Ok, before I post this part, I'm posting a timeline as to my ideas of when
things happened and how old people are. (I'm a little obsessed with being
consistent, so here's the timeline that I'm going by) Oh, and I just made
up Molly Weasley's maiden name.
1944- This story started/Minerva graduated
1945- Albus defeated Grindlwald, AD and MM become a couple
1946- Arthur Weasley Born
1947- Molly (Roberts) Weasley Born
1950- 5 years past/ Riddle annoys MM
1952- AD/MM get married
1955- The Maurders and Lilly Evans are all born
1957- Arthur Weasley starts Hogwarts
1958- Molly (Roberts) Weasley starts Hogwarts
1964- Arthur Weasley graduates
1965- Spring-Molly Graduates, Summer-Molly and Arthur get married
1966- Maurders and Lilly (Evans) Potter start Hogwarts/ Bill Weasley is born
1967- Charlie Weasley is born
1973- Maurders and Lilly Graduate
1974- Lilly and James get married
1976- Percy Weasley is born
1978- Fred and George Weasley are born
1980- Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Dudley Dursley are born
1981- Lilly and James Potter Killed/ Harry lives with Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia/ Sirius Black put in Azkaban and Peter thought dead
1991- Harry, Ron, and Hermione start Hogwarts
Part 11
1958- Hogwarts Hospital Wing
"WELL?!?!"
Poppy Pomfry sighed, shook her head and looked up, a little annoyed, at the older woman.
"I said one hour, has it been one hour?"
"Almost."
"Minerva, it's only been 15 minutes, and you have a class to teach anyway, so go, and stop worrying." Poppy said looking back down at the magazine she was trying to read.
Minerva sighed, "Fine. Oh, and just warning you now Poppy, Arthur Weasley will probably be in again later today."
"Yeah, I know, he's in EVERY Tuesday afternoon. Why is that again?"
Minerva grinned, "He seems to get distracted in Herbology all the time by a certain first year Gryffindor who has flying lessons right outside of the greenhouse."
"NO!" Poppy gasped, discarding the magazine and wanting to hear some gossip, "Little Arthur has a CRUSH? Do his parents know?"
"I don't think so, and you can't tell them! I know you're friends with his mother, but you CAN'T say anything. You know how she'd react."
"Yeah, she'd start making up the wedding invitations and a list of baby names." Poppy laughed and then stopped when she saw Minerva's serious expression. "Oh, Minerva, stop worrying, everything will be fine, now go!"
~~~~
Albus was sitting in Dippit's office, waiting for the headmaster to arrive.
"Ah, I see the Headmaster was going to inform you right away, Professor."
Albus turned around to see the board of Governors chairman, Gregory Sprouts, walk into the office.
"Mr. Sprouts, I didn't know you were going to be here. Is something wrong?" Albus asked, suddenly aware that the only times the chairman would come to the school is when there was something wrong.
"No, no. Just need to talk to you, that's all. Armando probably wanted to prepare you before I got here, but I see I've beaten him to it."
"You're here to talk to me? Why?"
"Gregory! You said you weren't going to be here for another hour!" Dippit said walking into the room.
"Finished work a little early, and a good thing too, you know you're not supposed to inform him before we officially approach him with the offer."
"Offer?" Albus asked, still not sure of what was going on, although he decided it was not bad.
"Yes, offer." Sprout said sitting down. "You might not be aware of this, but Armando's getting a little, how should I put this, OLD."
"Hey! I'm not that old." Armando said insulted.
"And he has informed the Board of Governors that he plans on retiring at the end of next year."
"Retiring?" Albus asked shocked, "Now why would you want to retire? Oh, does that mean that Professor Howell will become Headmaster?"
Professor Howell, the Astronomy Professor was the Deputy Headmaster, but was as old, if not older than Headmaster Dippit.
"Actually Professor," Sprout started, "Deputy Howell is planning on retiring THIS year. We, the Board of Governors, would like to extend the offer of next year's Deputy position, and the Headmaster position the year after that, to you."
"Me?" Albus asked, and then stayed silent, thinking to himself for a few seconds before Dippit started talking.
"The problem the Governors have come up with is who will take the Deputy position after you become Headmaster."
"What kind of problem?" Albus asked.
"Usually the Headmaster appoints the Deputy, and the Governors just have to approve it, however, the problem with this is...well, your 'relationship' with one of the teachers."
Realization dawned on Albus' face, "Ah, so you believe that I'd choose Minerva because she's my wife, over other, more qualified teachers."
