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Sunday, 1st of January 1978
Hello future!
These are our last few months at Hogwarts, and I will be documenting them. Well, actually we’ll all document them, this album is meant to be for all of us, but as I’m undoubtedly the best for the job I’m going to monitor what everyone puts in here. And my handwriting is the only one that’s readable anyways. Yes, even Remus, his writing gets incredibly messy when he’s tired, and he’s tired most of the time. This is actually like a Muggle yearbook – I read Petunia’s when I was home, but I’m determined to make this one a lot more magic.
So this half a year, our last one, will start today, Sunday, January 1. It kind of started last night already, though, so at the end of this entry I’ll be adding some of the pictures that were taken last night. They’re not all pretty. That party is also the reason for that there’s quite a bit of glitter on this page, but more about that later.
At first, we’re starting the year the classical way: With our New Year’s resolutions. We’ve all written them down and I’m going to glue them into this album with a charm so that we can laugh about them when we’re fifty years old. First go mine, because this album was offered to me after all.
In 1978, I want to get at least five O’s and pass my seven NEWTs. (They tell me I’m mad because I took seven, but I tell them that I’m simply ambitious. And I know very well that I only need three.) I want to decide on a career and apply for the formation. I want to find a flat somewhere I’d like to live. I want to travel somewhere that’s not England. I want to forget about my sister. I want to take better care of my hair (it’s getting all frizzy). I want to learn how to bake the house elves’ pumpkin pie (because I will miss it!). I want to no longer fall asleep in the common room on a regular basis.
Then go James’, because they made me laugh. And because I kind of love the idiot.
This year, I want to win the Quidditch house cup with my team. I want to make Lily share a flat with me, whether she wants to or not. Think of the economy! I want to get at least four O’s in my NEWTs. (Just because Lily teases me already that she’s taken one NEWT more than me. She won’t laugh anymore when exams are due.) I want to be admitted to the Auror academy. I want to pull the prank of the century that will make everyone remember the Marauder’s forever. I want to no longer annoy Lily (though it will be hard).
Then I’ll put Marlene’s, who has sent them to me in a letter, being the only one that has actually gone home, because she’s my best friend and I love her, too.
In 1978, I wish to pass as many NEWTs as possible. I wish to become a professional Quidditch player, because I don’t want to continue with education at school and that’s the only way I can imagine. I wish to finally get a boyfriend. I wish to get rid of those stupid spots on my face. I wish to visit my brother in Tasmania. I wish to magically get motivation to study.
Then Remus’, because I’ll forever like him better than annoying Sirius Black.
In 1978, I’d like to pass my NEWTs with the best grades possible. I’d like to find a place that will continue my education to be a teacher. I’d like to find somewhere to live with Sirius. I’d like to survive the exams.
And then Sirius’, because he’s the only one left and it’s not bad if everyone has fallen asleep during Remus’ – this is really barely readable.
This year, I want to win the Quidditch house cup. I want to move in with Remus. I want to buy a motorbike and a leather jacket because Remus says that it’d be hot. I want to get dear Minnie drunk. I want to go on a real date with Remus.
Amazing how none of us want to improve our personalities or get rid of nasty habits, isn't it? Apparently we’re just too perfect or, in some cases, to full of ourselves, it seems. And you know who I’m talking about. So, this will hopefully be our year – but then again, we’re at Hogwarts, and I’m a hundred percent sure that by far not all of this will actually happen.
There’s a black and white photo of Lily and James glued in with a permanent sticking charm (Sirius did it, and Lily still hasn’t stopped wondering why he masters that charm so perfectly). They are sitting in the corner, Lily on James’ lap and it looks like they’re laughing loudly with a bottle of firewhiskey being the only thing that separates their lips. Lily smirks at the person that’s holding the camera, but James waves them away – they change roles when they’re drunk, apparently.
So, this photo shows me and James. I remember how this happened, I just can’t figure out how I got drunk enough to allow it. I knew before that I’m a lightweight, why have I drunk so much? Why, Lily Evans?
There’s another typical wizarding picture, but this one showing Sirius dancing on top of a table, holding a half-full pint of butterbeer in each hand and apparently singing. His legs wobble dangerously. Next to the table is Remus, not as drunk, trying to get him to come down. The people around them are cheering, barely visible in the dim light.
Oh yes, I remember this one. Sirius won’t live this down easily – we’ve now officially made that one sure.
The third picture is of James and Sirius dancing. They’re laughing their asses of. Remus and Lily are indistinctly visible, shaking their heads and exchanging glances. James’ shirt is by then already completely undone, and somebody has put glittery pink hairbands in Sirius’ hair, which he doesn’t really seem to care about.
I can’t even comment this one. Just, boys.
On the fourth picture that Lily has chosen to glue in (there’s quite a lot of pictures that she’s chosen not to glue in, too, partly because there’s just nothing on there but a blurry mass of people, partly because people’s bodies are way more exposed than they should be), everything is covered in glitter, and literally everything. There are some people on it, but they’re not as important as the fact that they’re so covered in glitter that you don’t recognize them anymore. The floor looks as if it were made of diamonds, and the ceiling as if it were covered in a million stars. The people are now slow dancing.
This one looks different than in reality, but just about as amazing in fact! The glitter should be in every imaginable colour – it’s the one that James and I got offered, of course. And it really sticks. You can see it sticking to this page. I still haven’t got all the glitter out of my hair, and I have showered this morning. Twice. The common room is still covered in the stuff, too. The house elves have tidied up after us (we still need to thank them, really) but they haven’t managed to get rid of the glitter. Sirius is reading over my shoulder and claims that it gives the common room a really wonderful(ly gay) touch. It does look nice, although some of the colours don’t go well with the deep red. It doesn’t look fancy like on the picture, but it gives at least a really happy touch.
The fifth and last picture on the page shows all of them; Remus, Sirius, James, Lily, from left to right, with their arms around each other and beaming at the camera. They’re covered in glitter, James’ shirt is still undone and Lily’s cheeks are bright red. Remus looks the most sober of them all, but even he’s got a little more colour in his cheeks from the consumption of alcohol. Sirius still has some of his hair tied up, and now even added his tie as a headscarf. Lily laughs out loud in the shot at something that James said.
That picture is my favourite of all, even though we look awful. I love how we’re all together. The black and white makes it look really classy, and we look so happy! We were happy, I kind of remember. It’s all blurry in my head and if it weren’t for Remus’ amazing anti-headache charm (he’s had enough experience with James and Sirius, he says) I think I wouldn’t be writing right now.
So, now, we’re off to eat some food. I hope there’s chips. I feel like chips.
Sirius says that’s because they’re fried and greasy and I have a hangover. I know that, I’m not stupid! I still want them. Let me have my hangover and leave me alone, I need to sulk in peace, Black.