(A/N: Sorry this is short. It's one of those linking chapter thingys. Just thought we needed a quick summary and to leap over a few insignificant characters.)

Albus Makes A List.

Dumbledore sat at his newly reconstructed desk and picked over this morning's post.

Oliver Wood had agreed to give up coaching the Essex Eagles in order to fill the other Flying position, Albus thought that he would do well with the younger students and obviously his Quidditch coaching would be hotly anticipated. Oliver suggested that the children might not actually remember his playing days. Albus might be getting old; it did feel like only yesterday that the poor boy managed to suspend himself from the gargoyle outside the staff room window during his first flying lesson, but he remembered a certain collection of Quidditch obsessed redheads who were rather impressed by the forty year old Rolanda Hooch. Her Quidditch career had ended before some of them were even born.

Charlie found that dragons weren't quite as interesting without Rubeus' distraction and accepted the offered position with a warning that between Hagrid's weak spot and his own desire to diversify his expertise, the students would be guaranteed a "challenging" curriculum. He would be arriving tomorrow after dropping off a Hearthrug Dragon at the Ministry. He also warned that as his employment ended tomorrow, he would most likely be having something to say about giving avian reptiles as diplomatic gifts, just in case the Daily Prophet picked it up.

Auriga Sinistra would be arriving two weeks later than everyone else. Sadly, her husband had recently died from a deadly snake bite. It didn't sound as if the poor woman was being given time to grieve, she apparently had to stay where she was until the police signed off on the life insurance. It was somewhat surprising that she had been living in the muggle world with a muggle husband; Slytherin really didn't deserve its reputation. Still, the muggles had their ways and he would just have to wait until they finished whatever it was that they were doing. Such a tragic coincidence that her university thesis had been on, "astrological influences on serpents' aggression". The woman had so much love to give, she seemed unnaturally drawn to those who needed it most. Her last two husbands had been tragically cut short in their prime; it was incredible that the woman still dared to take a chance on love.

Filius had been working repairing magical clocks. There were only so many "mortal danger" hands that one could reset before one didn't care anymore. Voldemort had caused a great many problems amongst the clockworking community. So many people had been in mortal danger for so long that the damn things had locked there. Ten years and all the niggles still weren't out. He couldn't remember the last time anything interesting happened and his flat was depressing and could he possibly apparate back immediately? Albus chuckled and sent an owl off with a portkey.

Carson Winters agreed to come and teach Astronomy and Astrology, but expressed some reservations about being subservient to the Slytherin Black Widow. Albus assured him that there was no subservience in it, just a little professional deference. He couldn't understand why he would liken Sinistra to a spider, so he let that one slide, making a note to keep an eye on how they got along.

Irma Goodwin was coming for Ancient Runes. Firenze had chosen her. Albus recognised the name from various professional journals and Firenze's word was good enough for him. She was an enigma at present. Although he did hear that the 25 year old Beauxbatons graduate was something of a prankster tomboy. Well, maybe she would shake the dust out of some of the older Professors.

Clyde Julliet was arriving in two days time. He had been honoured to return to Hogwarts. He had some interesting ideas for teaching the theory of charm construction to seventh years. He wanted to challenge the children to create magic and not simply replicate it. He would be a good energetic young influence to counter Filius' quiet knowledge. Pomona would be pleased to have a fellow Hufflepuff on the staff.

Pomona WAS pleased to have a fellow Hufflepuff on staff, the boy had been one of her favourites. He didn't understand the reference to "Tigger" but understood that the young man's bouncy energy was a part of his personality and definitely a positive feature. Pomona would be arriving in three hours time. She had already arranged for Griffin Haulage to deliver the greenhouse stock and needed to get going on establishing the environment immediately.

Albus filed the mail away and began to assess how far he had got with his agenda.

The Professor Plan.

Hired: Rubeus Hagrid and Charlie Weasley – Care of Magical Creatures (joint)

Sybil Trelawny and Luna Lovegood – Divination (LL – Head)

Rolanda Hooch and Oliver Wood - Quidditch and Flying (RH – Head)

Remus Lupin and Harry Potter - DADA (RL – Head)

Auriga Sinistra and Carson Winters- Astromony and Astrology

Firenze and Irma Goodwin- Ancient Runes

Filius Flitwick and Clyde Julliet- Charms

Sirius Black- Transfiguration

Ronald Weasley- Muggle Studies

Talia Lupin- Arithmancy

Pomona Sprout- Herbology

To contact;Hermione Granger - HoM Current location; The Granger-Bastet Dig,Egypt

Minerva McGonogall -T(H) Current location; Cats'Sank Sanctuary, Inverness

Neville Longbottom - HCurrent location; Australian Outback

Reuben Chancy - D-HeadCurrent location; Cambridge

To find;Severus Snape - P(H)Current location; Unknown (Ministry?)

Positions;Potions Professor (possibly x2)– find Severus !

Muggle Studies Professor - note: offer Head to Ronald

Arithmancy Professor- note: ask Talia's opinion

Senior English Professor- Ask Reuben's advice after securing him

Primary English Teacher- Reuben Chancy's teaching subject

Primary Maths Teacher- Ask Reuben

Infant Class Teachers (3)- ?

Nursery Teacher- ibid

Albus gently replaced the quill in its stand and pocketed his appraisal of the current state of play. He needed to talk to Reuben Chancy immediately, so that he could delegate the difficult task of choosing Primary School Teachers. Pocketing a map of Cambridge, he headed out of his office. The wards were at full strength now and he could no longer apparate from the grounds. It was a day earlier than proposed but Albus didn't suppose that the old Hufflepuff student would mind.