Chapter 8
Hearing that the young Professor was possibly dating one of the Weasley twins was a warning, that he wasn’t going to ignore. He was very familiar with what a pissed off Weasley was capable of, he’d been on the receiving end of Ginny’s hexes a few times and had no desire to be on the receiving end of one of the twins’ wands.
~~~
“Oh, Hermione?” Molly Weasley smiled as she saw the small flock of owls approaching the newly rebuilt Burrow. “Your NEWT results are on their way.” She pointed out the window, when Hermione lifted her head from the book she was reading.
“Oh. Oh, thank Merlin…” Hermione whispered.
Within a minute she had a parchment envelope in her hands, matching those that Ron, Ginny, Dean and Luna held.
“Who’s first?” Dean asked and the five looked at each other, before Ron shrugged.
“I’ll go.” Ron pulled on the parchment and the wax seal cracked, allowing the letter to open.
NASTY EXHAUSTING WIZARDING TESTS
Pass Grades - Outstanding (O), Exceeds Expectations (E), Acceptable (A)
Fail Grades - Poor (P), Dreadful (D), Troll (T)
RONALD B WEASLEY Has achieved the following Results
Care of Magical Creatures E
Charms E
Defence Against the Dark Arts O
Potions A
Transfiguration E
5 NEWTs Granted
“Thank Merlin…” Ron sighed.
“Ron?” Hermione asked.
“I passed.” Ron grinned. “Five NEWTs. E’s in CoMC, charms and transfig. An A in potions and…?” He grinned. “And an O(!) in DADA!”
“Oh, Ronnie!” Molly beamed at her youngest son. “An O! Wonderful.” She turned to Ginny. “And what about you, Ginny, dear?”
NASTY EXHAUSTING WIZARDING TESTS
Pass Grades - Outstanding (O), Exceeds Expectations (E), Acceptable (A)
Fail Grades - Poor (P), Dreadful (D), Troll (T)
GINEVRA M WEASLEY Has achieved the following Results
Astronomy A
Care of Magical Creatures E
Charms E
Defence Against the Dark Arts E
History of Magic E
Potions A
Transfiguration O
7 NEWTs Granted
“Seven.” Ginny was stunned. “I got seven. An O in transfig. A’s in Astronomy and potions and E’s for the rest.” She turned towards Luna and Hermione. “What about you two?”
“Good.” Hermione nodded. “E’s in Arithmancy, DADA and Potions, but the rest are O’s. Luna?”
Luna ducked her head. “Eleven. An E in potions and O’s for everything else.” When only silence answered her comment, she hunched her shoulders and ducked even lower.
“Eleven!” Ginny gasped. “How the hell did you manage eleven NEWTs?”
“And pass them all?” Ron added.
“And what about you, Dean?” Molly asked, trying to draw the attention away from the blonde girl.
“Better than I expected.” Dean nodded. “Seven NEWTs. All E’s, expect for DADA. I got an O for that, too.”
“So Luna’s the only one that got an O for history?” Ginny huffed.
“What’s Ophelia like as a teacher?” Molly asked, curious to know.
“Oh, God…” Ginny whined, while Hermione just made a groaning noise.
“Don’t ask.” Dean laughed. “It was… awful…” He’d accidentally found out about Ophelia’s secret after he’d overheard Hermione and Ginny moaning about the young Professor’s class and when he’d started dating Ginny again, the redhead had begged Ophelia to give him more details. It had involved copious amounts of calming draughts to assuage the young black man’s anger. Anger at the press for hounding Harry, at the Ministry for making him think that such excessive action was needed to keep himself safe and at Ophelia for not telling his former dormmates earlier. That had convinced her to speak to Neville who hexed her for not trusting him. No-one else had been told and Ophelia wasn't certain that anyone else would be told.
“You should have guessed.” Ron snickered. “You knew what Harry was like, running the D.A.”
“And Ophelia did warn us, that she was going to push us hard.” Luna added.
“Hard?!” Hermione scoffed.
“She’s a bloody nightmare.” Ginny groaned.
“I’ll say.” Dean agreed.
“Are you going to tell her how you did?” Molly asked.
“I’m sure she knew before we did, mum.” Ginny objected. “Don’t they notify the teachers before they send out the results?”
“I… I don’t know…” Molly frowned.
~~~
“Welcome.” Snape greeted the various staff members as they entered the staff room.
“Headmaster.” Ophelia was the last to arrive and gave the wizard a slight curtsey, before taking a seat beside McGonagall.
