in the headmaster's office :
Gemma and Damian are standing in front of Albus Dumbledore. The professors are also gathered in the headmaster's office because of what happened in the duel.
Gemma violated more than the duel rules. She violated strict school rules that aren't broken in a decade at least not openly and seen by professors.
All of them have serious expressions as many students recorded this duel and even broadcasted it live in the Hogwarts forum. By now, even the most hated news reporter, Rita Skeeter must have caught the wind of this too.
Thinking about the consequences brought from this duel, the professors and the headmaster all have a headache as they're going to deal with many complaints, howlers, political conspiracied and even need to give an explanation to the hypocritical board of directors.
" Miss Fawley, do you have any words to defend yourself for not breaking the rules but also using forbidden dark magic in Hogwarts ", Dumbledore asked.
He eyed Damian too. At least Damian stayed calm and only used legal spells and never revealed his obscurus. That would have been a huge headache for him. He had gone through too much trouble to conceal Damian's obscurus. He hid it from the minister, erased memories of some of the staff in St. Mungo's.
Fortunately for him, the aurors who discovered Damian belongs to Order of phoenix and with his words, they completely concealed the fact an obscurus appeared. Or else if someone were to know Damian is an obscurus, it would have caused so much trouble for him.
Nevertheless, he felt Damian is going on a path of no return until today. He saw even though, Damian studied his and Grindelwald's notes, he never used even one dark spell in the duel. This made him feel there is still hope for Damian. The boy can be a little extreme sometimes because of his situation and the vengeance in his heart. But he is still a boy who can be guided not to mention his short life.
Gemma's words though pulled him out of his thoughts," I did this to defend the honour of my house. I apologise for doing this, but I have no way out. Losing the honour of my house already gave me no way out. I plead guilty and ready to face punishment ", but her eyes say a different story. They didn't look like she is pleading at all.
Her looks say,' I dare you to do it ', the professors looked at Dumbledore. Snape's expression is completely nuetral. Without waiting for Dumbledore he suggested," Headmaster, I think with Miss Fawley's pleading we can be lenient on her punishment. A week of detention, a letter of apology, paying back twice the damage for her reckless damage of school property and some compensation to Mr Knight will suffice this. This can be in best in interest with everyone. And additionally, we can prevent the board from using this excuse to cut the funding and even get more ".
Dumbledore turned to other professors. Their expression said they didn't look happy at all. But there is nothing they can do for now. The board has the power to control funding to school. Except that they also carried power to assign and terminate staff of Hogwarts. Fortunately for Dumbledore some of them are on his side.
Unfortunately for him, some of them are former death eaters and also biggest funders to Hogwarts. They need to tread carefully here. After much thought and discussion with other professors, they agreed on Snape's suggestion which brought mocking smile from Gemma. She turned to Damian and silently spoke,' this isn't over yet '.
Damian looked at her with an expressionless face and didn't react to her words. He now understood the power and wealth these so called purebloods got in the school and in wizarding world. To the extent where even Albus Dumbledore needs to have second thoughts while punishing a student of this faction.
Moreover, he heard these families monopolised some businesses in wizarding world. So he needs to tread carefully in this path. But he isn't afraid, why would he? If he loses, he will die. In his eyes, death is a relief but his concern lies if this death comes before he can take vengeance or after he takes vengeance.
After few words of reprimand and letting Gemma write an apology letter, they let her go. Damian can ask her a compensation he desires as long as it's not too much in Gemma's eyes. Snape turned to Damian and said," your impulsiveness also lead to this situation. Your detention will be increased to a week too ".
Snape said while other professors cast a dissatisfied gaze at him. But there is nothing he can do, to appease those pureblood lunatics, he needs to punish Damian. Only this way, the situation won't get worsened.
Dumbledore took a deep breath and said," all professors leave us alone for a minute ", the professors turned to Damian before leaving the office. Dumbledore said," you already enough trouble for now Damian. I would appreciate it if you don't cause any trouble and fights for now. The duel is already enough to give us all a headache ".
Damian said," I only defended myself professor. I never attacked anyone without them taking the initiative. As I promised, I will not attack anyone without them making a move first. If I stop defending myself, I'll only make the situation worse. But you can be rest assured, for now, I also planned to lay low ".
Dumbledore said," do you resent me for not taking action against her? ", Damian said," no if anything, I'm still grateful for what you did for me. I understand your troubles, you need to run a school and face some people with power and wealth. I understand if you can't take action because of your responsibilities as headmaster ".
Dumbledore cast a nostalgic gaze towards Damian and said," thanks for understanding Damian. I want to ask something ".
Damina nodded while Dumbledore asked," did you join Roseir's faction because she promised power or wealth. Or did you join her faction because she offered you some information you needed? I can assure you, she doesn't completely know about you, at least the part where you awakened that power. She only knows that your magic riot caused the wizards to explode as I spread that lie to cover you. But be careful around her. You can never truly trust a Rosier, especially when she is groomed to be the heir by someone who is in charge of a former Dark Lord's army ".
Damian nodded. He knew about Grindelwald and his subordinates from Aberforth. That's why he only agreed to help for one year and rejected following her orders.