A/N
Seventh Season, Round One
Team: Wigtown Wanderers
Position: Chaser 3
Prompt: Write about a canonly stubborn character faced with insurmountable odds - ((I chose Severus Snape. Being a double-agent means you have to be stubborn enough to survive or fight for anything))
Additional Prompts: (Word) Insufferable, (Word) Expectations, (Word) Coincidence

Note: Manipulative!Dumbledore, Pre Harry Potter First Year

Betas: Aya, Trish

The Staff Meeting From Hell

Severus paced up and down the open floor in his private potions lab. He clenched his fists tightly as he mentally cursed the Headmaster. "What can that man possibly be thinking? Bringing a priceless artifact into the school, then forcing the professors to create a labyrinth of tasks to blockade the way—without making it too difficult for a first year to make it through the gauntlet?"

He snarled and turned on his heel. His robes flared around his ankles as he took three steps forward. He halted suddenly and frowned. "Maybe I can get Minerva and the others to help me convince Albus that his idea to house the Philosopher's Stone is an unbelievable, insufferable, and untenable breach in the Professor's Vow to keep the students safe. I refuse to lose my magic over Albus thinking he is the be-all, end-all in this institution."

Albus sat at his desk with a crafty smirk and a twinkle in his eyes. "Harry Potter is coming to Hogwarts at last. It's time to see what our little savior is made of."

He leaned back in his chair and surveyed his office. His golden 'trinkets' were actually tied to the wards monitoring Potter's home...well, dwelling would be more precise. The wards showed that the boy was in relatively healthy form, if not particularly happy.

Fawkes balefully stared at the Headmaster. He turned his back to Albus and tucked his head under his wing. Hogwarts told Fawkes what the Headmaster was planning, and the phoenix wanted nothing to do with the mad plan.

Severus left his lab with a fiery purpose and a flurry of robes. If he could get Pomona on his side, Filius would fall in line and they could convince Minerva as a group to help them.

Severus came to a stop outside of Pomona's office and drew in a steadying breath before knocking on her door. "Pomona? Are you in?"

"Yes, yes. Come in, Severus. I'm just revising my lesson plans for the seventh year students. I have a few that might become Potion Masters or Herbologists, if I can get them to see the merit in my class… you could help by being nicer to them as well." She gave Severus a disappointed look.

Severus crossed his arms defensively. "If the dunderheads would read their assigned books and guides and understand that I'm stalking the room because I don't want to have a dead student on my hands, I would. I suspect someone changed my prescribed book list without my knowledge. Only the Ravenclaws of last year's intake of students started the year with 1001 Potions Ingredients and How to Properly Prepare Them."

Severus sighed and flopped into his customary chair in Pomona's office before continuing. "Slytherin had them sent the first weekend because I sent letters to each of their parents right after the feast. Some of your lot had friendly upper years that let them borrow the book, but most had to send out for mail order and came to class for nearly a month without them. Ravenclaw keeps a stockpile of books in their library, and the Gryffindors didn't even attempt to get copies. Why Albus insists on pairing my most volatile students together in a class that can literally destroy the castle if the wrong thing happens…"

Pomona set down her quill. "What are you saying, Severus?"

"I'm saying I don't have enough time to go over the reactions with students not willing to expend the effort to get the proper materials. I think Albus is trying to sabotage the students and my career by taking my list and removing such an important item from the required reading. I'm saying that if things don't change, my perfect record of no limb or life lost is going to be destroyed. You know what he's bringing into the castle in just a few short weeks?"

"That man is a menace sometimes. Do you think Nicholas can't protect it on his own now?"

"He can! He's been doing it for over six hundred years! There is absolutely no justifiable reason for Albus to have it brought here. You know as well as I do that it is no coincidence this is happening the year Harry Potter turns eleven. I think he's going to try to test the boy." Severus winced and sat forward, putting all his weight on his forearms braced on his knees. "You know what I had to do to be able to take this job, 'Mona. I can't let him test that child like some kind of lab rat."

Pomona sighed and leaned back. "I guess we should find Filius and get him on our side before we tackle the Scotswoman."

"No need," came a high voice from the doorway. Filius walked in and shook his head. "I heard and agree with everything you've discussed. Let's try to get Minerva to see reason before we head to the staff meeting."

"It's not really a staff meeting, you know," Pomona responded as the three left her office. "It's just us, Minerva, Quirinus, Albus, and Hagrid. I still don't understand that. Hagrid isn't even a teacher!"

Severus sneered, "No, but he does keep a wide range of dangerous creatures as pets. How much do you want to bet that Albus asks Hagrid to hand one over to guard the Stone?"

Filius choked and turned wide eyes on Severus. "Surely Albus wouldn't be so stupid as to allow a dangerous creature into the castle itself?!"

