Chapter 28

Disclaimer: All canon characters and book titles belong to their respective authors. I own nothing except the title and plot of this story.

Author's note: Beta'd by noybate. The chapter has not been Britpicked; therefore, any and all language mistakes are mine own.

Chapter Twenty Eight

"All right, every one. Settle down, please." Minerva rapped on the table with her knuckles. "This will be our last staff meeting before the students arrive tonight. Severus, please put the book down." She frowned at the title while he bookmarked the page where he'd had to stop reading. "Purity in Death? Severus, whatever are you reading?"

"It's a mystery novel, Minerva," Poppy quickly said. "Not at all what you're thinking."

"Thank you, Poppy," Severus said with a mild sneer. "I believe I can speak for myself."

"Be that as it may," Minerva said with a firm tone, "we need to finish up before the train arrives. I want all of you to welcome mediwitch Ginevra Potter to Hogwarts. She will be the new Infirmary Assistant." She smiled at her former student while Ginny grinned and waved at the other teachers. "Poppy, do you have everything you need?"

"Thanks to Hermione and her manic brewing last month, yes, I do," Poppy answered with a smile towards the younger woman. "We also saved almost twenty-five percent over what we spent last year because we didn't have to go outside to purchase any potions, including the students' contraceptives."

"Excellent," Minerva said, making a note on the parchment in front of her. "That leaves our infirmary budget in good shape starting out the school year. Now, we need to start planning for the Hallowe'en Feast this year. If anyone has any ideas, please bring them to me. Yes, Severus?"

"My idea is to cancel the festivities this year," he said snidely.

"You say that every year," Filius said, grinning at his fellow teacher. "It hasn't worked yet."

"I'll leave some parchment here in the staff room for you to write out your ideas," Minerva said firmly. "The sheets will be charmed to be sent to my office as soon as they're written on and folded. We need to have the theme settled by the fifteenth of this month. And no, Severus, you cannot use up every piece suggesting cancellation."

He smirked as the rest of the staff laughed at the idea of Minerva being overwhelmed by Severus' spiky handwriting. Minerva let them laugh for a bit; then, she rapped on the table again to gain their attention.

"Now then, Filius. Is the Sorting Hat ready?"

"Ready and eager, Minerva. I have the list of new first-years here."

"Good. Mr Filch..." She frowned at the caretaker who was staring out the nearest window. "Argus?"

"Oh. Yes, Headmistress?"

"Is something wrong?

"No, Headmistress. Just watching Mrs Norris chase a bird." He smiled indulgently.

"All right. Do you have the newest list of contraband from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?"

"Posted on the door to my office. Not that it does me any good," he complained harshly, his smile fading to the usual morose scowl.

"At least the students can't claim they didn't know about the list," she said. "Is there any other business that needs to be addressed before the train arrives?" No one raised a hand. "No? Good. I have some new business that we can deal with before we adjourn."

The staff glanced around at each other in wonder. Wasn't all the business finished?

"Hermione, this concerns you, dear," Minerva said. "Would you come up here, please?" She nodded at the head of the table.

Hermione stood up from her seat between Poppy and Severus to walk up to Minerva. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Not at all, dear," Minerva said, unrolling a scroll. "I just wanted to read this:

"'Be it known by all here present that Hermione Jean Granger, having been tested and deemed acceptable, is hereby adjudged to be celebrated as a Mistress of Transfiguration, with all rights and duties as appropriate to her position.

Filius Flitwick, Master of Charms.'

"Congratulations, dear," Minerva said, handing Hermione the scroll.

Hermione looked at the headmistress with brimming eyes and impulsively hugged her. "Thank you, Minerva," she said. "I didn't think I was anywhere near ready."

"You never do," Severus said, smiling in congratulations. "But if the master believes the journeyman is ready and other masters in the discipline agree, then the journeyman is ready. I traded owls...with Minerva's aid...with five other Potions masters last Fall about your skills and knowledge. Without hesitation, they all agreed with me. You will find their letters of recommendation at the Ministry in your file."

"Indeed," Minerva agreed. "I spoke with seven other Transfiguration masters, including your professors at Cambridge Wizarding. They were very impressed with you and your level of scholarship.

