The large oak door of Albus Dumbledore's office creaked open, and the heads of Hogwarts' houses, along with Madam Pomfrey, filed in with serious expressions etched on their faces. Dumbledore himself sat behind his grand desk, a plethora of papers and a large, ornate mirror spread before him. The atmosphere was thick with tension and apprehension as they gathered to discuss the grave matter at hand.
Madam Pomfrey took her place at the head of the meeting. Her normally serene demeanor was marred by concern. "I'm afraid the situation is quite dire," she began, her voice steady despite the gravity of her words. "I have completed my examination of the students injured during the incident yesterday. There are five boys and three girls with various degrees of injury."
The other heads of houses listened intently, their expressions growing darker with each passing moment. Professor Minerva McGonagall's eyes narrowed in disapproval, while Severus Snape's face remained an implacable mask of contempt. Filius Flitwick looked on with an expression of concern, his brow furrowed. Pomona Sprout's usual calm was overshadowed by a visible unease.
"The injuries themselves can be healed with potions and treatments," Madam Pomfrey continued, her gaze sweeping over the gathered professors. "However, what is far more troubling is the psychological impact this incident will have on the students involved. The trauma inflicted will linger far beyond the physical wounds. This is not something that can be easily mended."
A heavy silence followed, filled only by the rustle of papers and the occasional shuffling of feet. The seriousness of the situation was palpable. Dumbledore's eyes, usually so full of wisdom and kindness, now reflected the weight of the burden he carried.
The Great Hall had been a scene of chaos and fear, a place that should have been a refuge for the young students. Instead, it had become a battleground. The faculty's regret over their inability to act swiftly enough was evident in their solemn expressions. Dumbledore had been particularly affected, as he had been in the middle of dealing with a crucial matter when the attack occurred.
McGonagall, her voice breaking the silence, spoke with a determined edge. "Dumbledore, I must request the expulsion of the student responsible for this carnage, Ryomen Saku. His actions are unforgivable. You should have seen the brutality of the scene."
Snape's lips curled into a disdainful sneer. "Expulsion is too lenient. The boy should be sent directly to Azkaban. He's a threat to everyone at this school."
Filius Flitwick's eyes widened at Snape's suggestion. "Severus, that is not a joking matter. We have a duty to handle this with the appropriate gravity and care. Suggesting Azkaban so casually is not productive."
Snape's face hardened further, his eyes cold and unyielding. "If you think I'm jesting, you are sorely mistaken. The boy's actions reveal his dangerous nature. We must act decisively."
Pomona Sprout, ever the voice of reason, interjected. "We need to provide the students with an explanation and address their concerns. Their parents will also need to be informed. It's important that we handle this situation with transparency."
Dumbledore, his gaze distant, turned his attention to the newspaper that had arrived on his desk the previous evening. It was from the Japanese branch of the Daily Prophet, covering an incident involving an organization known as the Curse Cult. The headline was stark and ominous, speaking of violence and dark forces. The initials "W.S." at the end of the letter that was attached to the newspaper and the content of the letter concern him. He couldn't sleep the entire night. In the letter, the name, Bane of Curse, was written. Just three words.
Dumbledore's mind was a whirlwind of questions. Bane of Curse from the recent prophecy. Curse Cult from the east. W.S. which should mean Weaver of Strings. Dumbledore could understand what Weaver was trying to convey. Curse of Bane is the enemy of Curse Cult. However, he got even more questions. Why did he give me that information? Why now? And the answer arrived at his own office at this morning. Ryomen Saku.
"We must consider the implications of expelling Ryomen Saku," Dumbledore said, breaking the silence. "We have many records of injured students. Do we really need to expel him?"
Snape's gaze was unrelenting. "If you are hoping he is not inherently evil, I suggest you cut back on your sweets, Albus."
The room was momentarily distracted by the mention of Dumbledore's penchant for sweets, as well as the strange stares that followed. Dumbledore had always kept a bowl of candies on his desk, a trait that had become somewhat of a hallmark. He endured the curious looks with a patient sigh, trying to refocus the discussion.
"Severus, I do not take these matters lightly," Dumbledore said, his voice steady. "But we must balance our immediate response with long-term considerations."
McGonagall's face was lined with concern. "Dumbledore, incidents like this have occurred in the past, but this is different. The severity of the injuries and the chaos that ensued—if we allow Ryomen to stay, we risk deepening the hatred and fear among the students. It could lead to more violence and instability. And the boy had showed that he would take a life if he ever wanted so. The safety of all students must come first."
Pomona Sprout nodded in agreement. "We cannot oversee every student all the time. The boy's presence poses a serious risk, and if another incident occurs, we might not be able to prevent a tragedy. It's not just about his actions; it's about the potential consequences of allowing him to remain here."
