Disclaimer 1: Draco, his parents and teachers all belong to JKR. (As if you
didn't all know that.)
Disclaimer 2: Severus Snape owning a raven belongs to J.L. Matthews. (Go read her story everybody. It's great.)
Disclaimer 3: The gang name Sharks is borrowed from the musical West Side Story of course. I don't remember where I found the name Rakers, but I know I read it somewhere.
Disclaimer 4: The idea for Snape having a family comes from Al's fic Time of Trial.
Disclaimer 5: The Glizzard family and Gringolf Glizzard belong to my friend Pega Pony and so do all of Gringolf's songs. Thanks for letting me borrow them!
Disclaimer 6: My friend Edmund owns himself and his horse Apollo.
Disclaimer 7: Old Joe and Tess' Joe belong to Zebee.
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A/N – I know this took longer than I promised, but several things came together and I am still hampered by a broken scanner. Still, the work on chapter 4 is progressing well, and there's a chance that it will be up next Friday, perhaps even sooner. If any of you have been trying to mail me, but had their mails returned as spam, please tell me so in a review. I'm not trying to lock you out. It's my provider that has a spam blocker that according to them cannot be turned off, if you don't want it. I'm currently looking into ways around it and will probably get a second address for those affected. (I still prefer my old one, so I won't make the new one public. If you need to use it, you have to tell me so.)
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Chapter 3: Dumbledore's Deal
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"There he is!" Billy called into the flat. "Uncle Albus just apparated."
When his father had told him that he was expecting Albus Dumbledore to come visit them today or tomorrow, Billy had been so excited that he'd darted to the window right away and he'd been keeping watch for his godfather ever since.
And indeed Uncle Albus had just apparated into the park and was heading for their house.
"Excellent," Severus smiled. "Help me send out the ravens, Billy."
Billy reluctantly left the window, even though Uncle Albus was already out of sight. Most likely he was climbing the stairs right now.
Severus had just fixed the first letter to Munin's leg and Billy obediently took the second and tied it to Hugin. Personally he thought his father was overdoing it a bit by borrowing Draco's raven, just so he could send out an alert that Uncle Albus had arrived.
Munin shot out through the window and Hugin followed him seconds later. Billy watched Munin disappear into the blue summer sky. Hugin had gone straight up as soon as he'd been outside and Billy would have had to stick his head out the window again to be able to see him.
A minute or so later the doorbell rang. That Dog shot up from his basket and raced to the door braking and wagging in excitement.
Billy started after him, but Sarah was closer and opened the door before he could reach it.
"Good morning, Albus." she greeted him in a rather cold tone.
"Uncle Albus!" Billy yelled and threw his arms around his godfather.
"Billy!" Albus called in almost the same tone and hugged the boy back. He was too used to Sarah's coldness to let it bother him anymore. "I do believe you've grown again."
Billy beamed at the compliment, though he knew it wasn't true. He was small for his age and he so wished to be the tallest eleven year old around. It was so degrading to be looked down at by mere ten year old Shark wannabes.
"Oh, let Albus come in and sit down, Billy." Severus admonished the boy and Billy reluctantly let go of the headmaster.
"Would you like some toast?" Sarah offered. "There's some left from breakfast. And some tea, of course."
She didn't wait to hear Dumbledore's answer before setting the food before him on the table. Just how much had she prepared for breakfast? The leftovers looked like they were meant for about four people.
"The tea will be ready in a moment." she promised.
"So how was your holiday?" Severus asked. I heard you spent a few days in Sweden."
Dumbledore nodded slightly perplex. Normally Severus avoided small talk. It seemed almost as if he were playing for time, but what could he possibly be waiting for?
"Oh yes, I only returned yesterday, in fact." Albus beamed at Severus. "I met two possible future candidates for the DADA position. Harald would be perfect for it. He already taught the subject for two years. His English is a little wobbly, though. We had this funny little misunderstanding ..."
The doorbell interrupted his tale. Once again That Dog raced to the door and Billy almost stepped on his paw as he went to open it.
The barking and tail wagging immediately doubled at the sight of the new arrivals.
"Ah, Draco, Mike, come on in." Sarah called happily. "I take it you will be Draco's best man?"
Mike laughed. "Of course. I'm so glad he asked me. I almost feared he'd choose Neville over me."
Draco laughed as well. "Nah, I'm going to ask him to help with the decorations. He's good with flowers and he wouldn't want to be in the spotlight anyway."
"Draco and Cathy are getting married." Severus explained to Albus. "We're a little busy with wedding plans at the moment."
"Ah yes, Minerva mentioned it." Albus beamed. "Congratulations Draco and all my best wishes to Cathy, too. I had hoped to see her as well."
"She's gone out with Charlie, I'm afraid." Draco answered. "Looking at wedding robes, I think."
"I see." said Albus wondering how he could best turn the conversation to Billy's schooling.
"Why don't you sit down, boys?" Sarah intervened. "I was just making some tea for the headmaster. Oh, I'm sorry, we completely forgot to introduce you two! Mike, this is Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. Albus, this is Professor Tiller."
"Professor?" Albus asked surprised. Of course he should have expected Draco to have other teachers among his friends.
"Unfortunately he teaches Charms, Albus, not DADA." Severus remarked, then turned to Mike. "Professor Flitwick has held that position at Hogwarts for decades with excellent results. I doubt he has any intentions of quitting."
"Oh yes, Draco has told me so much about him." Mike smiled at Albus. "I wish I could meet him someday."
"We are planning to invite the entire Hogwarts staff to the wedding." Severus remarked. "But some of them will have to stay at the castle to watch the students. Remind me to introduce you to Filius, if he comes. Ah, thank you, Billy."
Billy was helping his mother to serve the tea. He was a little disappointed that Uncle Albus hadn't brought him a present this time, but then Uncle Albus was here to convince his parents to send him to a different school. Billy wasn't entirely sure how he felt about that.
He had always expected to go to school here in West Hogsmeade with all the other kids he knew from the park and from his primary school, but he loved his godfather dearly and Hogwarts held a sort of mystery. It would be interesting to see it from the inside, but all his friends would be here.
What was it like to go to boarding school and only come home during the holidays? It probably meant a lot more freedom and being an adult than going home to his mother everyday after school. Maybe it would even make him grow a little faster?
The conversation continued to consist of small talk and wedding plans and requests to pass the butter, until the doorbell rang once again. Munin, too, had apparently found his target at home.
Once again it was Billy who answered the door. "Good morning, headmaster." he greeted the man who arrived with Munin on his shoulder.
Albus shot around at the words. He hated sitting with his back to the door. The man was a complete stranger to him, an average wizard wearing a t-shirt and slightly faded jeans. If Albus had met him outside in the streets he'd have written him off as just another West Hogsmeade unemployed.
Oh well, so it was hard to tell the difference between the employed and the unemployed residents of West Hogsmeade.
"Ah, headmaster ..." Severus stood up to shake the man's hand, a gesture of respect Albus rarely saw from the grumpy head of Slytherin. "Thank you for coming. Albus, this is Ralph Donalds, the headmaster of West Hogsmeade Wizarding School."
That was what Severus had been waiting for! That sleazy Slytherin! For a moment Albus wondered whether he was in over his head. Despite Severus' presence he knew he was going to be the only representative of Hogwarts in this conversation, while West Hogsmeade was represented by its headmaster and two teachers. Not to mention that Sarah was on their side as well.
"You see Albus, I asked Ralph to meet with you, because I got the impression that you want Billy to attend your school." Severus continued.
"And as his godfather I am quite willing to finance his education as well." Albus threw in hastily.
"That is very kind of you, Albus," Severus nodded at him. "But aside from the financial problems I am also worried that Hogwarts doesn't offer its students nearly as big a variety of subjects as West Hogsmeade does. I fear that some of Billy's interests would be neglected there."
"We do have a Soccer team." Albus argued as he knew quite well how much Billy loved that game.
"A Soccer team that never plays against anybody." Severus pointed out. "And Billy has also been looking forward to taking Muggle Studies, which, though existing, is of very inferior quality at Hogwarts. What if in two years he'd like to take Conjuring? Or maybe he wants to learn Chemistry? He has already shown a great interest in Potions, so it might be just the thing for him. Alchemy is a family hobby, as you know. But of course Billy is his own person and might want to take a different path when he's older. He might develop an interest in Art, for example. West Hogsmeade offers several different clubs for its artistically inclined students. All Hogwarts has is a Chess club and occasionally Duelling classes."
"We don't have enough interested students for other clubs." Albus argued. "We'd gladly offer them, if enough students apply."
"Hogwarts doesn't have the numbers of students West Hogsmeade does." Severus confirmed. "I am sure Billy isn't the only student who'd profit from a larger variety of clubs and electives, however."
"West Hogsmeade has its shortcomings, too." Mike threw in. "We do not have the money to finance a Quidditch team, while you have four, and our Flying lessons are very limited and we lack a teacher for Divination."
"What Professor Tiller means is that we would like to offer you a partnership. Against a small fee your students could join our clubs and some electives, if we get to use your Flying equipment and Quidditch pitch and maybe send a few students into your Divination classes in return." Donalds explained. "We could also arrange Soccer matches or Chess tournaments and once we manage to build up an actual team even Quidditch games between our schools."
Albus blinked. The idea sounded familiar. Yes, Severus had suggested that before.
"It would also make it easier for Billy to keep contact with his friends, if he does attend Hogwarts, and he might look upon the idea more favourably." Severus hinted.
