[Hexed Private from all Professors and figures of authority]

Right then, so I'm pretty much going spare. My bastarding American cousins got me completely hooked on fags and I've smoked my last one since I've been here and I now have no idea what to do with my hands anymore. What did I do with them before fiddling with a lighter, or holding a cigarette between my fingers? I've honestly no clue. I try to convince myself it's better this way; it was a horrid habit, you smell like shite afterward and no one really wants to chat you up if your breath reeks. I know all this, I know. I tell you, it does not stop the need. At all. Damn me for being so susceptible to coercion and familial peer pressure--I tell you, it's like I've learned nothing from my housemates. Still, I suppose its different when it's family. I can't even listen to the bloody brilliant music player Libby made me because I'll be all set listening and then a random thought floats in: 'You know what would go with and compliment this song really well? A cigarette.' It's maddening. Still. There are worst things to be addicted to, I suppose. In any case, I know I can't be the only one with a filthy secret habit. What's yours? Tell me--maybe we can find a way to break them together.

Haleigh's Christmas Hols went a bit like this:
blah blah blah, family time, blah blah blah, you don't appreciate me, blah blah blah, she doesn't haveto spend the hols with you if she doesn't want to, Miles, blah blah blah, you're trying to keep me from my daughter on purpose, Kimara, blah blah blah, both of you can just sod right off, blah blah blah, I'll be staying with Parker and Jade. Forward all my gifts there. The End.

Okay, it was a bit more complicated than that, otherwise I wouldn't have gone so bloody deeply missing in action. I didn't really get the chance to go round to anyone's place really, because I was too bloody busy keeping my parents happy and in check. I did however end up spending most of the holidays at the flat my cousins Parker and Jade share in Notting Hill. Not too shabby. I think I've had enough insanity for now, and am actually anxious to head back to school and start a new year. Craziness, I know.


Only a little while longer, now. Shin, Pat, Libby, Scor--we have loads and loads to catch up on. Serious Talk. (That means seriously, I've horrified my mother and grandparents by acquiring all kinds of american slang from my family from across the pond. I shall delight and thrill you with my newly re-vamped vocabulary.) Send me owls. I'm back in Glasgow, missing you all terribly.

So..

Would you like to know what's not a fun thing to do?

Having to snog a random fifth year Hufflepuff outside of Study Hall because some bespelled mistletoe happened to pop up in your vicinity.

Cheeky bugger had the nerve to ask me out afterwards. Only my Glare of Doom, and a pointed drawing of my wand made him back down. Craziness.

This place is out of control.

[Private]
Still, I wouldn't have minded had it been someone else.
[/Private]

I tried to convince Pomfrey I was having blinding headaches due to sugar withdrawal, but she wasn't having any of it. Bugger. Seriously, no sweets? That's a bloody raw deal if I ever saw one, but still, I have to admit it provides brilliant incentive to kick arse on the next challenge.

Christmas Hols are coming up, but in all honesty I'm not all that excited about them. I mean, sure I'm chuffed about seeing my family and of course the presents, and I'm sure my mind will have changed as that crucial Christmas day draws nearer, but..I dunno. Right now I'm just a bit..ambivalent about it all, I suppose.

( Private )

Love Nest?! Bloody secret LOVE NEST?!

What fresh incompetence is this? Wow. Wow. Apparently, I have a harem.

While admittedly intriguing in theory, the sheer mechanics of putting it into practice are...Yeah, so yeah. No secret love nest, I'm afraid.


[Private]
Who the fuck has been sneaking around my room? Bollocks. Got to be more careful.
[/Private]


Funny though, that some would think it feasible for me to have a love nest. Good times.

Did you see those house points, ladies and gentlemen? Outstanding work. I'm off to relish this moment. Those in the know, you know where I'll be.

[Private]

I am the Queen of Everything.

[/Private]

[Private To Slytherins]

Did anyone else have a day similar to mine? Anyone up for an impromptu revising session? Can't let the marks fall, even in the pursuit of world domination.

[/Private]

Gods.

I've not bombed that many tests since first year.
To be fair, they completely came out of nowhere! Did anyone see them coming? Did anyone else have the time I did? I hope so. I'm miserable about it and I want someone to share it with me. Heaven forfend, but I believe I may have to actually do some revision in the near future, if only to stop this from happening again.

::sigh:: I suppose I needed it though, my head's been a bit fuzzy as of late, and this is the best way to get it back in the game.

Seriously though?! In almost every class?

So it goes.

( Owl to Patrick )

What's that saying, "Make new friends, but keep the old.."
I can definitely say I've been making new friends--which is good, which is what I had intended with my, "Haleigh-stop-scowling-and-scaring-everyone-off-plan, Verson 2.0". It actually worked.

Rather well.

However, I feel like I may need to reconnect with my old friends.

( Libby, Could use you right now )

What is that delightful sound?

I believe it is the sound of Gryffindors throughout the castle eating their words.

We won, and will continue to do so.

Accept it, bitches.

( Owl to Gabriel )

( Owl to Shin )

( Owl to Patrick )

( Owl to Libby )

( Owl to Shin )


( Owl to Scor )

So things have been pretty interesting for me these past few weeks, some shitty stuff, but surprisingly, mostly good. Very different, to say the least, but different's not necessarily a bad thing, is it? I'm sort of faced with all the questions I never really had to worry about before and I find myself unafraid to tackle them. Well alright, still a bit nervous, but nothing too terrible. Still, I reckon it'd be nice to have some feedback.


[Private to Gabriel]
So, let's get together and talk a bit, yeah? Let me know, and I'll tell you where we can meet.
[/Private]

That fucking gossip rag...
The fallout on this one's going to be good.

[Private to Lydia]

Lydie, I'm not trying to...I wouldn't..Shin's not--I mean we're not--bugger. He hasn't moved on on to me, or whatever that means, honest. I promise.

[/End Private]


[Private to Scor]

Well, the cat's out of the proverbial bag now, isn't it?

[/Private]

Right.

So I know I'm supposed to be used to this snow thing already but this is just ridiculous. I think a part of me rebels because despite the fact that I spend most of my time in the cold, I know what it's like to be sweltering. My second home is the Southwest United States, where the temperatures can get up to one hundred degrees fahrenheit in the bloody shade. I miss it, just now. Bored, bored, bored.

I think I'll go take something apart.

Halloween approaches...

From recent conversations, I can discern that it's going to be a pretty eventful night--only I'm not sure if the events that will unfold will be good ones. Here's to hoping there's more fun and less bloodshed than anticipated. I'm not so worried about the date thing--I wasn't really worried before, more curious than anything, but in any case I'm not bothered so much anymore.

( Shin, )

( Scorpius, )

( Libby, )

( Team Alpha )

Wait.

We're not meant to have dates to this Halloween thing, are we?

( Owl to Scorpius and Lydia )

Totally have my Halloween costume all sorted out, and am quite pleased with the final product.

that's one thing scratched off the list.

Next up: Challenges.


( Private to Lydie and Scorpius )