Larissa Samuels does not like fangirls.

( Larissa L. E. Samuels )

( Timetable )

[Public - in Afrikaans]

Oh my god. Oh my god. OH MY GOD. What the hell am I supposed to do for this stupid competition?! I did NOT sign up for this. None of the players signed up for this. They give us less than a week's warning? What the fuck?

Friends (deliberately fairly open - includes R6)

Any of you love me enough to hex me so I'm in the hospital wing all weekend? No? Oh well, worth a try...

Well, it looks as though Hogwarts got the worst of the gossip in that rag, despite predictions to the contrary. Not that Beauxbatons got off lightly, but there was something of a theme going on there... Hopefully it will be a great game from both teams in terms of skill and entertainment, although naturally I'm rooting for a Hogwarts victory.

Private

OK, I know that whole thing was a bunch of rubbish... so why am I feeling a bit... off about the stuff about George and Rose? I mean, one of them would have said something if it was true, right?

George

So hey - you got a gossip piece after all! They moved pretty quick to include the reserves as well, don't you think?

Avery (scribbled in quickly, as something of an afterthought)

Could I pick your brain about something?

I'm really looking forward to the game on Sunday - it's rather nice to be able to watch as a supporter of another team and just watch the plays, whereas if I had a technical role then there'd be a lot of analysis and that sort of thing. If this year's taught me anything, it's that I definitely prefer my side of the support staff roles...

So how about that Felix Felicis, eh? I can't even begin to get my head around how that even works, but it really did. Best Potions lesson EVER.

Friends: R6, Hogwarts Quidditch, other potions winners, individuals who reckon they should be there!

Wow. Seriously, wow. As soon as I knew I was going to have the internship this year, I sent a bit of a cheeky owl to a couple of organisations in South Africa asking for additional work experience (before the interviews for Healer training after I leave Hogwarts, it might come in handy, yeah?), because I'd like to have an idea of where I want to go with Healing and so on. I got two letters back yesterday.

The first was from the office of the head of the South African equivalent of St Mungo's, offering me two weeks there over the summer. It doesn't just involve ordinary healing, but the opportunity to spend time with Healers who liase with Muggle doctors (Mum's been trying to set up a WWAA link for ages) out in the community, on HIV-AIDS campaigns and stuff like that.

The second one was unexpected, but it was from a member of the South African Department of Magical Games and Sports. One of their Healers holds a dual qualification and is a certified Muggle physiotherapist, and as I'd mentioned my interest in Muggle sports when I wrote to the department, I've been offered the chance to shadow her over the summer as well! She works mostly for the South African Quidditch team, but there's going to be a couple of rugby games she's assisting at as well in that time and OH MY GOD I GET TO MEET THE SPRINGBOKS.

SERIOUSLY, you guys, you have no idea how excited I am. Summer before seventh year is going to be amazing!!!

6th year girls + R6 boys

How is everyone getting on with the assignment so far?

You know, a thought occurred to me when I was walking past the library this morning and someone was legging it out of there with their 'baby' - and that was how this assignment will impact upon the younger years in school. The opportunities for quiet time are limited, right? They're only switched off at night, or when both 'parents' are in class and suchlike. That means there's four years' worth of students who are getting disturbed by this for a significant portion of the day - the only saving point being they don't have to do it for marks, of course. I wonder if anyone from the lower years has complained to the staff about it?

R6

So - what does everyone make of this assignment? I'm not looking forward to it, but it could be worse. My partner for it at least seems reasonable...

Private

It's weird, but I'm actually enjoying the sex-ed classes more than I thought I would be. Not in that they're fun, of course, but from an intellectual point of view, there's something rewarding about the topic. Politically and socially it's an important issue that, done right, could have a lot of impact. Plus, Sidney's point about the Kama Sutra was pretty interesting, too. That reminded me of why I haven't completely wanted to kill her yet. Sometimes she's just bang on.

I'd never want Zest's job. She doesn't get anything like the amount of respect she should because although she's effectively a Nurse, she does the job of a Healer and gets forgotten about a fair bit in terms of her role in the upbringing of hundreds of students every year. Having said that, though, there's something about working with younger people on this subject that's really interesting me. Maybe I should do volunteering in the holidays, or something like that, but I don't want to tell Mum yet because she might only think that career wise, I'm jumping ship and getting involved with the non-profit from the word go.

What if that's what I want, though?

Still, at least I've a while to figure that out.

Also, I wish people would remember that it's not just the prefects helping out in this.

Another week over! February really seems to be flying by.

Well, I don't think there's anything new I can add to the topic of the ward failures, but I have every sympathy for the people who were genuinely caught out and subsequently embarrassed.

