herbologist's journal

I'm worried about my dad. He's been doing sort of worse than usual lately and I think that soon I won't have anyone but Great-Auntie Enid and Great-Uncle Algie. And they're really old so who knows how long I'll have them? All I'll have is my shop which is doing really quite well. But it's not enough because sometimes I wonder what it'd be like to come home to someone who isn't a roommate and loves me. Seamus and Harry are really lucky because they've got that. And Ron and Hermione, too. All I wanted to write about was that the shop's doing well, so I don't know how it turned into this.

There are lots of pretty girls who I see every day but none of them notice me. I don't know why because I'm RIGHT THERE in front of them but maybe I am just that boring. Hannah doesn't ignore me, though. She talks to me and she's really very funny. She's also got nice baps but I can't tell her that because she'd think I'm pervy. I'm not, they're just nice. She also smells good, too. Yesterday she brought in a box of scones that were really good and I ate about six of them which is bad but they were very good. Now it's time for me to water the plants in the back and to do a bit of weeding. I don't get why people think that gardening or herbology is boring. It's very soothing and relaxing and the rewards are available all year.

Er Hannah?

We've already sent out notification to Mrs Irma Wyndham, but she's won that contest to name the shop. It's officially known as Green Expectations. I think she likes Muggle books.

I dunno, I sort of enjoy all the roses. And if you don't antagonise them, the bees aren't harmful to you. They're just pollinating the flowers. It's sort of nice, actually. A bit like having springtime everywhere. I think it'd be neat to have a rosebush that flowers all year 'round.

Dementors?

Er. I think I told someone that I would let them know when we got our autumn flowers in, but I can't remember if I did or who it was to. So, they're in. And they're really lovely this year. And for this first week we've got a sale on them at the shop in Euphoria Lane. It's still called Cultivation but I think that I need a name change for it. So, we're having a contest to rename the shop. If your name wins then in the spring I will provide your flowers, up to 75 Galleons. Starting today we've got a box in on the counter with slips of paper for your name, address, and name suggestion. We'll be taking them for two weeks and then my employees and I will pick the best ones and for the last two weeks of September everyone will vote at the shop and at the beginning of October we'll announce the new name of the shop.

I don't think any of that made sense.

[privater Bezirk]
Hermione und Ron sind verheiratet, und das war nett. Das ist aber unheimlich, alle meine Freunde mit Leuten sehend. Verwüsten Sie hat Wendy, und Hermione und Ron, und Seamus hat Lisa und sogar das Sehen des Dekans von jemandem, ich denke. Lavendel war mit Oliver für eine Weile so offensichtlich sie tut etwas Recht.

Ich weiß nicht, warum ich mich darüber sorge, dennoch. Es ist nicht wie ich weiß, was ich vermisst werde.
[Endbezirk]

Ich denke, dass ich in einer anderen Sprache schreibe. Und ein sprechend. Meine letzten drei Kunden haben auf mich seltsam geschaut.

( translation... )

Happy birthday, Harry!

[warded private]
I'm 24 tomorrow. They had a bit of a party for me at the hospital, with Dad and all. It was all right. Sort of depressing, actually. It's hard to be cheerful around a man who's clearly getting worse and worse with each day. They're not sure how long he'll last now. Maybe to Christmas.

It's sort of depressing to see other people talking about their friends' birthdays, but to know that likely mine will be overlooked. But that's all right. I've never done anything huge for my birthday, so there's no need to start now.
[end ward]

We're starting to get the flats of autumn plants in. They're nowhere near close to being in bloom, though, just starting or ready to start. In a few weeks they should be sprouting and then I'll put them out for those who want to plant them and watch them grow.

I didn't know that being a teacher took up so much time, and I only had the younger students and helped with a few of the NEWT-level classes. But the treacle tart was still good, even though it was weird sitting up at the teachers' table instead of at Gryffindor's table. The Bloody Baron spoke to me on the last day of classes and told me hoped to see me in future. That was a little weird.

I spent the week after school let out in York with Auntie Enid and Uncle Algie, and we went to Gran's grave and cleaned it up a bit. Hard to believe she's been gone a year...

I only had one piece of mail get diverted yesterday and it was returned to me this morning. Which was nice.

I visited my dad this morning and a lot of people were mentioning that their letters were opened. Like, deliberately after the people who had it were still opening it after they knew that the mail they were getting wasn't theirs. That's rubbish. You don't open other people's mail like that. And then I read in the journals and some of you are doing it and that's rubbish. I think it's sad that a lot of the students at the school made sure that more mail was returned unopened than a bunch of adults.

[Warded to Sarah]
Sorry I wasn't at the shop yesterday. I was helping Professor Sprout with a few things and lost track of time.

