Chapter 4

David had attended the weddings of course; seeing the two offspring of one of his dearest friends married was special. Besides it gave him that chance to informally look over the weevils, as he had checked out the youngest Fawcetts. But he was, as headmaster, a busy man even in the holidays. He needed two junior staff to fill the positions of Junior Charms and Junior DADA Professors. And at least he had teachers he trusted in Hawke and Lynx for the other two posts! He had spoken to the ministry; and informed them that any of their staff wanted to qualify properly by working as teachers for a year, they had better have their applications in to him on the day before the Malfoy Manor Weddings at the very latest or they would not be considered.

And they had left it late; and the owl that arrived with the application on the day after the weddings was told to wait while David scanned the application quickly to see if reasonable excuse was given – anyone could break a leg say – but as no excuse was given at all, just a lot of blarney, David wrote across the top,

"Anyone who cannot get an application in by the deadline is not going to set a very good example of time keeping to the students; recommend this person not be permitted anything more responsible than cleaning floors" and directed the owl back to the minister.

He had in all six applicants for the position of junior Charms Professor, and three for DADA. Not all of them were from the ministry. In fact of the nine applicants only four had come from the Ministry; and one of them was Timothy Gregory, who obviously had more sense and balls than he had given him credit for. Well if Timothy was not the one he picked, he would make sure and tell him that he appreciated that it had taken a man to apply. Two of the applicants, one for DADA and one for Charms were old classmates of David's; and whether it was wise or not to employ them was another matter. Both Wido Mordaunt and Hugh Hullit were friends of his, which made it awkward. Well, Filius and Remus would have the final say; and he should interview all the applicants regardless of whether he knew them or not.

oOoOo

David crowded all the candidates together in a classroom with magazines and refreshments and a view-o-sneak to observe them beforehand, on the principle that these were people who were possible colleagues, and that meant they had to get on in the staffroom. It gave him a dislike for two of the candidates straight away, a rather sneering man and an aggressively mannered woman. He also set up a two-way gate to another classroom, where he had installed the blooded of the Lifemunchers who were due to go into the second; all with instructions to be slightly dim. With Zeljeela and Sevvy they also represented goblins and elves to ascertain how candidates adapted to that too.

He decided to interview the Charms candidates first, with Filius; and in strict alphabetical order; and that meant the sneering Ravenclaw, Aubrey Aubrey.

Aubrey Aubrey further irritated David when introducing himself by saying

"Goes rather well together, hauh hauh" of his name. As he then added "And I see from the rabble you have waiting that I'm plainly the only real candidate for the position; I'm the only Ravenclaw and I doubt any of the REST have five NEWTs, nor my level of skill" David's irritation did not diminish.

"Well that remains to be seen" said David, working on not jinxing the fellow into a ball. "Numbers of NEWTs do not necessarily make a good specialist teacher; nor do they preclude a specialist teacher from being good at his subject. There are more factors to consider in a new member of staff than pure qualifications."

Aubrey Aubrey looked put out.

"Well surely you need someone with appropriate qualifications?" he said "Anything short of an 'O' grade in Charms NEWT….."

"The grade is irrelevant since the junior teaching post does not call for that level of teaching" interrupted David. "More important is the ability to TEACH. And by the way, what is it makes you want to take up teaching? And what have you been doing before?"

Aubrey waved a languid hand.

"Oh I've done this and that" he said "I thought it was about time to settle down and it would suit me to be a Professor."

David did not sniff; he kept his tongue firmly held too and nodded to Filius.

Filius Flitwick gave Aubrey a thorough viva voce; and then Aubrey was let loose on his class. To do him credit he did not seem to turn a hair at the non humans in the class but it was apparent that if one of his class 'just didn't GET' some principle he ignored them. David did not have to ask the opinion of his little blood siblings; it was decidedly negative. He asked Aubrey Aubrey to wait while other candidates were interviewed; and clenched his teeth together at the man's comment that it hardly seemed worth his while bothering with the rest.

