Disclaimer: I do not own anything dealing with Harry Potter or Phantom of the Opera. They belong to J.K. Rowling and Gaston Leroux (sp?), respectively.
A/N: I think people have lost interest in this story, since no one responded to my last chapter. But I shall write this story anyway, no matter what I get or what anyone says. I hope people like this story, though. I have not been getting very man reviews for it, though. Or my other stories, for that matter. Please review, people, no matter what story you are reading. It means a lot to an author, as I'm sure many of you know, since so many of you are authors yourselves. Please review.
Chapter Five: Notes…
The others were, indeed, searching for Minerva McGonagall. Albus himself had had little sleep, wondering where on earth Minerva could have gone. It wasn't like her to just simply disappear, especially from a room which had been locked from the outside. Where had she gone? He was so worried about her, especially since she had been talking rather unusually about some phantom which everyone was absolutely convinced was running the school. It was just not right, and he had to talk with Fudge and Scrimgeour about it. In fact, that was the reason why he had owled them the night before to come to the school early the next morning.
Ooooooooooo
As it was, Rufus and Cornelius were on their way to the school, though separately. Cornelius remained back at the ministry for just a moment longer while Rufus entered Hogwarts. He was furious. Not only had Professor Umbridge left in a great huff, but her apprentice, Minerva McGonagall, had also disappeared. This all had to happen on the day when there was to be a conference between members of the ministry and the school was to take place. The teachers and their apprentices would be presenting their plans and ideas on how to improve this school year over last year. And to make matters worse, the ministry was being plagued with notes from a mysterious being. He opened up a copy of the Daily Prophet. There, in big bold letters, was the headline: "Mystery After Welcome Back Feast". "Mystery of Apprentice Flight". "Mystified, Ministry says. We Suspect Foul Play".
Rufus was angry, and his thoughts were proof of that. It wasn't long before he began muttering to himself, appearing to the house elves as one who is crazed.
"First, Jane leaves, and now Minerva? What a way to run a school. Half your staff disappears, and yet, it seems to be what fascinates everyone." He continued his mutterings alone until he was met by Cornelius. He headed straight up to Rufus with an angered look upon his face.
"This is damnable, Rufus, simply damnable!" He threw a copy of the newspaper at Rufus' feet. "Soon, we shall be out of all our staff and their apprentices. Is this what we are to expect from our school? That's what we bought, isn't it? A wizard's school?" Rufus huffed. They were now at the foot of the giant staircase. He leaned against the banister.
"Well, there is no use shouting about it," he said.
"Why the bloody hell not?" cried Cornelius. Rufus held up his hand and looked around.
"Cornelius, please do not shout like that," he whispered, still looking around. He then looked at his partner. "First of all, the students are here. Second of all, this is publicity, isn't it? After all, I've always said that there is no such thing as bad publicity. And it's the best sort of publicity we could ever ask for: free! What could be better than that?" Cornelius looked at him, dumbfounded.
"How about our teaching staff?" he hissed back, his voice as low as Rufus'.
"But have you seen the queue of people lining up around Hogwarts to see what it's like inside? That could bring more students to this school, bringing in more galleons than we have ever made in our lives." He then noticed what Cornelius had in his hand. "Oh, so it seems you've got a letter as well?" Cornelius looked down and read what he had.
"It says, 'Dear Cornelius, what a charming Welcoming Feast and first day. Minerva was, quite frankly, a great success. We were hardly bereft when Jane Umbridge left. Otherwise, the others were enchanting, yet that bloody potions master was a mess. No wonder he is married to that insufferable Jane.'" Rufus snorted as he opened his note as well.
"'Dear Rufus, this is just a brief note to remind you that my salary has not been paid. Send it to my picture in the Room of Requirement in care of the school ghost. No one likes a debtor so it's better if my orders are obeyed!" He folded up the note and sighed. "Who would have the gall to send this?"
"No doubt someone who has gone daft in the head," replied Cornelius. He took the note from his partner, opened it, and looked them both over. "These are both signed 'S.G.'. Who the hell is he?" He looked angrily at Rufus.
"School Ghost?" he suggested. They both sighed. "This would be amusing if I were not part of it. There is someone terrorizing the school, and he wants money on top of it? If I wanted this much trouble, I could just let Peeves roam freely, and I could get him for free." He sighed.
"He is clearly quite insane," sighed Cornelius.
"Where is she, gentlemen?" They turned and saw Albus Dumbledore walk through the giant double doors.
"Who? Jane?" asked Rufus. Albus sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Of coarse not, you oaf, Minerva?" he cried.
"Well, how would we know where the bloody hell she is?" asked Rufus. "She's gone, just like Jane Umbridge."
"We've been looking all over for Jane, so Minerva is not exactly the first one on our list," huffed Cornelius. Albus didn't appreciate Cornelius' attitude, but didn't think to comment on it just then.
"Which one of you two sent me this note?" he asked, handing out another note. It was small and white, just like the other two. Cornelius took it and began to read it.
"'Do not fear for Miss McGonagall. The angel of magic has her under his wing. Make no mistake to see her again.'" They all looked at each other, confused. The silence was punctured by Jane, who was bursting through the door, Professor Miller, the potions master, close behind her.
"Where is he?" she cried.
"Whatever now?" muttered Cornelius.
"Ah, welcome back Miss Umbridge," smiled Rufus. "It's so good to see you back. We've been looking everywhere for you." She ignored his welcome and his comment as she strode up to Albus.
"I have your letter, Professor Dumbledore, and I do not like it one bit." Albus sighed. He really did not care to talk to this pompous woman just now.
