14. Chapter
Of Little Steps And Gigantic Jumps
The bright light of the early morning sun floated into the white and light grey painted room mercilessly. The light was reflected by most of the mirrors on the walls, several times broken and redirected at the window glasses, the wide doors leading to the rest of the castle and the dozen of vials of different colours and different forms around the room. Even at such an early hour the morning light was strong enough to illuminate the room better than any candle or magical light could have managed.
The room was nearly empty, a multitude of empty beds and empty chairs occupied the giant room. Only one bed held a sleeping figure and the chair next to it a watching one. The young man, who was sitting in the visitor chair looked a little bit tired. His long, blond hair fell into his face and nearly hid his sky blue eyes perfectly. Had they been visible, one would be startled by the multitude of emotions which were running through them, something which was only rarely seen by others.
He had returned to Hogwarts late at night, accompanied by his father and dearly awaited by his mother and Godfather. They seemed to have been quite preoccupied when time flew by and there wasn't the tiniest message from them, when they would return. The worst scenarios had played in their heads, which began with the sudden break out of the highly warded prisoner and ended with the return of the thrice damned Headmaster to the school after he had been cleared of all charges. When they finally returned and proclaimed how the old, meddling man had been punished, the mood changed drastically.
While his parents and Godfather chatted easily and agitatedly, Draco only wanted to go. There was only one place in the whole world, where he wanted to be and nothing could change that. So when his parents offered him to accompany them to their rooms to celebrate the end of the manipulative man, Draco only shook his head and declined.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the worried looks which the three elders threw at him, neither the way his Godfather was dressed in some fancy looking robes, nor the way his father raised one of his eyebrows in a sadistic, questioning manner and nor how his Godfather was blushing slightly despite his fruitless attempts to hide it.
With a quick kiss on the cheeks and a slightly hastily bid good night, Draco left and made his way to the Hospital Wing. His heart was racing and his mind railing. The outcome of the old man's hearing was still a painful presence on his mind. He could still see how the old man began to twitch, could still hear how his breath became more and more laboured with each passing second and he could still clearly remember how his eyes suddenly became wide and unfocused, shortly after his whole body had gone limp.
He had entered the Hospital Wing with mixed emotions. There was happiness, relief and a lot of contentedness, but also quite a lot fear, uneasiness and foreboding. He remembered how she had told him that she wished he would be fairly punished but at the same time that she had wished that he would not come to harm.
Well, the old man had been fairly punished, unfortunately, he had died in the process. To be honest, Draco didn't think that dying would be part of the not coming to harm decision.
Relief had floated through him, when he saw his mate sleeping. One look at the watch on the other side of the room informed him of his suspicion. It was late at night and Kiara wouldn't wake for some hours. Suddenly a wave of dizziness and sleepiness washed over him and caused him to stumble.
As he didn't want to fall asleep on the floor or collapse during his watch of his mate, Draco opted for the only other decision. To go to sleep on one of the hospital beds. As soon as his head had hit the soft and comfortable pillow, he had drifted away. The last thought on his mind was his mate before he fell asleep completely, which caused him to smile lightly in his slumber.
The next morning he had awoken early. The sun had yet to rise and Madam Pomfrey had yet to make her way through the Hospital Wing. With a badly stifled yawn and his eyes still slightly closed, Draco raised from his bed and went to one of the visitor chairs next to his mate's bed. When he sat there he couldn't do much else than watch her in wonder.
Her night black hair cascaded down her face and body in soft, yet strong waves. Her eyes were still closed and hid the emerald green orbs, which normally completed her beauty perfectly. Long, dark lashes fanned against her alabaster white, slightly pale skin. Draco knew that Kiara's skin was a little more tan than his, though due to her night black hair the contrast between skin and hair was much bigger and more intense than between his pale skin and light blond hair.
Even if one might say she looked pale, in a strange way it fitted her perfectly. Due to it, her wonderful, kissable, always lightly pouting lips appeared more than usual.
She looked more relaxed than she had in the last week. Draco hardly remembered the last evening, but he could still see his Godfather standing before him and telling him that they had given her another dose of Dreamless Sleep Potion and a mild Sleeping Potion so that she would be relaxed and sleep well until the next morning. Apparently no nightmares or other thoughts had disturbed her sleep and Draco was immensely thankful for this.
He had asked Madam Pomfrey a few days ago, when Kiara probably would be able to leave the Hospital Wing and join him in their personal quarters. The answer had been a suspiciously raised eyebrow and a twinkle, which had made Draco slightly blush and finally the affirmation that as soon as she was able to sleep fitfully she would be able to go with him. Draco sincerely had the suspicion that the middle aged woman knew more than she should and enjoyed herself greatly.
He was so engrossed in his thoughts and all the possibilities for Madam Pomfrey's strange and knowing smile that he had nearly missed his mate waking up. Draco watched in awe how her long, dark lashes suddenly fanned against her pale cheeks and fluttered open after a few more moments. Two startling, emerald green eyes were suddenly revealed and caused Draco to smile lightly to himself. He could see how she tried to figure out where she was and how she ended up there.
