A/N:
Written for the March Event (Mother's Day) over on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)
Relationship: Euphemia Potter/James Potter
Chocolate Frog: Bronze – Benjy Fenwick – Prompts – Swift, Blink
1000 Word Challenge: Shame
Gringotts: Noun – Breakfast, Owl, Chaos, Mischief, Letter, Pine, Treat, Regret, Incident, Injury, Shock, Trick, Conference, Response, Expression, Seat, Hospital, Wing, Punishment, Team, Cup, Saturday, Term, Lesson, Prank; Adjective – Familiar, Elegant, Heavy, Nasty, Serious, Sharp, Good, Liberal, Appropriate, Swift, Fortunate; Verb – Exclude, Root, Learn, Support, End, Give, Remove; Charmed: Season 1 Episode 8 – (Location) Kitchen
Word Count: 833
Parent – Teacher Conference
Euphemia had just sat down for breakfast when the tapping of an owl on the kitchen window startled her.
The elderly witch sighed as she took in the sight of the all too familiar owl.
She pottered over to the window and opened it slightly wondering what mischief and chaos her son had been causing this time.
The owl fluttered inside her kitchen and dropped the letter on the table hooting softly as she landed on the back of one of the pine wood chairs.
As a way to avoid discovering what James had done this time, Euphemia began to root through the cupboards to find the owl a treat.
Eventually Euphemia picked up the envelope with the familiar, elegant handwriting of Minerva McGonagall on the front and sliced it open.
Dear Mrs Potter,
It is with a heavy heart and great regret that I find myself writing to you again so soon, but I fear I have been left with no other choice.
Last night your son James was involved in a particularly nasty incident with another one of our students which has resulted in a quite serious injury.
I worry that if this behaviour continues, I will have no other choice but to exclude James from Hogwarts.
However at this moment in time I think that a good, sharp shock should do the trick which is why I would appreciate it if you or your husband could come to Hogwarts for a conference of sorts with myself and James.
Please inform me of your answer by owl at your earliest convenience along with a selection of times and dates that would suit you.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Head of Gryffindor and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Euphemia frowned as she penned a swift response to Minerva, unable to believe just how close her son was to being excluded from Hogwarts at the age of fifteen.
As she sealed the envelope the witch couldn't help but feel as though she and her husband were the ones to blame for James' behaviour issues. They had been too liberal with their son and allowed him to get away with far too much growing up, but that had to stop now. Her son needed to learn that actions have consequences, and she would fully support whatever actions Minerva felt to be appropriate.
Euphemia listened intensely as Minerva explained what her son had done, her facial expression becoming increasingly appalled. She couldn't believe that James had done something so disgraceful and it made her feel so ashamed to have raised a child who could cause someone so much pain.
"James, how could you do such a thing?" Euphemia asked when Minerva had finished talking, feeling the need to blink back her tears for the poor victim of her son's prank.
The teenager, who eyes had been trained on the floor for the entire time finally lifted them to look at his mother. He had shame written all across his features, and Euphemia fought the urge to soften her expression.
"I didn't mean to mum, I swear," he whispered. "He was just supposed to get a fright. I never meant for it to end this way."
"That's not the point James," Euphemia said, trying to keep her voice even. "The fact that you even thought of such a thing is disgraceful."
"I'm sorry," the teenager muttered, shifting nervously in his seat.
"Tell that to the boy in the hospital wing," Euphemia fumed, raising her voice to her son for the first time. "Heaven only knows what his mother must think of you right now."
James lowered his eyes back to the ground. He couldn't bear to see his mother so angry and disappointed with him.
"Professor McGonagall," Euphemia said removing her focus from her son. "You have my full support in whatever punishment you wish to give my son."
"At this point in time I see it fit to suspend your son's Hogsmeade privileges, and for the rest of the year remove him from the Quidditch team," Minerva stated with a heavy heart, knowing that it would damage her house's chances of winning the cup. "And he will serve detention every Saturday up until the end of term."
Euphemia nodded her head in agreement, and turned to face her son who she could sense knew that he had gotten off lightly.
"You should consider yourself lucky that Professor McGonagall has not excluded you," Euphemia said softly.
"I know," James muttered. "I really am sorry mum."
"I know you are son, but now you need to make more of an effort to be the best you can be," Euphemia told him. "Remember James, actions have consequences."
James nodded his head. "I will mum."
The rest of the meeting with Minerva passed quickly and soon Euphemia was heading home hoping that her son had learnt his lesson. She had a feeling that if something like this ever happened again he would not be so fortunate.
A/N:
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