*hope is a waking dream | lily luna potter.

[Lily Potter]

Dear diary,

That's weird. I never did understand why people insist on starting their journals with those two words. Sure, only this book will know what I write in it, but it's an inanimate object - why should I address this journal entry to the book I'm writing it in? Oh well; I'll stop rambling about that now.

This isn't my first diary or journal or whatever - my parents got me my first one when I was about to enter Hogwarts as a first year, as a sort of going-away present. Since then, I've gotten one at the start of every school year, since the one from the previous year is usually filled up by then. So this would be the fifth one I'm keeping. The other four are here with me in my dorm room, each keeping my secrets with a lock and various charms so only I can open them.

So, I usually start each one with an introduction:

I'm Lily Luna Potter, age fifteen and in my fifth year at Hogwarts.

I'm in Gryffindor, like almost my entire family is, and have two older brothers - James Sirius and Albus Severus.

I'm part of the famous (or should it be infamous?) Weasley-Potter family, and I have about a hundred or more relatives. And I love each and every one of them.

I love to play Quidditch, but won't try out for the team because I'm afraid I won't make it or, if I do, that I'll let everyone down and do something stupid to lose a match.

I'm 4'10" - I know, short. Actually, I'm probably average height for my age, and everyone else is just too tall. Yeah, that's it.

I have brown eyes and bright red curls. I often wish my hair was straight and less vibrant.

I sometimes wish I was different - smarter, prettier, taller.

I'm secretly seeing Scorpius Malfoy, a Slytherin, enemy of my brothers, son of former enemy of my father and uncles and aunts and basically my entire family. But I don't care what they say. There's absolutely nothing wrong with him once you get to know him.

I guess I wear my heart on my sleeve - everyone always knows what I'm thinking. And I hate it.

My favorite color is pink. As is the ink I'm currently using.

My role-model is Mohandas Gandhi - yes, a Muggle.

I honestly don't know how to express my feelings most of the time.

I wish I did.

Sometimes, being the youngest child of the Potter family has a lot of expectations attached to it - and it gets harder than you might think. I'm not as smart or as cool or as great at Quidditch as my brothers are. I'm not as witty or clever or logical as my cousins. And I know I'll never be as great or brave or strong as my parents and aunts and uncles are. I know I'll never be able to live up to everyone's expectations of me, but somehow, I'm okay with that. I just have to be me, and they'll have to live with it whether they like it or not.

Well, that's it for now. I'm quite a bit sleepy, and this bed seems very inviting.