After a few more blinks, her eyes cleared and she turned her head around.
Two green eyes grew wide in surprise. Then sudden realisation hit her and caused her to groan, as she let her head fall back onto the soft pillow beneath her.
"Were you watching me in my sleep?"
A lightly teasing smirk appeared on Draco face and he raised his eyebrow in a mocking, questioning manner, which caused Kiara to groan again and bury her head deeply into her pillow. The very sight made Draco laugh out loud unintentionally.
The laughter grew and not even Kiara's stern glare could make him stop. Annoyed at being laughed at, Kiara huffed, took one of the pillows laying on her bed and threw it with full force at her still laughing fiancé. With a loud thud the soft pillow collided with her fiancé's face and caused him to fall down onto the floor in an ungraceful manner.
Mere moments later his face appeared over hers, glared down at her and scowled her for all that he thought was worth it. His hands were then placed on his hips, while his foot tapped the floor beneath it in a rapid motion.
"Why, thank you. I just wanted to tell you that I was indeed watching you in your sleep and that it was one of the most beautiful and breathtaking sights I have ever witnessed before. And how do you thank me? You throw an offending piece of cloth filled with filthy feathers into my face and throw me to the floor. Perhaps I shouldn't spend anymore time observing your beauty, because you obviously don't value it."
While Draco had been talking and mock scolding her, an unpleasant yet totally hilarious thought had crossed Kiara's mind. Her fiancé looked exactly like Molly Weasley when she was scolding one of her misbehaving children.
The mere thought nearly caused her to laugh out loud into her fiancé's face, something he surely wouldn't appreciate much. She buried the strange resemblance between the two somewhere deep in her mind and then tried to morph her features so that her face wouldn't give her away.
With a nearly straight face, Kiara looked intently at Draco with her eyebrows furrowed in thought. She unknowingly tilted her head to one side and let her long bangs fall lightly into her face.
"You know, I really appreciate you sitting here and waiting for me to wake up. It's a very sweet thing to do. But, and please don't get me wrong, why did you do it? I mean, you could still lay in our bed and enjoy your free morning time instead of sitting in one of those horribly uncomfortable things Dumbledore dared to call chairs. So, why?"
Draco smirked lightly at her, before he stood up, went to her bed and let himself sink down on it next to her. In a fluent motion he wrapped on of his arms around her and drew her nearer to his chest. Due to their proximity he could hear and feel her breath hitching when his arm made her lean onto his chest. A broad smile graced his features.
It felt good to have her back, to feel her next to him, to speak to her and to just sit there and enjoy her presence. He would never allow anyone to take this away from him and soon, if he played it out right, they would be able to spend even more time together and be legally more than just two veela mates. He couldn't wait for the right time to finally come.
One of his hands sneaked its way to her hair and began to stroke it lightly. He could feel her leaning into his touch, barely able to suppress a content sigh and this only intensified his good mood.
"Well, I haven't been able to spend time with my mate for what feels like eternity. Every time I was here, someone else was in the room, too, or I would have to leave soon after I had arrived. And then there are our quarters. Do you know how lonely it can be in them?
We have a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, a study, a bath and sleeping room and a guest room, all calculated for two or more persons. So when you have to live in this multitude of deserted rooms alone, you certainly can feel quite well how lonely exactly you are. That is why I came to you. I wanted to spend time with you and I didn't want to be alone anymore."
He could feel her melt against him, while he was talking. One of her small hands somehow found its way into his and with a light, reassuring squeeze, she drew herself nearer into his chest. A slight movement made him realize that she was about to say something, though another thought crossed his mind and he was unable to prevent himself from continuing.
"Furthermore, here I am safe from your cat."
He could hear a muffled laughter, which erupted somewhere at his chest.
"What? That isn't funny. Your cat is crazy! All this time alone and separated from you must have taken its toll on her. She was a strange one before, but now she is just plain crazy! You know, sometimes I sit on one of the chairs you normally sit in and normally this isn't a problem.
But now this black devil came and attacked me! She jumped on my lap and started to dig her claws into my legs! And then there are the nights: When I sleep in our bed, I sometimes seem to roll over into your side. I don't see where the problem is. But now imagine this!
Isphet comes and sneaks under the blankets. And there she just doesn't lay still, oh no, she starts licking, biting and scratching my legs! I even had blood streaming down them-
you know, I can't take it anymore. And that's why I'm here, too. I wanted to ask when you would be released, so Isphet will calm down and I will be able to sleep fitful again. Your cat just creeps me out."
Kiara couldn't suppress her laughter any longer. Her whole body was shaking and tears of mirth and happiness floated down her slightly flushed cheeks. Draco meanwhile patiently waited until she had calmed down enough to breath regularly. His hand was still stroking her hair and was now additionally drawing small, lazy circle on her back. Finally Kiara took a deep breath and looked into Draco's eyes.
"Isphet really did miss me a little, didn't she?"
Her hand still held his and her head was still resting at his chest. Draco wasn't able to suppress the snort which threatened to escape his mouth.
