The Thoughts of H.E.F. Slughorn

*a scraping noise*

Ah, thank you Fitsy, I don't know why it should come at such an hour as this, but it's good of you to assist me with it. Yes, right there, hold it up and don't let it tip out from the wall. Yes, just so. You are sure you have it?

*throat clearing*

I see you've found a way to occupy your time, Severus. But you are looking better. Wherever you've run off to is treating you well, I see.

My dear Severus,

I do not think it necessary to direct an owl to me when I am domiciled three floors away. Of course, I was out until just now so it was not entirely a wasted effort.

It appears a number of the board have eagerly taken up Rufus' plan of complete reconstruction. I've no doubt that the mass exodus pleases them entirely. After all, who of the faithful shall remain to bar their way? I confess myself quite curious to see how they will manage. Perhaps even a degree of schadenfreude, although it is possible they will surprise us.

Have tea with me tomorrow and we shall discuss things, yes? I shall be in the lesser withdrawing room. Now that they have resolved this plan, I cannot see them reversing it immediately, and certainly not after the results of today. You need something to do, lad. As always, my offer stands.

Horace

P.S. I've no doubt, lad, that any injunction of the sort would be more effective coming from you. And as you have demonstrated, a pen, parchment, and owl are all within ready means. Of course, should I see your excellent son before you do, I shall happily inform him of your opinion on the matter instanter.

My dear Philomena,

I was delighted to see that most generous, round total at the bottom of your accounting. You are a miracle worker with worthless trash and discarded, broken artefacts. Hogwarts is ever grateful.

By the by, if you need to reach me do direct your correspondence to me at the Athenaeum.

Yours,

Horace Slughorn

*the letter is on personal stationery.*

Edwin,

I do apologise for the lateness of this reply but the Board deserves a proper, deliberated response. I am quite cognizant of the honour the Board does to me elevating me to the highest responsibility at Hogwarts, but I must respectively decline. It is not a position I have every desired, being of a retiring and modest nature you understand. I'm sure you must understand.

This business with Severus is most distressing. I have stayed here at Hogwarts primarily at his request, you see. And whomever else you put in his place should surely not like my meddling about. Indeed, I believe I must step down from the Deputy Head position immediately, as it really would not do to begin a new administration with a hold over from the old.

I find myself quite unaccountably tired and thinking more and more of retirement from Hogwarts. The thought of having to learn a new Headmaster's routine and peccadilloes after so many years of ordering things as I and Severus prefer is rather distressing. I'm sure you understand. The school takes up so much time. Greece is particularly lovely this time of year and I have not visited in quite an age. I've removed my belongings from the school and feel a great weight lifted from my shoulders. It's quite remarkable.

I must also inform you that whomever you elevate shall have some trifling staffing difficulties. I'm sure whomever you choose shall do exceedingly well. After all, how simple it must be to fill four teaching positions and three Head of House positions in two weeks! Severus was too nice in his selection criteria and the idea of it quite exhausts me, but I am an old man. There is no need for concern. Whomever you choose shall be able to fill Charms, Potions, DADA and Arithmancy quite handily, I'm sure, and it shall mark a new beginning for Hogwarts. I wish them all good fortune for the coming year.

Yours sincerely,

Horace Slughorn

CC: Hogwarts Board of Governors

A problem of a rather serious nature has occurred. I have spoken to a number of you privately, but this is really the quickest way to disseminate the information and determine what we shall do about it.

In short, Headmaster Severus Snape was dismissed from his position here at Hogwarts yesterday by the Board of Governors, under extreme prejudice. There was a power play within the Board and Chairman Rufus Scrimgeour's long vendetta to remove the Headmaster finally passed. They propose to promote myself into the position due to the lateness of the decision and the advancement of the summer. I intend to refuse, but I felt it incumbent upon me to inform all of you of the situation and discuss what we shall individually and severally do about it.

Severus is not on the filtre so please do speak freely regarding your concerns and opinions. I ask that everyone exercise discretion with this information as nothing will harm our position more than an ill-timed word in the wrong place.

*a knock on the door*

Severus? Are you there, lad?

*the creak of the portrait swinging closed*

Tippy if I could tr- Oh, Severus, you here? This is rather unexpected. In your dressing gown and slippers, no less. How are you, lad?

*a knock on the door before it opens*

Thank you Tippy. Do go back to seeing to dinner.

Severus, you sent for me?

Dear Messrs Weasley,

Indeed, Hogwarts did receive such a modest transmittal, and it was greatly appreciated. The staff as well as the students spending hols at the school were very glad for the supplement to the meals of fish and oats.

I would be pleased to join you at Maison des Hérissons on Monday evening. I am sure we can come to some resolution in the fine ambiance of such a well regarded establishment. I highly recommend the confit of duck.

Yours sincerely,

Horace Slughorn
Deputy Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Dear Messrs Weasley,

I wish indeed that I was as jocular as you. However, 4,000Gal is quite reasonable considering I waived the venue fee. That would have been another 2,000Gal.

