Alys's journal is a well worn book, held together by an immense number of Reparo spells. Magically, the journal seems to never run out of pages. Pages torn out will be simple, normal parchment, all magic binding it to the book severed; these pages can be reattached with a reparo spell, but foreign pages cannot be added thusly. Usually when opened, the journal will fall to the most recent entry, positioned always at halfway through the book. There used to be spells written into the spine to allow a reader to go directly to the desired entry, but these spells seem to be worn and inconsistent. The journal seals itself closed after a few undisturbed minutes, and while this can be unlocked by a simple "Alohamora", the journal usually never leaves Alys's belongings.
The pages of the book are filled with both text and sketches of things going on or just doodles. While Alys is learned in many forms of art, all of the sketches in the journal are simple ink-paper sketches, often with guidelines or messy marks. Exceptions include a few paintings of landscapes, maps, and or ship architecture.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 00 weeks ☁═══════════════╗ ╠═════xxx05 January 2037xxxSundayxxxxxHogwarts ╠═════xxxBack at School
Back from break. I missed the castle. Missed my friends. Coming in as a first year I had no idea I’d have so many people in Britain to miss. But seven years really changes things, and I'm glad I'm at Hogwarts instead of Beauxbatons.
I really look forward to afternoons by the viaduct with Julius. It was jarring at first, and I was nervous being back there again. But so far no one’s been there when we are. Rumors don’t carry, and it’s a cool place to hang out. We’ve been friends since first or second year I guess, but I feel like it’s only last year that we’ve gotten closer and only this year that we’re alone together so much.
He’s still stressed. Back in November I thought it was just NEWTs pressure. But I think I get it now: It’s not just NEWTs, we only have six months left before graduation. Then it’s just... Us against the world. The stakes are higher. Everything changes.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 000 days ☁═══════════════╗ ╠═════xxx21 February 2037xxxSaturdayxxxxxRoom of Requirement ╠═════xxxLove and Childhood Traumas
I told Julius to show me what ‘making love’ means and goodness did he. There were plenty of clumsy moments throughout the night, but it was also unbelievably passionate. He was so awkward but gentle, and kept asking me if I was okay. Halfway through the night I kissed his nose and told him it was so much better than the last time I had sex with a guy. I thought he was going to laugh, but instead he stroked my hair and asked me about it. I don’t know what came over me, but I told him about Alexei and what happened in fifth year. He held me gently the entire time, and I fell asleep in his arms.
In the morning he got me breakfast and told me about his father’s death-- watching it as a child, the shame and the isolation. We talked about our parents-- him growing up under Professor Evera, me with Mother’s expectations back in France and Papa’s trips at sea.
I didn’t tell him it was the first time I told anyone besides Arietta the whole story about Alexei. I don’t think he needs to know that. But it made me think about things again and I think I’ve properly moved on. Alexei doesn’t paralyze me the way he did last year or the year before. It’s good to know. Liberating.
It’s going to be weird facing Jaren tomorrow after sleeping with his little brother son though, lol. And I have Professor Evera’s class Thursday!
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 001 days ☁═══════════════╗ ╠═════xxx22 February 2037xxxSundayxxxxxThree Broomsticks ╠═════xxxGringotts Interview
That interview was actually fine. Jaren was supposed to be interviewing me for a Gringotts position but after a while he recommended this position on behalf of a friend. I thought that was a bad sign, but we started to talk more and I got really excited about the opportunity: His friend is looking for an apprentice cursebreaker to join his crew on a four month expedition around the North Sea to chart waters with magical creatures. The captain and his wife aren’t magical, but his sister is a magizoologist in-training and they have a few other magical crew members and even a house elf who will be joining them. It’s going to be the ship’s maiden voyage and if the crew works well together there’s a good chance this can turn into a full time deal. It sounded perfect.
I submitted my application and OWLs grades with Jaren to send. On paper it sounds perfectly aligned to my abilities and coursework, but we’ll see.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 01 week ☁═══════════════╗ ╠═════xxx28 February 2037xxxSaturday ╠═════xxxChocolate Cake and Fairy Mix
I guess it was too naive to think I was done with migraines after break. Thursday I missed all my classes, so I spent yesterday running around getting the assignments and Professor Evera had a “disappointment talk” with me about not telling anyone I was ill. I took the viaduct route back from Creatures and got so tired I just laid out on a sunny spot under the viaduct and actually fell asleep there. When I woke up I found Julius reading nearby with his sweater over me. He’s a real sweetie: He got me a few sandwiches and even a slice of a slice of chocolate cake because he saw I missed lunch and thought I could use cheering up after his mother lectured me.
He came with me to Firewhiskey Weekend today so I indulged him and just got this slush that James made up. We had fun though, more than I expected for a Firewhisky-less Weekend. I found out James has a whole collection of nonalcoholic drinks. His “Fairy Mix” was the best slush I’ve ever had and I didn’t even care if it wasn’t alcoholic.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 02 weeks ☁══════════════╗ ╠═════xxx03 March 2037xxxTuesday ╠═════xxxFlute Music
Julius had Music today, so he had his flute with him when I joined him at the viaduct after Cursebreaking. I asked him to play me something and he seemed nervous but played this old muggle hit. I don’t know the words, but even I’d heard of it. He was actually not bad. I don’t know why I hadn’t made him play for me before. He told me before we started hanging out, he’d just play his flute when he was lonely. I told him he was a sap but that I’d always be there to talk.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 3:00 am
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 03 weeks ☁══════════════╗ ╠═════xxx11 March 2037xxxThursday ╠═════xxxNaps and Future Jobs
I’m not sure if it’s the viaduct and being comfortable there again or me being really sleepy, but I’ve been taking a nap there almost every day after classes, not just Thursdays after Creatures. Julius is there too. It’s probably partially thanks to him that I get any studying done on my more tired days. He’s started bringing a blanket and pillow for me, but yesterday I just hugged the pillow and napped on his leg. When I woke up he was reading and absentmindedly playing with my hair. He apologized, and we started talking but he seemed more nervous than usual. Usually I think I’m pretty good at reading people, but Julius has always been hard to read.
