"That is why I believe this subject should be included in the school curriculum. That is all, thank you for your attention, and I hope you will make the right decision," Severus concluded calmly, looking at the silent audience before shifting his gaze to the three elderly judges. He nodded and returned to his seat.
After Severus left the stage, the previous speaker returned.
"We thank Mr. Prince for such an interesting presentation," the speaker said, glancing in Severus's direction with an encouraging smile. "The voting is conducted as usual: one vote from each of the three chief judges equals ten, votes from Board of Governors members count as two, and everyone else's counts as one. You have half an hour to deliberate." An hourglass appeared beside him and flipped over. "Time starts now. If you have additional questions, you may address them to Mr. Prince," he added calmly, returning to the podium.
The wizards immediately began whispering among themselves, though no one rushed to ask questions. Severus had already explained everything in excessive detail, and each person held a stack of papers with all the charts, calculations, and a brief summary of the entire presentation. Anyone who asked a question would look like a fool in the eyes of the others. So for the next half hour, aside from whispers and the rustling of clothing, nothing could be heard in the hall. Severus himself looked completely calm, and that earned him respect from the wizards watching him. Not everyone his age, even among aristocratic children, could withstand such pressure.
Though there were those who looked at him with irritation, they were in the vast minority.
Damn showoff, Crouch thought contemptuously, watching the bored Severus, who seemed unconcerned about today's decision. Crouch simply could not believe that Severus, who had not even finished school, could come up with this.
Of course, similar thoughts occurred to many others, but no one paid them much attention. This was no longer their problem, but rather a matter for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, should anyone try to claim credit for promoting this project.
Thirty minutes passed almost unnoticed, and when the last grain of sand fell, the sound of a clap drew the attention of the wizards gathered in the hall.
"Please begin voting," the speaker reappeared on stage, removed the hourglass, and looked up at the row of ordinary members of the Department of Magical Education. "Raise your hands, those who are in favor of introducing this subject into the school curriculum." Most of them raised their hands, though of course some abstained. "Thank you. Please cast your votes." The speaker turned to the twelve wizards, among whom was Abraxas Malfoy. Almost immediately, they unanimously raised their hands. "Thank you." Nodding to them, he finally focused on the three elderly judges but said nothing, merely waiting for their decision.
"I support Mr. Prince," Dumbledore pronounced with a kind smile.
"I also agree with Albus. The young man has done considerable work, and it would be a sin to reject his proposal, which will only benefit future generations of wizards in our country," the second judge said with a smirk, stroking his long beard and looking at Severus with interest.
"My decision matters little, but I have a question for you, young man."
"Please, ask away," Severus said calmly, rising from his seat and meeting the eyes of the Peak Master, who looked the oldest of the three chief judges.
"Was this your idea?"
"No. I took it from the Muggle world and completely reworked it for the magical world. The textbooks and all other supplementary materials were written personally by me and checked by Headmaster Dumbledore before reaching you." Severus did not particularly want to hide this fact. Sooner or later it would surface anyway, and now, when most votes were on his side, it no longer mattered. Besides, seeing the sour expressions on Abraxas and the other aristocrats was worth it.
"I see. Then answer one more question," the eldest judge continued, seemingly unsurprised by his answer. "Why do you need this?"
"For future generations and the country as a whole," Severus lied without blinking. He could hardly tell them it was for fame and access to the world's largest library, which only outstanding individuals who made significant contributions to education could enter. Of course, this fame had other applications too.
"I see. I also vote in favor."
After bowing to the eldest judge, the speaker smiled brightly.
"Since the majority of wizards gathered here have voted to include Safety of Life and Health in the school curriculum, it has been decided to grant Severus Prince's proposal. This meeting is hereby adjourned." Some of those in the hall looked displeased that they had not been warned the subject was merely an analogue of a Muggle one, but most were convinced by Severus's arguments and the necessity of this subject for the rising generation of young wizards. "Mr. Prince, please stay to resolve additional matters."
