Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any part of Harry Potter. I do however own Rosaline and Cora.
A/N: An albacore is a type of tuna. You're clever, you figure it out.
"Enter," Said Dumbledore in response to the nock at this office door.(is there a door?) It had been a long day and he was not looking forward to the impending arugumentargument with Professor Snape. After receiving Miss Gate's resume Albus had spent the day meeting with teacher after teacher to get their approval on her placement. Not that he needed their approval, he just found that things usually went a bit more smoothly when the others felt that they played a part in the desion decision making. Of course it really wasn't the placement of Miss Gates that had been difficult.
"Thank you very much for making time to see me, Severus." Said Dumbledore when Snape entered his office. As he stood beside his old phoenix Fawkes , he held his hands clasped behind his back and looked towards the other man on the other side of his desk.
"You know, I am always at your disposal headmaster," Severus replied in what for him passed as friendly although still distant "however, I am quite busy." (sorry about that, I suppose I'll just stop his sentence here since I don't quite know what else to do.
Dumbledore raised his hand, effectively cutting off, whatever Snape had been about to say.Hesay. He motioned for Severus to take a seat, however Snape ignored the gesture and continued to stand stiffly. "It seems that the board of governors has a candidate for the Defense Against the Dark DrtsArts course," he looked sideways at the professor. It was a well known fact, that Snape was forever after that particular position, but for now stood quietly stoic, waiting for Albus to finish. There was a small moment of silence before the headmaster took a breath and asked, already guessing the following reaction: "Perhaps you have heard of a wizard by the name of Lockhart?"
"What!" exclaimed Severus as he was unable to contain himself. The normally expressionless face reflected his thoughts as his eyes became a penetrating look, fines lines around them showed and his lips were drawn in one thin line. "That man is a fraud. There is no proof of his so called mighty deeds except these pathetic books he has written. Have you even read one of them? Have you? They are drip of self-praise and purple prose, it's unbelievable how people do not see the obvious mistakes in them. Do you know, what he claims to know about Yellow Squirks? According to him, the appropriate defence is..." At this the agitated teacher stopped his own ramblings. While he had walked wildly gesticulating around in Dumbledore's office during his speech, he now placed himself in front of the desk and rested his flat hands on it before he continued in a much calmer voice. "Would it not be wiser to allow me the defensive arts class? That pretender would only serve to waste a year of teaching. Surely you won't really allow this?"
"I may indeed have to." Seeing that Snape was close to argue that point, Dumbledore added," Now, before you start again, you know my reasons for not wanting you to be involved with that class. We have already discussed this topic more than once. But you must understand my position here, the board is really pushing for his placement. And if I make no attempts to thwart this placement, then perchance they will not put aside my candidate for the herbology position."
Absolutely livid now, Snape straigthenedstraightened up and began to clench and unclench his fists at his side. How could they deny him, a master of potions with extensive first hand Dark Arts knowledge., and indorse this phony. "And exactly who," he said through gritted teeth, "do you favor for Madam Sprout?"
Smiling now at his angered colleague, Dumbledore stepped over to his desk, retrieving a sheet of parchment. Handing it over to Snape he said "Take a look at this resume if you will, and do give me your honest opinion. No need to be diplomatic with me dear friend."
As his anger slowly began to become more managablemanageable Snape began to read over the applicant's information. "Well, they seem to have adequate training. But," he added nastily "it appears that they are an American. Do we really need that sort muddying the name of our institution?"
"A bit of diversity would do us some good I think. She's very progressive. Of course, Madame Sprout has graciously offered to stay on for a while as an advisor and head of Hufflepuff."
"I suppose if you believe that 'she' is capable of the job than I must trust in your judgement." Although neither his voice nor the look on his face covered convincingly the fact, that Snape was less than happy with this decision.
"Wonderful, wonderful,... then I have a small favor to ask of you" And there was that damndable twinkle again, thought Severus. No favour ever asked by Albus Dumbledore was ever really all that small. "Would you be so kind and talk with Mr. Malfoy. Please see, if you could and smooth the way for her a bit."
"As you wish, Headmaster." his face once again an expressionless mask Severus turned to leave cloak swishing around him, (does his cloak swish or just bellow, in the books it always compared him to a bat when his storming around)hating that he would have to spend part of his time trying to 'smooth' the way for some American git.