"Did miss you a little? Well, it is more like she misses you terribly! And not only her. There are Pansy, Daphne, Theodore, Blaise, your sister Ana, my Godfather Sev, my parents and, of course, I. We all missed you, missed you terribly that is. So don't you even think about denying it."
At mention of their friends, Kiara's head had spun around.
"Did you tell them? Do they what happened and where I have been?"
Draco could see fear and anxiety in her eyes and her breath had quickened considerably. He could see that she was beginning to panic.
A soft hand carefully lifted her chin and made her look directly into Draco's eyes. Draco in turn was looking into hers and tried very hard not to the break eye contact and to display all the emotions, which he felt deep inside him.
"No, love, I haven't told them. They know nothing more than that you have been unable to attend classes for the last days and that due to the state you were in, I was allowed to skip classes, too. And don't be afraid of what the rest of the school might think, because they don't know anything. All they know is that you and the Headmaster didn't attend classes and meals in the Great Hall. Nothing more, nothing less."
He slowly leaned forward as not to scare her in her delicate state. With careful movements he placed his hands at both sides of her face and then softly kissed her slightly parted lips.
"You know I value your trust and feelings way too much to do something so harsh and rash such as this without your proper consent. No, nobody knows and will not know, until you are ready to tell them. Don't forget this, we, as in the other teachers, my parents, your sister and I, will not tell this to anyone. You can be absolutely tranquilised."
Silence ensued between the two, but neither was it uncomfortable nor was it oppressing. They just sat there, leaned on each other and enjoyed the proximity and presence of the other. Kiara's hand was fisted around his, while Draco's other hand was mindlessly stroking comfortingly her back. None of them knew how long they had been sitting like this until Kiara broke the silence.
"What happened to the Headmaster, Draco?"
Her voice was soft, nearly inaudibly in the absolute silence around them. Her breath hitched and her eyes became wide, when she felt Draco stiffen up at the mention of the old man. Something must have happened, something really bad if Draco dreaded it so much to tell her about it.
"What is it, Draco? Did they clear him of all charges?"
A long, suffering sigh escaped her fiancé's lips and he shook his head in negation. Unconsciously, he drew her nearer to his chest and fastened the grip onto her fragile body, as if to spend some probably much needed comfort.
"No, dear, don't worry. They didn't clear him of all charges. To be honest, they scored him with the worst punishment allowed and approved by the Tribunal. He was punished, severely and fairly just like you wanted him to be and I have to confess I saw it kind of fitting, what they made him suffer through."
When he stopped and looked down at his fiancée's face, he was greeted be a look of utmost confusion, curiosity and suspense. Her eyes were wide and her brows furrowed in confusion, as she tried to determine what he wanted to tell her with this. Draco had to chuckle, as he placed a long finger on her eyebrows and lovingly stroked them until they were finally relaxed again. Kiara sighed contentedly and snuggled her head further into the crook of his neck.
"The Tribunal found him guilty of all charges brought against him. Therefore they decided to punish him with a special spell, which is only allowed to be used by the Court Members. The spell is a unique and inimitable one. It forces the victim of the spell to relive and experience all the thoughts, feelings and pains the caster, or in our case you and I, had to suffer because of him.
The duration of the spell varies from person to person, as it lasts as long as the victim of the spell needs to admit and realize what he or she had done was wrong. In the case of the Headmaster it took him especially long to acknowledge those facts.
The spell had taken its toll on him. Due to all the pain you suffered thanks to his decisions, which had been transferred to him, his physical condition weakened with each passing second. When he finally did admit his faults, several minutes had passed."
Draco sighed before he placed a soft kiss on the top pf her head.
"He died shortly after the spell had ended because of the strain on his old body. But he died realizing that he had done you great wrong and that his actions were inexcusable."
He placed his hand onto her back and carefully stroked and massaged her tense neck.
"The Headmaster had a last wish. When he died, he asked you for forgiveness. I couldn't grant him any, as I am not you."
"Well, it is kind of fitting, don't you think?"
Draco whipped his head around in surprise he came face to face with the slightly surprised, yet collected looking face of his fiancée. A fond smile appeared on his face and he placed dozens and dozens of sweet kisses on the top of her head. She was okay, she didn't panic, when he mentioned of the old man, nor did she shout and scream at him, because of the old man's fate. She was okay with it and that was everything he needed to know.
Draco cleared his throat and drew her attention to himself.
"Let's forget this displeasing and awkward issue. What do think about me spoiling you a little bit? Breakfast in bed? Some nice massages and tons of kisses?"
A soft pillow collided lightly with his face and caused Kiara to start a fit of giggles beneath him. With a broad grin on his face and light chuckle on his lips, Draco snapped his fingers twice.
A big board filled with all kind of different food appeared on their knees. There were eggs, bacon, a big bowl of fruit salad, pancakes, waffles, different sauces, toast, tea, coffee, cacao and juices. It smelled deliciously and looked mouth watering. Draco leaned forward, grabbed two big cups and filled them with steaming hot, black tea with a dash of lemon. He leaned back on the bed and carefully placed one of them in front of his mate. She took the cup with a softly muttered thanks and both of them started their dearly needed breakfast.