Albus was still trying to reorient himself. He had come here expecting to convince Sarah with facts about Hogwarts and offers of financial support. Instead he was offered a deal. Where was the catch?
"We can't have students wandering about between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade between classes." he argued. "It takes too much time, we can't supervise them on the entire way and they could use it as an excuse to sneak out of school. We'd hardly notice, if a student who doesn't take the subject walks out with a group headed to Conjuring class."
"We could use portkeys." Draco returned. "The staff member giving out the portkey would also have a list of students supposed to take it."
"Madame Hooch will want to supervise the use of our school brooms."
"We do not have an actual Flying teacher anyway." Donalds agreed. "Her number of working hours will shoot up, though."
"There could be more students in each Flying lesson and one of the other teachers could take over the function of Quidditch coach." Severus suggested. "And Hogwarts could also offer its rooms for some of the clubs so it wouldn't always be its students having to port in and out."
"We would have to co-ordinate schedules." Dumbledore cautioned.
"That shouldn't be a problem." Draco said. "For now it will only be a small number of third years taking the other school's electives and the clubs all meet outside of class time anyway. The main logistical problem will be Flying classes."
"And we don't have to offer those for everybody right away either." Donalds added. "We could start with only the first years, or maybe offer it as a club for the older students. There wouldn't have to be more than one lesson a week for our students either, as the Sports classes give them additional exercise anyway."
"Sports classes?" Albus asked confused.
"Oh, those are the best." Draco smiled in fond memory.
"You need a specially equipped room and an experienced, specially trained teacher, though." Mike warned. "Or else you'll have nothing but accidents. Students can get seriously hurt in Sports."
"So can we borrow your teacher and room?" Albus asked.
"They're very well booked during class time and some of the clubs are held in there outside of the usual hours." Donalds said sounding doubtful. "I don't see how we could fit that many students in."
"Maybe we could alternate between Sports and Flying classes?" Mike suggested.
"The Flying classes are larger than our Sports classes, though, so there would be several openings on our end requiring you to adapt your schedules." Draco commented. "Maybe there's a way to coordinate our Sports classes with your study hours, so you won't have to move around the other classes."
Dumbledore nodded slowly. It sounded like a good deal and it was apparently the only way to get Billy.
"Fine." he agreed. "I only hope Minerva hasn't sent out the third years' letters, yet. I will need a complete list of your electives as soon as possible."
Donalds calmly held out a scroll. "The electives and the clubs as well as the schedules as currently planed. We will need a similar list from you to be able to co-ordinate the schedules."
"I'll need the third years' new elective choices, before we can arrange the final schedules, but I can owl you the rest of the lists as soon as I get back to Hogwarts. The applications for the clubs are usually handed in during the first week of school, though."
"I think, I have a better idea." Severus smirked. "Munin!"
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Minerva had just gotten started on the fourth years' letters. She was beginning to get over her constant distraction problem. Her quills hadn't beeped at her for at least a quarter of an hour.
"Mr. Anatol Abrams." she dictated to the quill.
"Letter!" announced someone behind her.
Minerva shot around expecting to see one of the castle's ghosts as she would have noticed, if someone had come in through the door.
Instead it turned out to be Severus' strange bird.
"Letter!" Munin repeated accusingly and stretched out his leg towards her.
Severus was writing her? That was a rare occurrence. For a moment she wondered whether it might be a complaint about sending Albus to Merlin Park. Or had something happened to the headmaster?
McGonagall quickly grabbed the parchment away from the bird. Munin gave a protesting squawk at the sudden pull and retreated to the top of the next bookshelf where the witch couldn't reach him.
Minerva, I'm in a bit of a hurry, so I'll explain later. Do not send out any third year letters, yet. They will need to be changed. Please send me the schedules for the next school year and a list of students taking each elective as well as a list of all clubs that have been suggested for the new school year. Just give them all to Munin. He knows where to take them.
Albus
Albus? Via Snape's raven? And he hadn't even had the time to add a simple greeting? This really had to be urgent.
Luckily Minerva had copies of the elective lists with her, but the schedules weren't complete, yet and she had to run up to the headmaster's office for the clubs list and copy it as well as the schedules.
"Fly!" ordered Munin about ten minutes later.
The raven had flown down from his shelf again and was pacing the table impatiently.
Minerva shot him an annoyed glare and continued to copy down the sixth years' schedule.
"Fly!" Munin picked up one of the third year letters that were stacked beside her.
"Leave that." Minerva snapped. "Those are the ones I'm supposed to hold back."
Munin cocked his head at her, then flapped over to the stack of still empty envelopes on her other side. He picked one up and shoved it under her nose.
Minerva blinked. Just how intelligent was that bird?
"Yes, yes, thank you." she told him. "It just doesn't help me any until I finish copying the list."
Munin cocked his head again. "Write letter?"
"Yes." Minerva decided. "I have to write the letter first."
The raven seemed to be satisfied with that answer and flapped away to inspect one of the bookshelves. Minerva only hoped that he knew how to behave around books. Madame Pince wouldn't be happy, if she returned to find beak marks or bird droppings on her beloved books.
It took her another fifteen minutes to finish both copies and hand them over to the raven who took off without even waiting for her orders.
"I hope you know where to take it." Minerva called after the bird before returning her attention to the fourth years' letters. Albus absolutely had to wait with his letter until she had finished the third years, didn't he? If she'd known this morning, she'd already be well into the fourth years, maybe even done with them already.
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"Your schedules are overly complicated." Ralph Donalds declared after only a short glance at the parchments Munin brought back from his trip to Hogwarts. "Your first years have a seventh lesson twice a week and your Potions tacher works six hours on Saturday? Really Severus, I could offer you a better job."
"Even though I teach more classes." Draco added with a smirk.
"Then your students have fewer Potions lessons." Dumbledore stated.
"Three a week, in all seven years." Draco informed him. "I believe Hogwarts students have only two in the first two years."
"But then you'd have all the students in one year at the same time." Dumbledore frowned. "Do you really have so many squibs that you're left with a manageable number?"
"What does the number of squibs have to do with it?" Mike asked confused.
"Well, they wouldn't have Potions, would they?" Dumbledore returned.
"Why not?" Draco laughed. "All our students take Potions, of course. There is a maximum of 14 students in one Potions class, six classes a year, two of them squib classes that concentrate on theory, Potions that don't require a magical brewer and Chemistry, while the other four classes follow the usual curriculum just like the Hogwarts ones do, each at a different difficulty level."
Dumbledore's eyes widened. "Just how many Potions teachers do you have?"
"Two at the moment." Donalds explained. "I'm considering hiring a third, if I can get another Alchemist and bring in the money."
"An Alchemist?" Dumbledore asked. That was a rather ambitious goal considering how rare they were.
"I need someone equally capable of teaching Potions and Chemistry." Donalds explained. "Aaron did teach some squib classes until we got Draco, but he isn't an expert and there has been a notable improvement in our results since we have Draco."
"You have a Potions Master teaching Squibs?"
"As well as the most advanced Potions classes." Draco specified.
Albus did some fast calculations: Six Potions classes a year, two teachers. So each teacher would have three Potions classes a year, times seven, made twenty-one Potions classes, each for thee hours a week. That meant sixty- three teaching hours. West Hogsmeade didn't have any classes on Saturday, so there were only five days to distribute them to. So Draco would have to teach thirteen hours three days a week and twelve on the other two.
"How many hours of classes do you have in a single school day?" Albus asked.
"Six." Donalds answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"But then how do you get in that many Potions classes?"
Draco grinned. "Why, three at a time, of course."
"Your History teacher teaches two classes at the same time as well." Mike commented hardly glancing up from the Hogwarts schedules. "We do just the same, of course."
"Our History teacher is a ghost." Albus explained. "He can do that."
"And most of our staff are witches and wizards." Donalds smiled. "It's a simple magical twin charm."
"I believe we should start with the Hogwarts schedules." Mike suggested. "Ours are much more adaptable."
"Alright." Donalds agreed. "How about the Sports and Flying classes, though. Can we get this to work?"
"Well, we currently have 504 students." Draco said. "Hogwarts has fourty in an average year, 280 altogether. That's 784 students. If we are no longer limited by the number of school brooms, we can raise the number of students in each sports class to ... lets say sixteen. An even number is easier to split into teams and the teachers will have to be able to keep an eye on the group for safety reasons. That'd put us at forty-nine classes. About half of the students are girls, half boys so we get twenty-four boys classes and twenty-four girls classes with one mixed one."
"We can't mix girls and boys in Sports, Draco." Donalds yelped. "They have to undress in the changing room! And they're practically naked during class."
"We do have two changing rooms." Mike pointed out. "One group would just have to cross the corridor after changing."
"And walk though the other group's changing room!"
"So they'll have to wait until the teacher comes to get them after the other group's done." Sarah suggested practically.
"And they aren't naked." Draco said. "Their clothes are just more revealing than their uniform robes and some of them like to show a lot of skin, but it would be only one class. They have mixed Sports classes in primary school, too."
"Primary school students aren't as developed. There's nothing to see for them, nor do they have that kind of interest, yet." Donalds argued.
"The same goes for our youngest students." Draco stated. "Just pick the 16 smallest first years and they'll be fine."
"They'll be teased." Sarah threw in.
"Children get teased all the time." Severus shrugged it off. "They're old enough to have to know how to deal with it and, if they don't, it's high time they learned."
