Douglas set down his insulated cup, stood up, and walked to the window.
Outside, the Black Lake gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
"Professor McGonagall," he said, "how many possible endings are there to this dispute now?"
McGonagall did not answer immediately.
Douglas turned around.
"The first route. The Board of Governors intervenes and demands that the teaching materials be withdrawn."
He raised one finger.
"But what authority does the Board of Governors have? Can they interfere with teaching content? No. What's the most they can do?"
"Remove Dumbledore."
Sirius spoke indistinctly through a mouthful of biscuit crumbs.
Dumbledore's eyes flickered.
"Oh, that would be rather interesting."
There was genuine curiosity in his voice as he said it, as though he were discussing someone else's fate.
At the same time, he seemed to be looking forward to it a little.
He even gave Douglas an inexplicable smile.
Douglas did not take the bait.
"But anyone with any sense can see that this has already grown beyond something that replacing a headmaster could settle.
"Delegations from four countries have observed the werewolf coming-of-age ceremony.
"The USA is negotiating a technology license.
"The Wizarding Examinations Authority's reform proposal has already passed.
"These teaching materials have become embedded in the bones of the entire education system."
He raised a second finger.
"The second route. The Wizengamot passes legislation overturning the current teaching materials policy."
"How many votes would that take?" McGonagall asked.
"A two-thirds majority."
Douglas looked at her.
"How many people has Ogden's side contacted in total? Twenty-odd. How many seats does the Wizengamot have altogether? One hundred and forty-three.
"Of those, Fudge can directly influence around forty.
"Dumbledore can influence around thirty.
"There are at least fifty in the middle."
"Two-thirds is ninety-five votes."
McGonagall calculated it quickly.
"Ogden can't muster that