An Eclectic Catalogue of Ideas

"You won't believe what I have!" said Pansy Parkinson, as she entered her dorm room. She looked at her three dorm mates, Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, and Millicent Bulstrode, with a slow grin.

"Well, obviously I won't unless you give me a hint," said Daphne, as she looked up from the homework scattered about her bed.

"It's probably some gift Malfoy gave her," said Tracey as she rolled her eyes.

"Don't be mean," said Millicent with a frown.

"No, better. Professor Snape was being his usual self in Potions and Potter left in a hurry. Something about a wand weighing. Left a book behind," she said, pulling out a dark grey book from underneath her robes. "I checked the first page. It looks like it's a bloody diary. Should be fun seeing what the widdle Golden Boy has to say."

"Oh really?" Daphne looked interested, "I've heard a lot of rumours about what he's been up to the past few years. Should be interesting. See how much of Malfoy's complaints are hot air."

"Draco's not so bad," Pansy said, her voice unsure. She'd been 'dating' Draco for a year, ever since their parents started talking about a betrothal. Unfortunately, half the time their dates consisted of her avoiding his wandering hands.

"Are you trying to convince us of this fact or yourself?" Tracey asked with a smirk.

"Be nice, she's in a rough spot with her parents negotiating for a contract," Millicent pointed out.

"Anyway!" said Pansy, not wanting them to talk about her own issues, "Let's read, it should be fun!" She flipped the book open to the first page, "Let's see..."

July 31, 1991

How strange is it that wizards use a quill and parchment? Writing with a quill feels so different from writing with a pen. I figured it would be good to practice and bought this diary journal when shopping at Diagon Alley. It's supposedly charmed to always have more pages.

Anyway.

I found out that I was a wizard today. It's been a strange week. I received a letter and my Aunt and Uncle got really upset. They burned it. Then I got more and they kept getting rid of them. Finally, they took us on a trip to avoid the letters. Unfortunately for them, a large man named Hagrid came and told me that I was a wizard before taking me to Diagon Alley.

"Wait. He didn't know about magic until his eleventh birthday?" Daphne asked. "No wonder he was so clueless at times. Now I feel bad," she said with a frown.

"His relatives don't sound too nice, either, burning his letters." This was from Tracey, who dug into her trunk and pulled out a few chocolate frogs, offering one to Millicent.

Diagon Alley was amazing! Though I didn't like how everyone stared at me. It's weird. They act like I'm some powerful hero when I didn't DO anything. It was probably my parents who saved me. I was a baby for god's sake.

Anyway. It was fun, though I had two issues.

The first was this pale-haired boy at Madam Malkin's. He was really rude. Reminded me of a Dudley in a lot of ways. He made fun of Hagrid and talked about how only certain people should be allowed to go to Hogwarts.

The second was the man who sold me my wand. Ollivander. He was creepy and talked about how my wand was 'brother' to this Voldemort guy. It's scary, I don't know if I want this wand.

"That's Malfoy in a nutshell," said Tracey with a snort. "I bet he thought he was being polite and well-mannered."

Pansy gave Tracey a look, before shaking her head, "I heard of brother wands, though I'm not sure what it means. Does anyone know? It's surprising Potter's wand is brother to Voldemort's, anyway."

"Not so surprising. It just means their cores are from the same creature. It doesn't mean anything more, really," Daphne said with a shrug.

"You'd know. You're the brain," quipped Tracey.

"It sounded like he didn't like being famous. That's surprising. Malfoy always says how big of a prat he is. Perhaps he changed?" wondered Millicent.

"It's possible. Anyway, it continues on in that vein for a while. Why don't I read the entry for September First?" suggested Pansy.

September 1, 1991

Today was odd. I met a few people including a friend: Ron Weasley! I've never had a friend before, Dudley always beat up people if they talked to me. Now, he started off on the wrong foot, wanting to stare at my scar, but he was actually pretty nice.

That blond-haired bloke Malfoy came and started insulting the people I was talking to. He was really rude. Calling people the 'wrong sort' and squibs and other stuff. I told him that I could tell who the wrong sort was, and he left in a huff. I had to ask what a squib was after he left.

