Taking a deep calming breath to help center herself, she ntally prepared for her first announcent as the new Headmistress of Hogwarts, the mantle of responsibility weighing heavily on her aging shoulders as she considered the legacy of the school and of its history.
She had always hoped to beco Headmistress in ti, the pinnacle goal of her long career in magical education, but she never thought she would achieve it with Albus holding the ancient office for so long. Thinking about her predecessor, she considered for a mont Albus' own legacy as Headmaster of Hogwarts and what future history books would rember him for.
Would they rember him as a noble wizard who had succeeded in protecting the school throughout the rise of Lord Voldemort? Or would he only be rembered for his recent failings? His fall from grace resulting from his bringing politics into the school?
It didn't matter really; she just had to put her best foot forward and take charge, grabbing the reigns and beginning the long process of repairing the damage done to the ancient institution's reputation. She slowly walked up to the podium, the golden owl sparkling under the light from the floating candles. "Attention, Attention," she called out over the talkative hall, with no response from her charges.
"Attention!" she barked, as the first of her charges stopped to listen, noticing a couple of younger years looking at her.
"Attention!" she shouted out for the 3rd ti, her anger starting to rise at the show of disrespect to her. Looking quickly over towards her staff, she saw that they were content to watch and follow her lead. She knew what to do, she had been doing it for years at the opening feast, setting a stern impression. She would put on a show of force, concluding it was for the best to set an example, to put her foot down and start reigning in the beast and restore discipline and respect in her students.
"250 points from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, for bad manners," she announced, the house point hourglass emptying quickly, the sudden draining sound imdiately catching the attention of the remaining students, as the whole hall suddenly fell quiet in shock and confusion.
"If anyone else dares to interrupt , or speaks over , I'll have you in detention for the rest of the month," she dared, her eyes scanning the tables dangerously, just hoping one of them would dare her, before her eyes fell upon Marcus Flint, the seventh year still talking with his worried looking friends.
"Detention, Mr. Flint," she snapped, pointing him out from her raised position.
"What for?!" Flint suddenly snapped.
"For ignoring and disrespecting the headmistress of Hogwarts," she voiced to the silent room. "Another word from you and I'll remove you from the Quidditch team for the rest of the year," whilst sending him a look that could rival Severus' own look.
Turning to look at her silent colleague, the potion master was silently watching things unfold. Frankly, Severus' behaviour recently was rather unusual, he was calr, less of a bully, and far more reasonable to deal with. "Professor Snape, I believe you need to have so words with your charges about proper manners and respecting authority. I won't tolerate any more disrespect by your house."
"Yes headmistress," the gloomy potion master replied, bowing his head in acknowledgent of the order, before standing up and turning to the Slytherin table. "House eting at 8 o'clock sharp, your presence is mandatory. Non attendance is an automatic two weeks of detention, the loss of 50 house points, and another 5 house points for every minute you're late." The potion master's stern words stunned the Slytherin house, upon realizing that the professor ant every word of his declaration. "Lateness will also result in additional punishnt. You had better not be late," he threatened, before reclaiming his seat.
Looking around the hall, she tried to make eye contact with all the students. At that mont all of them were looking at her, their attention sharply focussed on her out of fear and uncertainty. Satisfied that she finally had their unwavering attention, she began her prepared speech. "As I'm sure you have heard, due to recent unfortunate events, with the murder of Mr. Potter and the poisoning of Mr Longbottom, the Headmaster has had to resign for the ongoing investigation. I'm now the acting Headmistress with Professor Flitwick acting as my deputy," she explained to the silent hall, no one daring to clap.
"As Deputy Headmistress I was forced to follow Albus' leadership, which had seen so of the school's rules relaxed, but that's going to change. No longer will disruptive behaviour be tolerated. No longer will inappropriate language be overlooked and ignored," she levelled a stare at the Slytherin table, making sure to look at Draco Malfoy in particular. "From now on you will act the part of respectable wizards and witches that society expects of you. No longer will laziness be ignored and overlooked; you will rise to et your potential," at this she looked over to the Gryffindor table, sending Ron Weasley a sharp look.
"You have all been warned," she stated firmly. "I won't be as laid back as the previous headmaster was about behaviour and I won't hesitate to expel any of you from Hogwarts if you fail to act like civilized students, no matter your family status," she said as she swept the great hall with her stern look, already seeing so shocked faces and dawning realization amongst her own forr house that there would be no favourites.
After all, her legacy as headmistress would never truly be rembered with Albus' enormous shadow hanging over the position, therefore she had to take another route. Rather than competing against Albus' legacy, she would be the disciplinarian of the two, the one who restored order and pride to the school.
Truthfully, she believed she could do that where he had failed; she would only have one job, one goal, and that was to make Hogwarts successful again. "Let make myself clear, things are going to change around here, no longer will you just glide your way through your classes; you will be actively pushed to reach your true potential," she reminded everyone, as she noticed the Ravenclaw students watching her eagerly.
"To start, uniforms," she announced as she once again examined the hall. "The uniform policy will be enforced to the letter," at this she looked over so of the ssy students, the first rumbles starting up. "Silence!" she barked, reasserting control.
She took another calming breath. "Now, onto more positive matters. Professor Hooch has agreed to take over the role as head of Gryffindor house until the end of term," she explained, whilst gesturing over to the forr Quidditch star standing to one side. As their broom instructor stood, a round of polite applause filled the school. She smiled as she clapped as well, 'Hopefully Gryffindor will win the Quidditch cup now,' she mused, as the round of applause slowly faded away.
"A new transfiguration teacher is also currently being arranged and will be starting next Wednesday. Until then I'll be taking the upper year classes and so of my NEWT students will be leading the first, second, third and fourth year classes," she explained, already seeing thoughts popping into their minds of goofing off and skipping the class. She continued while smiling cruelly, "Of course, these students will temporarily have the full backing and disciplinary powers of a teacher, enabling them to be able to assign detentions at will," she sent a warning look at the Weasley twins.
"I believe that's everything for now, but there will be further announcents in the future," she concluded, stepping down from the podium and taking up the Headmistress seat for the very first ti.
While serving herself up so dinner she watched her students with curiosity from her throne. "After we finish dinner tonight we're going to have a staff eting," she announced to the staff table. "We are going to be discussing the new changes in school policy and how we are going to implent them," she paused to cut into her slice of beef.
"We're also going to discuss certain people's employnt contracts and their continued employnt here at Hogwarts." Out of the corner of her eye she saw Severus freeze in mid bite, before quickly recovering his wits. 'Good, he's worried,' she noted with a sense of amusent, as she chewed her slice of expertly prepared beef, before using a napkin to clear a small bit of gravy from her lips.
"Please inform Sybil that her presence is mandatory Filius; I will accept no excuses from her," she voiced, as the half goblin nodded. "I've had just enough of her drunkenness. We can't expect the students to behave and respect the rules if their teachers and role models we provide them are incapable of living up to that standard; we must lead by example people. That ans everyone is under examination."
"Of course, Minerva," Filius agreed, nodding his head in agreent as several of her staff mbers agreed with her on this point.
"Severus, please make sure that Professor Lockhart is inford as well. We need to discuss his own teaching style, and continued employnt here at this school," she looking quickly over towards the potion's master.
"Certainly headmistress," the gloomy potion master replied, "I shall see to it imdiately."
"Thank you, Severus," she expressed, as she watched the potion master rise from his seat.
"Severus, how would you feel about taking over the DADA position for the rest of the year?" she asked, as the man made to leave.
"I would consider it, but a new potion master would be required," the head of Slytherin house replied evenly after so thought.
...
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