“Rest assured that I, Gildroy Lockhart, am quite prepared to fill the young witches and wizards of Hogwarts with all they need to learn to defend against the dark arts!” the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor proclaimed.
“But you seem to be unable to provide your syllabus,” Minerva said dryly.
Albus Dumbledore almost wished William Weasley hadn’t found the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts professorship. He could tell that he now had a toxic mix between Gildroy, Minerva, and Severus. He felt it quite lucky that Severus had managed to find a reason to skip the previous meeting. It was apparently Victoria Malfoy’s birthday and he had godfather duties.
Gildroy seemed to be waving off the requirement, again. He’d hired Gildroy as the only applicant, and if there had been any other, he would have gone for them. In fact he’d actually considered asking Serevus to move over at one point. It was a lot easier to find Potion Masters than Defense Masters. How Gildroy had obtained his masterhood in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Albus didn’t know. In fact he was already strongly considering investigating that.
“Gildroy, I expect that syllubus in Minerva’s hands by half past five, or I shall reconsider your employment. Now, Minerva, I understand that both you and Serevus have student assistants this year for your early classes. How are Percival and Penelope settling in?”
“Quite well, Albus,” Minerva said. “I’ve gone over my plans with Penny. She appears to be ready. And Serevus, how did your talk with Percy go?”
“Percival appears to be ready,” Serevus said. “He’ll be handling the double periods for both First and Second Year, as well as an open tutoring session on Saturdays. Scores this past year those taking NEWTs were up quite a bit, so there will be two classes worth of sixth years. We will be splitting both second and third years in three groups this year, split by ablity, and you may expect that first years may have some schedule changes as well, but as there are only thirty-two of them, we will only have two sections of them.”
“Tranfiguration will also be trying smaller class sizes this year,” Minerva said. “Penny will be handling most of the classes for the lower years, first through third, with an occasional fourth year class, depending on both of our availablities. Penny, after all, is a new mother. Pomona, Filius, we expect to be able to expand this program next year to your classes, given the large class incoming then will require us to hire more professors. I would like all of you to look for candidates not just for your classes but others.
“Especially look at those who successfully tutor students, and do not be afraid to have a few of your upper year students present a topic or two to their classmates. On that note, Albus?”
Albus nodded to Minerva before beginning. “Chess Grandmasters Arthur Weasley and Erlene Malfoy have asked to sponsor chess tournaments at Hogwarts this year. I understand that sign ups will be handled by Missus Malfoy’s daughter, Victoria in Slytherin House, and Mister Weasley’s son and daughter-in-law, Percival in Gryffindor and Penelope in Ravenclaw. Pomona, they would like someone to coordinate in Hufflepuff.”
Ponoma thought for a moment. “Cedric Diggory, tentatively, Albus. I will have to ask, first.”
“Understandable,” Albus continued. “The petition of last years first year Gryffindors and Slytherins to add house teams and games for football was accepted by the Board. Due to the physical nature of the games, there shall be three teams per house, first and second years, third and fourth years, and fifth year and up. Games will be scheduled to occur on Sundays in October and November, then again for a spring season April and May. As each game is ninety minutes, not counting half time and injury time, multiple games will occur on the same day. I am told we can safely schedule a game every two hours, so we should be able to do the three traditional fixture weekends for Quidditch as well as have an Autumn and Spring championship weekend.”
“I’ve set up the schedules, and with Hagrid’s help I’ve marked off some practice fields,” Hooch said. “Schedule for use will be set in my office, same as with Quiditch, save Hagrid’s challenge field, where Hagrid will be taking care of the five on five challenges, like he did last May. Which reminds me, Severus, I owe you six sickles on that Slytherin First Year Girls vs Second Year Boys game.” Hooch slid six of the silver coins across the table to the Potions Master. A family emergency in Appalachia had taken Hooch away from Hogwarts for most of the last month of the previous school year.
“Do not go against Pansy Parkinson’s left foot,” Severus said. “If I can get her, Zabini and Draco Malfoy on the Slytherin young years team, I only fear Gryffindor.”
“I may need additional volunteers to referee some five on five challenges,” Hooch said. “I know Mister Thomas in Gryffindor is quite capable, and as is Finch-Fletchley in Hufflepuff, but they will be second years, and are quite often the challengers, but they are too young to be certified as a referee. We do actually have two qualified Youth Referees at this year, Beatrice Haywood of Hufflepuff, and the newly certified Kenneth Towler of Gryffindor. Robert Hillard is a fellow Level 7 Referee in Ravenclaw While I have become quite familiar with the rules, and even took the appropriate courses in England and required games officiating to be classed as a Level 7 Referee, it takes three refs to cover a game, unlike Quidditch. For the official team match days, my assistants will be from Hillard, Towler, and Haywood. However due to complications, I will have to seek out a fifth referee.”
“I shall volunteer myself for the job,” Lockhart interjected.