"You do realize that he allowed Hagrid to keep his preposterous pets in his dorm while he was still a student? Albus was the Transfiguration teacher when Hagrid was a student," Severus snarled suddenly, "And that oaf can't keep a secret! He's going to be the reason the Potter boy gets in trouble this coming year, I just know it. He shouldn't be allowed in on any of the discussions about the Stone! He can't be obliviated nor bound by Vows."

Filius shuddered at the implications while Pomona just pursed her lips as she tried to think of some sort of solution to the Hagrid problem.

"Have you found any memory altering potion that can be adapted to work for a half-giant?"

"None so far, though I am experimenting with a possibility right now."

The three grew quiet as they reached the Transfiguration corridor and approached Minerva's office. They shared a look before Severus rapped on the door. "Minerva? Can I speak with you for a moment?"

The door opened silently. The three walked into Minerva's office with a slight hint of trepidation.

"Minnie?" Pomona asked, "Do you have a moment for us? We really need to discuss something with you."

"I knew Severus would come to try to speak with me, but having all three of you show up at once exceeds my expectations." Minerva used her wand to dry the ink on the envelope the bewitched quill finished writing on. She froze in horror as she looked at it. "I told him," she growled and stood up, slamming her hands flat on her desk. "I told him they were the worst sort of Muggles! But did he listen? Of course not! Albus 'knows-everything' Dumbledore had his own agenda to follow!"

"Minerva…?" Severus trailed off as he read the envelope. "The Cupboard Under The Stairs? What is going on here, Minerva! Albus said he was safe!" Severus hissed as he turned and started pacing in Minerva's office, muttering curses under his breath as the other two Heads tried to see what had Severus and Minerva in such a tizzy.

"Expectations aside, Minerva," Pomona finally spoke up, "We're coming to speak with you about the Stone, and the fact that it is too much to be a coincidence that the Boy-Who-Lived is starting his first year at the same time it shows up here."

"And discrepancies in the lists being sent out. We still have two months to send out amended book letters," Filius added with a knowing look in Severus' direction.

Minerva took a calming breath and sat down, pushing the terrible letter to the side. "At least now I know why the quill kept writing more letters to the boy. His family must be trying to keep him from reading them. Actually..." Minerva grabbed a list of names for the next batch of first years. "Why isn't he on my list for meet and greet explanations? I even speak with purebloods about their children, so why is he the one name not on my list?"

"He'll probably send a sycophant of his to do the introductions, Minerva. Someone to sing his praises and debase the Slytherin name. We are, of course, the epitome of 'dark and evil' in the snake pit." Severus finally stopped pacing and dropped into an open seat.

"Maybe we can have him meet students from all houses when he goes to Diagon Alley? He should go on his birthday, right?" Filius injected as he reached for the plate of biscuits that Minerva kept on her desk under stasis.

"I'm not certain since I don't have him on my visit list," Minerva replied. "Putting Potter aside for a moment. What did you mean by book list discrepancies?"

"The 1001 Potions Ingredients book. It's on my list every year, and every year, students scramble to come up with a copy. It's not being put on the book list."

Minerva frowned and grabbed Harry Potter's letter. She flipped it over and pulled out two sheets of parchment. The first she opened held the standard welcome letter. When she opened the second, she read the list out. When she reached the bottom, she was fuming. "He doesn't have the Muggle-born-and-Raised Path of Success on his list, either. Something is seriously wrong here."

She and Filius started a discussion on the book lists to check for discrepancies in his book requests while Pomona tried to get Severus to calm down.

After another hour of hashing out battle tactics on Albus, the quartet resolutely headed toward the main event for the day—the Staff Meeting.

Minerva led the way, Filius a step behind and to her right. Severus and Pomona continued talking quietly as they brought up the rear.

As they neared the conference room, Severus held back and let the others go first. "You know he thinks I am reviled amongst the staff. Better for you three to provide a united front and, to seemingly out of nowhere, chime in that I actually agree with Minerva. Maybe we can get him to see reason that way."

The three nodded and walked into the room. Severus waited two minutes, then went in with his customary sneer.

"How nice of you to join us, Severus," Albus smiled at the dour professor.

"I was working a potion. You know how my experiments can be if not watched closely. I want to get as much research in between now and the start of the year as possible. I've only two months before," Severus gave an orchestrated shudder, "the students arrive."

"Now, Severus," Quirinus piped up. "The children aren't all that bad."

"You teach Muggle Studies and have never had the pleasure of a highly-charged room full of students that hate each other based solely on the color lining their robes and the patches on their chests. I have to—on several occasions each week—keep students from blatantly killing each other in front of me." Severus turned his dark gaze on Albus. "Maybe the Headmaster thinks it would be a good thing if all the Gryffindor and Slytherin students killed each other and left only the studious Ravenclaws and loyal Hufflepuffs to teach. I know my job would be easier if Slytherin and Gryffindor were not paired together."

