Maeve Sheridan knows she's better than you.

( You can get to work by nine/And start your slaving job to get your pay/If you ever get annoyed/Look at me I'm self-employed )

As if the holidays weren't bad enough. I have to say, I am grateful that these little surprise presents are dissipating so promptly. I've picked up on the pattern already and I would certainly not appreciate a flock of poultry running about my already too small flat. And the dancers and drummers and damned lords hopping about would only be ludicrous. However, I wonder if whoever They are, if they would take kindly to my pointing out when they get here, that the Twelve Days of Christmas are the ones that follow it. If you are going to insist on this little festive waste of time at least get the dates right.

Sweet Circe. I certainly hope those that are working in shops and cafes during this season, the one's that are so incessantly chipper, are being paid a bonus of some for managing such unfathomable levels of good spirits. And a note to any one out there that fits that description: While you might be vying for the extra pocket money or some pat on the head from your boss, whatever your incentive is to lose your mind in such a manner, if you have any consideration for those you are serving, the ones that ensure you have a job by frequenting the establishment. Harassing them about their day when they are doing everything possible to appear unapproachable and not be pulled down into the inane jabbering the rest of the customers seemed to be stuck in, holding their cappuccino hostage while you subject them to a barrage of pointless questions about their holiday shopping is Not Appropriate. If you insist on working in a job that requires you to interact with the public at least make some attempt to learn a modicum of social cues or body language. For everyone's sake. Merlin. As if venturing out during this season wasn't frustrating enough.

[Warded to Delaney]

Has it really been a week?

Well, England, bully for you.

( Warded Private )

I'm not going to say the better team won. I'll admit Scotland had a lucky day though.

( Private )

Ireland, that was brilliant flying yesterday. Hope to see you lot keep that showing up to the finals.

( Warded Private )

Why is it that people walk into shops or other places of business and take the simple question of 'How are you?' literally? I was under the impression that it was a common throwaway greeting that, when used in the company of perfect strangers, should be responded to with something like 'Fine' or 'Good, thank you' and not followed up with any real detail. And that even if you answer with something slightly different, it's not appropriate to divulge every last detail of your afternoon to the poor employee that had the misfortune of being the one to greet you. The only cause, besides severe idiocy, that could make someone think anyone they've never met actually cares about the new shoes they bought, the fact they woke up on time, or the lousy lunch they just had, is perhaps a brain parasite. So for anyone out there this is applicable to, you don't need to torment strangers, you need a healer.

One would think, given the importance placed in such a statue and what it represents, that it might have occurred to someone involved in it's creation or placement to put at least some sort of protection or anti-defacement charm on it rather than wait for retrospect to point it out. But, one would be wrong, apparently.

When someone says Muggleborn Aide Office I can't help but think they are doing more to make us look like we are somehow less capable than any other bloodline, than they are providing actual aide. At least, that's the impression a permanent office at this juncture leaves me with.

Felicity hasn't I don't even know what to do next if she She's not nearly smart enough to Fuck If I can't take my OWLs and my wand

I don't like this I don't like this I don't like this I don't care if it's redundant or not. I want to know what's going on. It has to be something big to all but shut the school down like this. Without a nod or even brushing off from McGonagall or anything.

( Warded Private )

I'm so done with Winter. And the snow and cold and ice. Spring is too far away. I finally received the new potions supplies I ordered with my birthday gold. And the dragonhide jacket which I'm pretty sure is the nicest thing I own now. Hopefully all that will hold me over until the weather warms up.

( Strongly Warded Private )

And just when I was really enjoying the peacefulness of the empty castle

I don't feel very Christmas-like this year. I've done all my shopping and found adequate gifts for my short list and that didn't 'get me in the spirit.' The castle is frosted with icicles and garland and I feel about as festive as a heat wave might. Usually I enjoy Christmas and all the seasonal trappings, this year it just doesn't quite feel like it yet. I don't know what else could possibly work to change that but that's how it goes.

Like an inept like Weasley could murder someone and keep it hidden for an hour let alone several months? Right.

All my Christmas shopping is done. Granted my list wasn't very long to begin with, but it's still nice to be done. I enjoy spending the holiday break here. The castle is a different place entirely when it's not filled with students. Personally I think the calm serves this place well. I've always found that stink pellets and dungbombs take away some of the castle's impressive aura.

I'm amazed the Governors haven't made their opinions heard yet as well. It seems to me they have as much reason to speak out as our Headmistress, regardless of which side they support, yeah?

It's nice to see superb flying rewarded with well-earned win. I honestly won't be surprised when we win the cup this year, to be sure.

I know it's not quite on us yet but I need to decide whether to stay at school or if I should be going home for break.

And I think that sufficiently rectifies the neglect my journal has suffered. I didn't doubt that those threats last year about the hefty workload we'd start getting were true but if I had doubted...I certainly wouldn't anymore.

( Warded Private )

( Warded Private )

Well, the new Minister is certainly being proactive.

[Warded Private]
Dumbledore and the Minister. I just can't grasp the fact an attack like that could happen in the Ministry. A secure building filled with Ministry employees and Aurors and all the protective measures they inevitably had in place and none of that stopped them. If the Prophet could find vital information, like how deep You Know Who's reach into the Ministry goes that would be worth reading, unlike this 'persons unknown' rot. It's more believable that Harry Potter and his friends went on some sort of rampage in the Ministry?
[/ward]

I hope the Wizengamot chooses a new Minister expeditiously. Umbridge is surely not the person we need right now.