5 Chapter 5: The Diary of The Previous Owner

The opening entry of the journal traced back to five years ago, a peculiar timeline given that Hogwarts welcomes wizards at the tender age of eleven for a seven-year course. Sherlock Forester, at that point, would have been a fifteen-year-old and already a fifth-year student. Intriguingly, it seemed that a recent failed romantic endeavor of all things was the catalyst that inspired him to start a keeping a diary.

Deciphering the author's tone within the entries, Sherlock inferred that the original owner held a remarkably introverted disposition, perhaps even asexual. Regardless, Sherlock remained invested in deciphering the journal entries that unfolded unevenly over approximately every third day. In these entries, the author recounted the humdrum daily happenings of his school life and repeatedly professed his adoration for the esteemed headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. From these descriptions, it was resoundingly evident that the author idolized Dumbledore greatly, his aspirations unabashedly pointing towards emulating Dumbledore's career.

Along the entries, Sherlock came across impressive reports of academic achievements that set the author apart from his peers, an aspect that made him unusually popular among female students of his house; an attention he found irksome. The failed romance seemed to have transformed his personality into that of a detached, stoic man, viewing the adoring female students' pursuits as nothing less than harassment.

Sherlock discerned that the author was an introspective loner of sorts, as his seven-year journey at Hogwarts was notably devoid of any mention of friends. Such details painted a picture of a solitary, academic-minded individual who considered even the girlfriend he shortly dated as nothing more than an accessory or tool for experimentation.

The love of reading appeared to be his predominant interest, fitting for a Ravenclaw student like him. Time appeared to be divided among attending classes, meals, sleep, and an overriding indulgence in reading and studying. His life was evidently devoted to these pursuits, obsessing over his goal of maturing into a wizard of Dumbledore's caliber.

As Sherlock continued to delve into the journal, a clear image of the original owner began to crystallize within his mind. The owner was undoubtedly tall and handsome, maintaining an aura of sullen contemplation perpetually as though the world was indebted to him. He spoke harshly, was uninterested in pleasantries or chivalry, and didn't shy away from expressing his likes or dislikes. To put it simply, he had cultivated a personality as hard and unappealing as a stone in a pile of dung.

Following the last entry about his time at Hogwarts, the original owner had attached a magical photograph within the diary. It was a group photo of his graduating class, with the owner's handsome face standing out in the jovial crowd. He was in the corner, bearing a stern expression and deeply furrowed brows, looking entirely out of place as though participating in a graduation photo session was an elaborate waste of his time.

Looking at this photograph, Sherlock attempted to mimic the owner's expression in the mirror and found it rather simple. To achieve this, all he needed to remember was that any minor error could land him in Professor McGonagall's office, awaiting Dumbledore for a "brainwash". This thought would naturally bring an expression of deep resentment onto his face.

Aside from the first year's events, his knowledge of Harry Potter's story came from movie reviews of the film and short lore clips. Hence, his image of Dumbledore was molded by these reviews, and with the commonly perpetuated insinuation that all of Harry's experiences were orchestrated by Dumbledore stirred an inherent sense of wariness and repulsion towards him within Sherlock. Thus, to replicate that disdainful look was effortlessly achievable whenever he contemplated the possibility of being discovered and consequently at the mercy of Dumbledore. Further, mimicking the owner's straightforward approach to conversation was easier still. Every person, Sherlock thought, should be capable of skipping pleasantries and speaking in a straightforward manner.

Once Sherlock had perfected his expressions and speaking mannerisms, he continued dissecting the diary. His motivation was not mere curiosity but an interest in the defining experiences the original owner had following his Hogwarts graduation. The first entry following his departure was quite a surprise.

"June 28, 1989.

Today was an unfortunate day. My job application was declined by Dumbledore, stating my knowledge of Defense Against The Dark Arts was merely theoretical, lacking practicality due to my recent graduation. Even though it was disappointing, Dumbledore recognized my potential, hinting at considering me for a future position as Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, which is undeniably gratifying. Despite my pessimism regarding the practical skills of the past two Professors of Defense Against the Dark Arts, I believe Dumbledore's judgement is void of mistakes. The next question is, what sort of job should I pursue in the mean time? Perhaps, if I need to accrue practical proficiency, becoming an Auror indeed appears as a plausible career prospect."

Sherlock rifled through the remaining entries, realizing from retrospective film reviews that the position the original owner vied for was cursed by the sinister Voldemort, causing every professor in that role to stumble into accidents, sometimes fatal, within a year of teaching.

Fortunately, the original owner's application was refused. If it had been accepted, he might have met an untimely fate, likely preventing Sherlock from transitioning into his body. After failing to secure his desired position at Hogwarts, the owner chose to apply at the Auror Command at the Ministry of Magic. Based on his excellent N.E.W.T - or Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test - results and seven years of rigorous academia he was welcomed with open arms.

Despite breezing through the recruitment requirements for an Auror, he found himself in a non-combat role due to his excellent theoretical understanding, causing him deep dissatisfaction. Attempts to transition into the combat department were futile, leading him to resign just over a year later, choosing to retreat home and turn into a recluse whose life revolved around studying Defensive magic on his own.

Three months ago, he reapplied for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts and expressed his desire to join the Order of the Phoenix, a resistance organization founded by Dumbledore during the reign of Voldemort. Sherlock had only a vague impression of this organization as one of the Harry Potter series bore its name.

Dumbledore's non-committal response to his second application pushed the original owner into a deep disappointment. Seeing no validation from his idol, Dumbledore, lead him into a month-long low-spirited phase, culminating in a dangerous incomplete spell experiment a week ago – an experiment which seemed to be the concluding entry in the journal.

Deducing from the circumstances, Sherlock could guess that an accident during this fateful experiment may have resulted in the original owner flying out from the second floor, with a resulting head injury triggering Sherlock's transition into his body.

Having gone through the whole diary, Sherlock gained a more profound impression of the original owner, a socially withdrawn, academically accomplished problem child. It made sense why Dumbledore rejected his professorship application and was hesitant to include him in his exclusive group. Sherlock reclined in his chair, resting his chin on his hand, lost in deep contemplation.

Given this information, it seemed plausible that Professor McGonagall's visit concerned the original owner's two-month-old application to the Order of the Phoenix. Recent developments suggested that Dumbledore might have accepted the application. If so, Sherlock could breathe easy. Joining a small group seemed a manageable task. Being highly introverted like the original owner, he was certain of maintaining a low profile, committing his focus on magic, and minimizing interactions. As long as he didn't have to teach at Hogwarts, he had no issue coming to terms with these developments.

Relieved, Sherlock's apprehension eased. After all, considering the current month was July, Dumbledore had probably long finalized the selection of Professors for the next term. Coincidentally, his vague recollection placed a certain celebrity wizard in the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the current year. Needless to say, the original owner, an introverted scholar without any friends or social skills, was clearly no match for the star-studded wizard.