Discussion of Terms Ⅱ

Walburga Black was far from being the only board member with suspicions. The atmosphere is pensive and less strained after Leif Amundsen's remarks. 

Phillip Relec curled his lips in a sneer, but even he was not stupid enough to continue to protest. He had other avenues to prevent the appearance of the serpent. He knew without a doubt that it had been a deliberate, calculated move by Reginald Prince since Lucius Malfoy showed no reaction to the news. It was openly known that Lucius Malfoy was the godfather of Rodrigo Prince, the son born to Georgine Prince out of wedlock, who happened to be Reginald Prince's unwed younger sister.

At the thought of Georgine Prince's child born out of wedlock, Phillip Relec privately disdained the chit. Standards were simply falling everywhere. What was the world coming to?

Phillip Relec withheld from openly glowering at Lucius Malfoy considering Malfoy's position as Chairman of the Board. Yet if there had been any doubt before that Reginald Prince and Lucius Malfoy were allies, there no longer was. The alliance between the Malfoy's and the Prince's had been cemented. It was impossible to argue otherwise.

Phillip Relec held no interest in understanding the intentions of Reginald Prince except to foil the nefarious plan of the old Prince. He folds his arms over his chest and arrogantly frowns at everyone. Though unintentionally, he meets the gaze of a balding, portly wizard with a wide smirk on his face, Earl Porter. Phillip Relec can only sneer in Earl Porter's direction. He refused to submit to the whims of the progressives.

Retaking control of the meeting, Lucius Malfoy loudly clears his throat, before speaking, "Though an enlightening discussion, Master Linnaeus, it was hardly pertinent to the agenda this evening."

Master Linnaeus does not hide his amusement but rather arches his brow at the younger wizard, Lucius Malfoy. Master Linnaeus had known the young man's father, Abraxas Malfoy, and frankly did not think much of the old coot. However, he would bide his tongue and be civil to the young man, who was not at fault for his father's sins.

With the attention of the board fully returned to Chairman Malfoy, "Firstly," he glances pointedly at the beautiful witch, Francesca De Leon to remain silent and not interrupt. Francesca De Leon innocently bats her eyes at Lucius Malfoy causing him to feel further disgruntled.

"-Ondine Ponce has agreed to the offered terms of employment contract for the position of the new Mermish Professor at Hogwarts. Furthermore, he has also agreed to arrive early prior to the commencement of the term to aid in preparing the new Mermish course and in making the Chamber of Secrets habitable."

Every board member is attentive to the words, Chamber of Secrets. They intently wait with bated breaths for the following words of Chairman Malfoy. Even the purebloods were ecstatic at the news, while the rest were the same for various sorts of reasons.

Walburga Black blinks her gray eyes slowly in a thoughtful manner. The proposal is good and will be a wonderful addition to Hogwarts. Though the idea of a half-breed teaching Mermish still offended her inner sensibilities.

 With the attention of the entire room on him, Lucius Malfoy ignores the topic that is on everyone's mind. "As you well know, Professor Mortimer took over as the Head of Slytherin and requested the aid of an assistant professor. I am pleased to announce that Fleamont Potter has also accepted the offered terms of employment for the position of Assistant Potion Professor."

Earl Porter sends a smug smile at Frederick Livingstone, who pointedly turns his face away from the smug old fart! Frederick Livingstone had better things to do than to pay attention to such annoyance. Earl Porter's self-satisfied shuffles in his seat causing his pudgy bulk to wobble like gelatin at the abrupt movement.

Not that Lucius Malfoy would admit to relishing in having the attention of others, he importantly continues, "As you all well know, the intent for the newly discovered Chamber of Secret is to be used for recreational purposes such as an indoor Quidditch pitch, but also to house rare plants or potion ingredients that require a more climate-controlled setting. Furthermore, the mermish learning classroom will be housed there as well. There will also be ready access to a portion of the underground lake which shall be used as part of the mermish in-class activities."

Lucius Malfoy paused and warily emphasized the following, "There will be ample male and female changing rooms in separate corners of the chamber. With carefully crafted wards to ensure that no curious or harmful voyeurism can take place and to ensure that the facilities cannot be broken into for other nefarious purposes. The changing rooms will be locked immediately after class except for the use of other academic activities such as swimming lessons that are part of the Physical Education curriculum or possible future club activities. Further amenities may be added in time, but these are the initial plans to immediately commence with."

Several of the board members exchange knowing glances. With pubescent rampant youngsters running about more than one embarrassing incident had occurred. Why just recently this past year a half-blood Gryffindor had impregnated a Slytherin pureblooded lady! And everyone remembered the 1918 scandal that occurred between a professor and a student! It was better to be cautious than not at all!

Various board members applaud the announcement with Lucius Malfoy basking in their praise. Not that he would ever admit it, but it greatly appealed to his inner vanity. Finally, he gestures for them to stop, before his lips press into a thin line at the next subject. "Master Linnaeus, I was informed by the former headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, that you had personally hired a parselmouth to ensure the safety of the Chamber of Secrets, is that statement, correct?"

"That is correct, Chairman Malfoy," Master Linnaeus steadfastly answered. "I hired the services of a well-known acquaintance, who I had the opportunity to be introduced to over a decade ago at the International Potion Guild Conference held in Mumbai, India."

"Vaibhav Marwah," Master Linnaeus respectfully said, "is a well-known parselmouth in that part of the world. He is honored for his knowledge in plant botany as a botanist and unmatched talent in extracting poison from venomous serpents both magical and non-magical and specializes in parselmouth magic."

"Barbarians," Phillip Relec muttered under his breath in disdain. It is a well-known fact that the Hindus people lack a moral scale. They are savages even to this day.

 Unconsciously Phillip Relec caught the eye of the Japanese wizard, Izuki Sato. Izuki's long hair is pulled into a sleek top knot that is masculine considering his length of hair. Yet it was his frigid almond-shaped eyes that gave Phillip Relec pause. He couldn't move even if he wanted to until Izuki Sato blinked, and the spell was broken.

Cold sweat appeared on the back of Phillip Relec's neck as he tried not to shiver. Sato should not be a legilimens as far as he knew yet his gaze was eerily hypnotic. Neither did he feel his occlumency shields being broken through by legilimency. Yet he could not forget the feeling of being frozen stiff, unable to move like prey being cornered by a predator. 

Phillip Relec wisely kept his gaze firmly down for the rest of the meeting to the vast amusement of Earl Porter. Izuki Sato was not troubled by Phillip Relec for the rest of the board meeting. Yet only a few noticed that the corners of Izuki Sato's lips were tilted upward in satisfaction. 

Izuki Sato was a handsome enough wizard in his own way, but not enchanting like those descended from Veela's. However, his many great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmothers had been an enchanting Kitsune, (a fox demon, a yōkai). Unlike those descended from Veela's, the abilities of those descended from a Kitsune were much more subtle and useful.