Tonks and Hermione were not pleased. Minerva could see that much written in their faces. Oh, but she loved torturing people. She knew all the students came into Hogwarts suspecting as much only to later mature and say that it was only part of her high-expectations personality, that she really was a good soul.

Whomever thought people went into the teaching profession without any desire to torture students was an idiot. She smiled inwardly, though the serious frown was still out and strong. "Tell me again, ladies, why you think that I should hire you to teach at Hogwarts."

Hermione forced a smile and attempted to look as professional as possible. "Because Snape suddenly realized how much he hates teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. He is considering training as a mediwizard."

She had told Severus to say that.

Tonks, without warning, pulled out a hankie and blew her nose. "I miss the little kids."

Hermione rolled her eyes, then focused her gaze on Minerva.

Maybe she was taking far too much pleasure in this. She sighed, hoping that might frighten the girl. "Miss Grangers, Mrs. Lupin... you have locked students in classrooms, teachers in classrooms, blew up a can of tomato soup in our teachers' lounge microwave, been tied up by second-year Gryffindors, smashed pumpkins..." She really needed a list. Of what else could she accuse the student teachers? "Prevented your cooperating professors from doing their required observations by terribly cruel spells..."

"We need the classrooms to ourselves in order to gain confidence in our own teaching!" Hermione nearly shouted. She scooted to the edge of her seat, hands clasped at her knees.

Tonks was still sniffing about missing the students. Good grief. Students were pests, keep away from them. Though that wouldn't sound professional to say aloud.

But that crying was getting annoying. Minerva pursed her lips together and glared– "the Look", that infamous stare that every teacher must master. "Mrs. Lupin, wasn't their a rumor about you and your husband..."

"That was only a rumor!" Tonks screeched, tossing her hankie across the room. "It never happened! He was only bringing me my lunch!"

Hermione's head fell into her hands. "Professor McGonagall, you have seen and observed both of us. You know that I would make an excellent professor at Hogwarts."

"And Mrs. Lupin wouldn't?"

"I refuse to speak of Tonks' capabilities."

Tonks jumped to her feet. "Then why am I ever here? If my fellow sufferer won't even support me, I'm out of here! I'm going to go hang out with the kids again!"

"Mrs. Lupin, I'm going to put a spell on you to keep you away from those students," Minerva said. She had heard the students talking about how much fun Tonks had been. She would be a wonderful asset to the school.

Tonks sat back down in her chair. "Well, excuse me for being pregnant," she muttered.

"Congratulations," Hermione muttered.

Well, the moodiness might just wear off. Tonks could probably teach a semester.

But now Hermione was back to begging. "Please, Professor McGonagall... you have seen my resume! You know you want to hire me!"

"I'll consider it," she snapped. "Now please leave my office."

Hermione, trying to look her calmest, left, followed by a once-more crying Tonks.

Minerva couldn't help but laugh as soon as the door was closed. She probably would hire them.

Why did the student teachers have to be so desperate? She would have thought the past experience would have sent them running.

The End!