Down towards the rear compartments of the train, Ron was moping.
He was very relieved he was no longer at Aunt Muriel's. However, he only found out Harry and Hermione would not be on the train when he arrived at the platform. The twins told him. He had to promise he'd apologise to 'them', but they weren't here to apologise to.
After sitting for half an hour he realised sitting in the compartment on his own was stupid. So, went looking for who else was on the train.
He found Dean and Seamus sitting in a compartment with two girls from Hufflepuff and asked to join them. The two boys seemed reticent, but the two 'Puffs allowed it.
Feeling grateful - not an emotion he was used to - he took a seat and said, "Thank you."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After a short lunch, Dumbledore returned to his office apartment and collected the information Marchbanks had demanded of him. Then made his way to her office. He knew he was going to be a couple minutes late, but didn't care. It was time he started regaining his rightful authority; even if it meant taking little progressive steps to get there.
At two minutes past 1.00pm he approached the gargoyle. He was about to inform it he was there when the gargoyle simply stepped to the side to give him access. With a sigh of annoyance, he made his way up the stairs and, as usual of late, didn't even bother to knock on the door before letting himself in; as if it was his right to do so.
Marchbanks was sitting at her desk, but she wasn't alone. Sitting before her desk was another man. One Dumbledore did not recognise.
On seeing him, Dumbledore stopped just inside the door. He looked at the man, who had now turned to look back and realised he didn't recognise him.
With a frown on his face, he turned back to Marchbanks and said, "I believe I had an appointment with you for 1.00pm, Headmistress Marchbanks."
"You do, Albus," she said. "Since you've rudely let yourself in before knocking - a bad habit you've developed of late - you'd best come forward and take a seat."
Frowning even deeper, Dumbledore walked forward and took the second, vacant, chair slightly apart from the other man.
As soon as he sat and before he could say anything, Marchbanks held out her off hand, palm up, and said, "I believe you have something for me?" And flicked her hand in a 'hand it over' gesture.
Dumbledore, his mind on trying to figure out who the other man could be, almost unconsciously handed her his files.
As soon as she had them she put them down before her on her desk blotter and began to go through them.
Annoyed, Dumbledore said, "Aren't you going to introduce us, Gri... errr... Headmistress?"
"In a moment," she muttered.
A few moments later she'd scanned through the files and gave a small grunt of satisfaction, before closing them again and putting her hands on them.
Looking up at Dumbledore she said, "Albus..." She then gave a nod to the other man, who was still carefully watching him back, "... This is Professor Jonathan Biffingwater. He comes to us by way of recently being a professor at a day school for magic on the west coast of magical America."
She gave that a moment to sink in as Dumbledore only deigned to give a slight nod to the man. Biffingwater only cocked an eyebrow back and smirked. He saw the brush off for what it was and clearly didn't care.
Giving her own snort of amusement at the disrespect, Marchbanks simply said, "Starting today, Professor Biffingwater is the new Hogwarts Professor of Transfiguration." It was not hard to hear the satisfaction in her voice when she said that.
From looking almost surreptitiously at Biffingwater, Dumbledore's head snapped back to stare at her in shock.
"Yes, Albus," she almost snarked. "It means you're fired. The School Board gave me permission to fire you a couple weeks back. However, I wanted to make sure John, here, had arrived before I did so."
As Dumbledore sat there, still shocked... stunned... even appalled... Marchbanks went on to say, "You'll find you've been paid until the end of the week, as per the requirements of your tenure-ship contract. However, your services are no longer required and I'm demanding of you to be out of the castle by 4.00pm, this afternoon."
He gaped for a few more seconds before he said, "I have tenure―"
She was quick to cut him off. "Had tenure, Albus. I warned you, some time ago, I believed I had sufficient cause to void your tenure. The School Board agreed.
"I trust you not to make a scene as you pack your personal effects and vacate the castle. However, if you're not gone by 4.00pm, you'll be rudely ejected from the castle and grounds.
"That will be all, Albus. Thank you."
Angrily, Dumbledore surged to his feet and glared back. "You haven't heard the end of this!" he snarled, before spinning about and storming from the room. Both watched him as he walked out, ready for him to try something.
As he walked out the door, Marchbanks banished the door shut and warded it.
Once the door closed, Biffingwater turned back to Marchbanks and said, "Unpleasant fellow. And, what's with the colours?"
Marchbanks gave a quiet snort and replied, "An... affectation, I believe. Otherwise, I'd have to suspect the man of being completely colour blind."
"I hope that's not the standard of dress I can expect from other members of staff?" he asked.
"No," she replied. "I trust you received the dress standards document I sent you?"
"I did," he replied. "It is very similar to the dress standards of the school at which I recently taught. However, the wearing of robes is something new."
"You have them, though?" she asked.
"I do," he smiled. "Madam Malkin was most helpful."
She gave a nod and smile back. Then handed him the files Dumbledore had handed her only a few minutes earlier. "You'll get used to it."
After accepting the files and taking them under his off arm, Biffingwater stood and gave her a slight bow. "I shall see if Mister Dumbledore's programs are workable, or not. Either way, however, I shall be ready to teach by first class tomorrow."
"Thank you, John," she said. "Don't forget; you need to be in the Great Hall for the evening meal and announcements by no later than 7.15pm. I'd prefer you there a little earlier, if you can manage it."
He gave her another bow as a head nod and said, "As you wish, Headmistress."
He then turned and walked out as Marchbanks removed the security charm on the door.
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