Through the Looking Glass ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 45 ~ Reaching an Understanding

Minerva didn’t return directly to Hogwarts. She made two stops. The first stop was the offices of the Daily Prophet, the largest newspaper in the wizarding world. After she spoke to the editor, Barnabas Cuffe, she and a contingent of reporters and photographers returned to the moors and the bodies of the fallen despots.

Minerva took the credit for killing Bedaub Mules, of course.

Then, she left all but one photographer and reporter at the scene, and returned with them to the Ministry, demanding to see the Minister of Magic himself. She was informed that the Minister under no circumstances saw anyone without an appointment.

”A fine way to treat the witch who killed Lord Bedaub Mules,” she said to the two startled Aurors, who looked at the reporter, who was furiously writing and the photographer, who snapped a picture of the men who were giving the wizarding world’s greatest hero in years the runaround.

”Wait here,” one Auror said, hurrying up the stairs to the Minister’s office.

An hour later, a contingent of Aurors and the Minister himself arrived on the scene to view and take the bodies.

”What the hell happened to Tom Riddle?” the Minister asked Minerva as he looked down on the scaly features of the dead Voldemort.

Minerva shrugged.

”As far as I know, he was taking the same elixir Bedaub Mules was, and that was the result,” she replied, not saying anything about the switch at all. It was best to keep this simple. The Minister shook his head.

”Why anyone would do such a thing to himself is beyond me,” he said as both Voldemort and Bedaub Mules were slipped into body bags. The severed head and body of Nagina was also put into a sack and taken away.

”There was quite a price on the head of Bedaub Mules, professor. You are going to be a very wealthy witch,” the Minister said to her, his eyes narrowing somewhat.

Minerva gave him a rather crooked smile.

She already knew that.

”Ah, Professor McGonagall, would you mind answering a few questions?” a reporter asked her. He was surrounded by several other reporters and a slew of light-bulb flashing photographers. Her face was going to be plastered everywhere. She slung her dark hair back and rested her eyes on them.

”Not at all,” she replied.

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That evening, Minerva retired to her new office. She wasn’t wasting any time. The very first thing she did was remove the black sheets from the portraits and Obliviate them, wordlessly, so they wouldn’t duck out of the paintings.

The secret of the switch would remain a secret.

The news of Minerva’s “accomplishment” made it back to Hogwarts before she did. She was met by the staff, all of whom were ecstatic that she was going to be the new Headmistress.

”At last, something can be done about this blasted boycott,” Pomona gushed at her.

Minerva simply replied, “We’ll see.”

This response made the teachers all a bit nervous.

”What do you mean, we’ll see?” Flitwick hissed, his little eyes narrowed.

”It’s on my agenda,” Minerva said loftily, feeling it would be wise to separate herself from “the help.”

This wasn’t going to be the cakewalk the staff thought it would be. Minerva had a position of authority over them now, and she wasn’t going to continue to act like one of the gang. Hell, she didn’t have to worry herself over “extra credit” any longer. As Headmistress, she had other brooms to fly. She’d call on Horace Slughorn to take over her Potions classes, and make it worth his while.

She’d have her pick of wizards and witches now, older envoys, pages and messengers from the Ministry. The Minister always sent the most attractive and cooperative of his staff when he wanted cooperation from the Head of Hogwarts. That wouldn’t change at all.

When she went through Tom Riddle’s possessions, she found his journal. Every Headmaster or Headmistress was required to keep a journal to keep a record of the happenings at Hogwarts and their decisions concerning the running of the school. These journals dated back centuries and were available only to the reigning head of Hogwarts.

She sat down at the desk and read his latest few entries. There was nothing in the journal about the switch, which was good. The journal was protected magically from erasures and alterations. It could even become deadly if the efforts to tamper with it were great. But Minerva was aware of this, and there was no reason to change anything.

She carefully read Tom's entry concerning the boycott.

The staff feels I have abandoned them concerning the students’ boycott of the requirements of extra credit. But I have not. A proper Headmaster takes into consideration the needs of the students and the staff. Just because the staff is in the employ of Hogwarts does not mean they get preferential treatment. If not for the students, there would be no school.

In this case, the staff has actually taken it upon themselves to reinterpret the rules concerning extra credit. The practice of mandatory extra credit has been allowed because there was no outcry against it. It was considered business as usual. Despite the many years this approach has been in operation, that does not make it legal. The rebellion of the students makes it imperative that strict regulation of the practice be put into force, with clear limits and options. This has been a long time coming, and it’s a pity it came to a head during my service to the school. I’ve better things to do.

I haven’t yet informed my staff of this, because I want to be sure that the students of this institution are not simply acting out, but are dedicated to making a change. I am sure that Severus Snape has influenced this movement, but there are no rules against him doing so. Repercussions from the rest of the staff are to be expected, and he’d better watch his arse.

I intend to let the boycott continue past the last quarter, so as to see how many students stick to their wands after receiving failing marks. If the boycott continues, then I will have to meet the students’ terms and integrate the “Extra Credit List” into school regulation before the end of term. We cannot have all the students fail at the end of the year and no graduating class. Not only are the jobs of the staff on the line, but my position as well. The performance of the staff reflects the running of the school. I too, would lose my situation. I cannot afford that.

Minerva slowly put the journal down, considering it. Tom was right. Her position was in jeopardy as well, and she had just received it. There was no way she was going to get tossed because a few staff members weren’t getting their rocks off. She decided immediately to follow Tom’s plan concerning the boycott.

