Chapter Fifty – Smacked House

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. Me, I'm just a PR professional. I don't profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world. However, its her sandbox and she's left the gate unlatched so we can go in and play a bit. Which, I've done.

Chapter Fifty – Smacked House

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-==(oIo)==-

\""/

Quickly getting into their new routine, the Seven began to get used to the extra hours spent in class, and the greater amount of homework. The Come and Go Room saw the group spend more time on homework than training, now, but training was still a priority.

Very early one morning Harry had to race back to the Room as he was 'on a roll' with a homework assignment the previous evening and wanted to get it finished. He was past curfew when he raced back to the Ravenclaw common room under his invisibility cloak the night before. He wanted to collect it before breakfast.

Not too far from the entrance, he heard a noise. He thought he heard a girl crying.

Tracking it down he found Luna huddled in an alcove behind a tapestry. She gasped in surprise when the tapestry moved and Harry was standing there.

Immediately realising why she was so shocked, Harry said, "Easy, Luna. It's me, Harry."

He stepped fully in behind the tapestry, popped his wand out of it's holster and cast a Light Charm.

"Luna, why are..." he started to say, before he noticed the girl's condition. He was too shocked to say anything. And she cowered away from him.

Luna had her robe on, but she was barefoot. Under her robes, Harry could see she wasn't well dressed, either. Her hair was a mess and her face showed signs of her crying with her bloodshot eyes, red nose, and light swelling on her upper cheeks. And she was shivering.

"God, Luna," he said. "What happened to you?" Harry was also wearing his cloak, as it was already cold in the mornings. He whipped it off and threw it around the shoulders of the girl before casting a Warming Charm on her.

She just shook her head, pulled the cloak tighter around herself and said, "It's just a prank. It's always just a prank."

"What do you mean - always?" he asked.

Luna just pulled in on herself.

"Luna, I need to know," he softly said. "This has happened before and I haven't seen it. I blame myself for that. So - I need to know - how many times has this happened before?"

"They don't like me because I'm different," she softly replied. "They think I'm a loony. They say I don't belong in Ravenclaw."

When she stopped for a few moments, he softly said, "Go on. It helps to get it off your chest. What do they do?"

"Th... they lock me out by confounding the Raven that guards the door, or just sealing the door," she sniffled.

Suddenly, she threw herself at him, where he was crouched. The impact knocked him onto his butt, and his back against the opposite wall of the alcove. And he had a sobbing girl in his arms.

As she sobbed, cried and bawled her eyes out, she told him of some of the things 'they' did to her. They hid her clothes, especially her shoes; when they hadn't hidden her clothes, they put itching powder and similar in them; they'd destroy her homework; they'd call her names; they'd lock her out of either her room, or the entire tower; they'd poured muck all over her bed; and done other horrid things to her.

Harry sat there and listened; he made soft comforting sounds and rubbed her back; and, when he felt her feet were freezing, he cast Warming Charms on them. And, he struggled to maintain his anger - his rage. His own House had done this to her. And he hadn't even seen the signs.

As a victim of ongoing abuse he felt he should have recognised the signs when he saw them. He felt, of any of them, he'd know what he'd see when it happened to others. But, he'd missed it. And he felt shame.

He sat there until she drifted off to sleep. Then hit her with a light Sleep Charm with a barely whispered, "Somnulus" to keep her that way. And levitated her using a Body Levitation Charm, "Mobilicorpus". Making sure she was completely covered with her robes and his cloak, he levitated her out of the alcove.

Last, he was prepared to cover her with his invisibility cloak before hurrying down to the hospital with her, but the corridors and stairs were clear.

There were no students or staff in the corridors or stairs, as almost everyone was already in the Great Hall for breakfast. At least, those who were going to breakfast and weren't sleeping in.

Almost reaching the infirmary, he was met by Daphne's patronus swan. "Where are you? I'm in the Entrance Hall, at the moment."

Harry sent his own patronus back. "I'm fine. However, if Madam Pomfrey is in the Great Hall, can you send her to the infirmary? There's a student in need of her care. And please don't be sitting at the Ravenclaw table. I will be there soon."

Entering the empty infirmary he gently lowered her onto a bed. Next, he pulled a set of screens across to block view of her from the door. Then moved to the centre of the room facing the doors and waited.

A few minutes later, Madam Pomfrey and Daphne hurried in. "Mister Potter? Why did you send for me?"

