Filch stopped his attentions to Mrs. Norris. "Headmaster...?"
Dumbledore knew, he now had the man's attention. "Argus, everyone knows you are not happy with your duties, and since you already spend a considerable time with discipline anyways, this will be your full-time job now. This has the advantage that you don't want the goodwill of the students anyway and you get into a position of authority. All punishments outside of detentions will be your responsibility and don't worry about them hexing you, we have prepared something."
"Headmaster, I don't know what to say..." For Filch as a squib to get into such a position of power over magical students was almost surreal. "What kind of punishments are we talking about?"
"Oh, I let myself inspire; some of it is constructive, some simply exists to show the malefactors the error of their ways. One of the harsher ones for example is cleaning the great staircase with a toothbrush for several hours." He knew he got the man hooked when seeing the look of anticipation.
"This is not the only disciplinary problem that will be addressed," McGonagall said. "It has become depressingly common for girls to enter the boys' dormitories." Seeing Flitwick, Sprout and even Snape nod in agreement, she continued "Therefore, from now on the same measures will be used for the dormitories of both genders in all houses, to keep the respective other gender out, plus a little extra to drive the point home."
"Good, this misuse of the trust that was given to the girls to not do it caused countless problems," Professor Sprout remarked, remembering numerous incidents where she had to shoo girls out of the boys' dormitories of Hufflepuff House.
"Well, they certainly will find other places to do what teenagers do. I don't have to remind everyone present of these incidents over the past years when the unexpected results hit them?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
No one answered, as they all knew what was meant. Over the course of the past five years, three girls managed to get pregnant due to blatantly ignoring the rules and also foregoing any kind of protection. That of course did result in the school being forced to expel these girls and the boys who did the deed, if they didn't leave on their own. These were affairs quite damaging to everyone involved - including the school itself.
"Headmaster, with your permission I would take it upon myself to show the students not only why they should be careful and how to prevent 'accidents', but also how these things work. Clearly, their families neglected to tell them these things. Now, normally I should only do this for the third years, but I think this year the older years need a refresher as well," Madame Pomfrey offered.
No one commented when the Headmaster gave his approval. After all, the school nurse would give sex ed and there was nothing to add to that.
"Another change I had to fight for are the new uniforms the students are going wear starting the next school year. I was a bit shocked how some of the bigger schools had abandoned robes some time ago. There also is the fact that a growing part of the student population is openly disliking them. Take a look at the new uniforms." The Headmaster used his wand to conjure the image of two generic students, a boy and a girl, wearing the new uniforms, which hovered above the table.
"You know that these uniforms will be met with the dislike of the pure-blood faction, don't you?" Snape commented, noting the great similarities to Muggle school uniforms. Even he had to admit they were tastefully tailored.
(Ed. Note: These are the movie uniforms from PoA onward, which you should know, only that instead of robes, the students have actual jackets they wear.)
"I know, but change never comes without its problems. The notifications about the change in uniform have already been sent to the parents of our students. We tried to be practical, while the uniforms of Beauxbatons are more tailored to impress others." The picture vanished. "Now however, we have to address the various subjects. Since Astronomy already has been discussed, we start with Divination."
"I do not see what is wrong with me teaching students the ways of the future," Professor Trelawney defended herself after having stayed silent the entire time. She looked especially offended when noticing some other other teachers barely holding back clearly biting comments.
"Sadly, Sybill, the students see that differently. The number of students choosing Divination as an elective is falling and you have a growing number of students leaving your subject. The reputation of the subject under you is not the best," the Headmaster informed her.
Now Trelawney really looked offended. "It is not my fault that they lack the inner sight or openness required."
"I won't cast judgment on you, but the Board sees it differently. They did listen to the complaints of former students about your subject and used me trying to improve Hogwarts to give me an ultimatum. Either the quality of your teaching does improve, or they will remove you. I sadly had to give them that power in order to reach my other objectives," Dumbledore explained to her.
Trelawney's eyes widened behind her thick glasses and she became paler than she already was. Her gift was the only thing she had to herself, otherwise she was a rather mediocre witch with no special talents. Add her alcoholism to it, and it became clear that applying for teaching Divination at Hogwarts had been a final attempt to achieve anything in her life. She had felt very secure in her position, but now it felt like the rug had been pulled from under her.
Deflating, she took off her thick glasses and gave the Headmaster a pleading look. "Please! How can I...?"
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