Authors Note: Some of you are probably wondering what the pairings are going to be, to be honest I'm not too sure myself at the moment, but I do know a few of them; Harry/Minerva/Hermione/OC Animagus Basilisk/the Greengrass Sisters/OC which is being kept to myself unless you guess for yourself. They'll be many more, all well be powerful girls in their own right. They'll be some one night stands, nothing serious, just for fun.
Chapter Nine!
It was four o'clock and Minerva was waiting in the main Hogwarts staffroom for the other staff members to arrive after returning from Diagon Alley at noon. The trip to the alley was pleasant enough, she had followed around behind Harry after suggesting he buy some dress robes along with any other purchases he wanted. She watched as he had bought the suggested dress robes, normal robes for school and also some Muggle clothing. Among the Muggle clothing he got was a leather coat made from the hide of a Hungarian Horntail and a leather bra, curious at the purchase of the bra she asked him who if was for, getting the vague answer that she and his friends would find out soon enough, causing her to wonder what he was up to. It was in the Muggle clothing he left the shop wearing the clothes he purchased in that very store. To her surprise, when asked why he wasn't wearing robes, he explained that he didn't really like them and wouldn't wear them unless it was absolutely necessary in one of the most calm and logically worded arguments she'd been in in months. She found out that it was also his main point of complaint with the British Wizarding World; that it hadn't embraced the modern Muggle World at all. He thought because of this it was only going to be a matter of time until the British Magical World would be gone, as the Muggleborns were becoming more and more out of touch with the magical world and would leave to more modem countries, or simply take one look at the word and get back to their lives. As much as Minerva wanted to disagree with this she knew that it was true, she had seen more and more seventh year Muggleborns leave their world after graduation each year and with the Pureblood numbers declining within a generation or two there wouldn't be a British Wizarding World anymore.
As they were returning to Hogwarts he'd asked her why she'd suggested buying dress robes and, seeing no harm in telling him, as everybody would know soon, or already knew, she informed him that there was always a Yule Ball whenever the Triwizard Tournament was held. She was somewhat surprised that he didn't look worried, but then she supposed that this wasn't the same Harry Potter she was used. He was more confident and she made a note to keep a better eye on him.
Once she had returned she went and talked to a few students in all houses to see if what young Mr. Potter told her that morning about the classes and the professors were true. She didn't think that he was lying but if what she had planned was going to work she had to make sure his story was backed up by others, otherwise it would be the word of one mere student, even if he was The-Boy-Who-Lived, against several Professors, which wouldn't have enough weight to change things.
As she spoke to the students from each house about their classes, she soon realized that Harry was right in his assessment. Hogwarts didn't appear to be the best school anymore and it hurt her to think that she had allowed it to fall so far. It also clarified her resolve to do something about it, she was the deputy Headmistress after all, it couldn't be impossible for her to bring it up to a standard she would be happy with.
She had next gone to the heads of the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw houses, Pomona Sprout and Filius Flitwick to explain the situation Harry had detailed to her. What she had found out from taking to the other students and what she was planning to do about it. Shocked at the revelation of sub-standard teaching and what Albus Dumbledore had been doing to weaken the student population, they agreed with her that there was a lot within the school that needed to change and would back her up when called upon, so she had called a staff meeting knowing that every member of staff had to attend.
After a few more minutes of waiting, Bathsheba Babbling and Charity Burbage entered the staffroom, and when they were seated Bathsheba asked, "Minerva what is this all about?"
"All will be explained when everyone is here Bathsheba," Minerva said, "But I can tell you that things are going to change around here." And with that Bathsheba and Charity were left wondering what had happened to their colleague to have gotten her so worked up.
A few minutes later Pomona and Filius and entered the staffroom. Seeing Minerva already there they gave a nod in acknowledgement and sat down. Not long after that, Hagrid arrived and like Bathsheba and Charity asked what was going on, only to receive the same answer that Minerva had given Bathsheba. Like before, Minerva told him she would explain when everyone got there, and so he took a seat as well. Moody entered the room in his normal cautious manner; giving it a thorough once over before sitting down in his chair. Aurora Sinistra and Septima Vector entered next and seeing that the majority of the teacher were already there sat down quickly and waited patiently for everyone else to arrive. Cuthbert Binns arrived moments later and simply floated in and went to his chair as if nothing was going on. Sibyll Trelawney shuffled in twenty seconds later looking like she had one too many drinks. Minerva had to wonder why she hadn't done something about her before.