"No, we're afraid you WON'T choose Minerva because you'd be too harsh on her and try not to play favorites so extremely that it would cloud your judgment."
"Wait, so you want Minerva to be Deputy Headmistress?"
"Truthfully? Yes. Although she hasn't been here as long as some of the other teachers have, she is more than qualified to accept the position, and with the way you both have been able to keep your private and professional lives separate, you two would obviously make the best team as Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress."
Albus smiled, "I would love to be Deputy Headmaster next year, and am honored to accept the position of Headmaster the year after that."
"Wonderful!"
"Great!"
"Now about Minerva.." Albus started.
"Oh, no." Sprout sighed, "Listen, here's the agreement," He said handing Albus a piece of parchment, "saying you'll accept the positions, and we can't take back our decision. The one for Minerva has already been drawn up as well, and I believe that she'll be coming here as soon as her next class is over."
Armando nodded in confirmation. "Which should be in a few minutes. I think it might be better to meet her in her classroom as soon as the class is over, that way we can talk to her as soon as possible."
"Agreed." Sprout said, "But you" He said pointing at Albus, "Are not coming, this is a private meeting and we want to know her initial reaction without your opinion put in first, then you two can talk it over after I've giving her the proposed contract."
Albus didn't say anything, Sprout was right, it was Minerva's decision to make, but this would also make things more complicated. Yes, he was Head of Gryffindor and had been there much longer than Minerva had, but this change would mean that he would now be in a superior position to her, and he wasn't sure what that would do to their personal or professional relationship.
"Fine, but please tell her that I'd like to speak with her as soon as you finish your meeting, about BOTH offers, to me and to her."
"We'll tell her, Albus, now we really should be heading there if we want to get there before she leaves." Armando said.
"Professor." Sprout said with a nod and handshake to Albus before leaving.
End of Part 11
First off, I'm Soooo sorry this is late, but I've been having real writer's block lately. I think you can tell, this is NOT my best work!
Second, if you didn't know what was going on between Minerva and Poppy, they were talking about a pregnancy test, but you won't find out whether it's positive or negative until the next chapter.
Third, I know that in the Lexicon timeline Albus doesn't become Headmaster until approx 1970, but I don't remember it saying that anywhere in the book, so I made it happen a little earlier, I hope no one minds. I'll try and get over my writers block and post a better chappy soon, but I can't make any promises. (Sorry)
1944- This story started/Minerva graduated
1945- Albus defeated Grindlwald, AD and MM become a couple
1946- Arthur Weasley Born
1947- Molly (Roberts) Weasley Born
1950- 5 years past/ Riddle annoys MM
1952- AD/MM get married
1955- The Maurders and Lilly Evans are all born
1957- Arthur Weasley starts Hogwarts
1958- Molly (Roberts) Weasley starts Hogwarts
1964- Arthur Weasley graduates
1965- Spring-Molly Graduates, Summer-Molly and Arthur get married
1966- Maurders and Lilly (Evans) Potter start Hogwarts/ Bill Weasley is born
1967- Charlie Weasley is born
1973- Maurders and Lilly Graduate
1974- Lilly and James get married
1976- Percy Weasley is born
1978- Fred and George Weasley are born
1980- Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Dudley Dursley are born
1981- Lilly and James Potter Killed/ Harry lives with Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia/ Sirius Black put in Azkaban and Peter thought dead
1991- Harry, Ron, and Hermione start Hogwarts
Part 11
1958- Hogwarts Hospital Wing
"WELL?!?!"
Poppy Pomfry sighed, shook her head and looked up, a little annoyed, at the older woman.
"I said one hour, has it been one hour?"
"Almost."
"Minerva, it's only been 15 minutes, and you have a class to teach anyway, so go, and stop worrying." Poppy said looking back down at the magazine she was trying to read.
Minerva sighed, "Fine. Oh, and just warning you now Poppy, Arthur Weasley will probably be in again later today."
"Yeah, I know, he's in EVERY Tuesday afternoon. Why is that again?"
Minerva grinned, "He seems to get distracted in Herbology all the time by a certain first year Gryffindor who has flying lessons right outside of the greenhouse."
"NO!" Poppy gasped, discarding the magazine and wanting to hear some gossip, "Little Arthur has a CRUSH? Do his parents know?"
"I don't think so, and you can't tell them! I know you're friends with his mother, but you CAN'T say anything. You know how she'd react."
"Yeah, she'd start making up the wedding invitations and a list of baby names." Poppy laughed and then stopped when she saw Minerva's serious expression. "Oh, Minerva, stop worrying, everything will be fine, now go!"
