Up and Down

Rooms and Doors

"I really ought to expel you all."

Anna looks down at the floor, looking suitably ashamed. Professor Weasley glowers down at them over her spectacles, her arms crossed.

"Running away for two weeks, without any supervision, travelling the Muggle world, not to mention, a kidnapping, really? I thought you knew better, Ms Visconti, Mr Gaunt."

Though it is a pretty grave situation it amuses her to no end that professor Weasley did not add Sebastian's name to that statement. It takes everything she has to keep her face straight.

"I'm sorry for this, professor. But I had to do it."

"You didn't have to do anything. It was a private, family matter. I understand you are close with Mr Sallow, but still! Ms Sallow's guardian was beside himself. It seems he was given a sleeping draught as well, your doing I assume."

"There wasn't a kidnapping, Anne came with us willingly to seek treatment uncle Solomon would never have agreed to!" Sebastian bursts, nearly vibrating with righteous indignation, "and it worked! She is able to return to Hogwarts now!"

"But it could easily have gone very, very wrong," professor Weasley's voice is strict and cold, "what would you have done had the surgery not succeeded? What if she had died while in your care? You'd be facing murder and neglect charges right this moment."

Anna swallows hard. It was pretty childish of her to not think of it, or rather chose not to. She focused her worry on smaller things. Being found, being expelled, being unsuccessful in her planning. But it was a truly foolhardy plan when scrutinised by a wise, experienced adult witch in front of them.

They were lucky. What professor Weasley is trying to impress on them right now is that they will not always be, and she understands.

"Don't get me wrong, I am glad to hear Ms Sallow is recovering and will be able to return to school next year. We all sorely missed her presence. But it does not excuse your deceptions and wrongdoings."

Professor Weasley sighs and sits down in her chair, clearly tired and exasperated.

"And have you aught to say for yourself, Mr Gaunt?" She turns to Ominis who so far stood still and silent as a statue.

Ominis shakes his head.

"No, professor. I am just as guilty, and I have been an accomplice to Anna and Sebastian's plan. You have my sincerest apologies for making you and the rest of the faculty worried."

He bows, a picture of grace. Professor Weasley's furrowed brows relax a bit.

"Very well. I had thought of bringing up your punishment with professor Black... but given that two of the three of you are of the Slytherin House... and pureblood... he would be very resistant to expulsion, and as for Ms Visconti... well, it would be rather unfair of me to punish so severely the witch that is the reason our entire school is still standing."

Anna looks up at her, surprised. There is a small smile on the woman's lips.

"But..."

"Don't think you're completely getting away with it. One hundred points from Ravenclaw and Slytherin, and you all are to attend detention on Saturdays and Sundays for the rest of the term. Dismissed."

Anna and the boys walk out of the office in silence, pass through the classroom and step into the Transfiguration courtyard.

As soon as the door closes behind them, however, Sebastian bursts into laughter.

"Not sure I find it quite as funny, Sebastian," Anna leans back on a blessedly cool stone wall, exhaling in relief.

"After all that... and you still get away."