I also met a Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. Wizards have strange names at times! Neville was nice. Hermione was rather bossy, but seemed okay, too. They were looking for Neville's pet toad.

The trip on the water was amazing! But then when I was sorted, things got confusing.

The Sorting Hat said I'd do really well in Slytherin. But Malfoy went to Slytherin, and I didn't want to be in the same House as him. Plus, Hagrid said that every wizard who went bad was in Slytherin.

That's not the case, is it? I mean, if it was full of bad people, they wouldn't have it as a House, would they? I don't know. I asked the Hat to put me anywhere else and ended up in Gryffindor. At least Ron is here!

"Harry bloody Potter could have been in Slytherin?" Pansy was staring at the book she was reading. "That can't be right, can it?"

"It would appear so," Daphne observed dryly. "Surprising, isn't it? I guess you really can't tell from appearances. I'm sure being in Gryffindor encouraged his recklessness."

"He really doesn't seem like how Malfoy always talks about," Tracey said with a frown.

"People change," Millicent said with a shrug. "Keep reading, Pansy."

September 3, 1991

Today was a horrible day. I was looking forward to the Potions class! It sounded fun and Hagrid said my mum was really good at it too. But the class was HORRIBLE. Snape asked me some questions. Two of them were from NEWT-level classes or so Hermione said later. I bit the bullet and asked her, even if she is a bossy swot at times. Apparently, she only knew the answers because they were mentioned in one of her history books.

I really should've known the answer to the question about the bezoar. But I was so rattled by the first question that I blanked out. Go me. What kind of Gryffindor am I if I let something like that bother me?

I hope things get better. Between Snape and everyone staring at me all the time... At least it's better than with my relatives.

"Oh, I remember that," Daphne said, perking up. "One was about the ingredients in the Draught of Living Death and the other was about aconite, which is used in the Wolfsbane Potion. He's right. Both of those are NEWT-level questions."

"You'd know, Potions genius," Pansy said as she rolled her eyes. "That's your family business. Potions and potions ingredients."

"Bit the bullet?" asked Millicent.

"Bullets are used in muggle guns. It's an expression. Means he did something he was hesitating about," Tracey interjected. Being a half-blood could be useful at times, even in Slytherin.

"Let's see, a lot of this is just normal school stuff. Huh, he says that Draco was the one who didn't show up for their little duel. And that Draco told Filch. Draco always said that Potter never showed up," Pansy murmured with a frown. "Sounds like Draco lied. And...oh wow," she said, blinking. "Listen to this."

When we were hiding from Filch, we ended up in the forbidden hallway that Dumbledore mentioned. And there was a bloody three-headed dog there! Hermione called it a cerberus. Why is there a bloody huge dog in the school? Isn't that dangerous? It tried to bite us. I'm beginning to wonder if wizards are insane, or just Dumbledore.

"Oh, I heard about that!" Tracey said excitedly. "The Weasley twins told Warrington about it, and I heard them talking."

"I actually think I agree with Potter," Daphne said as she closed the book in front of her. "Maybe Dumbledore really is crazy."

Pansy smirked at her, "Aren't you always the one telling me Draco's wrong when he complains about Dumbledore?"

"Well, Malfoy never has reasons; he just whines and pouts," Daphne said with a shrug. "A cerberus? Now that is a reason."

Pansy gave Daphne a glare, though it was halfhearted. "Let's see, more school stuff. Talking about Hagrid. Looking into someone called Flamel..."

"Oh, Flamel! He created the Philosopher's Stone," Daphne said, perking up. "Why was he researching Flamel?"

"You would know about him," Pansy said as she rolled her eyes. "Apparently Hagrid mentioned him in relation to whatever was being protected."

"Wait. You mean there may have been a Philosopher's Stone here in our first year?" Daphne asked, eyes wide.

"Maybe." Pansy shrugged.

"A stone that turns lead into gold and bloody well can make you immortal," Daphne stated. "In Hogwarts?" She shook her head, "Part of me wishes that I'd known first year. Part of me is glad I didn't. I'd have tried to go after it, I bet."

"You would not," Tracey denied. "Now me, I might. But you're way too cautious to try to get past a cerberus, even for this Philosopher's Stone."

