Chapter 18

An: Sorry for the wait.. had a little bit of writers block. Back to the story.

Hogwarts

Great hall

2nd September

The great hall slowly filled up with hungry students. Everybody still had good moods to go around and soon the conversations turned back to the previous day's activities.

House barriers fell quicker than a tumbling deck of cards and soon the tables were mixed and matched according to the TEAMS from the day before.

Crossing of the Houses were not forbidden, but it was actively encouraged at the moment as all the teachers came into the hall and smiled at the new setting.

Dumbledore tried to get it changed back, but it turned out that being a know-it-all bookworm sometimes had it advantages. Jumping to the chance of advertising her knowledge without being asked for it, Hermione stood up and publically spoke out of turn.

Miss Granger: Excuse me sir, but according to the book; HOGWARTS, A HISTORY, we only need to sit according to Houses during Welcoming and End of year feasts. Inter house co-operation is actually encouraged within the book. Why would you be trying to go against that?

Dumbledore: I am merely suggesting that students learn to accept their own houses first before venturing to others Miss Granger. And that will be 5 points from Gryffindor for disrespecting a teacher in public.

Miss Granger: I was not disrespecting you in any way Headmaster, but I had the right to ask that question as it has merit to all of us here.

Dumbledore: 5 more points for back chatting Miss Granger.

Miss Granger: This is outrageous! Surely it is against the rules for a teacher to take points from a student for simply asking a question and making a HONEST statement?

Dumbledore: That will be…

McGonagall: That will be 15 points TO Gryffindor for a question and statement well-made and thought of Miss Granger. Now please return to your meal.

Hermione was not a happy camper for having lost points in such a manner, but she was satisfied to get more back from her Head of House.

McGonagall gave the first year girl an approving look before she turned her full attention to the headmaster and flipped a Silencing spell up around them.

McGonagall: What are you playing at Albus?

Flitwick: I would also like to know that answer.

Dumbledore: What do you mean? She was clearly out of line. I simply stated the truth.

McGonagall: The truth that does not exist! Where in the rules does it state that students are NOT allowed to mix with other Houses?

Dumbledore: Nowhere, but..

McGonagall: Then you will address the student body right now and amend your earlier statement. You will also apologise to Miss Granger for punishing her unjustly. Do I make myself clear here Albus?

Dumbledore: Now see here! I will not be spoken to like that in MY school. The rules are there to amend according to ME and none of you have the right to challenge me on my decision like this! I will have you all on probation for this!

McGonagall: Majority rules Albus. You are out of order, NOT us.

Dumbledore: HOW DARE YOU?

McGonagall: I dare because it is the truth. You have overstepped your authority. This is a school Albus, not one of your WIZAGAMONT sessions! Here WE have more say than you do. The school itself has decided that you have overstepped. Look behind you Albus.

Slowly turning around as he knew what was waiting for him. Albus saw the Sorting Hat floating above his chair (THRONE). Albus's shoulders firmed at this and he simply nodded his head before he walked out of the Great Hall and back to his office.

However when he got to the entrance of his office, the Gargoyle did not want to move away for him. He named all his passwords but still no entry was allowed to him.

Turning around at a sound behind him, Albus saw the whole teaching body standing behind him.

McGonagall: The school has decided that you no longer have the best interest at heart for her children and has denied you the entry of the HEADMASTER's office. You have one of three choices open to you at the moment Albus.

ONE: Willingly resign as Headmaster and have the option of being a professor.

TWO: Willingly resign as Headmaster and have the option of sitting on the board of governors.

THREE: Willingly resign and follow your other responsibilities only.

There are no other choices for you here. You have sealed your fate in the school with your pettiness towards the students.

Dumbledore: This is not the end of this. I will have you all fired.

With those words, Dumbledore tried to Apperate out of the school but found himself turning around and round with no effect. Accepting defeat for the moment, he simply turned again and walked out of the school's main doors. He got as far as the main gate, but was once again denied exit.

Dumbledore: What now?

McGonagall: You have to RESIGN from the position as Headmaster.

Dumbledore: FINE!

McGonagall: Say the words Albus. Your trickery will not work this time.

Dumbledore: I, Albus Brian Wulfric Percival Dumbledore, hereby resign from the post of Headmaster of the School of Hogwarts.

There was a pulse and a significant flash as School Ward magic moved itself away from the EX Headmaster. However the real surprise came when it did not settle on one of the attending teachers, but faded back into the school.

