Disclaimer - see part 1.
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Wizards Honour
Part 19
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"My own way," Snape pondered silently. He sipped tea from the china teacup. "This will take some thought and planning."
Dumbledore watched his protege. Amusement bubbled through the Headmaster as he observed the younger man's cool, controlled expression.
Snape's expression reminded Dumbledore of when he had first discovered that his mercurial Potions Master liked everything in his life to be neat, organised, controlled and behaving exactly as he had planned. From that moment on, the younger man's behaviour had become almost transparent. Especially transparent, Dumbledore discovered, when Snape was confronted by chaos.
Chaos had sent Snape running from the death eaters, frustrated him as a teacher, caused him to lose control of his icy facade when his world was turned upside down by the events after the Triwizard Cup, made him scream at Sirius king-of-chaos Black, and, was confusing him now. Albus knew that if anything would defeat Snape's refusal to express his emotions it was the chaos of love, especially if Albus had anything to do with it.
Not that it hadn't taken Snape a while to get around to this point in his life.
Albus could not believe two people as intelligent as Snape and Sinistra could be so senseless. For Merlin's Sake, he'd chosen Sinistra three years ago from a list of fully qualified Astronomers, all of them quite capable of teaching at Hogwarts. It had taken Severus three darn years to notice the other Slytherin teacher was a female who was younger than him, single, understood his macabre sense of humour, and had more things in common with him than not. What more did the man need? An instruction manual?
Albus recalled the 'Witches Weekly' Severus had mentioned and bit back a laugh. Galloping Griffins, it appeared that Snape did need an instruction manual.
"Severus," Albus said quietly, after he had composed his thoughts and controlled his mischievous sense of humour. "Have you considered that courtship is mixing two unidentified potions?"
"What do you mean?" The Potions Professor leant forward in his chair and listened intently.
"Well," said the Headmaster as he improvised madly, "With an unmarked potion you can usually identify the basic ingredients by observation. It is similar with a woman, for example you can tell at a glance that Professor McGonagall is a very different person to Madam Pomfrey even though they are of similar ages and general appearance."
"With respect, Albus, I do not see how this aids me."
"Think, Severus. Minerva McGonagall has a strict but fair manner, is known for being a little abrupt at times and can be overly self-critical. While Poppy Pomfrey is strict, warm and sometimes quite biased." Dumbledore smiled.
"Really?" Snape smirked at the dreamy expression on Albus' face.
"Yes, well," Dumbledore blushed slightly, and said quickly, "as I was saying, confronted with another personality, say Hagrid, they behave quite differently."
"Yes, but how -."
"Oh for Merlin's sake, Severus, stop being obtuse. You are a potion that can react badly to wolfsbane while Aurora is a potion containing a small amount of wolfsbane. The only way to mix you is to find the correct balance in the mixture, the right cauldron, a third potion you may require to make the mixture work, and the right temperature. Adding your 'Witches Weekly' advice to the mix is like handing the two potions to a First Year student and standing back."
"I see." Snape said coolly. He held back from asking 'so why didn't you just say you're as inept as Neville Longbottom' and added, dryly, "So that's my way."
~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, half an hour before breakfast, all the Hogwarts' Teachers filed into the Teacher's Meeting Room. The sounds of scraping chairs and muffled yawns mingled with a light murmur of conversation. The voices became louder when the Hogwarts ghosts entered the room.
Even Sinistra, who was fighting to stay awake on double strength coffee and barely an hour's sleep, woke up when the Bloody Baron wafted through her arm.
"Thank you for coming to this extraordinary meeting." Headmaster Dumbledore's voice echoed around the room even though he spoke no louder than normal. "I know it is early and you all have much to do today, so I shall keep this brief."
The conversation bubbled up again and Dumbledore raised his hand for silence.
