Chapter 150: Hogwarts
I was pleased with the girls...
They were training with tremendous diligence, though I still didn't trust them enough to leave the brewing to them, so every day I used specific spells to check how closely they were following the instructions. So far, so good.
Blake, after receiving a kick in the ass that motivated her to study even harder, really dug into her studies, and the girls on her team followed her lead. When they learned about the existence of a potion that helped with memorization, they doubled down on their studies. After all, it was one thing to spend a week trying to memorize information and quite another to memorize it in one evening. True, it had to be not just memorized but understood, but that was the mentors' job, and they couldn't stop raving about the girls in their reports, who had taken their training much more seriously.
And now, having received all the regalia due me, I was headed to Hogwarts. The master's badge, by the way, was a small medal that fastened to a jacket lapel. Though I was still teaching the morning lesson to the girls.
"Draco..."
Filch met me in the entrance hall.
"Mr. Filch."
I respectfully nodded to the caretaker, who waved his hand.
"Argus...you're a master now, so you can just call me Argus."
"Thank you, Argus. That means a great deal to me."
I nodded to the caretaker, who was physically imposing.
"You're going to see the Headmaster?"
"Yes, we need to discuss what I should do at Hogwarts now. After all, earning mastery is equivalent to passing not only O.W.L.s but N.E.W.T.s as well. Perhaps I'll even take the N.E.W.T.s this summer and remain at Hogwarts as a teacher..."
I shrugged.
"...or I'll take the N.E.W.T.s along with the seventh-years in the coming school year."
"That's something for you to decide yourself, and for now, go on. The Headmaster is a busy man, after all."
I nodded and hurried to the Headmaster's office.
"Draco..."
Dumbledore smiled at me.
"Headmaster."
I nodded to Dumbledore.
"You're just in time. I was just thinking about what we should do next. You see, Flitwick has brought a new student with him, and according to him, she'll be teaching Charms to the first through third years. And you're still in limbo."
"What is there to think about?"
I shrugged.
"We still have a problem with the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, don't we?"
"Yes..."
The headmaster nodded.
"...although this year I'd planned to appoint Moody to that position."
I shrugged.
"If that's what you want."
"I do want that, but Alastor himself..."
Dumbledore shook his head, and at that moment McGonagall approached.
"Albus, this is outrageous. Have you seen... Mr. Black?"
She swept her gaze over me.
"I'm glad to see you, and allow me to congratulate you on becoming a Master."
I smiled.
"It would have been impossible if the Hogwarts teachers hadn't been so accommodating, so thank you."
I nodded briefly without rising from my seat.
"Nonsense... you achieved everything yourself. We simply didn't interfere with you. But..."
She shifted her gaze to Dumbledore.
"...Albus, have you even seen the program Alastor sent us for approval?"
"No... but I'm certain that such an experienced Auror as..."
"He wants to demonstrate the Unforgivable Curses in the first lesson! Yes, on spiders, but the very fact!"
"I'm sure that such an experienced..."
"Albus! Yes, our curriculum has become far more practice-oriented, but we are not training Aurors! These are children! I would understand if this were an elective for fifth through seventh years, for those intending to join the Auror Office and the DMLE, though why anyone would now is beyond me... I could understand that. But for everyone? Even first-years?!"
I frowned slightly.
"Headmaster, doesn't such an approach strike you as excessive?"
Dumbledore sighed.
"Very well, Mr. Black, the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is yours. Alastor will teach an elective for those who wish to study the subject in greater depth. Will that satisfy everyone?"
We nodded.
"Headmaster, I would like to talk about something else..."
"Yes?"
"The thing is, I've taken on several students. One is Penny; another comes from the world where the Convergence is happening. And I would like to register them as my assistants."
Dumbledore thoughtfully tapped his fingers on the tabletop.
"Two at once?"
"Well, Penny will teach the first- through third-years. She has sufficient qualifications for that, and Blake will handle physical training and lecture on Grimm and how to best fight them."
"Good..."
Dumbledore nodded and, taking out a form, quickly filled it in.
"...From this moment, you are the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Penelope, do I understand correctly that you're referring to the former prefect of Ravenclaw?"
He looked at me questioningly.
"Yes."
I nodded.
"She will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for first- through third-years, and Blake, what is her surname?"
"Belladonna."
"Ah. Belladonna will be the physical education teacher."
"Thank you."
"Ah..."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Since the Founders returned, we have no problems with funding. We'd had almost none before; after all, your House and several others sponsored Hogwarts very generously, and now..."
The Headmaster shook his head.
"Draco, I expect your curriculum plan for the different years no later than the end of July."
"Of course, Professor..."