“Ophelia.” Snape gave her a nod and a small smile. “Welcome to the last official act of the 1998/99 school year. Congratulations on surviving another year.” McGonagall snorted and Aroura Sinistra huffed a laugh, while Ophelia bit her lip to avoid laughing, just yet. “Yes, yes, I know…. If we survived a year of the Dark Lord controlling the school, we can survive a year without it. But the little horrors do make it difficult.”
Ophelia did laugh this time. Other than Terrence Bennet, she’d had a relatively uncomplicated year.
“Hush, you.” Snape flicked his fingers at her. “Alright, let’s get this over with, I’ve got the goblins coming to assess the school’s wards, to see what changes can be made.” He tapped his fingers on a sheet of parchment, in front of himself. “Bathsheda? Were there any students taking OWLs or NEWTs in Ancient Studies?”
“Actually, we did have two taking NEWTs.” The auburn-haired witch answered. “Jeffery Douglas and Amanda Lawrence. Both did reasonably well, high E’s.”
“And OWLs?”
“Oh, yes.” Bathsheda nodded. “Stewart Ackerley, Emma Dobbs, Natalie McDonald, Orla Quirke and Nigel Wolpert all sat OWLs. Ackerley and Dobbs were A’s, McDonald and Quirke were E’s and Wolpert received an O.”
“Well done.” Snape nodded. “Bonuses for two NEWTs and five OWLs, as well as the extra for the O, will be transferred to you vault, tomorrow.” He wrote the numbers after her name, which sat underneath the title of Ancient Studies.
“Thank you, Headmaster.” The witch smiled and sat back in her seat.
“Albert? Apparition, any issues?” Snape asked.
Albert Tofty shook his head. “No, not really. Some of the eighth years were clearly experienced with apparition and didn’t need anything other than testing. The seventh years? Amelia Simpson required Pomfrey’s attendance twice, the rest were fine. There were three sixth years that attended my classes and all three had not more difficulty than the seventh years. All passed their licences with no restrictions.”
“And how many were there, in total?”
“Twenty-nine eighth years, fifty-one seventh years and the three sixth years.”
“Fifty-one?” Ophelia asked.
“Yes, a number of last year’s seventh years opted to re-sit the entire year as opposed to the accelerated NEWT schedule.” Snape was the one to answer.
“Ah, I understand, now. Thank you for clarifying that, Severus.”
“Of course, Ophelia.” Snape turned from her, back to Tofty. “Bonuses for eighty-three passes. Well done, Albert.” Another set of numbers were written down.
“Thank you, Severus, this lot were quite motivated, I might add.” The white-haired wizard picked up his cup of tea and sipped at it.
“Septima?” Snape looked to the arithmancy Professor.
“Twelve eighth years, eleven seventh years, fourteen fifth years. All passes. Five O’s at the NEWT level and four at OWL level.” The raven-haired witch said succinctly, red glinting off of her wimple-like hat.
“Excellent.” Snape nodded, making a note beside her name.
“Aurora? What of Astromomy?”
“Thirty-two OWL passes, seven of which were O’s.” The black witch answered. “Eighth year NEWTs, fifteen passes, eight were O’s. Seventh year NEWTs, thirty-six passes, eleven of which were O’s, one O+.”
“An O+?” McGonagall asked. “Truly?”
“Padma Patil decided to redo the entire year and it showed. Last year, I wouldn’t have expected her to even get an O, this year, she achieved an O+.” Aurora explained.
“Very well done, indeed.” Snape smiled at her. “I’ll see to the bonuses.”
“Thank you, Severus.”
It took another fifteen minutes before Snape turned to Ophelia.
“This was your first year with us, Ophelia, how did your students fair?”
Ophelia snorted. “Some better than others. Of the eleven eighth years, all passed but only two with O’s.”
“You had two students get O’s?” McGonagall asked. “Already?”
“Luna Lovegood and Daphne Greengrass.” Ophelia nodded.
“Oh, my…”
“And the seventh years?”
“All thirteen passed. Padma and Parvati Patil both got O’s, as did Jeffery Douglas, Morag Macdougal and Harper Benson.” Ophelia answered. “Of the twelve fifth years, again all passed, but only Nigel Wolpert achieved an O.”
“Nicely done, Professor Black. A fine first year bonus haul.” Snape smirked at her. “But I do believe that Minerva wins the top spot for percentage of O’s, I understand that only two of her NEWT students didn’t receive one.”
“Ron Weasley and Dean Thomas.” McGonagall nodded. “Although both were within three points of the O cut-off. They did better than I expected.”
“And only one OWL student failed to reach an O? Correct?” Snape asked.
