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Jemima Greengrass · February 15, 2023 – 8:58 PM

Every new book of her diary is charmed to look like the next volume of an unloved encyclopaedia set on her bedroom bookshelves, until opened upside down.

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THIS DIARY IS PROPERTY OF

Jemima Eloise Farley

While she writes every day, this thread contains selected entries only.

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Jemima Greengrass · February 15, 2023 – 9:00 PM

1st November, 1892

Dear Diary,

I was waiting for the end of the month to start a fresh volume, and had to squeeze five days’ worth of my journal in the back of the last one. And then I couldn’t write last night, because I was at the masque for Hallowe’en, and had drunk a little too much wine at the party to bother trying to write. I should have hated this first page to be a mess. That would be a bad omen, I’m sure.

But a new journal volume calls for new resolutions, as if it is a new year. And it was my birthday only a fortnight ago – twenty, now! does that not sound so dignified? – so it is timely, too. And only last night Lila and I had what I shall only call a heart-to-heart, and she has such faith in me and my future! So I have begun this volume on a high, with all the hope in the world. Thus, my resolutions:

I. Never say a bad word about anyone in here. Candour is no excuse for cruelty. I fancy I have much excelled with this in recent volumes, though it is a pity I was not yet so mature at school.
II. Following that: be a kinder person. I must show it in my actions as well as my words.
III. Find a suitable match for Delilah so that she might remarry.

Did you notice the absence of another resolution, one that I have marked in every other volume since third year? To find a match for myself – and it is still a wish and a hope, of course, but I have decided it is simply too depressing to spend all my time thinking of it and thinking myself a failure. I shall focus on resolutions II & III instead, and perhaps my efforts there will shine through and make me admirable without requiring any affectation. And then someone might fall in love with me and my character, instead of the other way around! We shall see.

Love, Jemima

P.S. Resolution IV: Have breakfast. Am starving.
V. Hurry and get inkstain off my sheets.

Jemima Greengrass · April 8, 2023 – 12:31 AM

16th December, 1892

Dear Diary,

I finally got to visit the Winter Labyrinth in Hogsmeade, and it was I it was fun at first, but then I

I had the worst time

[handwriting is shaky and ink blotchy from tearstains]

[entry is abandoned here]

17th December, 1892

Dear Diary,

A quiet day at home today. I didn’t sleep well, though I fear I was very tired last night. The labyrinth event was perfectly fine. If I was silly enough to get lost and stuck in a trap, that was my own fault, and I ought to be more careful next time. I supposed I overreacted to the kiss, too. I have always liked kisses before.

It was my own doing, anyway. I blinded him with the wandlight and then looked as if I were waiting for his assistance, and I’m sure he meant it as he said, as a nice surprise. Probably he would have done nothing else after that without my permission, but I was a fool and couldn’t think of anything to do but run to be rid of his company. He must have thought me very stupid and hysterical. (When I found my friends they all laughed and said I looked half-wild and manic and I only said I got lost and didn’t like to say why else, because if I had told them about the kiss of course they would imagine I had encouraged him, because I – )

Well, you know. I’ll be more sensible in future.

But I hope I never have to meet him again.

I hate mazes.

Love, Jemima

Welcome to Charming

The Rest Is Still Unwritten | Love, Jemima: Volume II