Harry did not notice that his magic was swirling gently about himself. When he looked at the medi-witch, his eyes were slightly glowing. But it was his face that showed his real inner emotional state. Occlumency, be damned. He was angry and people were going to know it.

Harry, with his fury barely contained, just pointed to the bed with Luna upon it and said in a hoarse voice, "I found her cowering behind a tapestry like that, without my cloak, which is currently covering her. She'd been there all night. Her own House mates did this to her. My own House mates."

Madam Pomfrey hesitated a moment and stood staring at Harry as he explained. Tearing her eyes away from him she then hurried over to Luna's bed as Daphne hurried forward to be with Harry.

"I cast a mild Sleeping Charm and a couple of Warming Charms upon her," he said to the woman's back. "I then levitated her down here."

Madam Pomfrey used her healer's wand to scan the girl.

"Harry, sweetheart," said Daphne softly moving into his magic, trusting that he would never harm her, and moving to hug him. "Please, calm down. You brought her to medical help."

"It's not enough," snarled Harry. "They need to understand just how much what they did to her was wrong. I despise bullies." His 'S's' in 'despise' were sibilant.

"Harry, please," she said, begging. "You need to let the professors handle it."

"I will. However, if I consider it insufficient punishment, I will act." he spat.

Daphne backed out of Harry's arms and moved over to Madam Pomfrey. She softly asked, "How is she?"

"Physically, she's fine," the healer softly replied. And cast an Enervate Charm on the girl.

When Luna woke she immediately started crying again. The deep sobs of someone who's very spirit had been crushed.

Daphne moved closer to Luna and said, "Luna, it's..."

And Luna nearly cried out in fear and pain as she tried to recoil away.

Calling the infirmary house elf, Madam Pomfrey called for a Calming Draught, Draught of Peace and Dreamless Sleep Potion.

She convinced Luna to take the first but held back with the second. When she still wouldn't stop crying she gave her the Draught of Peace.

After she'd taken both potions, Luna calmed down and drifted off to sleep.

Madam Pomfrey turned to Harry and said, "I'll be keeping her here for at least the next twenty-four hours. She'll be safe with me."

Harry just gave a curt sharp nod in response.

As Daphne walked back over he venomously said, "Time, now, to put the fear of God into a whole House. It's time to let Angry Harry come out and play."

Not daring to say a word, Daphne slowly nodded. She, too, was now angry. And she didn't want her anger to feed his. Together, they strode out of the infirmary on the way to the Great Hall.

About a hundred yards down the corridor and around the corner, Harry stopped. Daphne turned to look at him wondering why and saw him thinking furiously.

Suddenly, he snapped out, "Petey."

With a pop of arrival, the Head Elf said, "Yes, Master Harry?"

Looking at the elf, he said, "Petey. I'm about to walk into the Great Hall. When I snap my fingers like this..." and demonstrated "... I want you to put my pensieve on that plinth we used the last time I asked you to bring it to the Great Hall, and have it appear right alongside me. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master Harry. Petey can do that."

"When I snap my fingers for a second time, I want you to put the pensieve back in Potter manor, alright?"

"Yes, Master Harry."

"Thank you, Petey," he replied, before striding back down the corridor and heading for the Great Hall. The little elf popped away.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

As the pair reached the Entrance Hall, still out of sight of those in the Great Hall, Harry brought his whole aura into being. He stood there a moment to centre himself, then turned to Daphne. "Ready?" he asked.

With her own angry mien on her face, she nodded in return.

Harry then stalked forward through the single already open door, and stormed up between the tables, his eyes fixed firmly ahead.

The Hall, as he expected it to, went dead silent. He didn't even know that Daphne had used a Banishing Charm to slam the open door shut behind them.

"Is there a problem, Mister Potter?" asked Dumbledore.

"You're damned right there is, Headmaster," he snarled.

As Harry reached the head end of the House tables he moved across slightly to stand in front of the Ravenclaw table. He held up his left hand, snapped his fingers and, as organised, his pensieve on its plinth stood alongside him.

"And what is the problem, Mister Potter?" asked the old man in that annoying super-calm voice he used as if speaking to a misbehaving child.

Harry ignored him. Instead, he looked to Professor Flitwick and said, "Professor Flitwick; as this applies to your House, please come here." Then turned to Professor McGonagall and said, "Professor McGonagall; as you - and not the Headmaster - are in overall responsibility of student discipline, please come here."

Without even bothering to wait for a reply he raised his wand tip to his temple, concentrated on the memory of his time from just before he found Luna behind the tapestry, until he'd levitated her out of there, and pulled the memory forth before dropping it in the pensieve.