After they had finished, they both leaned back and deeply snuggled into each other. With a lazy flick of his wand, Draco vanished the leftovers of their meal and magically enlarged the bed a bit so that they could lay comfortably in it without having to fear to fall out when one of them moved.
Suddenly Kiara turned around, leaned forward, placed her two, small hands on each side of his face and then started to kiss him. The kiss was sweet and loving, full of promises and until then repressed emotions and thoughts. Draco instantly leaned into it, sneaked his arms around her fragile form and brought her closer to his body.
They probably would have continued and stayed like this forever, hands sneaking into the hair of the other and roaming slightly over the back, lips entwined and bodies flushed against the other, hadn't the need to breath been necessary to survive.
"Thank you."
Kiara's murmur was barely audibly against the loud breathing sound, which echoed around in the completely empty room. Draco, who was still breathing slightly heavy, locked his gaze with Kiara. A neatly trimmed eye brow rose and his head titled to the side.
"Thanks for what?"
His surprise was clearly visible and caused Kiara to chuckle lightly.
"Not that I mind, but I don't know what you are thanking me for."
His fiancée chuckled again and leaned forward so that her lips were nearly touching his ear.
"Then let me explain. Thank you for being there for me, for helping me through all this, for always understanding me and finally for just being your caring and loving self."
Draco, too, now began to chuckle lightly and drew her head back with his hands so that their noses were only mere millimetres apart.
"Well, if that is the case, then I should be rewarded, shouldn't I?"
His voice was rough and husky and sent shivers down her back. Simultaneously they leaned forward until lips met lips. The kiss became more and more intense, lips, tongues and teeth got involved and hands sneaked into strands of hair or roamed freely over necks and backs. Kiara moaned into the kiss and Draco immediately deepened it. He didn't know where their kiss would lead to, but to be honest it felt too good to care about being in the Hospital Wing and going further than that in the absolute public.
But before they could go further, a loud knocking and stiff clearing of a throat let them spring apart. Deeply red faces spun around to stare with wide eyes at Madam Pomfrey, who had obviously been standing unnoticed by both of them in the doorway for quite some time. A knowing smirk plastered her normally completely stoic features and caused Kiara and Draco to blush even more. Kiara, who was still heavily panting, sat down on her hospital bed again, while Draco took his place on a moderately far away placed chair.
"I see you seem to be up and in quite a good shape, Ms. Balgakow. Mr. Malfoy has asked me every single day since you came into my care, when you would be healthy and fit enough to be finally released. I have to say, I was wondering quite a bit why he seemed to be so persistent on your early release. Now I certainly understand why."
Madam Pomfrey ignoring the still heavily flushing youths and continued.
"If you would be so kind to lay down on the bed, so I could start with your check up, I will be able to tell whether you can go to your quarters or not."
Without complaining or hesitating, Kiara lay down on the bed and waited for Madam Pomfrey to start her check up. The Healer took her wand and waved it over the young woman's body in several complicated movements and silently chanted the foreign incarnation. The well known paper sheet appeared, shortly followed by the enhanced feather. In swift movements the long, thin feather flew over the piece of paper and neatly wrote down everything the check up spell told it to write down.
A few moments later Madam Pomfrey took the sheet and scanned it under the very observant eyes of one Draco Malfoy. A content and pleased look graced her features and finally she looked at the young woman with a slight smile on her lips.
"Well, it seems as if my work here is done. You have healed nicely, Ms. Balgakow. All wounds and cuts are closed, all bruises have disappeared and the slight malnourishment has been cured thanks to Professor Snape's special potions. He was very insistent on you taking them all.
I can release you without further problems. Please, don't overdo it. Remember you just experienced something very traumatic. Should you have any psychological or physical problems, please feel free to contact Professor Snape or me at any time."
Once she saw her nod in understanding and approval, Madam Pomfrey turned to look at the young man sitting in the visitors chair sternly.
"Mr. Malfoy, please assure that Ms. Balgakow does exactly like I told her. She is not to participate in sports right away. Make sure that she eats regularly and at each of the meal times. Don't let her stay up for too long. Be careful with interaction doses. She seems to still be afraid. Never let her stay in unknown or only vaguely known company. And please, refrain from any too strenuous activities."
The Healer's eyes and her facial features right gave away what kind of "strenuous activities" she referred to. Draco, who had just been able to gain control over the flushed parts of his face again, promptly lost it at that statement. Flushed again, he nodded stiffly and rose from his chair. He extended his arm and carefully helped Kiara, who felt stiff and sore after having to lay for so long in bed, to get up. Draco took her hand into his, then they turned around and looked at the Healer.
A grateful smile graced their features and as if they were one, they talked.
"Thanks a lot, Madam Pomfrey. We will keep to, what you told us to do. Have a nice day and thank you again."
And with a final nod to the slightly surprised Healer, they turned around and left the Hospital Wing and headed downwards to their private quarters. They couldn't arrive there soon enough. Isphet would be besides herself because of happiness. With that thought and several others in mind, they made their way to their personal quarters.