"Him only if the rest are lame-brained or child molesters" David said to Filius when the man had left.

"Dear me, Aubrey IS rather fond of himself; time had dulled what a very irritating boy he was" squeaked little Flitwick "And NOT actually as clever as he thinks himself, not by any means, no. I fear Lilith could make a fool of him very easily and Lilith claims that charms is not her thing."

"Which as she's taking it to NEWT this year and she'll be only thirteen….." said David. "Not to mention her smooth opening of a Gate to New Zealand."

Filius chuckled.

"Oh I have every intention on putting money on Lilith managing to get herself into the Goblet of Fire next September" he said. "That child is infinitely resourceful. And so VERY able."

"Look at the little tyke boasting that the rest need not bother" said David, crossly, peering into his view-o-sneak. "Who's next?"

"Adela Hipworth; Hufflepuff" said Filius, not sounding very encouraging "The one with the infants."

Ellie had taken away the two small children to play with her own so that Madam Hipworth had more freedom to interact with the other adults. She was chatting to Hugh Hullit when David sent Tarri, the Headmaster's elf, to collect her.

"Do sit down, Madam Hipworth" said David "And tell me why you would like to take up teaching."

"Oh dear, I'm afraid it's technically 'Miss'" said Adela Hipworth "Laurie was always meaning to get around to marry me but there were always more racing meetings; he was a professional broomstick racer you see; and he – he flew into a mountain in fog and was killed; so I need a job to support my children, and when this job was offered I thought it was quite providential; a job within my capabilities that ought too to be good fun."

"May I ask what your qualifications are?" asked David.

"I'm afraid I only have two NEWTs; Charms and Potions. But I have them at 'O'" said Adela. "Professor Snape mellowed somewhat in my last couple of years though he must have been terribly preoccupied and I really enjoyed both classes. But I think I could break things down into easy chunks; I recall comparing how Professor Flitwick was better at it than Professor Snape, though Professor Snape DID put in more effort later, and his vocabulary is so wide that he was able to find different ways to say the same thing. Because sometimes different words can help different people, can't they?"

"Oh quite so" said David "I counted myself very lucky to be Severus Snape's ward; I learned a lot in extra curricular chats about magical and potioneering theory that never made it to class lectures because for most people it was irrelevant; but it can actually help some students to know a few more of the mechanics behind what they are doing. I presume you've devoted the last few years to your – well he might as well be your husband, and my commiserations to you as well – and your children?"

"Yes Professor; but I have kept up with learned journals. I did not want to stagnate. Besides I do like reading some of the snippy comments by people like Madam Granger-Weasley and Professor Snape in the journals. I also read the children's magazines to my children and some of them have a selection of interesting er jinxes."

"How are your children coping with their bereavement?" asked David.

"Fortunately they are too young to really understand; Brian, my eldest, is only three and they're used to daddy being gone for long periods. They've asked when daddy's coming back and I've just said that I'm afraid he can't come home and left it at that" she sighed "I don't mean to mislead them but I think they think there's a 'can't come home yet' in there; but it's not something that they can really understand. But as they are used to not having him around, I imagine that his memory will just fade."

"Sad for you but probably easier for them" said David. "Well, after Professor Flitwick has asked you one or two technical questions, we can see if you find teaching as much fun as you hope; I have a class of volunteers."

Filius put Adela through her paces – she seemed quite at home answering – and then David took her through the gate to the classroom where the group were in a suspiciously quiet huddle.

"Attention please you little horrors; plot mischief on your own time" said Adela "I am here to teach you the colour change charm."

She explained clearly and well; and was patient with the obtuseness of the class until she fixed Salazar with a steely eye.

"Young man, you are having a laugh at my expense" she said "NOBODY is that confused; a muggle would have got it by now, and you are deliberately misunderstanding. Now let us see you do it properly or I fear I must set you lines."

Salazar grinned and set his rat – they all had been provided with rats for the lesson – flashing in different colours that changed all along the length.