But before Sibyll could say anything Minerva said, "Sibyll I don't want to hear about you saying that you 'saw' that you had to be here or anything like that, this is a serious staff meeting and you'll behave yourself like a professional should. Now please sit down as we wait for Albus and Severus." With a huff Sibyll took a seat as they waited for Albus and Severus.
The staff at the meet were surprised at how Minerva acted towards Sibyll. It was no secret how Minerva felt about the school Seer but she had always put up with Sibyll's eccentricities. It left them wondering what had caused her to begin acting like a Deputy Headmistress should be acting.
Five minutes later Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore entered the silent staffroom. As they took their seats they could feel the air of tension and, without allowing it to show, Albus began to worry. Earlier that day some of the portraits had informed him of a meeting between Harry Potter and Minerva McGonagall, whilst this normally wouldn't be a cause of concern, Harry had apparently been looking healthier, taller and seemed to carry himself with more confidence. When he had heard this he began to worry, he needed Harry weak and meek so that he could fulfil his destiny and die so that Tom Riddle would become mortal once again. Once mortal again he would be able to step in and defeat Voldemort cementing his place in history and able to mould future generations on the right path. With Harry more confident it would be difficult to send him down a path that lead to his death and the longer he was alive, the more powerful Voldemort could get.
Separately Minerva talking to Harry or calling a staff meeting normally wouldn't be a problem, but together, on the same day, spelled trouble. He had managed to discover the majority of the conversation they had by talking to the portraits that they had passed, what he had been told had worried him because he didn't want Hogwarts becoming a premier place of learning that Harry longed for, purely due to the reason that the more magic they taught a witch or wizard, the greater the chance of them going dark or becoming a dark lord. He knew people wouldn't like the idea of limiting the magical education, so he had done it slowly, after all it was for the greater good of the British Wizarding world. He had also subtly encouraged Minerva to focus on her teaching position, as the more time she was teaching or helping students with transfiguration the less time she had to ensure the school was running as it should be.
So as he and Snape sat down in their chairs, Albus asked, "So Minerva, what have you called this meeting for?"
"I've called this meeting because this morning I was taking Mr. Potter to the Hospital Wing, because-" Minerva began, but she was interrupted by Severus, "What has his royal highness done this time?" He asked with a sneer.
"Severus, you're already on thin ice with me," Minerva said as she give him a stare that made her the most feared and respected professor amongst the Hogwarts staff, "You will talk about students civilly and with respect or you will have to find another job."
"He's just like his father," Severus said, not heeding Minerva's warning, "An attention seeking brat that causes nothing but trouble."
"Severus Snape." Minerva snapped, she didn't even need to raise her voice for every Professor in the room to freeze and stare at her. "If you can't keep your childless behaviour to yourself and act as the professional teacher you're meant to be, I will have no problem firing you. Mr. Potter isn't his father and has done nothing to warrant the kind of behaviour you're giving him. In fact, none of the other student I've talked to have either. So if you don't start acting like a professional you can start looking for a new job and just to make it clear that's you're official warning as required by the Hogwarts charter." Seeing that Severus was about to say something, most likely that Albus wouldn't allow it, she added, "Oh I know what you're thinking, Albus wouldn't allow me to fire you. Normally you might be right, but thanks to a very informative talk with Mr. Potter this morning I've been informed that, should three of the four Head of Houses agree with the Deputy Headmistress, they can over-ride the Headmaster's decision should his actions go against the best interest of the students. I looked this rule up not an hour ago and it's still an active rule. So, seeing as I'm a Head of Gryffindor, along with my station as the Deputy Headmistress, I just need Pomona and Filius to agree with me and you'll be fired. Knowing how you have treated their students, I know for a fact that they would more than happy to agree with me. So as long as you quit your childless behaviour and act like a professional that you're meant to be you'll be able to keep hold of your job a bit longer. The only reason I haven't already fired you is that it would take me a long time to find someone to take your place as a Potions Professor but make no mistake, one foot out of line and I'll have no choice, even if it mean that potions won't be taught until a replacement is found."
