The Board of Governors
He walks through the corridors of his old school, reminiscing about his years running, laughing and playing with old friends.
Belford stops for a second before the wooden door of the conference room. Sighing, he opens the door and enters the room, his eyes inspecting the others already inside.
He sees Lord Abraxas Malfoy talking in a corner with Lords Lestrange and Gamp. The trio seems to be questioning the reason for why a meeting of the Board was called.
Ignoring the men's presence, to not be dragged into talking to them, Lord Belford Greengrass goes towards the only wixen in the room that don't threaten to give him a headache — Lord Fleamont Potter and Lady Melania Black.
“Melania, Fleamont, well met,” He greets the two and slightly bows his head to them.
Following Lord Greengrass' lead, Lady Black and Lord Potter give the man their greetings and bow to him in return.
“Fleamont and I were discussing the reason for why we are here, Belford,” Lady Black states, a devious smile on her lips. Belford sees the smile on the woman's face and quirks an eyebrow.
Could she know the reason for the meeting? Belford questions himself. He wonders if Lord Peverell, who has sent him a letter two days prior to the meeting — explaining the reason for said meeting — and not so subtly asked Lord Greengrass about a possible alignment against Albus Dumbledore.
Imagining that Lord Peverell, who is to marry Lady Black's grandson in December, made Lady Black aware of the trial that will take place today is not a far-fetched thought. If if know Melania, and I do, she is enjoying this a lot, Belford mused.
“Oh, yes,” He nods his head nonchalantly as he answers the old woman. “Today's meeting is set to be quite... major in terms of change. Wouldn't you agree?”
Lady Black goes from devious to a little devilish, making Lord Greengrass shift his weight from one leg to the other. Melania Black, known for her defence of family and, most importantly, pureblood traditions, is set to be one of the most outspoken adversaries of Dumbledore today.
In his mind, safe for only himself to hear, Belford thanked the gods for not allowing Dumbledore to be in the meeting that day. The disaster that it would become, Belford shivers at the thought of Lady Black and Albus Dumbledore clashing.
“Major indeed, Belford,” Fleamont says while caressing his beard. “Many things will change after today. Let's hope that it is for the better, yes?”
Before Lord Greengrass could answer, Lady Smith and Madam Marchbanks entered the room, getting the attention of all the others waiting inside.
All the members are here, Belford thought to himself. Let's hope this goes fast and succinctly.
Without greetings or flattery, the members of the Board of Governors take their designated seats by the circle wooden table.
To Lord Greengrass' right, Fleamont Potter takes his seat — back strengthened and shoulders aligned. Though older than most current lords, Lord Potter's presence has always been one of power and respect.
To his left, is no other than Harvey Longbottom — to Belford's displeasure. The man, a semi-blind Dumbledore supporter, is set to annoy Lord Greengrass to death, with his oddly Muggle morals and defence of anything Light. A, and probably only, quality Belford could muster to give the man was his divergence from Dumbledore's agenda when it comes to safety — vide Longbottom's past as an Auror.
“Well met,” Madam Marchbanks, Head of the Board of Governors, greets. “We are here today for the trial of a member of Hogwarts very staff-” Her words cause a series of murmurs to go around the table. “and our decision will be final and incontestable.”
The shocked expressions that follow Madam Marchbanks' words tell Belford that Lord Peverell hasn't spread the word very far. In actuality, only himself, Fleamont Potter, Lady Black and, oddly, Lady Smith didn't look surprised.
“Who is it that we are here for, Griselda?” Helena Moody, a sturdy and strong Light advocate asks.
Pursing her lips, an action that does not escape Lord Greengrass' attentive eyes, Madam Marchbanks waves her wand and summons a large folder with many flat pages of parchment inside it. With a flick of her hand, Griselda Marchbanks then copies the folder and distributes it to her colleagues.
One by one, the members of the Board open their folders, examining its contents.
A gasp coming from Lenora Crouch echoes in the quiet room. The name on the first piece of parchment is eligible and clear. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
The Headmaster of Hogwarts was the person being judged today.
The others, aware of who was going to be judged today, only continued to read — ignoring the angry questions by Dumbledore's sycophants. Trying to block Lord Longbottom's rant about the good Dumbledore has allegedly brought to the country was a challenge, but they were more than happy to do it nonetheless.
Reading the folder's content, Lord Greengrass was becoming more and more disgusted with Dumbledore's doing.
Most shocking were the ones related to, the near or actual, death of students. The report about three particular students saddened Belford immensely.
1943 - William A. Breik, 13, allegedly pleaded with then Transfiguration Professor Albus Dumbledore to remain in Hogwarts, due to the bombings happening in London. However, Albus Dumbledore refused the boy's pleas, and young William gave up on asking for help.
• William A. Breik returned to his house in London after failing to convince both Headmaster Armando Dippet and Professor Albus Dumbledore.