By the time he'd finished, both professors and Dumbledore had come down to the pensieve.

Professors Flitwick and McGonagall looked at him in confusion before he said, "Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall; you need to see this. I doubt I'll be able to speak of it without utterly losing my temper and going on a most unholy rampage."

Both professors and the old man stepped forward to enter the pensieve. Harry's hand shot out and firmly pressed back against the Headmaster's chest. "This is my memory, Headmaster. And you, Sir, were not invited."

Dumbledore glared back in anger for a few moments before he gave a short nod and backed away. In a clear voice, he said, "My apologies, Mister Potter, You are, of course, correct. However, as Headmaster, if this pertains to the safety of the students, it is my purview to be involved."

"I'm sure Professors Flitwick and McGonagall will inform you if it is. At that time, I shall be happy to allow you to view the memory. Until that time, I will not give carte blanche for someone to invade another's privacy," said Harry firmly in reply and just as clearly. "Then turning to the two professors who were waiting he gestured to the pensieve and said, "Professors."

With a quick glance at the Headmaster, both Professors dropped into the memory. A few minutes later, they were out. And both were furious. It was the angriest Harry had ever seen either of them.

Professor Flitwick rounded on the Ravenclaw table and leapt up to stand on the end of it. His magic crackled around him, making his head seem to float with static electricity. "Head Girl Miss Clearwater and all prefects!" he barked. "You have two minutes to get yourselves to my office."

When no one seemed to move, he roared, "NOW!" And his magic thrummed.

They quickly clambered to their feet, practically tripping over themselves, and bolted out the doors.

He watched them go before turning back to the rest of table, "All those who are responsible for even a single incident of bullying against Miss Lovegood, you have the same two minutes to get yourselves to my classroom. Go!"

Not that many hurried after the first group. Professor McGonagall stepped forward as Professor Flitwick jumped backwards off the table, and said, "I will be speaking with Miss Lovegood, momentarily. If she mentions even one name of someone who has bullied her, and you are still sitting at this table when I walk out, you will find yourselves suspended!"

Another dozen rose and started to walk quickly out.

"RUN!" roared the little Charms Master. They ran.

Harry then turned to Professor McGonagall and firmly asked, "Do you believe the safety of the students are at risk? Or, is this a matter of discipline, alone, Deputy Headmistress McGonagall?"

"Discipline only, Mister Potter," she firmly replied.

"Thank you, Professor," he said, dipping his wand back into the pensieve and removing the memory. That went into another phial. "I shall be sending this memory strand to Mister Xenophilius Lovegood. He deserves to know what horrors have been visited upon his only daughter while she has been a student at this school."

"That will not be necessary, Mister Potter," said the Headmaster curtly.

"No, Headmaster; it is not necessary. However, it is the right thing to do," said Harry, firmly and clearly. "Parents have the right to know how their children are faring at school. And, when their children are being maliciously and repeatedly bullied, they have the right to come and speak to the senior staff, to find out how the situation is being rectified. Do you not agree - Headmaster?"

Dumbledore stood furious, for a few moments, before he spun about and stormed off without answering. He immediately left through the staff entrance as Professors Flitwick and McGonagall left through the main doors.

Harry snapped his fingers a second time and the pensieve and it's plinth disappeared.

With his magic back up and swirling he stood before the table himself, placed his fists on the leading edge, leaned forward and snarled, "Right! Listen up, because I'm only going to say this once! Those of you who did not bully - but knew it was happening and did nothing about it - I hold you in utter contempt! You disgust me! I hold you in the same contempt as those who actually did the bullying.

"An eighteenth century Irish statesman, Edmund Burke, said 'All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent'. And, twentieth century American leader, Martin Luther King Junior, said, 'He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it'. And, the nineteenth century Swiss philosopher, Henri Frederic Amiel, said, 'Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be equally outraged by silence'.

"All three of those great men were talking about some - if not many - of you still sitting here before me. So, if you're aware of bullying incidents of anyone in this school, not just dear Luna, get up off your arses and go tell the Professors now!

"Until this House learns and understands that Ravenclaw prided intelligence and wit for her House - both of which dear Luna has in full measure - I want no part of you. As of now - and until I am satisfied this House has learned it's lesson - I will not be a member of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, I will refuse all points accorded me, and I will treat all of you as if you do not even exist. If I could remove these colours from my robes, I would do it in heartbeat. For now, I will wear them as a mark of my shame in not learning of Luna's victimisation earlier."

