22 Oct 2005
Minerva McGonagall listened to her students chat away as she ate her oatmeal. They were unaware she was listening, which she enjoyed, as it was one of the few times she could hear what they were really thinking about Hogwarts.
"I went to dueling club last night, it was amazing. I never knew Flitwick was so awesome."
"What did he do?"
"He used a spell combo of harmless looking spells to disable the seventh year who was assisting him. It took him less than a minute."
"Blimey, that does so cool."
"You should come next week."
Minerva smiled happily. When Sirius had approached her with a plan to change Hogwarts last Christmas, she hadn't expected much. After all, there was always a battle between the progressives and the traditionalists. But Sirius, or likely Andromeda, had known exactly how to approach the issue and sway people to their side. As a result, they had hired several new teachers this year. Binns had been told to move on, Snape had quite happily left to do potions research (against Dumbledore's protest), and both she and Filius had hired master's candidates to guide and have help teach the lower years. And it was wonderful. Finding themselves with so much free time, Filius had started a dueling club. It meet three times a week, once for third years, once for fourth and fifth years, and once for sixth and seventh years. She had started a chess club, which was planning its first tournament next weekend. And, only a month and half into school, she had already noticed changes. The students loved the clubs. They provided opportunities for friends from different houses to hang out, and ways for rival houses to compete without hexing each other in the hallways.
"Did you hear about the new quidditch plans?"
"No, what plans?"
"The teachers are talking about starting a junior league to give more kids a chance to play matches! I don't know how many teams there will be though."
"So you'll get to play?"
"Yah, chaser. Wilson graduates next year, so I'm hoping if I get to play junior this year, I might make the house team next year."
The new quidditch teams were Professor Mehgan's, the new Defensive and Offensive Spells teacher (previously DADA), idea. He loved quidditch and wanted more than twenty-eight students to have the option to play. Minerva had quickly approved of the idea, and Madam Hooch had worked with Mehgan on the details. The teams would be split into two leagues, second through fourth year and fifth through seventh year. They would be a game every other weekend (younger one weekend, older the next), but the games would be capped at two hours. The teams could also have up to ten players. The announcement would happen at the beginning of November, and games would start after the winter break.
"I can't believe McGonagall announced we have another class next semester."
"It's going to be awful! Writing and English Literature? Don't we have enough to do?"
"To think, more essays! I'll never survive!"
"And reading, I took English Lit in primary, and we read and analyzed tons of books. I was surprised Hogwarts didn't have it."
"But now we do. I bet the Ravenclaws are happy."
"That's cause the Ravenclaws are a bunch of nerds."
Minerva stifled a laugh. Many of the Ravenclaws had expressed excitement after the announcement of the new Writing and Literature class. So had the teachers for that matter. Filius had actually jumped for joy at the thought of someone else teaching the students how to write! Minerva herself had written a heartfelt thank you note for Sirius to pass on to his supporters letting them know how much the staff appreciated everything they were doing. She knew Sirius had fought hard for every sickle of funding the Wizengamont had agreed to. While they didn't have enough to hire teachers for some of the other muggle classes Sirius had proposed to her, they had secured enough for this class and master's candidates for potions and herbology.
As breakfast ended and the students went off to class, McGonagall simply watched. She had always loved Hogwarts and loved teaching. But, in all honesty, Hogwarts had been in desperate need of an overhaul. Thinking about all the new changes and future changes, she could not be prouder of her school. With a small laugh, she realized the irony of one of the infamous Marauders spearheading the campaign to improve school. But, then again, Black and Potter had always been brilliant if troublesome students. Maybe they had simply been too bored.
25 Oct 2005
Mr. Lupin,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to you because, as your friend Mr. Black might have mentioned, we are starting a Writing and English Literature class here at Hogwarts next semester. As you might imagine, we are looking for a teacher who has studied at Muggle University. Sirius mentioned you are currently a substitute teacher for a muggle school in London. If you are interested in a job here at Hogwarts, I would love to hear back from you.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts
2 Nov 2005
Professor McGonagall,
While I sincerely appreciate the offer and would love to teach at Hogwarts, as you are well aware I have a certain "furry little problem" which would prevent me from teaching at least on the day after the full moon. If you are willing to hire me despite this, I would love the opportunity to interview.
Sincerely,
Remus Lupin
10 Nov 2005
Mr. Lupin,
I dare say I have not forgotten your "furry little problem." However, my stance on it has not changed since you are a student here. If I thought it would be a problem, I would not have approached you. How does the morning of the 22nd work, say 9 am?
