The newly appointed headmaster Albus Dumbledore stroked his beard
thoughtfully. It was the beginning of a New Year, but now, instead of
preparing his lectures for this term, he was headmaster. It was a strange
feeling.
Dumbledore was honored at his promotion, but he would miss his old friend Dippit. He wondered who the governors had gotten to replace him in the Transfiguration classes. The students would arrive in less than an hour and he still had not met the new Professor. Governor John Weasley strode into the Great Hall, followed by a young woman in a billowing green cloak.
"Albus!" John grinned. Dumbledore shook his hand. "I'm sorry we're late, had a bit of trouble with the Floo Powder."
"These things can happen." The headmaster replied.
"I'd like you to meet your new Transfigurations teacher, Minerva McGonnagal," he said.
The woman removed her hood and offered him a purple-silk gloved hand. Dumbledore kissed it, then looked up at her face and lost himself in her eyes. When had that gawky teenager at the head of her class turned into this beautiful creature?
"A pleasure to meet you," he said.
"The same to you," she replied. After an almost undetectable pause, she nodded graciously and went to join the other teachers at the head table.
"Well, John, Thank you," Dumbledore smiled. "How's your wife?"
"Ah," John sighed, happily. "She just had the baby yesterday, a boy. We named him Arthur."
"Congratulations. I know he'll make a fine wizard someday."
"Thanks, Albus. I'd better be going now. The train should arrive any minute."
"Of course, of course. I'll see you later, John."
"Goodbye," his friend nodded as he turned and left.
The students began to arrive. Just before the Sorting Hat ceremony was to begin, Young Rubeus Hagrid slipped in, looking longingly at a few of the seventh years. They had been first years when Hagrid was expelled. Two or three waved at him, but most scowled. They remembered vividly what had happened when the Chamber of Secrets was opened. Even though there were doubts as to his guilt, most of the professors also still were apprehensive with Hagrid. A few, though, weren't teaching that year, and so were quite friendly with him. Three had been abroad, and one still studying, and come to think of it, Minerva had been in her seventh year. Strangely though, she smiled at him as he took his place next to her.
Soon the sorting hat had finished placing the first years, all seventy-five of them, and it was time for Dumbledore to make his first opening speech. He took a deep breath.
"Another year," he smiled, "Before the feast gets underway, I have a few introductions to make. First, as Headmaster Dippit decided to retire this year, I'd like to introduce myself as your new headmaster." The students clapped and most from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw cheered. "Secondly, I'd like to introduce your new Transfiguration Professor, Minerva McGonnagal." He motioned for her to stand. The Gryffindor students, especially the new professor's youngest sister, cheered. Dumbledore waited a few minutes for things to die down. "Well, with that out of the way, lets eat!"
**(*)**
Dumbledore was honored at his promotion, but he would miss his old friend Dippit. He wondered who the governors had gotten to replace him in the Transfiguration classes. The students would arrive in less than an hour and he still had not met the new Professor. Governor John Weasley strode into the Great Hall, followed by a young woman in a billowing green cloak.
"Albus!" John grinned. Dumbledore shook his hand. "I'm sorry we're late, had a bit of trouble with the Floo Powder."
"These things can happen." The headmaster replied.
"I'd like you to meet your new Transfigurations teacher, Minerva McGonnagal," he said.
The woman removed her hood and offered him a purple-silk gloved hand. Dumbledore kissed it, then looked up at her face and lost himself in her eyes. When had that gawky teenager at the head of her class turned into this beautiful creature?
"A pleasure to meet you," he said.
"The same to you," she replied. After an almost undetectable pause, she nodded graciously and went to join the other teachers at the head table.
"Well, John, Thank you," Dumbledore smiled. "How's your wife?"
"Ah," John sighed, happily. "She just had the baby yesterday, a boy. We named him Arthur."
"Congratulations. I know he'll make a fine wizard someday."
"Thanks, Albus. I'd better be going now. The train should arrive any minute."
"Of course, of course. I'll see you later, John."
"Goodbye," his friend nodded as he turned and left.
The students began to arrive. Just before the Sorting Hat ceremony was to begin, Young Rubeus Hagrid slipped in, looking longingly at a few of the seventh years. They had been first years when Hagrid was expelled. Two or three waved at him, but most scowled. They remembered vividly what had happened when the Chamber of Secrets was opened. Even though there were doubts as to his guilt, most of the professors also still were apprehensive with Hagrid. A few, though, weren't teaching that year, and so were quite friendly with him. Three had been abroad, and one still studying, and come to think of it, Minerva had been in her seventh year. Strangely though, she smiled at him as he took his place next to her.
Soon the sorting hat had finished placing the first years, all seventy-five of them, and it was time for Dumbledore to make his first opening speech. He took a deep breath.
"Another year," he smiled, "Before the feast gets underway, I have a few introductions to make. First, as Headmaster Dippit decided to retire this year, I'd like to introduce myself as your new headmaster." The students clapped and most from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw cheered. "Secondly, I'd like to introduce your new Transfiguration Professor, Minerva McGonnagal." He motioned for her to stand. The Gryffindor students, especially the new professor's youngest sister, cheered. Dumbledore waited a few minutes for things to die down. "Well, with that out of the way, lets eat!"
**(*)**