"Defence would be easier, too, Albus," Quirinus added, drawing a venom-filled look from Severus. "I know you think I can take on anything by changing my courses, but it is too much to expect me to go from a book course to a wanded course with rival classes."

Filius chimed in. "The only classes I trust Slytherins and Gryffindors in together are non-wanded subjects. You are only allowing the rivalry between these two Houses to grow stronger with your 'let children be children' approach."

"I've had more than one Gryffindor come to me in tears trying to get a betrothal overturned because of what the rivalry does to the students," Minerva added, "But that is a discussion for a full staff meeting. Let us get on with the real issue at hand. I will not allow you to bring that artifact into this castle, Albus. It puts every single professor in jeopardy of breaking their Professor's Vows and endangers every life and unlife within these walls. I won't offer protections for it."

"Neither will I," declared Filius. "It goes against everything I stand for, and against Goblin Nature to endanger children. You knew this when you hired me. Why are you doing this now?"

"I refuse to be apart of this. Hogwarts is a school, not a safe. Let Nicholas keep his trinket and let us do our jobs!" Pomona slapped the table to punctuate her statement.

Albus eyed the three professors warily before Quirinus spoke, "It really isn't the brightest idea I've ever heard, Albus, but you hold my contract." Quirinus sat back with a frown on his face.

"Now, see here," Hagrid yelped from where he sat in the corner, "Headmaster is jus' tryin' to help 'is frien'. We should help 'im, too."

"Unfortunately, Hagrid," Snape stood and stared at the half-giant. "My esteemed colleagues are right in this instance. Albus is attempting to make every single professor and worker within this castle lose their magic." He turned a sneer on Albus. "I'm under more than just the Professor's Vow, and you want me to help set up a trial for Harry Potter that could get him killed. I refuse."

Albus stood angrily. "You refuse?"

Minerva stood and glared at the old man. "We all do. There is nothing you can do to convince us otherwise Albus. We are not going to follow through with this insane plan. Did you really think we would consider this to be a grand coincidence that the Stone and Harry Potter came to Hogwarts in the same year? We are not idiots."

Albus tilted his head to the side and gave a false smile. "Of course not. I had many expectations of how this conversation would play out. I wish it had been in my favor, but it seems half my staff is against me in this endeavor." He tapped the table and refreshments appeared. "Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?"

Severus glanced suspiciously at the drinks before him. "My book lists are being altered. It has to stop. My students need the books I recommend to stop the horrible accidents occurring in my classroom."

Albus sat back and stared at the resident Potions Master. "I don't think it is necessary to make the students buy that book."

Minerva huffed, "And what about the Muggle-born guide book that is a standard requirement for any child not raised in the Magical World? Are you telling us that my recommended book is unnecessary?"

Albus turned to Minerva with a raised eyebrow. "I don't need to justify myself to you, Minerva."

Severus slammed his hand down on the table, rattling the plates. "Yes, you do, Albus! You are putting us all at risk with this foolish endeavor with the Stone. You are purposely endangering every student that walks through the doors of this establishment by refusing to see that my books are for their safety. Do you have to be so insufferably arrogant?"

Albus stood and brought his power to bear down on the gathered professors and Hagrid. "I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts, and what I say goes." He subtly palmed his wand and cast a silent broad spectrum compulsion charm at the room. "Let us eat something and calm down before someone says something they will regret."

Severus tried to fight the compulsion, but followed the others in eating a biscuit, and washing it down with the disgustingly sweet pumpkin juice in his goblet. He shook his head and looked around the room in confusion.

The other professors were doing the same when Albus drew their attention to him, "Thank you for your cooperation. I expect each of you to see me to apply your protections. Have a good evening." Albus swept from the room without waiting for a response.

Minerva and Severus exchanged a troubled look after Quirinus and Hagrid left the room. "Did we really agree to set protections in place? I could have sworn we all said we wouldn't…" Severus trailed off.

Filius frowned as he followed the other three Heads out of the room. "I remember talking about something, but it's slipping away as I try to remember. I think…" Filius eyes turned glassy before he blinked and his vision cleared. "I need to go revise my lesson plans." Filius left them behind.

"I know what he's saying makes sense, but I feel like it's—I should go check on Greenhouse Three." Pomona turned around and left.

Minerva frowned. "He's dosed us and we won't even remember it in a few minutes, Severus. Your shields are the best. You'll have to find a way for us to remember." Minerva sighed and rubbed her forehead. "We only have two months of summer left. I plan to go on holiday in a few days. I will be back before August." Minerva gave a short nod to Severus and took off towards her quarters.

Severus frowned deeply as he stalked towards his lab. The thoughts spun wildly in his head. He needed the comfort of his lab—and several uninterrupted hours—to try to restore his mind to what it should be. He knew that agreeing to work for Albus Dumbledore was going to come back and bite him.