"So, anything more?" Millicent asked. "I can't believe Dumbledore would put a dangerous animal inside the school."

"Oh, this will be fun," Pansy said brightly. "It's talking about Halloween!"

Today was a weird day. Ron was a prat to Hermione after Charms class. I know Hermione is abrasive and a bit of a swot, but you don't have to be rude to people. He told her off and she ran off to cry in a bathroom. I didn't find this out until later.

I noticed she was gone during dinner and heard from Parvati where she was. Then Quirrell came in and said there was a troll rampaging through the dungeons. I dragged Ron with me to the bathroom and the troll was THERE, not in the dungeons like Quirrell said.

I leapt on top of its back to distract it and Ron managed to levitate its club onto its head. I guess Hermione did help him with the spell. Heh. Also, my wand ended up in its nose. So eew. Anyway, the teachers came. Snape was his usual self, but we got off without a major point loss, so I guess that's a win. Hermione lied about why she was there too, to protect Ron. I guess to thank him for saving her from the troll.

It's just weird. What the bloody hell is a troll doing in a school?

At least Ron and Hermione seem to be friends, now.

"...we had heard there was a troll, and some rumours that Potter was involved, but no one said he jumped on the back of a bloody troll!" Pansy said incredulously. "Is the boy insane?"

"More like a hero," murmured Millicent, before flushing. "Well, he did try to save Granger, after all."

"She's right!" Tracey said. "I'm beginning to wonder if anything Malfoy's said about him is true."

"It's not surprising," Daphne observed. "Malfoy is a prat."

"Well, it's not like we could talk to him," Millicent pointed out. "He's a Gryffindor."

"True," Tracey acknowledged with a sigh.

"Well, let's see what else happens," Pansy suggested, flipping pages. "Let's see... more classes, seems that Weasley and Granger fight a lot at times. Potter keeps having to mediate." She continued to flip through the book. "Wow. Apparently, he got a bloody invisibility cloak for Christmas. It belonged to his father."

"Wait." Daphne stared. "He has an invisibility cloak? No wonder he can get around the school as he does. That's just not fair."

"Maybe you can ask him to borrow it?" teased Tracey. Daphne just gave her a look.

Pansy paused, "Wow. Do you remember that first quidditch game, where his broom acted wonkily? Granger and Weasley think Snape caused it. Potter isn't sure, he says it's too obvious with how Professor Snape treats him. And listen to this!"

Hermione lit Snape's bloody robes on fire. She worries about getting in trouble and then she does something like that. I mean, I'm happy I didn't fall from my broom but still.

"Would you believe it?" Pansy said incredulously, "Granger set Professor Snape's robes on fire! Though i'm a little concerned if it did stop whatever jinx was on his broom. Professor Snape wouldn't do that."

"Hidden depths," quipped Tracey.

"I'm surprised, it doesn't sound like her," Millicent said.

"She thought he was casting a spell at Potter," Pansy said with a shrug.

"Hmm," Pansy continued as she skimmed the journal. "There's a lot more minor stuff. Some sort of magical mirror he found and talked to Dumbledore about. But, oh, wow. Hagrid really did have a dragon! And Potter and his friends got it out of the school! Listen to this, I didn't hear most of this from Draco..."

The plan started out well. We used my invisibility cloak and got Norbert to the roof. But then we were stupid and left the cloak on the roof when we ran from Filch. We ran straight into McGonagall and Malfoy, too! She took fifty points each from us. She only took twenty from Malfoy, which I don't think was very fair.

It doesn't pay to try to help people sometimes.

She gave us detention with Hagrid, who decided to take us into the bloody Forbidden Forest. How is that an appropriate punishment? Apparently, something was hurting the unicorns and he wanted to investigate. At least Malfoy had detention, too. When we got into the woods, Hagrid had us split up and had me go off with Malfoy while he went with Ron and Hermione.

To put it bluntly: I nearly died. We found a dead unicorn and Malfoy ran screaming. This cloaked figure attacked me. It was scary, not that I did much. I'm pretty sure it would have killed me if not for the centaurs. They drove it off and then Hagrid came. He looked over the unicorn, and we went back to Hogwarts.