We talked about our classmates and where we think people are going. He mentioned a few research positions. Maybe working at a library, and eventually teaching. I asked if he had that much fun teaching me and he grinned but didn’t say anything. But I think he’ll take the library position eventually--he’s always defaulted to the library, not teaching, when he doesn’t know what to do. He mentioned the kooky Slytherin girl our year, Edaline, is probably doing divination research. I think we were paired together for Herbology a few times, but that was pre-OWLs and I never got to know her very well. She seems nice. Definitely weird. By what Julius says, I think I could’ve been friends with her. Maybe I still can. I told him to invite her out here sometime. Alexei’s starting a circus. Le Cirque Magique de Alexei Desmarais. It already sounds pretentious as all hells. But I guess it suits him. The show, the spectacle, the eccentricities...the business. The facade and the horror.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 03 weeks ☁══════════════╗ ╠═════xxx14 March 2037xxxSaturdayxxxxxHog's Head Inn ╠═════xxxSolus Interview
Today I went to the Hog’s Head and talked via fire to Captain Azim Aindrias. I was even more convinced this is perfect: Sailing experience, magical creatures, cursebreaking-- my résume was basically a checklist of what he was looking for. My dueling, fencing and language experience didn’t hurt either. Jaren had sent him a high recommendation as my former housemate, and Captain Aindrias and I had a great conversation. At the end he literally told me “You sound perfect and I want you on my crew.” He’s still wrapping things up and getting the ship ready, but assuming I do well on my NEWTs, we’re planning to sail in mid- summer. A job! And here Mother thought Care of Magical Creatures would be useless.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 04 weeks ☁══════════════╗ ╠═════xxx16 March 2037xxxMonday ╠═════xxxA Confession
My sister’s pen pal from Behanzin sent her a love letter. A full confession, swearing “undying love and eternal devotion”. Even included a $30 sterling silver promise ring. She’s thirteen. He’s in South America, and she’s in France. They haven’t even met in person. It was hilarious. Except apparently his parents also sent a letter to our house. I didn’t get the details--it seems unlikely her pen pal’s parents would have gone along with this dramatic confession-- but Mother was furious. Sent a howler--to me. The entire school listened as my mother called me a licentious witch with a bad influence on my sister. I guess it’s because I was the one who connected them in the first place? Thankfully it was in French so I think only a few people actually understood, but everyone got the gist of it.
Arietta herself had sent a letter explaining what had happened. She wrote that she planned to return the ring because she didn’t want to be married so soon. “But he deserves the chance to have his words heard and to receive a reply from my own hand.” I told her to do what she wanted, but also maybe consider meeting the guy first.
Later I told Julius what had happened and he seemed so thoughtful that I had to tease, asking if he was thinking of sending someone a love letter. He replied that after seeing the howler, he was thoroughly dettered. I teased him about liking someone and he stumbled over his words. “Yes. I think. I think she likes me too.”
“Well, have you asked her?”
“...No. But we get along really well and hang out a lot.”
I didn’t reply. Julius doesn’t hang out with a lot of people. I wonder if he means me. I wonder if I want him to mean me. I keep thinking about it. Mother called me licentious. I changed my mind. It’s probably licentious that I slept with a guy without even knowing if I’m the one he likes.
Luana and Yvaine are on their periods. They convinced a few of the younger girls to bring them dinner and chocolate. I was all on board with tagging along before realizing that they’d taken the Daisywood Drought I bought last time in Hogsmeade, then I got mad. Yvaine and I argued for a few minutes-- I yelled at her about always stealing my clothes for Hogsmeade dates and she reminded me about stealing her Law book and notes. We went on for a few minutes until I broke down crying. I just suddenly felt really bad that I had flipped out at her for something so stupid. We sneak alcohol in and share it all the time. I love them. My girls were with me from the start of school. We were there for each other through OWLs, Luana helped me get Finch out and resituated at her uncle’s lab, and Yvaine has saved me from detention more often than I can count.
Luana said it was just NEWTs stress. She made James get us some Fairy Mix and we spent the whole night studying until we all wanted to barf. In my case I actually did. We rolled over in laughter and agreed that if anything, it made a great anti-boggart memory.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 06 weeks ☁══════════════╗ ╠═════xxx03 April 2037xxxFridayxxxxxAn empty classroom I haven't left in what feels like days ╠═════xxxNEWTs Part 5694
NEWTs studying is all-consuming. It’s just sleep, eat, study, served with a side of migraines and queasy nervousness.
I haven’t heard anything since from Captain Aindrias. I realized I probably could have written him a follow up letter. I wish I had written and sent that letter. At least I’d have done something about it.
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