"Salazar WOULD" groaned Filius "That's a FAR more complex spell than a simple colour change, WAY out of his age's capabilities; "SALAZAR!" he added sternly "Stop showing off!"

Salazar grinned unrepentantly and merely turned his rat a lurid fluorescent pink.

"Very commendable" said Madam Hipworth. "I suspect that you get bored with standard classes, Salazar; if I was teaching you, you would find yourself regularly in detention learning lists of spells to keep you occupied; and if you were diligent about your detentions, they would be interesting ones like the ones in the childrens' magazines I know."

Tarquin raised his hand.

"Please Madam Hipworth, I think we probably submitted most of them" he said. "Because we all read 'Roonil Wazlib's Wizkid Weekly' that Weasley's Wizard Wheezes publish."

"I might have guessed" muttered David "I must see if we can have a copy delivered for the library. That was the name the twins' ruddy spelling pen changed Ron to when he wrote it in his books; they had NOT perfected it!"

"I was prejudiced against a Hufflepuff but I have to say she seems fairly ideal" said Filus after Adela had been asked to wait outside.

"I agree; we'll see the rest and check, of course; but I rather fancy she's going to be the one" said David.

oOoOo

Hugh Hullit was next.

"Long time no see" he said, shaking hands affectionately with David.

"Hugh, would you be able to work under me as we were classmates, if you were a successful candidate?" asked David. Hugh considered.

"Well as you were ever a leader and if you said jump we hit the air shouting 'how high' I shouldn't think it would be a problem" he said. David nodded.

"Good. Why do you want to teach at Hogwarts?"

"Because I'm in a job that I'm not happy in and I thought it would be rather jolly to work alongside you" he said.

"What are you doing?" David was curious.

"I'm in the Improper Use of Magic Office; it has its moments but it's mostly about dealing with muggle toilets charmed to flush the wrong way, and removing bits of splinched wizard – and other things – from inconvenient places. The worst was a sixty foot crocodile in a drain. Some cretin had overdone the engorgio spell, I presume to frighten muggle drain workers, and the poor critter had become lodged and drowned in flood water. We had to cut it into ten foot lengths with the severing charm and I bet, Sir" he added to Filius "You've never hovered the tail of a croc with 'mobilocaudaxreptans' before which was about the best I could come up with."

"Ingenious" said Filius "NICE lateral thinking. No, it's not something I have ever been involved in I have to say."

"You're very good Hugh; as I acknowledge" said David "But how good are you at breaking down what you know into small parts to teach it? Have you ever taught anyone?"

"I've gone through stuff with new oiks in the office" said Hugh.

"So you've explained something three times and your student still doesn't get it; what then?" asked David.

"Stick my head in a cupboard to scream I guess. Ah, I see; I'd find some office junior a different task if they couldn't get what I was trying to explain; you can't do that with kids. I take the point, David; I shan't be any good at the job because I really DON'T have that level of patience. Sorry; it was a nice thought but I'd be a fool not to back out and stop wasting your time."

"A moment Hugh" said David "Have you ever worked with muggle stuff?"

"I've liaised with the muggle office to unjinx telephone booths; there's less of them these days, I suppose muggles get sick of them being jinxed…. No, it isn't that, most muggles carry little portable ones like you used to have to see everyone onto the train and talk to helpful muggles" he added.

"Precisely" said David "Are you game to learn how to deal with computers? It's a lot easier than Arithmancy."

"Well as Arithmancy and I parted company long ago that's just as well" grinned Hugh "I could give it a shot; why?"

"What with Lucius dragooning me onto the council AND into his cabinet as well as being headmaster I feel as though I'm wearing rather a lot of hats; and I need a secretary with knowledge of both worlds to run the school web site – where the information is that makes it look like an ordinary posh muggle school – and just keep me informed of what I NEED to know" said David. "Are you up for learning? It may not pay as much as your ministry post but you'd have full bed and board."

"You jest – of COURSE I'm up for it!" said Hugh. "Anything I can do to help you! Besides it's got to be more interesting – and less smelly – than extracting bits of crocodile though drains before the muggle workers wake up and get down there. I work mostly nights at the moment; and I like my late nights but not when they go on until five o'clock in the morning. When do I start?"