He paused, lost in thought. The room was filled with the weight of his indecision. Finally, he spoke. "Very well. We will proceed with expulsion."
The heads of houses and Madam Pomfrey exchanged relieved looks. They had reached a consensus, but the gravity of the decision hung heavily in the air. Dumbledore, though, felt a deeper unease.
As the professors began to leave the office, Dumbledore's thoughts turned to the abandoned Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. He had hoped to evade the curse that had plagued the subject by abandoning the classroom, but the curse seemed to affect Hogwarts directly, remaining stubbornly resistant to his attempts to dispel it.
He made his way to a corridor near classroom, where Ryomen Saku awaited him with a stoic expression. The boy had clearly accepted his fate with a grim sense of resignation. Dumbledore felt a pang of sympathy as he approached the young student.
"I have bad news to deliver, Mr. Saku," Dumbledore said gravely, his blue eyes meeting Ryomen's. "For the safety of the students and the reputation of Hogwarts, you will be expelled immediately."
Ryomen's expression did not change, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps understanding, or maybe defiance. Dumbledore continued, "You are to leave Hogwarts and not return. We will ensure that you are given proper support as you transition from here, but your time at this school has come to an end."
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"I can't believe he's our age... that was so much fun.... those twins, the Weasleys, right? I want to be like them," Damon said as they headed to their Charms class. Normally, the first day at school is quite relaxed for the first years, with no classes scheduled. It's not until the second day that the term truly begins. However, due to an incident in the Great Hall, they had an extra day off, which neither he nor Damon minded. Just yesterday, they had explored the school library.
"Can you believe we got kicked out on our first day?" Damon said with a chuckle.
"Well, we weren't exactly being stealthy," Aurelius responded, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smirk. Their adventures had taken them to the Quidditch pitch, where Damon, an avid fan of the sport, was ecstatic despite his odd fear of heights—a curious trait for someone enamored with a game played soaring through the air.
They also had a close call with the caretaker, Mr. Filch, and his cat, Mrs. Norris, who chased them through the corridors. Their chase ended abruptly when the Weasley twins, two notorious Gryffindor seniors, showed them a hidden passage to evade Filch's clutches.
"What are you..." one twin started.
"...doing here?" the other finished. "We thought we..."
"...were the only ones who tangled..."
"...with Filch and his cat," they chimed together, beaming broadly.
Taken aback, Damon and Aurelius quickly introduced themselves. "We're first-year Ravenclaws, Aurelius Voyantil and Damon Prewett," Aurelius declared, feigning confidence.
"Ravenclaws, eh? Got good brains, have you?" one twin inquired.
"Or just big ones?" the other quipped, winking.
After some friendly banter and receiving advice on navigating the castle, they parted ways from the twins. However, they were given stinky eyes when they arrived at the common room. Aurelius couldn't understand what they were thinking. He and Damon went a bit overboard. True. But why did they think this was bad? It's not like Ryomen Saku was going to stick around for long. Brooding over it won't do any good.
What he did was bad. But we, Ravenclaw, have nothing to do with the incidents. Why not let it go and have fun like us.
"Common' Rius, don't daydream in the middle of nowhere. We will be late for the class," said Damon, as he pulled Aurelius toward the classroom. When they reached at the classroom, most Ravenclaws had already arrived. They will be having a Charm class with the Hufflepuffs. He heard that the professor of Charm class is the head of Ravenclaw house. Aurelius just hoped that he wouldn't be kicked out of the class after showcasing his talent.
Entering the classroom, they saw a sea of eager faces—first-year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, all chattering in excited whispers. At the front of the room, a tiny man stood on a stack of books behind his desk, beaming at the new students. Professor Flitwick, half-goblin and all wizard, exuded an aura of kindness and enthusiasm that made Aurelius feel a little less nervous.
"Settle down, settle down, everyone!" Professor Flitwick called in a high, cheerful voice. "Welcome to your first Charms lesson! I am Professor Flitwick, and today we will begin with one of the most fundamental spells—Wingardium Leviosa, the Levitation Charm!"
"And I have some news to deliver." Professor's voice was solemn all of a sudden. "As you know, yesterday. We have officially expelled a first year student who have intentionally injured class mates. I hope you would know that in Hogwarts, the safety of the students come first. And you wouldn't be tolerated if you do a similar crime."
Aurelius could see what the teachers were trying to do. They wanted to assure the students that the school is safe and will always be. By expelling him, they had hoped to restore the order and rule of Hogwarts. As for Hogwarts being safe, just look into the third floor and Aurelius could guarantee that the thing they were cooking up in there is nowhere near safe.
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