Life lesson learned: when you've lost your journal, the first place you should look is at the bottom of your kid's toy chest.

No wonder I've felt like I've been in social Siberia. How's everyone? Excited for Halloween? Are there any good parties, or should I start planning one?

Gabriel fancies one of the girls on the playground we go to on the weekends when I've actually got time off to spend with my family. My darling five-year-old is already a ladies' man. I've no idea what to do with this.

I suppose it's a sign that life is good when I haven't got time to write in this thing regularly, isn't it? That's the way it should be, if you ask me. Which no one ever does, but still.

Ron, if you'd like, I've got a thing to do tomorrow that I could use your help with.

Hello, world. It's been a while.

Who's picked one of these up so far? Fred, George, sloppy seconds doesn't quite seem your style, but I love what you've done with these.

I know rock music's supposed to be bad for babies, but Gabe adores the Weird Sisters's newest album. It even makes him stop crying when he's being grouchy. Hats off to the band for accomplishing the impossible.

( -Private to the Order- )

( -Private to Fred- )

( -Private to Bill and Fleur- )

( -Private to Fleur- )

( -Private to Hestia- )

I think I like this being a mum thing. Gabe's beautiful, and he's growing so quickly, it's brilliant. He already recognises both of us, and we went to the park the other day, and he loved it. He's not even a month old and he already has a personality. You wouldn't think, would you?

( -Private to the Order- )

I have a son.

-Private to the Order-

The Death Eaters and the Ministry took over Hogwarts. McGonagall's been demoted to professor, and Snape's replaced her as Headmaster. The kids are safe for now, but me, Charlie, Flitwick, and Firenze were canned. Charlie and I were escorted out, but we weren't arrested.

They've done it. They've got Hogwarts. What the bloody hell are we supposed to do now?

We need a meeting. There's no telling what those bastards will do once they're given half a chance.

Only a month more to go. I've never felt so huge in my life, including the time when I morphed myself into a--

Right. Never mind. Either way, I feel huge, and I'm getting kicked constantly. Imagine someone next to you poking you every hour of every day, and you tell me how long it would take you to get annoyed. It's cute, I suppose, and not nearly as annoying as it sounds, but I do need to sleep every now and then.

Students--I've already set up the next two months of classes, just in case. So don't worry. You'll still have plenty of homework to keep you busy, and I'll be back teaching as soon as humanly possible.

( -Private to Remus- )

( -Private to Hestia- )

( -Private to Remus- )

Hasn't the current Ministry yet realised what their Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has been doing for centuries?

Finally it's March. This winter's seemed to last forever.

Fifth years, don't forget, essays due tomorrow. Unless you've got a signed note from the hospital wing saying you had a limb chewed off by one of Weasley's dragons, you're not getting out of it.

( -Private to Remus- )

I've always thought Valentine's Day was rubbish. It never made sense to me, someone needing a specific day to tell their loved ones how they feel. Now it's an expectation, and where's the love in that?

I would much rather have a boyfriend pop on over on a random afternoon because he misses me and wants me to know how much he loves me. It'd mean loads more than the same boyfriend sending me chocolates and a teddy bear because the calender told him to.

Besides, St Valentine represented plagues and beheadings, along with happy marriages and roses, which sounds about right. Not very romantic, if you ask me.

( -Private to Hestia- )

Merlin knows the food at Hogwarts is brilliant, but there's no replacing cheap takeaway. When I was a kid, my mum never let me have any, but once I graduated and moved out and realised I can't cook, I discovered the joy of Thai and Chinese from a box. I miss it.

We're tackling Animagi with the Third Years this semester. I think I might be more excited than they are.

( -Private to Hestia- )

Infanticipating is a strange word. For those of you in my classes, you may have noticed lately that I've been getting steadily larger. While I haven't any idea if there are rumours out there or not, I thought I would set the record straight and say that yes, I'm pregnant. It's due in early May, and I intend on remaining in the classroom until then. I'll also do my best to come back in time to see you all through your exams, O.W.L.s, and N.E.W.T.s.

To preempt any questions, no, I'm not married, and I won't be getting married. Since it will get out eventually, the situation is simply this: the father has decided he would rather sleep around as he pleases instead of support his child and be faithful to the person he proposed to and claimed to love. There's nothing I can do about the choices he made other than set a good example for my child and not allow anyone, especially not its father, to treat us like that.

I don't care who you are. No one has a right to treat another human being like something smelly they stepped in and are stuck with.

In order to avoid detention this week, I would recommend not being a pain in the arse.

( -Private to Hestia and Molly- )

( -Private to Fred and George- )

While playing pranks is a rite of passage around Hogwarts, I'd appreciate it if no one attempted to play any on me.

( -Private to Remus- )

( -Private to George- )

( -Private to Hestia- )

This morning began with me spilling hot coffee all over my lap. It's only gotten worse from there, but I would rather have a poor day than no day at all.

I'll return your essays tomorrow for those of you who I haven't already spoken with privately. In the future, please note that even if you manage to fill two scrolls, if it's a joke about a sphinx and a manticore walking into a pub in handwriting with letters roughly the side of my hand, it won't count. I'll laugh, but it won't count, and no one likes to start out this semester with a T. Especially a giant one to match your handwriting, though I do promise to write it with a flourish.

( -Private to Remus- )

I've been going natural the past few days, so if you see a stranger sitting at my desk, don't be alarmed. I find that winter brings out the best in mousy brown hair.

( -Private to Hestia- )

( -Private to Molly- )

I know things have been mad lately, but that's no excuse for forgetting the essay due Monday. If you need more time, tell me now, but I remember what it's like being a student. 'My owl ate my homework' won't fly.

( -Private to the Order- )

( -Private to Hestia- )

I never did quite understand the purpose of singing Auld Lang Syne at New Year. 'Should old acquaintances be forgot and never brought to mind?' Not really a brilliant way to ring in the New Year unless you're opting for forgetting the past and focusing on the future. I suppose that's one way of looking at it.

( -Private to Hestia- )

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. In spite of all that's happened, no matter who you are, I hope you've found a little piece of love in the world this holiday.

( -Private to Remus- )

( -Private to the Order- )