"Stay over night and I'll start teaching you and then it's right away!" laughed David.

"I'll send them an owl to say I quit," said Hugh, with enthusiasm.

oOoOo

Next was a Slytherin called Vespasian Jugson who was from the Ministry of Education; the oldest one David had seen so far, being in his forties.

"Why do you want to teach?" David asked his standard question.

"Because it's required in order to rise in the ministry; and I think that the Ministry of Education needs people able to rise to give it a thorough overhaul" said Jugson. "At the moment it's used as the step before getting sent to the centaur office; I got sent there for making too many waves."

"Would you mind telling me about the waves you made?" asked David.

Jugson shrugged.

"No I guess not" he said "I was in the elf reassignment office; and it struck me that although plenty of elves were snivelling creatures in need of belonging to somebody to make them feel needed, plenty of others could have been taught how to be free and to use the immense power they all have sensibly and for the common good in proper jobs rather than wasting it waiting hand and foot on lazy fat creeps who ought to learn to stir their own bone idle limbs occasionally. I except people like Mr Malfoy who works hard and who has his elves as cooking and cleaning staff, like Hogwarts, but there are some who just fritter away the talents of their elves."

David found himself more and more interested in this relative of a deatheater.

"You would say that you are not racist then?" he said.

"I try not to be; I dislike goblins. It's a matter of aesthetics though and I try not to let it affect me. If they'll only look me in the eye I have less problems, though I dislike shaking hands; I don't like their fingers."

"Honest enough" said David "And the point of education is to teach goblins too that they CAN meet anyone in the eye, not have to slink around looking humble. And all of the free elves in education walk tall too."

"Good" said Jugson "I wanted to free many of those elves who were supposed to be reassigned, but I wasn't allowed to, and certainly not to use any budget to teach them how to be free. I abused my position by assigning the most initiative filled one to myself; I haven't freed him. He has more protection as my slave, which is ridiculous."

"Quite" said David. "And I honour your intent to rise and work on improving the ministry; it needs it."

"It seems a bit of an insolence applying for just the year" said Jugson "But I think I could teach; I should have liked to have done something teaching with music, but I'm not bad at charms; Professor Flitwick might recall my impromptu lavatory concert."

"Dear me yes; every pan playing a different instrument; very nicely organised" said Filius.

"Well I have to say we have a candidate in mind for the charms post" said David "But I do have a proposal to make; our chanting teacher is having to cope with classes of over fifty on his own. If you would work with him and maybe take out small groups either of remedial or more advanced musical students I think he would be well pleased to have some help. I'd like to test you teaching our small group of volunteer students first though."

"I'd be glad to; and frankly, Headmaster, that sounds more to my tastes in any case" said Jugson.

David took him through and introduced him; and Jugson soon had the class whistling a charm to mimic the levitating charm on tennis balls. Naturally it was Tarquin who used the little tune from 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' to make HIS tennis ball glow with lights. David sent an elf to find Tony Queach and apparate him to the school and left him and Vespasian Jugson to get on with it.

Augusta Thicknesse lasted exactly one and a half minutes into the interview expressing her view that of course she did not WANT to teach but if keeping brats subdued for a year to be able to pursue serious ambitions in a real job was what it took, she would do it and the headmaster would learn a few lessons in real disCIPline and dirty little jumped up slave elves would just have to learn their places. Her family, she said proudly, had ALWAYS worked in the ministry, trying to prevent excess disturbance of the status quo.

Filius snapped his fingers for a Hogwarts elf while David was still speechless with fury.

"Elf, pray escort Madam Thicknesse off the premises; see her ALL the way down the drive and out of the gate" he said.

"Yes Professor!" said the elf.

