Slanderous

[Monty Pendleton]

Never had Monty been so displeased with a pupil. What on earth had possessed Odette to do something so unkind? He couldn't bring himself to believe that anything she'd written about Harley was true; not if her reaction was anything to judge by. Besides which, even if it were, Odette's behaviour was completely unacceptable. She ought to have approached a professor with her concern - not plastered vicious flyers all over the school walls. They were everywhere: in the dungeons, the entrance hall, the corridors. Once Professor Pendleton had delivered Odette to her head of house, he intended to go immediately to the professor's common room and ask anybody there to assist him in removing every one of them.

The damage, of course, had already been done. Monty hoped Harley would take herself to Professor Kingsley, or that she at least had close friends to support her. "You really ought in future to consider the consequences of your actions, Odette," Monty said, not unkindly. They were nearly at Professor Styx's office. "I cannot fathom what possessed you to spread these rumours, but I hope, for your sake and Harley's, that this won't happen again. If there is any truth behind your allegations, I suggest you inform Professor Styx and allow him to handle the situation. But Odette-" Monty stopped outside the door and turned to look at her, his expression and tone softening. "If there isn't, I would strongly advise you to concede. It'll only do you worse in the long run to perpetuate a lie." He raised his fist and knocked.

 

[Odette Madison]

Odette was in deep trouble, and she knew it. Her head of house didn't seem like the friendliest sort of person, and this professor certainly wouldn't put a good word in for her. Her only comfort was that at least some people would believe her flyers and give Harley a hard time, but it felt like a hollow victory. How much could she enjoy it if she had to do hours of detention?

She was thinking of how to play this, how to get herself out of this, when the professor started to talk. It wasn't as angry as before, but he did sound disappointed. Stupid, how could he be disappointed if he didn't even know her? She glanced up at him from the corner of her eye, wondering if he wanted her to say something back, she decided not to talk about whether or not it was true or not right now, she wasn't sure if she should keep pretending to believe it or not. So, she tried a different tactic. "You don't know if it was my idea." She said defensively. "Maybe someone else made them. I wasn't the only one putting them up, Margo from Ravenclaw was too." If she had to be punished for this, at least she wouldn't be alone.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Voices were heard outside his door. Kalif recognized one of the voices. Pendleton. The other was a student. Rolling his eyes, he waved his hand and the door opened to allow the two in. A first year, and the potions professor. Kalif clasped his gloved hands together, not looking too pleased. This could only be one thing. A student needed his punishment. "Don't waste my time. Explain why she is here." He looked toward the professor. Luckily, he could tell if someone was lying just by looking at them. Being a skilled legilimens came in handy when it was dealing with students. "Then you, after Professor Pendleton." Kalif stood up to his full height, gesturing to the seats in the room.
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[Monty Pendleton]

Monty frowned. Margo? It was too ridiculous a thing to make up. "Well, I'll investigate that later," he said. The door swung open and the potions professor gestured for Odette to enter. Though he didn't particularly like Kalif, he did respect the man enough to keep things short and simple, as he requested. Without sitting down, Monty said, "This girl was caught distributing these flyers around the school." He unfolded the parchment he'd crumpled in his fist and offered it to Kalif. "I'm led to believe by her attitude that Odette is chiefly responsible, though I will shortly be investigating a claim that a girl from Ravenclaw had a hand in spreading them. If I might, Professor, this situation rather urgently demands me elsewhere..."

 

[Odette Madison]

She was glad to have at least included Margo in this, though she wished she could be sure he wouldn't tell her she named her directly. It wasn't likely, though. He'd probably tell the other girl Odette had given him her name and then try to make Margo hate her too. But she would deal with that later.

For now, Professor Styx was her biggest worry. He was scary and he was looking at them in a way that made her feel very small. When the professor that had escorted her gave his reasons for leaving so soon, Odette nearly rolled her eyes. She restrained herself, but still felt like it was a weak excuse. This situation rather urgently demands me elsewhere. Yeah right. More likely, he was just as scared of this other professor as she was. Which was rather pathetic of him. Odette decided then that she wouldn't cower or look weak. She was in trouble anyway, so pretending to be innocent wouldn't do her any good.

"I just wanted to warn everyone." She said, looking at professor Styx. "That's not a crime."

