In fact, the "battle" with the Board of Governors had ended two days earlier.
The reason he had delayed outside for another two days was that Amosta had made another trip to Paris.
When Rita Skeeter knocked on the office door, he was sitting at his desk reviewing a summary of the unexpected incidents that had occurred at Hogwarts during his absence.
Some of the problems had been expected, but the matter of Harry and the others following Severus into the Forbidden Forest and being punished by having to collect Potions Class materials there every night made Amosta smile in exasperation.
"Come in—"
Amosta stuffed the materials compiled by Filch into a drawer, composed his expression, and spoke.
"Wait here. I'll go talk to him—"
After a quiet instruction from outside the door, the office door was pushed open, and Rita Skeeter's heavily made-up face appeared in Amosta's sight.
"Ah, Amosta, it's been so long! Have your negotiations with the Board of Governors concluded?"
The moment she entered, Rita's face lit up with delight. She walked briskly toward Amosta.
Once she drew near, she seemed to want to give Amosta a hug, but when her gaze met the authority hidden beneath his calm smile, Rita reined in her exaggerated grin slightly and grabbed Amosta's hand, shaking it vigorously.
"Good evening, Rita."
Amosta nodded, smiling as he withdrew his hand.
"Your news is better than I expected. It seems you already know something about the situation?"
"I rushed over the moment I received your letter!"
Guided by Amosta to sit on the sofa, Rita fiddled with her stiff curls and said excitedly,
"Oh, I wouldn't call it being well-informed. This matter has already spread like wildfire. Lots of people know how the Board of Governors, at the Ministry of Magic's instigation,