Albus was furious. The Board of Governors had called him to this meeting; he had things to do damnit. Didn't they understand he needed a free hand to mold the boy who would save them all. He was fighting an uphill battle on that front already because the boy was a Slytherin.
"Albus, I realize it can be difficult to get qualified teachers but only twenty percent of the defense students got higher than an acceptable on their DADA OWLs. Now your teacher is found dead in mysterious circumstances in Diagon Alley. Who do you intend to hire to fill the post this year?" Hildegard Benton asked.
"I'm not sure. I have solicited a number of people to try and fill the post."
"Very well on that topic we'll consider the matter closed." William Tofty said. "Next is the issue of unequal treatment and bias based on house. There is a massive amount of evidence this time Albus, from members of multiple houses. This can no longer be ignored or pushed aside as you have done in the past. I realize the house system has been in place for centuries, but Albus the inequality and house prejudice that was documented over the past year demands reform. If only in the form of limiting the points that may be taken by one teacher in one class period from one student without being subject to a peer review. Also a standardization of points given, could very well be in order. Favoritism isn't something we want to encourage Albus. It discourages students and diminishes the validity of the house system."
"I have the utmost trust in the professors here."
"Yet there is a clearly documented case where your deputy, transfiguration teacher, and head of Gryffindor awarded a Gryffindor five points for being the first to do a spell but when faced with a Slytherin Hufflepuff class she awards a mere two points to the Slytherin who accomplished the same task." Lucius Malfoy drawled. "Sounds like house prejudice to me."
"I will speak to the teachers."
"Insufficient." Lillian Withers spoke firmly. "This is not a suggestion Albus, you and your staff will have a set code of behavior that you'll abide by just as the students do."
"Don't think that we don't know about you bringing a dangerous artifact into the school this last year." Ezekiel Mac Donnegal stated. "For that alone, we should replace you."
"And let us not fail to mention your sending students to the Slytherin common room in the dungeons despite the fact the troll last Halloween was reported in that location. One would think headmaster you held no concern for a quarter of your students. And wasn't a student hurt on that occasion?" Lucius heaped even more fuel onto the ire of the Board of Governors.
Hannah Jesperson said, " Albus I have known you for seventy years. I know you are a good person and have only the best of intentions. But even I have to question the wisdom of bringing a dangerous and attractive to shall we say, baser valued people, into a school full of children. You are getting older perhaps it is time for you to slow down even more, maybe rethink and reevaluate your priorities, have more rest and not spread yourself quite so thinly. I know that you won't be having Wizengamot duties take advantage of it. Take a vacation."
Albus grimaced usually he could talk the board around to his way of thinking- Hannah, Hildegard, and William being old friends of his. Lillian had always been about what was best for the children, but Lucius and Ezekiel had bought their way onto the board and were an ever present thorn in his side. Perhaps he had gone a bit too far this last year. "Very well, I shall get with Minerva and discuss the situation, I shall have a code for the teachers by our annual meeting in August. I hope that is acceptable?"
The faces of those he considered friends on the board relaxed and smiled at him. Lillian merely nodded. Lucius and Ezekiel both got calculating expressions.
Ezekiel spoke first. "That will be acceptable, but Albus know that the Board of Governors will be watching you much more closely these next few years. If you fail to protect your students again, I will have no qualms recommending the Board replace you."
"I understand."
....
Horace waited for his Uncle Tiberius. "Uncle, I was hoping I could talk to you. Could you join me for tea at my office. I have some of those brownies you love so much." He glanced nervously around. He really didn't want to speak of this here in the ministry you never knew who might be listening.
"Of course Horace, give me one moment. Colin, I realize that the reform on the muggle baiting and abuse laws is not popular, but as the recent case against the former Chief Warlock shows the consequences aren't severe enough to serve as a true deterrent, therefore reform is necessary. I'll see you when we reconvene tomorrow. Now Horace, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?"
"Not here at my office."
Five minutes later they sat comfortably in his office and were joined by Perseus and Stephen. Horace spoke first. "Uncle, what would you say if I said there was a man in Azkaban who had never had a trial and that he had been there for ten years."
"I would say that's a gross offense on the part of the ministry. Has that truly happened?"
Perseus spoke, "I was trying to fulfill one of Harry's requests. I attempted to get a trial transcript of his godfather's trial, but no transcript exists because he was never tried. He was signed into Azkaban on Bartemius Crouch's orders but I suspect given that he was Harry's guardian in the wills that there is more than meets the eye here. I'm not a defense attorney - none of us are- but a miscarriage of justice like this offends my sensibilities."
Tiberius finished the pecan brownie he had chosen to go with his tea. Then stood and paced for a moment. "Jamieson Fawcett. He's probably the best defense attorney in the British Isles. He'll know who to speak to-"
"Uncle we're afraid to do anything for fear of the powers that be simply silencing the problem."
"I can understand that, but like I said Jamieson Fawcett will be the best one to speak to."
"All right, thank you Tiberius for the recommendation." Stephen said.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful. Thank you for the tea. Unless there's any updates on what happened with the wards around Harry?"
"It's not clear why the mail wards around Harry aren't functioning properly. The goblins say it's Dumbledore, he says it's them. For now anything you want Harry to know send to Cassandra, the assistant he hired, she'll see he knows about it."
"All right, well have a good evening." Then he left.
Stephen stepped to the floo. "Law offices of Fawcett, Fawcett, and Bigglelow."
"May I help you?" The receptionist said.
"I would like an appointment with Jamieson Fawcett."
"Mr. Fawcett is on vacation until the end of August. I could make you an appointment for August 27th at ten."
"Is that the first available?"
"Yes sir."
"Fine, Stephen Corner."
"We'll see you that day then."
Stephen pulled back from the floo. "What kind of solicitor takes two months off?"
....
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