The huge, round office, which always belonged to the next Headmistress or Headmaster was crowded with people. The Heads of Houses, who all wore their representing house colours, sat each on one of the heavily cushioned, purple armchairs, which formed a half circle around the gigantic, dark wooded desk. The shelves had been cleaned and all personal belongings of the former Headmaster had vanished. As free and clean as this office might ever be, this night it would be the place of utmost importance.
Professor Flitwick sat in the much too big chair, his wand in his hoister and his hat in his hands. He seemed to be quite nervous as his fingers couldn't stop to play with the piece of felt they held. His face was screwed up in badly oppressed anxiety and his breathing was slightly quicker than usual.
Next to him sat Professor Sprout. She still wore her working suits, though she had been considerate enough to clean them of all possible remainings of earth and dirt. Her fingers drummed onto her legs without any possible rhythm and she, just like Professor Flitwick looked more than a bit fearful and nervous. The thought that someone completely foreign to all of them could take over the title of Headmaster or Headmistress was a quite fearful one in her thoughts. Who knew what this person could cause and initiate damage for her beloved school?
On the seat next to her sat Professor McGonagall. Her hands were neatly folded in her lap and her legs firmly crossed. Neither was she playing with her fingers, nor was she whipping with her feet. If one didn't know her better, then he would have sworn she was perfectly fine and relaxed. But her colleagues knew her better than that.
They saw they fine line her lips drew, how her brows were furrowed in thought and in concentration and how a fine, nearly invisible to the human eye scowl appeared on her stern features. The loss of her best friend, mentor and once first love had her hit with full force and she was still working on recuperating from it. Nevertheless, she wouldn't show any weakness, not now, not in the future and of course not in front of these men.
The last one to occupy one of the visitor chairs was Professor Snape. His face was void of all emotions, blank like always and stoic as ever. The ever present scowl was firmly in place and he, like Professor McGonagall had his legs firmly crossed and his hands neatly folded in his lap. His long, black hair fell into his face and hid parts of his eyes in the process.
For one who didn't knew him it was difficult to tell, but the Potions Professor had changed quite a lot during the last few days. His hair seemed to be cut differently, it was now shining instead of looking greasy and his face, still stoic and void of emotions seemed to be a little bit friendlier than normal. The young Potions Master didn't have to pretend to be calm, he was it.
Lucius had spoken with him mere minutes before he prepared to attend this meeting and had assured him that everything would turn out perfectly. And that was all Severus needed to know. He didn't know what was going to happen, but if Lucius Malfoy was content with its outcome, Severus surely would be, too.
On the right side of the office two seats had been prepared. Jonathan Smitherson, the dark haired and tanned Cuban investigator was sitting in one of them. The other seat was occupied by his young and good looking trainee Anastasia Petrushka.
Both of them had folders and quills in their hands, while thick and heavy tomes lay to their feet. Each of the ancient books was about a different branch of school law, teacher and students interactions, human psychology and school history. Little, fluorescent pieces of paper were sticking in each of the books, which marked important parts which should be thought of and spoken of. Both of them seemed to content with the entire situation. While Jonathan' eyes were blinking, a slight but sincere smile graced Anastasia's features.
The two groups of people had been sitting like that for mere minutes, when the clock chimed and the fireplace roared. One by one dark clothed figures stepped through the fireplace, dusted of their robes and took their places in the last ten remaining chairs. When finally the last person had entered and sat down, the speakers part of the Board of Governors had arrived and let their meeting officially begin.
The sight was breathtaking yet disconcerting. Seven, young men and three young women were now completing their meeting. Lucius Malfoy, the only one with silver blond hair, was sitting in the middle. To his right was a young woman with stern looking features and a neatly made bun which put Professor McGonagall's to shame. Her name was Marie Miller and she was one of the lawyers forming the Board. To Lucius' left sat a young, aristocrat looking man. He, like Ms. Miller had several folders on his lap, yet his didn't contain juridical aspects. Anthon White was a psychologist.
They were accompanied by Michael Plum, a well known writer for the more sophisticated newspaper "A wizard's interest", Mickaela Gilling, one of the best healers in the entire Great Britain, Henry Freshair, one of the few school historians, Veit Stolling, another lawyer, but with more insight knowledge on human rights, Myriam Tant, a primary teacher, Ben Bluewater, a mental problems research scientist and Dimitri Kobanow, representative for intercultural relationships.
Marie Miller finally cleared her throat and caught the attention of all people present.
"We have come here to inform you of our decision. It took us quite some time to find the right solution for the problem at hand, but finally we found it. The right punishment for the former Headmaster has been charged and the vacant posts of this school been filled. But before we inform you of the finally arrangements, there are a few things that we want to make clear first."
She took another deep breath and waited for all the eyes to be on her person.
"We, of course, read the article in the "Prophet", which declared that neither did you know what Mr. Dumbledore had planned to do, nor did you approve of what he has done. We acknowledge this course of action and are quite happy that you decided to do so on your own instead of waiting for us to tell you to do so. But frankly, this isn't enough."
