The Cupboard Series 4: The Fourth School

Chapter 7

"Ah, Severus, come in, come in," Albus beamed as his potions master entered the Headmaster's office.

"Albus," Severus greeted, inclining his head, only to make twin locks of dark hair fall to either side of his face.

"Take a seat, my boy, there is much to discuss," Albus invited.

The sallow-faced man strode confidently across the room before sinking into one of the two chairs across the desk from the Headmaster. As always, he declined the offer of a lemon drop from the bowl placed before him.

Knowing that Severus was never one for idle chit-chat, Albus neither expected nor received an inquiry about his time away in Switzerland at the International Confederation of Warlocks conference that he'd been attending for the past two weeks. Instead, the two men got straight down to business.

"The day before I left for my conference," Albus began, "I received some very unexpected and entirely unwelcome news. Minerva has resigned her post and left Hogwarts."

The widening of Severus' eyes at this announcement was equivalent to an ordinary man falling off of their chair in shock.

"Yes, yes, I know," Albus nodded, "I don't believe any of us would have thought that anything less than her own death would remove Minerva from amongst us. However, in hindsight, that supposition appears to be in error. Now, as you know, Minerva was, apart from being our Transfiguration teacher, also Hogwarts' Deputy Headmistress."

Severus nodded, the slight tightening around his eyes, clearly evident to one who knew him as Albus did, that he knew precisely where this conversation was headed.

"After long deliberation," Albus continued, "I would like nothing better than for you to take up the mantle of Deputy Headmaster, in addition to your already prestigious positions as Head of Slytherin and Professor of Potions."

Severus tipped his head back in thought, making his already large, hooked nose stand out even more prominently on his face.

"I would be honoured to accept the position," he finally replied, the corners of his mouth turning up in a semblance of a smile.

"Excellent, excellent!" Albus exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "Minerva has left all of her notes and information ready for her successor. I'll see to it that a house elf transfers them to your office immediately. I will be interviewing for a new Transfiguration professor in the coming days. As soon as one is appointed, I'll send them along to you with their text preference."

"With Minerva's loss, I guess that we'll also be needing a new Head of Gryffindor House," Severus pointed out. "Who do you have in mind?"

Dumbledore sat back in his chair. "The only Gryffindor alumni that we have are Darius and Bathsheda."

"Not Elmsworthy," Severus stated stiffly.

"I believe that you're correct," Dumbledore sighed. "Bathsheda it is, then. I'll speak to her after lunch."

"Is that all?" Severus asked. "I have much work to do, especially as my duties have just expanded."

"Of course, of course. Severus," Albus smiled. "Thank you for taking on this role for me."

Fluidly, Severus rose to his feet, nodded once and strode from the room, his cloak billowing behind him.

-oOoOo-

Severus Snape frowned at the newest addition to his office: a magical window. As Deputy Headmaster, he needed to be easily accessible for the post owls. Unfortunately, that had meant only one of two options: either change rooms to one higher in the castle or having the window put in. The very notion of moving so far from the dungeons, away from his Slytherins, his classroom and his potions, was unthinkable. Thus, the window.