AN: Hello! Sorry this was a bit late and shorter than usual. But nevertheless I hope you guys are fine with this! Reviews are very much aprreciated. Thanks! ~ E
"I have called all of you here today to discuss our future plans for the school. I trust that you have all read the memo I sent a week ago about listing down any suggestions you think might be valuable for this coming term." Professor Minerva McGonagall was standing in the newly reconstructed staff room. The usual lounging chairs and stuffy settees were cleared for the meeting replaced by a long table where the Hogwarts staff sat on one side facing the new Hogwarts Headmistress. "The governors have kindly informed me that we, the staff, are given the discretion to decide the fate of this coming school term. So I hope we will do our best with the influences given to us."
There were murmurs of agreement and several nodding heads.
"I will voice out first my suggestions and we will vote if we are in agreement or not. Majority wins. The rest of you will follow. First, the Heads of Houses will be as followed: I will assume both responsibilities as Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor, Professor Slughorn for Slytherin, Professor Flitwick for Ravenclaw, and Professor Sprout for Hufflepuff. All agreed?"
Professor McGonagall raised her hand. The rest of the staff followed her gesture. The other Heads of Houses bowed their thanks.
"Thank you. Second, due to the highly tainted curriculum last term, all students from last year's term will be given the option to repeat or move forward from his or her grade level last school year. All agreed?"
Again everyone raised his or her hand.
"Thank you. Lastly, Hogwarts will undeniably still accept and seek out children with magical abilities for next term and the following terms afterwards, regardless of blood status. All agreed?"
Once again everyone raised his or her hand. Some even gave keen applauses. Professor McGonagall beamed then continued happily saying, "Somebody else wants to make a suggestion?"
"Er – Professor McGonagall, ma'am?" Hagrid started, raising a dustbin-sized hand. "Er – I was just thinkin' if it'll be alrigh' if we make some sor' of monument to pay tribute to those who – who fought in the Battle o' Hogwarts. Like a reminder for people or somethin'…"
"Yes, yes, yes! That's a brilliant idea Hagrid! I agree to the idea, how 'bout you lot?" came tiny Professor Flitwick's voice who was raising one of his short arms.
Everyone murmured excitedly.
"Well of course! What do you reckon should it look like?"
"Where do we build it?"
"I'm thinking the color white – maybe marble – so it'll stand from the school's ancient looking walls."
"No, not the west wing! Bad omen to build something so important at the west!"
Rather being cross with her colleagues' childish chatter, Minerva marveled at the sight. It has been a while since the staff was this excited about something. She raised a hand to indicate silence. The prattle stopped but the animated gleam in everyone's eyes persisted.
"Very well, very well. A monument we'll have! We'll discuss the specifics in our next staff meeting. Everyone is given the liberty to voice out suggestions. In the meantime, I will write to the governors of what we have discussed today. We'll carry on rebuilding the courtyard this afternoon. You may free to go."
And like one of the many of the classes she held, her colleagues babbled away from the staff room. Minerva hoped, happier from when they came in.
"Care to join us in Hogsmeade, Minerva? Rosmerta's been brewing some new spirits," Professor Sprout asked giddily.
"Yes, yes, of course. Been a while since I last chat with Rosmerta after all. But you go ahead, I'll just mail the governors the minutes."
"Alright, alright. Don't be too long now!"
Minerva McGonagall headed to the hidden gargoyle staircase. "Bagpipes." The staircase revolved and stopped as a polished wooden door came to view. Minerva McGonagall went inside the spacious office.
Not much has changed from the time her successors the great Professor Dumbledore and the misunderstood Professor Snape. The silver instruments near the entrance were still tinkling softly, the Pensieve laid undisturbed on its stone table. Probably the only noticeable alteration was the absence of the phoenix's golden stand.
"How was the meeting, Minerva?" the painting of Armando Dippet spoke.
"Quiet well, Armando. Everything's being sorted out." She sat on the high chair behind the wide intricately carved rectangular table and began to revise the minutes. "The rebuilding's almost finished as well. The Ravenclaw Tower has finally been restored in its proper state, the house elves were had just finished cleaning it out this morning and there are a few debris left in the courtyard. After the last bit is clean everything will be at its place." She looked up and smiled to her predecessors who were giving her approving nods. "The staff is planning to build a monument as remembrance of the Battle of Hogwarts."
"Really now?" asked one of the headmaster's from the upper wall of the room.
"It was Hagrid's idea," Minerva replied.
"The half-giant, yes? He was always a bit too sentimental than expected, don't you think?" Phineas Nigellus Black remarked to no one in particular.
"We would not expect less from Hagrid otherwise, Phineas," Minerva replied quietly. "Next term will hopefully bring back the faith of the students in Hogwarts," she voiced out with a sigh.
"Ahh, Minerva, that's where you are wrong. The students' faith in Hogwarts never faltered. I think that was proven in the war," spoke Albus Dumbledore's calm voice.
"Of course," said Minerva who beamed in her seat without looking up from her writing.
With her signature at the bottom of the short note, she deftly wrote her name and stated at the bottom of it: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy Headmistress.