Chapter 8
Petunia Evans was smug and she didn't care who saw it. She'd gotten the idea to put an advert in The Times, looking for new teachers for Hogwarts. She had named it Hogwarts, school for gifted children, a small boarding school in the small village of Hogsmeade, Scotland, which had just come under new management. The fact that the advert was in a muggle paper, but actually named the school and the small village that was located nearby, told muggleborns a great deal. The fact that the advert was looking for teachers for muggle subjects told them more. She'd had no less than twenty applicants, all of whom sent their resumes in by owl post.
She'd even gotten one from a squib.
She planned on hiring them, provided that they hadn't lied on their resumes. All of them were coming for their interviews directly to the school. Of course, the current staff had to be gone through first, but she seriously doubted that they would object to having more staff on hand. From what Minerva had been telling her over the past week Hogwarts had been retaining fewer and fewer teachers over the years until now there was barely enough staff to cover the bare basics.
Right now Petunia, Dudley, Neville and Augusta stood before the gates to Hogwarts waiting for her nephew. He was traveling by the Knight Bus, a contraption that Augusta refused to set foot on and had advised her to do the same. Quite frankly, Petunia was determined to try it at least once. All magical transportation was rather difficult, if not down right unpleasant, but she was determined to embrace her witchiness so to speak, and experience everything that the crap hauler had denied her and her son.
A loud bang rang through the air and suddenly a large, double decker, bright purple bus was sitting on the road in front of them. The doors opened up and Harry bounced down to meet them. With another bang, the bus was suddenly gone. "Hello Lady Longbottom, Aunt Petunia, Neville, Dudley," Harry said with a grin.
"How was your trip?" Petunia asked, with a smile for him. She was going to treat him better, she swore to herself once more.
"The Knight Bus bangs you around a bit, but it's far better than the floo," Harry swore.
Petunia laughed because she'd seen Harry's troubles with the fireplace system. "Well, let's get inside and get started with that vow in the great hall." They all agreed and Harry and Neville led the way to the great hall. They walked into a bit of a mad house. Four large blackboards ran along one wall, with a chart spread across them. The chart seemed to be the upcoming schedule for the next school year. The teachers were arguing back and forth about class placement, year placement, and just how they were going to manage to add the new classes that Petunia had insisted on.
Augusta raised her wand and a loud bang rang out in the hall, startling the teachers into silence. "Good morning, professors. If I could have your attention please? You will want to witness this."
Petunia took that as her cue, and moved Harry and Neville into position so that the three of them created the sides of a triangle, with them facing inwards. They then raised their wands and spoke their carefully worded oath together. "We, heirs of the founders, do take charge of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the sole purpose of improving the lives of the students that attend this school. Every magical child deserves the best education possible, and we swear that we will do out best to improve Hogwarts in our quest to obtain that goal. So mote it be!"
A wave of magic exploded out from them and she could tell that it quickly encompassed the entire castle. Then house-elves appeared, filling the great hall and the castle chimed, a ringing that could be heard and felt everywhere in the castle. Petunia nodded firmly. "That's done, and well done boys. Now," she turned to face the gathered teachers. "We will be conducting interviews with everyone in the headmistress' office. Teachers, please decided among yourselves in which order you will have your interview. Staff, you will be first. House-elves, please select a representative for each of your groups; such as those who work in the kitchen, those who work in the laundry and so on. Mr. Filch, you will be first. Minerva, will you please escort us to your office?"
"Of course, Lady Ravenclaw," Minerva said. Anyone who knew her could tell that she was quite proud of what was going on. Although the entire staff had been told that the heirs were taking control of the castle, no one had expected that they would be taking a magical vow to make the school a better place. No one had expected that two of the founder's heirs would be two Griffindor boys either.
Once in the office, Minerva transfigured her desk into a larger one that all three of the heirs could sit behind. Augusta decided that she would sit next to the fireplace with Dudley, out of the way but near enough that she could make suggestions and offer advice. Petunia and the boys were going to have to be the ones to make the decisions, but they didn't have much experience with Wizarding culture.
---
"Mr. Filch, I will be honest with you. We aren't keeping you," Petunia said bluntly. "You are being offered retirement, both you and Mrs. Norris. The retirement comes with a cottage and a small amount of land. There is a greenhouse, garden, orchard and a small barn on the land and you will receive 5,000 galleons a year. You will have a month to move into your new cottage." She wanted to say - 'You can carry on with yourself there, but I will warn you that you will be watched to see that you do not attempt to - shall we say, discipline any child.' but that was hardly politic.