She turned around and locked her gaze with Dimitri Kobanow. The man took the hint and neatly continued as if this speech had been planned before.
"The Russian wizarding community is furious, never once before in their whole history has such a thing happened to one of their own. They demand a severe punishment for each and every person involved in this case, a public apologise to the victim and their entire nation and finally the shutdown of this school, something we absolutely don't approve of."
Dimitri immediately added when he saw they paling faces and the horror struck expressions.
Henry Freshair, a man with neatly placed brown hair, continued.
"No, we really don't approve of such actions. It doesn't happen often, but during the course of time there had been attacks from Headmasters on students before, the average teacher-student-attacks are of an even greater number. Those attacks are shocking, but life doesn't end after them. The consequences have to be severe, so parents and students will be relieved and won't change the school. Now the Headmaster has already been punished and severely that is. Therefore we won't have to worry about this part. The new Headmaster should try to change the school's image by a different behaviour of his staff and the students."
Anthon White looked around, a small smile on his face.
"The new Headmaster should try to make Hogwarts appear friendlier, more open minded and accepting towards others. As I have already been informed of, the Triwizard Tournament took place in Hogwarts two years ago. And this is exactly what this school will need. Good publicity, more intercultural activities and perhaps even a students exchange program with another magical school. With lots of positive articles in several newspapers the wizarding community will probably soon forget what this monster has done."
At the mention of the former Headmaster being a monster, Professor McGonagall's lips had twitched as if she itched to speak out loud. Anthon White patiently waited for her, but when she didn't say a word, he evenly continued.
"Furthermore, we don't think that it would be beneficial for the staff to apologise to the victim in public. From what I have heard, she is content with the man's punishment and doesn't need any other ways to see that staff and students are sorry for what has happened. Another point is that she is still suffering from this experience and to force this young woman into public so that everyone can stare at her while she has to relive what has happened, would only cause her more damage than good."
"Now, as you have all heard what things should change and how you should go on further from here, we only need to inform you of the staff changes."
Veit Stolling, a tall, dark blond haired man with locks falling down to his shoulders, smiled at them sincerely.
"As you already have been told, we had to think for quite some time to find the best solution. We thought that the situation was already difficult enough and that you therefore won't need a new face to add to it. Therefore, we finally decided to declare Professor McGonagall the new Headmistress of Hogwarts."
A light chuckle escaped the man's lips, when he saw the look of utmost surprise and astonishment on the now new Headmistress' face. It looked as if she hadn't been expecting this and to be honest, she hadn't. After what had happened she had been sure that the Board of Governors would present them someone new for the position of Headmaster and frankly, she would have accepted it.
To be declared Headmistress nevertheless after everything that had happened, made her feel quite proud. Her colleagues seemed to be pleased with this announcement, too, as all of them were smiling mildly at her and Severus even turned around and extended his hand to congratulate her.
"Thanks, thank you very much. I never expected this to happen. It's just so... incredible."
It was the first time in her entire life that Minerva McGonagall was speechless. Veit Stolling chuckled again and then asked her teasingly.
"You have been Deputy Headmistress for several years and you know the work perfectly. What did you expect? To be told to retire?"
When the new Headmistress couldn't answer but only blushed lightly instead, the lawyer continued.
"So, as Professor McGonagall is now the new Headmistress of Hogwarts, her position of Transfiguration Professor, Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House are all vacant. Now, with regard to the near and far future, we decided to declare Professor Snape Deputy Headmaster."
This time it was Severus turn to look absolutely surprised by this decision. He had been a teacher at Hogwarts for slightly more than ten years and he was by far the youngest teacher working in this castle. Yes, he was Head of Slytherin House and yes, he always was always called to attend the important meetings, but were those reasons enough to make him Deputy Headmaster, even when there were people older, wiser and more deserving for this title?
A slight tap on his shoulder broke him free from his musings. Severus turned around he came face to face with a happy and content looking Minerva McGonagall, who had extended her hand to congratulate him. Mindlessly he took the hand and didn't realise at all what she was saying, as his gaze had fallen on a brightly and contentedly smiling Anastasia Petrushka, who slightly waved at him. The mere thought that this announcement had made her happy sent a nearly invisible blush to his cheeks. He averted his gaze and decided to look at Veit Stolling instead.
"Thank you, for putting such trust into me. I never neither expected this to happen."
Anthon White smiled at him and strongly suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.
"It isn't at all this surprising. You are the youngest teacher to give classes at Hogwarts. For the last decades the Deputy Headmaster and the Headmaster position have been in the same hands. If we now made an older person Deputy Headmaster or Headmistress, we fear that everything might stay the same. But that isn't what we wish for.
We wish for the school to change drastically and this will work best with you as its new Deputy Headmaster. And furthermore, we were informed that you have worked several times together with Headmistress McGonagall and that you seem to get along quite well. Furthermore, you would make a perfect balance to your Gryffindor Headmistress, seeing as you are Head of Slytherin House. So, from our side, everything is just perfect."
