Hermione Jane Granger

First of all, the celebrations here have been stomach-turning. I mean, I'm all right with the usual things but this was just horrible. Narcissa Malfoy swanned in as though she was the mistress of Buckingham Palace, which I suppose she is, and Harry was in a horrible mood, so he didn't pay any attention to me, and everyone was in such a good mood that they paid attention to me, which can sometimes be nice of course, but it's not nice when you've just come from somewhere and had a wand and been a real wizard, and they all are saying how clever you are because you know how to read.

Only, then I was sitting around in Harry's room because mine adjoins his when we're at Buckingham only mine's still a cupboard, and he left out this letter from you, Sirius, right where I could see it, you must have sent it very early, but I closed it up and hid it, and showed Harry when he came back in the room where I'd hidden it - it's under the desk stuck with Spellotape - and he sort of smiled and didn't say anything. Honestly I think he's sorry about Sirius, and I can't tell him he's not dead, only I wish I could. I mean I think that he would be all right if I did, I don't think he'd tell anybody. But I know that we could run into someone Legilimising Harry and then he'd really be in trouble if he knew anything.

Anyway, in the letter I guess I shouldn't really say what you said, but it was really sweet, Mr Black. And I think he's really taking your word, I mean he's been sticking to Mr Rabastan like nothing else, and can you tell me a little bit about what Snape looks like so I know? I mean now that I have my wand maybe I can help if something happens.

I suppose one thing that I almost didn't think to say is, I'm sure professor McGonagall knows this, but do you all have any idea how scary the Lord Protector has got? I think that must be at least half of the reason why Harry's in such a horrible mood, is because his Father is so strange now. I don't know what it is, I mean, he must have done something. But his face is all strange and sunken, and his skin is awfully white, and his voice is higher than it used to be, and he always had a widow's peak but it's really bad now, and he just looks strange now, not even really human.

Anyhow he mostly leaves me alone though, which is just like last summer, which is good. I've got my cupboard and Harry's nice as usual, so that's all all right. But that's what's happened here.

I've been thinking rather alot, and I've been wondering, do you all think that it would be all right for me to tell the tiniest bit to the people who gave me and Terry our wands??

I don't mean I'd tell any names or anything. It's only that I'd really like to be able to tell them we've got a way of hiding things, and keeping them safe on us, and using them. And I don't think they'll pry too much and anyway I can just not tell them. But I feel guilty not making sure they know everything is safe and that we have friends here, and I just can't see how else I can re-assure them...

I Solemnly Swear that I am Up to No Good

I think Harry's going a bit bonkers. He keeps wanting me to go get books about house-elves of all things. And he told me about I'm not sure why.

Also, I've heard a lot of people saying things, talking about who the "heir" is, and some people say it's the heir of Slytherin, and some people say it's Harry because he's the Lord Protector's heir, and I overheard someone talking and I thought what if Harry is the heir of Slytherin? Only I know he isn't the one doing this stuff, I'm sure of it, I mean, I wasn't with him in the hospital wing or anything but I'd know because he couldn't hide it if it was him.

What do you lot think?

Draco's down, I don't know if he's okay, he looks like he's breathing, I don't know, the queen sort of dragged him off the board.

What do we do now?!

Professor Carrow has gotten a lot creepier lately. He used to just be mean but now he drew pictures of Terry sleeping on the walls. Terry is really frightened. I would be scared too.

Terry said that he drew it in reddish brown ink and I don't want to think about what it's made of. It sounds like the Dark Arts. I know that people use the Dark Arts all the time but they're Dark, aren't they, and they shouldn't be used on Terry, should they?!

He said that once he woke up and Professor Carrow was watching him sleep.

Professor McGonagall, can you do anything? I'm scared for Terry but I'm also scared because he keeps giving me looks when he comes in the library and I don't want him to look at me like that. But Madam Pince can't say anything of course.

Madam Pince is at breakfast late, so I've time to write - finally - hooray!!

Things have been going well for Terry and me when we're learning about magic. Only Madam Pomfrey can't do everything I want to learn. We keep trying to do potions and she says "No, I don't have the materials." Because she can't ask for any materials that aren't used in healing on their own, since Professor Slughorn or the kids in classes mostly make her potions for her. She says she's going to try to come up with excuses but I know that even though she's on staff she could get in trouble for that, so I suppose she oughtn't and I told her so.

Terry is smarter than I thought he was and he's learning really fast, faster than I ever learned things. He isn't afraid of things either. Yesterday he cut his hand and Madam Pomfrey didn't notice for fifteen minutes because he didn't say anything, but the blood got into our potion and turned it blue! I still don't think he'd tell her if he got hurt, but at least now he knows that he has to bind things like that up so that it doesn't ruin potions.

I don't know how I feel about the Lord Protector coming. I suppose I won't see him at all. I'll just stay away. I hope I don't run into any Dementors, they sound very nasty.