She Said What?

Chapter 34: I Look into my Own Crystal Ball

A/N: So...I'm learning quickly that people weren't kidding when they said I wouldn't have much time to myself this year. I have a ton of homework, or I'm too exhausted to write, or I just can't think period, making me resort to Solitaire. I wrote the homework-complaining-heavy portions of this story in the summer, but now I'm beginning to live them here in good old reality. And it's a bitch.

It is after a lot of effort that I present you this chapter. But I am very pleased to announce that I am (currently) thrilled with the planned progression of events from this point forward – so there is going to be a lot of humor, a lot of love, and a lot of misery cascading down upon you. Try and keep up.

Enjoy this chapter, then, (it's not as tumultuous as some of the later ones will be) and here's to hoping I can finish this tale before I'm an old lady.

January 19

Morning Check:

Obviously, knowing me, it didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I woke up kind of late this morning, via the new alarm clock, but I was able to get to class on time, just barely. I need to do a better job of dragging myself out of bed a little earlier.

But, in an effort to be positive, I'm definitely eating less these days. That's one goal I'm fulfilling a bit better this year – which I am quite pleased about.

As for the other stuff...blimey, I'm never going to be a mature woman, no matter what I do, so why do I even bother? Let me stick with this eating/waking up thing for now and the rest of will follow afterwards. Maybe.

I need a large store of alcohol and a ten week break from my life. This is getting kind of ridiculous.

1:00 PM
Status: Mellow

So, this morning, we got a bit of a break from our morning classes in order to do something very special for us amazing seventh-years only – the career fair.

The career fair is something we have to attend in the middle of seventh year (which is right now) – as fifth years, career discussions are nothing fancy, because they just hand out brochures and things to help guide you for N.E.W.T. years, as well as talk to your Head of House. For us at this point, though, we are on the cusp of graduating and the teachers of Hogwarts kind of want us to have a clue, talk to people and figure things out. So today has basically been Exile in Tomorrowland.

After breakfast, me and the other seventh years checked in with our first period teachers – for me, Professor Flitwick – and were then herded back to the Great Hall, which had been transformed especially for us. They had a bunch of guests who were in the various professions they advertised, giving out colorful pamphlets that told us what kind of N.E.W.T. grades they wanted. It was both exciting and extremely terrifying.

For my friends, however, it was a different story altogether.

"This is stupid," Livvy grumbled as we went inside. "I know what I want to do and it's not going to be found here. Why do I have to stay?"

"Livs, you can't hope to make your living on Quidditch forever," pointed out Alice. "I mean, yeah, it's great fun for a few years, but what about afterwards? What are you going to do when you can't play, for whatever reason?"

"I'll find work somewhere," said Livvy dismissively. "And I'll get married at some point, so my husband and I can figure it out together. But for now, I just want to play Quidditch. That's all I can do."

"Nonsense," I said. "You're smart, Livvy – and definitely more organized than Alice or me."

"Yes, I know, but my grades are nothing spectacular, and I can't see myself anywhere else but on the Quidditch pitch," said Livvy. "Quidditch, you guys, and Russell – those are the only three things I live for. Otherwise, life's not worth it."