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

"Just one second there, Pendleton," Kalif spoke in a darker tone. The girl in Ravenclaw could wait. For all he knew, Odette Harper was using her as a scapegoat. He heard what he wanted to hear, but not from the girl. "The Ravenclaw girl can wait. She doesn't have a Head of House to report to." He took the flyer from the potions professor briefly scanned it, before he made it burn within his gloved fingers. This is a sad excuse. Wanting to warn people? He waved his hand and the door slammed shut. Kalif turned his darkened gaze down to the Slytherin girl. "Warning people is not a crime. However, doing something this redundant that has caused an uproar, no doubt, is. Are these accusations true?"
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[Monty Pendleton]

Monty nodded, though it was not Margo, but the flyers still pinned up all over the school that he was concerned about. His heart flinched as the door was slammed shut, though he carefully maintained his outward composure. Truth be told, he was angry enough to have slammed it closed himself. Perhaps Professor Styx was precisely what Odette needed to keep her from repeating any such mistake again.

 

[Odette Madison]

Odette was privately glad that Professor Pendleton was staying a little bit longer. He may not be happy with her, but he wasn't nearly as intimidating as her Head of House. The professor burned her flyer and she scowled just a bit. She had worked hard on those, and putting them up had been even more work. She smoothed her expression to neutral quickly, though. But immediately flinched when the door slammed shut. That was a mean trick.

He asked her if it was true and she briefly considered lying. Honestly, she thought she would get in the same amount of trouble whether she said it was true or not. Professor Pendleton had let her know it was unacceptable regardless. "It's mostly true. I exaggerated a little but... but she really is horrible." Odette said, wondering if she just made a mistake.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Listening to the girl, Kalif shook his head. First years were always so dramatic and immature. He had not had to deal with them for a while now, and it appeared that he would have to ensure that this would be the last time. Unless the girl was too dense to understand the meaning of his punishments. Kalif looked toward Pendleton, and spoke, "I believe you should go remove the posters, should they remain. Burn them to ensure that no one else can lay eyes on that slander." Kalif waved his hand and the door opened, to allow the potions professor to leave. He turned his dark eyes to Odette, before speaking in a darker tone, "You, on the other hand, have disgraced the honor that it means to be Slytherin. Thirty points will be removed from the house, and I will expect sentences of 'I will not slander any student'. I expect five rolls of parchment with these sentences, no less. The writing will have to be in a perfect, straight line, and neatly written. But that's not all." Kalif paused for a moment, allowing this to sink in. "I want you to make a public apology, stating that you lied on the posters, in front of the entire school. Is that understood?"
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[Odette Madison]

Monty was dismissed quickly and Odette couldn't help but feel slightly betrayed when he left. He may be angry at her, but to leave her with this scary man all alone? Couldn't he stay just a little longer? She swallowed and forced herself to look at Professor Styx, not wanting to show how scared she was. The thirty point loss hurt, but not too badly. She just hoped none of her housemates figured out why they were thirty short. Writing lines was a pain, but not unexpected either. Five rolls were a lot, but maybe she could figure out a way to speed it up a bit. She thought her punishment was doable, but then he said there was more. There was a long pause, and Odette felt a flutter in her stomach. Would she be suspended? They couldn't do that for something like this, could they? She assumed she needed to physically harm someone before that happened.

But no, it wasn't a suspension. It was worse. A public apology, in front of the entire SCHOOL? No way. She wouldn't, she'd refuse. He was testing her. Surely for just the other first years would be enough, or even to the Gryffindor house. Something like that. But the whole school? Everyone? She wouldn't be able to, it was too much. She shook her head. "No." She said, shaking her head again. "No, I won't. I'll apologize to her, I'll apologize to her friends. I'll bake her a freaking cake if you need me to but you can't make me..." She trailed off, because she knew that he could. Tears pricked behind her eyes and she tried to force them back. They never seemed to come at the right time. Professor Pendleton may have been moved by them, though she doubted that after he caught her that way, but she didn't need to know Professor Styx very well to know with a certainty that being pitiful was not the way to convince him of anything. She balled her fists. "I'll do the rest but I won't do that." She said, but even to her own ears it didn't sound convincing in the slightest.

Out of Character:

Had Claire's permission to have Monty leave

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

"Do it or pack your bags if you can't take responsibility for your actions. You disrupted the whole school with your posters. Therefore, you will apologize to the whole school." Kalif was not in a negotiating mood. His tone of voice was not to be reckoned with at all. The punishment could be much worse. He had imagination after all.
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[Odette Madison]

Fury rose inside Odette and she had to clench her fists even tighter to stop herself from shouting at this man. It would surely be the end of her time at this school. But this was unacceptable, it was unfair. She couldn't go up in front of the whole school and say she lied, everyone would know it had been her. Everyone would laugh. She didn't want to, she couldn't.

But she also didn't want to be kicked out of school, she could only too easily imagine what her mother would say. She couldn't let that happen. "Fine." She hissed, not looking at him. "I'll do it."

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

The girl had chosen the right choice. Being put up there would be a nightmare for her, which was why Kalif chose it. He knew exactly how to keep his students in line. "You are dismissed."
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