Pomona and Filius nodded, agreeing with Minerva's action while the rest of the staff watched in awe as their least liked colleague was in serious risk of getting thrown out on his ass. Dumbledore fought hard to keep a frown off of his face. He knew the rule well and had seriously thought of trying to removing it from the rule book, but he knew that he would have never gotten is past the board of governors without some serious concessions on his part, that at the time he hadn't wanted to make.
"Now, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted." Minerva said, giving Severus a icy glare, "I was talking to Mr. Potter as I was taking him to the Hospital Wing because of the sudden change he went through overnight that some of you might have noticed." Many of them nodded and a few of the younger professors, Aurora and Septima, gained a lustful look as they saw what the young Potter heir had to offer and they liked it but before they could think more about it, Minerva interjected as she looked at the two professors, "Now ladies, remember you are his professor and he is your student. So until he becomes of age, I would remind you to act like the professionals that you are." Then turning and looking to the rest of the professors she continued. "The reason that I took him to the Hospital Wing was because I found out that he had been taking potions over the summer given to him by a wizard call Patrick Footman. Concerned about an unknown wizard giving him potions to take I wanted Poppy to give his a once over to ensure what he'd been taking was what he'd was told. As it turned out there was no need for the concern as the potions he was given did exactly what Patrick Footman said they would; reverse any malnutrition he'd suffered over the years and bringing him to the peak of his physical health for his age. Poppy also checked for anything else untoward like Dark magic, poison, side effects, forms of control etc. and found none. I find it a bit shocking what an unknown wizard has done more to help a student's health than any of us did." She said giving a knowing look to Albus, causing him to fidget, as he didn't know what she knew, but he suspected that she knew enough.
"Anyway, on the way to the Hospital Wing, he pointed a few things out to me which I later confirmed by talking to other students." Minerva said, as she shook her head in shame as she remembered what the young Potter told her. "He pointed out that the school isn't as it used to be, by the standards of the classes AND the standards of the professors. He also pointed out that some of these problems can be placed at my feet, seeing that I had the power to stop some of what happened since I became the Deputy Headmistress."
"Because of this, I've decided I shall start acting like the Deputy Headmistress I should have been years ago. Some of the things that Mr. Potter pointed out will affect all of you. So today, depending on you all, there may be more than one person being fire today."
"Before I get to the Professors that are at risk, I'll tell you all which of you are doing your jobs correctly and have no need to worry," Minerva said. As she was listing off the Professors not at risk Albus was seething inside, she was about to undo what he and previous Headmasters before him had spent years slowly implementing. Sure he hadn't been making thing easier for the same reasons as the previous Headmasters, he didn't care that the Pureblood students were getting weaker and the Muggleborns stronger, nor did he care that it was the Pureblood students that were struggling with the harder classes before they were made easier or cut. All he cared about was that with less being taught the less chance there was of Dark Lords appearing and now he could do nothing as she started to improve the school with the help of Pomona and Filius.
So all Albus could do was listen to Minerva and hope that she didn't undo too much of his work, "Those that are not at risk of losing their jobs are Bathsheba, Septima, Aurora, Filius, Pomona and for now, Alastor. Although you're not at risk of losing your job some of the classes can be worked on, like your class Aurora. Muggles have found, from what I was told, new stars and other things, maybe by doing a bit of research with a few of your Muggleborn students about the advances in the Muggle World you can make your class better." Minerva recommended. Aurora nodded, she'd heard this too and had wanted to do exactly that but because Albus said that what was being taught right now was fine and no more advanced material was needed so she hadn't done anything. But now she could learn what she wanted to learn for a while and then eventually teach a class that the Muggleborns wouldn't have to hold back their disappointment at. She knew a few people she could talk to about this right away and could hardly contain her excitement.
