average human’s Reviews > Expecto Patronum > Status Update

“I’m afraid it is not up to me,” she stressed with a pointed look over her glasses. “The Minister is making the hiring decisions until a permanent Headmaster or Mistress can be established.”

“Cornelius?” Harry cocked a very Severus-like brow at her. “Brill, thanks ma’am!”

“Oh, Harry?”

Harry turned and looked over his shoulder at her, his smile still firmly in place.

“The creatures in the defense office will need to be gone before Sirius starts.”

Harry’s laughter bounced off the walls of the corridor, free and joyful. “Yes ma’am,” he agreed.

Never let it be said that Minerva was the third longest hat-stall in Hogwarts history for a lack of cunning. Though, as she watched Harry run off to rejoin his friends, she was once more incredibly relieved that the longest hat-stall in history was Severus’ problem.



It was no real surprise to Minerva when the Minister requested an audience with her only hours after her final class of the day on Friday. Though, the immediate topic of the conversation was a surprise.

“Well, Minerva!” Fudge was beaming through the flames in her office at her. “I’ve heard you’re doing a splendid job as Headmistress, just splendid!”

“I believe I have been adequate enough the last thirty-six hours,” Minerva said tartly.

“Adequate? Oh no,” Fudge chuckled merrily, a cold reaction from a man whose assistant died less than two full days ago. “From what I was told, Hogwarts has never had such a firm and fair sense of leadership.”

Minerva willed her lips to remain flat, internally sighing at what she was certain was a direct quote from Harry.

That young man was a riddle masked in mystery in the middle of a complex maze.

“I appreciate the sentiment,” Minerva said gracefully. “Have you found a suitable replacement for our defense class?”

“I have!” Fudge’s face was round and gleaming with joy. “Well, you’ll need to ask him of course, I haven’t the time to go knocking down doors requesting resumés, but I think he’d make a spiffing replacement for Dolores, may she rest in piece.”

“And who is this spiffing replacement that I must find time to go approach?” Minerva raised a no-nonsense brow at the Minister. If a single name came out of his mouth aside from Sirius’ then she would be marching straight to the Slytherin dorms and dragging Harry up here by the ear to correct the man.

She would not allow her students to suffer through another Ministry employee in her castle.

Never again.

“Sirius Black,” Fudge said. “I’ve heard that he’s great with children, excellent at defense, and was quite the accomplished trainee in the DMLE before all that unpleasantness with Azkaban.”

“A wonderful choice,” Minerva said with no small amount of relief. “Sirius is a former pupil of mine,” she said. “I’ll reach out to him tomorrow, shall I?”

“Perfect!” Fudge cried. “Why don’t we go ahead and make your appointment permanent when we sign Black on, eh? Just put all this unpleasantness with Albus and Dolores behind us.”

“I see no problem with that,” Minerva said. She missed Albus’ reassuring presence, but Hogwarts was safer without Dolores. “I will need to fulfill the Deputy position as well, if I am meant to remain Headmistress.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Fudge waved her off. “I’ve already selected Severus.”

Of course he had.

It was a fine choice, Severus would have been Minerva’s first choice as well. Though she was certain this was another recommendation straight from Harry through the Minister.

Minerva sank down in her loveseat after disconnecting with Fudge with an assurance to inform him tomorrow of Sirius’ decision.

“It could be worse,” she murmured to her cat, Aggie, “Harry could have recommended Johnathan Abbott or Narcissa Malfoy.”

Aggie meowed in a very agreeable sort of way.

***

“Minnie! What a pleasant surprise!” Sirius stepped out of the floo in Minerva’s office, appearing quite chipper despite the early hour that she had summoned him the next morning. “Whatever can I do for you?” He batted his eyelashes flirtatiously, driving a scoff and a smile from Minerva.

“Sit,” she waved him towards the open seat across from her. “I would like to speak with you.”

“It wasn’t me,” Sirius said immediately, holding his hands up harmlessly. “I’m innocent this time.”

“You’re as innocent now as you were when you were a child.” Minerva smiled faintly as Sirius took a seat. “Though I would like to discuss something aside from your petty crimes today.”

