The Headmaster sat down at the head of the table, immediately after the guest took his seat at the foot of it. He waved his wand and refreshments appeared in front of each of the six at the table. At the head of the table, as indicated, sat Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. To his right sat Professor Minerva McGonnagall, Head of Gryffindor, and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, while to his left was Professor Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin. Next to McGonnagall was Professor Pomona Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff, and next to Snape was Professor Filius Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw. The five most senior members of the schools staff, and those with personal responsibility for the welfare of the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All five looked expectantly at their guest who looked back at them with a steady expression.

"Well, Barty, perhaps you'd better explain to us why you asked me to call this meeting?" said Professor Dumbledore.

"Of course." Bartemius Crouch, Senior, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation at the Ministry of Magic was used to raising uncomfortable issues with very powerful people, and he was good at it. But facing Professor Dumbledore was considerably more discomforting than facing foreign Ministers of Magic. He knew that Dumbledore was not going to like what he was going to hear. But he also knew that the concerns of the Ministry were valid and needed to be addressed. "I won't mince words, Albus. The Ministry has received a number of complaints about the way Hogwarts is being run, and it's getting to the stage that the Minister cannot continue to ignore them. The Minister has asked me, as I have had to come up here, anyway to organise the Triwizard Tournament, to raise these issues with you, and your senior staff, to see if we can't work something out short of..."

"Short of what?" said Professor McGonnagall after Crouch trailed off.

"There are some who think an inquisition should be held into the running of Hogwarts. A full inquiry."

Professor Dumbledore spoke. "We have nothing to hide."

"Of course not, but the person they want to appoint to do it – she would be looking for things that aren't hidden. Perhaps things that aren't there. And she'd find them."

Snape leaned forward. "Who, precisely, are we talking about?"

"Umbridge. Dolores Umbridge. I know... it's hard to imagine somebody more unsuitable but she... has an influence over the Minister, probably one that is nearly as strong as my own and it's getting stronger. And if she is allowed into Hogwarts to examine it – well, it will be – and I hope you will forgive the phrase – nothing short of a witch hunt. Now I think I can stave it off, but only if I can go back to the Minister with some positive changes to report."

Professor Sprout smiled. "Positive changes? It sounds to me like you think there are some things that could be improved here."

"Well... quite. Look, I think you are all doing a wonderful job, but that doesn't mean that there might not be some room for improvement."

"What are the problems, Barty?" asked the Headmaster.

"The biggest complaint – raised by the Governors, but I assure you it's not just the Governors who have concerns – relate to some of those you have appointed as staff recently."

"And who would they be?"

"You know very well who – Remus Lupin and now, Rubeus Hagrid. A werewolf and a half giant, Albus. Parents have reason to be concerned. Oh, you know they are both safe enough – I know both of them myself and I have no doubts. But it is enough to cause concern."

Professor Dumbledore looked at his senior staff. And all nodded after a moment. The Headmaster looked at the Ministry official.

"Are you telling me the Ministry would interfere with who I employ at this school?"

"We would rather not do so, but there is talk of Education Decrees to do just that. In fact, they've been drafted."

"Well, when such Decrees are promulgated, I will, of course, comply with them. But until they are, I will continue to employ who I wish."

"I have to give the Minister something, Dumbledore."

"What do you suggest?"

Mr Crouch frowned. "All right. Well, the only other issue I can think of that would allow me to return to the Minister with a strong enough recommendation for no changes to be forced onto the school is the old chestnut. The discipline of the school. Now, Professors, I don't want to let any cats out of the bag, but I have to say some concerns about this have been raised from within the school, as well as from outside it. I'm not sure if anybody here would like to..."

Professor Snape spoke. "It's all right, Crouch. The Headmaster is fully aware of my views on this matter, and I have informed him of my intention to write to the Ministry when I have done so. I would never go against his express wishes, but he has never tried to stop me expressing my views."

"Well, perhaps, you could outline them, Severus."

"With pleasure. We all know that Hogwarts used to be a much more... disciplined environment. It is a very different school in many ways from the one I attended as a boy. Unfortunately."

"Unfortunately?" asked Professor Dumbledore.

"Well... perhaps both fortunately and unfortunately. I cannot deny that the elimination of the most severe punishments was probably a good thing. I am younger than the rest of you, those things were gone by my time here. But I believe that perhaps the school went too far... leaving us only with detentions and the points system. We can try and make detentions... interesting, but there are limits."

"You mean, I went too far?" said the Headmaster. "It was my decision."

"A lot of people think you did go too far, Professor. A lot of parents especially," said Crouch.

"Including yourself?"

Mr Crouch's face went cold. "I cannot deny that I sometimes wonder if my son would have turned out differently if... I'm not trying to blame the school for my failures, Dumbledore, but we send our children to this school for nine months of the year. We want it to make sure they behave."

