"Well, what do you think of her?"

The her in question was, of course, Regalia Malfoy. It was all anyone thought about or talked about it seemed, and Severus was almost tired of it. Almost. Except that he was never precisely tired of offering his own opinion, even if he grew exceptionally tired of listening to everyone else's. Minerva hated her, plainly put, but could offer no real reason why, though Severus stood by his original conjecture that it had a great deal to do with how young Malfoy was and how successful she was at that young age. Filius, of course, was practically in love with her. He called her folder 'brilliant!' and her little bit of jungle 'ingenious'. She could do no wrong in his eyes, already, and the way he looked at her was something like a teacher looking at a favored student. Pomona seemed determined to give her a chance, and the benefit of the doubt, but even that dumpy little witch had been more than a trifle miffed after meeting with the Headmistress. Hagrid loved her, as was to be expected; after all, Malfoy let exotic birds fly around unattended in her office, so what wasn't there for the gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures professor to love? Sybill hated her with a passion, and went on about an aura that was 'black as jet'. Severus interpreted this as meaning 'the bitch is prettier and more eloquent than I.' Vector hated her, Sinastra refused to offer an opinion at all. Poppy was already singing her praises, as Regalia had, apparently, already seen to half a dozen requests that Poppy had made. Requests Poppy had been making for years.

That, above all else, was one thing everyone agreed on: whether they liked the woman or not, she had accomplished more in the last three days than they had seen in the last two years. Dumbledore, while a beloved Headmaster and colleague, had his fingers in too many pies, and now that he wasn't there, and it wasn't a troll like Umbridge taking his place, the faculty could see this. For years, Albus Dumbledore had divided his attention between Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic and, as some of them knew at least, the Order of the Phoenix, and there were, unsurprisingly, things that slipped by unnoticed. Small things. Inconsequential, really. The Muggle Studies texts, for instance. They were fifteen years out of print. All the other class sets of texts were more on the order of fifty and a hundred years old, but it was easy enough to acknowledge that Charms and Transfiguration did not change so rapidly as Muggle technology and culture did. Malfoy had procured three new telescopes for Sinastra, and the astronomy professor was ecstatic to discover that she could count the rings around Uranus with the new telescopes; the others in her class were relics from more than a century ago.

Filch wasn't particularly pleased with Regalia Malfoy; after all, the time he normally spent prowling the halls for mischief was going to be considerably less if the current trend continued; in just two days, Malfoy had written more than seventy-five work orders. Stairs that creaked and walls in need of patches, leaks in the roof, windows that needed caulking... it was an old castle, and despite a generally gilded appearance, it was showing its age.

Yesterday, during a half-hour lull in her busy schedule, Regalia Malfoy had made her way down to the dungeons, and she'd watched while he was working. He had a new potion on his curriculum this year, having become entirely disenchanted with the creative ways his fourth years perpetually ruined a Soothing Solution, and for the last three weeks, he hadn't missed an opportunity to brew the potion, determined to familiarize himself with every stage of its preparation. Malfoy had seated herself near him, though at enough of a distance that she was not in the way, and watched silently. After several minutes of observing, she asked, "May I ask what you're making?"

Momentarily, Severus had considered a harsh retort, but thought better of it. "It's a mild Petrifaction Potion," he replied, adding a small packet of spider webs to the cauldron. "I've replaced another potion with it for this year, and I'm still looking for ways a student could possibly create something dangerous from it."

Malfoy exhaled a soft snort of laughter, but nodded, continuing to watch. "Do they often manage to make a benign potion dangerous?"

"More often than I care to have happen," he replied, frowning at the spider webs. If the students doubled them, they'd have... a mess. And a bigger mess if they forgot them all together, and a bigger mess still if they left them to boil for too long. Messes were acceptable, and cleaning up after a mess was a good detention.

"Is it through carelessness?" she asked.

"Generally, yes. Not following directions, sloppy preparation." He frowned into the cauldron, watching carefully for the change in color that would indicate that it was time to add viper scales. "Sometimes it's the cauldrons, which is usually carelessness still, not cleaning it properly from the previous potion, not noticing cracks or imperfections. Sometimes it's their phials, I think. I've seen students who could never manage a potion, and I've watched them from start to finish, and their technique is beyond reproach, and even I can't get it right using their equipment. I can't control the quality of merchandise sold in Diagon Alley, unfortunately." Most of this was spoken with a detached, almost disinterested tone; his mind was on the subtle differences in the surface of the liquid.

"Their phials are faulty?" Malfoy asked, sounding surprised.

"Mm," he assented. "Quality phials should be crystal, but crystal is expensive, so glass is allowed. Well-made glass phials can be as accurate as crystal, but there is a wide variety of glass sold in Diagon Alley. Some of them wouldn't do to mix beverages."