~~~~
Albus was sitting in Dippit's office, waiting for the headmaster to arrive.
"Ah, I see the Headmaster was going to inform you right away, Professor."
Albus turned around to see the board of Governors chairman, Gregory Sprouts, walk into the office.
"Mr. Sprouts, I didn't know you were going to be here. Is something wrong?" Albus asked, suddenly aware that the only times the chairman would come to the school is when there was something wrong.
"No, no. Just need to talk to you, that's all. Armando probably wanted to prepare you before I got here, but I see I've beaten him to it."
"You're here to talk to me? Why?"
"Gregory! You said you weren't going to be here for another hour!" Dippit said walking into the room.
"Finished work a little early, and a good thing too, you know you're not supposed to inform him before we officially approach him with the offer."
"Offer?" Albus asked, still not sure of what was going on, although he decided it was not bad.
"Yes, offer." Sprout said sitting down. "You might not be aware of this, but Armando's getting a little, how should I put this, OLD."
"Hey! I'm not that old." Armando said insulted.
"And he has informed the Board of Governors that he plans on retiring at the end of next year."
"Retiring?" Albus asked shocked, "Now why would you want to retire? Oh, does that mean that Professor Howell will become Headmaster?"
Professor Howell, the Astronomy Professor was the Deputy Headmaster, but was as old, if not older than Headmaster Dippit.
"Actually Professor," Sprout started, "Deputy Howell is planning on retiring THIS year. We, the Board of Governors, would like to extend the offer of next year's Deputy position, and the Headmaster position the year after that, to you."
"Me?" Albus asked, and then stayed silent, thinking to himself for a few seconds before Dippit started talking.
"The problem the Governors have come up with is who will take the Deputy position after you become Headmaster."
"What kind of problem?" Albus asked.
"Usually the Headmaster appoints the Deputy, and the Governors just have to approve it, however, the problem with this is...well, your 'relationship' with one of the teachers."
Realization dawned on Albus' face, "Ah, so you believe that I'd choose Minerva because she's my wife, over other, more qualified teachers."
"No, we're afraid you WON'T choose Minerva because you'd be too harsh on her and try not to play favorites so extremely that it would cloud your judgment."
"Wait, so you want Minerva to be Deputy Headmistress?"
"Truthfully? Yes. Although she hasn't been here as long as some of the other teachers have, she is more than qualified to accept the position, and with the way you both have been able to keep your private and professional lives separate, you two would obviously make the best team as Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress."
Albus smiled, "I would love to be Deputy Headmaster next year, and am honored to accept the position of Headmaster the year after that."
"Wonderful!"
"Great!"
"Now about Minerva.." Albus started.
"Oh, no." Sprout sighed, "Listen, here's the agreement," He said handing Albus a piece of parchment, "saying you'll accept the positions, and we can't take back our decision. The one for Minerva has already been drawn up as well, and I believe that she'll be coming here as soon as her next class is over."
Armando nodded in confirmation. "Which should be in a few minutes. I think it might be better to meet her in her classroom as soon as the class is over, that way we can talk to her as soon as possible."
"Agreed." Sprout said, "But you" He said pointing at Albus, "Are not coming, this is a private meeting and we want to know her initial reaction without your opinion put in first, then you two can talk it over after I've giving her the proposed contract."
Albus didn't say anything, Sprout was right, it was Minerva's decision to make, but this would also make things more complicated. Yes, he was Head of Gryffindor and had been there much longer than Minerva had, but this change would mean that he would now be in a superior position to her, and he wasn't sure what that would do to their personal or professional relationship.
"Fine, but please tell her that I'd like to speak with her as soon as you finish your meeting, about BOTH offers, to me and to her."
"We'll tell her, Albus, now we really should be heading there if we want to get there before she leaves." Armando said.
"Professor." Sprout said with a nod and handshake to Albus before leaving.
End of Part 11
First off, I'm Soooo sorry this is late, but I've been having real writer's block lately. I think you can tell, this is NOT my best work!
Second, if you didn't know what was going on between Minerva and Poppy, they were talking about a pregnancy test, but you won't find out whether it's positive or negative until the next chapter.
Third, I know that in the Lexicon timeline Albus doesn't become Headmaster until approx 1970, but I don't remember it saying that anywhere in the book, so I made it happen a little earlier, I hope no one minds. I'll try and get over my writers block and post a better chappy soon, but I can't make any promises. (Sorry)