"The numbers of girls and boys in the other years won't split into groups of sixteen as nicely as the total number of students, though." Dumbledore warned.
"So we mix years." Draco shrugged. "Sports doesn't have a set curriculum that builds on the things learned the year before. The size and strength of the students should be homogenous for certain exercises, but that doesn't necessarily mean they have to be the same age. A tall sixth year might well be taller than some of the seventh years, so putting the smallest students of one year with the tallest of the next lower one might even be an improvement."
"Sports is held at the same time as one of the electives, though, so the choice of electives will influence what students are in a group more than their size." Mike reminded him.
"It still shouldn't be a big problem to put together students of two consecutive years. There will be four groups in each students' year. Only one of them will be mixed, so if each group is paired with a different elective, there should always be two groups during each student's study hours. If one turns out to be too tall, or too small for the mixed group, he can be switched with a student from the other group."
"Actually two of the classes will be mixed, except for the seventh years." Mike corrected. "One with the higher year and one with the lower. In some years that will result in five groups being available, though."
"We can work out the exact lists once we have the schedules." Donalds decided. "First we need to know when we can set the mixed classes at all. What about the Flying, though. There's only one location and a limited number of brooms for that, right?"
"A lot of Hogwarts students have their own brooms." Albus returned. "Only the first years aren't allowed them. Hogwarts has twenty-two school brooms at the moment and you could bring yours along to allow for classes bigger than that."
"That doesn't seem advisable." Severus commented. "Especially the first years who haven't flown before are at risk of colliding and falling off their brooms, if there are to many flyers in the air. The more students in one class, the less Hannah will be able to keep an eye on each individual one. Twenty-two should be the upper limit."
"Well, this would currently only concern the first years." Albus sighed. "Maybe Hannah can train Sybil to assist her and possibly teach classes of her own in a few years."
"Sybil?" Severus asked alarmed. "Sybil Trelawney?"
"She teaches only ten hours a week and sits holed up in her tower the rest of the time." Dumbledore commented. "Even with additional students from West Hogsmeade she isn't exactly overworked and she has no other particular skills besides her sight that she could teach."
"She also isn't the most reliable." Severus pointed out. "Even Hagrid would be safer. I would at least trust him to react correctly once a student gets hurt."
"Hagrid teaches ten hours on top of being the groundskeeper. He doesn't need an additional job." Albus returned.
"I wasn't suggesting him anyway." Severus grumbled. "How about Victoria or Julian, though?"
Albus hesitated for a moment. Professor Vector was already in charge of the Chess club even, if that didn't necessarily fill up her schedule. The Muggle Studies Professor however had no other offices at all.
"Julian it is." he decided. "He should enjoy it, too."
"So how many Flying classes will we have to fit into the schedule?" Mike asked.
"We're expecting forty first years this year, give or take one or two, as we haven't heard back from them, yet." Albus reported.
"We will have forty-eight for Flying class, as the squibs won't be able to take it." Donalds added.
"Perfect." Draco smiled. "That's eighty-eight students in four groups of twenty-two each."
"Any more students in a future year will create a problem, though." Albus commented.
"Lets wait and see how well your Flying teacher can deal with this year's groups before we make any decisions whether to increase the number of students or add a fifth group." Donalds suggested. "Lets just worry about correlating the schedules now. We'd best put all the electives on the same time even, if we don't combine the classes. That way we can combine students from both schools in all Sports classes."
"Is that really such a good idea?" Albus was a little worried about it. "The children are from very different backgrounds. I think we should keep them separate as much as possible."
"That will only further prejudice and start a rivalry between the schools." Sarah snapped. "They need a chance to get to know each other."
"How do you intend to split forty students into groups of sixteen and by gender anyway?" Mike asked. "They will all be available during different electives, too. It will be easier to distribute them between all the groups."
Albus sighed. "Fine, but how do we guarantee their safety."
Donalds just looked insulted at that, Draco frowned and Mike rolled his eyes.
"There will be someone in charge of the portkeys at both ends anyway." Severus answered dryly. "If you wish that person can also accompany the students to their classrooms until the teacher arrives."
"And who should that person be?" Mike asked suddenly. "It can hardly be a teacher who's required elsewhere."
"The caretakers." Draco suggested. "They're old friends and will work together well and they both know how to keep unruly students in check."
"I would prefer someone I know at your end." Albus insisted.
"You know David." Draco sighed. "He was four years behind me at Hogwarts. David Smith, Slytherin."
"The boy that kept trailing after Argus?"
"Yes, Caretaker always was his dream job." Severus grumbled. "I suppose that is some type of ambition as well."
Mike had picked up the class lists again. "You have an average of only nine students a year in Muggle Studies?"
"Yes, the subject is rather unpopular, I'm afraid."
"Our average is thirty students." Mike continued. "In two classes of fifteen each. If we combined them, we'd have two classes of twenty and free a teacher for another elective."
"West Hogsmeade's Muggle Studies has a much higher level anyway." Draco commented.
"But Julian won't be required during Flying classes that much for the moment. He'll only be assisting with the first years." Albus said. "What do I do with him over the next years?"
"How good is he at Potions?" Donalds asked.
"Worthless." hissed Severus. "He's a near squib that left Hogwarts after his first year and went to a Muggle school. He taught Philosophy and English to Muggle students for a while, then found he needed a magical education after all. He took evening classes with Professor Flitwick and started to teach Muggle Studies."
"He could teach Philosophy as a club then." Draco suggested. "And maybe take over the Poetry club. Then Professor Dulac could start the French for magical students class she's been wanting to."
"We could even make that an elective." Donalds beamed. "French has been a mandatory subject for our squibs for almost as long as the school exists, but we've never given the other students the chance to learn it and it is quite useful when dealing with foreign wizards."
"So we have French as an additional elective at West Hogsmeade and I'll ask Julian to create a Philosophy and a Poetry club at Hogwarts."
"Our Conjuring teachers also run the Musik club which has several different groups and, if we can finance it, would like to add a Choir." Mike continued.
"We could finance and house the Choir, if we get enough members." Dumbledore promised. "Ours died due to lack of interest from the students. We need at least ten singers."
"No problem." said Donalds. "At least twice that many of our Conjuring students said they were interested last year."
"You have about ten students in Ancient Runes, we have eighteen." Mike read out. "That's not so good. Too many students to combine, but each of the teachers works only ten hours and our second Latin teacher is having a baby. We were hoping our Runes teacher could replace her."
"The twin charm would work on Professor Calligra as well, though." Severus commented.
"But the two parts of her, can't move that far apart." Mike explained. "The spell would fail."
"Then we have to move one of the classes to the other school." Draco suggested.
"The Muggle Studies classroom will be empty anyway." Albus stated.
"Then we have Care for Magical Creatures and Arithmancy, both strong classes at both schools." Mike continued. "Combining anything there wouldn't make much sense. Your Divination classes are small enough that adding a few of our students shouldn't cause a problem. The talent is rare after all."
"Professor Circula would be willing to teach Mathematics as an additional elective." Draco stated.
"Draco, I know that Muggle subjects are your pet project and they are indeed very important, especially in the interest of our squibs, but the financing of ten additional teaching hours is rather problematic. Not to forget the additional room required." Donalds started.
"Wait a minute, Ralph." Draco stopped him. "We're moving our Runes classes to Hogwarts. I doubt Math will require more than one classroom, but we have two Runes rooms right now. We could turn one into Math class and use the other for French and we're saving money on all the classes we're combining with Hogwarts."
"What if French requires two classrooms?" Donalds returned.
"Over a quarter of our students already have French as a mandatory subject." Draco stated calmly. "Do you really think that more than a third of the rest will choose it?" It will be popular with the voluntary Muggle Studies students and maybe the Runes students, but I doubt the mass that picks Care for Magical Creatures or Conjuring will go for it and Math will draw the Arithmancy students more."
"It can't hurt to give it a chance." Mike suggested. "We can do a trial run this year. If it really turns out to be a financial problem, we can do without the Basket Weaving club for a while."
"And we can clean out another classroom at Hogwarts, if there really are more applications than expected." Dumbledore stated. "There's a former Divinations classroom on the second floor that I always thought was very nice and the old Conjuring class is quite conveniently located as well."
Billy suppressed a yawn. This was boring!
"Can I take the dog out, Dad?" he asked to get away. "I think he needs to go."
"Of course, Billy." Severus answered distractedly.
"Keep him away from the Harpers' poodle, though." Sarah admonished. "I don't want Regina coming over here complaining again."
"Regina Harper complains all the time." Billy frowned. "No matter what I do. She's just a Bitch."
"No, she owns a bitch." Sarah corrected, but Billy wasn't listening anymore.
"Come on, Dog!" he shouted and they left the flat under lots of happy barking. The adults could hear the noise until they had reached the ground floor.
"You really should put up some silencing charms." Albus commented.
"What for?" Sarah asked him. "Then we wouldn't hear, if that dog runs into any trouble out there."
"And that's not really an if," Severus added. "It's a when."
"Do you realise that your first and second years have five lessons per week less than ours, even though they have a day more of school and a night class?" Mike asked staring at the Hogwarts schedules again.
"Only some years have Saturday classes and never more than two lessons." Albus defended weakly. "Five hours of what?"
"One each of Charms, DADA, Transfigurations and Latin." Mike reported. "You really should reconsider that crazy schedule of yours. A simple charm could save you so much trouble."
"We'd still need a second Potions classroom. Severus commented. "Everything else could be arranged, but none of the other rooms are equipped for Potions."