"He does have a point, Albus." McGonnagall spoke. "I certainly agree that you were right to get rid of the most extreme punishments – we have no need to be hanging students from chains, or flogging them with horsewhips. But – well, we don't even have the disciplinary tools available to us that exist in some Muggle schools. And there have been times, I've been at a loss to find ways of dealing with some of my House."

Professor Sprout said, "Let me guess – the Weasley twins?"

"Those two especially – I had a letter from their mother, Molly. She's very disappointed with the fact they only gained three O.W.L.S. each last year and she has a right to be – they're both gifted young Wizards. But I don't honestly see what else I could have done within the framework you've imposed on the school, Albus. I do understand you want the school to be as pleasant a place as possible for the pupils – but we are doing them no favours if we don't succeed in making sure they leave here as well trained and ready as possible. The world outside isn't always a pleasant place. Oh, and incidentally, she also told me something else that's a little disturbing in terms of student behaviour – but I'll raise that at another time."

"So you would support Severus in asking for a change to my policy?" asked the Headmaster.

"Yes, Headmaster, I would."

"So I have two of my four Heads of Houses asking for this change. Pomona, Filius, do you have anything to say on it."

Professor Flitwick had been silent for most of the meeting listening intently. He took a sip of his cherry soda before delivering his measured opinion.

"Yes, Albus, I do. And I have to say that I am, in favour – provided we are just talking about a partial change, and not all the way back to the bad old days. I find detentions difficult in Ravenclaw – most of the students like schoolwork, and using it as a punishment defeats the purpose. But if I use imaginative detentions as Severus would call them, I take them away from their studies and that is an odd thing for a teacher to do. I think quick punishments have their virtues."

Professor Sprout was the last to give her views. "I'm not particularly in favour, but I'm also not particularly opposed. Minerva is right in saying we don't even have the same punishments as some Muggle schools – young Finch-Fletchley has told me as much – that I couldn't punish him as severely as his prep school Headmaster had. Losing house points don't affect Hufflepuff as much as other houses – we don't expect to win the House Cup, so there's less worry about losing points."

Professor Dumbledore considered and spoke, "I cannot ignore the views of my staff, Barty, so you can report a change to the Minister. I will cancel my last order on this issue so staff will be more free to use physical forms of chastisement. We will not be reintroducing horsewhipping, or hanging students from chains. Measures such as using transfiguration as a punishment will remain out of the question. But staff will have the discretion to use a reasonable level of corporal punishment if they wish. And, as Headmaster, I will support them in that."

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. I will pass on that message to the Minister."

"With my respects."

The meeting turned to other matters. None of which would be regarded by the students as more momentous than this first one. The students were not officially informed of the change. They were allowed to find out about it as time unfolded. And most found out quite quickly.

Potions class was always unpopular with the Gryffindor Fourth Year students. Firstly, they had their lesson with the Slytherins. Secondly, it was taught by Snape who was generally believe to favour his own House. It was a lesson to be endured, not enjoyed.

The student with the most to endure was normally Neville Longbottom. Poor Neville wasn't particularly academic to begin with, but his problems were made much worse by the fact that Snape made him incredibly nervous. To be blunt, Snape frightened him with his unrestrained sarcasm at any student's failures. And this made Neville even more likely to fail.

Snape prowled around the classroom as the students mixed their potions. And it seemed to Neville almost as if Snape was lurking behind him willing him to fail. Whether this was truth or paranoia, the end result was that Neville became confused and added the badger bile too early. There was an acrid smell in the air, as the mixture bubbled, and then the cauldron it was contained in began to melt.

"Again, Longbottom? How many cauldrons is that, you have destroyed in my class now?"

Neville cringed, "Six, Professor."

"Six." The world slithered off Snape's tongue. "Six cauldrons. Six of the best pewter cauldrons that money can buy. Six of the best... how very appropriate. Come to the front of the room, come to my desk, Longbottom."

Neville slowly walked to the front of the room, everybody's eyes on him. He could not imagine a worse fate than being publically admonished in front of his class mates by Professor Snape.

Snape went to his desk. Atop it was a long thin box bound in green leather hinged on one side with silver hinges and secured on the other with two silver clasps. Nobody in the class had noticed it until now, it had never been there before. He now placed his hand on it, almost stroking it.

"I have tried, Longbottom. I have tried so many things with you. No matter how clear the instructions you still make the same mistakes. I have reprimanded you. With no effect. I have given you extra work. With no effect. I have given you detentions. With no effect. But now – now, fortunately for both of us, I have something new at my disposal. Perhaps this will work where nothing else has."

He placed his hands on the clasps, and in the silent classroom, a double click was heard as they were opened. Everybody's eyes were fixed watching as Snape reached into one end of the open case and drew out a thin but savage looking rod.

The Professor held it up for all to see. "Thirty six inches long. Rattan. Very, very whippy. Bend over, Longbottom, and touch your toes."

Neville seemed frozen in place, as if he'd been struck by a Petrificus Totalus.

