Hogwarts - Staff Meeting

[boss_slugg]

Date: August 31st, 2017
Time: Mid-Afternoon
Place: Hogwarts
Who: All staff

Professor Slughorn looked around the Great Hall. It was a rare thing, to see it this empty, but that would be changing soon enough. Tomorrow, the Hogwarts Express would arrive, bringing the students back to the seat of learning.

He had a feeling... This year was going to be

Comments

[rarer_thy_opt]

Harry appeared from nowhere holding an old prayer book. His robes were hanging off one arm and his glasses were askew on his nose.

'Oh, I'm glad I'm not late. I've just spent the last half an hour trying to change Albus' hair back to it's right colour. James put some kind of powder in his brother's soup. I've got a sneaking suspicion that his uncle had something to do with it.'

At this a familiar laugh could be heard echoing around the Great Hall.

'Anyway, had me and Ginny stumped, but we sorted it out finally.' Harry moved across to a spare seat. 'I'll mention the stuff to Neville when he gets here so he can watch out for it.'

Harry let out a sigh as he opened his leather briefcase. 'So gentlemen, had good summers, both of you?'

[prof_trevelyan]

"Ah, the trials of parenthood." Aurelius gave a short, deep chuckle. "But yes, a most agreeable Summer thank you, Potter. Yourself?"

[boss_slugg]

"Ah! Harry! Good to see you again" boomed Horace "Come, take a seat, have some wine"

He gestured to a seat.

"My summer was excellent; transatlantic cruise on a luxury-refitted Muggle steam ship. How was yours? Busy looking after the young ones, I'd wager..."

[rarer_thy_opt]

'Glad to hear it. And yes my summer did mainly revolve around the children, not that I'd have it any other way.' Harry leant over and poured himself a glass of wine.

'I'm looking forward to the new term though.' Out of the briefcase he pulled the list of new students. Briefly looking it up and down he said, 'What are the odds on Marcus getting the Malfoy double then?'

[prof_trevelyan]

"If he's anything like his sister, high I would say." The corners of Aurelius' mouth turned up into a narrow smile. He glanced over a piece of paper in front of him with uncharacteristic theatricality. "Though I must say I am more concerned by the fact that we may have to build an extension onto the Gryffindor common-room this year."

[prof_longbottom]

"What's this about the Gryffindor common room?" Neville asked, hurrying into the Great Hall. He had returned to Hogwarts an hour ago, but had been busy tidying up the greenhouses and forgotten about the time. The house elves did their best when he wasn't there to trim the plants and sedate the more aggressive ones, but everything seemed to just grow more orderly when he was around.

He was a little relieved to see that he wasn't the last teacher there, and settled into a seat next to Harry after brushing a speck of earth off his robes.

[boss_slugg]

"Aurelius was just speculating on how many new Lions you'll have this year, Neville" commented Slughorn "As intakes go, this year's is certainly packed with potential"

[rarer_thy_opt]

'Neville...' Harry smiled as his long time friend entered the Hall. Slughorn and Trevelyan were nice enough but he tended to get on better with the younger staff members. 'Everything ready for tomorrow?'

[prof_longbottom]

"Should be, or I'm in trouble," Neville grinned, and then frowned to himself as he mentally ticked off everything he had needed to do. "Yes. I'm quite pleased with the new Gryffindor prefects we have this year, especially. They might even be able to keep your James in line for a while."

[boss_slugg]

"Almost a certainty, I'd say. But then, heritage can spring some surprises, sometimes. Orion Black was outraged when Sirius wasn't sorted into Slytherin; accused me personally of conspiring against him."

Slughorn conjured up his own list, and pointed to name down at the bottom.

"I think the big question is where young master Snape will be ending up. Any thoughts anyone?"

[prof_trevelyan]

Aurelius swirled the wine in his glass, and sipped it. "Not the faintest. I suppose we shall have to wait for tomorrow." He glanced around the room again. "Are we expecting everyone?"

[boss_slugg]

"It was supposed to be for everyone, yes. And they may yet arrive. In the meantime, the elves have been working on some other refreshments, and it would be rude of us not to appreciate their endeavours."

A selection of breads, cheeses, spreads and cold meats appeared in front of the staff, along with more goblets and a selection of beverages.

[rarer_thy_opt]

'Actually, Albus ran into him in Diagon Alley last month, seems very intrigued by his famous relative it seems. He'd picked up that new Skeeter book...'

[boss_slugg]

"Well then" mused Slughorn "Given Ms Skeeter's reputation for accuracy, perhaps you should spare some time to tell the boy the truth about his uncle?"