Double post this week. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Thanks again for the lovey reviews :) They're very much appreciated!

12 July 1992

Minerva strode down the hallway, her eyes warily scanning each corridor she turned into for fear of crossing paths with a certain professor.

Despite only being back at Hogwarts for a week, Minerva's irritation levels had risen to such a degree that she was convinced that if she encountered the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, the main cause for her irritation, she would blow a fuse.

Therefore, after a brief moment of apprehension, Minerva almost sighed with relief when she finally pushed open the staffroom door and found it empty.

Her mood rising slightly, she picked a seat by the window overseeing the Black Lake and began to finish writing letters including lists of books, robes, and other utensils returning students would need by September.

She was halfway through letters for the new second-year students when she was interrupted by the sound of the staffroom door opening. The reflection in the window in front of her caused her to close her eyes momentarily.

"Minerva, how good it is to see you!"

Minerva adopted a smile – albeit a somewhat strained one, and turned.

"Good afternoon, Gilderoy," she said tightly. "I hope you are settling in well?"

"Oh, just perfectly," Lockhart answered loudly. He came into the room, his extravagant blinding yellow robes whooshing behind him. "Severus here is just showing me around," he added, smiling brilliantly back at Severus who merely scowled. Lockhart took no notice of this, however. "It's a cosy little place you all have here," he continued.

Minerva followed his eyes around the staffroom – a medium-sized room with carpeted floors, maroon armchairs, bookcases, and a few desks dotted around the rest of the available space.

"Quite," she said, her desire for social interaction dwindling by the second.

Again, Gilderoy took no notice.

"Planning lessons, I see?" he commented, strolling over to where she was sitting and peering over her shoulder. "If you need any help, Minerva, I am more than happy to–"

"I do not require assistance at present, Gilderoy," Minerva cut through him smoothly. "But I thank you for the offer."

"There's no shame in asking for help, Minerva," he continued, looking at her in what was meant to be a knowing way and placing two on his hands on her shoulders. "I have offered the same expertise to Severus and he jumped at the opportunity seeing as I myself, have had to brew some pretty complex potions on my journeys."

"I am unaware I accepted such an offer," Snape pointed out, from his position by the door.

Gilderoy smiled. "Ah, your face said it all, Severus."

Snape looked as though he could murder Lockhart on the spot, however, he contained his emotions and merely continued to scowl. If Minerva had not been so annoyed herself, she would have laughed. Instead, she stood up quite abruptly and gathered her things with a sharp flick of her wand.

"I think, Gilderoy," she began, "it would be best if you concentrated on your own subject. After all, Defense Against the Dark Arts is a complex subject to master," she added, looking at him pointedly.

Lockhart's cheerful, boyish mask slipped slightly as Minerva gave him a piercing stare. Then, the smile returned just as quickly and he pushed her arm playfully. "Multi-tasking is one of my best qualities, Minerva, as I'm sure you remember. And it would be selfish not to share my knowledge of our world. As you know I have encountered-"

"Complex magic, yes, so you've said," Minerva interrupted with a brief, tight smile. "Even so, I suggest you wait until the first few weeks of term have elapsed to see where you stand before offering to help other professors."

She held his gaze for a moment longer before looking away. "Now, as much as I would like to join your tour, I'm afraid I must leave you both as I have important business to attend to with the Headmaster."

She briefly caught Severus' eye as she said this, knowing full well that he knew as well as she did that there was no such meeting with Albus.

"I shall see you both at dinner," she added, nodding curtly at Gilderoy and then Snape. "Enjoy the rest of your day."

And before either of the men had the time to say anything else, Minerva swept out of the staffroom and made her way back to her quarters so that she could finish her work uninterrupted.