"I said, bend over, Longbottom."

Harry stood up. "You can't do this!"

Snape turned on him, "Sir! And I most certainly can, Potter."

Hermione spoke. "Sir, Professor Dumbledore orders..."

"Have been changed, Miss Granger. Now sit down, Potter, before you get the same as Longbottom."

Harry sat down, reluctantly. He leaned over towards Hermione.

"Can he do this?"

"I don't know. Professor Dumbledore banned it, but if he has lifted the ban, then I suppose he can." Hermione began rummaging in her bag, and pulled out a large book and began leafing through it.

At the front of the room, Professor Snape had turned his attention back to Neville. "For the last time, Longbottom, bend over. There are worse punishments for refusing to accept this one."

Neville was able to move again. He had been temporarily paralysed with fear, but then he had decided that this punishment was probably easier to deal with than Snape's normal sarcasm. And he certainly didn't want to make it any worse. He slowly bent over and touched his toes.

Snape bent down as well to take the hem of Neville's robes. He lifted them and placed the back of the robes, folded on Neville's back, exposing the seat of his trousers to the cane he held in his hands. He lined up the cane across the centre of Longbottom's bottom, tapped once, raised it back and swung it in with force.

Neville gave a strangled yelp and straightened up.

"Back down, Longbottom. That one doesn't count. So you have another six to go. Everytime you stand up, I will not count the stroke. The rest of you should bear that in mind as well."

Neville bent back over, and Snape readjusted his robe. Took aim again, and delivered a second stroke – or redelivered the first depending on how you looked at it. Neville yelped again, but stayed down. Snape waited to see if he would rise, and seemed disappointed when he did not. He took aim and again delivered a stinging slash of the cane. Neville shook and cried out but stayed down. Snape was in his stride now, and seemed to be swinging harder and faster than before. He had described the cane accurately – it was very whippy and it made a sibilant hiss as it swept through the air. Neville shrieked and stood up again. His hands gripped his bottom.

"That one doesn't count, Longbottom. Four more to go. Bend over again."

Neville shook his head.

"If you don't bend over, Longbottom, I will send you to the Headmaster. And he has said he will support this, and he has worse punishments than this to inflict."

Hermione raised her hand. "Professor Snape?!"

"What is it, Miss Granger."

"What rules are you applying to this punishment? What order did Professor Dumbledore lift?"

"Are you questioning me, Miss Granger?"

"Yes, Sir. I have here my copy of Hogwarts, A History and it contains quite a bit of discussion about the regulations the Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts have set with regards to punishments over the years. And teachers have to follow the rules or they can get into a lot of trouble. So it matters as to what rules Professor Dumbledore has set."

Snape looked concerned. "I'm not sure of the precise rules. The Headmaster said he was lifting his last order."

"Then you have to follow the rules that were in place before that last order! And those rules don't let you give a student more than six strokes of a cane without the written permission of the Headmaster or Deputy Headmaster – or Deputy Headmistress in this case! – or their Head of House."

Snape's voice was very, very cool. "Do you have the rules there?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Bring them out. You can stand up for a moment, Longbottom."

Hermione pointed to the book. "Here, Sir."

Professor Snape read the rules. "You are... correct, Miss Granger. I cannot give Longbottom more than six strokes without the permission of Professor Dumbledore or Professor McGonnagall... however... I notice that there are other ways I can increase this punishment. Well, let us follow the rules, then. Sit down, Miss Granger. As for you, Longbottom, unfasten your trousers."

"What?!" Neville's tear streaked face went white.

"I have given you four strokes. I can only give you two more. But I don't have to leave you the protection of trousers."

"But..."

"Unfasten your trousers, or your underpants will come down as well. Some of the girls might find that entertaining, and we all might find it amusing."

Neville's hands went to his belt. He undid his belt, and then his trousers. Harry and Ron looked at each other in horror. Oh gosh – he hadn't put on those...

He had. Neville's teddy bear underpants were exposed for the entire class to see. He'd been teased for these in the dormitory before, but he'd managed to explain them away as having been purchased by his grandmother who didn't consider such things as a boys credibility at all. Now everybody saw them, and Draco Malfoy gave a loud laugh.

"Oh Longbottom, how do you bear the shame..."

And was shocked as Professor Snape whirled to face him, his robes flaring out like the wings of a bat. "Malfoy, unless you want to find yourself on display in the same way, you will be SILENT!"

The class was shocked into silence, Malfoy had not been the only one stirred to laughter. But for Snape to shout at Malfoy? For Snape to publically tell off Draco Malfoy – to defend Neville Longbottom. It was the most shocking thing in a morning full of shocks.

"Now bend over, Longbottom. Let's get this over with."

Neville bent over and Snape delivered the last two strokes, very hard, and very fast.

"Get your trousers up, and get back to your place, Longbottom." Snape dropped the cane back into his case as if it had suddenly become too hot to handle and snapped it shut.