Curriculum Changes

On a normal evening, the Hogwarts Board gathers in their usual chambers. Arriving early is a stern, dark-haired witch with sharp features and gray eyes, Walburga Black. This is her second board meeting, but she still wished to convey a good impression to her fellow board members. She had yet to fully grasp the politics of those on the board and the various alliances between board members.

Walburga Black passes through a pair of great oak doors to with some dismay find she is not the first board member to arrive. She properly greets the formidable Japanese wizard, Izuki Sato. Mr. Sato is a solemn wizard with long sleek hair pulled into an elegant top knot. He gracefully returns the gesture causing his ornamental robes with Eastern embroidery techniques to softly rustle at his movement.

"Mr. Sato, my belated congratulations on the forthcoming birth of your fifth child," Walburga Black politely said.

Izuki Sato's expression softens for a moment. "My wife has already born me two sons and two daughters; I consider myself a fortune wizard. However, I still expectantly await the birth of my third son."

Raising his dark eyes, Izuki Sato responds in a similar fashion. "I also convey my belated congratulations to the Black family and their many forthcoming offspring."

Walburga Black flushes with great pride. Her niece, Narcissa had born a daughter, and her other niece, Andromeda will birth a daughter in late summer or early fall. Then there is cousin, Barty Crouch, who is having a second son after so many years. And there is the wife of their cousin, Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, who is carrying another male heir!

Although, there is the unexpected surprise of her sister-in-law, Druella, and her new husband, Alastor Moody. The family elders of their family had been positively scandalized by the pureblood couple's elopement. However, not long after the return of Druella and Moody from their honeymoon, Druella fell abruptly ill. Concerned, they had summoned a physician only that Druella had conceived during the couple's honeymoon.

The elders of the Black and Rosier family are positively thrilled at the unexpected, good news. Alastor Moody comes from a proud line of Auror's and the Moody's hold great power within the Ministry of Magic. Regardless of whether the child is male or female, this can only be good for the family.

Of course, Narcissa and Andromeda have mixed feelings. On one hand, they are happy their mother has found happiness. On the other, they don't know how to feel about their mother expecting their half-sibling. Their half-sibling will practically be their children's age! Surely, their mother is far too old to be giving them a sibling!

Walburga understood her nieces' feelings as she also shared mixed feelings about her brother's widow remarrying. However, Cygnus is long dead and Druella is still young enough to marry. And as clearly proven, Druella is fertile enough to bear a fourth child.

The loud sound of a walking stick echoes through the halls announcing the presence of Chairman Lucius Malfoy. Walburga tilts her head up proudly in a greeting of her niece's husband. A pale, elegant wizard with sleek, long, blond hair. The ever-stylish wizard sweeps in with his opera cloak fluttering dramatically behind him.

"Sato," Lucius Malfoy politely greeted the solemn board member, before turning to his in-law by marriage. "Black," he formally addressed her in an official capacity. Now is not the time to speak to his in-law informally.

"Chairman Malfoy," Walburga returned the formal greeting.

More board members arrive not surprised at seeing Chairman Malfoy early. It would appear that having Walburga Black is having a positive effect on the chairman. As such, the board members do not have any further complaints about the near late arrival of the chairman.

The last to arrive are the two friends, Maxwell Zheng and Leif Amundsen, both descents of ancient explorers. Maxwell Zheng, a wizard with almond-shaped eyes, dark hark hair and thin lips suppressed a smile at seeing they are the last ones to arrive. His friend, Leif Amundsen, a wizard with clear eyes, and wiry trimmed hair does no such thing, but rather loudly chuckles at the sight.

With everyone present, Lucius Malfoy commences the meeting. "Good evening, fellow members of the Hogwarts Board. We have much business to discuss."

"Ah, it would not be related to the incident in the Slytherin common room, now, would it?" Playfully inquired a beautiful, olive-skinned Spanish descendant witch, Francesca De Leon. The curved beauty purses her full lips while her gorgeous almond-like eyes sparkle with intelligence. "The parents of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw are most unhappy at the unfair advantage Slytherin possesses."

Leif Amundsen barely suppresses a loud snort while Maxwell Zheng barely stops himself from rolling his eyes. Sending his friend, a pointed look, Maxwell Zheng says, "That is hardly the fault of Slytherin. Each of the founders-built Hogwarts and their own house common rooms."

"Agreed," Frederick Livingstone firmly said, an older wizard with bushy brows and wild hair. "We cannot accommodate their parents' unnecessary demands for fairness in this instance."

"It is not as though it does not come with its disadvantages," Secundus Wilkes interjected, a dark-eyed middle-aged wizard with prematurely white hair. "The dungeons are ice cold like a frozen tundra in the middle of winter. There is a very good reason, why we all wear fur lined-cloaks and sleep with thick blankets during the harsh winters."

All the former Slytherins in the chamber nod their heads in agreement. The former Hufflepuffs nod their heads in understanding, while the former Ravenclaws and former Gryffindors look slightly dubious at the statement. Hogwarts is an ancient stone castle by default is always freezing during winter.

Leif Amundsen thoughtfully rubs his cleft chin with one hand. "Quite a few of the most vocal parents have requested the creation of a Mermish class. The addition of a Mermish professor could easily solve the problem and even offer in-class trips to the bottom of the lake. I am certain many of the students would greatly be in favor of exploring the lake."

There are murmurs throughout the chamber until Francesca De Leon carefully suggests a possible candidate to fulfill the position. "During my travels as a journeyman, I encountered a talented wizard by the name of Odine Ponce, a graduate of Castelbruxo."

"Yet there is some hesitation on your part, De Leon," Walburga Black shrewdly observed. "Why the reservation, De Leon? I implore you to be candid."

"Ponce is a mixed Brazilian wizard," Francesca De Leon carefully explained. "His mother is a witch and his father, a merman."

There is a burst of whispers at the pronouncement. Half-breeds are especially a delicate subject for purebloods. A part of the ancient past which a great many of them disliked discussing the unions that once commonly existed between witches and wizards and magical beings.