Speaking of getting caught out, though, I was passing Madam Zest in the corridor yesterday and she told me that now us medical interns are going to be helping out with the sex ed. sessions. So, prefects and student heads, it seems you'll be having previously unexpected company...

Well, with the mock Wizengamot out of the way I don't think people cared much, not long left until the next Quidditch match! I'm ridiculously excited for this one.

I was doing some research on sports injuries - because hey, I'm only an intern but I've got to know this stuff - though, and came across a picture from a rugby game in an article comparing risk in Muggle and Magical sports. What's funny is it's a game I remember watching on TV over the holidays. If you thought Quidditch was rough, spare a thought for the bloke in pink who gets knocked out. He's not even playing, that's the referee!

( Wave wand for picture )

R6

So, what does everyone make over these sex ed. lessons, then? Got to admit, when I told Ma about them, she burst out laughing and said she was glad it was such a normal thing at CTMAG. She'd have signed the slip, though, if she'd got one. I wonder if people who are of age are allowed to decide whether or not to attend? I don't mind going, but I have to admit, I'm glad I don't have to lead the things. I doubt the majority of people will take them seriously.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas break! I know I did. Though it had to be said, being able to do magic around the estate took some getting used to - once or twice I started doing things the Muggle way before remembering I could use spells if I wanted to.

Having said that, what happens if you do underage magic in a country that's not your own? To clarify what I mean, something we know from having foreign visitors at Hogwarts is that you're considered of age at, for instance, 16 in France. So what would happen if a 16 year old British witch or wizard (who would be underage at home) did magic whilst in France? Would it be considered OK as it would be permitted for locals? That's something I've always wondered but never actually found out.

Happy Birthday to me!

As I write this, I'm out on the decking in Gran's garden, having a glass of wine with my siblings and cousins while we get the braai going. It might be Christmas soon, but a full roast dinner is always a bit much in this heat - almost 25 celsius at this time of night! So, a birthday braai it is. My little nieces and nephew are running around getting excited about tomorrow, and I'm relaxing enjoying the view as it's rather a long trip back here from Hogwarts.

( The view )

( Getting dinner ready )

Hamish

I'm so sick of girl drama at the moment. We should do something this weekend, and the further away from Ravenclaw, the better...

One down, six to go. I thought Potions went all right despite all the drama that's a distraction from studying so I'm hoping the rest will be, too. Tomorrow will be a busy one with two exams, so in a bit I think I'm going to go and relax for the evening, because I don't like last minute cramming. Being prepared for a good night's sleep suits me better.

Then there's the whole weekend before Charms, COMC isn't until Tuesday and then a shocker of a last day with Transfiguration and Arithmancy. That's one hell of a last day of exams, that is.

Well, I have to say I really enjoyed the play, and everyone involved did a great job. It was nice to be involved just as a spectator, but I hope to get involved next time!

I just got an Owl from my cousins in Cape Town with some end-of-season magazines. Please note that for the next few months I'll be in rugby-withdrawal mode, at least until the Super 15 starts again... unless I can drag people into a game of tag rugby out in the grounds or something.

Rose Weasley, Georgia Doyle

So, at least we know why Sidney has been a bigger bitch than usual down lately. Got to say, I don't like what it's doing to the atmopshere here in Ravenclaw though. I want to do something about that.

I'm quite looking forward to the career day tomorrow. I mean, I do have a career in mind, but being able to meet people who do other things can't really hurt me.

That's not to say that it'll make loads of students change their minds, of course, because I reckon some people definitely know what they want to do and are stuck on that.

My mum's going to be there, though! If you're passing by the Charitable Agencies section and see a tall blonde woman with a South African accent, that's her.

It seems as though there are an awful lot of Ravenclaw birthdays at this time of year, as well as student birthdays in general. I like it, it seems festive (though having a Christmassy one might be a blow to the ego for some, because more people think of that than your birthday - although that's understandable). In any case, it's Hamish's big day tomorrow. He's 17 as well, so that'll be one way of making a Monday brighter!

And on an entirely unrelated note, I'm off to read the latest batch of rugby mags that my brother sent up. Goeie naand.

Because I like pictures as much as many people do, I thought I'd share some. The first ones are from the family home in England, and because they're pretty, I've put some in from my grandmother's estate in South Africa, too.

( Wave wand for pictures )

I've had a pretty empty schedule this evening and was sorting out the contents of my trunk, when I found these. Figured I might as well join in.

( Wave wand for pictures )

So, that's my family.

Well, I knew I had a journal somewhere. Turns out that I had packed it underneath my textbooks after all, but Magnus appeared to decide that dragging it out of my trunk and hiding it under my bedside table was a good idea damned cat.

In any case, congratulations to both teams for today's match. I found it to be a rather good diversion.

It's time to move on...