AN: This story has been updated since first published. Now that I am free from tiny wordcounts I am adding back in the opening Minerva-Snape dialogue that didn't make the original story.

Originally written for The Houses Competition - Year 7. Prompt - [Event] Staff Meeting.

"I thought that went rather well?" McGonagall murmured to Severus, accepting the glass of brandy he brought her.

"Hmm," McGonagall grinned at Severus's noncommittal groan. They had been working together long enough to understand each others begruding tolerance of staff meetings and the inordinate amount of admin that went along with teaching.

"As well as can be expected I suppose," Severus continued. "It would seem that our colleagues are overly excited about meeting the incoming celebrity."

"Severus," McGonagall warned. "Don't think I don't remember your feud with Potter and his gang. You cannot take a school day grudge out on a child."

Severus scowled at her but said nothing. Minerva sighed and took a deep drink from her glass. She did not relish the idea of Potters and Snapes trapped together in the walls of Hogwarts again but some things couldn't be helped.

"Besides," she continued, "he might be nothing like James. He never even knew him."

"If I could be so lucky…" Snape sneered beside her.

"He never knew Lily either."

She felt Severus stiffen beside her. It was a cruel comment and she knew it (she blamed it on the brandy). Severus said nothing, simply took a slow drink from his own glass.

"I will treat him with the respect he deserves," Severus said slowly. "As I do all my students, Minerva."

"That is all I ask for."

Minerva finished her drink, setting it down beside her. The staffroom was still filled with teachers milling and conversing about curriculum outlines and lesson activities, as well as the plans they had for the last few fleeting days of the holiday before the waterfall of chaos that came with the new term.

The staff meeting had been predictably boring albeit tediously necessary. Filled with endless conversations about policy and duties and house rules. It was only the promise of complimentary wine and brandy at the end of the day that encouraged the teachers to stay present and alert throughout proceedings.

Even Dumbledore rarely bothered to show up to the meetings at all, which made his arrival at the staffroom door all the more surprising.

"Good evening," he announced, gazing at the crowd of nattering teachers, "I'm not late then it appears." He conjured a large, plush armchair and sat himself down at the head of the staff table. The other teachers ushered to find their seats.

"I have one small matter to make you aware of before the start of term," Dumbledore began. "This year, Hogwarts has been charged with the protection of the Philosopher's Stone."

A ripple of shocked gasps flew around the room.

"The Philosopher's Stone?" Professor Flitwick stammered.

"I thought that was hidden? Why move it here—to a school of all places!" said McGonagall. Hogwarts was one of the safest places in Britain, that was true. But it was also a castle filled with children and underage magic. To bring in such a powerful object was just irresponsible.

"Mr Flamel and I have our reasons," Dumbledore replied, looking at her over the rim of his glasses. There was a twinkle in his eye, something McGonagall couldn't quite read, but it made a weight drop in the pit of her stomach.

"I am asking for your help in setting up protections." Dumbledore smiled as he looked around the staff table. "You are the finest educators in Britain. I feel confident that you can devise something secure. Hagrid has already offered a Cerberus to be placed on the third floor corridor."

There was another quiet intake of breaths, but Dumbledore continued undeterred. "We may have to block that corridor off this year. That would mean moving your classroom, Professor Vector. I'd rather not have any students getting mauled on their way to Arithmancy..."

The heavy silence in the staffroom broke with a crack as suddenly the teachers began talking in one unified roar.

"If there are no questions—"

"I have questions!" Madam Hooch called above the angry chattering. McGonagall glanced at Severus beside her, gauging his reaction. Snape was staring at Dumbledore in wide-eyed disbelief. Dumbledore simply raised his voice and continued on without pause.

"—I'll leave you to your planning. Good day." Without another word, Dumbledore rose from the chair and left.

"—Keep it in the school!?"

"—What does he mean 'have our reasons'?"

"—A CERBERUS!?"

Minerva sighed and raised her wand, letting off three short, sharp bangs. Instantly, the staffroom fell silent.

"I trust you are all finished behaving like a bumbling, babbling band of baboons," she said, using the stern voice generally reserved for students. She managed to hide the smug pride as her colleagues slumped down into their chairs as though they were still students themselves.

"He can't be serious, Minerva!" Professor Sinistra said, "Bringing an artifact like the Philosopher's Stone into a school? Why?"

"When has Albus Dumbledore ever explained his reasonings?" Severus drawled. "It's easier to nod and oblige the man rather than argue with his logic."

"But a Cerberus?" Professor Vector chimed in. "In the third floor corridor? It's hard enough to keep the students away from the forest!"

"I always knew Hagrid had an eccentric taste in pets, but this is ridiculous." Professor Kettleburn took a deep drag from his pipe. "Importing a Cerberus from Greece is highly illegal. Where did Hagrid even get it?."

"And what does he mean 'set up protections'? Who are we protecting it from? The students?"

"All I know," McGonagall said loudly, trying to be heard over the wave of chattering that had started up again, "is that Professor Dumbledore has set us a task, and we are obliged to fulfill it."

"However ridiculous it may be…" she heard Snape murmur into his glass.

McGonagall sighed and dismissed the staff meeting for the second time that evening. "Please report your security measures to me by Friday evening so we can have them established before the students arrive."

"Well, that certainly perked up the evening," Severus muttered as the rest of the staff shuffled their way out of the doors.

"Honestly, that man!" McGonagall hissed as Professor Flitwick appeared beside her.

"It's all a bit bizarre, isn't it?" Flitwick hissed back.

"You have to wonder why Dumbledore is insisting on storing it on the third floor corridor, so far from the rest of the school," Severus suggested with a wry smirk on his lips. "I know a few classmates of mine who would have found such an adventure irresistible."

"Severus," Minerva warned. "We have already had this conversation."

Severus scowled but did not press the matter. Minerva rubbed her temples. She was not relishing the thought of having a Potter and a Snape once again trapped within the walls of Hogwarts, especially when said Potter was now part Evans… She would have to keep an eye on Severus. He wore his heart more openly on his sleeve than even he realised.

Minerva turned to Flitwick, desperate to move the conversation to a safer topic. "Have you any idea on what we could use for safety measures, Filius?"

"Hmm? Oh, well. It depends on whom we're protecting it from? I can't imagine anyone would try to break into Hogwarts, let alone manage to get to the third floor undetected."

"So most likely, we're just protecting it from students?" McGonagall said.

"Any student would be killed by the Cerberus long before they got any further," Severus remarked, gathering up his notes. "And likely Dumbledore has created his own protection for the Stone. Our contributions would merely be precautionary."

"Very true," Flitwick muttered. "They'd be ornamental at best; just for show rather than actual use."

"All this effort for something ornamental," McGonagall huffed. "I mean, what is he expecting then? A giant chess set!?"

THC

House: Gryffindor

Position: Astronomy

Drabble