Chapter 4: Sorting the Students
The first of September arrived more quickly than either Albus or Minerva could ever remember it doing in the past and with it came the students. The rest of the staff had trickled in over the last week of the summer holidays and Albus held the final staff meeting over lunch on the first. He informed everyone of the unusual circumstances concerning incoming student Remus Lupin and told them that any absences occurring near the full moon were to be excused; the boy knew he would be responsible for his work when the transformation was over. A few people expressed concern upon hearing that there would be a werewolf in their midst for seven years, but after hearing the plans that Albus and Minerva had made they decided to trust their new headmaster's instincts.
After lunch, Albus and Minerva each had a speech to prepare. They traveled back to the headmaster's office to work together. Albus showed Minerva the welcome speech he used to give the first years when he was deputy headmaster and she made a few modifications to it so that it suited her own style. The short welcome was quickly memorized and Minerva set herself to the task of helping Albus plan his first official address of the school as headmaster. To her surprise, he was nervous about this particular part of his new duties.
"Albus, you've made hundreds of speeches, maybe thousands, in your life. Why should this one be any different?" she asked with slight amusement.
"I just want it to be perfect," he tried to explain. "Unlike adults, children really pay attention to your words, they consider them as truth. I want them to know that I'm still their friend, but also to make it clear that some things may be different in the future. I need just the right words." Albus stopped talking and looked down at his speech with an expression of disgust and stress.
Minerva took pity on her friend and walked around the desk to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Albus," she waited until he looked up at her to continue, "whatever you say will be fine. All of these children trust you, even the ones who haven't met you yet. And no matter what you think, two weeks from now most of them won't remember a single word that you say tonight. Just keep it short, make the introductions, and say how happy you are to be their headmaster now. Then let them eat."
Albus smiled at her last sentence, thinking back on the feasts when previous headmasters had spoken for too long before beginning the actual feast and even the staff had trouble paying attention as their stomachs protested. "Thank you, my dear," he said after a moment. "You always seem to have the most logical answers to my ridiculous problems. I think you understand better than I do why I worry."
"I've known you a long time, Albus," she answered quietly.
"That you have, Minerva. That you have," he said softly as he turned his attention back to the half written speech on his desk.
Several hours later the staff of Hogwarts, all in their finest robes, was assembled in the Great Hall awaiting the arrival of the students. As the first of the older students began arriving and sorting themselves out by house the teachers began taking their seats along the head table at the top of the hall. Minerva rose from her seat beside Albus and went to wait in the entrance hall for Hagrid to escort the first years into the castle. The journey across the lake took longer than the thestral drawn carriages used for the second through seventh years, but it afforded the new pupils a breathtaking view of the castle at night and gave everyone time to prepare for their arrival. By the time the first years arrived the older students would be seated and orderly.
Minerva paced across the flagged stone floor as she waited and then finally there was the deep resounding knock upon the huge oak doors. Taking a deep breath and smoothing the skirt of her robes, she strode to the doors and opened them.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.
"Thank you, Hagrid," she answered. "Follow me please," she said to the students, leading the way across the entrance hall to a small chamber across from the Great Hall. There, Minerva made her brief welcoming address, outlining the four houses and the points system, before leaving them to insure that everyone was ready in the hall.
Peeking in the staff entrance at the side of the Great Hall, Minerva could see that everyone was more or less seated. She caught Albus' eye and he nodded that they were ready, giving her a small wink and a smile. Returning the smile briefly, Minerva left to collect the first years. She couldn't help smiling on the inside when she saw how nervous they all looked and how small. Did the new students always seem so young? Minerva couldn't remember.
The sorting hat thrilled them all with its latest song and was rewarded with hearty applause and then the sorting began. Minerva read through the names, paying close attention to the students sorted into Gryffindor and trying to remember if she had taught or attended school with any of their family members. She was surprised when Sirius Black became the first of her new students; every member of the Black family had been in Slytherin for as long as anyone could remember. They were an old pure blood family who put much emphasis on said purity. Shortly following him was Amanda Brown, her older brother was a fourth year Gryffindor; Lily Evans, whom Minerva knew was Muggle born; Alice Kinsella, whom Minerva knew nothing about; Frank Longbottom, whose mother had been a few years ahead of Minerva in school; Remus Lupin, the young werewolf; Peter Pettigrew, whose family had a long history of being in Gryffindor; and James Potter, whose father Minerva's younger sister had once had a tremendous crush on. They looked a good group, she decided, hoping they would do her house proud in the coming years.
As Minerva took the sorting hat and the stool out of the Great Hall and back to his office, Albus stood to begin his speech. "Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts," he began. "As most of you know, Professor Dippet retired as headmaster at the end of the last year and I was chosen as his successor. I am very pleased to be your new headmaster and I hope that I will live up to all your expectations. There have been a few other changes this year as well. Professor McGonagall has been selected as deputy headmistress and will be taking over my duties as head of Gryffindor." Minerva returned just in time to acknowledge the applause from the Gryffindor table with a brief nod as she took her seat.