It may be said that after Augusta Thicknesse had left protesting both David and Filius ran to the window, David offering the Charms Professor the use of his telescope and using his own powerful field glasses to watch her cross the bog of very long lasting stench; and Filius cast a charm to enable them to hear perfectly. Thicknesse was NOT happy; and was trying to tell the elf that Timothy Gregory had brought the ministry contingent across country from the station and she would prefer to return that way; the elf pointing out that elves had to obey orders, and his had been specific. The smugness in the elf's tone had David and Filius both howling with laughter. So did the horrid farting noises as Thicknesse minced across and the elf took very solid flying leaps from stone to stone.

"QUITE as bad as her uncle Pius" said Filius.

oOoOo

Primula Toots was another dead loss; though David was gentle and kind with her. A Hufflepuff, widowed and childless, she thought teaching might be 'quaite naice'. David gently pointed out the japes that children pull might be a little wearing for someone not used to children since 'egregious little horrors' was often a more accurate description than 'dear little darlings' and not even Chrysogon Rufus was not sweet and blameless and had sat many an impot last year at least when he and his friends had set up gates to randomly redistribute people around the castle. This had seriously upset poor Madam Toots. As she was very fond of gardening David suggested that she might be happier working part time in a plant nursery instead; and she had agreed fervently and left hurriedly in relief that she had not been faced with the AWFUL FATE of 'THE CHILD' en masse.

And Filius and David went down to those waiting – which was in fact only Aubrey Aubrey and Adela Hipworth as Hugh had gone to find Ellie and Vespasian was chatting with Tony – to tell them that it was Madam Hipworth who was being offered the job.

"Are you mad?" said Aubrey "Why, she's only a Hufflepuff; and if you're offering it to her out of pity because she has two brats, why you'll regret it; women are soppy about their own children and she'll neglect her duties!"

"You know absolutely nothing!" said Adela "My children will be cared for here so I CAN give my time to my duties!"

"Mr Aubrey" said David coldly "I find your offensive remarks about married teachers like my wife, who has NEVER neglected her duties, rather irritating. The choice has been made out of all the candidates on the merits of the teachers; NOT on any other grounds. I do not consider you much of a teacher; you ignored those children who did not seem to be getting the point, which is the mark of a very poor teacher. Your rudeness now confirms my decision that you would be a poor role model for children. Please leave."

"You will regret it! When she's URK!" David had twitched a hand and suspended him from one ankle. He released him immediately to fall in a heap.

"Mr Aubrey; I suggest you say no more. I am already irritated by you; the last time I got more than irritated it was over Odessa attacks on Prince Peak School; when we wiped out all the storm-wizards. I think you should leave, NOW."

Aubrey left; the zig-zag scar was blazing on David's forehead, reminding him exactly who David Fraser was. An elf, unasked, escorted him firmly across the bog of very long lasting stench with much glee.

oOoOo

David had a hot cup of tea before pressing on with the Defence Against the Dark Arts candidates with Remus; Filius having taken Adela to show her round the facilities and the enlarged Charms suite with second classroom for second stream pupils.

First of these candidates was Timothy Gregory.

David shook his hand.

"Gregory, may I say first that I'm really impressed that you had the balls to apply after the unpleasantness between us; even though we did more or less make it up" he said.

"It did take a bit of doing" admitted Timothy "But you're right; you can't be high in the Ministry of Education if you haven't taught, the same as not being able to inspect creatures if you don't have qualifications or at least experience in caring for them."

"Why the Ministry of Education?" asked David.

"Because I believe in promoting academe" said Gregory.

David nodded.

"A fair answer. Jugson is keen to overhaul the Ministry and improve it; would that be your aim?"

Gregory gave a short bark of mirthless laughter.

"Yes I suppose so; to stop it being the place that hopeless incompetents, drop-outs and weirdos get sent" he said. "I can't say that DADA would have been my first choice, but at least I can perform in that; my Charms theory is shaky."

"How would you deal with a situation" said Remus, leaning forward "Having discussed that the definition of dark creatures and hence dark wizards was intent, that a kid passes a remark that such-and-such a child must be a dark creature then for liking to cause hurt?"

