Disclaimer: Still a poor student, not JKR, sorry, but bright side I do own this story and the OCs.
A/N: Sorry to those who read my work, but exam season is almost upon me, so I am revising but at the moment I got a bit of time to write, so here's the next instalment of this.
To all those who read and review, thanks they inspire me, thanks, KEEP IT UP!
articwolf12- thanks for the review, I thought that the Potions accident would be a good way to see the relationship that Snape has with the kids, I am not sure if he's going to be that good but he will be semi-redeemable.
SSGRet- Uh oh, is right, well we'll see what happens to him later on
fanqueen08love- thanks and please continue reading both, maybe also try Sins of Us, it's a different take on the HP verse
dreamlighting- here's the next chapter, have fun reading it, I'm glad that you like Ally, well Albus has a small role in this chapter, just a mention
Penny is wise- well you aren't the only one who feels almost sorry for him, I'm glad that you liked it
PurpleBullet- thanks for reading and reviewing, please keep it up
oakphoenix- oh of course he's going to suffer, Dumbles is going down, but it's going to be a slow and torturous process
Blue Luver5000- well as always thanks for reading and reviewing
rb2312- yes, I think canon Hermione is similar, neither can take being wrong, she has to be the best and anyone who beats her is bad. I'm glad that you liked the first week. We'll see what happens with our favourite Potions Master. Fate will be a bitch, she is important as you will see later on
jabarber69- thanks for all the reviews, I am trying to keep things interesting. I hope this adds a bit more intrigue to the story
-Z2H- I'm glad you liked it, here's the next update
GraceFurey- Well, the thing about Ally's mother is going to be discussed more in this chapter. Thanks for the commendations, I am glad that you like it that much
ANYWAY THANK YOU ALL FOR THE REVIEWS, PLEASE LEAVE MORE, GUYS, THANKS!
Chapter 9- The Teachers' Meeting:
At the end of every month the teachers of Hogwarts met up without the Headmaster to officially talk about their new students or any surprises. The month of September tended to be one of the more interesting ones. This was no different for this year.
The first to arrive was Rolanda Hooch, the Hogwarts flying instructor. The next were the three youngest members of the faculty, all three were good friends, Aurora Sinistra came and plopped down next to Hooch and her two friends pulled up chairs next to them. Alexis Martin and Septima Vector much like Aurora did not mind the slightly older woman's company.
There was a reason why Aurora wanted to arrive there early; she needed to see how the other teachers entered so she could give some intelligence to Ally later on. Eventually all the teachers filed in with Binns floating in last of all as per normal, what was strange was Quirell's no-show.
Minerva McGonagall began the meeting by talking about the current Head Boy and Girl and about how well they and the prefects were doing. There appeared to be one major problem that all the teachers had spotted, Percy Weasley was a nightmare of a prefect, he caused more problems than he fixed.
"Something needs to be done about Mr Weasley, Minerva, it's ridiculous he made a first year cry, if it hadn't been for Ally Black, the poor first year may have been put in detention," Alexis' eyes flashed dangerously at Minerva.
"Are you sure it wasn't Ally Black who made the first year cry in the first place," McGonagall commented wryly. This was not uncharacteristic for the Scotswoman when it came to this particular student but it was unusual for the woman in general.
It became obvious to Minerva that she had said something wrong for the normally unflappable Septima Vector seemed to be furious at her comment, "Shame on you Minerva McGonagall, you see her as a miniature Sirius Black. She is not, she's her mother's daughter, not her father's and you know very well I do not mean Charlotte Black, Ally looks nothing like her, or Sirius."
Inwardly, Septima was wincing as she realised just how much knowledge she had inadvertently revealed, she knew that this could be potentially bad.
Filius' eyes widened, "Do you think that she herself knows?"
Severus spoke up, shocking them all, he was notorious for not saying anything until prodded, "She has my respect, Filius, she is perceptive, it occurs to me that she has many talents and I am sure that she is aware that whilst she may have biological connections to Charlotte McKinnon, the woman is not her biological mother. The red hair though a McKinnon trait was only inherited by one woman in our generation, I believe that Ally is her daughter."
Aurora hid a smile before answering, "I believe that Ally is very much her mother's daughter, make of that what you will, but I fear that very few know of her true parentage. It is not my place to tell you my guesses but only time will tell."
Alexis Martin had been awfully quiet, she was not a quiet woman by nature but she was worried about the topic of conversation, she wondered just how much Severus suspected.
"Moving on," Rolanda decided to move the conversation on from the parentage of a student, "there will be a few good Quidditch prospective students this year, I'm sure you all remember how talented James Potter was on a broom?"
"Indeed, he could have been a prodigy, a professional if the war had not interfered," McGonagall commented, even Severus had to grudgingly agree.
"Anyone up for a wager," Pomona spoke up, the Head of the Hufflepuff house had watched the progress thus far before speaking up.
"What sort," no one could mistake the excitement in the Charms Master's voice. No one would guess it but Filius had an eye for gambling. Aurora often thought that his goblin heritage may have had something to do with that.
"On Quidditch of course," Rolanda complained.
"Okay, I place a bet of three galleons that Potter will be on the team in his first year," Septima Vector pushed out the money, "He will be a chaser and Ally Black will be a Seeker and I'll place a bet of 4 galleons on the latter."
Aurora and Alexis put forward the same bet and the others laughed before betting against them including Divination teacher, Sybil Trelawney who claimed that she "saw" that the duo would have no flying talent at all. Of course this prompted all the present staff to bet that the two would be on the team in some form.
After all the bets for the year, the conversation diverted to more important topics. The first was the new First Years.
"Well, what is your opinion on our newest cohort," Alexis asked, after all she wasn't going to be teaching them until 3rd year if at all.
"They have potential," Filius offered.