"Oh, come on! Even we managed to equip six!" Donalds almost snorted. "Get your rich parents to fund it."
"The parents?" Dumbledore asked. "They already pay school money. We can't just demand even more."
"Not demand, Dumbledore." Draco smirked. "Ask for donations in the interest of a better education for their kids. It worked when one of our TVs broke last year."
"A classroom is more expensive than that." Severus stated.
"But the parents of your students can afford it." Mike returned. "If the poor families of West Hogsmeade are willing to give some of their money for the equipment of their children's school, the rich purebloods should be able to do the same. They won't even feel it."
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Minerva was well into the fifth years' letters by the time the headmaster returned from his 'short visit' in Merlin Park.
"Ah Minerva, making good progress today, I see." he greeted her smiling happily.
Minerva glanced at the three stacks of finished letters on her desk.
"The ones on the left are the third years' letters you told me to hold back."
"Ah yes, we will have to replace the book lists." Albus nodded. "For the Muggle Studies students in the higher years as well, by the way. Which reminds me that I have to owl Julian right away."
"You decided to change the Muggle Studies textbooks while talking to Severus about Billy?" Of course anything was possible with Dumbledore.
"We are combining our Muggle Studies class with West Hogsmeade." Albus stated.
"What!" She must have misheard. Minerva thought of the green dressed children and shuddered.
"Severus agreed to send Billy to Hogwarts, if I agreed to a school partnership." Albus explained. "It means we get to participate in their clubs and electives and they in ours. That allows us to add three more electives, but we also have to pass out new application forms to the third years."
"But Albus, if we don't announce the book lists right now ..."
"We can announce everything except the electives. For them we will have to collect the money from the students once they get here and place a combined order. The West Hogsmeade bookshop will be very happy about the business."
"Classes with the gang kids?"
"Draco did fine among them during his suspension." Albus answered. "In fact he found friends much faster there than he ever did at Hogwarts. And we're not leaving them alone. There'll always be an adult along to supervise them."
"And we get Billy in return?"
"Billy, additional classes and all sorts of scheduling and financing tips. West Hogsmeade is one well organised school."
Minerva cast one last glance at her letters. "Very well, what are the new electives?"
If she set one quill to write the forms and the other the book lists, she could address the new envelopes and finish the third years today. Then she had to rewrite the book lists for the Muggle Studies students in fourth year. Luckily their letters were still unsealed. She hadn't added the elective books to the fifth years' letters, yet and the sixth and seventh years' weren't even started. Yes, it could be done, if she put in a late shift.
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Madame Moony – Ah, but how much better would it be at West Hogsmeade whee the Potions teacher is his brother? ... No, Sarah's the one that doesn't like the way Hogwarts is run. But have you ever tried to arrange a working schedule for all of Hogwarts' years and houses? With no teacher teaching more than one class at a time? I've played the game for several of my fics now and it never works out right. Poor Sevi is the most overworked teacher of all times in PoA. He can't possibly get the 14 classes he is teaching Potions into one week, but he takes some of Remus' classes as well!
JerseyPike – Oh, they do that anyway, you just never know in advance for what story (or even fandom ... if they aren't originals). The problem is they live inside my head and they're spiky.
Pam Briggs – Sorry, it took this long. The death of my grandfather, computer problems, an injured horse and a non-working scanner have been keeping me from writing and posting.
KRP – I usually try to update every week, but with my scanner out of business I can't make any promises right now. ... Nope, Albus definitely didn't know what he was getting into. he West Hogsmeade gang took him by surprise.
Zinia – No, but we'll see Billy at his new school. Harry's wife? Nobody you know. She went to Beauxbattons and Harry met her through his job at the Ministry of Magic.
daphnemand14 – Sorry, about that. I'm afraid I can get that way. (I managed to cry myself to sleep over a story I thought up once ... Maybe I should write that one someday, but it isn't a fanfic.)
dstrbd child – Sorry, but it was the only way to get Albus to agree to that school partnership. (Stubborn old bumblebee!)
Thistle – Not having the established characters? You got Minerva, Albus, Sevi, Draco, Mike, Munin, Hugin and That Dog. And you'll get a little more of Billy in the next chapter.
Elsa – Well, she still lost this round, but she's got a Hufflepuff heart, so she's happy for West Hogsmeade anyway.
ERMonkey, Queen of Insanity – Sorry this took so long. I hope things will get better again from now on, but I'm not promising anything until I find out whether the scanner can and will be repaired.
Kate – Of course you know him, but he wasn't a Raker. (Isn't it obvious? It's Nick.) ... The Aurors would probably do a less thorough job, be very polite and leave the flat perfectly neat, but they would at least go through the motions.
kassio – Well, Jack grew up to be an unemployed drunkard who tends to steal rather than work whenever his money runs out. From time to time he gets caught. No Soccer, I'm afraid. I'll show a little of Billy's first days of school, but not the Soccer team, I think, at least not much of it. ... There are plot hedgehogs for my next fic running rampant in my head and readers from two other fandoms asking me for chapters/sequels. Oh, if I had the time to do it all! Unfortunately my boss expects me to work for my money, though. ... Minerva is trying to be open minded, but she was raised in a world full of prejudice. Billy is Severus' son, though and she has known Sevi for a while now. The thought of his son not going to Hogwarts is impossible to her. ... Draco was a bit distracted with his big news. It should be assumed that he did comment on her presence sometimes during the meal, but the conversation soon returned to his wedding. (He had his bride to be next to him, so what do you expect?) ... Well, you know what ministries are like. Lifting a ban might constitute admitting a mistake, you know. That might make the minister look bad ...)
Romulus – As you see Sevi collected his troops and did just what you suggested. Finally he had Albus where he wanted him. ... Sarah doesn't want to teach. She prefers to brew medicine for the hospital and they're really glad to have her there. She's a healer at heart, not a teacher. ... And the only thing Billy will learn in a first year Potions class is patience and how many obvious mistakes-any-dunderhead-knows-to-avoid your average eleven year old can make. The boy grew up in a flat with three alchemists. He's been brewing his own pepper-up potion whenever he had a cold for about two years, now. There's a good chance he'll be tutoring the weaker second years before long.
Gwynevere – No, Greenie never was turned back, but he's quite happy that way. 'Sniff! Sniff!' (Isn't it the most natural thing in the world to be green? What else would I want to be?)
Merlyn – Well, Sevi never really said it that clearly. Each of them assumed that it was the most natural thing in the world for Billy to go to one certain school. ... Ah, but adults never listen to kids and there's the chance to improve both schools. Don't worry, Billy will be fine in the end. He's a tough little Merlin Park kid. Those can deal with anything (even rich Hogwarts snobs.)
Lady Alexandria09 – Ralph Donalds.
Hotuko – Minerva is actually just trying to help. Unfortunately she doesn't understand the situation. She's great at dealing with straightforward Gryffindors, but the Slytherins are too complex for her to interpret correctly.
Little Red Rabbit – Oh, I love that bunny of yours. (I had a pet bunny as a child, so I'm a bit partial to them.)
Teri – THabks. Sorry this is so late.
Alia5 – Ah, I think in that case I like catroaches. Cats are wonderful, roaches however are bug shaped and despite all my efforts to be friends with all animals: Uh ... at a distance, roachy, okay?
Weasleylover1 – Yep, Matt is the right name. ... Believe it or not Neville married Anya, the very girl Draco didn't get along with at West Hogsmeade. They've gotten over their differences, though, and the two pairs are very good friends. ... Actually, Draco liked West Hogsmeade better, but he never disliked Hogwarts either.
Colibi – Sorry, but he will take all his electives there.
SunnyKitten – I'm glad to hear that of the Russian translations as I never learned the language and have no way of judging them myself, which always makes it harder to decide whether to agree to letting someone translate a story or not. ... Well, Luci never wanted to become a teacher, nor did he ever learn how to teach. The bad thing is, I have seen and had teachers that weren't much better. Luckily their subjects weren't as dangerous as Potions.
Miamaus – Ich fürchte Minerva wird kaum zu bewegen sein noch mal in Merlin Park aufzutauchen. Wahrscheinlich würden sie sich, genau wie bei Albus, etwas besser benehmen, aber ihren Autrag dennoch erfüllen. Sie können ja schlecht zu ihrem Chef zurückkommen und sagen: „Tut uns leid, aber die Snapes hatten grad Besuch. Da wollten wir nicht stören."
Paladin3030 – Sorry about the long wait, but I can't post, if I don't have a complete chapter on the computer. (Glares at scanner. Ready light gleams back innocently: "Want me to scan another blank green page?") ... No, Hermione is still single. Harry married a nice French witch that we haven't met, yet.
Snake – Thanks.
,00, - Um ... on the page in my scanner, that it just won't scan correctly. ... I'm afraid the Lions have no way of getting at Albus and even, if they did, he's quite capable of ungreening himself within seconds ... That is, if he doesn't feel like being green ...
Elaanabeth – Careful about claiming copyright in these things. There are so many versions of Sevi's nickname going around, it might already be taken. (Official statement by the way: I first saw 'Sevi' used by J.L. Matthews, my absolutely favourite HP author.)
Gwynevere – Well, I think I can admit that you're absolutely correct by the time you read this. You have finished Double O by now, don't you?
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- A/N: Will Billy be okay at Hogwarts? How will the other teachers react? And how will the West Hogsmeade students be received at Hogwarts?