"And how do you know which ones are of decent quality?"

He glanced up at her. "Sometimes you can tell by looking. If there are bubbles in the glass, or if one side is thicker than another, if they're crooked, cloudy-looking... Usually, though, it's hard to see."

"Then what's the solution?"

"Damned if I know," Severus replied softly, almost to himself. "I've been trying to find a way to correct the problem for years."

"Surely there's a solution somewhere?"

"I'm sure there is, but as I said, I don't know what it is."

"What would be the ideal solution?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Insist on crystal," he replied promptly. "Unfortunately, a set of quality crystal phials is more expensive than four sets of glass."

"Hrm. I'll have to think on that."

Apparently, she had thought about it, because this morning when he woke, he'd had a note from her. Well, perhaps a 'note' would be understating it a bit-- he'd had a three-page proposal. The short summary of her suggestion was that they remove the phials from the supply list, invest in a class set, and have the students each pay five sickles per year, four of which would be refunded if the student did not break any of the phials. A moment of math had brought him to the conclusion that even a student who never saw a knut of their deposit back would be paying just barely more for the use of the crystal than he would have paid for a set of glass. And, provided the students did not break their phials, the school would actually make a tidy profit after three years. A profit which, Malfoy suggested, should be used to offset the costs the Potions Master incurred in obtaining some of the more expensive and less common ingredients he used in demonstrations. The only suggestion Severus had was that the refunded deposit be based on how many phials a student broke, rather than the 'all or none' that she had proposed. He was thinking about Longbottom who broke at least three phials each term. Malfoy had agreed, and, at lunch today, had told him that she would be submitting the proposal to the Ministry of Education for approval.

Severus had snorted at that. "It won't happen," he told her bluntly. "But it's an appreciated gesture."

"It will happen," she replied, "or I'll make such a nuisance of myself that they'll agree just to get me to go away."

Severus was not holding his breath, but he did allow himself to hope she would make good on her promise. And whether she did or not, he realized that the effort counted strongly in her favor, as far as he was concerned.

"I'm still reserving judgement," he replied to the question Pomona had asked him. "I truly haven't decided." And if he had decided, and the decision was that he didn't like her, he doubted he would voice that opinion until after the week was over; after all, he wouldn't find out whether he had the Defense Against the Dark Arts position until then, and he didn't want to jeopardize his chances by gossiping about her. Somehow, he was certain that the gossip would reach her ears eventually.

The door opened suddenly, and Severus, Pomona, Minerva and Filius all straightened, almost imperceptibly as Malfoy glided gracefully into the room. Today she wore purple, deep and rich, her hair braided and wound about her head like a crown.

"Good afternoon," she greeted them smoothly, her velvet voice lending a richness to the words. "Thank you for coming."

Minerva coughed into her handkerchief, and Severus was certain that it was a protest of sorts-- they hadn't much choice about coming, after all. Regalia Malfoy wanted to speak with the Heads of the Houses, and so they were assembled.

"There are several things we need to discuss," she was saying, placing the now-infamous folder on the table and taking out her quill. "First and foremost being the rescheduling. I want us to make a special effort to rewrite all the students' schedules before they arrive..." a chorus of protests interrupted her, but she continued, raising her voice slightly, as though no one had spoken, "...so that we will have as many of them completed as we can manage. I believe that the rescheduling of classes will benefit everyone, but it will take a fair bit of work to see that the student schedules reflect the changes. I'd much rather we spend a few days on it than to try and have the students do it themselves when they return, and give up a week of classes."

Severus closed his eyes, envisioning being up until all hours of the night with this project. There were two hundred and twelve students in Slytherin, which meant two hundred and twelve pieces of paper and...

"Now, I realize that this seems a monstrous undertaking, but before we panic, I want to remind you all that the first and second year schedules will be quite easy, really, since they all have the same classes. And, I also want to remind you all that there are really only six classes that have been reorganized drastically, and we did attempt to even out where it would hit. I believe, Professor Snape, that you will need to concentrate on seeing all your students in Transfiguration and Defense of the Dark Arts. Professor McGonagall, your focus will be Potions and Charms. Professor Flitwick, your students are most likely to need Herbology and Potions rearranged. Professor Sprout, Charms and Astronomy."

If this is as easy as looking at two classes, I'll eat my scarf, Severus thought sourly, but penned the note to himself. It was the classes everyone took that had been rearranged, and, perhaps it would be worth it. Severus was rather looking forward to having a planning period every day, after all, so maybe it was worth the inconvenience of rescheduling everyone. And, since they were the classes everyone took, the schedules would all be largely the same really. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe. Of course, he could already envision students enrolled in Charms and Herbology at the same time.

