The Slytherin Headmistress
By TwiHarInk113
Prologue
"I'm terribly sorry, Minerva, but I just don't think I'm right for the job. I'm getting older, you know, and thinking about retiring within the next couple of years." Judging by the expression on Professor Flitwick's face, he was truly sorry.
Hogwarts's newest headmistress, Professor McGonagall, sighed. She loved teaching, and was delighted to become headmistress, even though Hogwarts had been going through some difficult times in the past few years. Still, she didn't want to spend the rest of her life as headmistress. After all, she was sixty-four years old. Because of this, she needed to find a deputy headmaster or headmistress. Her first choice had been Filius Flitwick, the Charms professor and head of Ravenclaw house. Unfortunately, he had declined.
After a few moments' hesitation, Professor McGonagall said, "Alright, Filius. You're dismissed."
Professor McGonagall hoped she would have better luck with Professor Sprout, but when the Herbology Professor entered the headmistress's office, she gave a response similar to Flitwick's.
"I'm honored, Minerva, honestly, I am. I just don't think I'm capable of such as task." Professor Sprout said apologetically.
With another doleful sigh, Professor McGonagall dismissed Professor Sprout from her office. Then, she buried her head in her hands and moaned mournfully. What was she to do?
If only Dumbledore were here, thought McGonagall. Dumbledore always knew what to do in situations like this. Since the second wizarding war ended in 1998 with the Battle of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall and her colleagues spent the past year trying to rebuild the school. Finally, they were ready to reopen for the 1999 – 2000 school year. All of the Hogwarts students were glad to be back. As well as having double amount of seventh and first years, – the students were behind, since they had missed the 1998 – 1999 school year due to the war – Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, the greatest heroes of the war, would be returning to Hogwarts to finish their seventh year. Being the good student that she was, Hermione was returning to achieve her N.E.W.T.S, and she had convinced her friends to return with her. McGonagall was looking forward to seeing all three of them again.
The only piece of business left to complete was the hiring of new staff and the finding of a deputy headmaster or headmistress. Unfortunately, this was proving to be the most difficult task McGonagall ever had to complete as headmistress so far.
A total of three teachers needed to be hired for the following year. Professor Slughorn went back into retirement after the war, so a new Potions master was need. And, as always, a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was needed as well. The third teacher, of course, would replace McGonagall herself in Transfiguration.
The deputy headmaster or headmistress would have to be a Slytherin. There was no way around it. The deputy headmaster or headmistress was required to also be head of one of the houses. McGonagall had already offered the head of Gryffindor to Hagrid, but both he and McGonagall knew the wizarding community wouldn't tolerate a half-giant as Hogwarts's headmaster. For this reason, McGonagall needed a good, trustworthy Slytherin. Unfortunately, trustworthy Slytherins were extremely hard to find.
By the end of June, Professor McGonagall, with the help of professors Flitwick, Hagrid, and Sprout, had found a D.A.D.A teacher and a Transfiguration teacher. The D.A.D.A was a handsome Gryffindor in his late twenties. He had curly dark brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. The new Transfiguration teacher was perhaps McGonagall's biggest fan. McGonagall was her idol.
The only person Hogwarts needed now was the perfect Potions teacher and deputy headmaster or headmistress. McGonagall was sure there was one out there somewhere, and she was determined to find them.
McGonagall had had several Slytherin hopefuls come in for an interview, but none of them fit. Most of the wizards and witches were past students of McGonagall, so she knew them well. Some of them were too power hungry, while others just weren't fit to be teachers.
Professors Flitwick, Hagrid, and Sprout spent countless hours in McGonagall's office, helping with the interviews. It was now July 3rd, and all four professors were growing anxious. As they gathered in McGonagall's office at ten o'clock in the morning for the first interview of the day, the professors hoped the next person to walk through McGonagall's door would be their next Potions master.
Finally, the expected knock on the door came. All four professors stiffened, not knowing what to expect.
"Come in," called Professor McGonagall softly, her voice barely audible.
The door slowly creaked open, and a women in her late thirties entered. She stared at McGonagall, her face full of shock. McGonagall stared back.
"Take a seat, please." Professor McGonagall said with a smile.
Author's note: I'm sorry the first chapter was so short. Please bear with me here while I bind the story together. By the way, I LOVE any kind of reviews, so if you could take the time to write one and let me know what you think, I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks! :)
~TwiHarInk113