Lisa

I am having a hard time believing that it's been almost a year since I was last at Hogwarts. But I'm sure those of you who are just about done - can't wait to be out. Good luck on your NEWTs! And it is really great on the outside!

[Michael]
Come over for dinner tonight?

[Michael]
So. Are you still mad at me?

I went on a date last night. It was fun and I really enjoyed myself. Can't wait for the next one.

[Michael]
I really mean all that. Thanks.

I can't wait for the weekend, although this week is turning out to be really good.

[Michael]
Want to come over for dinner tonight?


And before you ask... I haven't heard from Mandy yet.

[Mandy]
I've got loads to tell you. Since I don't know when I'll be seeing you again, with you busy with Quidditch and me with work, I thought I'd just tell you on here and now.

I slept with I'm dating Michael and I are going to try having a relationship. It's my doing because...well...we slept together.
[/Mandy]

[Michael]
Hi.

I don't know when I'll actually get to see Mandy again, so I told her under a ward.
[/Michael]

I am close, so very close to getting my hair fixed. Its only frustrating that I haven't found anything to make it work yet. Though, I've come to accept that I have been fortunate with mishaps so far. Really there are far worse things that can happen, more embarrassing than my hair colour. Several of my co-workers have gone to St. Mungo's so I'm hoping to Merlin that doesn't happen to me.

I was over at my sisters' place over the weekend and found out that my niece, Caroline, can say my name. Very exciting day. I'm clearly her favourite aunt, though I'm her only aunt. She "talks" quite a lot even though none of us can understand a word that she says, unless its one of our names. She's so adorable. Nate and Lissa are too. Sometimes I wish I could see them more, but I already see them plenty as it is.

The one downside of my job, the side effects when a charm doesn't work properly. Not only do I have to continue researching the proper techniques to cast a new charm but I also have to find a way to fix the side effect. Somehow I always wind up with a different hair colour and I'm not even working on hair charms. I could live with the blue hair, but not this multi-coloured thing that seems to be going on. Can't even get a working charm to cover it up. I'm really hoping its not permanent. Though, it isn't as bad as some of the other things that happen, which thank Rowena, haven't happened to me.

Everyone have a good Halloween? I did.

I'm almost done with my training and that is pretty exciting. When I'm done, I can pick an "area" to invest my time in coming up with new charms. I have no idea what I'm going to pick. I'm hoping to get some idea before my training is finished at the end of the month, but chances are I am not going to be able to pick one out for myself, much like I was when I was trying to find a job. All I'm hoping for is that when I do start working on a new charm, it doesn't backfire even though it is fun sometimes trying to figure out a way to reverse it.

And:

Write 5 facts About Yourself:

1. I am the youngest in the family.
2. I speak French.
3. I have an adorable bunny that Mandy got me for my birthday.
4. I love reading.
5. I can play piano.

Happy birthday to me. I congratulate myself on actually remembering it this year, unlike last year. It helps not being in school, but only a little bit. Plus, there was actually separate celebrations with the family with my niece Caroline, whose birthday is the 2nd. That helped too. I'm going to dub this birthday much better than last years because I forgot. Also, there is a little bunny named Floppy that now has residence in Mandy and my flat. He's a cute little thing. I'll probably share pictures once I find my camera. I don't know where it is at the moment.

[Michael]
MR MICHAEL CORNER! I didn't forget to ask my sister about her transporting with babies. She was very vague about it. It took weeks to get a straight answer from her. Her husband is muggleborn and has a car and they usually travel the muggle way. How unhelpful! However, she did say that they take the Knightbus to get to places quicker. There was no mention of international travel and I think if they ever did, it'd be by portkey.

So there is your answer. No flying involved.

I think Mandy and I are going to have a party soon, I'd just have to talk to her.
[/Michael]

My job is interesting. We work on creating new charms and it is interesting to see how a charm is created and how it gets put into textbooks. I mostly just watch the others right now since I'm still in training. What I like most, other than it is rather fun, is that I don't have to start from the bottom of a chain. Pay is only based on experience and that is the only difference between each of us in the department so we are all equals. It is rather nice.

That match sure was fun to watch. I'm glad I went.