"So, shall we pick a time to meet and work on this as a group? Or would you rather work on it individually? And do you want help? I can have the other teachers join the effort."

There was quiet for a moment, as the four of them traded looks of doubt. Finally, Severus spoke up. "I, for one, would prefer to do the Slytherin schedules myself. It will be far more efficient and less confusing, I think. I won't speak for anyone else, though."

"I'll do the Gryffindor schedules alone," Minerva agreed. Filius and Pomona voiced their agreement as well.

"I do, however, think we should pick a time when we will be doing it, and, perhaps gather in one of the larger classrooms for it. It will be easier to make corrections if we're all together, particularly if something needs to be moved around." Minerva had a point, and Severus nodded his assent.

"Agreed. And I rather think a classroom will be more convenient anyway. I'd suggest one of the older rooms on the fourth floor-- those rooms still have the larger tables in them."

"Excellent!" Malfoy proclaimed. "When will be most convenient?"

Again, looks were traded, but no one spoke. After a moment, Filius squeaked a suggestion, "Tonight? Around nine, perhaps?"

Severus grimaced, but, after a moment, nodded. Best to get it over with quickly. There was reluctant agreement from everyone at the table.

"Good! Moving on, then. Let's see..." She skimmed one of the pieces of parchment in front of her, and paused, looking at one. "Hrm, this next I think. I've had a response from the Ministry of Education regarding several of our requests. Professor Sprout, it looks like we have approval on for a covered walkway between the castle and Greenhouse Four, as you'd requested, though I don't have an estimate on when construction will begin. I'll follow up on that in a week if I haven't heard anything more, if that's acceptable?"

Pomona's eyes were wide, and she nodded mutely. Filius and Minerva were wide-eyed as well, and Severus could only hope he was managing his shock a bit better. Even if Pomona had made that request within five minutes of arriving at Hogwarts, it should have taken three times this long for an acknowledgement.

"Hrm, and the Muggle Studies texts have been approved. Oh, good. And we have a budget for social events. Not a very big one, but maybe we can work with it..." she trailed off, reading over the parchment, and Severus shot a look at Minerva.

Social events? he mouthed, and she shook her head, her eyes wide. Filius and Pomona didn't appear to have heard a word about this either.

"Hrm, Professor Snape, regarding the phials..."

He set his face into an expression of skepticism; of course the Ministry wouldn't approve that.

"It hasn't been denied, but I'm told we need to provide additional justification. Do you think you can prepare a report detailing why crystal is important?"

This time, he knew his mouth dropped open, and he nodded mutely. "Of course," he replied, stunned.

"Excellent! The sooner you get that to me, the sooner I can hopefully move this through."

"I'll get it to you by the weekend," he offered, and she nodded.

"Very good. We're off to a good start, then. I also have a request here from the Board of Governors-- it seems they're interested in touring the school some time after classes start. Actually, I have a number of requests from parents who wish to tour the school. What do you all think?"

"That's hardly an uncommon request. Albus denied it every year," Minerva replied, her voice carrying a finality.

"Why?" Malfoy asked, and one could have heard a pin drop. Minerva turned her head slowly to look at Severus, who schooled his expression to a blank one-- this was not an argument he had any desire to become involved in.

"Because," Minerva began, with a tone of enduring patience, "it is a bad idea."

"But why?"

Filius looked from Minerva to Malfoy and back again, then cast his eyes to his parchment.

"Because there is far too much tension in the world right now and Hogwarts is a haven from all that. There is no need to expose the students to such nonsense."

"There is no need to expose the students to their own parents?" Malfoy asked, her eyes widening. "I find it hard to believe that they haven't already been exposed to their parents."

"There is no benefit to allowing pompous witches and wizards to parade around Hogwarts, peering into broom closets as though they own the place!" Minerva's voice was taking on an air of defense, and Severus carefully avoided looking at her. "It's a ridiculous idea, and I can't believe you're even entertaining the possibility. Albus would never have allowed it." Again that air of finality.

"You cannot tell me that there is no benefit to parents wishing to become involved in their children's education," Malfoy replied, her voice, at least, remaining even. "And so far, your only objection to this seems to be that Professor Dumbledore would not have approved. And, given that he isn't here to offer his reasoning, I'm asking you, Professor McGonagall. Why are you so adamantly opposed to this?"

"Headmaster Dumbledore seldom saw need to share his justifications with anyone, nor any need to consult the entire staff on a point that was so clearly under his jurisdiction. He made the decision, and it is because I am Deputy Headmistress that I was even privy to the fact that it was brought up." Minerva's voice was like ice now. Ice that was cracking.