Seeing that Bathsheba, Septima, Aurora, Filius, Pomona and Alastor were thinking about what she just told them, she went on to say, "Now onto the only Professor that's going certainly to be fired; Cuthbert, you put most of the students to sleep, and you normally only talk about Goblin Wars instead of talking about past Dark Lords and Ladies or other important events in Wizarding history. There is a Muggle saying that I happen to agree with, 'If you don't learn from your past, you are doomed to repeat it.' And it's something we, now more than ever, need to heed. How can we stop future Dark Witches and Wizards when we don't know how past mistakes created them, or the methods to defeat them? Cuthbert you can either stay here and haunt these halls or you can move on to your next great adventure. As for someone taking your place, I've got a few people to talk to over the weekend that would be willing to take over History of Magic but until they can get the books and classes planned out the lessons will be cancelled until they are ready."
"Thank you for allowing me to teach at the prestigious school." Cuthbert nodded, much the other Professors surprise. "I shall clean out my desk immediately." Despite his words the ghostly Professor stood up and only made it halfway to the doorway before his body faded completely.
"Now onto the people who are at risk, the first you all already know, is Severus." Minerva continued after a respectable moment of silence. She was giving the man a cold stare. "However, seeing that it will take some time to find another Potions Professor, Severus is on probation, should he put a foot line out of order I will have no choice but to fire him. You should also know Severus that from now on, all the points you give and remove will be under review. We will be also judging all the detentions you hand out for fairness before they are active."
"What!?" Severus shouted, he was not happy with this outcome. However after his initial outburst he kept his cool, as he knew that if he didn't, he would lose his job sooner. "How am I meant to do my job properly if my every action is under review?"
"It might be hard Severus," She admitted, "But you're the only one to blame for this. I looked in the book that records all the points and detentions and out of all the Professors you take the most points from all the Houses apart for your own, the same applies to detentions. The reasons for these punishments are ridiculous, like breathing too loudly, being a know it all, defending themselves from the unfair points removal, defending themselves from your own House when they try and sabotage another students potion, something that is incredibly dangerous and the mere thought of you letting them get away with is disgusting. So if you don't like this you have no one to blame but yourself and you don't like it, you can quit." Severus wisely kept quiet, as he knew he was on shaky ground with Minerva already and he didn't want to make it worse than it already was.
"Now, next at risk of losing their job if they don't change how they teach is Sibyll," Minerva said to no one's surprise. Albus was getting very worried, with Severus he could do something to help him, but in regards to Sibyll, he couldn't allow her to leave the castle alone. She had information about a prophecy relating to Harry and the Dark Lord, although she didn't actively remember it, it was deep within her memories. He wasn't sure how he could help Sibyll, he just hoped Minerva wouldn't fire her outright and allow her to make some sort of deal. "Many students complained how you're always predicting a student's death at least once every class, being drunk most of the time and misreading the signs. You put too much flash into the class and not enough solid material. It was opinion of not only me but of many of your students that are serious about Divination, that any gift they have is being smothered." Albus grew even more worried with every word but he barely held in his sigh of relief at her next proclamation. "Now normally I would see the class cancelled but seeing as there are so few who seem to actually have the Sight at any level I'll let you continue teaching it. As there are some who go to it to understand it better, just as there are some go to learn the basics to impress their friends. But for this to happens, you'll need to stop drinking, take the class more seriously and not over do with the flashiness. Have fun, yes, but don't overdo it so that people feel uneasy. Can you do that Sybill?"
Many of the staff thought that Minerva would have just cancelled the class, but they could understand her wanting to keep it going even though it was common knowledge she thought the class was rubbish. But to hear that Minerva would allow the class to continue, that was somewhat surprising, her conditions however were reasonable and not unrealistic. Not wanting to lose her job, seeing that she lived at Hogwarts and had nowhere else to go, Sybill said, "I'll do that Minerva, I'll see Poppy about hangover potions and ask for a few potions to help me." And with that Sybill left the further stunned office to go and see the school healer.