Er. It's not likely, but if anyone needs assistance with their plants or at the shop, my shop assistant will be more than able to do the job. I've been asked to help Professor Sprout with the younger classes at Hogwarts until the end of the year because she had an accident of some sort. not that anyone ca

I thought that I might let everyone know that, yes, you will want to have a look at what plants you have outdoors as soon as the snow clears. I have a potion that you mix with water that will help to make sure they don't die from the shock of the snow, but you've got to get them into the plant's soil within 12 hours of the freeze leaving or it'll be worthless.

Men have been chatting me up. Oh.

[follows is a rather large splotch of ink]

( private )

Right, so the last time I wrote in this thing I said something about needing employees and then I lost it to a plant and had to get a new journal so I don't know who said anything to me and I feel badly about that. But I still need a full-time shopkeeper. And part-time people. Sorry.

Fuck Could someone take me to St Mungo's?

THERE'S A BIG BLACK CAT AFTER ME!

Er. I thought I'd put this out in here before I put an advert in the Prophet. But I need a few more employees?. At least a full-time clerk for the shop here on Euphoria Lane and someone to help me out at the greenhouse. And then at least one other part-time person, I think. I might need mor than that.

( private )

( Hannah )

I'm buying Cultivation It doesn't matter, no one cares.

( warded to self )

I don't like it. Becoming too crowded? Merlin, we live in a city! Tearing down most of the Lane and building some stupid bigger building isn't going to help. We'd all just be living right on top of one another, literally. I could've lived above the shop, over by the river, but I didn't because I've got friends here. It's rubbish. A financial and political centre? Isn't that what Diagon Alley is?

( warded to self )

I don't care what my mirror said this morning, I'm not going to die buried under plants.

( Private )

I am not a fan of black and white. I can't see my plants well enough to know what I'm doing with them, and while I can identify them, it's hard to keep an eye on the ones that are more susceptible to disease because I can't see it. There's nothing I can do. I feel sort of useless.

Oh Merlin. Luna, I didn't fall in love with you. I'm still alive. He hasn't killed me. I guess I don't have much to write.

That cold snap was horrendous for my plants here at the flat. The heating charms didn't work nearly well enough and I lost about a quarter of what I keep here. So I'm flat-hunting again. The lady at 239 said to stop by today because Sunday is supposed to be a good day to look at flats. Something about it pleasing my aura which is a load of rubbish.

Oh! Uhm, if anyone has plants that were affected by the cold I could take a look at them, either at the shop or where ever you are. If you wanted. It's part of what I do, after all.

[Warded to Harry]
I'm sorry about those articles, mate. I just got caught up on the papers yesterday and they were all rubbish. Gran would have written a strongly-worded letter if she were around. I think she really liked that programme that Wendy's on but I can't remember what all she really listened to since she had the wireless on all the time. Sometimes I listen

[warded to self]
I think he's slipping away.

( warded private )

( warded to Harry )

I was stuck watering a plant for half an hour yesterday. I have a feeling that it's been over-watered and it'll be fun to try to save it.

I'M BALD! WHO DID THIS? MAKE IT GO AWAY!

The music last night at the coffee shop was really nice. Er I had no choice but to listen since it was right below me no that's rude I had something else to write but I've forgotten what it was. Um.

( warded private )

I always seem to lose this thing. Christmas was nice, I went to see Dad and then had dinner with Great-uncle Algie and Great-auntie Enid. And I think I'm going to do this thing that everyone else is doing.

Year: 2003
Age: 23
How was your birthday this year? I forgot it was my birthday and so spent it at the greenhouse.
Make any new friends? A few, I think.
Lose any friends? I don't think I did.
And how was the world of romance for you this year? That's a funny question.
Occupation: Herbologist
Residence: Euphoria Lane
Pets: I haven't had a pet since Trevor died. Now I have a lot of plants.
Get any taller? Not that I know of.
Hairstyle for the year? Short. great-auntie Enid makes me get it cut regularly.
Best outfit of the year? Er.
What did you do for New Year's? I spent it with Gran, actually.
What did you do for Valentine's Day? Nothing.
What did you do for St. Patrick's Day? Nothing.
What did you do for Easter? Spent it with Gran, Enid, and Algie.
Where did you go on Summer Vacation? I didn't have one. That's when Gran died so
What did you dress as for Halloween? Pumpkin-carving contest at the shop.
What did you get for Christmas? A headdress thing from Luna and some other odds and ends.
What are your plans for this New Year? I haven't really made any yet.
Who are you going to kiss at midnight? No one.
How do you want the new year to be different from this one? I don't know. It wasn't a bad year, overall, except for when Gran passed away.
How do you want the new year to be the same as this one? I don't really know, to be honest.
What is your favourite flavour biscuit? Chocolate dipped.
How many times can you jump-rope in a row? I don't know. I don't know if I've ever jumped rope.
Do you prefer mustard the flavour or mustard the colour? The odour.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Holland.
Do you think that Harry Potter is a perfect being? What? No.
Do you like plants? Yes.
Have you ever played the drums? No.
Do you like your parents? I don't really Yes.