“Minnie I’m afraid if you’re finally ready to accept my courtship, that you’re a bit too late,” Sirius smiled charmingly. “I’ve already bought a ring for Rem and I’m popping the question soon.”

“Are you really?” Minerva’s small smile of fondness grew to something much more joyful. “Poor Remus!” she laughed.

“I know.” Sirius leaned back in his seat, his legs crossed and completely at ease, just as he was during his many, many, detentions he served in this very room. “I figured it’s time for us to make it official, quit living in sin and grow up you know.”

“Congratulations,” Minerva said genuinely. “I expect an invitation.”

“An invite? I was going to make you my Best Man,” Sirius winked. “Well... you might have to duel Harry for it.”

“Duel him?” Minerva huffed out a small laugh. “You’re quite behind on times Sirius, Harry has been teaching muggle fighting methods to his classmates. Apparently using your fists in a fight is all the rage with the children now.”

Sirius smacked his knee as his entire body shook with his infectious laughter. “Oh Merlin,” he sighed happily once he controlled himself. “I love that kid.”

“He is quite something,” Minerva agreed carefully. “However, what I wanted to ask you about today is your intentions for employment?”

“Welllll....” Sirius shifted guiltily in his seat and leaned his chair back with a stretch. “I suppose I should start looking for something.”

Minerva shook her head with exasperation. Sirius had been one of her brightest and most creative students. He never lacked motivation or ambition before now. She could hardly begrudge him his leisure though, as Azkaban had stolen a good portion of his life.

A wrong that still haunted her. Minerva had spent many nights after James’ death, wondering about how Sirius could have turned against him, doubting it even when there seemed to be ample proof. But she had not spoken up, and Sirius had suffered for it.

She felt as if there was a short list of students who she had wronged during her years at Hogwarts, but Sirius, Severus, and Harry were perhaps her worst ones.

She believed that her friendship and support with Severus was slowly righting the wrongs she did when he was a student. Bringing Sirius in and offering him an opportunity to be a part of Hogwarts History would hopefully help undue some of her wrongdoings towards him. And Harry...

Well. She doubted if Harry knew that they were now even. Her outrageous behavior against him when she had listened a little too closely to Albus’ warnings in the boys’ first year should be more than forgiven now.

“You should not look for anything anymore,” Minerva told Sirius, focusing on the opportunity before her. “Come to Hogwarts. A position teaching has recently opened.”

“What?” Sirius’ chair landed back on the floor with a thud. His mouth was open as he blinked at her in surprise. “You mean Umbridge’s position? Right? You’re- You want me to come teach defense?”

“I do,” Minerva said. “I’m not without my reservations Sirius, but I believe that you would make an adequate replacement.”

“Adequate,” Sirius scoffed, but his eyes were sparkling with joy. “From what I heard, I could have taught circles around that Umbridge witch.”

“Sirius.” Minerva waited until Sirius caught her eyes and settled down. “How are you?” she asked gently. “I cannot offer you this position in good faith unless I know that all of your difficulties are better.”

Minerva could hardly look at Sirius without remembering him in his youth, as was the curse of most teachers. As at ease and relaxed as Sirius seemed now, she had seen him relaxed before. Then days later she found him at the top of the Astronomy tower, his long hair whipping about wildly from the frigid night air, dressed in a thin shirt and trousers screaming about demons keeping him from sleeping.

She would also likely never see this man without remembering James, pale faced and shaking, asking Minerva to give him and Sirius the day off classes because he couldn’t watch Sirius as well from a classroom as he could their dorm.

’Why do you need to watch Mister Black?’ Minerva had asked him.

‘He isn’t doing so good,’ James had whispered back, uncharacteristically solemn, and obviously shaken. ‘I- I can’t tell you, I’m sorry. I just have to watch him today.’

‘And why is that your job?’

James had looked up at her with confusion in his eyes. ‘Because he’s my brother.’

Minerva had never known what it was that James spent that day in their fifth year watching Sirius for, but she heard whispers. Gossip was never scarce in Hogwarts. And the rumors had broken her heart.

