InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Elephant in the room!"

in_the_grass (in_the_grass) wrote in wished,
@ 2010-06-27 21:10:00

Entry tags:

!2003: 06, !incomplete, neville longbottom, severus snape

Who: Severus and Neville
What: Discussing the terms of Neville's employment
Where: Hogwarts, Headmaster's office
When: Today
Warnings/Rating: TBA/Low

Severus made the necessary adjustments to the fireplace, and went back to his desk. He didn't care to have anyone traipsing into his office through the Floo, and would certainly block all access again as soon as he was finished, but this was a meeting he wanted to get out of the way as quickly as possible. He didn't like the thought that someone might think he was doing them a favor, presenting a gift - didn't want to have to face down Longbottom trying to be grateful (if he was stupid enough to think that being Head of House, particularly that House, was anything but a nuisance).

Severus had never liked the boy. But he was qualified, and had showed some loyalty, and wouldn't make for a bad professor - the students would probably be able to push him around far too much, but then, so would the Headmaster. It was better to have someone moderately annoying than a loose cannon. He shook his Goyle-related misgivings away and opened a portfolio on his desk, managing to look very busy indeed.

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greenthumb_nev
2010-06-28 01:32 am UTC (link)

Neville had closed the journal, and stepping towards his own fireplace, thrown in the green powder and spoke clearly.

"Hogwart's Headmaster's office."

He'd stepped in,and in what felt like only moments, stepped out to find himself in the office. Severus Snape sat at his desk, and Neville raised his wand and quickly cast a cleansing spell so as not to leave ash on the man's floor.

"Severus," he said as he moved to step forward, "I mean, Sir. You requested I come?" he asked, trying not to let his voice show his nervousness. Neville took a quick breath and let his shoulders roll back slightly and drop, raising him up to his full height and giving him more confidence. His eyes lifted to meet Severus's, and he felt an inner calm come over him, sort of like looking into the mouth of a storm.

"You wanted to meet with me and I am happy to oblige you," he added. There were questions he wanted to ask but he made himself wait, to be silent so he could hear Snape's reason for the quick meeting.

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in_the_grass
2010-06-28 01:49 am UTC (link)

Severus' quill scratched. Severus, indeed. He glared up at Neville as though he had just burst in uninvited, and crossed his arms over his desk. "Sit down," he said, doing his best to convey how little like a request it had been. Longbottom still had the sense to give him his honorific, and it would be best if he kept it.

"Gryffindor finds itself - once again - without a Head of House." He leaned back in his chair, indulging in a small, unpleasant smile. "Curious, how the - brave at heart, isn't it? - seem to want for staying power. Since I've yet to find one who can last more than a year, I'm afraid I have no choice but to appoint you. The position does come with a slight increase in salary, but I assure you it isn't worth it."

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greenthumb_nev
2010-06-28 02:18 am UTC (link)

Neville took a seat and he crossed his leg over his knee, and noted he had mud on his pants, again. He brushed at it with his hand as a way to absorb some of his nervousness and he immediately stopped as he heard Snape's words.

Head of House.

Bigger salary

But it was the first that really caught his attention, "You want..me...to be Gryffindor's Head of House?" he asked, disbelief spreading across his features, "But..but," and Neville found himself speechless for a moment, unable to articulate at first.

"Yes," he blurted out, and then he composed himself, "Of course my answer is yes. I'd be happy to take the position," and some shadow flickered over his face, "But there have been issues? Should I be worried? About any students in particular? Say, like the twins were?" he asked, starting to frown slightly as he thought about how much trouble they all had given Snape, in the day. But much of that resistance had been completely justified; they were at war, and doing what they could to help Harry, Ron and Hermione and fight against Voldemort. Why there might be House unrest was a bit puzzling to Neville.

"What kind of problems have arisen lately? I think I should know a bit about what I am getting into," and he paused and then said, with growing confidence, "So it can be addressed from day one of term."

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in_the_grass
2010-06-28 03:04 am UTC (link)

"Good,"he said immediately, relieved that he'd made his acceptance brief. "You know what's expected of you, I'm sure, but the official requirements are in writing, and probably haven't been removed from your predecessor's office. I'll be sure to see that you have them - and the disciplinary records." Severus had no doubt that a significant factor in the Gryffindor staffing problem was his own insistence that that House be brought to the same standards of behavior as all the others, a concept no alumnus seemed to be able to grasp - but the children were wretched too, by and large, and perhaps giving Longbottom a list would help him see it for what it was.

"I can't hope to become personally familiar with all of the behavioral problems, but there's a particular clique that really ought to be broken up. I'll highlight the names for you." There were five or six he could picture clearly, strutting around like they could walk on water. "They may not yet have approached the level of Messrs. Weasley, but unchecked I'm certain they'll grow into the same sort of menaces."

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greenthumb_nev
2010-06-28 05:16 am UTC (link)

Neville nodded, "I'll go there and do bit of reading," he said, even as he found himself feeling more comfortable, the notion Head of House running through his head, and he found his serious expression fading as a slight smirk replaced it.

"Oh? They can't be as bad as all that. I thought we left an indelible mark on things, that last year," he said, the smirk growing slightly, "And that was only because we had such large shoes to fill," and Neville knew, he just knew he was slightly baiting Severus Snape; he'd had a bit of practice at it back in the day. And it dawned on him that it might not be the very best way to befriend this older gruff man.

