"I fully intend to build up those areas to offer retail shopping, dining, entertainment, hotels, residential housing, and more." Remus' eyes bulged out in shock at the numbers and just how ambitious this plan was, before placing a hand against the wall to steady himself.
"Think about it seriously Remus and give me your answer by Sunday if you want the job, if not, I'll find someone else," Harry finished, before leaving the library and the man to his thoughts.
...
He made his way back to his bedroom with an unknown book in hand; he knew that he was taking a risk with Remus, as the middle aged man, although smart and capable, didn't appear to have any drive or ambition to really make something of himself, seemingly content to wallow in his own self-pity. But he knew the offer would make his godfather extremely happy, and besides, Remus could easily be replaced later on if he failed at his task. If he did fail, well, Sirius wouldn't have any grounds to complain.
There was a minor concern about giving Remus access to any of his family's financial information, but that could easily be prepared for with a carefully written magical contract provided by the goblins. The same contract would need some language to ensure Remus didn't do anything to betray him or his secrets, or work against his interests.
Besides, working for him was far safer for the man in light of the curse on the DADA position. He could already see it; either Remus would die in some freakish accident, or on a full moon the man would transform by accident, perhaps after a foolish student stupidly pranked his wolfsbane, rendering the highly sensitive potion useless. This would inevitably result in his godfather's best friend attacking students, or infecting them, or even potentially killing his fellow students. And given the fact that his friends and housemates were the students at risk, and he could potentially be there too, he'd rather that didn't even have a chance to happen.
It would be an effective means to test whether the student body had successfully learnt their werewolf related defence material though, a dark smile appearing on his lips at the rather silly thought. Should the worse happen and the man go out of control killing and infecting students, the whole situation would almost certainly stain his family's name due to his godfather's close friendship with the man and would cause all kinds of problems long-term. No one would believe for a second that we hadn't used our significant influence to secure Remus' appointment and thus we'd be blamed unfairly. It was far better just to avoid the possibility altogether, rather than risking such a catastrophe.
He gave a disapproving shake of his head at these thoughts, still not understanding how the Chief Warlock could think that it was a good idea for a werewolf to be teaching in a school full of kids. Looking down at the book in his hand, he was disappointed to find that it was a book on divination, his least favourite subject.
He groaned in annoyance, since he couldn't return to the library without ruining his masterful exit, thus the book would have to do for now. The title was in Latin, but his mind translated it into English as, 'The Complexities of Prophecies.' He couldn't help the groan of annoyance that escaped his lips at this title. He despised the very concept of a prophecy, since it implied that there was no such thing as free will and choice, and suggested that everything was already decided by some kind of grand design, that fate existed, rather than individual choice determining the future. But a book was a book, and knowledge was knowledge, his inner Ravenclaw ruthlessly argued. His inner Slytherin hissed that knowledge leads to understanding, and that understanding is power and that power is freedom. This line of thought stirred his inner tiger.
Hooking the book back under his arm, he decided that he would read it just to kill time, and on the small chance that it actually contained useful magical knowledge that he could put to good use at some point in his life. After all, power was power, and he already had several enemies to deal with. If divination gave him a hidden advantage, then so be it, he would learn it no matter how he felt about the subject. 'The strong survive, the weak perish,' he recited in the back of his mind, remembering one of the harshest rules of life. 'The strong rule, the weak serve and follow; it is the natural order of things.' His inner predator growled in seeming agreement.
Returning to his room, he found that Serenity was already fast asleep on her perch, her soft breaths filling the silent room as he watched the snow white owl soundly sleep. He smiled at the sight, before filing the memory away. A part of him wondered idly just what his rather intelligent owl dreamed about? Was it flying through the sky? Or was it all about the hunt? Did Harry appear in her dreams? Wordlessly flicking his wand through the air, he carefully weaved a silencing charm around his sleeping owl so that his activities wouldn't awaken her before she was ready. After all, Serenity was a very cantankerous owl when she failed to get her required amount of 'beauty sleep.'
...
( Hogwarts )
She looked down at the fireplace, the ashes and the fire were currently being shaped by magic to create the face of the former Headmaster. "No Albus, I won't stand down as Headmistress," she replied in a firm tone, using the same tone of voice she used on troublesome students, while trying to keep her calm at the former headmaster's sheer gall, wanting nothing more than to close the floo connection that second and be done with the man. "You had your chance Albus, it my turn now."
