tart this morning which made me think twice of getting orange juice again and instead I would opt for water or even tea. 

“Logan did you find out anything about the-” She pulled her wand from her jacket and sat it on the table.  “I um, I was really busy last night.”  I drank a sip of my acid juice and regretfully swallowed the substance.  “You were busy, with homework?”  “Yeah, you know. Homework, I was revising my antidotes paper.” I lied then swiftly grabbed my messenger bag and placed it between us.  “Poppy, do you want to help me with a little project before the first tournament?”  She smiled and nodded with confusion as she finished her tea.  “Come on, let’s go somewhere we can lay this out.” I pulled part of the banner from the corner of my bag and she looked at my plate, “Aren’t you going to finish your breakfast?”  “I-I’m not really hungry, let’s get this done before the tournament begins.”