Dumbledore sat sideways on the hospital bed, with Professor McGonagall and Snape standing beside him.
Voldemort leaned against the wall some distance away. Filch stood not far from him, his gloomy gaze sweeping over the students at the center of everyone's attention.
"Whip them, hang them up. That's how you should punish children who break the school rules," Filch muttered softly, every word reaching Voldemort's ears.
This Squib could be more vicious than even those Pure-bloods.
As expected, destroying what you couldn't have was an eternal truth.
"So, in other words..."
Dumbledore spoke slowly. The anger had long since vanished from his face. "Miss Granger, your appearance was entirely accidental, wasn't it?"
Hermione nodded solemnly. She didn't think she'd done anything wrong—but the guilty look she cast toward Voldemort said more than words could.
Dumbledore glanced at Voldemort with curiosity. Though he didn't know what secret the two of them shared, he decided not to expose it for now.
"Very well. I think Miss Granger has made herself clear enough. Now, let's see how we ought to punish these unlucky children." As he spoke, Dumbledore looked expectantly at the two Heads of House.
The students who'd caused trouble belonged to the two Heads of House, so they had more say in the matter.
"Not one of them should escape punishment," Professor McGonagall said, sounding like a seasoned judge.
"I completely agree," Snape chimed in, ever ready to strike.
Professor McGonagall glanced at him and continued, "But Malfoy should be punished more severely. He proposed the duel and used a Dark C—"
"I don't agree."
Snape cut her off at once. "There's nothing in Hogwarts's rules that says Dark Curses are forbidden. If Potter knows such advanced magic, I think..."
"No. Dark Curses are forbidden."
Professor McGonagall stood her ground, puffing