• William never returned to Hogwarts for his 4th year at Hogwarts.
• Muggle authorities' documents state that the Breik household was destroyed during a bombing campaign, by the Germans, in August.
1943 - Sabrina Belmont, 16, allegedly asked for shelter from the war. However, Albus Dumbledore refused the shelter, and Ms Belmont had no other choice but to go back home.
• On the night of July 23rd, Sabina Belmont's family died in a fire after their neighbourhood was bombed.
• Due to her magic, Sabina Belmont survived the fire, but died a few months after in a hospital — from lack of medical care.
• Sabina's friends were never aware of the reason why their friends never came back for her final year.
1944 - Tom Marvolo Riddle, 16, allegedly asked for shelter at Hogwarts, due to the escalation of the war and Mr Riddle's residence — Wool's Orphanage — vulnerability. Once more, however, Albus Dumbledore forbade another student from staying at Hogwarts.
• Wool's Orphanage was bombed less than a month after Tom Riddle went back, and the student had to live in a war shelter for the remainder of the summer.
• Fortunately, Mr Riddle was able to return and finish his education at Hogwarts.
The words were imprinted on Belford's mind after he read them. Three students, two of them dying in the war, were never given shelter during the most dramatic and dangerous time in recent history.
Lord Greengrass became even more enraged with a note from former Headmaster Armando Dippet, stating that Albus Dumbledore convinced him that the students were safe and sound — going so far as promising the headmaster that he, Dumbledore, would keep an eye on them.
Before Lord Greengrass could even muster the thought of why Dumbledore would do such a thing, another parchment detailing the taking of funds from the Hogwarts Vault for students without the purse for school fees, and subsequent transference to Dumbledore's own vault was explanation enough.
“This is all ridiculous forgery,” Lady Moody spat, bringing Belford's attention back to the room. “Let's finish this at once, Griselda. I won't waste my precious time discussing falsities.”
Belford would swear he saw red at that moment. How he hated the woman. So head-stuck on her on leisure and gluttony. At that moment he felt sorry for Lord Moody, fort marry such a petulant woman must be a curse from the gods.
“Stop this ridiculousness, woman!” Lord Potter spar at her, shocking many in the room with his anger. “Sit down or leave this room. Don't waste our time with what your destitute mind comes up with.”
Too shocked by the harsh words, Helena Moody looked around for support, but no one gave her any. The woman's antics were prone to make her into a pariah, not that seemed to mind the exclusion of herself.
Lady Moody sat back down and resigned herself to mutter angry words to the air.
“Is there proof for these accusations, Madam Marchbanks?” Asked Lord Malfoy, eyes gleaming at the mere thought of firing Dumbledore.
“Indeed, there is,” Nodded Marchbanks while speaking. The old woman's face was contorted into a grim expression. “All the information came with verified papers from from Muggle and Wizarding Worlds.”
Lord Malfoy only hum'd and relaxed on his chair.
“What of these accounts of bullying? Many of these are incredibly recent,” Said Lady Black, looking at a particular parchment.
Lips tight and brows furrowed, Madam Marchbanks answered “Yes. Some of the reports are very disturbing to read. Decades on decades of bullying occuring daily — without any repercussion.”
Fleamont's fist tightened when he read his son's name coming up again and again. James, we will have a very serious talk when I get home, he swore to himself.
Lady Black was not very different, however. The names of both Sirius and Bellatrix were very prominent in the accounts. Perhaps we have been too lenient with those two, Melania thought. Her son, Orion, was set to hear a lot later in the day and she was already thinking about what to put in her howlers for Sirius and Bellatrix.
“It seems that the school's staff has become useless, yes?” Said Lord Lestrange while sneering at the parchment.
“Indeed,” Viviane Smith said, shocking Longbottom, Crouch and Moody. “Maybe a new deputy is also in order.”
“Very much so,” Belford Greengrass said, preventing Lady Crouch from starting an argument with Lady Smith.
Signing, Madam Marchbanks asked “I believe it's time. All in accordance to start the voting?”
Everyone nodded in agreement, though Lord Longbottom and Lady Moody did it reluctantly.
Wand in favour in the air signalled an easy majority, which made the losing side red with anger. Lord Longbottom, specifically, was so red other people started to think his head would explode. Lady Moody almost tried to curse Lord Malfoy, after the man laughed at the result, but Madam Marchbanks told her about the penalty of attacking another Board member.
“With seven votes in favour, three against and one abstention, I declare that Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is now dismissed from his duty as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. On this 3rd of October, the now former headmaster must leave the premises of Hogwarts by sundown, or else he is open to prosecution for going against the Board of Governors' decision.”
And just like that, the almost fifteen years of reign of Albus Dumbledore was ended. Once one of the most respect men, now Albus Dumbledore becomes a pariah — with no place in the Ministry and neither in the school he did so much to control.