"I guess… I guess I'd tick the kid off for facetiae" said Gregory "But by your face, sir, I'm guessing that's the wrong answer."

"A DADA teacher is in a unique position to pick up on the little clues that suggest incipient deatheater tendencies; or such things as a child made into a monster through being cursed – as has happened" said Remus.

"Then I'm fooling myself to think I could do that" said Gregory. "I beg pardon Fraser, Professor Lupin; I had no idea the job was so deep."

"It's something that has become part of the job as a safeguard against the RISE of dark arts" said David "And I think your attempt to teach to rise in the ministry is extremely commendable; and I'll do what I can on the grapevine to find you a temporary post before the beginning of term."

"Thanks" said Gregory "The problem is it would be unfair to offer a subject to one of the small free schools just for the year; I think there should be a special training school for those who want to taste being teachers as well as would-be ministry officials with some senior staff overseeing them; in an area where there isn't any kind of teaching facility so whatever the kids get has to be better than nothing. It's not as if the Ministry of Education didn't have a couple of million galleons stashed that never gets spent on anything."

"Put that proposal in writing, Gregory, and I'll take it personally to council and raise it" said David. "It's a brilliant idea; only for Merlin's sake NEVER let Augusta Thicknesse teach; she's a disaster! And write out officially just how much money there is too."

"I'll do that" said Gregory. "Thanks Fraser."

"No Tim; thank YOU" said David. "Best idea ever came out of a ministry man, and whilst that's not a high compliment in some respects, I DO appreciate such an idea!"

oOoOo

Wido Mordaunt sauntered in, grinned, shook hands and drawled,

"Bitten anyone lately, David?"

"Not very often" said David. "All right Wido, why DO you want to teach?"

"Because I think I'd be rather good at it because I haven't forgotten being a brat myself" said Wido "And frankly I was the happiest I've ever been at Hogwarts. I'm a good fighter against darkness – I was one of the first in the MSHG, which I hope is still going – so even dealing with creatures as dark as small children can't be too difficult."

David laughed.

"Oh the MSHG is still going strong" he said "At least you've no illusions about dear little kiddywinkies."

"Let me guess; the fluffy old dear" said Wido.

"That 'fluffy old dear' is a contemporary of me and Severus Snape, I'll have you know" said Remus mildly.

"Wouldn't guess it" said Wido "You and Prof Snape still have lives and look like you know how to enjoy them; I'm afraid that poor creature looked ready for one of Madam Sprout's compost heaps."

"You haven't got any less snide in your old age Wido" said David mildly "What ARE you doing at the moment?"

"I'm working in a Quaestor Office preparing writs and suing people; it's not exciting but my eczema banned me from being an auror because I flake easily and it's a ritual component" said Wido. "And it's getting worse because silly little people with silly little problems stress me out far worse than real stuff like fighting Fishface did."

"It sounds bizarre but actually I kind of understand that" said David. "I guess because we could DO something to fight Fishface - that's an euphemism for the creep I haven't heard in a while – and you can't really bang your client's and their opponent's heads together."

"Feel like it sometimes" grunted Wido. "Teaching, I guess I'd feel I was preparing another generation to stand up to bullies and dark wizards and getting the opportunity to instil some ideas in their heads about what a short step it is from selfishness to y'actual dark wizardry."

"That's a good point" said Remus. "How would you deal with a kid who suggested, with the definition of dark creatures having dark intent, that a fellow pupil was a dark creature?"

"I'd wonder if he was having a laugh and I'd watch both him and the one accused narrowly" said Wido "Maybe ask a few sarcastic questions of each to make them talk freely."

"You got the job" said Remus firmly. "So long as you show all right in the practical test with assorted brats."

"We do still have one to interview who's from the ministry" said David mildly.

"That's as maybe; I can WORK with Wido" said Remus. "If the other one is all right, Neville teaches DADA as well as being headmaster; he could stand aside for a year and assess Nott. Whom I recall as very self contained."

"All right" said David "You're the one with final say, Remus; let's just see how Wido does with our assorted just ex weevils."