But she couldn’t allow sentimentality to influence a professional decision.

Sirius leaned forward and ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve never felt this... this normal,” he said guilelessly. “I’m not just bouncing around from highs and lows anymore Minnie, I’m just... normal.” Apparently his capacity for seriousness had been fulfilled because he winked at her then. “Blame Snape,” he chuckled. “Bastard went and diagnosed me with a problem I didn’t know I had then put me on potions to treat it. He makes it hard to hate him, doesn’t he?”

“You would have to work with him Sirius,” Minerva said sternly. “And if there were any conflicts, I will warn you now that I will take Severus’ side without ample evidence to prove otherwise.”

“Hey, hey,” Sirius held his hands up placatingly. “I was kidding,” he said. “I’ve been working with Snape for two years now, kind of. If we can deal with Harry together, I think we can handle being coworkers.”

“See that you do,” Minerva said in her most grave tone. It would be a bother to do so, but she would release Sirius if he bothered Severus to an unreasonable degree. “So you accept?”

“I’d need to check with Rem first...” Sirius said slowly. “We’ve got a lot going on at home, but...” his face suddenly lit up like he had just won the quidditch cup again. “But I know he’ll say yes,” he said. “I accept.”

Minerva summoned a tea tray and the two of them sat a while longer, discussing the details of his employment. By the time they were finished, Minerva was confident that Sirius would be a pleasant addition to the staff.

“Oh, Sirius?”

Sirius paused in front of the floo and turned back.

“You may thank Harry for your position,” she told him. “It was his recommendation to the Minister that led to this.”

Minerva waited a moment for Sirius to process that, then smiled affectionately. “I’ll see you Monday morning.”

Severus took it as well as Minerva expected.

She hoped his increase pay as Deputy Headmaster would prevent him from throwing things, but the shattered jar from within his office once she closed the door informed her otherwise.

”I wouldn’t,” Minerva warned Tonks, whom she passed on her way to check-in with Poppy. “He’s gotten some bad news I’m afraid.”

”Bad news like he needs a shoulder to cry on, or bad news like he’s looking for someone to cut in to potion ingredients?” Tonks asked slowly, the glimmer in her eyes not dimming at either prospect.

”I believe the only one he is envisioning being cut in to pieces is your cousin,” Minerva said. “Give him an hour to cool down, then bring liquor and chips.”

Tonks winked gratefully at Minerva as she spun on her heel to head back the way she came from.

Minerva was no Albus, with his unwavering convictions on character and his never ending manipulations for the good of the population, but Minerva could hardly work with the man as long as she had without picking up a few harmless tips and tricks along the way either.

***

“Excuse me.” Minerva stood up at breakfast on Sunday morning, once more calling for the students’ attention. “I have a couple of announcements for you all.”

Severus muttered something no doubt unflattering, while the students turned expectant faces to Minerva.

“First, I would like to inform you that I will be remaining Headmistress of Hogwarts for the foreseeable future.”

Minerva graced her students with an affectionate smile as they gave her an ear-splitting ovation. As much as her title didn’t matter to her, it was vindicating to her efforts as a professor that the students accepted her so happily. She may have made mistakes in the past with some students, her mind wandered to Harry and Severus, but she had a firm conversation with herself over it and hoped that she was now a professor that all students within her castle could depend on.

“Thank you,” she said warmly once the cheers died down. “As such, Professor Snape will be fulfilling the duty of Deputy Headmaster.”

Minerva gave Severus a smug look as the cheers for his promotion were hardly less noisy than hers had been.

It had provided her and Pomona with endless amusement at Severus’ state of respect with the general student body since Harry arrived. They had been concerned that Severus would despise the son of his enemy James Potter, and instead he let the boy turn him soft. Pomona had nearly choked on her kippers one summer when they saw Severus had been appointed as ‘Witch Weekly’s Third Most Eligible Wizard’.

They had pinned the photo of Severus scowling above the moniker to the staff room wall, but all that remained was a scorch mark the next afternoon.