In case it's not already clear, I've got signs up over certain varieties of plants in the shop that say rather boldly 'do not touch'. So even if your stupid, idiotic child can't read yet, you should be able to and then tell them to not touch the bloody plants! It's not difficult! And it's not a toy shop! Some of those plants are delicate. And when I ask you to not have your stupid little child touch the plants in MY SHOP, then I don't want to hear some stupid little excuse that 'oh the flowers are so bright she can't help it'!

I think I'm going to have to ban kids from my shop, just so their stupid parents don't kill them by their stupidity and inability to read signs that are clearly posted. And then the stupid little ankle-biter knocked over a table full of plants and it'll cost me at least 30 galleons to replace!

Merlin, I can't believe I forgot to say this yesterday. But I've got Christmas trees! The ones that don't look as pretty as the others are going to be decorated. If you want to help that'd be brilliant and I'll have hot cocoa and spiced hot cider and some sweets that my Great-Auntie Enid made.

Hermione -- do you need a tree for the children's home?

( warded private )

I think it's really brilliant that those people were found. I hope they're doing all right. I wonder how many of them are going to end up in the same ward as Dad?

( warded to self )

Er. I guess I'm no longer purple. Which is good because now I can get back to normal. Uhm Right! Poinsettias have arrived, but the ones that are really pretty and decorative for Christmas won't arrive until around the 17th. But the ones I have now are pretty good for certain potions. And the ones we get are always good quality no matter what. I think that next year I might try to grow them myself. They're pretty challenging but I think that by then I'll be able to expand and build a special greenhouse for them.

Er I saw that play that was at the theatre a couple of weeks back. It was nice although I didn't understand much of it and the acting was really good.

Er. I think my fingertips are turning purple and I don't have any plants that'll do that. I also feel like I might sleep for a few days.

( warded to self )

Harry it was fantastic to see you 'round the shop last week. And you didn't kill anything, which is even better. Uh. What else can I

The pumpkin carving contest went really well. Some bloke from Bristol and a little boy from Stratford-upon-Avon won. I can't remember their names. I had an owl from Professor Sprout, too. I think I'm going to Hogsmeade the next weekend the kids have their weekend and visit.

( warded private )

I'm really, really glad that last week is over. And the pumpkin supplier sent us too many pumpkins and won't take them back. Thank Merlin they didn't charge me for them. So on Wednesday we're having a Hallowe'en pumpkin sale and a carving contest, both adult and children. Ten Galleons for first place in the adult group, and a ten Galleon gift certificate at the toystore for the children's.

( warded to theodore nott )

( warded to self )

( warded to susan )

Bloody hell, what is with St Mungo's today? It was nearly impossible to get into the doors to visit Dad and when I went down the street to get some chips it'd gotten worse. All I heard was some shouting about pay and benefits. I mean, I don't know what they're paid, but if it's not much maybe they should be given more? People have to eat, after all. I don't know.

I'm still looking for full-time help. Got some part-time, but it'll be easier to get everything I need done with full-time and part-time help. The Open House is on 21st October and then the opening great-auntie Enid says I should say grand-opening is on 22nd October. I need people who know about plants Anyone good with arranging flowers?

( warded to self )

Does anyone know of a few people who'd like a position in a greenhouse/herbology shop? I'm er hiring, and there's a lot to do before the Open House and Grand Opening. Uh For those of you interested, the Open House is on 21 October with the opening on 22 October.

Does anyone have any idea what 'lOO k fo thee sin go up' means? I found it on my table this morning and I have no idea.

I feel like I've got cotton in my mouth.

I wish my mirror knew that I'm not really a fan of reggae. I couldn't understand a word it was singing this morning. Actually, I've never had my mirror sing to me at all, so it was a bit weird, so I nearly cut myself shaving after hitting my knee on the sink. Bloody hell. Gran's house didn't have half as many odd occurrences as this place.

I had a toad follow me for half a block before someone picked it up and carried it back to the pet shop. Who let all the animals out? Anyone else bothered by the pub with the sign in front of it? Seems rather rubbish, to me.

( private to close friends )

( private to self )

I don't know why I fuc fucking opened this. I should have just stayed in the damn greenhouse where it was quiet today and no one spoke and Merlin, can't people just [entry ends in a large ink splot]

( warded to self )

Hi Hello? Merlin, this is stupid. I'm stupid. Been awhile since I've seen this thing.

( Neville Longbottom )