Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does - but I bet you can guess what I would see in the Mirror of Erised if I got the chance to look.
Albus Dumbledore observed his staff over his half-mooned spectacles, blue eyes twinkling with mischief. The phoenix perched beside his desk, head tilted as if to mirror the expression of the Headmaster. His eyes, though a deep dark shade of black, in stark contrast to those of his owner, glittered similarly. Oh yes, seemed to be the shared thought among the gathered teachers. Dumbledore is up to something.
Minerva's lips were pursed, her eyebrows scrunched up slightly in thought. Horace wore a totally bemused expression while Pomona had a small half-smile on her face. Filius was rocking on his heels, nodding to himself, mumbling, "Yes, well, it would be quite complex..."
Albus continued to look on, giving his idea time to sink in with the Heads of Houses. Eventually Minerva took a deep breath and began.
"Albus," Minerva's lip quivered, almost as if she was trying not to smile. "This is a highly unorthodox method you're suggesting. Hogwarts has always had a very clear stance on its use of physical punishment. This –"
"Is no more physical punishment than writing lines or cleaning trophies," Albus interjected.
"I must agree, Albus," Pomona sighed. "I must agree with Minerva. It may not put any physical pain on the students, but don't you think it would result in a certain amount of physical," Pomona considered her words carefully, "discomfort?"
"Perhaps," Albus tipped his head, allowing the Hufflepuff Head this much. True, it would make the punished students slightly uncomfortable and would require some effort on their part, but Albus knew that, given the choice between detention and this, ninety-nine percent of his students would choose this.
"I worry, Headmaster, that this may blur the lines between punishment and physically disciplining students," Filius chewed on his bottom lip, feeling his head split in two over his opinion of what was acceptable and what would work. Perhaps this was going too far.
"In what way Filius?" Albus asked, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "We do not hit. We do not string students from the ceiling as per Mr. Filch's suggestion. No harm comes to the students. This is simply a way of dealing with two – or more – students who have problems with one another that will hopefully help them to overcome their issues. It involves teamwork and cooperation. An amount of courage and nerve," he sent a nod to Minerva. "Students will have to listen to one another, be just and treat each other as equals to complete the task," Albus could see Pomona's initial resistance to the idea wavering. "Some intelligence and, I'm sure, a sense of humour and some quick wit to put up with one another," Filius received a slight smile. "A strong will to get out of the situation," Albus's sparkling eyes met Horace's, who had remained silent. "And a little bit of cunning, I have no doubt. This is something which will encourage all the values Hogwarts considers of importance."
"Still, Albus," Minerva's voice was weaker, less determined, less defiant. "To transfigure a student?"
"It is not a punishment I recommend you implement lightly," Albus said, his tone more serious now. "Only for very extreme cases. I think you are all quite aware as to who I am referring?" The professors were well aware, all having had to deal with that bunch and their quarrels.
"These are good students Albus," Filius sighed. "I know they have their problems, but would it be right to put good students through such an extreme method of discipline?"
"Yes Filius," Albus agreed, "they are, for the most part, good students. Though I'm sure Minerva will have something to say about the – shall we say, exploits, of Mr. Potter and Mr. Black, and I myself have had a small bit of trouble between them and Mr. Snape. But they are good students, I quite agree. What I hope to do, using this method is to bring out the good in them and convince them to show this goodness to each other."
The staff stood in silence. None of them could argue that, were that to be the result, this could be worthwhile. Albus stood up and walked to his phoenix. He stroked its head while the four Heads thought, slightly selfishly, of how much easier their lives would be if James Potter, Sirius Black and Severus Snape could just get along. For Minerva, no more breaking up fights and having to sit for hours on end with two of her favourite and most entertaining students – even Minerva McGonagall couldn't deny that those boys were funny and could almost always put a smile on her face, though she would never show them or anybody else. For Filius and Pomona, a way for their jobs to become that bit easier, being able to teach a class without loud interruptions or snarky notes floating across the classroom – students that might actually have a chance to listen while they weren't so busy glaring at each other. For Horace, a break from the stream of complaints that he received from his house, in particular Severus Snape, and a chance to finally win the House Cup because points would stop being taken away from his students during fights.
Yes, their reasons to embrace this method were selfish, but the gathered teachers had five long years of putting up with the 'Problem Group' – a name given by the Hogwarts staff to James Potter, Sirius Black, Severus Snape and to a lesser extent, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew and even Lily Evans when she got caught in the middle. The professors felt they had earned the right to be a little selfish.
Having watched the professors' expressions change, Albus Dumbledore no longer hid his grin. His beam was mirrored on the faces of his staff, though he was sure that they did not realise this.
"Are we in agreement, then?" Albus asked, already knowing the answer that was immediately chorused by the group.
"Yes!"