A headmaster's lament – part two
Albus Dumbledore sat in the staffroom at Hogwarts surrounded by his employees. This of course included the newly employed Gilderoy Lockhart who was currently speaking quietly to a giggling professor Sinistra.
Hagrid, as was his habit, was sitting in a large two seater sofa petting Fawkes. Really, the only people Fawkes lavished such attention to were Harry Potter, Rubeus Hagrid and the headmaster himself.
Minerva McGonagal was staring, tight lipped at Gilderoy Lockhart. Severus Snape was giving the new Defence Against the Dark Arts dark looks.
"If I could have your attention please."
The room quieted down and all eyes turned to the headmaster.
"I would like to welcome you all back for another year at Hogwarts. As you all have surmised, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor is none other than Gilderoy Lockhart. I would like you all to welcome him to our little family."
A few faint claps were heard and finally silence returned.
"Thank-you, thank-you" said Gilderoy with an extravagant bow.
"Now. I have some rather disquieting news. I have been informed by a rather trusted source that there is the potential for danger this year. I believe the exact words used were 'There is a plot. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year.'. Unfortunately that is all the information I have access to."
"What is it you wish us to do Albus?" asked Minerva McGonnagal.
"Simply keep your eyes and ears open to any strange happenings. All we have at the moment are unsubstantiated rumours, mutterings in the dark one could say."
"Well, it's a good thing you brought me on staff headmaster. Between the two of us, I don't think this school has anything to worry about." said Lockhart giving the room his best smile.
Professor Sinistra looked starstruck, Minerva rolled her eyes, Snape pinched the bridge of his nose.
"At least we have Potter's map that should aid us in keeping the school safe." said Severus Snape.
"We are no longer in possession of the map Severus. I have returned it to it's rightful owner as per our agreement."
Snape looked shocked.
"It is a tool for mischief. He will use it to flout school rules. With it, it will be impossible for us to catch him in the act. And what of the protection of the school?"
"You may be right Severus. The map has the potential to be used for rule breaking but it, in and of itself does not break any school rules and I refuse to steal from my students. The map does not belong to Hogwarts. As to the safety of the school, I was able to partially reproduce the map in my office. Unfortunately it is not in a portable format but carved in a sheet of silver but it will serve our purpose. Now I will hear nothing more on this subject. I may ask Mr. Potter for the loan of the map during the holidays and next summer in the hopes of improving our own map but that will only happen if he willingly parts with it."
The rest of the meeting went on in a more orderly pace and soon the professors were all returning to their quarters.
The headmaster returned to his office with Fawkes on his shoulder. Sitting on an easel was a shinning sheet of pressed silver. Carefully carved in mystic runes was the layout of Hogwarts. A few dots were spread out over the map. Severus Snape was in the dungeons, Minerva was in the Great Hall, Lockhart appeared to have left the castle proper. The headmaster's map unfortunately did not extend passed the walls of the castle itself. That was an area were the Marauder's map surpassed the headmaster's map.
Dumbledore sat down and looked at his notes. He truly had no idea how the Marauders had managed to create the map, the thing baffled him. He had even resorted to asking the two remaining Marauders for their help but their answer had simply been frustrating. The map had not been planned out but had evolved into what it was today. The only record of it's creation was in a journal that had burned along with the Potter's summer home in Godric's Hollow.
The headmaster sat there in silence, looking at Hogwarts newest security measure. The board of governors had been duly impressed with the newly created artefact even if they had been less than happy with it's price tag. A few had been of the opinion that he should simply confiscate the current map from whatever student possessed it but once they faced the legalities of such an action they quickly abandoned the idea.
They, of course, were unaware as to who the owner of the map was. He had made sure not to give away all Harry's secrets but still it had been a difficult battle. The governors had withdrawn their complaints as to the safety of the school in view of this new security measure.
Looking at the map, the headmaster hoped that it would be enough to keep the students safe and would not simply give the illusion of safety.
