Diane (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} dianehc) wrote,@ 2006-11-20 13:10:00 |
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Falling Stars, Part 4
Title: Falling Stars
Rating: PG, Angst
Summary: The war's finished, the good guys won, and it's time to live. Wouldn’t it be lovely if that were true?
Falling Stars, part 4
Minerva stared at the parchment roll that had been unceremoniously dropped in beside her plate by a large, keen-eyed, black hawk that wheeled to swiftly deliver other messages to equally surprised recipients before catching her eye as it turned and flew out the window.
After glancing around the table to see that no one had yet noticed the significance of her the odd delivery bird, she caught the edge of the roll and carefully unrolled it- breathing in the wisp of clove and dragon’s blood that was released when it opened fully.
3rd square of Mars and Saturn
Potions Master -1c., Severus Snape,
Snape Manor
Spinner’s End
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Edinburgh crux Aberdeen
Re: Formal Tender of Resignation
Headmistress McGonagall:
This notice is to inform you that, as of twelve midnight, on this day, under the 3rd square of Mars and Saturn, I formally tender my resignation of the position of Potions Instructor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After twenty-two years of gainful employment, the exigencies of war have made returning to the classroom inconceivable.
In deference to a tradition observed by your predecessor, I would like to show the presumption of suggesting my replacement. To this end, I would offer my endorsement of Neville Longbottom to this position. While the young man’s potential was never seriously displayed within the classroom setting, the troubled events of the years since his graduation have given him the necessary discipline and confidence as well as tempered his personality in such a way that he has repeatedly demonstrated a level of competence (particularly in the area of potions based on the inclusion of living herbs) that exceeds any other potential candidate whom I am aware of. Additionally, Mr. Longbottom consistently demonstrates a tolerant and soothing manner that will undoubtedly benefit students born and raised in the recent war-troubled decades. It is my recommendation that he be allowed to hold this position while he studies and completes the potions mastery that he has already begun in conjunction with his studies in the healing arts.
On a personal note, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to yourself, Professor Flitwick, Professor Hagrid, Professor Sprout, Professor Sinistra, and Madam Pomfrey for the support and encouragement that you have provided throughout these years. It has been appreciated in the extreme despite the fact that the role I took up made acknowledgment of this support difficult and to some extent dangerous both to myself and to the recipient of my appreciation.
Further, while it is not my place to provide a recommendation for the position of the Defense against the Dark Arts Instructor, I would like to hereby withdraw each and all of my previous objections against Remus Lupin for this position. Former Professor Lupin’s service during the recent conflict have both laid to rest any concerns I previously held and demonstrated that many of fears had been based on little more than unwarranted prejudice.
It has been my honor to serve with each of you.
With the deepest sincerity,
Severus Snape.
“Headmistress?”
When Minerva finally looked up, wiping tears from her eyes, she was not entirely surprised to see Mr. Longbottom standing before her. She had noticed that the hawk had dropped an identical roll by his place setting, but had not known what to make of it. Without comment, they exchanged parchments.
3rd square of Mars and Saturn
Potions Master -1c., Severus Snape,
Snape Manor
Spinner’s End
Neville Longbottom
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Edinburgh crux Aberdeen
Re: Notice of Recommendation and Endorsement
Mr. Longbottom:
It may come as a surprise to you to discover that I have recommended that you succeed me in the position of potions instructor at Hogwarts. It is most likely no less of a surprise to you than it was to me, and I would have found it no difficulty – despite your years of service to the order and the war effort – to recommend any other candidate who was equally qualified in talent, temperament, and skill to this position – were I aware of one.
But, not withstanding the uncountable number of cauldrons that you transformed into slag metal during your years under my instruction, your performance in the last three years has demonstrated an unforeseeable aptitude in the subject that exceeds the skills of all other candidates in my knowledge. It is up to you to put this aptitude to its proper purpose.
Having made my recommendations, I do not, now, want to believed to be a fool for making this recommendation. To this end, should you accept the position that I am confident will be offered - I would give you the following instruction:
1. Do not forget that this subject, in the classroom, is equally dangerous to any of the battlefields we have served on. As you have so aptly demonstrated many times in the past, dangerous and life-threatening accidents are not only possible, but probable.
2. Do not allow the children to sense hesitation, fear, or uncertainty. To maintain the control necessary to prevent the inevitable explosion, poisoning, or other impending catastrophes, you must have established absolute authority you’re your students before the event or they will not have the commonsense to run when you order them to.
