The Christmas Holidays:

We're at home now.

I was playing Wizards' Chess with Anita, and wondering where the others were. I hadn't seen them all day. I knew Ed was probably studying in his room. Jared told me he's been working on some strange invention ever since we've been home.

Anita had just taken one of my knights, when I heard Ed shouting really loudly from his window.

"You came back! WHY did you come BACK?"he was yelling.

I ran to the window. The room we were in was below his. Outside, I could see Jared and Lotty trudging through the snow, towards the house, looking tired and gloomy.

"It's stopped working!"Jared yelled up at Ed,"we couldn't tell you because it stopped working!"

"It works fine, you just don't know how to use it!"Ed bellowed back.

"We got your potion ingredients!"Lotty shouted up.

"I don't care about potion ingredients!"Ed shouted,"go back, now! And use it correctly, this time!"

"I'm going in the house!"Jared replied, angrily,"I'm going to SIT DOWN, put my feet up, and have a nice cup of tea!"

"Me too!"Lotty chimed in,"we're sick of being your apprentices!"

"Don't you DARE come back in the house!"Ed was yelling, as Lotty and Jared deliberately defied him.

I couldn't help laughing. What was going on? I ran to greet them as they entered the house.

"What's going on?"I asked.

"Ed's been testing out this voice-carrying invention of his,"Jared said, showing me a strange, cone-shaped device.

"Yes, he sent us out to collect potion ingredients,"Lotty said,"he was testing to see how far away it would go and keep on working. But then it suddenly stopped working and we could only hear him, he couldn't hear us, so we came back."

"That's because I MUTED you, you idiots!"Ed's voice came from the stairs behind us,"you kept on asking loads of stupid questions!"

"If you already had so much confidence in it's capabilities, why did you send us out to test it?"Jared asked.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Yeah! We're keeping the potion ingredients, by the way!"Lotty added.

"What use would YOU have for them?"Ed raged.

"You're not the only one that knows how to brew potions,"Jared answered, indignantly.

They began arguing, so I decided to return to my game of Wizard's Chess with Anita, before they tried dragging me into it... but, as is the case with most of our sibling arguments at home, I did end up being dragged into it. Anita too, when Jared accidentally spilled his tea all over the chess board, and there was a whole load of comotion until Dad came in and threatened to cancel Christmas if we didn't shut up!

Christmas Day:

Jared got two real swords for Christmas! They're both blunt, so not exactly dangerous. He wanted to try them out right away, but Ed was too busy examining some magical gadgets he had gotten, so Jared made me go outside with him instead.

One of the swords was much heavier than the other one. He gave me the lighter one. I've practiced sword-fighting with Jared before, but only with sticks and wooden swords.

"Now - parry!"Jared began,"no - look - you're holding the sword wrong! You don't hold it like that - no, actually, keep it like you are now - parry!"

Jared whacked his sword into mine, and it went backwards into my shoulder.

"Ow!"I said.

"See, that's what happens when you parry incorrectly!"Jared said,"if that was a sharp sword, that would have cut into your arm and injured you. I'd have sliced you with your own sword in your own hands! Now you need to work on how to grip your sword and wield it in a defensive position - you have to hold it like this, ready to thrust it forward!"

"Jared, wizard kind don't need swords to fight,"I said, after a while, starting to get tired of practicing outside in the cold,"even Muggles don't use them any more."

"This is an incredibly useful skill to know,"Jared insisted,"it was good enough for thousands of years of Muggle warfare, and there have been occasions where wizards have fought with swords as well!"

"It's cold!"I objected,"I can barely hold the thing in my hand! My fingers are frozen solid!"

After I went in the house, he continued practicing outside by himself, demolishing an old scarecrow down by the vegetable patch.

Beginning of January:

We're going back to school tomorrow. Only I've decided I don't want to go back! I'm dreading going back! Why? Because of something AWFUL that I've just found out!

My parents, and Antonius Parkinson's parents, have been trying to matchmake me and him!

Yes! The horror of it! I've just had to listen to a long lecture from Dad telling me over and over how important it is that I marry a pureblood, it's my duty as a Carrow bla bla bla, about how I 'won't get any better than Antonius' etcetera etcetera.

But it gets even worse! Antonius knows! He's known since before I knew! Since last summer! That's why he's been giving me so much unwanted attention; sitting next to me, trying to start conversations, following me around!

All my siblings know now too! Horror of horrors! They all know because I got into an argument with Mum and there were loud shouts, and Anita and Jared looked delighted! I know I'm never going to hear the end of this!

Later:

I've been talking to Lotty about it. She is always the most understanding. She told me I need to face my fears and not let embarrassment get in the way.

"You do what YOU want,"she said,"if you don't like Antonius, just tell him."

"But how do I tell him?"I said,"I don't want to go NEAR him!"

"You have to face your fears,"Lotty went on,"it's either that or you hide from them and make yourself miserable."

I know Lotty's right. When I next see Antonius, I have to tell him he's wasting his time. I have to let him know. Otherwise there will be no peace, and I don't fancy spending the rest of my time at Hogwarts hiding from him.