Then, she noticed another journal on the desk. This one had her name on it in gold leaf, and the date she assumed the post of Headmistress, followed by a dash that would show when it ended.

If she had her way about it, it would end when she did.

*************************************

At the end of Transfiguration class, Snape was taking extra credit lists and filling in his appointment schedule. He had every house involved now, and the Slytherins were a real delight, because they hadn’t been aware of his approach, and it was new and enjoyable to them.

Still, Snape had to deal with a bit of insubordination when he stuck to his guns as to what would be allowed and wouldn’t be allowed, particularly when Harry and Ron chose the “voyeur” option and brought Parvati in. The wizard usually masturbated a bit during this option without bringing himself to climax, and once Harry and Ron saw what Snape was working with, they wanted him to join in. But, he adamantly refused.

”You’re going to have to wait until the boycott is resolved,” he told the naked young men as they pounded away at the howling Parvati and each other. All three of them earned a nice amount points for their enthusiasm.

To date, Hermione was the only Slytherin of age that didn’t sign up with him. And, as against the rules as it was, it only made the teacher want her more on a personal level.

Hermione hadn’t had sex since she returned to Hogwarts, but she did give Harry and Ron a double celebratory round of "Handjob Hostage" when the boycott took place, doing both gasping wizards at once, taking turns tormenting each of them to the point they begged her for release. She brought them to dual climaxes, their releases blasting from them as they groaned.

”No one can give a handjob like you, Hermione,” Ron breathed at her as Harry panted beside him. They were both stretched out crosswise on their backs in her bed as she grinned down at them.

”It takes practice,” she replied with a smile before kicking them out. They’d want to fuck as soon as they recovered. She knew them too well.

It wasn’t that Hermione wasn’t interested in doing extra credit with Snape . . . it was just that she didn’t like the selection. All that would happen would be that she’d leave his presence frustrated because there was no actual penetrative sex. Yes, she could relieve herself with Harry, Ron or both, but that wouldn’t be the same as engaging Snape in the ROR and role-playing, which was what she wanted to do. She’d just have to wait until the boycott was resolved.

Snape had enough of this, and decided to make a small move toward the witch. As Hermione gathered up her books, he looked around the line of students at his desk and called to her.

”Miss Granger, I would like to speak to you after I finish my appointments,” he said to the witch.

Hermione sat back down and waited fifteen minutes. When the last student left, she approached the desk.

”Yes, Professor?” she said to the wizard, her eyes drifting over him as she thought about the other Snape.

”Miss Granger, I have to ask you . . . are you boycotting me as well? All of your other housemates have earned extra credit,” he said to her softly.

Hermione could tell that the professor had very inappropriate designs on her, and gave him a sly smile.

”Well, I assumed since my marks are so high, that I didn’t have to do any extra credit,” she replied, liking that he frowned at her.

”I’ve been thinking about that, Miss Granger,” he said slowly. “I’m beginning to think I was in error applying that Miss Granger’s work to you. To be honest, you really didn’t earn the extra points yourself . . . “

Hermione curled her lip at him teasingly. They were playing quite the dangerous game here, and they were both aware of it.

”But, if you took those points away, Professor, then you will have broken the school rules and engaged a student for what could be considered your own pleasure. I believe that results in immediate sacking, doesn’t it?”

Snape shook his head. He should have known Hermione was too sharp to be taken in like that.

”Touché, Miss Granger,” he said, “and you are right about your marks. Any extra credit work would be solely at my discretion if you were to apply.”

”Yes, I know,” she responded, her brown eyes resting on him. Yes, she could see his desire clearly, and it made her feel a bit strange . . . a bit . . . hot. But, signing up for extra credit would be a waste of her time if it didn’t end satisfactorily.

”Is that all you wanted, sir?” she asked him.

Snape felt like sighing, but didn’t. He couldn’t ask her to sign up for extra credit as much as he wanted her.

”That’ll be all, Miss Granger,” he told her.

Hermione turned and started to walk out the door, when he got a flash of inspiration.

”Just a moment, Miss Granger,” the wizard said, opening the top drawer of his desk and pulling out a parchment.

Hermione turned and walked back to him, and he handed her the parchment. She looked down at it. It was an extra credit list.

”A list?” she said to him, frowning.

”Yes. Just in case you decide to apply for a few points, despite your grades,” he replied evenly.

Hermione studied the list, then her brows rose and she looked back up at him.

”There are no limits on this list. Nothing is crossed off like on the others,” she said to the wizard.

Snape looked at her levelly.

”My discretion, Miss Granger,” he purred back at her. “But, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t let the other students see that list. They’d all be after me.”

Hermione looked down at the list. It had everything. Everything. Penetration, ejaculation . . . the works.

Brown eyes met black eyes for a moment.

”All right. Thank you, professor,” she said softly, then turned and exited the classroom, Snape looking after her, hoping his hunch had been right.

****************************************

Hermione ate her supper and retired to her room in Slytherin house. After securely warding the door, she stripped down to her bra and knickers and lay on her stomach on the bed, studying the list for a minute or two before retrieving a pen out of her night stand and checking off a large number of boxes.

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A/N: Finally, another chapter. Sorry it took so long. My muse seems to have evacuated for Gustav, even if I didn’t. lol. But, she’s back. Thanks for reading.