there are consequences (tagged)

Professor Riddle had invited the Headmistress to his office in order to talk to some of the students of the school. There had been a lot of malicious activity recently, and the two had to address it before anyone thought they were getting away with it. Riddle himself may not have agreed to punishment in some of these cases, but it was something he was keeping solidly to himself. On the surface, he had to come across as an authoritarian of the school.

One of the punishments he had agreed to was concerning Ptolemy and Alayna, and the issue of their cruelty towards James Potter.

"Keep headstrong, Camille. I don't want you to get sucked in by these children. They can be very manipulative."

He offered her a smile, then turned to Cherry Darling who had helped them gather the students they were going to speak with.

"You can send through Mr Rowle and Miss Nott now," he told her, nodding.

@Camille Voclain @Cherry Darling @Alayna Nott @Ptolemy Rowle

If there was one aspect of her job Camille hated most, it was dishing out punishments. She understood the necessity of such a task, but it always pained her whenever she heard of students being horrible to each other. Why can't they just get along? She was always an optimist to her detriment.

Camille nodded as she tried to mentally prep herself for the students' explanations and pleas. "You're right, you're right..." And there was still the whole issue with Lien and Lilith to get to! At least they now know who got to the PA system so that book could finally close.

@Lochlan Riddle

Cherry wondered why she was chosen to round up the responsible students, but she supposed it had to do with how she was the most neutral out of her and Louis. Being more realistic about people's personalities helped too. Louis was such a sweetheart, but she figured he'd try to defend Ptolemy as he would anybody else.

She stepped out of the office and told the students waiting outside to come in.

@Alayna Nott @Ptolemy Rowle

Ptolemy was just as surprised as Alayna to be called to Professor Riddle's office, and the fact that the Headmistress was there too was a little dubious. Although he considered it might have something to do with Alayna going into the Slytherin dormitories a lot lately, he didn't think it could be about anything else. As far as he was concerned, he'd gotten away with the incident that had occurred a few weeks ago, when he had announced to the entire school about Potter's sexuality under the guise of Perdita. He thought it had been the perfect crime.

Taking hold of Alayna's hand, he guided her through to the office.

"Let's just get this over with so we can continue our evening together," he sighed.

Once inside, he took a seat opposite the two of them quietly.

@Alayna Nott

Alayna had no clue why she was called to Riddle's office. She was nervous. Maybe they had found out that Ptolemy and her had been sneaking each other into their dorm rooms. She could handle that, no problem. She held Ptolemy's hand as they walked to the office, "If I get in trouble Theodore's going to find out " that was all she could say. She was terrified of her father's wrath, even though she pretended not to be. She took a seat next to Ptolemy and just stayed silent, waiting for one of the adults to speak

@Ptolemy Rowle @Lochlan Riddle @Camille Voclain

"I expect he will."

There wasn't much sentiment in his voice. She only had herself to blame.

"Let me get straight to the point. We are under the impression that you - Rowle - are responsible for the incident during the Pre-Season Dance, where you had entered the staff room and used our loudspeaker system."

He paused to look between them.

"Let me elaborate on why we have come to that conclusion. There was a female voice that did the announcement, and then immediately afterwards, there was an imposter posing as myself leaving the staff room. This was confirmed by other staff members, and that I, myself, was no where near the staff room at that moment."

"If this were Polyjuice, then the person in question wouldn't have had enough time to change from female to me, Professor Riddle. The only person who would seem able to accomplish that feat would have Metamorphic powers. There is only one Metamorphmagus who is known to be close to Miss Nott - and that is you, Rowle."

"James Potter had confirmed that there was only one person he had told about his private matters. That was you, Alayna. So, following this, we must take action. You must understand that there are several rules that were broken: breaking into an area restricted for students, using the loudspeaker system without permission, impersonating a Professor and obvious, outright malicious behaviour against another student. For this, we have to punish both of you."

"For Alayna - you will receive detention held by myself. I will ensure that during this detention, you will spend your evening studying compassion and inclusivity. And for your role of Prefect - you have a warning. I only allow a certain amount of warnings before I take away your badge. So be very careful from now on."

He gave her a rather severe look.

"For Rowle, we have a much more serious punishment. For all of your actions, we have decided that you shall receive a suspension from evening leisure activities and attend detention for two weeks. During this time, you shall attend your detentions immediately after lessons are over. Then you will be escorted to the Great Hall by the teacher, monitored for your behaviour during this, then escorted to your dormitory where you shall remain for the entire evening. You may only leave in the mornings for breakfast and your morning lessons. You may not socialise in the common room, or anywhere else in the school. I shall notify all Prefects and teachers to ensure this is followed. If it isn't, then you shall reset your time: two weeks from that moment shall have to be carried out."

"You also will not be able to visit the village of Hogsmeade for the rest of this month, as an extra punishment. The Headmistress and I feel this is justified for your actions, so that you realise that this school is not your playground."

"I am disappointed in both of you. I expected you to ruddy well grow up and start acting your ages."

He glanced at Voclain.

"Is there anything you care to add, Headmistress?"

@Camille Voclain

As usual with any disciplinary meeting, Camille was and looked distraught. It was a miracle that she didn't burst into tears most of the time. She had to pull out a handkerchief at one point as Lochlan explained the measures they've chosen to the two students.

She stifled and sniffled enough to come off as better composed than expected.

"I'm very disappointed in the both of you. What were your reasons for being so cruel to your fellow classmates? Why did you think we'd excuse it?"

