Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling. All characters and places mentioned in this fic belong to her.

A/N: This fic will cover snippets from the personal diaries of various Hogwarts professors during (and possibly beyond) Harry's 5th year . If you want to see more or less of a certain character's POV in the future, drop me a review and I'll do my best to accommodate requests. That said, R&R and enjoy!

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Chapter One

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress' Log
28 August (5:23 pm)

I, Minerva McGonagall, do hereby commence the official Deputy Headmistress' log for the 1995-1996 school year.

Let this record show any significant events that I, as the current Deputy Headmistress, believe to be significant for the instruction or knowledge of any future professors who hold the title.

It is Monday evening and the majority of the staff has already arrived back at Hogwarts, save for the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. I knew Albus was having difficulty filling the post-to be expected, really, considering the track record-but never before has he made a decision this close to the start of term. Despite my growing concern, I am certain the matter shall be resolved soon.

Bathsheda and Septima both arrived earlier this afternoon, a bit to my dismay. I had rather been hoping to be spared of their incessant gabbing for another day, but such is life. The two of them wasted no time in swooping down on Aurora and demanding an in-detail account of her summer vacation, all the while making vague allusions to certain occurrences at last year's Yule Ball. Aurora, the poor dear, was quite obviously flustered and left for the Astronomy tower after making an excuse regarding unpacking. I daresay that if Bathseda and Septima do not cut out their nonsense we won't be seeing Aurora in the Great Hall again the remainder of the term. I do wonder if the two of them occasionally forget that they are professors now and that this childish behavior towards their coworkers is unacceptable.

Whatever their malice towards Aurora regarding a certain male professor, I fear that they are the least of my worries this school year. After the horrifying events of June, there is a sense of unease amongst the staff. Though all of us here at Hogwarts believe that what Potter says he saw is the truth, many are still in denial. Unfortunately this coping mechanism has thus far manifested itself in the increased flirtation and altogether questionable behavior of the staff in the past 48 hours. Due to the rather skewed witch to wizard ratio of the staff as well as the varying ages, physical limitations, and er... preferences, I fear that the so-called "dating pool" at Hogwarts is rather limited. If there is one thing I can say with absolute certainty in this moment, it is that I have never been more glad to not be Severus Snape.

If this teenage behavior is what allows my staff to cope with the difficult times, then so be it. However, if it begins at all to interfere with the instruction of the students, I will have their heads. Every. Last. One.

Well, I have a few matters to attend to prior to the staff dinner this evening. Merlin knows that I'll need every spare moment to prepare myself for that ordeal.

The Great Hall (6:45 pm)

After my previous entry, Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank came into my office in order to discuss the lesson plan that had been left for her by Hagrid. An interesting assortment of creatures, to be sure, and one that I cannot help but feel would be most highly frowned upon by the Ministry of Magic. That thought does give me a certain amount of satisfaction. I did approve of a few additions to the lessons, however, as there are a few creatures Hagrid has always considered to be "mundane" that the students will need to know for their examinations and I would not want students to be at a disadvantage come exam time simply because their usual professor has a distaste for bowtruckles.

I am currently at the first staff dinner of the year. Severus is looking petulant as usual. I suspect he has had his annual discussion with Albus concerning the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, and as usual was turned down. Although, I cannot help but wonder if it would be easier to locate a Potions master with three days notice as there are no rumors of a curse on that particular job.

Other than that, it's the usual complaints. Everyone is in need of new cauldrons or star charts and Sibyll keeps insisting that the crystal balls should be replaced every year in order to ensure "the best possible connection with the great beyond". Hrmph.

Ah, it seems Rolanda has finally seen fit to join us. Always late, every...

In case any future reader is wondering, the reason there is now tea decorating this page is because my only options were spitting it out or choking on it. As it was, I didn't have a choice in the matter due to Rolanda's impeccable timing. Not that I should expect anything more from Madame Hooch; the Harpies were never known for their celibacy and combined with her very unique sense of humor... I've seen Rolanda do more than one suggestive thing with her broomstick during staff meetings (I suspect solely because she enjoys nearly giving me a heart attack) but I never thought I'd see the day where she'd reenact all her finest performances with Severus Snape filling in for the broomstick. Thank Merlin he appears to be just as appalled as I am. I'm not sure my heart could take the shock if he in any way reciprocated.

Of course, Hooch may have just openly declared war with Aurora Sinistra, but that's another matter entirely. I fear this is going to be a long year.

Aurora Sinistra

Astronomy Tower
28 August, 1995
9:20 pm

I am already getting the distinct feeling that I should have taken the last few days of summer vacation to relax and spend some time with my sister instead of returning to Hogwarts early as usual. Really, between what happened at the Yule Ball and the subsequent torture inflicted upon me by my fellow professors, you would think that I would be smart and avoid all possible contact with certain individuals (Hem. Septima and Bathsheda). Of course they were there the instant I entered the Great Hall. It's as if they can smell possible fodder for gossip five kilometers away.

Bathsheda chattered for a while for an extended amount of time about the trip to Spain that the two of them took in July, and how simply marvellous it all was. Oh, the weather was perfect, the sites were beautiful, and oh yes it was a shame she couldn't go back to Egypt as she had originally planned to look at the runes in the tomb some wizard had recently discovered, but obviously a vacation with Septima was oodles more fun and wouldn't I like to join them next summer in France? I swear there was never a woman more aptly named than Bathseda Babbling.

Then Septima shushed the other woman and leaned in very close. "Yes, Aurora dear, it would be most wonderful if you joined us next time. Perhaps you could convince Severus to come along as well, seeing as you two are such great friends and all."

Naturally, I simply smiled and pretended I didn't know what she was talking about. But she didn't stop there, oh no, that would be far too easy for her. Instead she felt compelled to make a little quip about how she didn't think that threes and elevens were very sexually compatible, but that she had never had the chance to test that out on her own, obviously, and wouldn't I be so kind as to enlighten her on my opinion on the matter?

Needless to say, I quickly made my exit after that little remark. Yes, perhaps I did very publicly and drunkenly declare my attraction to one of my coworkers, but really is that reason enough to torture a woman for months afterwards? Well, perhaps it is a bit funny, from their perspectives. I mean, Severus is not exactly popular around the staff room, and they really can't see past his exterior into the dark, tortured poetic soul that he is, but... Just because of that little mishap, they assume that we slept together. I mean it's preposterous... Though I'd be a liar if I didn't admit that the thought crossed my mind. Once, for the briefest of moments. Just once, I swear.

Anyway, I went to my room and bemoaned my poor luck in love for a while before making my way to the staff dinner. What a dinner it was. Rolanda Hooch made a downright fool of herself in front of all her colleagues this evening by making some very, erm, provocative gestures while standing behind Severus. Considering Rolanda's age, it was rather comparable to seeing your grandmother trying to charm a date out of a muggle delivery boy. Really awkward and unpleasant for everyone involved. I don't think I care to know where she got her sense of humor, as it really isn't funny at all. It must have been a joke, though. I mean, she could not actually be attracted to Severus...

Could she?

Perhaps I shall have to keep an eye on that old hag after all.

Severus Snape

Dungeons
28 August at 10 pm

I hate my life.