"They are simply awful, only eight of them regularly get any marks at all in my lessons," Cuthbert Binns lamented.
"That's because most struggle to stay awake in your lessons," Pomona threw back, "it's been that way for many a year. However, I find myself surprised that as many as eight students are capable of doing your assignments; they aren't the most riveting of things. Which eight?"
"Green, Joseph, Zabini and Davie," Binns droned.
"Well three of them are cousins and if I remember correctly Ophelia Greengrass was brilliant at History in her day, I am sure they learnt from her. Zabini is Greengrass' friend, I am sure that he is helped by them. Who else," Filius squeaked, he knew why those four would be good they seemed to be very good friends with one another.
"Dotter, White, Skeleton and Longer," Binns had managed to botch up many names over the years but the staff had become quite adept at interpreting the mistakes.
"Oh well, those four seem to be exceptions to most things," Sprout commented, "it is obvious that Longbottom excels and loves plants whilst Black has no keen interest but is just as gifted, Bones and Potter exceed the average but are not in the same league as the other two."
"Let's put it is layman's terms," Severus suddenly cut in; this was very rare for him so everyone listened to the snarkiest (oops, sneakiest) member of staff's observations.
"The generation to which I belong was one of the most talented generations we have seen in at least centuries, most of us died or were imprisoned. These four are the next generation after us and have the potential to be even better, Greengrass, Davis, Zabini, Jones and Bones were all surprising Sortings' as was Black, but they are the best of the best along with Potter and Longbottom, they are the ones we have to keep an eye on."
"Wow, this must be some kind of record for you, Sevvy," Aurora teased the older teacher, "I mean it must be physically painful for you to admit that your Slytherins are useless in most things and that your oldest enemies' children are among that brightest that we have."
Severus scowled at the blonde who just stuck her tongue out at him.
Septima got the discussion back on topic, "So do you all agree that those eight are the ones to watch out for?"
"Well there is Hermione Granger," Minerva began conceitedly until Aurora interrupted her.
"Miss Granger and it physically pains me to say this is an insufferable know-it-all, as Severus puts it. The girl seems to think that she is superior to everyone; no student wants to work with her because it is so hard to get along with her without wanting to hurt her.
She is intelligent, there is no denying that, Sepy but she is arrogant to the point of rudeness. I have had stop some of my more even-minded and good tempered students from attempting to pitch her off the tower in my lessons. Hell, if I'm being honest, sometimes I myself am tempted to do the same.
If she ever gains a few friends she would be one to watch out for but she is a Muggleborn, one that thinks that she already knows everything about our world when she does not even know the basics, it's a bit worrying, really.
I fear for her future in the Wizarding World, whilst fresh blood is always good and I have no problems with Muggleborns, that girl gives them all a bad name. She is like a supremacist but hers is against those who she thinks are inferior, i.e. not so clever individuals and those without much political power."
"Don't even say it, Minerva," Pomona snapped, "she might be one of your lions but Rory's assessment is correct. The other day she had the audacity to tell the best Herbologist in her year that he was potting his plant wrong, poor Mr Longbottom didn't know what to say. Miss Black told her that if she ever saw Miss Granger say anything like that to her friend again she would make sure that Miss Granger would end up in the hospital wing and no one would be able to prove it was her who hurt Granger."
"See we have to worry about Black," McGonagall was like a dog with a bone.
"For Merlin's sake, Minerva, she's not her father. Granger had told Neville that Weasley was right, that he was a measly squib who had no right to be here in Hogwarts and that no wonder Muggleborns have a bad name. It's a wonder that no one has told her that Neville is Pureblood," Severus was not a patient man but he had heard from Pomona what Granger had said and it had infuriated him.
"What about Weasley," Alexis asked, she had known Bill Weasley very well, he was the same sort of age as her and she was teaching the twins this year.
"He is nothing remarkable, if anything I will compare him rather unflatteringly to two of your snakes, Severus, he is much like Crabbe and Goyle," Pomona commented, "honestly, it is a toss-up in most classes I gather as to which of the three end up at the bottom. All the brains in that family appear to have been used up on the oldest 5 leaving him with nothing."
"That's rather unusual for you to say, Pomona, but I must admit that Mr Weasley has the rather terrible combination of being lazy and a bad temperament," Minerva had to concede defeat on her part about the merits of Ronald Weasley.
"Let's move on to another bet shall we," Sybil spoke up, "10 galleons says that Weasley will be first in his year."
Alexis rolled her eyes, "I think that we shall all take that bet, Sybil."
"Moving on, what of Fluffy," Aurora's tone betrayed her simmering anger; this was shocking in itself for Aurora seldom became angry. "I have no clue what the hell Albus was thinking putting one of those in a corridor full of students."
"I do not presume to think that you or myself are anywhere as clever as Albus, so leave it alone, besides all of the important teachers have also put obstacles, the object will be fine," Minerva's tone and implications left Aurora bristling, she knew all too well which teachers had been asked to protect the thrice-damned object and she had not been one of them.
"Minerva, perhaps it is best if we end this meeting here before Aurora decides that she will introduce you in your cat form to Fluffy," Severus suggested to the Head of Gryffindor house rather wryly, upon seeing Aurora's smile McGonagall paled before dismissing the meeting.
Severus shrewdly watched as Minerva turned on her tail and all but ran from the meeting. Binns and the rest of the teachers followed her out, until only the three youngest members of the faculty were left.
Severus sighed and walked towards them, and gingerly slipped a piece of paper onto the desk and over to Aurora who was the most vocal of the trio, then turning on his heel he spun out of the room. His cloak billowing ominously behind him.
Aurora pulled the note closer to the three:
I don't know what game you're playing, but I want in ~ Severus Snape.
GIVE ME R-E-V-I-E-W!