"What exactly is it that I was supposed to have written to you?" he asked. She handed him the note she had in her hand, which looked exactly like the other ones. Albus took it and opened it. "'Your days at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are numbered. Miss McGonagall shall be taking your place at the Ministry Conference tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune should you attempt to take her place.'" Jane was literally fuming. It looked as though she were about to explode, so Cornelius and Rufus decided that it would be better if they diverted her attention away from Albus. If not, they might have another battle raging on in the castle. So, they each walked over and stood on either side of Jane, each taking an arm.
"That is preposterous," mumbled Cornelius.
"Absolutely insane," agreed Rufus. "I say, there have been far too many notes for my taste. And most of them are about Minerva." He added that last part with a frown.
"You're right, Rufus," said Cornelius. "It seems to me that all we've heard since we came is Miss McGonagall's name, and quite frankly, I am sick of it."
"Excuse me, Mr. Scrimgeour, Mr. Fudge?" They all turned around.
"Now what?" cried Rufus, who was having a lot of trouble keeping his temper in check. He wanted to strangle whoever it was who was interrupting their discussion, but reminded himself to reign in his anger.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I just thought you might want to know that Miss McGonagall has returned," replied Rose Pomfrey. Albus smiled as he took a step towards her.
"Where is she now?" he asked, more relieved than he had felt in quite a long time. He loved Minerva, and he was glad that she was back.
"She is in her room now, Headmaster," she replied.
"I trust her midnight oil is well and truly burned," Rufus huffed as he folded his arms across his chest.
"May I see her?" inquired Albus, ignoring Rufus' comment.
"No, I am sorry Headmaster, but you cannot. She does not wish to see anyone," said Rose. "But I do have a note, sir, from the school ghost." Albus walked quickly to her side and took her note. Well, there seemed to be quite a few notes for everyone to read. Rufus, in turn, took the note from Albus and began reading it aloud.
"'Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my school is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance. Minerva McGonagall has returned to you, and I am anxious to see her career should progress. At the meeting, you shall therefore make Jane the assistant, the silent one, and put Minerva in the role of Transfiguration expert. The expert calls for charm and appeal, as well as intellect. The roll of the assistant is silent, which makes my plan, in a word, ideal.
'I shall watch the meeting from my normal portrait in the Room of Requirement which shall be kept empty for me from the other portrait figures. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination shall occur. I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant, S.G.'" Everyone looked at each other.
"Minerva!" cried Jane. Everyone looked at her. "Can't you see what is going on here? This is all some sort of plot to launch Minerva into a career that I have built all by myself." Albus had to stop himself from rolling her eyes. Jane shot him an evil look. "I know who sent this. The headmaster, her lover."
"Lover?" cried Cornelius, looking at Albus. He walked over to him. "Albus, is this true?"
"Absolutely not!" cried Albus. "I have not touched Minerva."
"You seemed incredibly comfortable with her last night," grumbled Jane, folding her arms across her chest.
"I beg your pardon?" he hissed. She simply shot a glare at him. She moved up to as though she were going to slap him, but instead, she walked away from him.
"Remember who now signs your checks, Professor," said Albus in a dangerously low voice.
"That's it!" she exclaimed. "I quit!" With that, she moved past him and headed for her rooms. So much for the better, Albus thought. Unfortunately, Rufus and Cornelius did not share his point of view.
"Now look what you've done," hissed Cornelius, following after Jane. Rufus made to follow them and then stopped next to Albus.
"Honestly, the nerve," he said before he continued to go on. Albus simply rolled his eyes and left. He had some thinking to do.
Ooooooooooo
Jane stormed through the halls of Hogwarts. She was absolutely boiling over.
"How can they do this to me? ME?" she cried. "I, Jane Umbridge, who practically raised the bar in the field of Transfiguration. And now, look at what they do me."
"Professor Umbridge!" She didn't have to look over her shoulder to know who was calling her. Instead of answering, however, she just continued on. Rufus and Cornelius caught up with her and began to plead with her to stay.
"Please reconsider," said Rufus.
"We beseech you, dear lady, do not go," agreed Cornelius.
"It is too late," hissed Jane. "You have rebuked me, replaced me, and quite literally threw me out the door. It is obvious how much you want Minerva McGonagall to replace me!" She said Minerva's name in a disgusted tone. She practically spit it out as if it were acid.
"We do not want Minerva McGonagall for the position of Transfiguration professor," implored Cornelius.
"We want you," pleaded Rufus. Jane suddenly stopped and looked at the two men. She stared long and hard at the two men before answering.
"Are you absolutely sure you want me to stay?" she asked, pointing a long finger at Cornelius.
"Absolutely," said Rufus. She turned her heated gaze, and her finger, on him.
"And you will never allow Minerva McGonagall to take my place?" she asked.
"Not as long as you still want the position," said Cornelius. She looked at him. She was growing annoyed at the fact that whenever she asked one of them a question the other one would answer. Why couldn't they ever speak when they were spoken to? Straightening up, she breathed heavily through her nostrils a few times before answering.
"Very well then," she said. "I accept your apology and will stay." Even though neither one of them did not remember offering an apology, they smiled and kissed her hand.
"Thank you so much," they said before backing away. They looked at each other. Even though the notes seemed to be some sort of hoax to get Minerva into Jane's job, they were still not sure if they were doing the wise thing. On the one hand, how could they replace Jane Umbridge without getting screamed at, bruised, and perhaps murdered by Jane Umbridge herself? But on the other hand, what would this unknown school ghost do should the neglect to do what was told of them to do? Neither one of them knew, nor did either one of them want to find out.
A/N2: Okay, I tried somewhat to deviate from using too many of the same lyrics in the play as I possibly could. Did it work? I'm sorry if this chapter sucks. But I promise I shall try to do my best with the next chapter. Read long and prosper! Always Hopeful