What kind of school sends you into a dangerous forest, especially when something or someone has been attacking the animals?

"First a troll nearly killing Granger and now some monster in the woods?" Millicent's voice was incredulous. "Maybe I should transfer to Durmstrang next year."

"You're not the only one. Why didn't we hear about most of this?" Daphne complained, "I mean, we heard a few rumours but nothing this extreme! I'm tempted to tell my parents to send Astoria somewhere else next year."

"This part is a bit messy. It's a lot more like how he wrote at the start of the diary. Kind of hard to read," Pansy commented as she read the diary. "Huh, that makes sense. He realized that the person who gave Hagrid the egg might have been fishing for information. Hagrid told the guy how to get past the cerberus. They went to McGonagall who, surprise surprise, told them to leave things alone." She snorted, "Looks like they didn't listen."

"Of course not," sighed Daphne. "What happened?"

"Well, he was afraid that Snape would get the Stone." Pansy rolled her eyes. "They got past the Cerberus. And a Devil's Snare? And then there's a room full of keys with brooms?" She frowned. "This is sounding awfully simple, almost like some sort of bloody contest."

"You never know. I wouldn't put it past Dumbledore, he can be a little loopy," quipped Tracey.

"I hope not. That's actually kind of scary," Millicent said quietly.

"Well, this makes me actually respect Weasley a trifle. Remember in our first year how he got points for chess? Well, there was a giant chess set blocking the way. He played through it and sacrificed himself so the others could get through. I don't like him, but that was a brave thing to do," Pansy admitted.

"Honestly, I think Weasley'd do well in classes if he tried. He certainly does well at the practicals," Daphne said after a moment's thought.

"And there's the 'logic' that got her points. There was a logic puzzle that she got him past," Pansy said, skimming through the book. "Then she--bloody hell."

"What?" asked Tracey excitedly.

"Remember how Quirrell retired at the end of the first year? I don't know if that's the truth." She began to read, "Apparently he was at the end of the gauntlet, not Professor Snape. And he talked weird and..." Pansy dropped the book, her face white.

"Pansy," Daphne said to her with a frown, "What's wrong?"

"Quirrell had Th-The Dark Lord on the back of his head. He was possessed," Pansy said, her eyes wide.

"What?!" Daphne dove forward, picking up the diary. "Let me see that!" She began to read, taking up the story.

I felt a weight in my pocket as the mirror image of mine slipped the Stone into it. And then I lied to Quirrell and Voldemort about what I saw. Voldemort told Quirrell to take the Stone, and he cast a spell at me. I dodged it, and he charged me, putting his hands on my throat. Somehow, he got burned. I was scared, and so I grabbed him and he started burning up. Then I passed out.

"He's all right now, so we know he survived," Millicent said to the others.

"He woke up in the hospital wing," Daphne continued. "Dumbledore said that he had a defence against Voldemort due to his mother's sacrifice and that he destroyed the Stone. Then it's talking about the feast. Listen to this."

I didn't mind winning the House Cup. We certainly did something good standing up to Voldemort. But it really wasn't fair of Dumbledore to hold off awarding points until the Slytherins thought they won. I know I'd have been upset in their shoes. Some of them glared at me. I think they hate me. It's too bad, really. I thought--

Daphne blushed.

"What is it?" asked Tracey, her voice curious.

"Nothing. I'll keep summarizing--" Daphne began.

"Daphne," Millicent said chidingly. "Now we're all curious."

--thought that some of them were nice. Especially the blonde girl. She's really pretty if a little cold. She probably hates me now, too.

"Aww!" Tracey said, "He liked you!"

Daphne rolled her eyes, "Anyway, it talks about how he is going home and is really not looking forward to it. And that seems to be the end of our first year."

"He seems to be a lot different than I expected," Millicent stated. "He doesn't seem arrogant at all. A little shy, and maybe lacking confidence, even."

"Yes." Pansy sighed, "He's nothing like Draco described him."

"Well. Why don't you read more, Daphne? See if there's anything else interesting? I admit, I'm curious about our second year," Tracey admitted.

"Okay."