In other news, I am happy with my NEWTs, at least my Charms one. I got an O! My brother Alex was so kind and got me a pamphlet of jobs. I looked them over and the opening on the Committee of Experimental Charms sounded like fun. After contacting them, I was pretty much told it all depended on my NEWT in Charms and since I got an O, I think I've got myself a job that I'll actually enjoy. I feel like a weight has lifted now that I know what I'm going to be doing for now.

[Private to Mandy]
What is your schedule like in the next couple of weeks? I think its time for a party!
[/Private]

I've got pictures of Mandy and my place. I don't have a picture of Mandy's room, I'll let her take the picture herself, but I do have pictures of my room and the rest of the place. I love it.

( Pictures! )

I can't believe we got a really good deal on it. It is amazing and I'm think this is the best first flat to live in. And I get to share it with my best friend!

Could someone please tell me why I agreed to babysit my nieces and nephew for the week? By myself?

Actually, its only three days total, but it feels a lot longer and the first day is not even over yet. All I hope for after my sister and her husband come back from their little vacation is that I don't have to watch all 3 of them at once for several years.


I can, however, gush about how cute Nathan and Melissa are. They are so adorable. And so tiny. I remember when Caroline was as small as them. It wasn't all that long ago. Well, I need to go spoil them some more.

I can't believe I'm finished. I knew it was coming, but it was just so hard to imagine. Plus, yesterday was such a shock, and an excellent way to end the school year. We won both the Quidditch and House cup. I never would have imagined that happening. I'm so proud of the team and the rest of the Ravenclaws. We did good.

( Private to Mandy )

It won't be too much longer until us seventh years say goodbye to Hogwarts. I honestly still have no clue as to what I want to do. I think I'll just start out working at Flourish & Blotts. I've been corresponding with them for the last month and have been offered a position. At least its a start.

All I am looking forward to now is a celebration. Actually sounds like a really brilliant idea now Not only celebrating that we are finished with our education, but I've got another reason. My sister had her twins a couple of weeks ago, Nathan and Melissa. I can't wait to see them. Michael, you'll have to come visit them sometime.

( Private to Mandy )

As some of you know, I promised a while ago to post photos. Apparently, I am as bad as my sister and mother in getting around to that sort of thing because I've had these for a while, but never shared them.

( 3 (large) pictures spellotaped in journal )

I also mentioned a while ago that my sister was pregnant again. She's actually pregnant with twins and I won't be home when she's due. My duties as an aunt will be postponed until the end of term.

Now, Michael, I thought I would share that when I finally see them, there will be sick up.

( Private )

I had a wonderful holiday. It was nice to be with my family again and to see my little niece again. Since the last time I saw, she has really been on the move. Exhausting and amusing all at the same time. Christmas morning was just a joy and a lot more fun than last years' because Caroline could help us all unwrap our presents. Mum took loads of pictures and daddy used his muggle video camera to capture all of the wonderful moments.

Now that the holidays are over, its time to go back to school and enjoy the last term at Hogwarts. I don't really want to think about the end right now because it still seems so far away, but its close at the same time. Rowena knows that it has been brilliant.

In some way, I managed to keep this journal well hidden from myself in plain sight, sitting among the small stack of books I have under my bed. I suppose I just didn't want to interact with anyone, by way of their entry or mine. It's actually rather boring, after not knowing what insights some have written recently.

Not that many would care to know, but I've been sending many owls back home to mum, requesting that my father send me some literature about the Tudor period in England. He found quite a few books, many of them on Queen Elizabeth I. I find that time period quite fascinating, and if I were not a witch, I'd probably persue a history degree at a university, specializing in the Tudor period. Too bad that was more of a beheading era than a burning era. We might have covered a bit of that history in History of Magic, though I still doubt I could have managed well in that class even if we had.

This House Buddy project seems like a decent idea, being paired with someone we don't normally talk to. Yet, I don't necessarily agree that we have to complete this in order to finish our education. I feel sorry for the younger years I think the prize at the end with the contest is what makes me feel that way. Oh well. I don't think it should be all too hard a project to do, so far anyway. Besides, its only for a month.