"I shall say this only once." Dumbledore looked around at the people in the room. "The childish and unprofessional behaviour that has been occurring amongst the teachers and the ghosts in this school shall stop now. I want no more gambling by anyone on Hogwarts grounds. That includes gambling by another name or in another colour ink or any other hair-splitting excuse you can think up, Alastor."
Moody glared sulkily at Dumbledore and viciously at Snape and Sinistra.
"Behaviour like that shall also not continue, Alastor." Dumbledore continued. He ignored the melodramatic expression of hurt on Moody's face and said firmly, "I want everyone to understand what I am saying. There will be no snide remarks about the personal lives of any Hogwarts teachers. It is difficult enough to fight Voldemort," Dumbledore ignored the winces by some of the teachers to 'the name', "without my teachers ripping themselves apart as well."
Some of the teachers were beginning to look rather guilty. Hooch and Hagrid, who had kept out of the gambling, were nodding their agreement.
"There will be no more practical jokes of a malicious or unprofessional nature nor will there be a Machiavellian plots. I especially refer to our non-corporeal inhabitants who have been behaving most irresponsibly." Dumbledore stared at the Bloody Baron who raised an eyebrow at him.
"I expect a lot more honesty and teamwork from the staff of this school. Bickering teachers do not make good mentors for their students. I do not want to hear any blaming or sniping from anyone on the faculty, whether you were involved in the incidents or not. That includes the Slytherin teachers. Am I understood?" Albus looked at his staff members who nodded like a class of First Years' caught eating sugar quills before dinner.
"This situation is my fault as much as anyone else's. It should have been stopped long ago. It will stop now." Albus stared at the occupants of the room most of whom stared guiltily back at him.
"One last thing. Creative interpretation of what I have said is unacceptable. A betting slate is a betting slate no matter what you call it or how it's recorded, Alastor. A plot is a plot Baron no matter who is behind it or how it works."
"Now that the unpleasantness is over," Albus smiled at his staff, "I think it's time for breakfast."
The large black dog that had been sitting just inside the Teacher's Room door, slipped out of the room and into the wide hallway.
"Somedays," thought Snuffles, "being alive and not a Hogwarts staff member was a very good thing."
"And just where do you think you're going?"
Snuffles spun around at the sound of the all too familiar voice. Remus Lupin was standing in the middle of the hallway.
"Don't give me that I'm-an-innocent-puppy look." Lupin said firmly. "The students have been back for a week and you're still here. Which means either, you are very stupid and you can't count the days of the week or you're taking advantage of a friend who had to deal with a full moon over New Year's." Remus waved his wand and a dog collar appeared around Snuffles neck. Another wave of the wand and a lead was added.
"Whatever the reason," Remus continued his quiet nag, "your fun is up."
Snuffles sighed dramatically as Remus led him away.
To be continued
Author's Notes -
//Thump// That was me fainting after receiving 200 comments. All I can say is Thank You. I don't feel worthy of your attention but I do appreciate all of it.
Please forgive me for not thanking all of you by name but I'd be bound to miss someone by accident and I don't want to do that.
Re this part - I've made the assumption that Sinistra started working at Hogwarts in book 2, when Harry and Ron missed the sorting ceremony. Sinistra isn't mentioned by name until book 3 or 4. It also explains why she's quite young for a Hogwarts teacher in this story.
As to specific comments -
The Hinkypunks undies were originally going to belong to Voldemort but I realised the likelihood of Snape discussing Voldie's underpants with Sinistra was tiny. So the undies moved to Luci-baby Malfoy :)
Although the idea of Voldemort wearing novelty underpants and being caught by the Death Eaters still has me giggling.
"Wormtail, I told you to buy only the black ones with the little glowing dark marks! I never want Hinkypunks again, you cretin!"
"But you bought them yourself," whispered Wormtail rebelliously. :)
Accio Cutesy ~ haven't you noticed that very proper and strict people are often the most mischievous drunks? I think McGonagall would be a hysterical drunk. :)
Polgara ~ 'That's torn it' or 'that has torn it' is a very old English expression for the irreversible end of something.