Harry then stepped back from the table, sneering down it's length as he allowed his magic to calm down, and walked over to where his friends sat at the Slytherin table. He sat with his back to the other tables.

Daphne sat with him, then leaned over and said with a clear voice, "Very well said," before she kissed him on the cheek and gave him a hug.

He didn't know who started it - but, it did start with one person - the Hall slowly broke into standing applause from both Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables. Soon, some of the Slytherins even joined in before only a few Ravenclaws did. Most of the Ravenclaw table left.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

After breakfast, Harry excused himself from the others to head directly back to the infirmary. Daphne called after him and said, "Oh, no you don't; my betrothed. I'm coming with!" Then linked her arm through his.

Walking up the stairs to the second floor they were about to pass Professor McGonagall as she was walking away from the infirmary, but stopped her instead.

"How is she, Professor?" he asked.

"Very unhappy," she sighed. "And she's embarrassed she cried all over you. She's also embarrassed this happened to her, and thinks it's her fault."

"That is the normal reaction of someone who's been abused, Professor," he said. "As a victim myself, I empathise. And, as I can empathise, I believe I may be able to help her through this."

Professor McGonagall sighed. "I want names, Mister Potter," she said firmly. "I can't very well punish the - culprits if she won't tell me who they are. Unless Fil... Professor Flitwick can convince his miscreants to confess."

"I'll get them, Professor, he promised. "I shall use against Miss Lovegood the most powerful weapon in my arsenal - logic. She's a true Ravenclaw; so she'll have no defence against that."

She tried hard not to smile, she really did. "Very well, Mister Potter," she said. "Do your best. I look forward to seeing those names." A nod to Daphne and she said, "Miss Greengrass."

"Professor," said Daphne.

Before he walked into the infirmary, Harry paused them both for a few moments and centred himself. He adopted a happy-go-lucky persona and strolled in. He saw Madam Pomfrey over near Luna's bed and called out to her. "Good morning, again, Poppy! My, you look ravishing in this light!"

"Mister Potter!" she exclaimed, while Daphne snorted. "I'm almost old enough to be your gran - your mother's older sister! And that's Madam Pomfrey to you, you scamp!"

Harry grinned impudently back as he noticed the small smile play across Luna's lips. Which, of course, was the whole reason he said it. He also saw the medi-witch knew exactly why he said it, too. Nothing slipped past that woman.

Harry and Daphne walked up to the side of Luna's bed and used a Copy Charm to conjure up another stool for Daphne, to go with the one already there.

After hamming up helping Daphne onto her stool, he plonked himself down on the other. "Hiya, gorgeous!" he said, grinning from ear to ear. "Miss me?"

"Hi Harry," she said, before dropping her eyes. "Thank you for - helping me, this morning."

"Ah-ah!" he said, gently reaching out with a finger and pushing her chin back up. "You should be looking into my eyes. I'm told I have the most gorgeous green eyes. They're supposed to make all the witches swoon." And gave a big, overly-dramatic feminine sigh.

Daphne snorted again before she giggled and said, "Prat."

At least it also got Luna smiling, again. And looking at him.

"What?" he asked, feigning ignorance. "I don't have the most gorgeous green eyes?"

"No, Harry," said Luna. "You do have gorgeous green eyes. But it's not something we're supposed to tell you. That's something for us girls; and, I suppose, the readers of Teen Witch Weekly."

"Gahh!" said Harry with mock horror. "You said the three dreaded words!" he loudly whispered.

"I did?" asked Luna, quite puzzled.

Daphne answered, "Yes, Luna. Teen - Witch - Weekly."

"Gahh!" said Harry again. "Evil! Eeevvviiiiilll!"

"You don't like Tee..." began Luna.

"Ah!" said Harry, holding up a hand and waggling a finger.

"You don't like - that particular publication?" she asked, instead.

He vehemently shook his head.

Daphne laughed and said, "He saw an article in one once he really didn't like. It was about..."

"Gahhhhhhh!" he squealed as he put his fingers in his ears.

"It was about which famous heart throb wizards had the cutest bums," finished Daphne with an evil grin.

Luna laughed. It had a lovely musical quality to it.

Harry pulled one finger out and winced, before he looked around. Not hearing about that publication he sighed in relief.

"Was Harry upset he was in it? Or wasn't in it?" asked Luna with a smile.

"He wasn't in it, but it was all adults, anyway," replied Daphne.