"Charity," Minerva said simply, the Muggle Studies Professor stiffening as a result, "I've talked to the Muggleborn students who take your class out of interest to how the Wizarding World sees the Muggle World and they were shocked at how far behind the Wizarding World think Muggles are. Muggle Studies is at least fifty to sixty years behind what the Muggle World is and because of this most of the Pureblood can't pronounce many Muggle items properly. To change this, I was thinking that you could spend a year or two with a Muggleborn family. I've talked to a few students parents and many of them would be willing to let you stay with them. During the time you'll be able to learn the basics of the Muggle World and teach it to the third to fifth year students with the sixth to seventh years being taught by a Muggleborn I'm going to call in to take your place while you're learning. To be honest with you, I think that a Muggleborn should teach Muggle Studies anyway seeing that they were brought up in that world and would know it better than any Pureblood, but seeing that you're a good teacher and I don't want to lose you I'm willing to do this. If you're not willing to do this, I'll have no choice but to give you your one month notice. Does that sound acceptable Charity?"
Charity gave an easy smile, glad she wasn't fired outright. "I think it will be a lovely experience, thank you for giving me a chance." "And lastly, you, Hagrid." Hagrid looked worried, he liked his job, and he was worried that he would lose it. "You're not at risk as such, you're good teacher with everything that you have been through, but what happened to you in your last class because of Mr. Malfoy-"
"Don't blame Draco for this fools mistakes, he was to-" Before Severus could finish what was most likely an insult to Hagrid Minerva interrupted him. "Be quiet Severus and do not interrupt me again. As for Malfoy being blameless, we both know it was his fault. From Hagrid's reports and from what the third year Gryffindor's students told me, Hagrid specifically told him NOT to insult the Hippogriff, as it would most likely attack him. But what does your foolish Godson do? He ignores the warning and insults the Hippogriff anyway so what does he expect? Back to the point I was trying to make; Hagrid, since that day most of the students think that your class is a joke and you've lost your confidence because of him. So if you're interested I was thinking that you could take the sixth and seventh year students and teach them what Mr. Potter referred to as only as your more exotic animals, whilst I have another professor take the third to fifth year students. As I said, you're a good teacher with everything that you've been through, but I'm thinking about getting this school back to at least half way to how it use to before Durmstrang and Beauxbatons get here on Halloween, as I for one don't want Hogwarts to look like it isn't at its best. If you're not willing to do this, I'll have you to go back full time Grounds Keeper. I don't want to do it, but I will if I have to if it means making Hogwarts the best again."
Hagrid burst into tears, the pride and conviction in Minerva's voice and his own inability to handle suspense becoming too much for him. Jumping out of his seat the large man hugged the Deputy Headmistress, thankfully restraint had become second nature and he didn't snap her spine as he gave her a great big bear hug. "I understand Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said happily, "I'll try not and let you down."
"I know you won't Hagrid," Minerva said with a smile, "but please let me go, you're very heavy." Hagrid put her down quickly.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore was staring at the broken remains of the majority of his plans for the future of the Wizarding World. The proud smiles on every one of the staff's faces, aside from his own and Severus', meant unless he wiped their minds completely of the past few days, something that would be pointless, as young Harry would likely start the chain of events again, no doubt becoming wary of losing his own memory and thus more cautious in the process, he could do nothing to stop this. He had no choice but to sit there smiling and hope he could salvage a faction of his goals.
"Now is there anything you would like to say or ask?" asked Minerva, in which she got replies of no's and shaken heads, "Okay then, one last thing before you all go down for dinner, and this concerns young Mr. Potter-" Severus scoffed at this, but quickly changed his attitude when Minerva said, "Are you trying to become unemployed sooner Severus? As I was saying, Mr. Potter has decided to take independent studies in Potions and History. I have checked to make sure that he can take independent studies and found that he can as long as he has reasonable reasons to do so, and after what I covered earlier about the classes you can all see that he does. But I'm hoping that since there's going to be a new professor teaching History, he will take the class instead of continuing to study independently."
Albus' worry increased another notch, his plans to keep Harry from learning too much about the past so that he wouldn't know what the last war was like, to keep him ignorant when it came to warfare and so easier to control and kill, were crumbling. But now he couldn't confiscate the books Harry acquired, as he planned to, as he could easily learn from the new professor that Minerva was going to get. However, that wasn't the worse of it all, no, it was Harry studying Potions independently that was a problem. He used Severus to get information from Harry's mind during the class. Nothing seemed to be going his way that day and he had a sinking feeling that meant it was just going to keep getting worse.