Filch nodded. "Good deal, I'll take it. I'll warn you, the paintings need a deft hand when it comes to restoration. Some of them date right back to when Hogwarts was founded. You make certain sure that my replacement can handle them."
Petunia saw Harry nod out of the corner of her eye and write down a note. "Thank you for the information, Mr. Filch. We will certainly make that a requirement."
---
"Welcome, Hagrid. The first thing I need to ask you is if you wish to stay at Hogwarts. The former headmaster has done you a great deal of wrong and it is up to us to right it. We will provide you with tutors so that you will be able to pass your OWLS and if you so wish, your NEWTS. This will happen even if you do not wish to stay in the castle. If you do wish to continue your employment with us, you will be getting a promotion. There will be two Care of Magical teachers coming in this September, provided that I can find two people with the correct qualifications, and they will each have several assistants. If you stay you will be one of those assistants, and you will retain possession of your hut. Also, if you wish to have your hut expanded, that will be done as well.
"If you do not wish to continue with us, again, you will still receive tutoring so that you may pass your tests. You will be provided with a settlement of 50,000 galleons and you will have our support in traveling to anywhere in the world that you wish. You've been a great asset to Hogwarts over the last 50 years, Hagrid and we wish only the best for you," Petunia said gently.
Harry grinned at the half-giant as Hagrid looked at the three of them in surprise. "You made the papers, Hagrid! You've been declared innocent and Madam Bones says that you can get another wand once she has a word with you so that everything is official."
Hagrid looked bewildered. "Harry, isn't that your muggle aunt?"
"Nope, Dumbledore blocked her magic and put curses on her and my cousin," Harry said sympathetically.
Hagrid visibly shuddered. "I'm resistant to curses and hexes, but Dumbledore put loyalty potions in my food in the great hall, and he made me a drunk. Professor Snape made Purging Potions just for me, to make sure that anything, no matter who gave them to me, would get out of me. What he did to you, Lady Ravenclaw is much worse." The glare that he gave the air would have shattered the strongest boulders right down into sand, Petunia was certain. It was actually worse than the face he'd made when he found out that Petunia hadn't said anything of the magical world to Harry two years ago.
"I don't agree," Petunia said firmly. "I was denied the chance to come here; denied magic and left in the muggle world. You were denied your ability to use your magic, magic that you knew you had, and then he forced you to watch as children were given the right to learn to use their magic in front of you for 50 years. I think that is much worse."
Hagrid shrugged philosophically. "Bad all around, to my way of thinking. Professor McGonagall said that I could, maybe, pass my Care of Magical Creatures NEWT and get a job in a dragon preserve." He looked shyly hopeful.
"If that is your wish," Petunia agreed.
Hagrid nodded firmly then. "I'd like to stay, at least until I pass my NEWTS. You don't have to expand my hut. I'm more than comfortable there. I'm very glad to accept the promotion to teacher's assistant though."
Petunia nodded. "You'll still be getting that settlement, so perhaps you'd like to take a vacation before things get truly hectic around here? Perhaps to visit that dragon preserve?" Hagrid stared at her in wonder and Harry and Neville laughed.
---
Petunia had come prepared to speak the Hogwarts house-elves. She'd had it explained to her that house-elves could not survive without large amounts of ambient magic, or a bond with a wizarding family, that family's magic going to support the elves in question. Hogwarts had hundreds of house-elves who used the ambient magic of the school in exchange for taking care of all of the work that needed to be done in taking care of the castle and it's inhabitants. While Petunia was not about to anything that would harm the house-elves, such as giving them clothes, she definitely did not approve of some of the things they were forced to endure.
"Nolby," she greeted the head house-elf who stood at the front of about twenty other elves. "My first question is this, is there anything that the Hogwarts elves need? Better accommodations? New sources of foods or goods? More land to use to support the needs of the children? Please remember that there will be more children coming in as this last year was the last of the children born during the war. The in coming classes will be much bigger and there will be more of them."
Harry piped up. "And I need to ask if there are any accommodations for children who aren't strictly wizards or witches. Werewolves, vampires, hags, that sort of thing," he asked.
"Harry?" Petunia asked, while Augusta gasped in the corner.
"EVERY magical child, Aunt Petunia. I learned from Manager Bloodclaws that there are many people the current wizarding world treat as second class citizens. Some can't even hold down a regular job because of it, through no fault of their own. I've had her hire some to help clean up my inheritance mess," Harry explained. "If there are already accommodations for such children, then Hogwarts should be offering to take them as students. I personally plan on finding more ways to employ such people so they don't have to turn to a life of crime just to survive," Harry explained.
