After the War.

Consequences.

The room was warm as a fire burnt not far away and the curtains were pulled but I found myself to be changing eventually and then taking my time with my bag. Scrolls and parchment would be left in the back of my school supplies and then I walked to the hall. Words passing and talk sent through the room and as I entered I saw Professor Sprout at the door with her Hufflepuff students as she was handing out their timetables.

"Professor, could I bother you for a timetable?" She nodded and with the touch of her wand I had a piece of paper with my classes listed with my times as well but the studies that were given seemed excessive for anyone but with every passing year more revision was available so I was glad of that. There was almost always going to be something to go over. Dates for history or ancient ruins.

My eyes then moved up to the head table as I watched who was there and the headmistress was busy so I looked for a second longer before finally my patience wore thin and I turned, leaving the hall all together and well aware of the fact that my night with the woman was about to be interesting.

Emily ran up to me and pulled me in tight as she set off with something and I just nodded and agreed with her. Not actually engaging properly until she finally spoke, "Isaac was so sweet when he asked me out." The smirk was so wide on my face as she spoke and for a brief second I wanted to hold her tight but instead my arms stuck at my sides. Lessons had to be entered first.

"I have Ravenclaw and Slytherin first for advanced history of magic." My class had been met and so we parted ways. Promises of catching up and then the room was entered. Professor Binns stood at the very front with his hand running through him. Like he was wiping dirt off of his hands but eventually bells sounded and so the lesson had to begin. Making him snap from the trance.

"Elliot, Tim. Lovely to see you both." I smirked and ran my fingers through Tim's hair as I sat beside a tired Elliot. He was clearly up late the night before and his hands covered his face as he tried to wipe the sleep from his face. My wink as he caught my eye made him silently laugh and then the lesson began to run.

"Elliot." I jabbed his side and he jumped up with a start. My mind was well engaged with the lesson but his sleep deprivation made it even harder to stay up in the class than usual and Elliot struggled anyway.

I finished writing what was expected but as I looked up I noticed that almost the whole class was falling asleep if not already sleeping. Elliot looked like everyone else except from me. I was glad that I was paying some attention but Elliot needed to stay awake. The rest of the class too but he was beside me and I was well aware of him.

Before I could jolt Elliot awake again the bell went and I packed up properly. Not paying attention to the slumbering boy anymore as he jumped up and got his bag ready. Placing the parchment away and then heading to his next lesson. I knew it to be potions so he was in for a shock if he believed that Slughorn was going to allow him to sleep.

"Miss Flint. You appeared to be the only conscious one in my lesson today." I sighed at the door before just nodding. I couldn't come up with anything to say to that and so I walked on. Heading to my second lesson of the day but third hour of classes. I really wish I loved divination but, I didn't. Nothing about the woman, though she was odd, it was because of the utter rubbish that the course provided but I would be damned if I failed it.

My double class was with Slytherin and Hufflepuff so I sat with Lola as she told me all about how she felt it unfair that there was such negative stigma in people's minds about Hufflepuff and I just nodded and tried not to roll my eyes at the professor. She was odd but to actually believe what she said would forever be impossible for me. No matter how much she was trusted by the last headmaster. He himself sounded like he was a brick short of a house.

The rest of my day seemed to just happen. My mind was a little fuller and my hand a little cramped as an essay was set first thing in charms and Flitwick was sadistic with his high standards. Not that I would ever expect any less but my friends kept me busy as they talked to me and I could silently listen without having to respond.

By the time dinner started I headed to my room and then threw my things onto my bed.
"Daisy. Could I have something to eat?" She popped in and brought food with her as she knew I always asked her. Dinner was the only meal I normally ate but sometimes lunch was eaten. Breakfast was only endured at home. Things had changed since my first year and that scared me. 11 year old me would have done back flips for the food and yet things changed so dramatically.

Dinner had finally ended and so I headed up to the headmistress' office but as I got to the corner where I would see her office, she was walking just ahead of me. A mental note to leave later was made and with that I walked slowly to meet her.

She was angry that was for sure and I knew that the detention wasn't going to be a good one to get short in and so I was going to have to follow what she told me to. Down to the dot unless I felt uncomfortable but she wasn't the type of woman to do that to a soul so I held no reservations for that.

At the top of the steps I knocked on the door and she told me to come in. This time there was no comment about the Dark family and she didn't rub her head but instead she sat with a straight back and she let an eyebrow raise in question as I walked up to the desk before her. I had a feeling she wasn't asking why I was there.

"Miss Flint. Your detentions and instructions were both part of the punishment. You cannot pick and choose what you will and won't do because you will do it all. No questions asked. Turning up to gather your timetable and then leaving didn't count for a breakfast and getting Daisy to bring you food is also not part of the deal. You turn up to the meals and you eat. Not one or the other. Madam Pince has been told that you aren't allowed to enter at meal times and she will be sticking to that. This is for your own good. Now, you are going to organise those letters into sent or received. At the end of the hour if you are done they will be taken by myself to the birds for delivery." She was angry and the laughs of old professors didn't seem to help as I stood looking like she was insane and I was perfectly right in my actions.

I didn't say anything but took the paper and then I worked through it all. The handwriting of Professor McGonagall was distinctive as I knew it well and so I could tell if she had written it. The others all went into another pile. I was hunched over for a while and the pile was large but I was quick and with one wave of my wand they were neat and in piles.

"I am done, Professor." She didn't look up for a long second and she seemed to be in a haze as she read the letter and I could see her face when the penny had dropped. My words hadn't been comprehended at all until that point.

"Very well. Now, we need to have a chat." I didn't let her words get to me but she hadn't told me about us having a chat. I checked the clock and realised that it had taken half an hour to finish up my work from the start till the finish. With this though I stood up again and walked to her desk. A chair was offered but I wanted to stand. The tired flicker in her eyes told me to just do as suggested.

"Miss Flint." She stood and walked around her desk before leaning her chair to the side with her arm and sitting back down again. Her chair was clearly back as she had wanted it. "I have received a letter from your sister." She had taken a small pause and seemed to expect me to say something back to her.

"If this is you telling me she doesn't want me back and that I have to find my own way then there is no need. I assumed as much." Her eyebrow lifted as she heard this and a finger pushed the paper she had been reading to the side and then another was skillfully picked out and sent my way.

The writing was familiar to me and instinctively my hands lifted it and tore it up. Nothing being said but I then walked to the fire and let it burn high until it was sufficiently burnt before returning to my seat. A bewildered woman sat at her desk saying nothing to me. But then she did, it was slow and her tone was as low as she seemed to be able to naturally make it as her words slipped out.
"Silly actions, Miss Flint. Now, you seem to be really struggling with the rules at this school." I furrowed my eyebrows and waited for her to speak again but she didn't. A hand began to rub the sides of her face though.

"Goodnight Professor." I mumbled but her hand was then lifted to stop me and I froze. Hovering over my seat as I waited for her.

"I need to post those letters. Miss Flint, for every meal that you miss a detention will be held. That is three from today alone." I smiled and nodded. Accepting my fate for the rest of the year.