Author Note: Disclaimer, I do not own Harry Potter or the wizarding world, those rights belong to J.K Rowling. Please read, enjoy, and review.

Chapter 6

While Harry and Minerva are dealing with the goblins, Tilly is eagerly waiting for Albus to return to his office after a normal breakfast in the great hall. Tilly placed the envelope in the centre of his desk, right in front of his overpriced throne, 20 minutes later Albus skips into his office, happy as a clam that Harry is now under his thumb, not knowing what Minerva has done. As he sits down at his desk, he pops a few lemon drops into his mouth, and then notices the letter on his desk. "Hm, why would Minerva leave a letter on my desk, she normally just marches in here demanding that something needs to be done." So, he opens the letter and just about chokes on his candy. "THE NERVE OF HER! I SPENT SO MUCH TIME SWEET TALKING HER INTO TAKING ALL THE JOBS I PICKED HER FOR, AND WHAT DOES SHE DO?! LEAVES ME WITH 1 DAY TO FIND SOMEONE AS GULLIBLE AS HER TO FILL THESE POSITIONS?! IT CANNOT BE DONE, NO ONE IS AS GULLIBLE AS AN OLD HAG LIKE HER! WHAT DO I DO?!"

When Tilly heard that she almost slapped the headmaster, but Miss Kitty told her to stay to get his reaction. She decides to wait around a little longer to see what else she can overhear from Albus.

"I should probably call an emergency staff meeting with the rest of the staff, minus Binns, that old ghost won't even leave his classroom. I am so happy I used his salary to convince the board that we don't need to replace him, Lucius Malfoy's eyes positively lit up at the amount he received for that little push." Albus quickly pens a letter and uses the gemino spell to copy it. "Fawkes, can you flash these letters to the staff? I need them here ASAP, its an emergency." Fawkes reluctantly takes the letters and flashes out of the office. Fawkes is appalled that Albus would use him as a common mail owl. He is a phoenix, and after this latest outburst, he's not sure he wants to stay with the headmaster. Phoenixes are more complex than the headmaster thinks, and Fawkes has seen a lot of wonderful people pass through Hogwarts, as well as a lot of people with darkness in their hearts. Albus has never helped settle the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin if anything, he has fanned those flames. Fawkes has a decision to make, and Albus will never see it coming.

Half an hour later, Filius Flitwick, Horace Slughorn, Sybill Tyrelawny, Rolanda Hooch, Quirinus Quirrell, Silver Kettleburn, Ponoma Sprout, Rubeus Hagrid, and the current Defense against the Dark Arts professor, Jamie Marx are all crammed into the headmaster's office.

"What's wrong Albus, why did you summon all of us here, all your letter said was that it's an emergency, what can be more important than us grading the student's homework and polishing our lesson plans? Flitwick asks.

"Minerva has taken a leave of absence, effective immediately. We need to find someone who can fulfill her duties until she returns." Albus calmly explains, happy he drank a calming draught shortly before the staff arrived. "Anyone have any ideas?"

"What about Ted Tonks? He was gifted in transfiguration back in his day, and he would be a great head of house, he's tough but fair, and approachable, which is essential for the first years." Ponoma pipes up.

Albus looks thoughtful, although she made a good point, Ted was also a lawyer and wouldn't be swayed easily. Before Albus can say anything, Filius pipes up,

"Why did Minerva take a leave of absence? I hope its nothing too serious."

"Minerva said that her brother and her sister-in-law were in an accident last night and until they recover, she must take care of her niece." Albus decided to give them this tidbit of truth. "However, I don't think Ted will have time to take on the Transfiguration post, didn't he just start a new job at a law firm somewhere?"

"He did, but I heard its only a part time job now, so if he can take the job of the transfiguration professor, we can find someone else to cover the deputy job and head of house. Any suggestions?" Filius explains. Truthfully, Filius doesn't think that Minerva's telling the whole truth. With him being part goblin, he can spot her house elf Tilly hiding invisibly in the corner of the room but doesn't say anything since he knows Minerva has a good reason for this, just not the reason she gave Albus.

"I will send an owl to Ted after the meeting about the post, now what do we do about the deputyship and head of house? There isn't enough work for them to be full time jobs." Albus starts to explain, but surprisingly Horace pipes up,

"That's hogwash Albus, I have had tea with Minerva once a month just to try and help get her stress level down! She is drowning in so much paperwork between the three jobs that she has started sprouting grey hairs! She is much too young to be having grey hairs! Only my opinion, feel free to disagree." He says once he sees half the staff glaring at him, but eventually agrees with old Horace. Also Albus, since you have called this meeting, I find this to be the perfect opportunity to hand in my letter of resignation, effective at the end of the school year. I'm getting too old to keep up with these kids, you need to get some fresh blood into the teaching staff, and by that, I mean fresher than Cuthbert monologuing his students to sleep every class. Back to the matter at hand, why not offer his wife Andromeda the deputy post and head of house position? I believe she will be able to handle the paperwork, after all, she worked at St. Mungo's as a Healer until she gave birth to her daughter. I know her daughter is now here as a student, but I think it would be a great way to celebrate the end of the war."

Albus sighs and reluctantly takes Horace's resignation. At least he has until June to start looking for a new potions' professor and decides that for now Ted and Andromeda will have to do until he can find someone more tuned to his way of thinking.

"I will send the letters once we adjourn this meeting. Now, any more surprises for me today, or can we go back to our normal jobs?" Albus relents.

The staff all answer in the negative and begin to leave the headmaster's office. Once they have all left, Albus unlocks the bottom left hand drawer of his desk, and takes a large gulp of firewhiskey straight out of the bottle that he discreetly keeps there. Once a quarter of the bottle has passed his lips, he pens two separate letters to Ted and Andromeda Tonks.

"Dear Theodore Tonks,

I am writing to you today to offer you the temporary post of the Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If you decide to accept the post, I will need your owl by tomorrow morning and you to be at the school no later than 5:00 tomorrow afternoon so I can introduce you to the students. Your contract will expire at the end of this school year unless our current professor feels the need to extend her leave of absence.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"

"Dear Andromeda Tonks,

I am writing to you today to offer you the temporary post of Deputy headmistress and Head of Gryffindor house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If you decide to accept the posts, I will need your owl by tomorrow morning, and you need to be at the school no later by 5:00 tomorrow afternoon so I can introduce you and the new Transfiguration professor to the staff. Your contract will expire at the end of this school year unless our current professor decides to extend her leave of absence.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Fawkes, I need you to take these letters to the Tonks residence pronto. Then come right back! I'll feed you later." Albus watches Fawkes flame out of the office, and he goes back to his whiskey, not noticing the house elf silently pop out of the office.