With a bit of a rush, Neville sat up from his leaning and added, "I'll review their cases. I'll become personally familiar with all of them so that they won't cause you much trouble. I can't promise that I'll be able to rein them in completely, but..," and Neville put out his hands, his palms flat, "I'll take care of it before they become too Weasleyish."

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in_the_grass
2010-06-29 01:17 am UTC (link)

Severus glared up at him, his mouth set in a dead line. Big shoes, Potter's enormous head, and all the rest of it - the way that boy had molded his little friends to pull his stunts even when he was off fumbling around hundreds of miles away was nothing that he cared to remember. "I haven't forgotten," he said a little dangerously, drumming his fingers on his desk. "It hasn't been so many years." Since you were staring at your toes stuttering, he didn't say.

"I suggest you do. I am not interested in continuing to pay out to anyone incapable of pushing that pack of arrogant hellions into line. If you want to last longer than your predecessors, you have your work cut out for you." He opened his portfolio again, fully intending to signal that the visit was at an end. "For a start," he concluded, "you might tell the famous Weasley brothers that the first time one of their ridiculous products passes the door, I will consider it a personal affront. And act accordingly."

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greenthumb_nev
2010-06-29 03:16 am UTC (link)

Neville looked up at Snape's tone, and swallowed slightly, "Of course you haven't forgotten, but there are no hard feelings, right? I mean, that last year...," and Neville let his voice trail off as he thought about the efforts they all had made to try to help Harry. He didn't regret any of it, not one bruise or sore limb or nose. Neville didn't feel as nervous as he remembered being so close to that damned snake, "I guess we both know there was a reason for some to rise to the occasion as it were," and he glanced down, "Even if it didn't save him in the end," and he looked up, "Harry I mean."

Neville sat back, and his tone was more serious, "But that's all in the past and there is no need for that kind of mischief and mayhem, not in the least. I'm going to take it seriously, and personally, if we have students from my House making your life hell," and he paused and added, "Now."

Neville could not hide the smirk that curled his lips, "I am not going to tell the Weasleys anything of the sort. Do you want me to throw down the gauntlet?! They get even a sniff of it and I expect they'll be passing out things worse than exploding snaps for free to Gryffs!"

Neville was still grinning but he shook his head, "I'm not interested in a new battle beginning, with any House. I thought we were striving to tear down those barriers, to some degree?" and his question was honest; he thought the sterio-types were changing to some small degree or at least the open hostilities. Those emotions were motivated by Voldemort, he thought, although he could be wrong. That notion of Pure-blood superiority still seemed to be lingering about.

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in_the_grass
2010-06-29 04:03 am UTC (link)

Severus wasn't surprised that Neville was incapable of taking a hint when it was dropped full on his head. "I accomplished what I set out to," he snapped. "Your regrets are your own concern." It was still enough to make him coil with anger, the only subject that could rile him to anything more than his usual petty needling. He hated it. It should have been dead by now, entirely dry and spent, and yet - there it was, lurking, all too easy even for the likes Longbottom to dredge up. "As are your students. Do with them what you like - I haven't the time to dictate to you how to manage your House."

He clenched one hand on the arm of his chair, behind his desk where it would go unseen. A moment later he was a little more himself; the fire had gone out of his eyes. He focused diligently on the prospect of a future flood of Weasley-stamped merchandise. Longbottom wasn't wrong. He would find his own way to deal with it, however. "There will always be rivalries, so long as students have parents - so long as we keep encouraging to rush at one another on broomsticks. I advise you not to waste your time trying to do away with a thousand years of tradition. It will not go over well." He paused. "If there's nothing else." He hadn't meant to lash out, and didn't care to open up any more old wounds. He could only take so much of that at a time.

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greenthumb_nev
2010-06-29 04:19 am UTC (link)

Neville was surprised at the snippy tone he got; he had expected some reaction but not that one, especially about his new charges from his House.

"Well, those kinds of rivalries make for good sportsmanship, and where would Hogwarts be without great games of Quidditch?" he said, as he caught the hint and rose suddenly and quickly, "I appreciate your suggestions, of course," he added as he took a step away from Snape's desk. Neville turned back to Severus, and extended his hand, "Thank you, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. But how should I address you? Professor Snape? Headmaster? Sir? I can tell Severus is not an option."

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in_the_grass
2010-06-29 05:11 am UTC (link)

Severus couldn't imagine why the world wouldn't be a much better place without Quidditch, but knew there was no reason to delve into that - he was quite alone in his opinions, he knew, and he was more than happy to leave Quidditch entirely to someone else.

He glanced at the proffered hand, inclined to ignore it entirely. Neither of them were here to be friendly; it hardly mattered to him whether anyone found him pleasant or not. But he stood after a moment, and took his hand briefly - only so as not to start yet another Gryffindor Head off on the wrong foot, he told himself, because Merlin knew it would only get harder and harder to find willing candidates. "It doesn't matter to me," he said, flat. Ten minutes ago he would have pounced on Sir, and he had no idea why he shouldn't - perhaps he was only being contrary. "I'm sure you'll find something to your liking. Good day."

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