“That would be correct.” McGonagall nodded. “James Peakes missed out by one point.” She huffed. “I will get there. I will have a perfect O rate before I retire.” She promised herself.
The meeting went on for another half hour before all the Professors had informed the Headmaster of their students scores.
“Well done to you all.” Snape gave them a brief smile. “I’ll ensure that bonuses are transferred to your vaults, when I visit Gringotts this afternoon. I’m looking forward to working with you all, in the years ahead. Please remember that the booklist will be sent out on the twentieth of July, so if you plan to update your texts, make sure that I have an updated list by the fifteenth. The elves will have you rooms clean and ready for your arrival, by the twenty-fourth of August and our first staff meeting will be held on the twenty-fifth, at four-thirty. Thank you for a problem-free year, please enjoy your holidays.”
Snape stood and farewelled each staff member, suffering the hugs of the witches and sharing commiserating looks with the wizards.
Once the staff-room was empty he sat down with a sigh.
His second year as Headmaster was very different from his first. And he was exceptionally grateful for that.
~~~
“Welcome back.” Snape stood behind the staff table in the Great Hall. “Now that you’ve all been sorted and fad, I have a few announcements to make and yes, Mr Pritchard, I’ll keep it short.” There was a wave from a blonde boy sitting at the Gryffindor table. “Firstly, as always, the Forbidden Forest is off limits to students, the centaurs like their privacy, so please respect that. An updated list of banned items will be on the House notice-boards, please ensure that you don’t have anything on that list, you have one week before the ban comes into effect. The Room of Requirement is likewise out of limits. I understand that Professors Vector, Sikander and Savage will be using it for simulated field trips.” There was a quiet murmur of sound that rose in response to his last comment.
“Also, please note that some previously abandoned classrooms have been outfitted as house-free meeting rooms and study rooms. These are in a multitude of locations, some near the entrances to your House Common rooms, some are nearer the communal areas of the school, and some are near the current classrooms. All are monitored at all times, thanks to Professor Flitwick’s expertise and Hogwarts' house-elves.” The murmur swelled before falling. “It’s fairly obvious what the intended use of the rooms are. If it has desks and bookshelves, it’s a study room. If it has comfortable chairs and sofas, it’s a common room. Don’t go planning to study in a common room. Don’t plan to chat and visit, in a study room. Any abuse to these rooms will be treated harshly and will result in detentions and for repeat offenders removal of access and possibly even suspension, depending on the offence. And I can see Mr Pritchard and Mr Creevey yawning, so that’s it. Off to your Houses. You schedules will be given out at breakfast, but we’ll try to ensure that you have time to fetch your books for your first class. Goodnight.”
There was a round of ‘Goodnight, Professors’ from every table.
Once the hall was empty, Snape looked at the Professors that had yet to leave the Hall.
“And so another year begins… May God help us all…”
~~~
Snape slumped back in the Headmaster’s chair, as he looked out across the, now empty, Great Hall.
“Dear God… How many bloody Creevey’s are there? That's the fourth one that’s been inflicted upon us.” He muttered.
“Two more to go, Professor.” The silvery ghost of Colin Creevey laughed, he's been haging around near the Gryffindor table, talking to his brothers.
“Two? How shall we ever survive two more?” Snape huffed.
“Simon and April are twins, but they’re quieter than the rest of us.” Colin replied. “Matthew and Kevin take after me and Dennis, but the twins? Nope, they’re quieter.”
“Thank Merlin for that.” Snape glared at the Gryffindor ghost. “After four of you, we need a little quieter.” He frowned. “How long before they get here?”
“Next year.”
“Next year?!” Snape exclaimed. “Oh, hell. Minerva’s going to threaten to resign, again.”
“Good luck, Professor.” Colin laughed and ran down the length of the Hall, seeming to not notice that he was floating nearly three feet above the flagstone floor.
~~~
“So, are you ready?” Snape looked at a teary-eyed Ophelia. “To teach your own child?”
She snorted in reply. “It’s going to be hell, isn’t it?”
“Teaching is hell.” Snape answered solemnly.
“Oh, hush, you pair.” McGonagall shook her head at them. “I swear you get more like your father every year, my girl. And getting engaged to Mr Weasley didn’t help.”
“Thank you.” Ophelia grinned.
“It wasn’t a compliment.” McGonagall sighed.
“And dad would say that you saying that was the best sort of compliment there is.” Ophelia laughed.
“Bets on what House he gets sorted into?” McGonagall asked.
“Hufflepuff, of course.” Ophelia sighed.
“Not Gryffindor?” McGonagall asked.
“Not a chance.” Ophelia shook her head. “He’s a 'Puff, through and through.”