Wido grinned and went into the class where his wand made a loud explosion and a lot of smoke.

"Now I have your attention you little horrors" he said "I accept that you're probably bored stiff with all the teaching you've endured today from the good and the bad, now you got the ugly and we're going to have a quiz so I know how much you know."

David looked at Remus and they both nodded.

"He'll work out just FINE" said David.

Wido returned from his brief lesson and David shook his hand.

"Welcome on board Professor Mordaunt" he said "Don't say anything to Nott; you'll stay to dinner?"

"Rather!" said Wido "LOADS to catch up on and I want to watch your brats in action and learn any new jinxes I don't know."

oOoOo

Theodore Nott was still rather scrawny and had the same rather closed look on his face.

"Nott" said David courteously "I recall you from school; you kept yourself to yourself. I wondered why you wanted to teach – and if it's to rise in the ministry that is as laudable a reason as any."

Nott flushed, opened and shut his mouth a few times and then said in a rush,

"Fraser, I don't really know WHAT I want to do; I - I've always had difficulty reading people and getting to know them; and I've been shunted to the Min of Ed because nobody else wants the son of deatheaters who died in the battle of Hogwarts. I'm not whining about that" he added sharply "I chose my path; that I despised and loathed everything Voldemort stood for and could not understand why my parents should virtually worship him and creep like house elves to kiss his robe; but I loved my parents so I would not join Harry's group because then I should have had to fight my parents. If I'd known that Snape was opposing him secretly, and Draco too I guess I might have asked them to help me help get my parents out of his thrall; but of course the whole point was that Snape could NOT be open about it – especially to the child of a deatheater. So I held aloof; and built myself an island. And I don't quite know why I'm pouring out my heart to you. Well yes I do; it's because you've got the same air about you as Dumbledore and if he'd ever had me in his office I guess I might have confided in him, but he was too taken up with Harry."

"That's about the nicest compliment anyone has ever given me" said David quietly "Well maybe I can help you off your island with a paddle and a canoe; because if you can't readily contact people, it could be because of a small imbalance in the brain which makes that difficult; often goes with brains and sensitivity. Severus Snape knows how to fix it without losing the advantages; and I think he's about the only person in the world that does, so I suggest one of the things you do is talk to him."

"I've not approached him because it smacked of desperation asking your old house head to help out" said Nott "But if it's a question of a MEDICAL problem I guess that's different. I sometimes wondered if I should ask Lucius Malfoy if he has any jobs going but I don't want to whine or creep; I don't know if I'd be any good teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts but I think it's important to do so to stop other Voldemorts rising, and to look for them in school when they're still young. He could have been stopped at so many points."

"He could" said Remus. "We had already picked a junior teacher but we wanted to see whether to pass your name on to Neville Longbottom to take a year from him at the Free School; but I'm not sure it's appropriate."

"Stay to dinner; and I'll talk to Lucius" said David. "You're far too clever to waste in the ministry….Merlin, that was a bit bitchy, but you know what I mean."

"I feel rather like Gurdap the Troll at times, if you've read the book" said Nott. David laughed.

"I have" he said. 'Gurdap in the Ministry' was an excellent satire, where the troll Gurdap is accidentally cursed into human form and finds out how stupid the ministry officials are when he takes a job there.

oOoOo

Lucius was almost screaming in delight at David through the mental link the Headmaster opened.

"Good all rounder? Wants to promote knowledge to prevent the rise of another Voldemort? I have just the job for him – I need an editor of the educational globes, one who has enough all round knowledge to know what to include and what can be left out….. and to put together programs for Wizarding Wireless Vision. I'm doing some of it myself with Grace and Charlotte helping and Finn hindering and if I can sic the whole lot onto a willing body I'd be delighted. I'll send a 'copter for him first thing in the morning, dear boy."

Theodore Nott was delighted when David outlined what Lucius wanted.

And David also asked Severus to drop by Malfoy Manor to look at the Asperger's problem he suspected Nott might have.

It had been a very busy day!