When he saw the looks of astonishment and utter surprise now on each and every face, Veit Stolling opted for interfering. The way Anthon White had explained things let them appear too much and too caring, something that just didn't bode for a respected and feared School Governor. So he cleared his throat quite exaggerated and soon Veit Stolling had attracted all the attention he needed to continue, where he had stopped moments ago.
"Well, that leaves the positions of Gryffindor Head of House and the Transfiguration Professor open. It wouldn't be beneficial to give the Gryffindor Head of House position to someone, who has never once before taught at this school. The students have to be able to trust this person easily, so that the teacher will be able to help them.
If a new face would take over this position of trust, no one would be able to rely on him. And to give this position to a teacher who has been teaching at Hogwarts for quite some years, but who teaches a material which isn't a compulsory subject like for example Ancient Runes or Arithmancy, wouldn't work either. Some would know him or her, others wouldn't at all."
He paused slightly and Myriam Tant took the opportunity to speak. The fragile looking, red haired woman had a nice, soft voice, which could put everyone at ease in no time.
"Therefore, we have decided to give this position to the actual Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
When she saw some sort of protest forming, she rushed to continue.
"We know that Brian Rollins started to teach at Hogwarts only this year, but it is the best we can do. Every single Gryffindor, well at least the first to fifth years all attend his classes. The rest of them knows him due to some fighting and duelling clubs they attend. We know that the solution isn't perfect, but it's the best we can do. Or would you rather give this position to a complete stranger?"
When nobody contradicted but everyone nodded in agreement instead, Mickaela Gilling, a small, dark haired woman with short hair, opened the folder, which rested on her knees and fleetingly studied the papers.
"From what I know Brian Rollins was a Gryffindor when he went to school twenty years ago. Therefore, it would work for him perfectly. He knows their mentality, knows the way to Gryffindor common room and he even can find his way around in their tower."
A small smile suddenly appeared on her lips, which changed her whole appearance drastically.
"I know of this so called curse of the Defence position. Well, frankly, who doesn't? And with the changing teachers for that subject for the last twenty years on annual basis, one could mean it's true. But honestly, nothing has happened to him so far and as a logically thinking being as I would reason that nothing will happen at all. Therefore, we should give this man a try as Head of Gryffindor House."
Nods and lowly muttered approvals were answering her unspoken question. It was true, Brian Rollins had started teaching only this year, nevertheless the students liked him terribly and had formed bonds with him worthy of other teachers. He would be a good Head of House, fair, always there for them, if they needed help or advice, stern, if they didn't want to follow the rules or had tricked a classmate too often and understanding, if they had problems of any sort and intimidating, if one needed protection.
He was a good teacher and surely would make a good Head of House, too, if he lasted long enough. But, well, that was something one had to keep in mind when he or she was brave or stupid enough to take over the position of Defence teacher.
Lucius Malfoy, who had kept silent until now in favour of watching the teachers' reactions, now straightened up and let his gaze wander over the occupants' faces.
"Now, there is only the Transfiguration position open. We have been asking Transfiguration Masters all over Britain if they were willing to teach the rest of this year, but understandingly no one wanted to. It is difficult to fill up a suddenly open teacher position throughout the school year. So when nobody out of Great Britain agreed to teach this subject, we asked the Ministry to send us a list of all Transfiguration Masters with the ability to speak English. It took some time but eventually we found someone willing to take over this position."
Lucius turned around and was smiling lightly, when he extended his hand and motioned to the other side of the room.
"Thankfully Ms. Petrushka was willing to accept this position. She made her Transfiguration Master in Russia under Victor Manikow's tutelage, if I'm not mistaken. Then she went to work at the Russian Ministry which deemed it fitting to send her to work in England due to her superb work. She has been working in England for two years now, speaks English perfectly fluent and already knows her way through the castle. The students already know her, as she has spoken with most of them at least once. Ms. Petrushka agreed to take over this years classes, but she would be willing to even stay here and teach for more than one year."
A stunned silence ensued after his short speech. While he had been explaining the situation, a lot of different emotions had visibly passed over the remaining teachers' faces. At first there was surprise. Surprise that she was a Transfiguration Mistress, surprise at the mention of her mastery, surprise that she was speaking a perfectly fine and adequate English and finally surprise that she was willing to teach for a longer time. A brief and equally stupid flicker of distrust washed over their minds - she had been sent from the English Ministry of Magic to investigate their former Headmaster's case - only to be replaced by a wave of gratitude. She was young, she was nice, she was intelligent and she was willing to help them out. What more could they want.
"Well then, please let me welcome you, Ms. Petrushka, as a new member of our staff. I'm very grateful for your help and appreciate your selflessness and your spontaneity a lot. It's nice to have you here."
Headmistress McGonagall welcomed her new Transfiguration Professor with a firm shake of hands and a sincere smile on her normally straight lips. She didn't trust her immediately and would surely need some time to shake of the wariness, but at the same time she was sure that she was going to like this young woman very soon, if only she got to know her better before.