“Agreed.” Snape nodded. “Pomona’s already labelled a bed for him and has plans for him to be a prefect when he hits fifth year.”
“Really?” McGonagall asked.
“She’s already sent me an application in his name.” Snape nodded.
“Oh…” McGonagall blinked.
“Yeah…” Ophelia sighed.
“Well, here we go.” Snape muttered quietly to Ophelia, as she sat beside him.
“He’s mine.” Pomona grinned as she leant forward.
“Teddy Lupin.” McGonagall sighed.
“Hi, Professor M.” The beaming smile was Remus Lupin, but the bright purple hair, was all from his mother.
McGonagall lowered the Sorting Hat to his head and watched as it twitched and folded, opening and closing its ‘face’.
“Hufflepuff!” The Hat yelled and Teddy’s smile grew even wider, while Pomona Sprout was clearly heard to cry ‘Yes!’.
McGonagall lifted the Hat and looked at Ophelia.
“Told you so.” Ophelia grinned.
Ophelia watched her son run down the hallway towards the secret passage that would lead him directly to the corridor that was home of the Hufflepuff common room. Once her was out of sight she sighed and closed the door, leaning against it.
“Well he’s off.” She gave her father and fiancé a tired smile.
“Hyper as ever, huh?” Sirius grinned.
“That kid never slows down.” Fred huffed.
“Not unless he’s asleep.” Ophelia agreed, crossing the room to flop down onto the sofa alongside Fred.
For a few minutes the trio sat there soaking in the silence, but Ophelia knew the two men, neither of them could be silent for long.
“So…? Snape really doesn’t object to us getting married here?”
“Nope.” Ophelia shook her head. “He just looked at me and nodded. ‘Well of course, you’re getting married here, where else would you get married? I’m surprised that Demon fiancé of yours, hasn’t tried to convince you to get married in the middle of the quidditch pitch’, was what he said.
“I thought about it.” Fred grinned. “But December in Scotland? In the open like that? No way. Too cold. The Great Hall at least has fireplaces.”
Ophelia and Sirius laughed.
“So true.” Ophelia nodded.
“Just under four months.” Sirius sighed. “You mum and dad… and Remus… They’d all be beside themselves. Not only are you marrying a prankster, you’re getting married at Hogwarts. The last person to marry here was Helga Hufflepuff.”
“And the only others to do so were Slytherin and Ravenclaw.” Fred added.
“That’s some shoes to fill, kiddo.” Sirius grunted.
“Well, I’m already a teacher, here.” Ophelia answered. “And McGonagall has been talking about me shadowing her. Snape wants me to take over as Deputy when she retires, at the end of next year.”
“He asked you to be Deputy?” Sirius blinked, shocked.
“He did.” Ophelia nodded. “Said that McGonagall and the other Heads of House all talked it over and they all chose me.”
“And half of them don’t know who you were.” Sirius huffed.
“They’re only going on my teaching career and apparently, I must've impressed them. Who’da thunk it?”
“Deputy?” Fred whined. “My wife is going to be Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. Where did George and I go wrong in raising Harry? That he grew up to Deputy Head of Hogwarts. Really? Did you have to?” He looked so disgusted, before he hugged her and laughed. “Oh, dear Merlin, imagine the look on Hermione’s face when she hears that…”
All three of them laughed.
An hour later, Sirius leant against the fireplace. “Life’s good, isn’t it?” He asked his daughter.
“I think it just might be.” She answered.
“James, Lily, Remus and Tonks would all be proud of you, pup. You’ve made a life for yourself that’s… it’s good. You’re happy, you’re healthy. You’ve a good job, where you’re helping people, teaching kids. Teddy’s happy and healthy. You’re marrying a prankster. None of us could ask anything more of you than that.” He paused. “Although, I will say, that I’d love it if you and Fred had a few more kids for me to play with. But no pressure.” He grinned and waggled his eyebrows.
“We’ve talked about kids, dad.” She laughed. “We’ve agreed on three pregnancies and given that he’s a Weasley…? That could be as many as half a dozen kids. But we’re just going enjoy being married for a year, before we do kids, so you’re going to have to wait a bit. You’ll have little marauders to play with, soon enough. Don’t panic.”
“Not panicking, just… saying…” He hugged her and stepped into the fireplace. “Love ya, kid.” He threw the floo powder down and green flames enveloped him.
“Love you, too, dad.” She said to the empty room.
So much had changed since she’d first entered this school as a scrawny little first year. And while things were tough, she and her friends had worked their way through it, coming out the other side as strong, talented individuals.
She was happy with that.
~~~