Sorry, a bit of a boring one (and a late chapter! Something went wrong with my account yesterday). Anyway, I promise things will get more interesting soon.
As always thank you so much for the lovely reviews :)
20 September 1995
Minerva looked up from her marking as Albus knocked on her open office door.
"Busy?" he asked, eyeing the mounds of parchment surrounding Minerva.
"It isn't as bad as it seems," she assured him, putting down her quill then folding her hand on top of her desk. "I thought you were meeting Aberforth this evening?"
Albus nodded and sat in a chair opposite Minerva's desk. "We had dinner," he said. "But he has many customers on Fridays so I thought it best not to bother him for too long."
"So you came to bother me instead?" Minerva teased.
Albus smiled. "Naturally. I was curious to find out whether or not you had received the results of your inspection yet?" he added.
Minerva's features darkened, and she pressed her lips together as she picked up a pink scroll sitting on her desk. "Apparently my teaching methods satisfy Ministry requirements," she said, reading the parchment.
"Only satisfy?" Albus said.
Minerva pursed her lips and gave him a look over her spectacles. "Indeed," she confirmed. "According to Dolores, that is, I meet the appropriate standard."
Albus raised his eyebrows.
"You would think that after only 19 days of being a Professor, Dolores would be trying to learn from others not shame them," Minerva continued. "I heard that her notes on Sybill's teaching methods are not the kindest," she explained before frowning and changing the conversation topic. "Did you know that she is refusing to allow her students to use magic?"
"Dolores?"
Minerva nodded and Albus sighed.
"I had heard something like that," he admitted.
"But students will still be tested on their magical prowess at the end of the year," Minerva continued. "Even if they do not learn how to use the spells they are being taught."
Albus nodded and Minerva tutted irritatedly.
"I have never heard anything more ridiculous," she said, putting the scroll on her desk and folding her arms. "It defeats the whole purpose of them being at school in the first place."
Albus nodded again. "I quite agree, my dear," he said. "But at the moment there is not much we can do."
"I could—"
"No," he cut in gently. "We cannot afford to do anything yet," he added. "I read the decree quite closely. Dolores has the power to dismiss teachers if she so wishes."
He paused significantly and Minerva sighed.
"Fine," she said, understanding what was being left unsaid. "But it cannot go on."
"No, it cannot," Albus agreed. They were both silent for a moment before Albus then cleared his throat. "I am going away next week for 3 days," he said.
Minerva straightened and frowned. "Away?" she repeated, studying Albus closely. "Where?"
Albus briefly looked down at his folded hands on his lap, before turning his attention back to her. "Something is puzzling me," he said enigmatically. "I would like to investigate a little more to see if my theories can be confirmed."
Minerva narrowed her eyes shrewdly when he did not elaborate. "Don't keep all your cards held to your chest, Albus. It never does anyone any good to work completely alone," she told him seriously, narrowing her eyes. "Would these theories and investigations be worth the Order knowing about?"
"Perhaps," Albus conceded, and, despite the fact that he was clearly withholding information from her, Minerva was still a little glad that at least he was not lying to her outright. "Either way," he continued, "I will not be in the castle from Monday to Wednesday. I have asked Alastor not to put you on duty at the Ministry on any of those evenings as I would rather you stay at Hogwarts."
Minerva pursed her lips. "I appreciate you speaking on my behalf, Albus," she said, though her spectacles flashed dangerously. Albus had the decency to look somewhat apologetic. "What will you tell Dolores?"
He shrugged. "Annual leave."
"You are being very blaze about this whole affair," she told him. "I believe visiting your brother would be a more plausible explanation," she said. "Or visiting a friend."
Albus shrugged mildly and Minerva rolled her eyes.
"Well, on your head be it," she muttered, looking back down at her marking and frowning slightly at the slanted script scrawled on the page.
There was silence for only a few seconds before the sound of crinkling paper made Minerva look up again.
"Lemon drop?"
Minerva looked up at the paper bag Albus was offering her, then back at him. She raised her eyebrows pointedly. "You are very distracting, Albus," she stated. "No, thank you."
Albus smiled slightly and stood up. "Will I see you tomorrow?" he said.
"For our weekly chess game?" she said, smiling slightly too. "I'll come to your office at 8," she said.
"Perfect," he replied. "Goodnight, my dear."
"Goodnight, Albus."