Albus glanced down at her and continued, "Also, Professor Sinistra is joining us as our new Astronomy teacher and taking over the Defense against the Dark Arts classes from me will be Professor Damascus." Each of the new professors stood in turn to acknowledge the polite applause from the students and other staff. "No doubt you will notice a few changes over the year in the way things are run," Albus continued. "With every new headmaster or mistress Hogwarts has grown and changed to become an even better school and I only hope that with Professor McGonagall's help and your cooperation I can continue the trend. Now, before I babble on too long, I know you are all hungry so let us begin our feast."
With a single clap of Albus' hands the plates on every table were suddenly filled with every kind of food a person could ever want. The new students were amazed by the amount of food as well as its sudden magical appearance and they took a moment to gawk at the display while the older students began piling their plates. Chatter broke out all across the hall as everyone caught up with their friends and began speculation about the new teachers.
Albus turned to Minerva with a smile, "So, what do you think of your new Gryffindors? They'll be the first to know only you as head of house."
"I know," she said, "I've thought of that. The rest of the lot will be continuously comparing me to you I've no doubt. This year's group looks good. I was surprised by the Black boy, though. Has there ever been a Black before him who didn't go to Slytherin?"
"Not to my knowledge," Albus agreed, "but you know you should never judge a child by his family. If the sorting hat put young Mr. Black in Gryffindor then it is there that he belongs. There must be something about him that sets him apart from his family, in my experience those are the students who will make you the most proud one day." He grinned, "I remember a particular Gryffindor who was the first in her family not to go to Ravenclaw. For years everyone wondered why she had not gone to the house known for their intelligence, because she was near the head of every class, and then a war started and she proved for the first of many times that she was indeed every inch a Gryffindor. I, of course, had seen it all along in the way she stood up to her fellow students and even the occasional professor in order to right a wrong."
Minerva blushed as soon as she realized he was talking about her and then nodded shyly when he finished. "Indeed," she said before changing the subject back to the current students. "Well, I'll be looking forward to watching this group grow up. They really will be the first Gyrffindors I can think of as mine, since you started the others on their journey. I hope I'll live up to you as head of house."
"I've no doubt you will surpass me," Albus countered with a chuckle. "They'll love you."
"I don't know about that, but I do hope they at least won't wish for a different head of house," she answered.
When the feast was over, Albus escorted Minerva back to her rooms in Gryffindor Tower. "I can't believe these are the same rooms I lived in for so long," he said as they entered. "You've made them look so completely different."
She gave a short laugh, "Yes, well, our tastes are quite different, aren't they? How you could have lived in that jumble of colors for all those years is beyond me. I used to get a headache every time I visited you."
"You did not," he countered. "And there's nothing wrong with my taste." Albus adopted a hurt little boy look that only served to make Minerva laugh again, though she did apologize.
They settled onto the couch for a cup of tea and just enjoyed the companionable silence after the chaos of the students and the noise of the feast. Albus placed his empty cup on the coffee table a while later and turned to Minerva, "Well, my dear, another year has begun. Get some sleep now while you can, if I know you two weeks from now you'll be staying up half the night working."
He stood to go and Minerva joined him, walking him to the door. "You need a good night's sleep as well, Headmaster. I'll see you at breakfast."
"Good night, Minerva, sleep well," Albus brought her hand to his mouth for a brief kiss before departing in the direction of his own rooms. He fell asleep that night thinking about what the year might bring.
Minerva sat in the teacher's box nervous about the first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw. She wanted her young cubs to win the game so badly; besides winning the house cup Minerva could not think of anything sweeter for her first year as the distinguished house's head than winning the Quidditch cup. She noted sadly that Albus was not there, and he would not be attending.
His work had increased since the start of the term, and Minerva could not talk him into sparing a few hours for the match and she had tried. Deciding to concentrate extra hard on every detail of the match so she could relate it all back to Albus in detail Minerva settled in to watch.
The game was progressing well with Gryffindor leading 90-10 when Minerva spotted her troublemakers in the Ravenclaw section of the stands. Narrowing her eyes she watched closely as James Potter, and Sirius Black snuck behind some first year girls. Minerva's vision was obscured when the Gryffindor seeker caught the snitch in front of her stand. Trying to see behind him the boys were gone, and she could not make out what they had done.
After the match Minerva stormed back to Albus' office hoping he would agree that she needed to seek the boys out, and get them to admit to their prank. She knew these two would be troublemakers, but maybe if they impressed upon them the seriousness of their actions they could stop some of the pranks from ever occurring.
"Albus," Minerva called as she stuck her head in his office door.
"In here Minerva, who won the match?"
"Gryffindor, but do you have a moment for me to discuss something else with you?"
Indicating he did Minerva began her tale as she paced his office floor. "So I think I should ask the boys after class on Monday, and tell them that I saw it all in hopes that they will confess. We don't want to encourage behavior like that in the future."
Albus had listened to Minerva with an amused smile on his face: she always got so worked up over the rules. "My dear why don't you sit down, and stop pacing?"
A quick nod of her head Minerva had taken a seat in front of his desk waiting for him to speak.
"Minerva no serious harm was caused by whatever the boys did, so let it be. Further you aren't sure they were doing anything against the rules or not."
