She met with the Slytherin Quidditch team first.
“That isn’t fair at all… You are punishing the whole house!” Tim clenched his fists and scowled openly at the headmistress.
“I am not, as you suggest, punishing all for the actions of a few… I am only punishing the Quidditch team. Every single member of the quidditch team was involved, were they not? Every single one of your wands cast a spell on that train car. The entire team participated, and therefore, the entire team is being punished. No one else in your house was involved, and no one else in the house is affected by your punishment.”
“But, Headmistress, the team... “ Tim grinded his knuckles into the desk, he was standing closest to the headmistress, the rest of the quidditch team stood behind him around her office. “... Everyone comes out for the games! It is so important…”
“They will have to make due watching the other houses at play. My decision is final. The Slytherin Quidditch team is suspended for the year.”
Tim frowned. “Do you know what they said about us?”
“Yes, and they are serving their detention this evening.” The headmistress remained cool and collected before the sour faced students.
“Wade over reacted, sure! Why don’t you just kick him off the team not the whole lot of us!”
“Mister Tessler. A team is not a collection of random individuals that take random independent actions. And a good leader protects his teammates rather than throw them under the hooves of a hippogriff.” The headmistress stood and met the eyes of a much taller student. “And a good leader does not only protect his team from outsiders, but from themselves.”
“Sod off!” The philosophy was lost on the angry boy, he stormed out of the office. Some of the others left quickly, close on the heals of their once-team-captain. Others hesitated. Some tried to get another word or two with the headmistress, but she would hear none of it. Zeva was the last to leave, her eyes stung as she glanced at the headmistress, but she left without saying anything.
The professor, once each student was gone, collapsed into her chair with a sigh.
“They’ll hang you for that.” Flitwick had appeared, though, Mcgonagall had not heard the door. The parents of Slytherin house were generally the most difficult to deal with and most meddlesome in school policies.
“Good.” She huffed, collecting herself and straightening her back. “If they are glad I’m gone then they will not look for me once I am.”
“And the first years… They are going into the Forbidden Forest tonight?” Flitwick, much too short for the chair anyhow, ignored it. He paced the office, inspecting books and trinkets on the many shelves of the office. “Don’t you think this is all a bit too harsh?”
Mcgonagall had taken out her quill and began to write letters. Well, she did not write letters with her hand. Instead, her quill began to move on it’s own accord across the parchment. “I have far too much to worry about this year. I want to send a clear message that I will not tolerate any more nonsense from anyone.” Her voice was sharp and impatient.
A long moment yawned between them. Then Flitwick said: “The students are not safe.”
“Professor Weasley and Cassandra are capable and I trust them completely. They are only taking a short walk through the safest paths in the forest, it is only meant to scare them you know this.”
“I don’t mean the forest, Minerva.”
Her quill stopped, the spell interrupted by distracting thoughts.
“Don’t you think it is a little late to voice that opinion? To regret our decisions?” She quipped. “We are nearly finished. Once we are finished everyone will be safe.”
“Indeed.” he turned away. If he was satisfied by her response it did not show in his old wrinkled face. He headed for the door.
“It is what he would have wanted.” She added quickly.
Flitwick paused. “As you say, it is too late for regrets. Far far too late.”
~~~
Charles Wesley and Cassandra Sylph stood in the yard waiting for the first year students as the sun was setting.
Charles was a professor at Hogwarts. He taught ‘Care of Magical Creatures.’ He was tall and handsome despite the scars on his face. Scars left there permanently by dark magic. Some said the scars made him more handsome, deepening his character. Like all Weasleys he was tall, limber, and had a thick locks of red hair.
Cassandra was the groundskeeper at Hogwarts. She was a small woman with a pale complexion and paler hair. She had round lilac eyes and her hair was cropped short around her overlarge ears.
Both were dressed for a trip into the woods. Pants, sturdy boots, Charles wore a thick belt and Cassandra donned a vest full of pockets. They both already had their wands ready.
“You all can call me ‘Charlie’.” The oldest Weasley announced. “That’s so you won’t mix me up with my Dad.” Arthur Weasley taught Muggle Studies.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Cass.” The woman waved. She was much younger than Charlie. She did not seem much older than the oldest students at Hogwarts. At a glance and under different circumstances she might have been mistaken for a 6th or 7th year.
“I think we are just waiting for Richard at this point.” Charlie conferred with Cass.
Moirah, late, waddled toward the group. Her face was red from running non-stop all the way from the Slytherin common room to here. "Did you hear? I just heard! They just told me... The headmistress... She... She... She forbid quidditch! I mean.. Just for us... for Slytherin! Slytherin quidditch is cancelled! Because of what happened on the train! There she banned us from even having a team!"
