RP: Decisions, Decisions
Date: August 2, 1998
Time of Day: 10am
Characters: Minerva McGonagall, Ginny Weasley, Bertram Aubrey
Status: Public
Brief Summary: McGonagall conducts another unsatisfactory staff interview, chooses Ginny as Head Girl.
Professor McGonagall peered over his glasses at the nervous wizard seated across from her. He wore fine maroon robes and a dress tie, but otherwise had the appearance of someone who didn't dress up very often and didn't have much idea how to go about it. His tie was crooked, for one, and for another several hairs on the back of his head were sticking up. McGonagall did her best to suppress a Harumph at his shabby appearance. She turned her attention down to the piece of parchment on her desk.
"Bertram Aubrey. Sorted into Hufflepluff in 1971, graduated in 1978. Applying to the position of Transfiguration instructor." McGonagall looked up from Aubrey's curriculum vitae and looked directly at him. "Strange. I don't recall you having any particular fondness for Transfiguration in my classes. I suppose, though, that working in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office has improved your opinion of the discipline, hmm?"
"Oh, yes, of course!" Aubrey said quickly. "I've gotten a lot of practical experience, untransfiguring all sorts of things. Exploding toilet seats, biting tea cups--you name it, I've had to untransfigure it."
"Naturally," McGonagall said. "So you would say that your skills have improved considerably since you received these rather...regrettable N.E.W.T. results?"
Aubrey became indignant remark and said, "I'd hardly call 'Exceeds Expectations' on N.E.W.T.-level Transfigurations 'regrettable!' And yes, I'll have you know my skills have improved leaps and bounds since leaving Hogwarts!"
"Well, then," McGonagall interjected, "You wouldn't object to a simple test of your competence, would you?"
"Of course not," Aubrey replied.
"Very well then. I will now transform into a common housecat--you are familiar with the Animagus transformation, correct? You may use any tactic you can think of to get me to revert to human form. Ready?"
Without waiting for a reply, McGonagall turned into a tabby cat with her characteristic eye markings. She perched on the top of her desk and waited for Aubrey's counterspell. Aubrey rolled up the sleeves of his robes and pulled out his wand. He approached the tabby cat, sizing her up, and made a few comical practice gestures with his wand. Then, with a dramatic twirl, he raised his wand above his head, brought it down with a wide swing, and shouted, "Finite Incantatem!"
Professor McGonagall stared at the tip of his wand and remained, stubbornly, a cat.
Aubrey cursed beneath his breath, and then tried a series of countercharms before giving up in exasperation and collapsing in his chair. McGonagall turned back into her natural form and took a seat, unimpressed. "You'll note, Bertram, that the Animagus transformation is wandless and wordless. Finite Incantatem, as its name suggests, will only work to extinguish spells with spoken incantations. Furthermore, the Switching Spells you used are intended to transform one type of inanimate object into another, or to turn a currently inanimate object into a living one. They are ineffective on currently living beings. Also, even if you had used a Cross-Species Switch, the Animagus transformation is such that the caster's animal form is highly resistant to external transfiguration. A special spell dealing specifically with Animagi must be used. As competent as you surely are at transfiguring nonliving Muggle artifacts, Bertram, the fact of the matter is you are totally inexperienced with transfiguring living things and would therefore not be qualified to teach Transfiguration at the N.E.W.T. level. I am afraid I cannot give you the job."
Aubrey put his wand away and frowned. "All... all right then. Thank you for the opportunity," he muttered, leaving the Headmistress's office.
Now alone, Minerva turned to her growing to-do list. Harry Potter said he would be visiting Hogwarts to aid in the reconstruction. Also, there was one very important detail that McGonagall, in the midst of her busy schedule, had neglected entirely--informing the Head Boy and Head Girl of their appointment. She set off writing a letter immediately.
Dear Ginevra Weasley,
In light of your impressive academic achievement for the past six years, and especially considering your brave actions in defying the Carrows and at the Battle of Hogwarts, I am most pleased to inform you that you have been selected Hogwarts' Head Girl for the upcoming term. This is an ancient honor, one that I have full faith you will live up to.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress
It was a brief missive, but it would have to do. She attached the note to Euclid's leg, and away the owl went.