Chapter 26: The Aftermath
"Your concern is noted, Dolores," McGonagall said curtly, not breaking stride. "Focus on your curriculum."
"McGonagall! I want to see the hooligan who assaulted my students!" Professor Flitwick squeaked, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by bristling anger. "Outrageous! I'll have him in detention until he graduates!"
They swept into the room, their eyes briefly passing over Elian and Luna sitting on a cot before fixing on the three unconscious Ravenclaw girls on the beds. Umbridge did shoot Elian a look of pure, venomous satisfaction before turning away with a smug sniff.
McGonagall and Flitwick's faces darkened further. This was worse than they'd heard.
"Which student?" Flitwick demanded, turning to a pale-looking Ravenclaw prefect. "Ethan, speak up! Who did this to my eagles?"
Professor McGonagall remained silent, but her sharp gaze landed on the same boy, awaiting an answer.
"It… it was Loony—Luna Lovegood," the prefect stammered, "and the new first-year, Elian Thorne."
He pointed a shaky finger across the room.
McGonagall and Flitwick turned. There, Elian was chuckling at something Luna had said, reaching out to ruffle her hair with obvious fondness. They looked for all the world like two friends sharing a private joke, not students awaiting disciplinary action.
Professor McGonagall's lips thinned to a severe line. Again. It seemed every spot of trouble this term had this particular boy at the centre of it. Harry and Ron had been almost subdued by comparison.
Professor Flitwick's face fell into an expression of profound disappointment. Elian. The talented, helpful boy he'd come to admire. Fighting in his common room?
"Mr. Thorne, Miss Lovegood," McGonagall's voice was like cracking ice. "A word. Merlin's beard, why does every report lately seem to include your name?"
Elian and Luna approached. Together, they explained the situation—the stolen shoes, the confrontation, the three-on-one intimidation, the spells cast at Luna's back. Their stories matched perfectly, told with a calm certainty that brooked no argument.
McGonagall and Flitwick exchanged a long, weary look. The facts were clear: bullying had escalated into a fight. Thankfully, Madam Pomfrey assured them the injuries were minor—bruises and a small bone crack that would mend by morning. No permanent harm.
Elian braced for severe punishment: expulsion, maybe, or months of detention.
Instead, after a brief, quiet consultation, Professor McGonagall announced her decision. "All parties involved in this… altercation… have shown a profound lack of judgment. For disturbing the peace and engaging in unauthorised duelling, fifty points will be deducted from each student involved."
Fifty points. A significant blow, split between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, but no further punishment. No detention. It was, in the grand scheme of Hogwarts mischief, a relatively light touch. Student scuffles over pranks were, unfortunately, not uncommon.
Elian felt a wave of relief so strong it left him lightheaded. He hadn't ruined everything.
As he and Luna were dismissed, Elian caught Umbridge's eye. She had been eerily silent throughout the proceedings, just watching, a small, unpleasant smile on her face. It was deeply unsettling. Why hadn't she pounced? But he pushed the thought away, too grateful for the outcome to dwell on the toad's odd behaviour.
Pulling Luna gently by the hand, he led her out of the hospital wing. His intervention had been reckless, but it had worked. He hoped the message was clear now: Luna Lovegood was not without friends, and those friends could be… problematic.
He didn't look back. He didn't see Umbridge's smile widen, her eyes glittering with opportunity seized.
Three days later, the wizarding world woke up to shocking headlines in the Daily Prophet.
(End of Chapter)
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