3. Do not forget that the children whom you will teach will be even more capable of exploiting fear, indulgence, and compassion than Voldemort ever was for the very reason that you will be inclined to coddle and indulge them to make up for their past suffering. That is the job for their heads of house, and you will only do them a disservice by engaging in it. They will happily use your Gryffindor nature against you at the first opportunity, and if you will allow them to– will continue to do so until they eventually fail their OWLS and NEWTS, should they life so long as to take them.
4. Purchase a kwikspell potions placemat if you must and label your utensils according to their placement. Despite your burgeoning talent, I have not been made to cringe by Vodemort as many times as I cringed at the reckless placement of your materials and tools in potentially dangerous proximities – including the one narrowly averted explosion less than two months ago when you unthinkingly dropped a glass stir stick glazed in dragon’s blood into the salt water wash.
5. Do not under any circumstances forget that tools, implements, and cauldrons that have contained or been used with dragon’s blood must be cleansed only with winter rain. Do not allow children on detention to touch any of these items unless you wish to risk disaster.
I fully anticipate you to exceed these expectations, and would not have endorsed you, otherwise.
Potions Master-1c.
Severus Snape
When Minerva looked up again, Longbottom’s eyes were filled with sadness, humor, and confusion.
“I’m not really certain whether he is trying to compliment, insult, encourage, frighten, or threaten me.” He exclaimed before looking back down at both letters – still somewhat shocked.
The headmistress could certainly understand why.
“I suspect that he is trying to do a smidgen of all of those. There may also be a hint of apology as well.”
“There is?”
“Well, as close as Professor Snape could ever come to apologizing, perhaps, but yes, I believe so. Could we discuss the subject of his letters this afternoon at tea? Perhaps with a transcript of your recent studies?”
The young man nodded then took the letter back to his chair, shaking his head in mystification as he did. As she watched him share the letter with the others at the table, Minerva discreetly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. She was going to miss the unnerving, irritating, sullen, obstinate, precious man.
“Minerva?” Filius stood by her watching in concern.
Without explanation, she handed him the parchment and gathered her others to read back at the office, before she stood and quietly left. By the time she had reached the end of the dais, the sound of gasps told her that the other staff members had crowded around the Charms professor to read it. The only reaction that she heard after that, as she walked to the staff entrance, was Hagrid’s sniff as he said, “He call’d me perfess’r.”
Title: Falling Stars
Rating: PG, Angst
Summary: The war's finished, the good guys won, and it's time to live. Wouldn’t it be lovely if that were true?
Falling Stars, part 4
Minerva stared at the parchment roll that had been unceremoniously dropped in beside her plate by a large, keen-eyed, black hawk that wheeled to swiftly deliver other messages to equally surprised recipients before catching her eye as it turned and flew out the window.
After glancing around the table to see that no one had yet noticed the significance of her the odd delivery bird, she caught the edge of the roll and carefully unrolled it- breathing in the wisp of clove and dragon’s blood that was released when it opened fully.
3rd square of Mars and Saturn
Potions Master -1c., Severus Snape,
Snape Manor
Spinner’s End
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Edinburgh crux Aberdeen
Re: Formal Tender of Resignation
Headmistress McGonagall:
This notice is to inform you that, as of twelve midnight, on this day, under the 3rd square of Mars and Saturn, I formally tender my resignation of the position of Potions Instructor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After twenty-two years of gainful employment, the exigencies of war have made returning to the classroom inconceivable.
In deference to a tradition observed by your predecessor, I would like to show the presumption of suggesting my replacement. To this end, I would offer my endorsement of Neville Longbottom to this position. While the young man’s potential was never seriously displayed within the classroom setting, the troubled events of the years since his graduation have given him the necessary discipline and confidence as well as tempered his personality in such a way that he has repeatedly demonstrated a level of competence (particularly in the area of potions based on the inclusion of living herbs) that exceeds any other potential candidate whom I am aware of. Additionally, Mr. Longbottom consistently demonstrates a tolerant and soothing manner that will undoubtedly benefit students born and raised in the recent war-troubled decades. It is my recommendation that he be allowed to hold this position while he studies and completes the potions mastery that he has already begun in conjunction with his studies in the healing arts.
On a personal note, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to yourself, Professor Flitwick, Professor Hagrid, Professor Sprout, Professor Sinistra, and Madam Pomfrey for the support and encouragement that you have provided throughout these years. It has been appreciated in the extreme despite the fact that the role I took up made acknowledgment of this support difficult and to some extent dangerous both to myself and to the recipient of my appreciation.