"Next I would like to inform you that Mr. Potter as decided to drop Divination, he doesn't see how it will help his future and he's had enough of Sybill predicting his death. Frankly, I think it's a very responsible decision." Noticing that Albus was going to say something, most likely about that Harry needed to have at least two electives, she went on to say, "Mr. Potter knows that he needs at least two electives, so he's going to take the third year test for Ancient Runes tomorrow and if he passes he will be allowed to join the class next week."
Albus felt the knot of worry grow further, Divination was the one class that he absolutely needed Harry to stay in because when he decided that the boy old enough to tell him about the prophecy, Harry would believe him easier if he was already familiar with Divinations. Things were getting worse for him by the minute, everything was going wrong and there was nothing he could do to alter it. It seemed that young Harry had found himself an ally in Minerva and because of this, he would need to be very careful as he started on new plans for the last Potter.
"Unless there's any other business I think we can end this meeting." Minerva said, "But I would like a few words with Severus, Filius, Pomona and Albus. There are a few other things I would like to discuss." Nobody spoke up, so the meeting ended and the rest of the professors left to go to the Great Hall for dinner.
Once all the professors apart from her fellow Head of House's and the Headmaster left she started speaking again, "Albus, I would like to inform you that if it wasn't for this stupid tournament I would use the power of the three Heads of Houses to remove you from your post."
"What do you mean my dear?" Albus asked, carefully keeping the worry out of his tone. He had to wonder what she knew, and how much. "I haven't the faintest idea what you would need to do such a thing for."
"Don't take me for a fool Albus," Minerva said darkly, "I can point out a few things from the last three years that could get you fired. Keeping the damn Stone in a school full of children was in itself utter lunacy, but leaving the school by using a broom instead of using the Floo, making it hard to contact you should something arises? I almost called St. Mungos to schedule a check up for you."
"You say that you didn't know that it was a Basilisk attacking the students, yet you had fifty years to check before the attacks restarted. If I find any evidence that you knew what was happening and allowed it to continue, you won't only be being fired; you'll be arrested."
"A year later you allowed the Dementors to be placed around the school," Before Albus could say anything, most likely an excuse of 'I tried.', she cut him off, "And don't tell me you didn't have the authority because we both know you do, you're the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. Black himself could have easily been caught if you simply placed a few warded traps. If Mr. Potter's suspicions are right, when you learnt the truth about him being innocent, as the Chief Warlock, you could have given him the trial that he never had and set him free. I don't know what you're playing at Albus but I warn you now, if I find out you're playing any games this year with either Potter or any of the students, I'll see you out of a job." She finished her rant. Albus was shocked as he sat there in his chair, although Minerva didn't know everything, she did know enough to hurt him if she told the right people. As he looked for help he saw that Severus remaining silent; not wanting to risk his own neck for anyone but himself. That was like Severus, always remaining silent, keeping his eyes and ears open to see what he could find out to use his advantage. Filius and Pomona were nodding in agreement with Minerva, and he could tell in their eyes they were thinking about why they hadn't seen this before and why they hadn't done anything about it. He now understood why Minerva wanted at least Filius and Pomona here, it was to make sure that he couldn't alter her memories of her suspicions towards him. Or maybe he was over thinking it and she simply brought them for support, but after decades of plotting conspiracy theories, paranoia had become the norm for him.
"I bid you goodnight Albus." Minerva announced after a moment of silence to let her words sink in, "Once I've had some dinner I'll be in my room sending out letters to ask for new professors, so I'll see you in the morning." And with that Minerva left the room, followed soon after by Severus, Filius and Pomona leaving Albus to think. He had to rethink his plans, he had to think up a new method to get Harry back under his control, find out who this Footman was who helped Harry to grow into exactly the kind of boy Albus didn't want him to be and lastly, how to get things back to the way he had them before. He just hoped it wasn't too late…
TO BE CONTINUED!