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In the next chapter: Billy wants a pet and gets sorted and meets his new dormmates.
Disclaimer 2: Severus Snape owning a raven belongs to J.L. Matthews. (Go read her story everybody. It's great.)
Disclaimer 3: The gang name Sharks is borrowed from the musical West Side Story of course. I don't remember where I found the name Rakers, but I know I read it somewhere.
Disclaimer 4: The idea for Snape having a family comes from Al's fic Time of Trial.
Disclaimer 5: The Glizzard family and Gringolf Glizzard belong to my friend Pega Pony and so do all of Gringolf's songs. Thanks for letting me borrow them!
Disclaimer 6: My friend Edmund owns himself and his horse Apollo.
Disclaimer 7: Old Joe and Tess' Joe belong to Zebee.
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A/N – I know this took longer than I promised, but several things came together and I am still hampered by a broken scanner. Still, the work on chapter 4 is progressing well, and there's a chance that it will be up next Friday, perhaps even sooner. If any of you have been trying to mail me, but had their mails returned as spam, please tell me so in a review. I'm not trying to lock you out. It's my provider that has a spam blocker that according to them cannot be turned off, if you don't want it. I'm currently looking into ways around it and will probably get a second address for those affected. (I still prefer my old one, so I won't make the new one public. If you need to use it, you have to tell me so.)
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Chapter 3: Dumbledore's Deal
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"There he is!" Billy called into the flat. "Uncle Albus just apparated."
When his father had told him that he was expecting Albus Dumbledore to come visit them today or tomorrow, Billy had been so excited that he'd darted to the window right away and he'd been keeping watch for his godfather ever since.
And indeed Uncle Albus had just apparated into the park and was heading for their house.
"Excellent," Severus smiled. "Help me send out the ravens, Billy."
Billy reluctantly left the window, even though Uncle Albus was already out of sight. Most likely he was climbing the stairs right now.
Severus had just fixed the first letter to Munin's leg and Billy obediently took the second and tied it to Hugin. Personally he thought his father was overdoing it a bit by borrowing Draco's raven, just so he could send out an alert that Uncle Albus had arrived.
Munin shot out through the window and Hugin followed him seconds later. Billy watched Munin disappear into the blue summer sky. Hugin had gone straight up as soon as he'd been outside and Billy would have had to stick his head out the window again to be able to see him.
A minute or so later the doorbell rang. That Dog shot up from his basket and raced to the door braking and wagging in excitement.
Billy started after him, but Sarah was closer and opened the door before he could reach it.
"Good morning, Albus." she greeted him in a rather cold tone.
"Uncle Albus!" Billy yelled and threw his arms around his godfather.
"Billy!" Albus called in almost the same tone and hugged the boy back. He was too used to Sarah's coldness to let it bother him anymore. "I do believe you've grown again."
Billy beamed at the compliment, though he knew it wasn't true. He was small for his age and he so wished to be the tallest eleven year old around. It was so degrading to be looked down at by mere ten year old Shark wannabes.
"Oh, let Albus come in and sit down, Billy." Severus admonished the boy and Billy reluctantly let go of the headmaster.
"Would you like some toast?" Sarah offered. "There's some left from breakfast. And some tea, of course."
She didn't wait to hear Dumbledore's answer before setting the food before him on the table. Just how much had she prepared for breakfast? The leftovers looked like they were meant for about four people.
"The tea will be ready in a moment." she promised.
"So how was your holiday?" Severus asked. I heard you spent a few days in Sweden."
Dumbledore nodded slightly perplex. Normally Severus avoided small talk. It seemed almost as if he were playing for time, but what could he possibly be waiting for?
"Oh yes, I only returned yesterday, in fact." Albus beamed at Severus. "I met two possible future candidates for the DADA position. Harald would be perfect for it. He already taught the subject for two years. His English is a little wobbly, though. We had this funny little misunderstanding ..."
The doorbell interrupted his tale. Once again That Dog raced to the door and Billy almost stepped on his paw as he went to open it.
The barking and tail wagging immediately doubled at the sight of the new arrivals.
"Ah, Draco, Mike, come on in." Sarah called happily. "I take it you will be Draco's best man?"
Mike laughed. "Of course. I'm so glad he asked me. I almost feared he'd choose Neville over me."
Draco laughed as well. "Nah, I'm going to ask him to help with the decorations. He's good with flowers and he wouldn't want to be in the spotlight anyway."
"Draco and Cathy are getting married." Severus explained to Albus. "We're a little busy with wedding plans at the moment."
"Ah yes, Minerva mentioned it." Albus beamed. "Congratulations Draco and all my best wishes to Cathy, too. I had hoped to see her as well."
"She's gone out with Charlie, I'm afraid." Draco answered. "Looking at wedding robes, I think."
"I see." said Albus wondering how he could best turn the conversation to Billy's schooling.
"Why don't you sit down, boys?" Sarah intervened. "I was just making some tea for the headmaster. Oh, I'm sorry, we completely forgot to introduce you two! Mike, this is Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. Albus, this is Professor Tiller."
"Professor?" Albus asked surprised. Of course he should have expected Draco to have other teachers among his friends.
"Unfortunately he teaches Charms, Albus, not DADA." Severus remarked, then turned to Mike. "Professor Flitwick has held that position at Hogwarts for decades with excellent results. I doubt he has any intentions of quitting."
"Oh yes, Draco has told me so much about him." Mike smiled at Albus. "I wish I could meet him someday."
"We are planning to invite the entire Hogwarts staff to the wedding." Severus remarked. "But some of them will have to stay at the castle to watch the students. Remind me to introduce you to Filius, if he comes. Ah, thank you, Billy."
Billy was helping his mother to serve the tea. He was a little disappointed that Uncle Albus hadn't brought him a present this time, but then Uncle Albus was here to convince his parents to send him to a different school. Billy wasn't entirely sure how he felt about that.
He had always expected to go to school here in West Hogsmeade with all the other kids he knew from the park and from his primary school, but he loved his godfather dearly and Hogwarts held a sort of mystery. It would be interesting to see it from the inside, but all his friends would be here.
What was it like to go to boarding school and only come home during the holidays? It probably meant a lot more freedom and being an adult than going home to his mother everyday after school. Maybe it would even make him grow a little faster?
The conversation continued to consist of small talk and wedding plans and requests to pass the butter, until the doorbell rang once again. Munin, too, had apparently found his target at home.
Once again it was Billy who answered the door. "Good morning, headmaster." he greeted the man who arrived with Munin on his shoulder.
Albus shot around at the words. He hated sitting with his back to the door. The man was a complete stranger to him, an average wizard wearing a t-shirt and slightly faded jeans. If Albus had met him outside in the streets he'd have written him off as just another West Hogsmeade unemployed.
Oh well, so it was hard to tell the difference between the employed and the unemployed residents of West Hogsmeade.
"Ah, headmaster ..." Severus stood up to shake the man's hand, a gesture of respect Albus rarely saw from the grumpy head of Slytherin. "Thank you for coming. Albus, this is Ralph Donalds, the headmaster of West Hogsmeade Wizarding School."
That was what Severus had been waiting for! That sleazy Slytherin! For a moment Albus wondered whether he was in over his head. Despite Severus' presence he knew he was going to be the only representative of Hogwarts in this conversation, while West Hogsmeade was represented by its headmaster and two teachers. Not to mention that Sarah was on their side as well.
"You see Albus, I asked Ralph to meet with you, because I got the impression that you want Billy to attend your school." Severus continued.
"And as his godfather I am quite willing to finance his education as well." Albus threw in hastily.
"That is very kind of you, Albus," Severus nodded at him. "But aside from the financial problems I am also worried that Hogwarts doesn't offer its students nearly as big a variety of subjects as West Hogsmeade does. I fear that some of Billy's interests would be neglected there."
"We do have a Soccer team." Albus argued as he knew quite well how much Billy loved that game.
"A Soccer team that never plays against anybody." Severus pointed out. "And Billy has also been looking forward to taking Muggle Studies, which, though existing, is of very inferior quality at Hogwarts. What if in two years he'd like to take Conjuring? Or maybe he wants to learn Chemistry? He has already shown a great interest in Potions, so it might be just the thing for him. Alchemy is a family hobby, as you know. But of course Billy is his own person and might want to take a different path when he's older. He might develop an interest in Art, for example. West Hogsmeade offers several different clubs for its artistically inclined students. All Hogwarts has is a Chess club and occasionally Duelling classes."
"We don't have enough interested students for other clubs." Albus argued. "We'd gladly offer them, if enough students apply."
"Hogwarts doesn't have the numbers of students West Hogsmeade does." Severus confirmed. "I am sure Billy isn't the only student who'd profit from a larger variety of clubs and electives, however."
"West Hogsmeade has its shortcomings, too." Mike threw in. "We do not have the money to finance a Quidditch team, while you have four, and our Flying lessons are very limited and we lack a teacher for Divination."
"What Professor Tiller means is that we would like to offer you a partnership. Against a small fee your students could join our clubs and some electives, if we get to use your Flying equipment and Quidditch pitch and maybe send a few students into your Divination classes in return." Donalds explained. "We could also arrange Soccer matches or Chess tournaments and once we manage to build up an actual team even Quidditch games between our schools."
Albus blinked. The idea sounded familiar. Yes, Severus had suggested that before.
"It would also make it easier for Billy to keep contact with his friends, if he does attend Hogwarts, and he might look upon the idea more favourably." Severus hinted.
