Chapter 1:
A well-made decision
August 9
The Ministry of Magic
"No. I don't care if he's Merlin reincarnated, I won't have it."
For the fifth time, the argument began again, but most of the upper-level Ministers were growing tired and it seemed that Fudge's tenacity was going to win over all their protests. They all knew that they weren't going to win this argument, and what protests were left were born of principle rather than necessity.
"Fine. Who are you going to have replace him? We cannot spare anyone, and the board of governors will never approve anyone who isn't qualified. Which is no one we have here."
"Don't be such an idiot, Humphrey. Do you think I started this without a plan?"
Humphrey kept his mouth shut. It would be exactly like Fudge to start trouble without a plan. Cleaning up messes was not the work of the Minister of Magic. "Who?"
"It will have to be a Pureblood to pass Malfoy's inspection, and someone he can keep under his thumb, and we all know that the board won't stand up to Malfoy." That was the type of statement that once would have shocked people, but the times were such that it took significantly more to shock the Ministers than accusations that Lucius Malfoy used his considerable power to bend the Board of Governors to his will. They weren't ready to accept that such a powerful man might not be on their side, but they could accept a touch of extortion.
"The one I have in mind is above reproach, even for Lucius Malfoy. In fact, I believe he will be a staunch supporter."
"And what about the teachers? After last year's fiasco, you can't expect them to step calmly aside while the Ministry..."
Fudge grimaced. "Last year was an unfortunate error in judgement. Of course they will balk at Ministry interference, but this time, there will be no Ministry official in the school, so it shouldn't be such an issue."
Humphrey looked doubtful. "And qualified? Cornelius, I am not going to cast my vote for anyone who isn't qualified for the position. I disagreed with Umbridge's appointment, and I think you did lasting harm with it, and by Merlin, I will not cast my vote for anyone else who is not qualified. We have those students, and the future of our world to think about, and I don't care if we're here until the sun explodes, I am not going to approve anyone who doesn't have the qualifications." From most of the wizards and witches at that table, such a threat would have been empty. But Jeffrey Humphrey was the Minister of Education, and he could get away with such a bland statement. At least, until he was replaced, and he wasn't sure that his replacement wouldn't come within a month if he didn't approve Fudge's 'suggestion'. Oh well. There were worse things than being fired by Cornelius Fudge, and increasingly, Humphrey wasn't sure he didn't wish it. He had a sense of duty that wouldn't let him simply quit, but if he were sacked...
"And what qualifications do you think are required? The Headmistress of Hogwarts-- sign a few papers, make a few speeches at the beginning and end of term and smile for the parents. There is nothing..."
A chorus of snorts interrupted the Minister. Perhaps that was what was required of him but they all had a much better idea of what a position of authority entailed. Fudge was a figurehead, the rest of them had true power.
"There is nothing to worry about."
Humphrey sighed. "I want a teacher. Someone who knows what teachers have to put up with and..."
It was Fudge who snorted this time. "Bah. Teachers are a knut a dozen. You read a book and give a test. What's so hard?"
Humphrey just glowered. "I'd like to see you survive a year at Hogwarts," he muttered half under his breath.
Fudge ignored him. "Anyway, you'll be pleased. The witch I have in mind is a teacher. She taught charms at Beauxbatons."
Humphrey frowned, trying to remember who taught charms at Beauxbatons. His most recent memory was of a lovely young witch whose name eluded him, but she was just that-- young. Her predecessor had been a wizard with a terribly common name. Jones or Humperdink or some such. His predecessor might have been a witch, but the last witch he knew for certain had taught charms at that school was a woman who had always struck him as cross and stern. Almost like Minerva McGonagall, in fact, and Humphrey could see her as a Headmistress quite clearly. If she was Fudge's choice, he had to admit that it was a well-made decision. Possibly the first in Fudge's career. "Well," he said carefully, after a long pause, "who is it?"
"A teacher with ties to the Malfoys and no affiliation with Dumbledore. What more could you ask, Humphrey? Her name is Regalia Malfoy, a distant cousin or great-aunt or some such to Lucius. I doubt you've ever met her."
Of course. Professor Malfoy. How in the name of Merlin's beard had he forgotten that she was a Malfoy? As soon as Fudge said that, the image in his mind clarified, and he could clearly see the pale blond hair and pale gray eyes and aristocratic features. He nodded briskly. "Very well," he conceded. "If you are determined to remove Dumbledore-- and I want to make it perfectly clear that I still think that is a mistake!-- then I suppose I can agree to Regalia Malfoy."
Fudge's eyes lit up. "Excellent! Is there any more discussion on the matter?" Of course none of the other Ministers said anything; it was good form, after all, for all the Ministers to support an appointment approved by the Minister who headed the department it affected. "Excellent. Then, shall we vote and be off to our dinners?"
The vote was unanimous. No one had the energy to argue with Fudge that Dumbledore was not a threat to his position, and at least he had a suitable replacement in mind. Perhaps not the best of situations, but better than was to be expected. Humphrey hoped that the worst he was going to have to contend with would be wounded pride on the part of Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress who had been passed up in favor of an outsider.
August 12
Hogwarts
"I can't believe this. I refuse to believe it!" Minerva McGonagall had been alternating between irritated pacing and sitting in her chair, drumming her fingers against the table, fuming softly. Just now she was sitting, drumming her fingers.