Further, while it is not my place to provide a recommendation for the position of the Defense against the Dark Arts Instructor, I would like to hereby withdraw each and all of my previous objections against Remus Lupin for this position. Former Professor Lupin’s service during the recent conflict have both laid to rest any concerns I previously held and demonstrated that many of fears had been based on little more than unwarranted prejudice.
It has been my honor to serve with each of you.
With the deepest sincerity,
Severus Snape.
“Headmistress?”
When Minerva finally looked up, wiping tears from her eyes, she was not entirely surprised to see Mr. Longbottom standing before her. She had noticed that the hawk had dropped an identical roll by his place setting, but had not known what to make of it. Without comment, they exchanged parchments.
3rd square of Mars and Saturn
Potions Master -1c., Severus Snape,
Snape Manor
Spinner’s End
Neville Longbottom
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Edinburgh crux Aberdeen
Re: Notice of Recommendation and Endorsement
Mr. Longbottom:
It may come as a surprise to you to discover that I have recommended that you succeed me in the position of potions instructor at Hogwarts. It is most likely no less of a surprise to you than it was to me, and I would have found it no difficulty – despite your years of service to the order and the war effort – to recommend any other candidate who was equally qualified in talent, temperament, and skill to this position – were I aware of one.
But, not withstanding the uncountable number of cauldrons that you transformed into slag metal during your years under my instruction, your performance in the last three years has demonstrated an unforeseeable aptitude in the subject that exceeds the skills of all other candidates in my knowledge. It is up to you to put this aptitude to its proper purpose.
Having made my recommendations, I do not, now, want to believed to be a fool for making this recommendation. To this end, should you accept the position that I am confident will be offered - I would give you the following instruction:
1. Do not forget that this subject, in the classroom, is equally dangerous to any of the battlefields we have served on. As you have so aptly demonstrated many times in the past, dangerous and life-threatening accidents are not only possible, but probable.
2. Do not allow the children to sense hesitation, fear, or uncertainty. To maintain the control necessary to prevent the inevitable explosion, poisoning, or other impending catastrophes, you must have established absolute authority you’re your students before the event or they will not have the commonsense to run when you order them to.
3. Do not forget that the children whom you will teach will be even more capable of exploiting fear, indulgence, and compassion than Voldemort ever was for the very reason that you will be inclined to coddle and indulge them to make up for their past suffering. That is the job for their heads of house, and you will only do them a disservice by engaging in it. They will happily use your Gryffindor nature against you at the first opportunity, and if you will allow them to– will continue to do so until they eventually fail their OWLS and NEWTS, should they life so long as to take them.
4. Purchase a kwikspell potions placemat if you must and label your utensils according to their placement. Despite your burgeoning talent, I have not been made to cringe by Vodemort as many times as I cringed at the reckless placement of your materials and tools in potentially dangerous proximities – including the one narrowly averted explosion less than two months ago when you unthinkingly dropped a glass stir stick glazed in dragon’s blood into the salt water wash.
5. Do not under any circumstances forget that tools, implements, and cauldrons that have contained or been used with dragon’s blood must be cleansed only with winter rain. Do not allow children on detention to touch any of these items unless you wish to risk disaster.
I fully anticipate you to exceed these expectations, and would not have endorsed you, otherwise.
Potions Master-1c.
Severus Snape
When Minerva looked up again, Longbottom’s eyes were filled with sadness, humor, and confusion.
“I’m not really certain whether he is trying to compliment, insult, encourage, frighten, or threaten me.” He exclaimed before looking back down at both letters – still somewhat shocked.
The headmistress could certainly understand why.
“I suspect that he is trying to do a smidgen of all of those. There may also be a hint of apology as well.”
“There is?”
“Well, as close as Professor Snape could ever come to apologizing, perhaps, but yes, I believe so. Could we discuss the subject of his letters this afternoon at tea? Perhaps with a transcript of your recent studies?”
The young man nodded then took the letter back to his chair, shaking his head in mystification as he did. As she watched him share the letter with the others at the table, Minerva discreetly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. She was going to miss the unnerving, irritating, sullen, obstinate, precious man.
“Minerva?” Filius stood by her watching in concern.
Without explanation, she handed him the parchment and gathered her others to read back at the office, before she stood and quietly left. By the time she had reached the end of the dais, the sound of gasps told her that the other staff members had crowded around the Charms professor to read it. The only reaction that she heard after that, as she walked to the staff entrance, was Hagrid’s sniff as he said, “He call’d me perfess’r.”