Albus was still trying to reorient himself. He had come here expecting to convince Sarah with facts about Hogwarts and offers of financial support. Instead he was offered a deal. Where was the catch?
"We can't have students wandering about between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade between classes." he argued. "It takes too much time, we can't supervise them on the entire way and they could use it as an excuse to sneak out of school. We'd hardly notice, if a student who doesn't take the subject walks out with a group headed to Conjuring class."
"We could use portkeys." Draco returned. "The staff member giving out the portkey would also have a list of students supposed to take it."
"Madame Hooch will want to supervise the use of our school brooms."
"We do not have an actual Flying teacher anyway." Donalds agreed. "Her number of working hours will shoot up, though."
"There could be more students in each Flying lesson and one of the other teachers could take over the function of Quidditch coach." Severus suggested. "And Hogwarts could also offer its rooms for some of the clubs so it wouldn't always be its students having to port in and out."
"We would have to co-ordinate schedules." Dumbledore cautioned.
"That shouldn't be a problem." Draco said. "For now it will only be a small number of third years taking the other school's electives and the clubs all meet outside of class time anyway. The main logistical problem will be Flying classes."
"And we don't have to offer those for everybody right away either." Donalds added. "We could start with only the first years, or maybe offer it as a club for the older students. There wouldn't have to be more than one lesson a week for our students either, as the Sports classes give them additional exercise anyway."
"Sports classes?" Albus asked confused.
"Oh, those are the best." Draco smiled in fond memory.
"You need a specially equipped room and an experienced, specially trained teacher, though." Mike warned. "Or else you'll have nothing but accidents. Students can get seriously hurt in Sports."
"So can we borrow your teacher and room?" Albus asked.
"They're very well booked during class time and some of the clubs are held in there outside of the usual hours." Donalds said sounding doubtful. "I don't see how we could fit that many students in."
"Maybe we could alternate between Sports and Flying classes?" Mike suggested.
"The Flying classes are larger than our Sports classes, though, so there would be several openings on our end requiring you to adapt your schedules." Draco commented. "Maybe there's a way to coordinate our Sports classes with your study hours, so you won't have to move around the other classes."
Dumbledore nodded slowly. It sounded like a good deal and it was apparently the only way to get Billy.
"Fine." he agreed. "I only hope Minerva hasn't sent out the third years' letters, yet. I will need a complete list of your electives as soon as possible."
Donalds calmly held out a scroll. "The electives and the clubs as well as the schedules as currently planed. We will need a similar list from you to be able to co-ordinate the schedules."
"I'll need the third years' new elective choices, before we can arrange the final schedules, but I can owl you the rest of the lists as soon as I get back to Hogwarts. The applications for the clubs are usually handed in during the first week of school, though."
"I think, I have a better idea." Severus smirked. "Munin!"
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Minerva had just gotten started on the fourth years' letters. She was beginning to get over her constant distraction problem. Her quills hadn't beeped at her for at least a quarter of an hour.
"Mr. Anatol Abrams." she dictated to the quill.
"Letter!" announced someone behind her.
Minerva shot around expecting to see one of the castle's ghosts as she would have noticed, if someone had come in through the door.
Instead it turned out to be Severus' strange bird.
"Letter!" Munin repeated accusingly and stretched out his leg towards her.
Severus was writing her? That was a rare occurrence. For a moment she wondered whether it might be a complaint about sending Albus to Merlin Park. Or had something happened to the headmaster?
McGonagall quickly grabbed the parchment away from the bird. Munin gave a protesting squawk at the sudden pull and retreated to the top of the next bookshelf where the witch couldn't reach him.
Minerva, I'm in a bit of a hurry, so I'll explain later. Do not send out any third year letters, yet. They will need to be changed. Please send me the schedules for the next school year and a list of students taking each elective as well as a list of all clubs that have been suggested for the new school year. Just give them all to Munin. He knows where to take them.
Albus
Albus? Via Snape's raven? And he hadn't even had the time to add a simple greeting? This really had to be urgent.
Luckily Minerva had copies of the elective lists with her, but the schedules weren't complete, yet and she had to run up to the headmaster's office for the clubs list and copy it as well as the schedules.
"Fly!" ordered Munin about ten minutes later.
The raven had flown down from his shelf again and was pacing the table impatiently.
Minerva shot him an annoyed glare and continued to copy down the sixth years' schedule.
"Fly!" Munin picked up one of the third year letters that were stacked beside her.
"Leave that." Minerva snapped. "Those are the ones I'm supposed to hold back."
Munin cocked his head at her, then flapped over to the stack of still empty envelopes on her other side. He picked one up and shoved it under her nose.
Minerva blinked. Just how intelligent was that bird?
"Yes, yes, thank you." she told him. "It just doesn't help me any until I finish copying the list."
Munin cocked his head again. "Write letter?"
"Yes." Minerva decided. "I have to write the letter first."
The raven seemed to be satisfied with that answer and flapped away to inspect one of the bookshelves. Minerva only hoped that he knew how to behave around books. Madame Pince wouldn't be happy, if she returned to find beak marks or bird droppings on her beloved books.
It took her another fifteen minutes to finish both copies and hand them over to the raven who took off without even waiting for her orders.
"I hope you know where to take it." Minerva called after the bird before returning her attention to the fourth years' letters. Albus absolutely had to wait with his letter until she had finished the third years, didn't he? If she'd known this morning, she'd already be well into the fourth years, maybe even done with them already.
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"Your schedules are overly complicated." Ralph Donalds declared after only a short glance at the parchments Munin brought back from his trip to Hogwarts. "Your first years have a seventh lesson twice a week and your Potions tacher works six hours on Saturday? Really Severus, I could offer you a better job."
"Even though I teach more classes." Draco added with a smirk.
"Then your students have fewer Potions lessons." Dumbledore stated.
"Three a week, in all seven years." Draco informed him. "I believe Hogwarts students have only two in the first two years."
"But then you'd have all the students in one year at the same time." Dumbledore frowned. "Do you really have so many squibs that you're left with a manageable number?"
"What does the number of squibs have to do with it?" Mike asked confused.
"Well, they wouldn't have Potions, would they?" Dumbledore returned.
"Why not?" Draco laughed. "All our students take Potions, of course. There is a maximum of 14 students in one Potions class, six classes a year, two of them squib classes that concentrate on theory, Potions that don't require a magical brewer and Chemistry, while the other four classes follow the usual curriculum just like the Hogwarts ones do, each at a different difficulty level."
Dumbledore's eyes widened. "Just how many Potions teachers do you have?"
"Two at the moment." Donalds explained. "I'm considering hiring a third, if I can get another Alchemist and bring in the money."
"An Alchemist?" Dumbledore asked. That was a rather ambitious goal considering how rare they were.
"I need someone equally capable of teaching Potions and Chemistry." Donalds explained. "Aaron did teach some squib classes until we got Draco, but he isn't an expert and there has been a notable improvement in our results since we have Draco."
"You have a Potions Master teaching Squibs?"
"As well as the most advanced Potions classes." Draco specified.
Albus did some fast calculations: Six Potions classes a year, two teachers. So each teacher would have three Potions classes a year, times seven, made twenty-one Potions classes, each for thee hours a week. That meant sixty- three teaching hours. West Hogsmeade didn't have any classes on Saturday, so there were only five days to distribute them to. So Draco would have to teach thirteen hours three days a week and twelve on the other two.
"How many hours of classes do you have in a single school day?" Albus asked.
"Six." Donalds answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"But then how do you get in that many Potions classes?"
Draco grinned. "Why, three at a time, of course."
"Your History teacher teaches two classes at the same time as well." Mike commented hardly glancing up from the Hogwarts schedules. "We do just the same, of course."
"Our History teacher is a ghost." Albus explained. "He can do that."
"And most of our staff are witches and wizards." Donalds smiled. "It's a simple magical twin charm."
"I believe we should start with the Hogwarts schedules." Mike suggested. "Ours are much more adaptable."
"Alright." Donalds agreed. "How about the Sports and Flying classes, though. Can we get this to work?"
"Well, we currently have 504 students." Draco said. "Hogwarts has fourty in an average year, 280 altogether. That's 784 students. If we are no longer limited by the number of school brooms, we can raise the number of students in each sports class to ... lets say sixteen. An even number is easier to split into teams and the teachers will have to be able to keep an eye on the group for safety reasons. That'd put us at forty-nine classes. About half of the students are girls, half boys so we get twenty-four boys classes and twenty-four girls classes with one mixed one."
"We can't mix girls and boys in Sports, Draco." Donalds yelped. "They have to undress in the changing room! And they're practically naked during class."
"We do have two changing rooms." Mike pointed out. "One group would just have to cross the corridor after changing."
"And walk though the other group's changing room!"
"So they'll have to wait until the teacher comes to get them after the other group's done." Sarah suggested practically.
"And they aren't naked." Draco said. "Their clothes are just more revealing than their uniform robes and some of them like to show a lot of skin, but it would be only one class. They have mixed Sports classes in primary school, too."
"Primary school students aren't as developed. There's nothing to see for them, nor do they have that kind of interest, yet." Donalds argued.
"The same goes for our youngest students." Draco stated. "Just pick the 16 smallest first years and they'll be fine."
"They'll be teased." Sarah threw in.
"Children get teased all the time." Severus shrugged it off. "They're old enough to have to know how to deal with it and, if they don't, it's high time they learned."
"The numbers of girls and boys in the other years won't split into groups of sixteen as nicely as the total number of students, though." Dumbledore warned.
