I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my dear friend, District (YouDon'tOwnMyLife) for his birthday :)

P.S. I am trying to stick to the books, though it's hard for the Philosopher's Stone as my sister has misplaced our copy of it... I'm doing my best so bear with me :)

Good morning, self!

It's just past seven in the morning now, and I'm the only one in our dormitory awake. I'm actually rather surprised I managed to sleep at all; I'm so excited for the upcoming day! I can't wait to find out what subjects I'll have today – I wonder if I'll learn how to turn anything into something else! Or if we'll make any potions! Maybe we'll look at some of the plants I read about in the Herbology textbook; they all look so fantastic!

I believe I'm going to have to get used to early mornings and late nights if I want to write regularly; I can only imagine the torment I would be put through if they found out I take such comfort in recording my day in a letter to myself. Fay and Alice don't seem too bad, if not a bit shy, but Parvati and Lavender are just downright annoying. Honestly, all I've heard them talk about is shoes, clothes, and boys! We're eleven!

Anyway, the others are stirring so I'm going to wash, and then go down to breakfast to have something to eat and receive my schedule for the day – I can't wait! I'll try and write at lunch.

Sincerely, Hermione Granger.

OH MY GOODNESS (I really ought to be saying Merlin, but it'll take a while to get out of my current habits.) THIS SCHOOL IS SO INCREDIBLY AMAZING! It's better than anything I ever could have dreamed of. Sorry I didn't write at lunch, I was so caught up in lessons!

Our very first lesson was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, who gave me a small smile as she passed out our timetables at breakfast. She gave us a brief lecture about the theory of Transfiguration and she seemed extremely impressed when I knew about Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration – she even gave me ten House points for being able to recite the basis of the rule! I was so proud, and everyone looked really impressed. Except for Ronald, he just rolled his eyes when he thought I wasn't looking which wasn't very nice of him. After the explanation, she gave us each a match and gave us an incantation and the wand movements required to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson mine was the only one which had changed noticeably; turning from boxy and brown to pointy and silver. Neville, the boy sitting next to me who I met on the train, was having a lot of trouble and even managed to send the match spinning out of the window.

I was disappointed to learn that we wouldn't be having Charms until Tuesday, but my disappointment was quickly vanished as I was distracted by our history of Magic lesson which was completely fascinating. Professor Binns gave us an incredibly enlightening speech which I, naturally, copied down word for word.

It's bizarre to be taught by a ghost! I asked Nearly Headless Nick at dinner and he said that Professor Binns had just died in a chair in the teacher's lounge while he was asleep, woken up as a ghost, and gone to teach his next lesson as if nothing had happened! After the first half hour, his speech started to drag a little, but it still held a certain allure to it as he started to teach us all about Merlin – a topic which fascinates me greatly.

The only lesson I'm not actually looking forward to is our first flying lesson next week – I've never been too fond of heights after Gregory pushed me off the climbing frame and I broke my arm; I doubt I'll ever forget that, or forgive him for it. But I'll take it all in stride, as Mum and Dad always taught me to do.

Much to my delight (and everyone else's horror) we received homework on our first day; I'm currently taking a break from writing a short Potions essay on the property of Bezoars to jot down this entry. Tomorrow I'll be doing Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Herbology – we don't have Astronomy until Wednesday night. I'm far too excited!

Anyway, I must return to my homework; I can't bear the thought of being behind so early in the year!

Sincerely, Hermione Granger.

Ronald Weasley… is a prat. I know it's rather a forceful word to be using, especially since I've only known him for two days but he just is! That was such an inarticulate sentence, compared to my usual standard. It's just that he's so… so… so upsetting! Maybe his impolite manner has something to do with the fact that he has five elder brothers, or that he's the second youngest in his family, or maybe it's true when they say red-heads have angry temperaments, but there's still no decent excuse for his horrible nature!

We had our first Charms lesson today with Professor Flitwick who was teaching us all about the theory of Charms which was incredibly interesting. Ronald was being rather immature in the back of the classroom; throwing bits of paper at the backs of others and other generally juvenile acts. One of the bits of paper got stuck in my hair and he laughed as I was trying to get it out, and then made fun of my hair and teeth. To me, it would seem more apt had he been Sorted into Slytherin. In fact, due to him, I rather wish the Sorting Hat had placed me in Ravenclaw, even if it was just for the sake of getting away from that arrogant imbecile. The Ravenclaws all seem so much nicer, and they can all relate to me on the subject of lessons and knowledge.

Much to my disappointment; Defence Against the Dark Arts wasn't as exciting as I had hoped it would be. Professor Quirrell seemed incredibly nervous, especially when Seamus asked about his turban, and he stuttered constantly. His room gave off the odd odour of garlic, which the Weasley twins later joked about, saying that the professor had stuffed his turban full of garlic to ward off vampires. I don't believe it, but his behaviour is rather suspicious.

Well, it's getting late and I'm rather tired from all these early mornings so I'm going to get to bed.

Sincerely, Hermione Granger.