Yes, I have seen the Ancient Runes assignments, students. Meanwhile, as interesting as the translations and your corrections are, I would appreciate it if you had merely delivered it straight to Professor Babbling rather than owled me a collection. Thank you very much.

Ugh. Vodka. Why do I have to teach tonight? Swotty little children.

Oooh, happy days! My sister is pregnant! And wants me to be a BIG part of the baby's life.

( Private to Adults )

Oh, fan-bloody-tastic. Just recieved an owl from my hellion dear sister, Mira, who wrote to inform me that she's spoken to Dawlish behind my back, the conniving sneak! about the three of us having dinner together this weekend. What a horrible, horrible darling suprise.

Well, isn't it convenient that the only appointment that was scheduled for this weekend was cancelled because the student fell ill? Oh, yes. Very convenient.

It's going to be positively delightful.

And my office is in order again. MY OFFICE IS IN ORDER AGAIN!

Oh dear. I just read Dorny's entry. Poor Julius. Really, poor Julius. Is anyone shocked at this proclamation? No - because I won't be letting you read it.

If you think you students are the only ones suffering the extra essays - you are wrong. May I make a few suggestions on your essay writing in general?

1. Please, do not stress out when you are in the process of writing. It becomes obvious within the work and most people seem to weaken their arguement by saying too much of one thing and not enough of another.

2. Please, proofread. While, being a teacher and apt at deducing what you might have meant as opposed to what you did write, there are some mistakes too incoherent for me to understand. This does affect your mark, because I cannot grade what is not coherent.

3. Please, do not procrastinate. You will only scrape by and miss your potential.

4. Certainly do NOT plagiarise. If any of you are unaware of the meaning of this word, I suggest you talk to Kevin Entwhistle, by the looks of his entry I suggest you look it up in a dictionary, or read the leaflet on the subject which you should be able to find on your House bulletin board.

5. If you are having problems, SPEAK TO YOUR TEACHER ABOUT IT. I cannot stress how important it is to communicate when you are in trouble!

6. Last and by no means the least, answer the question. Please. Please, please, please - you've already done my head in and I am at my wit's end with some of you.

This would make your job and mine much more efficient - which you will find to be in the long run easier.

On the whole, work hard. You'll get there. Good luck.

Private to Minerva: My office is in order! My desk is tidy! I have organised trays for all those piles of essays I have to mark (Ye Gods, more marking!) and I have seperated those essays into what has been marked and what hasn't been marked!

In other words; I have no life. It is depressing. DEPRESSING. Therefore I insist, Minerva, you have tea with me.

Eeep!

I can't find those notes I prepared for AMC (i.e. Anger Management).

Ohshitohshitohshitohshitohshit.

...

Still can't find them.

Ohshitohshitohshitohshitohshit.

...

Ooo - I did find a bag of Easter eggs, though. Under a pile of drafts for the Seventh Year examinations. Must remember to burn those...

The castle is so empty. It's bliss! Even Mirror has barely said a word!

Last night I was so awed by the lack of students on the premesis, and more importantly, on my TOWER, that I suffered a slight bout of insomnia. No, really - I'm beginning to fear for my health.

And apparently I have to run an Anger Management class? Eh? I- er- wha- why- could- er -- Really... Eh?

( Private to Self )

( Private to Minerva )

Oh, happy days. Guess whose sister is in town? Guess where said sister is staying? Guess how long said sister is staying for? Guess who's not jumping up and down for joy? Guess who needs a drink? Now?

(ooc: Auriga found her vodka at long last)

Men. So-called best friends. Ex-Ravenclaw coffee-addicts.

Horrible.

Evil.

Uncommunicative bastards.

Yes.

This book I've got here is very difficult to read. Oh, wait. It's upside down. I lie. It's not very hard to read at all.

And, students, sixth years, whiney children, the insane ones, please - I cancelled classes today because, yes, you are getting a few extra night classes. But it's a good thing - less theory work. I could have broken it more tactfully. Oh well. It's not like anyone is nice and tactful to me. Oh dearie me. I need a refill.

Mirror says: "ALE!" - It's a pleasant object sometimes. Really.

There are two people - one of whom I respected and admired greatly - who now remind me of the ever so delightfully mature sixth years.

As for that canoodling couple who escaped me last night around about 2300 hours, believe me - when I discover your identity, you shall wish you had never crossed me and my tower. MY TOWER! MY POOR DEFILED TOWER! MINE EYES! MY POOR, POOR EYES!



( Private to Adults, sans Kingsley )



( Private to Kingsley )



I shall now return to my patrolling duties. I look forward to my late night classes tomorrow. Not. Really - star charts, astronomical calculations, chocolate Hot Cross buns, hot chocolate, mini essays and coffee - how could you not love my night classes? Except for when I prod you awake. And set you tedious star charts. Blame the syllabus. And pre-Umbridge Educational Decrees.

Mirror is in a rather peculiar mood, and has been screaming, "ALE!!! WIMMIN! Ach, ALE!" everytime I look into it. It's doing my head in, so I escaped my tower and am now lounging in the Staff Room have decided to go elsewhere, seeing as it's voice happens to be louder than mine, and it can't hear my half-empty threats to shatter it. I really do believe I'm attached to it.

Now, Sybill - I really do believe that your opinion of Firenze is rather ill-founded. I've just been having such a brilliant and stimulating conversation with him. He really rather does know quite a bit about Astronomy. Although, he hasn't got even the slightest inclination to the discussion of black holes. Of that I am most disappointed.

Half of my fifth year class was asleep at their last midnight lesson. It mightn't be a very big class - but it is rather disconcerting to find yourself teaching to a proportionate number of sleeping bodies. I don't know how Binns does it. For the sake of practicality, I have been investigating my star charts and calculations - and all my Astronomy students will be pleased to find that their night classes shall be held at a more reasonable hour. I believe I will hand out a schedule of evening classes for the week via owls every Sunday. If you fail to turn up, I assure you - you will be asked to provide a satisfactory reason for your absence; and if it is not deemed satisfactory, you shall lose points or sit a detention depending on how often you skip lessons.

Now - all this talk and excitement of the Pride and Prejudice play has caused me to pick up the book again. I am aghast to discover how long it has been since I treaded through the poignant classic romance. I still say Bingley is my favourite. And is it wrong to wonder if, perhaps, Colonel Fitzwilliam had a soft spot for dear Lizzie?

Of other romance novels, I really do believe that most of the modern heroes are merely Darcy-look-alikes, only more... plastic. Maybe there's a subgenre of Romance where the subversion is of the Mr. Darcy-type figure.

Or maybe I just keep picking up novels with broody heros in them.