"So we mix years." Draco shrugged. "Sports doesn't have a set curriculum that builds on the things learned the year before. The size and strength of the students should be homogenous for certain exercises, but that doesn't necessarily mean they have to be the same age. A tall sixth year might well be taller than some of the seventh years, so putting the smallest students of one year with the tallest of the next lower one might even be an improvement."
"Sports is held at the same time as one of the electives, though, so the choice of electives will influence what students are in a group more than their size." Mike reminded him.
"It still shouldn't be a big problem to put together students of two consecutive years. There will be four groups in each students' year. Only one of them will be mixed, so if each group is paired with a different elective, there should always be two groups during each student's study hours. If one turns out to be too tall, or too small for the mixed group, he can be switched with a student from the other group."
"Actually two of the classes will be mixed, except for the seventh years." Mike corrected. "One with the higher year and one with the lower. In some years that will result in five groups being available, though."
"We can work out the exact lists once we have the schedules." Donalds decided. "First we need to know when we can set the mixed classes at all. What about the Flying, though. There's only one location and a limited number of brooms for that, right?"
"A lot of Hogwarts students have their own brooms." Albus returned. "Only the first years aren't allowed them. Hogwarts has twenty-two school brooms at the moment and you could bring yours along to allow for classes bigger than that."
"That doesn't seem advisable." Severus commented. "Especially the first years who haven't flown before are at risk of colliding and falling off their brooms, if there are to many flyers in the air. The more students in one class, the less Hannah will be able to keep an eye on each individual one. Twenty-two should be the upper limit."
"Well, this would currently only concern the first years." Albus sighed. "Maybe Hannah can train Sybil to assist her and possibly teach classes of her own in a few years."
"Sybil?" Severus asked alarmed. "Sybil Trelawney?"
"She teaches only ten hours a week and sits holed up in her tower the rest of the time." Dumbledore commented. "Even with additional students from West Hogsmeade she isn't exactly overworked and she has no other particular skills besides her sight that she could teach."
"She also isn't the most reliable." Severus pointed out. "Even Hagrid would be safer. I would at least trust him to react correctly once a student gets hurt."
"Hagrid teaches ten hours on top of being the groundskeeper. He doesn't need an additional job." Albus returned.
"I wasn't suggesting him anyway." Severus grumbled. "How about Victoria or Julian, though?"
Albus hesitated for a moment. Professor Vector was already in charge of the Chess club even, if that didn't necessarily fill up her schedule. The Muggle Studies Professor however had no other offices at all.
"Julian it is." he decided. "He should enjoy it, too."
"So how many Flying classes will we have to fit into the schedule?" Mike asked.
"We're expecting forty first years this year, give or take one or two, as we haven't heard back from them, yet." Albus reported.
"We will have forty-eight for Flying class, as the squibs won't be able to take it." Donalds added.
"Perfect." Draco smiled. "That's eighty-eight students in four groups of twenty-two each."
"Any more students in a future year will create a problem, though." Albus commented.
"Lets wait and see how well your Flying teacher can deal with this year's groups before we make any decisions whether to increase the number of students or add a fifth group." Donalds suggested. "Lets just worry about correlating the schedules now. We'd best put all the electives on the same time even, if we don't combine the classes. That way we can combine students from both schools in all Sports classes."
"Is that really such a good idea?" Albus was a little worried about it. "The children are from very different backgrounds. I think we should keep them separate as much as possible."
"That will only further prejudice and start a rivalry between the schools." Sarah snapped. "They need a chance to get to know each other."
"How do you intend to split forty students into groups of sixteen and by gender anyway?" Mike asked. "They will all be available during different electives, too. It will be easier to distribute them between all the groups."
Albus sighed. "Fine, but how do we guarantee their safety."
Donalds just looked insulted at that, Draco frowned and Mike rolled his eyes.
"There will be someone in charge of the portkeys at both ends anyway." Severus answered dryly. "If you wish that person can also accompany the students to their classrooms until the teacher arrives."
"And who should that person be?" Mike asked suddenly. "It can hardly be a teacher who's required elsewhere."
"The caretakers." Draco suggested. "They're old friends and will work together well and they both know how to keep unruly students in check."
"I would prefer someone I know at your end." Albus insisted.
"You know David." Draco sighed. "He was four years behind me at Hogwarts. David Smith, Slytherin."
"The boy that kept trailing after Argus?"
"Yes, Caretaker always was his dream job." Severus grumbled. "I suppose that is some type of ambition as well."
Mike had picked up the class lists again. "You have an average of only nine students a year in Muggle Studies?"
"Yes, the subject is rather unpopular, I'm afraid."
"Our average is thirty students." Mike continued. "In two classes of fifteen each. If we combined them, we'd have two classes of twenty and free a teacher for another elective."
"West Hogsmeade's Muggle Studies has a much higher level anyway." Draco commented.
"But Julian won't be required during Flying classes that much for the moment. He'll only be assisting with the first years." Albus said. "What do I do with him over the next years?"
"How good is he at Potions?" Donalds asked.
"Worthless." hissed Severus. "He's a near squib that left Hogwarts after his first year and went to a Muggle school. He taught Philosophy and English to Muggle students for a while, then found he needed a magical education after all. He took evening classes with Professor Flitwick and started to teach Muggle Studies."
"He could teach Philosophy as a club then." Draco suggested. "And maybe take over the Poetry club. Then Professor Dulac could start the French for magical students class she's been wanting to."
"We could even make that an elective." Donalds beamed. "French has been a mandatory subject for our squibs for almost as long as the school exists, but we've never given the other students the chance to learn it and it is quite useful when dealing with foreign wizards."
"So we have French as an additional elective at West Hogsmeade and I'll ask Julian to create a Philosophy and a Poetry club at Hogwarts."
"Our Conjuring teachers also run the Musik club which has several different groups and, if we can finance it, would like to add a Choir." Mike continued.
"We could finance and house the Choir, if we get enough members." Dumbledore promised. "Ours died due to lack of interest from the students. We need at least ten singers."
"No problem." said Donalds. "At least twice that many of our Conjuring students said they were interested last year."
"You have about ten students in Ancient Runes, we have eighteen." Mike read out. "That's not so good. Too many students to combine, but each of the teachers works only ten hours and our second Latin teacher is having a baby. We were hoping our Runes teacher could replace her."
"The twin charm would work on Professor Calligra as well, though." Severus commented.
"But the two parts of her, can't move that far apart." Mike explained. "The spell would fail."
"Then we have to move one of the classes to the other school." Draco suggested.
"The Muggle Studies classroom will be empty anyway." Albus stated.
"Then we have Care for Magical Creatures and Arithmancy, both strong classes at both schools." Mike continued. "Combining anything there wouldn't make much sense. Your Divination classes are small enough that adding a few of our students shouldn't cause a problem. The talent is rare after all."
"Professor Circula would be willing to teach Mathematics as an additional elective." Draco stated.
"Draco, I know that Muggle subjects are your pet project and they are indeed very important, especially in the interest of our squibs, but the financing of ten additional teaching hours is rather problematic. Not to forget the additional room required." Donalds started.
"Wait a minute, Ralph." Draco stopped him. "We're moving our Runes classes to Hogwarts. I doubt Math will require more than one classroom, but we have two Runes rooms right now. We could turn one into Math class and use the other for French and we're saving money on all the classes we're combining with Hogwarts."
"What if French requires two classrooms?" Donalds returned.
"Over a quarter of our students already have French as a mandatory subject." Draco stated calmly. "Do you really think that more than a third of the rest will choose it?" It will be popular with the voluntary Muggle Studies students and maybe the Runes students, but I doubt the mass that picks Care for Magical Creatures or Conjuring will go for it and Math will draw the Arithmancy students more."
"It can't hurt to give it a chance." Mike suggested. "We can do a trial run this year. If it really turns out to be a financial problem, we can do without the Basket Weaving club for a while."
"And we can clean out another classroom at Hogwarts, if there really are more applications than expected." Dumbledore stated. "There's a former Divinations classroom on the second floor that I always thought was very nice and the old Conjuring class is quite conveniently located as well."
Billy suppressed a yawn. This was boring!
"Can I take the dog out, Dad?" he asked to get away. "I think he needs to go."
"Of course, Billy." Severus answered distractedly.
"Keep him away from the Harpers' poodle, though." Sarah admonished. "I don't want Regina coming over here complaining again."
"Regina Harper complains all the time." Billy frowned. "No matter what I do. She's just a Bitch."
"No, she owns a bitch." Sarah corrected, but Billy wasn't listening anymore.
"Come on, Dog!" he shouted and they left the flat under lots of happy barking. The adults could hear the noise until they had reached the ground floor.
"You really should put up some silencing charms." Albus commented.
"What for?" Sarah asked him. "Then we wouldn't hear, if that dog runs into any trouble out there."
"And that's not really an if," Severus added. "It's a when."
"Do you realise that your first and second years have five lessons per week less than ours, even though they have a day more of school and a night class?" Mike asked staring at the Hogwarts schedules again.
"Only some years have Saturday classes and never more than two lessons." Albus defended weakly. "Five hours of what?"
"One each of Charms, DADA, Transfigurations and Latin." Mike reported. "You really should reconsider that crazy schedule of yours. A simple charm could save you so much trouble."
"We'd still need a second Potions classroom. Severus commented. "Everything else could be arranged, but none of the other rooms are equipped for Potions."
