Chapter 21

Professor Minerva McGonagall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry stared irately at the phoenix that has just landed on her desk. Now one must not misunderstand the reason behind the glare, Minerva as a respectable light witch revered phoenixes as much as the next witch, but this particular phoenix however she wouldn't mind having a go at with her claws. She inhaled sharply threw her nose and attempted to calm herself just as said phoenix gave a chirp to remind her that it was waiting and that his missive was clearly much more important than the marked NEWT transfiguration essays it has burned to a crisp on its landing.

Taking the letter from the overgrown chicken so that it would leave before it could do any more damage Minerva exhaled noisily. An entire mornings worth of marking wasted, and she hadn't even been able to record the students' marks. Deep breaths Minerva she told herself, only to lose her temper and curse as she read the missive.

Sometimes she wondered if all that sugar hadn't addled Albus' brain. Staff meetings were not a difficult notion – they happened every Sunday at 6 p.m. so that the staff's weekends were not disturbed. Albus however seemed to take great delight in moving the meeting into the most inconvenient times possible – like in 20 minutes. She seriously doubted that anything important had happened, if it had she surely would have heard screams before now.

Well, if Albus did insist in disrupting her entire weekend he would wait until she had finished her coffee. 15 minutes Minerva leisurely rose from her chair and headed towards the staff room. She was going anywhere swiftly, not after she had spent a large portion of her week chasing down mutant squirrels.

Albus looked around the staff gathered before him in disappointment – really how hard was it to get to a meeting on time. 20 minutes was more than sufficient warning, and certainly did not justify the black looks he was receiving,

A full 10 minutes later Minerva swept into the room, Finally! He debated reprimanding her for being late, but one look at her displeased face convinced him that that would end badly for him. Instead he smiled genially down at the staff. No one smiled back. However Albus Dumbledore was not a man to be easily disheartened.

"I am so glad to see you all. I trust you have had an enjoyable weekend so far?" Albus had intended that to be a simply rhetorical question but Minerva's incredulous snort caught his attention. "Minerva?"

Minerva favoured him with one of her `you are a bumbling idiot with the mental capacity of a sheep` looks before stating disdainfully "I might have had an enjoyable weekend if some bearded fool hadn't once again decided to disrupt it for this meeting. What pray tell was so important that it couldn't wait until tomorrow evening?"

Albus was ruffled as he noticed most of the staff nodding and agreeing with Minerva. However before he could speak Minerva spat

"Well? Hurry up, I have things to do and am not inclined to waste my Saturday afternoon listening to your natter."

Albus gave her a reproachful look which she ignored. "Well I had called you to tell you that sadly Professor Dockeherty our muggle studies professor has been moved to St Mungos to recover from her break down and as such I am searching for a new teacher."

Minerva snorted again "really Albus you think that that is news to us? It was obvious that Delilah wasn't going to recover. I also suppose that poor Sinistra has been roped into covering muggle studies until a replacement can be found?"

Albus blustered for a bit before saying "yes, well, Pomona also had a message for you all". The look that he received from the normally affable Professor Sprout told him that he did not appreciate being scape-goated.

"Really Albus it is nothing that couldn't have waited a day" said Sprout fixing Albus with an irritated glare, "I merely wish to inform everyone that all herbology next week has been cancelled as the green houses were badly trashed by 17 mutant squirrels last week."

Silence met this statement until Albus queried the statement; "mutant squirrels?"

Minerva sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, "yes Albus, mutant squirrels. There was an incident in my 6th year transfiguration class and a student accidentally over powered a spell. Unfortunately the squirrels escaped my classroom and proceeded to cause havoc throughout the school – do keep up. I'll announce it to my house this evening Pomona and tell them that should report to the library and do something productive during that period."

Pomona Sprout nodded her agreement from across the room. Albus Dumbledore, feeling rather chastised opened his mouth to try to salvage the situation, "well then if that is all I suggest..."

"Really Albus" interrupted Minerva "you could at least ask us if there was anything else that needed to be said before you dismissed us! Honestly"

Albus Dumbledore gritted his teeth, first he was told off for trying to hold an unneeded staff meeting, now he was being told off for trying to dismiss said meeting, There was just no pleasing some people. "Fine. Is there any other news?"

"Yes Albus" here Minerva cast her firm gaze across the room, "I must remind you of you employment contracts' student confidentiality clause before I announce the following piece if information. I have notified that the Ancient and Noble house of Black has chosen an heir, and Sirius Black 6th year Gryffindor has been chosen to fulfil the spot. You are all aware of what that means I assume? Therefore Mr Black is allowed to leave school premises on the weekends as long as a member of staff is informed."

Silence followed this statement until –

"Sirius Black? Surely you jest Minerva – everyone knows that the boy will be passed over and probably disinherited when he turns 17"

Minerva fixed Professor Vector with her fiercest glare, "well it appears that everyone knows wrong. Sirius Black was invested as Black heir on Thursday, and is currently at a Black family meeting. Surely you have noticed your missing students Horace?"

Horace Slughorn looked surprised for a moment before comprehension dawned, "I had wondered what had happened, there has been something of a reshuffle within Slytherin this week, Regulus Black in particular was being sidelined – of course this explains why" he muttered to himself.

"What do you mean Horace?" queried Dumbledore

Horace fixed him with an odd look before scoffing. "Oh come now Albus don't expect me to believe you ignorant of the political manoeuvrings of Slytherin house." When no reply was forthcoming he sighed before explaining, "Slytherin house has a complex hierarchy of authority and influence. At the top you have wealthy pureblood heirs, followed by magical prodigies or persons of interest like promising quidditch players. These students rule the house and all other follow. I believe that the current leader is Lucius Malfoy, but only because of his engagement to Narcissa Black." Upon seeing the blank looks he was receiving Horace sighed again "the Malfoy family, although very rich cannot trace their heritage as far back as the Black family can, which means that the Black heir is almost always the Slytherin leader. It was assumed that Sirius would be disinherited once he turned 17, and then Regulus' place would be confirmed and he would jointly rule with Malfoy. However with what Minerva has said, Regulus won't be the Black heir which relegates him out of the top string as he won't inherit a title nor is he particularly academically brilliant or charismatic."

Looks of dawning comprehension appeared on the faces of many of the staff. "But, Horace, what of Harrison Peters?"

Slughorn frowned, "I'm not entirely sure; his grades and looks put him in the top tier, but his blood status and lack of a title should keep him from the top, but honestly I would guess that holds more power within the house than Malfoy, and I have no idea how he did it."

The staff sat in silence for a few minutes until with a nod to Albus Minerva left. At once chatter broke out –

"Sirius Black, can you believe it!"

"What was Orion thinking?"

"Why hasn't Walburga shown up to contest it?"

Finally Flitwick's voice rose above the rest, "It isn't really that surprising you know". The silence following that statement was deafening. "Well it isn't. As much as I disapprove of his behaviour Sirius Black got 11 outstanding OWLs, the highest in his year and he is clearly very magically powerful. Orion Black would be a fool not to recognise that."

Several members of staff grimaced at the reminder of the Black heirs outstanding results. After several more moments of chatter and grumbling the staff slowly dispersed and headed back to their quarters.

Finally Sprouts voice could be heard drifting down the corridor, "At least the marauders will have to tone it down a bit now – that has to be a plus!"

Sorry about the wait - I know that it has been a really long time since my last update but my mother was diagnosed witha heart condition and well looking after her took priority. I haven't abandoned this fic. but updates will probably be slower now.

As usual all reviews welcome!