Harry hurried over to the Ravenclaw table. He couldn't reach Padma through the jostling crowd of students who were evacuating their seats, but by waving his arms about he caught her attention and she fought her way over to him.
"Change of plans," said Harry once they were face to face "Dumbledore and McGonagall want to see me in the Headmaster's office. Flitwick and Snape are going to be there too, so we're going to do this all at once."
"Not a problem," replied Padma "Need some help rounding up the Slytherins?"
"That would be appreciated," answered Harry "Could you round up Daphne, Tracey and Astoria? I'm gonna go grab Malfoy, Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle."
"Good luck," said Padma as she turned and headed off towards the three Slytherin girls.
Draco Malfoy elbowed a third year hard in the side as he shoved his way towards the doors. He was supposed to be showing the first years down to the Slytherin Common Room in the Dungeons, but he was in a foul mood. Anyway, if the little shits couldn't keep up with the crowd of other Slytherins then why should it be his problem?
He had just made it to the doors when he found his way blocked.
"Get out of it Potter!" he snapped.
"I'm going nowhere without you, Malfoy," retorted Harry "Not until we've sorted out your punishment."
"I thought what happened on the train was my punishment."
"Nope. That was because I had just caught you red handed and knew that you could not be trusted to not go out seeking revenge. Your solitary confinement was for everyone's benefit. Now come on, we're going to have a word with your head of house."
Malfoy's eyes lit up, imagining all the insults that Professor Snape would throw at Harry before kicking him out of his office and sweeping this whole mess under the rug like he always did.
"Really?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.
"We most certainly are," said Harry "In the Headmaster's office. With the Headmaster. And the Deputy Headmistress. Oh, and Professor Flitwick."
Malfoy seemed to wilt right before Harry's eyes.
Harry looked around and saw the other three that he was looking for "Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, you too."
"What?" demanded Parkinson.
"Meeting with your head of house and three other members of staff… hang on."
He looked around and spotted who he was looking for "Professor Umbridge?"
The new History of Magic Professor hurried over "What is it, Mr Potter?"
"Professor McGonagall has forced a change in how my meeting with the Head of Slytherin House will occur. It will now be taking place in the Headmaster's office, with Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick in attendance, as well as Professor Snape. I was just wondering if you would consent to come up and add a bit of weight to the proceedings, otherwise it will only be myself and Prefect Patil fighting our corner."
"I'd be happy to," replied Madam Umbridge "Let's see if we can get this all sorted out, shall we?"
"Good," said Harry, looking around "Ah, here they come now. Padma, over here!"
Padma made her way over, followed by a rather reluctant looking trio of Slytherin girls.
"Are these the victims?" asked Professor Umbridge.
"Yes they are," replied Harry "Let's get this over with. I'd like to get these three to the Hospital Wing for a check over."
"We don't need to go the Hospital Wing, Potter." said Daphne.
"Are you sure?" asked Harry "It was quite a scuffle, after all."
He gave the three girls a very subtle wink. The only others to see it were Padma and Crabbe, and of them Padma was saying nothing and Crabbe was too dumb to do so.
Tracey was the one to catch on first "Actually, I hurt my wrist when I was trying to get Pansy to let go of Daphne. I think that I would like it looked at."
Daphne looked at her friend, realised what she was doing, turned back to Harry and said "Well, I suppose my nose should be looked at after it was hit so hard."
Astoria nodded in agreement.
"Well that's settled then," said Harry pleasantly.
"Mr Potter," said a voice, and they all turned around to see Professor McGonagall standing there "Kindly follow me; I will escort you to your meeting in the Headmaster's office."
"Okay," said Harry "Come on you lot."
McGonagall looked surprised and said "Surely there's no reason for everyone here to attend."
"Actually there is," said Harry "Malfoy and Parkinson are the ones who brought shame onto their positions, Crabbe and Goyle were assisting them, the Greengrass sisters and Miss Davis were the victims, Prefect Patil was the one to alert me to the problem, and Professor Umbridge has kindly consented to accompany us as we inform the senior staff of this little situation."
McGonagall sighed and relented "Oh, very well. Come on, all of you."
Dumbledore, Flitwick and Snape did not come out of the hall to join them, and so must have taken a different route up to the Headmaster's office.
McGonagall led them right up to the stone gargoyle, which leapt aside once it heard the password (cockroach cluster) and let them up the spiralling staircase behind.
When they reached the door, she knocked, and from within the voice of the Headmaster called out "Enter!"
.....
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