"You are quite right, Harry!" Petunia said with horror. "Every child means EVERY child. If we can accommodate them, they must be given the chance to come. Nolby?"
The head elf was practically quivering with glee. "Yes! Yes! Many dorms just for not-wizards and witches! Special rooms for wolfy children for full moon. Can get raw meat for hag girlies. Much, much can do for special children. Elveses not need better places. Do need more beasties and flocks for more meals. Have land for more gardens. Buy from farmers we does, and grows some, but need much more for more children!"
"We're also planning on adding a day school for very young children, as young as five," Petunia explained. "Can you find elves that can help with such young children?"
One of the other elves squealed in joy. "Can! Can! Nursery elves in kitchens, but like littles better!"
"Excellent! Now, for your new orders. First, there will be none of that invisible helper nonsense. You deserve to be seen and Hogwarts is proud to support so many elves. I will not order you to be seen if you have a chore that you do not wish anyone to see you doing, but for the children's education they must know that there are actual people doing the jobs around the castle.
"That brings us to your second order. Those tea towels are hideous. Hogwarts is not a place where we have to hide the fact that we can not afford to take proper care of our elves. Nolby, you will oversee the purchase of cloth to make uniforms for all of the house-elves bound to Hogwarts. You personally will wear this uniform," Petunia gave the old elf several pictures of a proper English butler. "The first is the day uniform. That is the one you will wear most often for everyday. The second is the formal uniform. That is the one you will wear for feast days, and other special occasions. The last is the night uniform, that you will wear if anyone comes to the castle doors in the middle of the night. Every uniform is to display the Hogwarts crest in place of pride." The last uniform was actually a very nice set of pajamas, with robe, nightcap and little slippers.
Nolby nodded seriously. "This much better. Elves be seen, must be seen with good uniforms. We make Hogwarts and Heirs proud." Each of the group leaders came forward, and received pictures of what their uniforms should look like. Kitchen elves needed clean white blouses, and black pants or long skirts with black boots and white aprons over all, save for those actually cooking. The cooks were to wear the white uniforms used in the best restaurants. Laundry elves were to wear grey - pants and shirts for males, dresses for females, with white aprons and black boots. Housekeeping elves were to wear black with white aprons, similar to the laundry elves except they were to wear black shoes.
Field elves, who worked in the gardens and kept the castle grounds in good condition, were to wear brown pants and shirts with brown boots. Construction elves, those who kept the castle in good repair, were to wear denim coveralls with black boots and construction hats. They were also to wear protective equipment whenever needed. Those who helped Hagrid with the animals were to wear brown leather uniforms with a leather apron over it and sturdy brown boots. Those who helped in the hospital wing were to wear deep blue, pants and shirts for the males and dresses for the females, with a light blue apron and blue boots. Those who were to help in the classrooms were to wear a forest green uniform, with a leaf green apron and brown shoes similar to those in the hospital wing.
"Yes, much good to wear proud uniforms," Nolby said, looking over the shoulders of the other elves to see the pictures. "Show wizards and witches Hogwarts is best place. We be doing!"
"Good, now Headmistress McGonagall has had the school wards completely overhauled. You may find children or others being restrained during the course of the school year. When this happens you are to find a teacher or a healer as the case may need, and bring them to the person. Alert Professor McGonagall if there is a case where an adult attacks a child and the Head of House of any children who are caught attempting to harm another child. These sorts of things were allowed by the last headmaster, but everyone will find that such behavior now has serious consequences. You are all the eyes and ears of the teaching staff. You know enough about children to know when a student's actions need an adult's attention. Do remember that the students are not allowed to give you orders. They can make requests, but you are not to fill those requests if the request places a student in danger," Petunia ordered. "And if they do not phrase those requests in a respectful manner, you are to give them a lecture on manners. House-elves are staff, not slaves and are to be treated as such. Any student who abuses any of the staff is to be reported immediately to the Headmistress and will be dealt with."
---
Madam Hooch stomped in and demanded, before Petunia or the boys could say anything, "I need new equipment. The entire lot needs to be overhauled. I end up taking too many first years to the hospital wing with every class. I'd like to add some new games to be added to the curriculum and I'd like to add physical self defense. I want at least one new assistant, but two would be better."
Petunia nodded. "Done, and I'd like you to add a course on physical health, not magical but physical health, and at least two muggle games, preferably football and rugby as well as swordsmanship classes as a higher elective."
