The Wizengamot

12th April 2004

Severus Snape had been staring at the letter in his hand for about a minute in shocked silence. He was, as usual, sitting at his office desk, idly talking to the portraits as he sorted through his morning post and he hadn't thought much of it when he'd seen the seal on wax stamp on the envelope, but now, re reading the letter, he was too stunned to speak.

"Severus?" Albus' portrait questioned, "What is it? Is something wrong? You've gone rather quiet."

"How rude," Phineas Black huffed.

"Lay off the man, Black," another portrait sighed, "Anyone would think you wanted him to burn your portrait."

"You'd have been at the bottom of the Lake if I was still in charge," someone added much to Phineas' ire.

"Quiet," Severus snapped at them, suddenly.

"Severus, my dear boy, what's wrong?" Albus asked, leaning forwards in his painted chair at Severus' unusually concerned gaze.

"Elphais Dodge..."

"Is dead," Phineas rolled his eyes. "Died last month, didn't he? We might be old portraits, but we're not senile, you know?" he said.

"Elphais Dodge's seat in the Wizengamot," the younger wizard continued, as though he hasn't been interrupted as he glared at the portrait for a moment. "They've decided on who'll replace him as Special Advisor," he said.

"About time too," Everard said, "They always did take too long to make decisions...but why should they be writing to you about it?"

Severus stared blankly at the portrait before the realisation dawned on the portrait while Albus beamed at him.

"I believe congratulations are in order," Albus said, happily.

"But...but...he's too young to be on the Wizengamot!" Phineas exclaimed, "And he's a convicted..."

"I think it's a fine choice," Dippet nodded and many of the other portraits seemed to agree with him.

"Don't be ridiculous, I'm not going to accept it," Severus scoffed and put down the letter.

"Well, why ever not?" Dippet asked.

"I get enough trouble from being headmaster and I don't need any more exploding letters accusing me of having the Ministry in my pocket," he answered.

"Since when did you care about what people think?" Everard asked, crossing his arms. "Since when did any headmaster..."

"Or headmistress..." Elizabeth Burke, a former headmistress, interrupted him, haughtily.

"Yes, thank you, Elizabeth..." he sighed. "Since when did we care about what people think of us as head of this school?" he asked.

"That's easy for you to say," Severus replied, "You don't have to deal with the consequences."

"Neither do you, you just ignore them. You burn those dreadful letters and you enjoy doing it. Don't lie," Dippet said. "You used the last ones for target practice. Jolly good fun that was, too," he snorted.

"At least meet with them and discuss it," Albus suggested, "It's a wonderful opportunity for you."

"I can't see any reason why they'd offer it to me," Severus replied, shaking his head. "Convicted criminals are forbidden by law to hold an official position in the Ministry...or at least someone with a public record of crimes that can't be covered up is banned from it."

"They didn't stop you from staying here as headmaster," Albus said.

"Not for lack of trying, as you well know," Severus replied, dryly.

"That's my point, Severus, it means you have the majority in your favour. There wasn't a year that went by when I didn't receive letters telling me just how unsuitable I was as headmaster, I'm sure you remember."

"But the Wizengamot, Albus," the younger wizard sighed, "I'm not political. I despise politics."

"Yes, I seem to recall you telling me that you hated children as well...and yet, here you are still," Albus smiled while Severus glared at him. "Besides, as an Advisor, you won't be expected to attend the Wizengamot every day. If they need you, they'll send for you," he added.

"So...I'm to be a puppet to the Ministry?" Severus sneered.

"No," Albus shook his head. "You'll quite possibly be the youngest wizard to ever have a seat on the Wizengamot and your insight will be considerably different to theirs. You could make some considerable changes...as you have done here."

"Every change I've made here has been met with astounding disapproval."

"Nevertheless, you have improved our educational system, however difficult it's been. I confess, many are changes that I myself should have made, but it becomes far too easy to see change as a thing to be avoided rather than tackled head on," he said, smiling at Severus. "But you never did shy away from a challenge, did you?" he asked.

As always, Severus turned away from Albus' praise and his twinkling eyes, not knowing what to say in return. He never did handle praise well, having never received very much of it as a child and the only praise he received as a young man was when he was doing something less than savoury.

"I can't do it," Severus said, still not looking at Albus' portrait. "The Wizengamot...the Ministry...it's too public. I'm not suited to the limelight. I don't need it and I didn't ask for it. All I asked for is for them to leave me be...and now this. It must be their idea of a belated April Fool's joke," he scoffed.

"I highly doubt that, my boy, and the Wizengamot is hardly public," the old headmaster replied.

"Public enough."

"And being headmaster of the best Wizarding school in the country isn't?" Dippet asked.

"He's got a point, you know," Elizabeth shrugged, elegantly and Severus glared at her in response.

"We could always ask Minerva for her opinion..." Albus began, smiling.

"Don't you dare," Severus said, quickly.

"I think I saw her prowling the second floor corridor," one of the portraits offered.

"Excellent," Albus clapped his hands together.

"No," Severus reiterated, sternly.

"Phineas, why don't you just..." Albus said.

"No!" Severus reiterated.

"Yes, I'll..." Phineas chuckled, standing up in his portrait and pointing across the room.

"One of these days Albus..." Severus grumbled.

"At least think about it, Severus."

"I did. For about two seconds. The answer is still no."

All Albus could do was let out a sigh but in the meantime, Phineas had vanished from his portrait. Several minites later, Minerva arrived and the discussion was repeated again.