"Well, I wouldn't know, anyway, would I?" he huffed. Then asked, "Do you think I've got a cute bum?"

"Harrryyy!" squealed Daphne.

He hopped off his stool and tried to turn himself around at the waist to look. Not seeing anything he pulled his outer robe off over his head and tried again.

"What are you doing?" asked Luna, curious as he seemed to just about turn himself inside out.

"I'm trying to see if I've got a cute bum or not," said Harry.

"Harrryyy!" squealed both this time.

"Hang on a sec," he said, before ducking out from behind the screen. "Madam Pomfrey, do you have one of those tall, floor standing mirrors handy? - I'm trying to see if I've got a cute bum!"

"Mister Potter!" the matron exclaimed.

Both girls burst into full squealing laughter.

"Wha-at?" he innocently asked, before heading back to his stool.

From where she sat, Madam Pomfrey smiled. It was good to hear the lass laugh. Young Harry was clearly doing wonders for her.

After sitting down and sighing in mock disappointment, Harry straightened himself up and said, "Now, Luna."

"Yes, Harry?" she asked, a little warily.

"I want to make sure that you're protected, here at school," he said. "After all, I haven't rescued a fair maiden in months now. And, it's high time I did it again. I have a certain image to maintain, you know." He said conspiratorially.

"Mmm?" she asked.

"So, I'm asking Miss Luna Lovegood - that's you, beautiful - if she would do me the great honour of accepting the protection of House Potter."

Luna looked up at him in surprise. "Harry, that's a big thing! It's not to be offered lightly."

"You know Hermione's a Protectee of House Potter, right?" he asked.

She nodded.

"I protect my friends, Luna," he said. "I count you as one of them. Placing you under my protection says that to everyone."

She looked back with tears about to well in her eyes.

"So, please, dear Luna," he pleaded. "Let me do this for you."

As one single fat tear slid down her cheek, she nodded.

He rose off his chair and bent forward over her, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you," he whispered. "Now, what's your full name?"

"Luna Selene Lovegood," she replied.

Popping his wand into his hand, Harry intoned, "Miss Luna Selene Lovegood, I, Harry James Potter, Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, offer you the protection of my House. Do you accept?"

She softly replied, "I, Luna Selene Lovegood, accept the protection of House Potter, my Lord."

Harry carefully held out the tip of his wand so it was next to Luna's left shoulder, and said, "Then, so mote it be!" And tapped her high on her upper arm as he did so.

There was sudden but muted flash at Luna's shoulder. However, there was no small House Potter Crest outlined in white because she was wearing pyjamas. Daphne found Luna's robe and, grinning, showed them the crest affixed there.

Harry resheathed his wand and said with a smile, "Welcome to the protection of House Potter, Miss Lovegood."

Then he bent over and kissed her on the forehead again. Luna raised her arms and grabbed him in a hug. She whispered, "Thank you, Harry."

Pulling back and sitting down again, he said, "You are most welcome. Now, as your Protector, I'm going to need an idea of who it is who is likely to be a threat to you..."

Luna looked ready to object before he held up a hand to forestall her, and said, "Now, Luna; I take my role as Protector most seriously - ask Hermione - and it is your responsibility as Protectee to tell me of such threats. I do not care if they are just pranks that have gotten out of hand; I need to know.

"And you need to trust that I will do the right thing on your behalf. So, tell me the names and what they did, and I will handle everything from there as is my duty to you. This, I swear."

Hesitatingly, at first, Luna soon opened up and told Harry everything he needed to know that she knew. Then he had her tell him other things that had happened and who she suspected was behind it, and why she suspected them.

And, finally, while he had her talking, he had her tell him about the little accidents that had occurred and who else was involved, such as the time one of the older girls 'accidentally' knocked her ink pot right across her freshly completed transfiguration essay, and another used her just finished potions essay to mop up spilled water the other girl had 'accidentally' spilled right next to Luna.

She cried during the telling of it. And Daphne held her in her arms for the entirety of it. But the information poured out of her. But, once done, it was clear Luna felt as if a great weight had been removed from her psyche.

Harry and Daphne stayed for a little while, and had Luna tell them about what it was like to help her Daddy prepare and print The Quibbler when she was home. And they asked her how she kept herself busy - she loved to paint and cook. And asked her about the various magical animals she knew so much about, and her and her father's search for proof of them.