I understand entirely, of course. 4,000Gal is a shocking figure to have to disburse all at once. After all, it's enough to feed all of Wizarding Britain for an entire day!

We have a number of options, of course. We could implement an installment plan, or Hogwarts could sue to garnish your profits until the sum is collected. Unless you wish Hogwarts to require the children to pay for their meals out of their pocket money? I should have to write the parents of course, and make it quite clear to everyone why Hogwarts finds itself unable to feed their children. This is effectively raising their school fees for the rest of the year, you understand. I suppose an announcement in the Daily Prophet is unavoidable. Terribly embarrassing, you understand. We usually have better management of our supplies, but we currently need to restock the home farm given how even the smallest lettuce and leanest cockerel were sacrificed to the assembled appetites on Wednesday.

I do hope we can resolve this quickly, as the students are already loudly protesting the lack of variety in their meals. The staff are more forbearing.

Yours sincerely,

Horace Slughorn
Deputy Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Dear Messrs Weasley,

I thank you for the intriguing glimpse of the future and the opportunity to celebrate your natal day with you.

The cost for the provender for the assembled guests comes to 4,000Gal. I have not included labor, etc, as the Elves despite their despair yesterday consider it all in good fun today. Hogwarts appreciates your timely reimbursement, as we have no more budget from which to purchase said necessities, and the home farm is similarly depleted. I am sure you understand, as we do have to feed the children for three more months and you've quite exhausted our stores of staples as well as luxuries.

Yours sincerely,

Horace Slughorn
Deputy Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

*floo call opened*

Well, what's the trouble? Tippy tells me there's a hullabaloo?

By now you all know that Minerva has most wonderfully returned to us. She has graciously agreed to take on First and Second Year Transfiguration beginning the coming Monday, March 9. I know everyone joins me in celebrating her return and will do his or her utmost to make her feel as if she had never left. But in doing so, I do hope everyone will use all consideration and refrain from inundating her with questions and problems in her first week back at work.

Welcome, Minerva. You have been very sorely missed.

And as a reminder, quarter day is fast approaching. As always, I appreciate the timely return of all necessary forms.

*a knock and the door opening*

Good afternoon, Minerva! How are you this fine day? Pomona said you wished to speak with me?

*floo call opened*

Hello? Is Nymphadora there?

Dear Professor Dolohov-Snape

I realise that love's young dream is a wonderful thing, but one has responsibilities as well. And as you are a professor at Hogwarts as indicated by your title, it behooves one to appear at one's classes. Or, if that is not possible, to send notice of one's necessary and unfortunate absence.

I shall remain silent upon your absence this weekend, as my friend and I were able to remain in at Hogwarts and thus, while discommoded, managed to enjoy ourselves very well despite the curtailment of our plans.

Really, Marcellus. I did not expect this of you. I am most disappointed.


Horace Slughorn

Deputy Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

My dear Remus,

I would be happy to assist you in any way. I presume you require the purgative as well? It's really quite simple, even Sirius could prepare it, but as you've asked for the former, the latter is simple enough to append. And I have ready access to all the necessary components.

You will need to advise me on the time of moon rise and set, so I may time the preparation properly. I will send the potions along to you via House Elf, to assure all care in their delivery.

Horace

My dear Remus,

I've reviewed the potions and I can see your concern. The first is what I would consider a very rough and ready sort of brew, a bludger instead of a snitch and lacking in subtlety. Reviewing the ingredients, however, and the process, I believe the warnings are in good faith and overall the potion is as safe as anything which contains such a large quantity of white arsenic. The potion base is a common variant of the Lorcas buffer, and creates a time delay effect. This both mitigates the toxicity of the overall potion while extending its full effectiveness from several minutes to several hours. This variant is a six hour version.

The second recipe is a stripped down variant of an extremely common purgative popular about 30 years ago. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, merely certain ingredients to improve the taste and its holding ability have been removed in an effort, it appears, to make the brewing simpler and to make the potion slightly more effective. There have been advancements in the area since, of course, but I hesitate to recommend an alternative as I am unsure regarding the potions interaction given your particular case.

Looking at the two and considering they are to be taken in tandem, my professional assessment is that the potions are safe enough for a person of generally sound constitution, without lycanthropy. The side effects listed are all well within the predictable range, and are consistent with moderate poisoning. That said, I doubt this 'cure' will be pleasant in the least. For a person without lycanthropy, my educated opinion is that this potion would do nothing, except result in a few very unpleasant days of cramps, intestinal distress, etc.. I regret to say I am insufficiently conversant with the effects of lycanthropy to predict whether the potion will effect a cure, however. All I can say is that I do not believe the potion would do you lasting harm if prepared and taken in the way stated, and followed by the purgative in good time. The final decision is, of course, yours. I do recommend that you have Poppy on call if you choose to go through with this purported cure, as she has a great deal more expertise dealing with illness and poisoning than the rest of us.

Do let me know if you have any other questions, lad. I'm glad to help and anything which might return your magic to you is of great concern to me.

Your friend,

Horace Slughorn

Ah, Professor Lovegood! A very good morning to you.

Are you off to enjoy the unexpectedly fine weather?