"I'll need a new teacher specifically for those and an assistant for him or her," Hooch warned.
"Done, and thank you. Please leave a list with the new curriculum with Nolby," Petunia said cheerfully. Hooch nodded and walked back out. "Well that went far better than I expected."
"I think she's been very frustrated," Neville said. "And seeing as how I was the first one in my class injured because of faulty brooms, I too want all new brooms at the very least."
"Agreed," both Harry and Petunia said, before moving on to the next teacher.
---
Professor Trelawney was far different from the teacher that Harry had seen before. Gone were the flimsy veils and other caricature looks of a Seer. Instead, she dressed quite severely in a midnight blue dress with a matching set of robes covered in tasteful stars. "Heirs, my name is Professor Sybill Trelawney. I teach divination for Seers and general divination for those interested in the subject. You will have reports on me that state that I am a drunk and am a rather bad teacher. That is due to Dumbledore. He had cursed the Divination teaching position in order to prevent any true Seers from being taught properly and to keep people from making use of the subject to help them with their choices in life. He didn't want anyone to look anywhere but to him for guidance. That curse has now been removed. I request that I be given a year on probation to prove to you what I can do as teacher." She sat stiffly in the chair in front of the desk, obviously waiting for a sword to fall on her head.
Petunia looked at the boys, who both nodded. Then she turned to the professor. "We have had another report of Dumbledore cursing someone into becoming a drunk, and the curse on the DADA position is well known. Knowing this, I think we can agree on a single year probation with a house-elf assistant specifically for your classroom and a teaching assistant to observe how well you do. The changes to your class are that your students will be tested for the Sight, and must drop the class if they do not have it. Students who do not have the Sight, but wish to take the class must take it as a lecture series in History. Is this agreeable?"
"More than agreeable, Lady Ravenclaw," Trelawney sighed in relief.
"Now, that being said we do have a report of a genuine, full Seer among last years First Years. Luna Lovegood, Ravenclaw will be taking one on one tutoring with you on the weekends. You will be held to the utmost standard with her. This will be a mentoring position as full, true Seers are rare and from what I understand need a great deal of guidance to understand and learn as much control over their abilities as can be done. This will be the true test of your teaching ability, not in forcing her to learn to control her abilities, but in helping her to understand her abilities and how to live with them. We're more interested in helping her to live a good life than we are in forcing Miss Lovegood to become some sort of next Oracle of Delphi," Petunia warned.
"To be completely honest, Lady Ravenclaw I am honestly very surprised at your wisdom on the subject. Far too many wix believe that true Seers should be forced into such a position, and that has led to many Seers losing their connections to the here and now. I accept your restrictions, and welcome the chance to prove myself," Trelawney said and took herself out of the office.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next teacher was a woman in red robes and pointed hat, with long dark hair trailing over her shoulder. "Professor Septima Vector; Lady Ravenclaw, heirs," she said as she sat down. "I teach Arithmancy and Advanced Arithmancy."
Petunia nodded. "I have read Professor McGonagall's reports, and they state that you are an exceptional teacher, Professor Vector. We are however, going to be changing the student's curriculum for the lead up to your classes. Hogwarts will be starting a day school for children five to ten. In this primary school, and in the first two years of their education in their secondary education all children will learn basic mathematics, starting with simple one plus one equals two and ending in fractions, percentages, and such. They will need to pass these courses in order to be accepted into your basic Arithmancy classes. What do you think of these requirements?"
Professor Vector smiled in satisfaction. "I think that will help immensely. Far too many of the children believe that my class is too difficult. If they get a good grounding of the mathematics needed, it will be far easier for them to learn to apply those mathematics to their magical studies."
"Good, now you will be getting teaching assistants. Their job will mostly be helping you in grading essays and other assignments, which will allow you to spend more of your time giving assistance to any struggling students and teaching in general. Are there any requests that you have?" Petunia asked.
Professor Vector sighed. "I wish to add abacus to the required equipment list. If the children are getting basic mathematics before third year, they'll be useful for the more advanced calculations. I haven't taught their use until sixth year, but then very few of my students have much in the way of background in mathematics at all. I needed to get them through the basics before teaching them the shortcuts. I'd also like a larger classroom with more windows. The classroom I have is rather dim and it makes it more difficult for the children to see their work."
Petunia nodded as Harry took down the notes. "That's easily accommodated. Thank you Professor, for staying with us through the adjustments."
"I thank you for your efforts, Lady Ravenclaw, heirs," Professor Vector said with a bow. Then she left.