B.Q. Book Two: Black Princess Ascendant

Chapter 40: Planning for the Future

Disclaimer: Did the Hogwarts heads of house schedule the fifth-years' career advice meetings during the school day when they, being professors themselves, also had classes to teach?

If so, I don't own the Harry Potter franchise; it belongs to J.K. Rowling Scholastic Press, Warner Bros., and whomever else she sold the rights to.

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The portrait that guarded Flitwick's office swung open on its own without a word from her, and Jen quirked an eyebrow at the frame. Yes, the list in the common room had told her to be here at one-thirty on the second Saturday of May, but she had still expected to need a password or at least announce herself. Then again, with how magical portraits could put on a remarkable semblance of sapience, they probably would have revolted if required to listen to a stream of students demanding entrance after the end of classes for a week. "Professor? I'm sorry I'm late. This morning's Wizengamot session ran much longer than planned."

"Oh, not a problem, Miss Black. These things happen." The diminutive Charms teacher peeked over the pile of pamphlets burying his desk and waved toward the only normal-sized chair in front of his desk. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "I know you may not be allowed to answer, but today was Hagrid's trial, yes?" She nodded slowly. "What was the final verdict?"

"It will be in the Prophet tomorrow, so I suppose it can't hurt to tell you now." Falling into the chair, she said, "It went about as well as could be expected. He pled guilty to all three charges – kidnapping, smuggling a sentient being into the country, and unlawful detainment subsequent to the kidnapping – which was more or less a given, considering he admitted to everything during his interrogation. Since the actual kidnapping took place outside of Britain, and I honestly think also because it was a giant he snatched rather than a human, that sentence was cut down to ten years, and he won't be extradited to the Continent to face trial there." She frowned lightly. "Though another reason for that is that Hagrid doesn't really know what country he was in when he committed the crime, which would complicate matters."

Flitwick expelled his held breath. "Good. That's good. Kidnapping was the charge he was facing that had the worst maximum punishment."

"Could have been fifty years, especially if he had fought it," she agreed. "The smuggling and detainment both got him twenty. Luckily for him, his general demeanor and… less than thorough education," she added delicately, "garnered enough sympathy from the Wizengamot that he'll serve his sentences concurrently in minimum security, and he has the possibility for parole once he's finished half that. That said, the prosecution made sure that everyone knew he kept that giant inside the Forbidden Forest itself and that it broke free and attacked the students, so once he's released he will be permanently prohibited from being employed by a school in any capacity."

"That is not an entirely unreasonable restriction from their perspective, I suppose," he said sadly, "though I know Minerva and Pomona will be torn up about it. They and Albus had the closest relationships with him."

She shrugged. Which teachers were good friends of whose really was of no concern to her.

The head of Ravenclaw sighed again. "Thank you for telling me. And now I suppose it's time we got to the actual point of this meeting. It's silly to ask this, I know, but do you know why I wanted to speak with you?"

"Judging from the instructions on the list you posted in the common room, I presume it's for career counseling?" she asked with a smile. "Before we start, however, a quick question." Flitwick nodded. "Why have the second- and seventh-years had these meetings, as well, and why not in all the houses? Neither Tracey nor Kenneth knew anything about it when I mentioned it to them."