"Now, if there is no other business? Good. I hereby close this meeting and will see all of you this evening at the Welcoming Feast. Severus, if you would come with me?"

* * *

"Minerva, are you crying?" Severus asked with concern, seating himself in the guest chair in the Headmistress' office.

"Of course not." Minerva snorted. She sat in the desk chair, then brushed at her cheeks. "Well, maybe a little. It's a rite of passage to raise a new Master. You know that."

"Yes," he agreed sulkily. "You can take her out to celebrate this weekend. I have to wait until January first."

"I spoke with the other members of the staff..." Minerva started to say.

"And they agreed with you," he said with barely veiled sarcasm.

"Yes," Minerva said tersely. "We will have a party this coming weekend, here, in the castle, to celebrate Hermione's attaining both Masteries within a year of beginning her apprenticeships." She eyed him cautiously. "Then, if you want, you can still have your private celebration with her after your probation ends. I certainly intend to have one with her sometime this week once things settle down with the students."

"It's your choice." Severus started to rise. "If you're finished?"

"I'm not finished yet," she said. Reaching across the desk, she took the paperback book he'd brought with him and looked at the bright yellow cover. "The title is somewhat disconcerting..."

"Considering my recent chequered past?" Severus sat down again.

"Yes. Poppy said this is a mystery. A Muggle author?" She turned to the back cover and began to read the description.

"Yes. The book belongs to Hermione. I've borrowed it from her."

"Is it any good?"

"I have enjoyed the others in the series immensely."

"There are more?" Minerva asked incredulously, while at the same time she was intrigued.

"This is the fifteenth book in the series. I was quite surprised at the writing. It is very...I suppose you could say refreshing...for a Muggle writer." Severus paused then continued, "Hermione tells me this particular author publishes under this name twice a year and publishes more books under a different name within the same year."

"And he's a Muggle?"

"She."

"Pardon?" She glanced down at the book in her hands.

"The author is a she and, yes, she is a Muggle. A most prolific writer."

"I must speak with Hermione about her books," Minerva murmured, turning the book over and over between her hands.

"You might wish to speak with Poppy as well."

"Poppy?"

"I am given to understand that she has been a fan of selected Muggle literature for some years now." He smirked. "How do you think she knew the genre of this particular book?"

"I see." Minerva looked at him with consideration, her eyes narrowed.

* * *

"...and last, but not least, I should like to congratulate Professor Granger on achieving her Mastery in Transfiguration. Professor Granger will be taking all Transfiguration classes this year, rather than just the first four years, and is the newly appointed Head of Gryffindor House, thus freeing Professor Vector for other tasks.

"Now, let the Welcoming Feast begin." Minerva sat down and leaned over towards Hermione. "I spoke with Severus and Poppy this afternoon after the staff meeting."

"Oh?" Hermione kept her voice down, but she could see several staff members straining to hear the conversation. "What about?"

"Muggle literature. Severus tells me you have an entire series of the type of book he was reading this afternoon."

"Oh, you mean the J.D. Robb books?" There was relief in her voice. "Yes, I do. Did you want to borrow one?"

"Might I? The one he had looked interesting, and he mentioned there were some fourteen books that came before it?"

Hermione giggled. "Yes, there are, and the latest one came out last March. He hasn't read that one yet." She glanced at the wizard sitting next to her, sporting his trademark smirk as he unashamedly eavesdropped. "I'll loan you the first book of the series after my new Gryffindor firsties are taken care of."

Minerva patted her hand. "That's fine, dear. You take care of your other duties first. I can wait."

A/N: Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, does indeed publish two In Death novels each year for a total so far of thirty-five novels and eight short stories. The thirty-sixth novel is due to be released in September of 2012.

At the time this particular fanfic chapter is taking place (August/September 2003), she had published sixteen novels and two short stories, with the seventeenth novel coming out the end of September of 2003. Purity in Death was published in September of 2002, and Portrait in Death came out in March of 2003. A complete listing of all the novels and short stories (including their original dates of publication) for this series can be found at http: //www. fictiondb.com /author /jd-robb~6286.htm (remove the excess spaces).