In return, Harry and Daphne told her about living at Greengrass Estate, and Harry told her about being muggle-raised. He also promised to tell her all about televisions, telephones, microwaves, dishwashers, washing machines and all manner of other muggle household appliances. And that, if she decided she wanted to become part of their group of friends, she would be allowed to visit Hermione's muggle home and see what they were all like for herself. That last bit really cheered her up.

Madam Pomfrey - bless her - must have been listening. Because she came and sent the two of them away almost immediately afterwards explaining 'the girl needs a rest from you two' once they wound down.

"A rest from me?" he exclaimed. "But, I'm Harry Potter! He of the gorgeous green eyes and cute bum!"

"Harrryyy!" squealed both girls, while Madam Pomfrey exclaimed "Mister Potter!"

"Out!" exclaimed the medi-healer while pointing her finger at the door.

Out the door and around the corner, Harry's expression changed to anger. He removed yet another clear phial, concentrated on the memory of their conversation concerning the bullying, and dropped it into the container.

"Come on," he said, taking Daphne's hand. "I promised Professor McGonagall I'd get this to her as soon as I could."

A quick Tempus Charm and both young teens were heading for the Transfiguration classroom.

Harry smartly rapped on the door and ducked his head inside. The Professor had an older year class in progress but she waved him in. He strode straight up to her with a grim expression on his face and handed her the phial. "As promised, Professor," he said.

She glanced at the phial in her hand before looking back at him and giving him a curt nod. "Thank you, Mister Potter."

He gave her a nod back and quickly left the class room.

Outside they walked a few paces away before Harry sighed and leaned back against the wall with his head rested back.

"I don't believe I missed all that happening, Daph," he quietly said.

"We've been busy with our own things, Harry," she soothed him. Hugging him. "You spend little time in the Ravenclaw common room because you think of them all - as you put it - too book-centric. They are like Hermione was. If it's not written down somewhere it cannot be true; and if it is written down it must be true.

"Professors McGonagall and Flitwick will deal with them. You have to trust them to do so."

"If they don't, my love," he firmly said. "Then, I will."

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

At Lunch, that afternoon, the Seven took seat at the Hufflepuff table. Again, Harry deliberately sat with his back to the Ravenclaw table. The others offered to provide them both with their notes on the morning classes and homework assignments.

He and Daphne returned to classes for the afternoon session, though. As, while none of the staff docked them points for missing the morning sessions, they were there to attend classes and learn.

At dinner, while the Seven sat at the Gryffindor table, it was Professor Flitwick who stood to address the student body.

"After interviews and investigations regarding Ravenclaw House and the ongoing bullying of a student within, I, as Head of House, and Deputy Headmistress McGonagall, responsible for overall discipline within the school, have acted.

"One - all Ravenclaw prefects have been stripped of their positions as prefects. The primary role of a prefect is the safety and care of all students - all students. That a student within the House has been subjected to ongoing and repetitive bullying for her entire time within this school is completely unacceptable. That the prefects did not stop it, and in some cases either participated in or encouraged it, is even more unacceptable. As such, Ravenclaw will have no prefects until such time as I can find older students who are capable and willing to carry out the role as it should be carried out.

"Two - over thirty percent of the House was responsible for directly bullying their fellow student. And, a further sixty percent of the House knew it has happening, and did nothing about it. That makes you complicit. For each incident of a student bullying another, that is a loss of twenty points. For each incident of a student watching the bullying of another, and not doing something about it, that is a loss of ten points. As such, by my count, that's a combined loss of one thousand six hundred and thirty points."

The Professor drew his wand, and waved it at the points board. The numbers for Ravenclaw changed to -1556. Harry didn't even know the numbers could go into negatives. The board had to be magically altered to allow that many digits.

"Three - there are now seven students who have been suspended and sent home. A further fifteen students have, as a minimum, two full weeks of detentions. All twenty-two are each also required to submit a four foot essay on the evil of both passive and active bullying.

"Four - the Ravenclaw common room library is now off limits. I have instructed the elves to box it up and place it in storage. And it is not to be brought back out of storage until such time as I am satisfied. If you need reference materials, use the school library and your own texts. You do not deserve the privilege of having it.

"And, five - I have never, in all my years of teaching and as a student here myself, been so utterly disgusted to be considered a Ravenclaw. As I know Deputy Headmistress McGonagall told you all on the day you first arrived here for Sorting, your House is your family. For Ravenclaw students to have treated one of their own so abysmally is appalling.

"That is all." He took his seat again as Professor McGonagall gave him a slow nod. It took a little while for the hubbub from the student body to rise again.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/