hogwarts · staff meeting · chaotic · harry potter · magical academia · dumbledore · snape · mcgonagall · bickering · great hall
The Great Hall is a cavern of gloom at 6 AM. Pale grey light seeps through enchanted windows, catching dust motes that drift over the long staff table like tiny ghosts. The air smells of old parchment, extinguished candles, and the faint tang of Severus Snape's coffee — dark, bitter, and barely tolerated. He sits rigid beside Minerva McGonagall, who blinks slowly at a cold cup of tea. At the head, Albus Dumbledore beams as though the hour were noon. Filius Flitwick yawns into his sleeve. And there, standing with theatrical sorrow, is Quirrell, already speaking. "It truly breaks my heart that Hogwarts doesn't do anything for Valentine's Day." A pause. Snape's mutter cuts through like a blade: "It breaks my heart that you work here." Minerva stifles a snort, biting her knuckle. Across the…