"Oh... nonsense..."
McGonagall waved it off.
"...after all your achievements, I will not be offended if you address me simply as Minerva."
I nodded.
"It's an honor for me."
As I said this, I rose from the chair I'd been sitting in.
"All right, it is time for me to go... I need to deal with certain..."
"Draco, in the coming school year, your workload will be greater than you're used to, and not only because you'll be teaching the upper years..."
Dumbledore stopped me, though I'd almost left his office.
"Hm?"
"The Goblet of Fire."
"No..."
I shook my head.
"Yes."
Dumbledore nodded.
"No, you couldn't have been foolish enough to agree..."
I shook my head again.
"Yes, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang will participate in this tournament, which will take place on Hogwarts territory."
I sighed.
"Well, fuck..."
"Draco!"
McGonagall raised her voice slightly.
"My apologies..."
I raised my hands, showing I'd try not to express myself that way again.
"...but it truly is impossible to find any other words."
I shook my head.
"The world is in God knows what state, the country is in God knows what state, and we are preparing to hold a third international competition on our territory. We were lucky nothing terrible happened at the dueling tournament, we will be lucky if Quidditch passes without incident, but the tournament..."
I shook my head.
"...the Triwizard Tournament definitely will not pass without incident."
"Is that a prediction?"
"It is a statistical fact."
I looked at McGonagall, who had asked the last question.
"Our Ministry does not like anyone who demonstrates independence, which means Hogwarts, with Dumbledore and the Founders, is a thorn in their side. My Quarter and I are also a thorn in their side. And there are still supporters of the little Lord, and plain terrorists..."
I sighed.
"And they will surely find a way to infiltrate Hogwarts and triple the chaos on its territory."
"Draco, people need to be shown that there is nothing to fear. They need to be shown that life continues."
Dumbledore looked at me with a sad gaze.
"And you are ready to expose children for that?"
"Draco!"
McGonagall raised her voice at me.
"There is no need, Minerva. Young Draco is right. From his point of view, this truly is an unjustified risk, but Hogwarts is no longer protected solely by me and the teaching staff. The Founders are here as well, and they will help us maintain order."
I sighed.
"All right..."
I waved a hand.
"...you are the Headmaster, I am an employee. All that remains for me is to obey your decision, but I warn you, my students will be armed with more than just wands, and I will give them permission to shoot to kill if they perceive a threat to themselves."
"Draco, that will be excessive..."
Dumbledore shook his head.
"...after all, there will be children at Hogwarts and..."
"Headmaster, my students will be safe. And if you have decided to hold games on Hogwarts territory, then I will secure them by every means available to me."
The Headmaster sighed.
"Good..."
He waved a hand, signaling that the conversation was over. I left his office, and McGonagall followed me out.
"Draco, you should not have spoken to Dumbledore that way..."
"Minerva, surely you understand that staging such games at a time like this is foolish?"
"I..."
She looked away, but quickly gathered herself and looked at me again.
"Draco, I trust Dumbledore, and I think he's right. People need to see that life goes on, or they'll panic too much."
"I see..."
I shook my head.
"...well, all right. I'll look after the students and advise a few acquaintances to take extra precautions. And now I should go... unless you know where the Founders are?"
"They left Hogwarts for the summer... well, not completely, but they're hard to find here. After they learned about Dumbledore's plans to hold the tournament, they buried themselves in work."
"Well..."
I sighed.
"...then it's time for me to go home."
"Until next time, and don't forget about the lesson plan."
"I won't forget."
I nodded and headed to the fireplace hall, from where I Flooed to my quarters, and there I sent a Patronus to my mothers and students, asking them to gather in the small parlor.
"Draco, what happened? Were you thrown out of Hogwarts?"
Bella looked at me gloomily.
"No..."
I shook my head.
"...but we have some serious problems."
"And what problems are those?"
Fleur raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, I would also like to know. You don't usually involve us in family councils."
"And this isn't a council. Or rather, it is, but not exactly a family one. In short, this year, the Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts."
"No..."
Narcissa shook her head.
"Unfortunately, yes. We need to plan how to secure ourselves, as well as the residents of the Quarter. Of course, the latter isn't mandatory, but I believe our reputation would benefit greatly if we arranged additional security for Hogwarts students from our Quarter."
"I don't entirely understand what this is about..."
Blake looked at me, raising an eyebrow.
"Well... the tournament is an international competition between three schools. The last one was held quite a long time ago, and it ended with the deaths of all three participants."
"Um... dying?"
"Yes, the trials there are rather serious..."
I nodded and began explaining to Blake, while Penny and Fleur listened with interest.
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