The former headmaster gave her a disappointed look, one that she had seen far too often when he was dressing down a misbehaving student; it didn't faze her one bit. She knew that she was in the right on this matter, not Albus. "Minerva, you know that my stepping down was only to buy time for the aurors to complete their investigation, until the perpetrator was caught," the aged wizard responded calmly. "Now it's time for me to return to the castle."
Considering the former Headmaster's words, a predatory smile appeared on her lips at Albus' unintentional slip. "You mean 'the school' don't you, Albus? Not 'the castle?'" she countered as the former headmaster frowned, realizing his mistake. "The investigation may be over Albus, but I won't step down as Headmistress just so that you can merely play the part of Hogwarts' Headmaster once again," she countered in a determined tone.
"Play? I didn't play at anything," Albus replied in an affronted tone.
"Yes, you did! Since I've had the job and title for real, I now realize that I've been making virtually every decision of the headmaster and doing all the administrative paperwork for you for the last few decades! It was all my hard work! You've simply been signing off on 99% of my administrative choices, whilst you were away from the school, too busy dealing with your other political positions and responsibilities.
Guiding Hogwarts is not a part-time job that can be done half heartedly while you attempt to do two other full-time jobs; it requires an individual's full and undivided attention, their full commitment to the task," she lectured back. "You are quite simply one man trying to do the work of three full time positions Albus, of course this school is going to suffer when your time and commitment to its success is so divided.
"Minerva, I am more than capable of handling the affairs of Hogwarts!" he defended, ignoring her valid points and concerns like he usually did.
"No, you're not; I've been running this school as headmistress for years in all but name! Now that I have the title, I'm not going to let it go without a fight. I've been so damn busy doing my job and yours for years now that I hadn't realized just how far this school had fallen.
You're too busy to look out solely for the school and her students' well being Albus, not to mention the many instances where the school's best interests conflicted with the best interests of your other positions," she replied in a far harder and more protective tone, realizing just how much was at stake if Albus continued to head the school.
"This year, like many others, you hired a fool for the DADA position, a man who has done nothing but play the part of a teacher like it was an acting role. Just thinking of this year and that particular man makes me cringe; your choice may have possibly ruined the potential careers and futures for many NEWT and OWL students, in fact seven separate years worth of students and their schooling.
This 'DADA curse' has been going on and left undealt with for years! How much has our society been damaged?!" "I was reliably informed that Mr. Lockhart was a highly capable wizard," the headmaster answered, trying to defend his choice.
"Molly Weasley is hardly a suitable adviser," she pressed ruthlessly, wanting to push her advantage. "It would have taken you less than 5 minutes to realize that Lockhart was a fake. You even had Mr. Potter in this office questioning the assigned textbook at the start of the year. You spend so much time out of the school for your other positions or locked up in your office that you miss things that are right in front of you. In fact, the only time you have any contact with students is at meals, and that's only watching them!"
Dumbledore was about to reply, but he stopped himself as he realized the trap she had set up. "Very well, I'll be talking to the Board about my reinstatement."
"You do that Albus," she voiced in defiance before disconnecting the floo, already knowing that she had the unspoken advantage of currently holding the position. The school's magic had readily accepted her as headmistress, almost joyously in fact, if she had to put an emotion to it.
Taking her seat, her thoughts turned towards the school and Albus specifically, knowing that the next couple of weeks were going to get messy as Albus started to pressure the governors' to act against her.
That said, she knew that many people considered the former headmaster to be too powerful, too influential, so maybe they wouldn't be so quick to agree to assist him in regaining the prestigious position of Hogwarts' headmaster. She frowned at a sudden unpleasant realization.
'I need to find and secure my own allies,' she concluded after some thought, hating the idea that she would have to play politics, but it was the only way to keep Albus out of Hogwarts long enough to finish her self-appointed task of rebuilding the school's damaged image. For too long the school had enjoyed a legacy reputation for excellence that was, she hated to admit, completely at odds with reality.
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A/N : if we get 400 power stones by the end of the week, I will release an extra chapter ;)
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