meant to be (2)

43

The second-years were given something new to think about during our Easter holidays. The time had come to choose our subjects for the third year, a matter that Hermione, at least, took very seriously.

"It could affect our whole future" she told Harry, Ron and I, as we pored over our lists of new subjects, marking them with ticks.

"I just want to give up Potions" said Harry.

"We can't" said Ron gloomily. "We keep all our old subjects, or I'd've ditched Defence Against the Dark Arts!"

"But that's very important!" said Hermione, shocked.

"Not the way Lockhart teaches it" I muttered

"I haven't learned anything from him except not to set pixies loose!" Ron said.

Neville had been sent letters from all the witches and wizards in his family, all giving him different advice on what to choose. Confused and worried, he sat reading the subject lists with his tongue poking out, asking people whether they thought Arithmancy sounded more difficult than Study of Ancient Runes.

Dean, who, like Harry, had grown up with Muggles, ended up closing his eyes and jabbing his wand at the list, then picking the subjects it landed on.

"Bloody hell, Jules!" Harry exclaimed as he looked at my list. "You can't take every subject."

"Obviously I can" I shrugged.

"You'll overwork yourself!" Harry said worryingly.

"Is Harry Potter worried about me?" I teased, imitating Harry.

"I'm also taking every subject, Julie." Hermione said.

"It'll be fun." I said, highfiving Hermione, while ignoring Harry's complaints.

The only thing that was worrying me now was the next Quidditch match against Hufflepuff.

Wood was insisting on team practices every night before diner, so that I barely had time for anything but Quidich and homework. However, the training sessions were getting better, or at least drier, and the evening before Saturdays match, Harry and I wanted to drop off our broomsticks in our dormitories before meeting Ron and Hermione.

But at the top of the stairs to the dormitory, we met Neville, who was looking frantic.

"Harry - I don't know who did it. I just found-" he stuttered. Watching Harry and I fearfully, Neville pushed open the door.

The contents of Harry's trunk had been thrown everywhere. His cloak lay ripped on the floor. The bedclothes had been pulled off his four-poster and the drawer had been pulled out of his bedside cabinet, the contents strewn over the
mattress.

Harry walked over to the bed, open-mouthed, treading on a few loose pages of Travels with Trolls.

As Harry, Neville and I pulled the blankets back onto his bed, Ron, Dean and Seamus came in.

Dean swore loudly.

"What happened, Harry?" asked Ron.

"No idea" answered Harry, while Ron started examining Harry's robes. All the pockets were hanging out.

"Someone's been looking for something" said Ron. "Is there anything missing?"

Harry started to pick up all his things and throw them into his trunk. It was only as he threw the last of the Lockhart books back into it that he realised what wasn't there.

"Riddle's diary's gone" he said in an undertone to Ron and me.

"What?" I exclaimed quietly.

Harry jerked his head towards the dormitory door and Ron and I followed him out. We hurried back down to the Gryffindor common room, which was half-empty, and joined Hermione, who was sitting alone, reading a book called 'Ancient Runes Made Easy'.