Note: This was written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments) where I am a Slytherin.
Other Hogwarts prompts are listed in the author's note at the end.
Retaliation
They were at it again.
Minerva McGonagall had never found her House to be overflowing with children of mild and quiet dispositions, but 1970 had brought a fresh wave of mischief. A year at Hogwarts had done nothing to tame them, and when she caught sight of James Potter boldly unleashing a body bind on Aster Parkinson in the corridor, she could already make a guess as to what the problem was.
"Potter hexed me!" the Slytherin half of the equation sputtered the moment she released him.
"I can see that. You are free to go, Mr. Parkinson," Minerva said curtly.
"Aren't you going to do anything about it?" Parkinson said in a huff, arms crossing tightly across his chest.
"I am perfectly capable of administering discipline without your assistance." The boy kept his arms crossed but withered just a little under her sharpening stare, and when she dismissed him again, he quickly complied.
Rocking on his heels, Potter barely even waited for his classmate to walk away before starting his defense: "Parkinson and Rowle-"
"I will be deducting five points from our House," Minerva cut in firmly, to which Potter crinkled his face.
"They cheated in Quidditch and were bragging about how they got away with it. It was obvious because Slytherin always cheats, but a little body bind can't be worse than that! If he wants to act like a snake, he can't need his arms that much. What was I supposed to do?"
"Casting spells on your classmates is not the way to solve a Quidditch squabble." Her expression was uncompromising, but she couldn't help the look she flicked over to the window. The goal posts were visible, and as much as she didn't want to, she did feel a little twinge of sympathy for his plight. She had experienced her own frustrations in the Pitch, back in the day... "I will speak with Professor Slughorn if you are concerned about this being an ongoing problem. Your responsibility is beating the Slytherins fairly. You are dismissed."
Potter still didn't look very pleased about it, but he nodded and slumped away.
With a heavy sigh, she shook her head. New faces came, year in and year out, but some things always stayed the same.
Additional Author's Notes
Applicable Hogwarts Prompts:
Insane House Challenge - 693. "Cheaters never win, and winners never cheat."
365 Day Challenge - 176. (job) Teacher
Marauders Map, Chessboard Chamber - 119. (trait) Logical
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Cornish Pixie in Cameroon - 16. (word) Mischief, 31. (character) James Potter
Slytherin Speed Challenge (72 Hours) Buttons, Green - 13. "What was I supposed to do?"
Chocolate Frog Cards, Uric Oapley - Write about receiving punishment from a Gryffindor Head of House.
Writing Club, Character Appreciation, Sirius - 3. (character) James Potter
Writing Club, Disney Challenge, Characters, Chief Tui - 3. Write about a leader
Writing Club, Amber's Attic, Footloose - 3. Write about breaking rules
Writing Club, Lyric Alley, "You Don't Own Me" - 13. That's all I ask of you
Writing Club, Adventure Zone, Magnus Burnsides - 1. Write about someone who acts without thinking
Writing Club, Sophie's Shelf, Guy Fawkes - 11. Mischief
Word Count - 370