"Believe it, Minerva, and I don't see how it's so difficult to see when that imbecile is still in the Ministry. Unfortunate that Dumbledore doesn't want his job. He'd make ten times the better Minister of Magic than Cornelius Fudge does. And I'm not sure that assessment isn't insultingly conservative." Severus Snape was calm, at least, even if it was a carefully constructed shell to hide his inner fury. Bloody politicians interfering where they had no business poking their noses.
Minerva was up again, pacing. "Of all the idiotic, irresponsible things to do! Removing Albus at a time like this. If I had Fudge here, I'd give him a piece of my mind to chew on while I beat some sense into his..." she slammed her palm against the table suddenly, making half the room jump. "How dare he put politics above the welfare of our children?"
"Calm down, Minerva. Maybe she won't be so bad. I know it must chafe that they promoted from without but..."
"DO YOU THINK I GIVE A BLODDY RAT'S ASS ABOUT THE PROMOTION, FILIUS?" she screamed. Severus' mood darkened and a scowl curled the corners of his mouth. He bloody well cared. If Minerva had been promoted to Headmistress, then all speculation was that he would have been made Deputy Headmaster, and next in line for Headmaster. He was a patient man, and willing to go through the channels, but it bloody well infuriated him that in addition to removing Dumbledore unjustly, the Ministry had seen fit to look elsewhere for a replacement. It was, of course, the sacking of Dumbledore that was foremost in his mind, and he was fiercely loyal to the old coot. And, even had the proper channels been followed, it would have been enough to enrage him. As it was, though, the fact that the appointment was coming from outside of Hogwarts was salt in an open wound.
"Shhh, shhh. There, now, perhaps it will all work out well in the end." Seria Sprout was smiling hopefully, as only a Hufflepuff could. Severus snorted, making his opinion of that hope perfectly clear.
"Now, you must all admit that I did warn you this would happen and..."
A collective groan interrupted Sybill. "You predict death and destruction at least four times a day, Sybill. What was supposed to make this prediction more noteworthy than any of the others?" At least Sybill's indignation had distracted Minerva for a moment, which was a thankful reprieve.
Clearing his throat softly, Severus drew everyone's attention back to him. "Momentarily disregarding how utterly outrageous the circumstances are, may I suggest we return to discussing what we are going to do?"
After a moment, heads bobbed in reluctant nods of agreement. "After that troll Umbridge, I don't think any of us can afford to stand up to anyone new," Minerva pointed out. "Those notes are still in all our records, and I fear they will be permanently."
"You don't honestly think that they make a difference, do you?" This was Poppy Pomfrey, who had been written up four times in that year for telling Draco Malfoy to be about his business somewhere besides the Hospital Wing.
Severus rolled his eyes. "Just to be sure I'm clear on what you are asking, Poppy, you are questioning if the Ministry of Magic--the same Ministry that pulled Dumbledore from his position because they are frightened he will take Fudge's job-- would use negative reports made by their last appointment at Hogwarts to remove a teacher from his or her job here? Certainly not, unless that teacher was a threat." A threat to someone in the Ministry. "Tell me, Poppy, have you your eye on the Ministry of Health?" She glowered at him, and he knew he'd struck a nerve.
"Let's not bicker," Flitwick pleaded. "We have enough against us without causing more problems for ourselves."
Everyone agreed, even Severus, begrudgingly.
"Well, Severus," Minerva looked to the potions master. "Do you know anything about Regalia Malfoy?"
He shook his head with a frown. "I know precisely what you know-- that she has been teaching at Beauxbatons and is some distant relative of Lucius. I even asked him about it, and he couldn't define who she was. He's met her twice, I believe." With a sigh, Severus steepled his hands in his lap. "As for the Malfoys... at their best, they are demanding of quality and possess an innate political skill that is unmatched in any other family. At their worst they are ruthless and manipulative. And your guess is as good as mine as to which of those characteristics this one has." He shrugged slightly. "It is probably in our best interests to be cooperative." Hardly encouraging, but it was all he had to offer.
Minerva snorted. "I have other concerns than my job," she said pointedly, and Severus raised an eyebrow.
"Perhaps you should rethink your priorities, then. If we are all replaced here, who will see to the welfare of the students? Don't be a dunderhead, Minerva. This school needs teachers who are not under the Ministry's thumb, and I guarantee that if they look for a new Transfiguration teacher, it will not be someone so willing to stand up to them. Choose your battles, and worry about the war."
She scowled again, but nodded, seeming to accept the logic behind his words. "Then what do you suggest we do, Severus?" she asked pointedly. "Are we to kiss the ground this Regalia Malfoy walks on?"
A slow, dangerous smile tugged the corners of Severus' lips upward. "Of course not," he replied with a sneer. "But we must be selective about our protesting. Of course, we can make her position quite uncomfortable without jeopardizing ourselves or our positions."
A/N:
Okay, so this story suddenly popped into my head and I had to start on it... I don't even know where it's going yet. Rating is for language which I'm sure will creep in (because I could make a sailor blush with my swearing) and the genre might change, because I have a habit of making people fall in love, despite my intentions...
But, anyway, read and review! I'm going to try to make this one a bit more plot-oriented than my previous stories.