"We should meet tomorrow morning, so I can give you your timetable, my notices on the different classes and the curriculum for each year. Feel free to add or change anything you don't deem necessary but, please, inform me before doing so, so we can talk about it."
While Anastasia was talking with Headmistress McGonagall, she could see in the corner of her eyes, how Severus' face changed. He had been absolutely shocked when Lucius had announced her prolonged stay at Hogwarts. Their first date had been quite a hit and she had seen how it had pained Severus to know that he would probably never see her again. His face had been closed up, void of every single emotion and nevertheless did he seem to scowl even more than before. His shoulders had been hunched and his eyes averted. A cloud of utmost misery, pain and self-loathing had followed him everywhere he went.
Now she could see that his face was different. The shoulders weren't hunched anymore and the annoying cloud of bad feelings had disappeared moments ago. He tried to keep his face as stoic as ever, but strangely it wasn't working very well. She could see a flicker of hope, immense happiness and contentedness. His lips were drawn into a fine, nearly invisible smile and his whole posture had changed to one of more self-assuredness. But the biggest change had happened in his eyes, though. Where moments before had been a void, black wholes, now burned two big fires. His eyes were shining, twinkling even. They were alive and full of longing and determination. They were sending shivers down her back, by only imagining what made them shine so brightly.
A loud sound of a clearing throat broke through the chatter which had ensued after the Headmistress McGonagall's welcome speech and let them turn around to the source of it. Michael Plum, who had been sitting quietly in his chair until now, looked at them with an intense look in his eyes.
"We should agree on not telling anything to the students before tomorrow morning. It is late and the students need their sleep and rest. To inform them now of all those changes would be incorrect and would do more damage than good. Tomorrow morning at breakfast would be the perfect moment to inform the students. They would be fit and would have the whole day to wrap their minds around the changes."
When he titled his head slightly to the side, the author locked his intense gaze with the Headmistress'.
"But it would be prudent to inform the other teachers even at this late hour. It wouldn't do them any good to wait any longer. The changes are grave and they will need some time to get used to some of the ideas."
Lucius nodded, took his coat and then elegantly stood up.
"You are right, everything has been cleared. We filled the open positions and the vague course of actions has been explained. For the exact course of actions in regards to the schools' politics and activities there will be another meeting in the near future. First of all the students and teachers should get used to those changes. Well then, it's late. Let's call this a night."
Nodding ensued and several chairs were pulled back. Nearly twenty people now stood in the room, put on their coats or said goodnight to those near them. The fireplace was still on, glowed green again and sent the first visitor home again shortly afterwards. One by one the Board of Governors threw floo powder into the fire, called out the name of their destination and then vanished into the bright green flames. The crow thinned out, as most of the teachers and Jonathan had already left and Anastasia could now observe the ones around her better.
On the other side of the room she could see Lucius Malfoy dusting of his coat. Just when he was about to take some floo powder and throw it into the brightly burning fire, a tap on his shoulder prevented him from doing so. Ben Bluewater, a tall, brown haired man with chin long curls and thin, metallic glasses was standing next to him, a question burning on his tongue. Before he could think otherwise he blurted out unintelligently.
"I heard that this young woman is your daughter-in-law to be. The damage to her mind and mental state must be huge, considering what has happened to her. Do you think it would be possible to have a chat with her and make her part of my research project?"
Anastasia chuckled and turned around. She didn't hear what the Malfoy head of family was saying, but from the brief moment she had been able to see his face clearly, she was sure as hell that it wasn't going to be nice for the poor scientist. When she turned around her gaze fell on Severus Snape. The young Potions Master was leaning casually at the wall next to her, his head held up and his eyes closed. As if he was able to feel her gaze on him, his eyes shot open and he turned to her.
The sight of him made her breath hitch. This fire, this tempting, dangerous, yet at the same time absolutely fascinating fire was burning again. Slowly, deadly slowly the Potions Master pushed from the wall and then casually walked by. She just stood there, unable to move, when he walked by, as her mind was railing, though it was unable to progress anything which was happening at the moment. He had been smirking, no smiling at her, hadn't he? So why did he now just walk away?
Just when the young, black haired man had passed her, she could feel his hand slipping into the pocket of her business robes. But jus as soon as it was there, it was gone already again and with the hand, the whole imposing man had disappeared with billowing robes. It was shorter than a second, yet she was absolutely sure that she had felt it there. With a slightly shaking hand Anastasia reached into the pocket of her robes.
She didn't have to search long, then she found it. A small, neatly folded piece of paper was innocently laying there. With a held breath and even stronger trembling fingers, the young, dark haired woman grabbed it and extended it from her robes. With now slightly quicker breathing, she opened it and then read, what it said.
"Meet me. My chambers. Now."
It didn't say more, but for the young woman it was enough. With a broad, happy smile and some nasty thoughts on her mind, the new Transfiguration Professor turned around and with a last nod of goodnight left the room. She didn't have to concentrate nor look where she was going. Her feet took her where her heart desired her to be.
'Finally everything turns out right. Only you are missing, my little sister. But be patient, your day will come and he will propose'.