---------------
Wizards Honour
Part 19
---------------
"My own way," Snape pondered silently. He sipped tea from the china teacup. "This will take some thought and planning."
Dumbledore watched his protege. Amusement bubbled through the Headmaster as he observed the younger man's cool, controlled expression.
Snape's expression reminded Dumbledore of when he had first discovered that his mercurial Potions Master liked everything in his life to be neat, organised, controlled and behaving exactly as he had planned. From that moment on, the younger man's behaviour had become almost transparent. Especially transparent, Dumbledore discovered, when Snape was confronted by chaos.
Chaos had sent Snape running from the death eaters, frustrated him as a teacher, caused him to lose control of his icy facade when his world was turned upside down by the events after the Triwizard Cup, made him scream at Sirius king-of-chaos Black, and, was confusing him now. Albus knew that if anything would defeat Snape's refusal to express his emotions it was the chaos of love, especially if Albus had anything to do with it.
Not that it hadn't taken Snape a while to get around to this point in his life.
Albus could not believe two people as intelligent as Snape and Sinistra could be so senseless. For Merlin's Sake, he'd chosen Sinistra three years ago from a list of fully qualified Astronomers, all of them quite capable of teaching at Hogwarts. It had taken Severus three darn years to notice the other Slytherin teacher was a female who was younger than him, single, understood his macabre sense of humour, and had more things in common with him than not. What more did the man need? An instruction manual?
Albus recalled the 'Witches Weekly' Severus had mentioned and bit back a laugh. Galloping Griffins, it appeared that Snape did need an instruction manual.
"Severus," Albus said quietly, after he had composed his thoughts and controlled his mischievous sense of humour. "Have you considered that courtship is mixing two unidentified potions?"
"What do you mean?" The Potions Professor leant forward in his chair and listened intently.
"Well," said the Headmaster as he improvised madly, "With an unmarked potion you can usually identify the basic ingredients by observation. It is similar with a woman, for example you can tell at a glance that Professor McGonagall is a very different person to Madam Pomfrey even though they are of similar ages and general appearance."
"With respect, Albus, I do not see how this aids me."
"Think, Severus. Minerva McGonagall has a strict but fair manner, is known for being a little abrupt at times and can be overly self-critical. While Poppy Pomfrey is strict, warm and sometimes quite biased." Dumbledore smiled.
"Really?" Snape smirked at the dreamy expression on Albus' face.
"Yes, well," Dumbledore blushed slightly, and said quickly, "as I was saying, confronted with another personality, say Hagrid, they behave quite differently."
"Yes, but how -."
"Oh for Merlin's sake, Severus, stop being obtuse. You are a potion that can react badly to wolfsbane while Aurora is a potion containing a small amount of wolfsbane. The only way to mix you is to find the correct balance in the mixture, the right cauldron, a third potion you may require to make the mixture work, and the right temperature. Adding your 'Witches Weekly' advice to the mix is like handing the two potions to a First Year student and standing back."
"I see." Snape said coolly. He held back from asking 'so why didn't you just say you're as inept as Neville Longbottom' and added, dryly, "So that's my way."
~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, half an hour before breakfast, all the Hogwarts' Teachers filed into the Teacher's Meeting Room. The sounds of scraping chairs and muffled yawns mingled with a light murmur of conversation. The voices became louder when the Hogwarts ghosts entered the room.
Even Sinistra, who was fighting to stay awake on double strength coffee and barely an hour's sleep, woke up when the Bloody Baron wafted through her arm.
"Thank you for coming to this extraordinary meeting." Headmaster Dumbledore's voice echoed around the room even though he spoke no louder than normal. "I know it is early and you all have much to do today, so I shall keep this brief."
The conversation bubbled up again and Dumbledore raised his hand for silence.