Everybody watched it for a few seconds before they turned and saw Albus out the front gates.

McGonagall: When will I be expecting a letter of demand from you Albus? I do appreciate to be notified beforehand of such things, seeing as though I will have to go now and CLEAN up YOUR mess. I just hope you kept with your duties as the headmaster and kept your paperwork up to date.

Dumbledore: What paperwork? I am the headmaster, not a paper pusher! That was your job as the DEPUTY.

There was a stunned silence for a few seconds before McGonagall actually burst out laughing.

McGonagall: Thank you for finally showing your true colours Albus. You have cost the students of this school enough harm. No more will they suffer YOUR stupidity and pettiness. I will personally GO and speak with the board and put in a petition to have you brought up on charges for endangerment to the students. And I will be pushing for the maximum time period! Now, GET YOUR ASS OFF THE PROPERTY!

Almost every student was standing on the steps of the Castle by this time and clearly heard McGonagall tell the EX-Headmaster to get his ASS off the property.

A stunned silence followed as they all heard the threats from the EX-Headmaster to the Deputy Headmistress.

Harry was inwardly laughing his ass off at the display of childish behaviour from the old goat. Shouting and screaming threats and quite frankly having a temper tantrum in front of the complete population of the school.

"Harry's thoughts": I will have to send a perfect copy of this to the Nation. They will treat this in the right manner and have that old fool up on so many charges; it will leave his head spinning for years to come.

McGonagall turned away from the fuming mad man and simply walked back to the school. She was followed by all the teachers and soon stood before the student body.

McGonagall: Seeing as though you all are present, I find myself in the position to give you all some disturbing and good news. I have always found that getting rid of the BAD news first tended to make the GOOD news so much better.

The BAD news is that the Headmaster has made this school into his private play thing and has done much damage to you and to so many others before you.

WE as the teachers have decided that the past shall not repeat itself and have demanded that Mr Dumbledore STEP DOWN from his post as Headmaster.

Now, he has the right to contest this decision with the board of governors, but WE stand a better chance with them as they will fall under the generation that Mr Dumbledore has slighted.

I will personally GO to them as soon as I am finished here and petition for the position of Headmistress.

WE will also fight for YOUR rights in this and ask you all to take the time now and look back on what has happened now.

We encourage you ALL to write to your parents or guardians and to let them know what has happened here.

We will allow you this week to get all in order if some of you wish to take the opportunity to change schools or to even change Houses within the school, as the old placements hold no sway now.

You can choose to stay where you are or you may change your House affiliation.

The students stood for a few seconds, taking in what was said to them and then patiently awaited the other shoe to drop.

McGonagall: The good news is that you all stand at the threshold of a new beginning.

Never before has this happened.

The school itself decided that Mr Dumbledore was not worth it to be Headmaster anymore.

The wards and position of headmaster has retracted back into the school and awaits the announcement of the new Headmaster or Headmistress to be made.

We stand on the steps of a NEW SCHOOL so to speak.

We the teachers ask you, the students, to stand with us now and help us to make this the Premier School it once was again.

There was a soft murmur amongst the students for a few seconds before they all turned to the teachers and a mighty applause erupted.

The decision was made and the school will forever be changed because of it.

The teachers in turn applauded the students and they all re-entered the Castle and took seat in the Great Hall.

McGonagall: I have taken the duty of spokesperson for the teachers and we encourage you all to step forward with advice or suggestions on how we can make this the best change possible.

For now we will hold simple classes for all years here in the Great Hall until such time as a new Headmaster or Mistress has been appointed.

We will then hold a resorting of ALL students who wish for it.

Next we will hold an open debate for all present and past students in the hopes of getting this school started in the right mind set.

We will adjust the curriculum accordingly and add new subjects to promote the optimum education for everybody.

All teachers will also be re-evaluated in their posts and additional teachers will be added to our family to secure the best education for you.

But for now, please eat and begin your day as it is the beginning of a new year.

Parchment, quills and ink will be supplied for those who wish to write to their parents or guardians about what happened here.

If memory statements are requested, we will supply those accordingly.

There was a polite applause for Professor McGonagall's speech and the students turned to their meals and discussions for the new school and what they were going to tell their parents and guardians.

At the teacher's table there was a collective release of held breaths. The students were taking the changes much better than they thought.

Maybe change was a good thing.