"Then the only reason you have for opposing this is that Professor Dumbledore opposed it."

"That's good enough!" Minerva slammed her hand onto the table. "If the Headmaster says no, then the answer is no!"

"He is not the Headmaster anymore." Malfoy's voice had taken on an icy edge as well, and Severus had the impression that he was witnessing what could best be described as an Alpha Female struggle. "If you have actual reasons, I am most interested in hearing them. But cease with telling me what Albus Dumbledore did and did not do!"

Minerva's lips tightened into a thin line, her mouth growing white, her eyes narrow.

"Well? Nothing from you, Professor McGonagall? What about the rest of you? What do you think?"

Pomona had the distinct look of a witch who wished she were being left out of the conversation. Filius found a sudden interest in his parchment. Severus could almost feel the shackles latching onto his wrists and ankles, pulling him in separate directions. Minerva, of course, expected his loyalty. Malfoy, however, held his future. And what do you think, anyway? a voice asked him. If you put aside loyalties and focus on the question, what do you think? It was finally Severus who broke the silence.

"I believe it would be... nice," he conceded. "In theory, at least. In practice, however, it would be a nightmare. Better than half the students have at least one Muggle parent, and just getting them here would be a challenge. And, I must say that I think there would be conflicts that would arise. If Lucius Malfoy, for example, were brought face to face with the Muggle parents of one of the Hufflepuffs." He shook his head. "I wouldn't mind the opportunity to speak with the parents of some of our students; I've never even met the majority of them, and if there has been correspondence, it has been brief. I don't think it's practical, though."

Malfoy nodded carefully and looked at Pomona and Filius. "And what do you two think?"

Pomona didn't look at anyone as she spoke. "I think it would be beneficial," she said softly. "Most particularly for the Muggle parents, who have no concept of what their children are going through here. And it would alleviate some concerns, I believe. And we know that we can get Muggles into the school, and I daresay it isn't a matter of security when their children are attending."

"Perhaps if we didn't have all the parents at once," Filius suggested quietly. "Invite Slytherin parents one day, and Gryffindor one day, and Ravenclaw one day and Hufflepuff one day. That would solve most of the problems surrounding conflict among adults, and it would mean fewer outsiders at a time."

"Then you three are in agreement that this would be beneficial?" Malfoy prompted, and Pomona and Filius both nodded. Severus sat still.

"Professor Snape?" Malfoy prompted, and Severus glanced at Minerva. She looked as though she could chew iron and spit nails.

"I honestly don't know," he replied at last. "I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, as I said, I think it would be a nice idea, in theory at least, but I have a bad feeling about how it would turn out in reality. And, my instinct will always say precisely what Minerva was saying-- if Dumbledore opposed something, he had his reasons, and not knowing what those reasons were, I would be hesitant to make changes. If you were to chain me to an answer, though, I'd advise against it."

"Very well," Malfoy said. "Then I have one adamantly opposed, one straddling the fence but leaning towards opposition, two in favor. Should I put it to the rest of the faculty?"

"No." That, at least, they all agreed on, as all four professors spoke in unison.

"It is your decision, Regalia," Pomona said softly. "Not ours. If you put it to the rest of the staff, then you'll put everyone in the same position we were all just in-- choosing between you and Dumbledore. The only result will be hard feelings, and you will still be the one making the ultimate decision. Best to just make it and tell everyone what they will be doing."

Severus wouldn't have credited Pomona with such a keen sense for politics, but she was precisely right.


A/N: Lovesick Severus? Oi. I need to change that perception. Infatuated and intrigued, yes, but not lovesick I hope.

Silver: Ya know… I really don't know what I'm going for with her yet. I keep changing my mind. One minute I'm thinking she's going to be a love interest, the next I think she's going to be a horror. At the moment, though, I'm content with the fact that half my reviewers like her and half hate her. She is modeled after a real person, and that's the way it works—some people LOVE her and some HATE her. And it's very mutual.

Cecelle: yes, I liked squirmy Snape. I love to find a reason to put him in unlikely situations, and squirming is very unlikely for him. And I thought that dangling the DADA job in front of his nose would be enough to make him squirm a bit.

There's your chance to influence me!! What role do you want to see Regalia taking in relation to Severus? I have plans for her for another chapter or three (which is maybe a week in fic-time), and Snape'll be in a position to either love her or hate her. Shall the fantasy continue, or shall she be a thorn in his side, or shall I let them become respectful and respectable colleagues?

Thank you all for reading and reviewing. Oh, and the disclaimer I keep forgetting:

I don't own anything that belongs to JKR (duh). I think I have two original characters so far, and only one whose name I remember (Regalia)-- the other is the Minister of Education whose name I've already forgotten.