a/n: sorry this one took so long. I have really bad writers' bloack. Unfortunately writing this one didn't help much. I'm going away tomorrow for the rest of the week, so i'll try to update when i get back. Enjoy!
You were almost out the door when Professor McGonagall called you back in.
“Yes, Professor?” you asked when all of the other teachers had filed out of the office and down the staircase.
“I assume you are aware of the DA,” she said. You nodded; Harry’s secret Defense Against the Dark Arts group had been uncovered last year. ‘I was wondering what you thought I should do with it.”
“Excuse me?” You didn’t quite understand.
“Should I let the meetings continue in secret like we both know they will, or is there another way to let the group continue? I don’t want students sneaking through the halls at night to attend club meetings, especially for a club that I believe is a good idea.” You nodded as she paused. “I don’t want to open it up to the whole school. As sad as it is, we are educating many future Death Eaters. We don’t want the other side to be alerted as to what we are practicing.” You nodded again, not sure if it was your turn to speak. McGonagall said nothing more, so you assumed it was time to give your opinion.
“Is there a way to have the meetings during the day, with a staff advisor, and pass it off as another club or a remedial class?”
“I suppose. But with students like Mr. Potter and Miss Granger present, it will be tough to pretend that any extra help is needed. Also, I think it best for Mr. Potter to continue running the meetings.”
“Nothing would have to change except the time. And,” you added, another thought popping into your head. “if we still used the Room of Requirement, no one would be able to get in during meetings anyway.”
“Do you think you and Remus could share the responsibilities of presiding over meetings?”
“I don’t mind, and I’m pretty sure he won’t either.” She nodded.
“I’ll ask him myself after the feast tonight. Will you alert Mr. Potter of the new arrangements?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
“You’re welcome, Professor,” you returned before exiting.
You walked slowly back to your office, contemplating all of the new rules you’d already been told about, and the ones waiting on your desk. It was discouraging to hear off all the restrictions put on the students; Hogsmeade visits and hanging out in the common room at night had been some of your favorite pastimes when you attended Hogwarts, and now they wouldn’t get to experience the former, and a staff member would be sitting in the corner of the room while they tried to enjoy the latter. As hard as it was to admit it, however, you believed the changes would help to keep everyone safe. They wouldn’t keep everyone happy, but which was more important?
Your office looked empty without Remus’ desk and chair there. Sir Cadogan’s portrait was also absent. There was a manila folder on your desk, just as you’d been told to expect. Falling into your comfortable desk chair, you opened the folder and began to read.
All passageways to and from the school were to be blocked off.
Everything, including the library, would be closed after dark.
The staff member in each common room would take attendance at curfew. Any absences were to be immediately reported to Professor McGonagall.
Classes held outside (Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology) would be moved farther from the Forbidden Forest, and inside when possible.
The minor rule changes went on for two pages, detailing every possible scenario of rule infractions and the appropriate punishments as well as safety procedures. Sighing, you closed the folder and placed it back on your desk. It would be hard enough to remember all of these things, much less enforce them.
It was time to go to the feast before you could think much longer on the subject. Most of the staff had already arrived when you entered the Great Hall; you sat between Remus and Professor Sinistra.
“Hey,” you greeted Remus.
“Hi.”
“How is my favorite Potions Professor doing?”
“A little overwhelmed from all those rules.”
“I know. I’m going to have trouble remembering them. I’m thinking of making flashcards, you know, to jog the memory. You can borrow them when I’m done, k?”
“I might pass.”
“Your choice. So, how do you think everyone’s going to react to you being Snape Jr.?”
“I am not Snape Jr.!” he protested indignantly.
“Yes you are. You’re taking his place, therefore you are Snape Jr.”
“Then you’re Umbridge Jr.,” he shot back.
“You know I was only joking, Rem!” He laughed.
“So how’s Sirius?” he asked, changing the subject. You shrugged.
“Alright. Busy. They’re trying to cut the length of Auror training down by six months, to get more people ready to fight. So he should graduate at Christmastime.”
“That’s pretty soon. Then maybe he won’t be as busy.” You smiled.
“I got even busier after I graduated, and we weren’t fighting a war then.”
“I’m trying to be an optimist here.”
“Oh. Sorry. Continue being falsely cheery.” He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again.
“I don’t have anything else happy to say.”
“Sure you do, Rem. How was the honeymoon?”
“I already told you it was relaxing.”
“I know. But was it pretty? How hot was it? What did you do?” The students began filing into the Hall before he could answer.
“I’ll tell you later,” he said.
“Fine.”
The feast was much longer than usual; the Sorting Hat’s song was lengthy and full of warnings. And McGonagall’s speech was packed with the rule changes, some of which were so unpopular that they elicited scattered boos.
After the feast you searched for Harry, finally catching up to him around the corner from Gryffindor Tower.
“Harry!” you called. He turned and walked over to you.
“Yes Professor?”
“You can call me Kara when no one else is around, you know.”
“I know.”
“Okay. Professor McGonagall has decided that she wants the DA to continue this year. Mostly because she knows you’d do it without permission anyway.” Harry smiled. “She wants a staff member to sit in on the meetings. You’ll still be in charge and all; the only thing you’ll have to clear with the teacher is the time of the meeting. It still needs to be in the Room of Requirement so no one else can get in.” He nodded.
“Alright. But who’s going to sit in?”
“It will either be me or Remus.”
“Great.”
“Good night Harry.”
“’Night.” You went your separate ways.
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