Severus had expected something like this, so he did not hurry to leave the hall, merely nodding wearily.
"Congratulations, Mr. Prince," a smiling Dumbledore said as he approached him.
"Thank you, and thank you for agreeing to help me with this difficult task. If not for your signature, I might not have reached this stage."
"Do not be modest. You would have succeeded without me." Noticing the approaching speaker, Dumbledore clapped Severus on the shoulder. "Good luck, young man. Do not expect to return home early today."
"That is understandable. Thank you, Headmaster, and have a good day."
After Dumbledore left the hall, the speaker immediately approached.
"Come along, Mr. Prince, we will not take more than half an hour." Catching Severus's mocking look, he coughed awkwardly and smiled. "Maybe a couple of hours, but you will definitely be home by midnight," he added cheerfully.
"Lead the way then. I will take your word for it."
As Dumbledore had said, Severus really did have to stay late that day, almost until midnight, resolving additional matters. Still, besides that, he also managed to get better acquainted and establish good relations with the head of the Department of Magical Education, the eldest judge who voted last, and his deputy, who voted second. Although both were aristocrats, like most of the department, they were not fools obsessed with blood purity and disdain for Muggles, so Severus managed to find common ground with them.
As for the subject, shortened to SLH, it would be introduced this year, as it was not particularly complex. Almost anyone could teach it, especially using the teacher's guides for first through seventh year that Severus had written. Three months would be plenty of time to prepare a teacher, who would come from the Ministry of Magic for greater control. Though the subject was easy, it was quite important for the development of young wizards.
Of course, this was not the only day Severus spent within the walls of the Department of Magical Education. He also had to resolve smaller problems related to the books.
For a book to become part of the school curriculum, it passed through a huge number of censors' hands. They studied every word, checked grammar, looked at the book's style, and demanded explanations for any unclear or ambiguous points. It was long, painstaking work. At times Severus wanted to tear out the beards of some who demanded explanations for already obvious things, deliberately trying to provoke him. Still, there were some accidents: one of them accidentally had his beard catch fire when he fell asleep by the fireplace; another with a particularly long tongue ended up in the neighboring ward with the Divination professor; and a third was ambushed at night, knocked out, and dumped in a Muggle psychiatric hospital, where he met both Merlin and King Arthur, Hitler, and even Winston Churchill.
After these incidents, many of the censors tempered their zeal and no longer pulled him from his thoughts over trifles. Though they were not sure it was specifically Severus who caused all this mayhem, the censors decided to halt the persecution organized by one particular individual, just in case. After all, their own skin was more valuable than a couple hundred Galleons.
There were quite a few books, so they worked on them for almost three weeks. But Severus, of course, did not just rest. He occupied himself by studying the accessible library at the Ministry of Magic, though he did not doubt that somewhere a more extensive one was hidden. He just did not have time to search for it, and how could he search when he was being watched all day?
Only by the fourth week did Severus finish everything related to SLH. He even met the future professor for this discipline: a middle-aged retired Auror with a very good memory who had long been looking for work. After a leg injury, he could no longer adequately fulfill his duty.
Satisfied with the choice of professor, Severus could finally entrust the rest to the Ministry. Still, he planned to double-check everything two weeks before the start of term, just in case. He did not particularly want some crooked idiots who fancied themselves clever to try to spoil something with their stupid advice and corrections without his knowledge. There had already been precedents, which Severus had nipped in the bud. If he gave in to them even once, he would only show weakness, and then they would pester him worse than before.
Finally, exactly one month later, he left the walls of the Ministry of Magic, which in that short time had managed to thoroughly irritate him. At times he wanted to burn one particular group of censors. Only the fact that they calmed down by the end of the second week, as if sensing danger, saved their lives. And there were almost no decent books there, as most were thinly veiled propaganda nonsense. In short, he had to occupy himself with the books that Madam Pomfrey had given him. That was how a third of his holidays passed.
//===================//
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