Unexpected Summons (Adelaide)

The end of March looked promising, even if the ridiculous holiday of fools lurked just around the corner. The terminations of inept staff members had gone as smoothly as she could have hoped for, the board was impressed enough at her ability to streamline the process of education and had given her free reign to appoint staff members she believed would actually stay.

Of course, it was a test. Adelaide knew the game well, she was the board's scapegoat just as much as Andrei Kessler was hers. In big businesses, risk was minimized by placing the blame on one, easily dispensable pawn. The redhead had ceased being that pawn many years ago.

Of course, the free hand in staff appointments didn't mean Adelaide would suddenly become a bleeding heart who only thought of the children. No, she had to find candidates that married both the skill of good teaching with a crowd favorite, celebrity appeal. And Mycroft Holmes was fast becoming a name that inspired both. Which was why he had been asked to casually drop by her office.

The two way glass showed the young wizard's arrival, punctual, proper, everything she would expect from a Holmes breeding. This was already going better than expected. Putting away the folder marked "HOLMES, M", the headmistress spared a glance at the bookcase glass to ensure she looked presentable before calling out just loudly enough for her voice to carry outside to the waiting area.

"Please come in."

Ah, proper etiquette were a blessing bestowed upon the chosen few, and Mycroft Holmes was definitely one of the lucky ones. As he entered and greened her, Adelaide found a somewhat genuine note beneath her professional smile. "It does indeed," she replied, injecting just the right note of warmth in her tone to put him at ease. "Please, have a seat. How is your grandmother these days? I'm afraid I haven't run into her this season at all." The Goshawks knew the Holmes like all pureblood families knew each other - from a respectful and sometimes suspicious distance.

Should the younger wizard take a seat, Adelaide would continue. "I hear you've been quite busy lately with the ICWW conference coming up? Will you be attending alongside Kamren?" Adelaide had done her homework, everyone knew Mycroft was the unnamed right hand man the Minister did not have. If anyone in the UK would know as much about the Summit as the minister of Magic, it would be the respectful potioneer sitting across from her.

Once he had replied the redhead continued. "And I hope you're finding teaching to your liking. Personally it's not my cup of tea but it doesn't have to be for others to enjoy it and find fulfillment in the task." She knew his own sister was in his class, and for a moment, Adelaide idly wondered if that caused any drama in the Holmes household. Her own brother she could never imagine having a role in her formal education. Aside from being four years her junior, he was possibly the most irresponsible person she had ever known.

"Oh I did send an apology note to her for that," Adelaide clarified, looking appropriately sad at having missed the ball. truthfully her assistant had managed that but the redhead wasn't about to ruin the pleasantries by admitting it. "I'm afraid ever since taking on the role of Headmistress, I've had precious little time for social engagements. Even Harvey complains how less he gets to see me these days." That much was true, the work had piled up over the year and Adelaide had to fix a major problem in a limited time frame.

When he remained cryptic about the Summit, Adelaide knew not to push. After all, she wasn't looking for confidential information here, just an avenue of conversation that could segue into the reason for this meeting. Mycroft beat her to the punch however by inquiring it straight out. It seemed the young politician cared little for small talk. A pity really since the older witch had always found small talk to have its uses.

"Well, i did want to hear about how you were getting on," she clarified, letting him know he wasn't here under false pretenses. "When I first requested a potions substitute I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it but the feedback from your classes has been positive and most faculty members have a good opinion of you. I hope you'll forgive the inquiry on my part, comes with the job."

In fact, Adelaide had found out that despite his age, Mycroft excelled a what he did, including teaching. He wasn't exactly the warm friendly brand of celebrity teacher which was good. Adelaide needed an enforcer, someone who could discipline the children instead of encouraging them to be his friend. A proper educator.

"And I am very glad to hear you're enjoying yourself. Though i wonder, could you possibly see yourself doing this long term? Spending your days with children and playing an active role in shaping their minds?" There was the question that would decide the way this meeting could go. The redhead waited waited patiently, ensuring he understood there was no rush for an answer.

Adelaide took her time, letting him speak and air out his uncertainties. It was important after all, and conversations were more conducive to better overall results than mere orders. His frankness came only from a man who didn't need this job to maintain his way of life. The meeting with Andrei Kessler had gone very differently because he had needed something out of the negotiation. Mycroft was comfortable enough to consider his own qualification for the position he was being offered.

"I appreciate your frankness," the redhead admitted once he was finished, directing her clear emerald gaze to his. "And I hope you will permit me to be just as honest in return." Now came the time to reveal the mental process behind the decision to hire him, and Adelaide wanted to do Mycroft justice in the explanation.

"As I'm sure you're well aware, I am not a career teacher. Barring a few lectures at business schools around the world, I have never taught professionally, especially to children as young as our students here at Hogwarts." She paused, waiting for the information to permeate the room to an acceptable degree. "However, I do know that the times have changed since I was a student, even since you were a student, Mycroft." She paused, as if inviting him to argue the point. When he remained silent, she continued.

"Today, the only thing our students benefit from is coddling. Coddling by their parents, by their teachers and by their peers. And as a result, we have record numbers of students failing in their OWLs and NEWTs, we have thirteen and fourteen year old first years and eighteen year old sixth years, we have prefects who fail to graduate to the next year and in all honesty, Hogwarts is responsible for their shortcomings." In today's politically charged environment, semantics mattered more than good old fashioned tough love. How could teachers help a student correct their flaws when they were hardly allowed to point them out?

"These warm and nurturing teachers you speak of are the teachers who failed as disciplinarians, who do not blink an eye when a student is late to class or does not hand in homework, who look the other way when students are coughs out of bounds or engaged in illegal activities. Teachers who strive to become their pupils' friends rather than an authority figure that can strike the right amount of intimidation and willingness to impress in a student." In Adelaide's days, teachers struck pure terror in the hearts of the children, and as a result, everyone graduated, everyone had some form of achievement to show for themselves.

"So in short, I will not endorse another "don't call me professor" type teacher in this school. Instead, I would value someone who can enforce discipline, tradition, honor and the values of hard work as well as perseverance. These students may be coddled at home but they will be subjected to hard work here. And for that, I can think of no man better for the job than you, my dear boy."

"Well in that case," Adelaide beamed when the young wizard in front of her seemed to understand where she was coming from. She had expected no less from Mycroft Holmes but it nonetheless felt assuring to know beyond a doubt that they were on the same page. Soon, students would be molded as they were supposed to be, by the guiding hands of a strict teacher at an institute of education.

"I will inform the board of your decision forthwith, and see you return in September as our new permanent Potions Master." the words gave her a smug satisfaction. Finally, someone who met both the celebrity criteria the school often sought along with the firm hand it desperately needed.

"And the Head of Slytherin House." the last part was delivered as the prize it was. The redhead had anticipated her new hire would be most comfortable down in the dungeons he'd spent his own youth. "The paperwork will find you via owl in the summer. Have a look and sign it whenever you get the chance."

The polite niceties continued for a few moments before the meeting was mutually called to an end. They were both busy people with a lot to do, and they were both very aware of that.