"How can you say that? They were not with their house, and they should have been! Albus I am in no mood for jokes you cannot possibly be serious."
"Oh but I am, Minerva. I know those boys will cause trouble in the future, and nothing you do will change that. No harm was done, and I think we should just leave it be."
Minerva stared incredulously at Albus as if he had just grown three extra heads. "Albus they need to be spoken with, and punished if necessary." Minerva tried again.
"I disagree." Albus replied calmly.
"Well as their Head of House the final decision is with me. I came to speak to you thinking you would back me up, and possibly give me some advice on how to approach them but I see I should not have bothered." Minerva rose and headed for the door, but Albus was not finished.
"As Headmaster it is my final decision to make, and you will do no such thing."
Minerva turned quickly on her heel and stared at Albus Dumbledore as if trying to make him combust right in front of her eyes.
"You would never."
Albus had risen and was now in front of his desk, a mere fifteen feet from Minerva. "Yes, I would. Let it be, Minerva."
Minerva could not remember a time lately when she had felt so mad, and so out of control. Though quick to blow up it was rare that Minerva's magic got away from her, but as she stood glaring at Albus a glass instrument of Albus' shattered into a thousand pieces.
"If you find me so incapable of making my own decisions why did you make me your Deputy, and a Head of House?" Minerva icily asked trying not to yell.
"You are fully capable of making decisions, but I don't agree with you on this one."
"So that's the school you plan to run?" Minerva shrieked losing control of her voice. "If you don't agree with every little thing we do you plan to intervene? No one makes a decision independent of the great Albus Dumbledore? You have let all your press go to your head!"
Now Albus was raising his voice, but was in complete control of his magic. "No, but you came to me and knowing now I cannot let you do what you wish."
"Good from now on I won't come to you at all! You are making a mockery of me as a Head of House, and the second highest authority at this school! You are showing me no respect as a colleague, and are setting my students up to show me the same disrespect you are!" By now Minerva's hairpins had sprung free from her hair, and the black tresses were flowing freely down her back. Two other instruments had broken in Albus' office, and some books were on the verge of falling should his charmed bookshelf not withstand the rest of the assault.
"You are out of control, and I suggest you take some time to cool off. We can talk again when you have calmed down." Albus sad angrily looking at the glass over his office.
"I have every right to be out of control! I have never been this angry, because I am being unfairly wronged!" Walking to the door Minerva paused to say one last thing, "I have supported you in every decision you have ever made, whether I disagreed or not. I thought I could expect the same courtesy from you, but no! As to speaking again do not count on it!" With that the angry witch stormed out of his office, slamming the door behind her in the process causing those books to topple to the ground.
Albus sighed as he gazed around his office, and with a few quick flicks of his wrist the books were back where they were and the glass had been cleaned up. Sitting heavily behind his desk Albus thought back on the whole conversation. Perhaps he should have let Minerva make up her mind, he thought, but I didn't see anything wrong with what the boys did or did not do.
Thinking a bit more on his encounter with Minerva Albus decided to let her cool off, and then go looking for her after dinner in hopes of apologizing and promising he would never do it again. She was right that was not the way he wanted to run the school, and she was very capable. Chalking his reaction to her suggestion up to stress Albus thought no more of it sure Minerva would forgive him.
However when he approached her office after dinner Albus arrived in time to see her leave the room, and pass right by him not acknowledging his presence.
'Maybe she didn't see me; she is always so focused when she is walking.'
Following her to her personal rooms Albus started to apologize when Minerva turned around, "I have papers to grade, Headmaster. Surely that is ok with you or do I need to clear my every move with you? Now, if you will excuse me I have papers to grade." Not giving him a chance to speak Minerva shut her door, and left the Headmaster standing outside in the corridor.
Albus sat in his sitting room that night bored as he stared in front of the fire. He told Fawkes it was because he was used to all the work that he didn't have. The phoenix crooned a note on Albus' knee.
"You don't believe me?" After a pause Albus sighed, "No you are too smart. We would be playing chess now, and maybe I would have beaten her. Or we would be laughing and talking over the antics of the students while she sipped her tea, and I my hot chocolate. I have to find a way to apologize."
Albus went to bed that night never verbalizing all he felt. The truth was: he missed Minerva.
Staying up half the night figuring out the perfect way to apologize to Minerva Albus was deflated when he came into his office. Over night the mail had gathered to an unbearable degree, and Albus knew he had to get cracking on it.
For the next three days Albus was so busy with work he barely saw Minerva. For her part Minerva waited every night for Albus to come and properly apologize to her or at least try, but he never came.
At the end of the third day Minerva lay down in bed and cried herself to sleep. She was convinced she had lost her best friend, and it felt like she only mattered to him if she agreed with him. Even as she thought that Minerva shook her head violently and spoke aloud: "No! He isn't like that!" This only made Minerva cry harder, because his current actions were more evidence against her faith in her friend. Curling up in the fetal position Minerva tried to keep her mind focused on all the good things Albus had done for her: all their chess games, all their talks, their teasing, the way he would squeeze her shoulders if she was too tense, but she couldn't force the last few days out of her mind.