@Alayna Nott @Ptolemy Rowle

Alayna was genuinely surprised they had figured everything out. She was slightly impressed, or she would be if she weren't being punished, "Just because I was the only one he told doesn't mean I was the only one to know. Who else knows who knew he was closeted?" It was true. Maybe other people had known before hand. Compassion? Inclusivity? Was this a joke? She rolled her eyes and leaned back in the chair. This was such bullshit. She was pissed off when they gave Ptolemy his punishments, "So you mean I don't get to spend any time with my boyfriend for two weeks? That's so not fair!" No Hogsmeade for a month? What the hell? What kind of power trip was Riddle on? She looked at headmistress Voclain, "Honestly we didn't think you'd figure it out." She didn't care if they thought she was being rude or disrespectful at that time. She was pissed off.

@Ptolemy Rowle @Camille Voclain @Camille Voclain

Ptolemy merely smiled. Honestly, he thought he'd gotten off lightly, considering. Two weeks wasn't that long in retrospect.

"But it looks like they did figure it out. And you pretty much confirmed it, Alayna."

He hadn't really come up with an excuse, because he had expected to get away with it. Even if they had denied it, he doubted they would get away with it for much longer.

"Fine. I shall learn the error of my ways," he said airily, smirking.

Professor Riddle seemed to ignore Alayna's outbursts.

"This punishment is effective immediately. The Head Girl will escort you to your common room, and Jetson has been informed to ensure that you go to your dormitory. Alayna - I want you to stay here for now. There is something else we must discuss with you."

He rose his head to look and called for Cherry.

"Please escort Mr Rowle back to the Slytherin common room. When you return, send in Miss Lestrange. We should be done here by then."

@Cherry Darling

Cherry watched the entire exchange with her eyes focused on the clock. How many punishments were they planning on doing today anyway?

Nodding, she went near Ptolemy to escort him out of the office. "Don't even try to insult my weight..."

@Ptolemy Rowle

Alayna stayed in the chair, pouting as always. She raised an eyebrow when Riddle said for her to stay. She looked at Ptolemy and gave his hand a quick squeeze before he was escorted out, "What else do you need from me?" She asked, curious as to why she had to stay behind.

@Lochlan Riddle

"Let's just hurry up about this," he muttered to her, as they took off towards the dungeons.

"I need you to explain to me what happened that lead you to docking seventy-five house points from Ravenclaw house."

He looked briefly at Camille, before glancing back at her. This was the part he didn't agree with.

"What happened?"

@Alayna Nott

Alayna groaned slightly, that's what it was about? She had already gotten chewed out by cherry for this whole thing. "I may have over reacted. But Levi Copeland attacked me after Ptolemy did I tiny little langlock curse on the girl Potter. Who should also be being punished for breaking my nose! But he cast a throwback curse at me and when it failed he physically shoved me. So I took 50 points. And then Lukas Parkinson punched Jonah Ravencroft in the face. So I took another 25 points." It made sense in her head.

@Lochlan Riddle

"There are some of your peers that have expressed to me that they felt your decision was harsh. In future, I wish for you to come directly to the staff if others are acting in a manner you consider to be threatening. We shall deal with it accordingly."

Lochlan looked at her.

"For the time being, I urge you to only dock five or so points at a time. Leave it to the staff to decide on any further discipline."

He nodded to her.

"Very well, Miss Nott. If the Headmistress doesn't wish to add anything else, you may go back to Gryffindor tower."

@Camille Voclain @Alayna Nott

She was being treated like a child and she hated it. But she nodded as Professor Riddle spoke, "Sorry, Loch." She said with a slight smirk she had grown up running around Professor Riddle's manor with Mackenzie and Carina. She lost her first tooth at his house. But, Alayna still liked to play. She then looked at Professor Voclain and put on a face of innocence and regret, "I understand."

@Lochlan Riddle @Camille Voclain

"Very well, you can go. Tell Miss Lestrange to come in as you leave."

@Alayna Nott @Discordia Lestrange

It was slightly unusual to be called up to Professor Riddle's office, but it wouldn't have been the first or last time she was called to any office; her patterns of behavior had been well-noted, and it was only inevitable that she'd be reprimanded at some point. Discordia entered the office before Alayna had a chance to completely leave. She gave the two professors a blank look.

@Camille Voclain @Lochlan Riddle

"Discordia, do you know why your dorm mates have complained to me about feeling unsafe in their own quarters?"

He had a feeling that she would just continue to sit and stare at him when he asked that, so he moved on.

"They have expressed their unease because, apparently, you threaten them with sharp objects. This hasn't been the first time, and we received a complaint from Mr Chang that you had forcibly held him down and attempted some sort of violent extraction using a shiv. For this, I really cannot allow you free reign of the castle for the sake of others' safety. As these instances have all been attempts and no one has actually come to harm as of yet, you will be under the watchful eye of the faculty."

"Any shivs or sharp objects found on your person or inside of your dormitory, possessions, luggage, etcetera, shall be confiscated. We shall do a thorough search on you at any moment, so I cannot tell you when or how often these will happen. But they will happen regularly, I can assure you of that."

"I'm also assigning you to the school counsellor, and you shall receive detention for the week following the attempt on Mr Chang."

He looked at her.

"Have I made myself clear to you?"

@Discordia Lestrange

Discordia showed no emotional response as Professor Riddle lectured her on her wrongdoings and the consequences for her actions.

"I was only trying to fix him, dear professor..."

@Lochlan Riddle

"If you are found with anything of the sort in your possession, you may face suspension," he went on, ignoring her version of it. "You can return to your common room now. Send in Miss Potter."

@Discordia Lestrange @Lily Potter

She nodded and promptly left the room. Why must they interfere with her specialty?

"He said to go in, dear Potter..."

@Lily Potter

Lily didn't care that she was going to get in trouble. In her mind, it had all been worth it. When it was her turn to go into the office, she got up from her seat and went inside. She took a seat on the other side of the desk from Riddle and just looked at him, "I'm not sorry."

@Lochlan Riddle