Headmasters Office

[Dark Storm]

The large office now held a new headmaster, guided by portraits by those who had held the position before him, he would accept visitors both student and teacher to provide advice, guidance and maybe even just someone to have a friendly chat with...

[Agamemnon]

Arthur White goes to the statue, says 'Lemon Drop', and unfortunately finds that the password is changed. He then actually schedules an appointment.

[Dark Storm]

James notices the attempt at entrance and smiles slightly to himself remembering Dumbledores fondness for sweets from when he was a students. Sighing he points at the staircase with his wand and casts a quick spell to open it up, hopefully before the man walked away...

[Agamemnon]

Arthur was walking away, but hearing the door quickly turned around and walked back in.
'Hello James, how go things here?'

[Dark Storm]

James stood as the man appeared at the top of the staircase, "Ahh, Professor White, it is nice to see you, please, take a seat." James gestured to a large luxurious armchair which stood in front of the wooden desk which dominated the room, "things are going well." he replied with a smile in response to the mans question, "I am preparing for our new intake of students, a very promising lot I must admit, the future of the Wizarding world. How go your preparations professor?"

[Agamemnon]

'Good. But that's what I came here about. You see, our textbooks are in terrible condition - most are missing multiple chapters! I've taken the liberty of searching for a shopkeeper that carries 'Potions and the Modern Wizard' and I found one. I've come to ask permission to replace our stock with either decent-quality copies of the same or perhaps a textbook written sometime in the last hundred years.'

[Dark Storm]

James nodded thoughtfully, "and what would be the cost of these new textbooks? How many would we need?"

[Agamemnon]

'Well, if we kept simply to one textbook/student, it would mean about 30 textbooks, and if we kept to the same book it would be 10 galleons each. So, we're looking at 300 Galleons. It's a fairly large amount of money, don't get me wrong - but I want to be able to provide a reasonably well-kept book to my students. If I have to, I'll buy them myself, but I figured I ought to ask you before replacing textbooks. Now, I'd really like to get 'The Magic Brew - The Quintessential Guide to All Potions, Concoctions, and Poisons', but it's the newest book and costs considerably more.'

OOC: This is entirely a plot thing I cooked up to have some RP to do, so don't think you actually like have a budget and need to do math. Unless, of course, you want to pretend you do.

[Dark Storm]

"Hmm," James thought sitting back in his chair, "best to get 35 if we're going for it, this is potions and students tend to get a little overexcited with the wolfsbane. A few spares wouldn't hurt. What's the nearest competitor to the Quintessential guide? Does the cost differ greatly?"

[Agamemnon]

'The nearest competitor, believe it or not, is Gilderoy Lockhart's "A Look at Potions - With Gilderoy Lockhart". It's about the same price, actually. I agree with getting 35 instead, but think that while the Guide would be great our best choice is to get more of the same - the Russian version is still used at Durmstrang, it ought to be fine.'

[Dark Storm]

"Lockhart? The teacher who lost his mind, when I was in my..." James stopped trying to recall the date "fifth or sixth year I think. I remember him, turned out to be a liar." James sighed, "I think we should stick with the Quintessential guide, be ahead of the...competition." He pulled out a quill and some parchment from one of the drawers in his desk, "Okay, maybe we could get a discount considering the cirumstances. Lets place a deposit for thirty-five of the books, and see how much we can get knocked of the price. I'm sure I could find an extra 300 galleons or so lying around the place that aren't being put to much use." He scrawled out the order on the parchment and signed it with the Hogwarts seal before handing it to the man, "the very best for our students, wouldn't you agree?"

[Agamemnon]

'Yes sir! At once, I shall correct the mail! But... what shall we do about the students who bought their own copy of Potions and the Modern Wizard? I can refund them, I suppose.

[Dark Storm]

James nodded his head, "we should advocate the students purchasing their own books, so that they may use them for out of class learning and revision, maybe we could refund half the money and only provide the books to others on loan. Lets say 1 galleon per year before they are then returned to us. The galleons gained will help us pay of the costs of those that bought their own and for the upkeep of the books." As an afterthought he added, "oh and any student who can't afford the books send them to me, i'll see if I can sort something out."

[Agamemnon]

'Alright, it will be done. I'll announce it when classes begin on Monday.'

[Dark Storm]

"Excellent." James smiled, "I am glad we could arrange something. Is there anything else professor?"

[Agamemnon]

'No, nothing at all, unless you need anything.'

[m_1512]

A patronus enters the room. It addresses the Headmaster in a silky voice.

Greetings to the Headmaster. I would like an appointment with you at the time of your convenience.

[Dark Storm]

James looked up from the book he was studying seemingly unsurprised by the sudden appearance, "Who am I speaking to?" he asks

[m_1512]

"Percival Black"

And the Patronus vanishes.

[PurePK999]

Steven opened the door and was the first to get to the Headmasters office