Padma Patil

A reminder to all students that journals are open to all staff to read as well, unless marked otherwise, so you should be careful about what you say. The rules still apply to what is said between students, even if it's not said aloud.

( Private to D.A. )

( Private to Prefects & Ernie )

I don't really feel any older. But it was a nice day, and Parvati and I had some gifts and things from home. Thank you to everyone who wished us happy birthday.

( Private to D.A. )

( Private to Professor Tonks )

Oh for Merlin's sake. I know things aren't exactly perfect, but graffiti on the castle walls doesn't do anything but irritate people into making things worse, you know.

Anyone caught defacing school property automatically loses twenty points for their House, and will have to scrub up whatever it was they were doing. Without magic. And we will catch you!

( Private to Prefects )

( Private to D.A. )

( Private to Prefects )

( D.A. )

( Private to Headmistress McGonagall )

I know that everyone is in a state of excitement right now, but consider this an official reminder that you are back at school, and even extended hours are still hours and rules apply. No hexes in the halls, and points will be docked if you're out after hours. Detentions for repeat offenders. And I don't care what the third year at the next table said to you, throwing pie is not allowed. Though he did deserve it.

( Private to Headmistress Mcgonagall, Professor Charles Weasley, and Ernie Macmillan. )

Happy birthday to those whose birthdays I missed! I'm very sorry, and hope you had a lovely day.

I didn't get nearly everything done this weekend that I wanted to. I hope everyone else was more productive.

( Private to Justin )

( Private )

I feel as if I barely talk to anyone, save to talk about official sorts of things. How is everyone?

Let's talk about something other than the squid or Charms. Who does everyone fancy for making the pros Quidditch finals this year?

I'm sad to see the squid go as well, but it DID attack a student - maliciously or not. That student's parents did what any caring family would do and reported it. They happened to succeed. I have my misgivings about whether or not it should be removed, but there's no excuse for retaliating against someone who was injured in the first place, and another who was simply expressing support for their family - however it was stated.

( Private to Daphne and Astoria Greengrass )

( Private to the D.A. )

( Private to Parvati )

I'm very sorry to the Slytherins for what happened, and it's been taken care of. If one more of you demands to know who did it, or calls me incompetent for not stopping it before it happened, I'm going to hit something.

Would any of you who plan on trying out for the Ravenclaw team this year mind if I watched tryouts? I like to see everyone fly, even if they don't quite make the team this time. But I don't want to make anyone more nervous.

( Private to Parvati )

That really was an awful, slanted, and badly written article. I'm not even sure what position we were supposed to believe they were taking on the whole thing, or whose perspective they were representing? The paper's, we're supposed to believe, I suppose? I think it more likely it was just. . . a reporter run amuck whose editor wasn't watching what they printed. That was low, even for the Prophet.

Congratulations anyway. I hope the wedding went better than the article implied.

( Private to D.A. )

Parvati and I managed to convince our parents to let us go to Diagon on Wednesday. I know Parvati has a half dozen stops, but somewhere in there we'll be getting school supplies as well. She might plan on shopping with Lavender her friends, mostly. I'm not sure yet.

But would anyone like to go? It'd be safer more fun with someone else along.

I think these journals will take a little getting used to. It's odd seeing everyone's writing just show up in one another's pages. But I think it will be very handy.

Parvati and I got our letters today. I got another letter later though. I'd always thought they went out at the same time, but my notice came separately. I'm Head Girl this year. Mum was a bit reluctant to let us go back this year, but I hope that will help convince her. I can't imagine not going back to Hogwarts to finish out school. Even if I'm still not sure just what I want to do AFTER school.

I'm really surprised. I thought Hermione Granger would be chosen. I think everyone did. I just hope it won't be too hard to balance the position with my studies. And that people don't hate me for taking points or anything.

There's so many changes this year - I wonder how differently everything will run. I can't imagine Dumbledore not being Headmaster. Professor McGonagall is brilliant, of course. But it's just not the same. It feels less safe if he's not in charge.

I just hope it will be a good year anyway.