"I shall say this only once." Dumbledore looked around at the people in the room. "The childish and unprofessional behaviour that has been occurring amongst the teachers and the ghosts in this school shall stop now. I want no more gambling by anyone on Hogwarts grounds. That includes gambling by another name or in another colour ink or any other hair-splitting excuse you can think up, Alastor."
Moody glared sulkily at Dumbledore and viciously at Snape and Sinistra.
"Behaviour like that shall also not continue, Alastor." Dumbledore continued. He ignored the melodramatic expression of hurt on Moody's face and said firmly, "I want everyone to understand what I am saying. There will be no snide remarks about the personal lives of any Hogwarts teachers. It is difficult enough to fight Voldemort," Dumbledore ignored the winces by some of the teachers to 'the name', "without my teachers ripping themselves apart as well."
Some of the teachers were beginning to look rather guilty. Hooch and Hagrid, who had kept out of the gambling, were nodding their agreement.
"There will be no more practical jokes of a malicious or unprofessional nature nor will there be a Machiavellian plots. I especially refer to our non-corporeal inhabitants who have been behaving most irresponsibly." Dumbledore stared at the Bloody Baron who raised an eyebrow at him.
"I expect a lot more honesty and teamwork from the staff of this school. Bickering teachers do not make good mentors for their students. I do not want to hear any blaming or sniping from anyone on the faculty, whether you were involved in the incidents or not. That includes the Slytherin teachers. Am I understood?" Albus looked at his staff members who nodded like a class of First Years' caught eating sugar quills before dinner.
"This situation is my fault as much as anyone else's. It should have been stopped long ago. It will stop now." Albus stared at the occupants of the room most of whom stared guiltily back at him.
"One last thing. Creative interpretation of what I have said is unacceptable. A betting slate is a betting slate no matter what you call it or how it's recorded, Alastor. A plot is a plot Baron no matter who is behind it or how it works."
"Now that the unpleasantness is over," Albus smiled at his staff, "I think it's time for breakfast."
The large black dog that had been sitting just inside the Teacher's Room door, slipped out of the room and into the wide hallway.
"Somedays," thought Snuffles, "being alive and not a Hogwarts staff member was a very good thing."
"And just where do you think you're going?"
Snuffles spun around at the sound of the all too familiar voice. Remus Lupin was standing in the middle of the hallway.
"Don't give me that I'm-an-innocent-puppy look." Lupin said firmly. "The students have been back for a week and you're still here. Which means either, you are very stupid and you can't count the days of the week or you're taking advantage of a friend who had to deal with a full moon over New Year's." Remus waved his wand and a dog collar appeared around Snuffles neck. Another wave of the wand and a lead was added.
"Whatever the reason," Remus continued his quiet nag, "your fun is up."
Snuffles sighed dramatically as Remus led him away.
To be continued
Author's Notes -
//Thump// That was me fainting after receiving 200 comments. All I can say is Thank You. I don't feel worthy of your attention but I do appreciate all of it.
Please forgive me for not thanking all of you by name but I'd be bound to miss someone by accident and I don't want to do that.
Re this part - I've made the assumption that Sinistra started working at Hogwarts in book 2, when Harry and Ron missed the sorting ceremony. Sinistra isn't mentioned by name until book 3 or 4. It also explains why she's quite young for a Hogwarts teacher in this story.
As to specific comments -
The Hinkypunks undies were originally going to belong to Voldemort but I realised the likelihood of Snape discussing Voldie's underpants with Sinistra was tiny. So the undies moved to Luci-baby Malfoy :)
Although the idea of Voldemort wearing novelty underpants and being caught by the Death Eaters still has me giggling.
"Wormtail, I told you to buy only the black ones with the little glowing dark marks! I never want Hinkypunks again, you cretin!"
"But you bought them yourself," whispered Wormtail rebelliously. :)
Accio Cutesy ~ haven't you noticed that very proper and strict people are often the most mischievous drunks? I think McGonagall would be a hysterical drunk. :)
Polgara ~ 'That's torn it' or 'that has torn it' is a very old English expression for the irreversible end of something.