Minerva thought the man deserved some acknowledgment for the brave and honorable spirit she knows that Severus carries. It was one of many reasons why she continued to encourage Miss Tonks in her pursuit.

Despite Severus’ adoration of Lily, Minerva thought Nymphadora Tonks was a much better match for him. She had always been an energetic, thoughtful, ambitious young woman. A kind heart, but a fierce sense of loyalty. Just the someone to remind Severus that he was still young, still had a whole life ahead of him, and to drag him from his lab with bodily force if needed.

“And finally— starting tomorrow morning we will have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor joining us,” Minerva paused, indulging in a dramatic moment as the students all hung on her every syllable. “Professor Sirius Black. Professor Black will also be taking over as Head of Gryffindor, as I can no longer fulfill that position with impartiality.”

Sirius hardly received the cheers that Severus did, a balm to Severus’ fragile ego she hoped, but Harry and his friends were jubilantly whistling and stomping their feet.

“My hope is that despite this terrible tragedy,” more than one student scoffed, as did multiple professors, “that we can finish the year on a strong note. A note befitting of our school and our home. Thank you.”



“Anyone, Minerva, anyone. You could have had your pick of hires,” Severus groaned, watching Minerva make her move on the marble chess board while he finished his third drink of the night. “I would have filled the position myself if I’d known what you were planning.”

“Sirius came with a glowing recommendation from Minister Fudge and Harry,” Minerva said, scarcely listening as Severus voiced the same complaints he had last night. She moved her knight to D-5, her eyes zeroing in on Severus’ king.

“Of course he did,” Severus grumbled, refilling his drink and carelessly moving his bishop. “I’m sure that Fudge was all too happy to do Harry such a favor.”

“Hmm.” Minerva moved her own queen, an open feint for Severus to take. “That was my take on the matter as well. Though, even you must admit that Sirius is preferable to Dolores.”

“I must admit nothing,” Severus said sullenly. His face remained impassive as he took the bait and repositioned his king to avoid Minerva’s queen. “At the rate we seem to go through them, I’d be surprised if Black survives the rest of the year in the role. Wishful thinking I suppose.”

“Perhaps Severus, if you are unhappy with who I hired to teach defense then you should instruct your child to stop killing off our defense professors.” Minerva struck with her knight while Severus spat out his drink in a comically juvenile way.

Minerva McGonagall was no fool. She was the one who ensured that Poppy supplied Murtlap Essence to all the common rooms once she saw the bleeding hands on the backs of some of the more discipline challenged students in the castle. She had cornered Lee Jordan three weeks ago, demanding he inform her of the cuts on his hand, but he remained stubbornly tight lipped.

Minerva knew, knew it in her heart and soul, that Dolores was hurting the students. Her students. Though without a single child willing to voice a complaint, and in the face of the full Ministry backing of Dolores’ previous actions, she was helpless.

And she had despised it.

So she had thrown her assistance to Harry and his friends, standing idly by as they tortured Dolores and made the castle devolve in to utter chaos. She dropped a few hints here and there, some muttered to Peeves, some to an invisibly giggling Susan Bones, all with the goal of driving Dolores from the castle.

And then, abruptly, all new pranks and torments were ceased on Tuesday night. Two nights after Miss Hermione Granger from Ravenclaw served detention with Dolores, and the same night that Trent Bailey from Slytherin had a detentions on record with Dolores.

Both quite close to Harry, one his teammate and one a member of his circle of friends. Both seated near him the next morning and both sporting bleeding hands.

Did Minerva believe that Harry lost his desire to drive Dolores mad? She did not.

In the very back recess of her mind, in a thought she hardly allowed to make itself known, she believed that Harry Potter had found a more permanent solution to the Dolores problem.

Dolores was likely the most recent person to discover that Harry was no enemy to be trifled with.

Heart failure? Hardly.

Though, as that was what the autopsy results discovered, it was a tidy end to a terrible woman.

Minerva raised her glass to Severus’ look of horror. “Checkmate,” she said.

Chapter End Notes

Up Next:
Severus Snape and the continuing case of chronic migraines.