Sorry I haven't written in ages, so much has been going on! I'll tell you more about it in a minute, but first I'll go back to the first night. I was welcomed by some very lovely people to the Hufflepuff table, and when the feast was over, we were escorted to our common room by Gabriel, a short prefect with bright green eyes. As we walked, he explained many things about the Hufflepuff house, including dispelling people's worries that  hufflepuff was the 'duff' house. I certainly don't think that our qualities are as interesting, but I think I'd rather be in hufflepuff than anywhere else- the fact I'm trustworthy and loyal makes me proud, not ashamed.

We walked down a flight of stairs, which began to worry me. I'd heard the slytherin common room was in the dungeons below the lake- that sounded like a horrible place to sleep! We stopped in front of some barrels, and Gabriel explained that in order to get inside the common room, you must tap a certain barrel to the beat of 'hel-ga huff-le-puff', and if you tap the wrong one, vinegar pours out! He tapped the right barrel, and it opened to reveal a small tunnel. He got on his hands and knees and crawled through, and we all followed him inside.

It was a circular-shaped room, with light filtering in through high windows, through which I saw a small white butterfly landing delicately on a blade of grass. The room was filled with squashy yellow-and-black armchairs. The only downside was the multitude of plants creeping down the walls and hanging off the fireplace- looks like I'm going to be taking a lot of antihistamines! Gabriel then explained that we were to be in separate dorms. I was placed in the dorm 'Aureus room', one of the largest dorms in Hufflepuff with 1st and 2nd years. I was really happy because the girl I sat next to during the feast (called Natalya) was also placed in this dorm! It will also be really useful to have helpful second years help me with homework! The dorm is lovely- patchwork quilts and copper bed-warmers!

This week has been a bit of a blur, to be honest. It's a pretty routine life- first I wake up and natter with my dorm-mates, then go down and meet friends in the common room, then down to the great hall for breakfast. I love the great hall- obviously the separate tables are just for show. Everyone just sits and talks to whoever they like! I found out that chocolate frog cards are all the rage- I've only won two cards so far, but that's just cos some idiot bet that I couldn't eat an entire chocolate cake by myself. What can I say. I have a bottomless pit for a stomach.

Then when breakfast is done, I go to lessons. Monday is astronomy; Tuesday charms; Wednesday is Defence Against the Dark Arts; Thursday herbology; Friday History of Magic; Saturday potions; and Sunday transfiguration. But, after a week of lessons, a bunch of the teachers had to leave and the courses had to be rewritten. I'm gutted- I'm going to have to rewrite all my notes!

Anyway, I have a load of homework I'm procrastinating from, so I'll go do that. Night!