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
12 Nov 2005
Professor McGonagall,
9 am on the 22nd works perfectly. I shall see you then.
Sincerely,
Remus Lupin
13 Nov 2005
Dear Sirius,
I get to play quidditch! I am on the younger junior's team for Hufflepuff! Did you hear about the new quidditch teams? Hopefully I'll improve enough to play for the house team before I graduate. I know you mock me for being clumsy, but I am pretty good at flying. Even if I do occasionally drop the quaffle… Will you come to see my games? Mum says she probably won't be able to see every single one, but she will try to make a few. Our first game is January, and Hooch says we'll have about a game a month.
I quite like our Defensive and Offensive Spells teacher. (I don't think DOS is a very good acronym- I looked that word up!). Professor Mehgan is a retired Auror and he really knows his stuff. I asked him if he knew you and he said you were "a good Auror but a pain in my arse." What did you do to make him think that about you? Did you pull any pranks?
Talking about pranks, Charlie and I managed to release a niffler in the Gryffindor common room! I didn't see it while it was in there, but Charlie said it caused havoc and I watched all of the Gryffindor's run out of their portrait like the room was on fire!
Love,
Dora
20 Nov 2005
Dear Dora,
Congratulations! For both making the quidditch team and a well executed prank. When you are home for winter break, we will have to work on both those skill sets. Harry is quite the quidditch player now, and Lyra is well on her way as well. Aletha thinks the twins are too young to fly, but I took them out last week just to see how it went. I think I will make quidditch players out of them as well J
As for Professor Mehgan, I might have pulled a few pranks with the help of James on him. I remember one time we managed to slip him a potion that changed his hair colour every few minutes. He looked like you when you are excited. Tell him I say hi, will you?
Love,
Sirius
Dora,
Hi. Do you like school? I do. I learnt my letters and Daddy is helping me write this letter to you. This is my try numder 3 cause I had to fix my spelling. It is tricky.
I love you,
Harry
25 Nov 2005
Dear Sirius and Harry,
Thanks for the letters! And Harry, I love school. I can't believe you know how to write already! Do you know how to read? And don't work, I check my letters for spelling too. Although Professor Flitwick taught us a charm to highlight all the misspelled words and shows a corrected version. It is super useful.
And Sirius, that's awesome! Do you have any photos of your pranks? I would love to see them and learn from you. I've gotta go, I have a transfiguration essay due tomorrow.
Love,
Dora
27 Nov 2005
Mr. Lupin,
I would like to congratulate you on your new job! After interviewing several candidates, we have agreed that you are best suited to the job, as you have practical experience teaching Writing and English Literature in the muggle world. As you may be aware, our long-term goal is to provide a complete GCSE class. Therefore, this experience is invaluable.
There are a few details we need to work out regarding the job. Included in this letter is information regarding the salary, housing and meal benefits, as well as the Board required documentation on your transformations. Please review it and get back to me.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
5 Dec 2005
Professor McGonagall,
Seeing as we are to be colleagues, please call me Remus. I must admit being called Mr. Lupin makes me feel as if I am about to be called on in class. As for the few details, here are my thoughts.
The salary is perfect. I see no need for negotiations. As for housing and meals, I was wondering if I could live off campus and apparate or floo in. I would be more than happy to stay late the nights that I have patrol. This would be ideal as my wife is a muggle and works in muggle London. It also removes the need for the transformation contingencies, as I would be off campus, and under the influence of Wolfsbane. While I appreciate the offer for your potions professor to brew it for me, my current supplier insists that she "enjoys the challenge of brewing it and I shouldn't dare take that joy away from her."
Please let me know if these arrangements are suitable,
Remus
11 Dec 2005
Dear Remus,
Congratulations on your marriage! Living off campus is more than acceptable. As you may know, only heads off house are required to have apartments here, although I am more than happy to assign you one if you wish to have a place to stay on nights you have patrol. Additionally, I will make sure to arrange your duty nights to be during the week so that you do not have to come in over the weekends.
If that is all, please stop by at your earliest convenience to sign the contract. I would also appreciate if you could provide a book list by the 22nd of December. If that is too soon, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Minerva
13 Dec 2005
Dear Dora,
You will never believe who your new Writing and English Literature teacher is! Remus! Yup, your one and only Uncle Remus will indeed be teaching at Hogwarts come spring semester. I will warn you, prank at your own risk. He might seem mild mannered, but he is devious. And nearly impossible to catch! Why, back in our school days James and I almost always got detention, but Remus seemed to always wiggle out of it.
Anyways, see you soon,
Sirius