"Oh, come on! Even we managed to equip six!" Donalds almost snorted. "Get your rich parents to fund it."
"The parents?" Dumbledore asked. "They already pay school money. We can't just demand even more."
"Not demand, Dumbledore." Draco smirked. "Ask for donations in the interest of a better education for their kids. It worked when one of our TVs broke last year."
"A classroom is more expensive than that." Severus stated.
"But the parents of your students can afford it." Mike returned. "If the poor families of West Hogsmeade are willing to give some of their money for the equipment of their children's school, the rich purebloods should be able to do the same. They won't even feel it."
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Minerva was well into the fifth years' letters by the time the headmaster returned from his 'short visit' in Merlin Park.
"Ah Minerva, making good progress today, I see." he greeted her smiling happily.
Minerva glanced at the three stacks of finished letters on her desk.
"The ones on the left are the third years' letters you told me to hold back."
"Ah yes, we will have to replace the book lists." Albus nodded. "For the Muggle Studies students in the higher years as well, by the way. Which reminds me that I have to owl Julian right away."
"You decided to change the Muggle Studies textbooks while talking to Severus about Billy?" Of course anything was possible with Dumbledore.
"We are combining our Muggle Studies class with West Hogsmeade." Albus stated.
"What!" She must have misheard. Minerva thought of the green dressed children and shuddered.
"Severus agreed to send Billy to Hogwarts, if I agreed to a school partnership." Albus explained. "It means we get to participate in their clubs and electives and they in ours. That allows us to add three more electives, but we also have to pass out new application forms to the third years."
"But Albus, if we don't announce the book lists right now ..."
"We can announce everything except the electives. For them we will have to collect the money from the students once they get here and place a combined order. The West Hogsmeade bookshop will be very happy about the business."
"Classes with the gang kids?"
"Draco did fine among them during his suspension." Albus answered. "In fact he found friends much faster there than he ever did at Hogwarts. And we're not leaving them alone. There'll always be an adult along to supervise them."
"And we get Billy in return?"
"Billy, additional classes and all sorts of scheduling and financing tips. West Hogsmeade is one well organised school."
Minerva cast one last glance at her letters. "Very well, what are the new electives?"
If she set one quill to write the forms and the other the book lists, she could address the new envelopes and finish the third years today. Then she had to rewrite the book lists for the Muggle Studies students in fourth year. Luckily their letters were still unsealed. She hadn't added the elective books to the fifth years' letters, yet and the sixth and seventh years' weren't even started. Yes, it could be done, if she put in a late shift.
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Madame Moony – Ah, but how much better would it be at West Hogsmeade whee the Potions teacher is his brother? ... No, Sarah's the one that doesn't like the way Hogwarts is run. But have you ever tried to arrange a working schedule for all of Hogwarts' years and houses? With no teacher teaching more than one class at a time? I've played the game for several of my fics now and it never works out right. Poor Sevi is the most overworked teacher of all times in PoA. He can't possibly get the 14 classes he is teaching Potions into one week, but he takes some of Remus' classes as well!
JerseyPike – Oh, they do that anyway, you just never know in advance for what story (or even fandom ... if they aren't originals). The problem is they live inside my head and they're spiky.
Pam Briggs – Sorry, it took this long. The death of my grandfather, computer problems, an injured horse and a non-working scanner have been keeping me from writing and posting.
KRP – I usually try to update every week, but with my scanner out of business I can't make any promises right now. ... Nope, Albus definitely didn't know what he was getting into. he West Hogsmeade gang took him by surprise.
Zinia – No, but we'll see Billy at his new school. Harry's wife? Nobody you know. She went to Beauxbattons and Harry met her through his job at the Ministry of Magic.
daphnemand14 – Sorry, about that. I'm afraid I can get that way. (I managed to cry myself to sleep over a story I thought up once ... Maybe I should write that one someday, but it isn't a fanfic.)
dstrbd child – Sorry, but it was the only way to get Albus to agree to that school partnership. (Stubborn old bumblebee!)
Thistle – Not having the established characters? You got Minerva, Albus, Sevi, Draco, Mike, Munin, Hugin and That Dog. And you'll get a little more of Billy in the next chapter.
Elsa – Well, she still lost this round, but she's got a Hufflepuff heart, so she's happy for West Hogsmeade anyway.
ERMonkey, Queen of Insanity – Sorry this took so long. I hope things will get better again from now on, but I'm not promising anything until I find out whether the scanner can and will be repaired.
Kate – Of course you know him, but he wasn't a Raker. (Isn't it obvious? It's Nick.) ... The Aurors would probably do a less thorough job, be very polite and leave the flat perfectly neat, but they would at least go through the motions.
kassio – Well, Jack grew up to be an unemployed drunkard who tends to steal rather than work whenever his money runs out. From time to time he gets caught. No Soccer, I'm afraid. I'll show a little of Billy's first days of school, but not the Soccer team, I think, at least not much of it. ... There are plot hedgehogs for my next fic running rampant in my head and readers from two other fandoms asking me for chapters/sequels. Oh, if I had the time to do it all! Unfortunately my boss expects me to work for my money, though. ... Minerva is trying to be open minded, but she was raised in a world full of prejudice. Billy is Severus' son, though and she has known Sevi for a while now. The thought of his son not going to Hogwarts is impossible to her. ... Draco was a bit distracted with his big news. It should be assumed that he did comment on her presence sometimes during the meal, but the conversation soon returned to his wedding. (He had his bride to be next to him, so what do you expect?) ... Well, you know what ministries are like. Lifting a ban might constitute admitting a mistake, you know. That might make the minister look bad ...)
Romulus – As you see Sevi collected his troops and did just what you suggested. Finally he had Albus where he wanted him. ... Sarah doesn't want to teach. She prefers to brew medicine for the hospital and they're really glad to have her there. She's a healer at heart, not a teacher. ... And the only thing Billy will learn in a first year Potions class is patience and how many obvious mistakes-any-dunderhead-knows-to-avoid your average eleven year old can make. The boy grew up in a flat with three alchemists. He's been brewing his own pepper-up potion whenever he had a cold for about two years, now. There's a good chance he'll be tutoring the weaker second years before long.
Gwynevere – No, Greenie never was turned back, but he's quite happy that way. 'Sniff! Sniff!' (Isn't it the most natural thing in the world to be green? What else would I want to be?)
Merlyn – Well, Sevi never really said it that clearly. Each of them assumed that it was the most natural thing in the world for Billy to go to one certain school. ... Ah, but adults never listen to kids and there's the chance to improve both schools. Don't worry, Billy will be fine in the end. He's a tough little Merlin Park kid. Those can deal with anything (even rich Hogwarts snobs.)
Lady Alexandria09 – Ralph Donalds.
Hotuko – Minerva is actually just trying to help. Unfortunately she doesn't understand the situation. She's great at dealing with straightforward Gryffindors, but the Slytherins are too complex for her to interpret correctly.
Little Red Rabbit – Oh, I love that bunny of yours. (I had a pet bunny as a child, so I'm a bit partial to them.)
Teri – THabks. Sorry this is so late.
Alia5 – Ah, I think in that case I like catroaches. Cats are wonderful, roaches however are bug shaped and despite all my efforts to be friends with all animals: Uh ... at a distance, roachy, okay?
Weasleylover1 – Yep, Matt is the right name. ... Believe it or not Neville married Anya, the very girl Draco didn't get along with at West Hogsmeade. They've gotten over their differences, though, and the two pairs are very good friends. ... Actually, Draco liked West Hogsmeade better, but he never disliked Hogwarts either.
Colibi – Sorry, but he will take all his electives there.
SunnyKitten – I'm glad to hear that of the Russian translations as I never learned the language and have no way of judging them myself, which always makes it harder to decide whether to agree to letting someone translate a story or not. ... Well, Luci never wanted to become a teacher, nor did he ever learn how to teach. The bad thing is, I have seen and had teachers that weren't much better. Luckily their subjects weren't as dangerous as Potions.
Miamaus – Ich fürchte Minerva wird kaum zu bewegen sein noch mal in Merlin Park aufzutauchen. Wahrscheinlich würden sie sich, genau wie bei Albus, etwas besser benehmen, aber ihren Autrag dennoch erfüllen. Sie können ja schlecht zu ihrem Chef zurückkommen und sagen: „Tut uns leid, aber die Snapes hatten grad Besuch. Da wollten wir nicht stören."
Paladin3030 – Sorry about the long wait, but I can't post, if I don't have a complete chapter on the computer. (Glares at scanner. Ready light gleams back innocently: "Want me to scan another blank green page?") ... No, Hermione is still single. Harry married a nice French witch that we haven't met, yet.
Snake – Thanks.
,00, - Um ... on the page in my scanner, that it just won't scan correctly. ... I'm afraid the Lions have no way of getting at Albus and even, if they did, he's quite capable of ungreening himself within seconds ... That is, if he doesn't feel like being green ...
Elaanabeth – Careful about claiming copyright in these things. There are so many versions of Sevi's nickname going around, it might already be taken. (Official statement by the way: I first saw 'Sevi' used by J.L. Matthews, my absolutely favourite HP author.)
Gwynevere – Well, I think I can admit that you're absolutely correct by the time you read this. You have finished Double O by now, don't you?
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- A/N: Will Billy be okay at Hogwarts? How will the other teachers react? And how will the West Hogsmeade students be received at Hogwarts?
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In the next chapter: Billy wants a pet and gets sorted and meets his new dormmates.
