Song for this chapter: Under Control by Ellie Goulding

Universal POV

Albus was barely able to contain his rage as he slipped out of Hagrid's hut. He had held strong throughout the chase. He did not waver during her examination. He kept his head throughout the long sleepless night when he held her hand. He even managed to keep his cool when she woke and told him how she felt about his upcoming meeting with the board of governors.

Anger burned like a hot coal in the pit of his stomach as he stormed the castle. He wanted vengeance. There was even a small part of him that wanted blood, and in his rage he could not even fathom Bianca's desire for peace. She spoke of a desire to avoid waves, but she did not seem to understand that there was no longer a pond to trouble. All of the water had been tossed about in a terrible storm leaving a barren bed of mud. He couldn't think around the rage that caused him. He could not form words beyond the sentence spoken to him by Poppy that told him not only should Bianca not be alive right now, but the rapidly healing organs in her body seemed to indicate that she had been dead for several minutes, no matter how impossible that might sound.

His mind was racing, but he had to think as clearly as he could. In just under an hour he would be meeting with the men who governed the school, and he could not be full of fire during that meeting or they would not hear him clearly. He needed to collect Severus and Minerva for the meeting, and he needed to gather himself. So he continued to breathe as evenly as he could, and he slowed his steps to that of a calmer man as he entered the great stone castle that did not feel entirely like his home today.

"I am convening the board today to discuss a very serious matter that took place last night in this school," Albus said as he stood before the twelve men who made up the board of governors. "I would first move to ask Lucius Malfoy to recuse himself as the matter I bring before you today pertains to his son Draco Malfoy."

Albus did what he could to rein in his visible and emotional response to the smug look that had quickly been replaced by rage on the face of Lucius Malfoy. There was a quick and silent vote between the twelve, and when eleven hands rose in favor of his recusal Lucius stepped to the side. He refused staunchly to leave the office however when a vote was being brought forward about his son's future.

"Last night there was a breach of ethics and safety protocols perpetrated by one Draco Malfoy against Bianca Potter," Albus continued in a surprisingly even voice. "I move that in order to atone for the unlawful distribution of potion and the vicious beating of a fellow student this young man be asked to leave the school."

"I object to any motions being brought forward against my son by the adoptive father of the alleged victim," Lucius interjected immediately, his hand clenching rhythmically on the head of his walking stick.

"I am the Headmaster of this school," Albus shot back, barely maintaining the flare of temper that roared to life in his chest.

"I demand you recuse yourself," Lucius snarked back. "Your deputy can step into your place. Assuming of course she can remain impartial despite the fact that the accuser is from her own house."

Albus turned to look at Minerva and she nodded her head gently. She would never say it out loud, but he could see that she was worried about his ability to remain impartial. He held onto what grace he could as he stepped aside, and stood on the opposite side of the room as Lucius Malfoy to give Minerva room to come forward.

"Last night there was an issue of several students being out of bed after curfew," Minerva began, as if she had been the one speaking the entire time. "Normally this is an issue that is dealt with in house, but very serious school rules and national laws were breached last night by Mr. Malfoy. His attack upon the person of Bianca Potter was exceedingly violent and she has weeks of recovery ahead of her. Her physical recovery is only a part of the journey she faces. It will take a great amount of therapeutic care for her to recover emotionally."

"Do you even have proof that my son is guilty of these accusations?" Lucius interjected.

"Let's save all questions until the end," the lead governor said briskly before turning his attention back to Minerva.

"Mr. Malfoy's behavior has been an issue all year," she went on. "He has been involved in several one-sided physical altercations with Bianca Potter for which he has served extensive detentions for. He was forced to take anger management classes with the castle counselor, Filius Flitwick, but clearly there has been no lasting effect."

"There was also a note found requesting Bianca's presence in the room where the attack took place, signed by Draco Malfoy," Albus interjected when she paused, unable to remain mum on the issue.

"You probably forged that," Lucius quietly spat, but there was a lingering doubt in his eyes that made Albus wonder if he had already known what his son planned to do.

"As Deputy Headmistress, with the support of the Headmaster, I move to have Mr. Malfoy expelled." Minerva interjected in an effort to keep an argument from starting. "For the safety of all of the students."

Lucius' eyes shot to those of Severus Snape, and he asked him with an arched aristocratic brow what exactly this woman was talking about. Draco certainly hadn't told his father that he had been given such strong sanctions from the school, nor had Severus which was a bit odd. While Lucius encouraged putting a Potter in their place, he did take issue with not being informed that his son had been in such trouble. How was he to correct his sloppy habits if he knew nothing about them?

"If I might say something," Severus said, stepping forward to join Minerva before the board. "As Mr. Malfoy's head of house, I have a particular interest in seeing his education through. I believe we can agree that he has made questionable choices, but I do not believe it is enough to merit throwing away his future. More harm could be done here today if we do not tread carefully."

"What do you suggest in place of expulsion?" a wizened white haired governor in the back asked.

"I think Mr. Malfoy should be re-enrolled in weekly therapy sessions, and I believe he should serve detentions for the duration of the year, but I do not think he should be expelled." Severus said, staunchly refusing to meet anyone's gaze directly. "It might be wise to go as far as restricting his movements so he cannot move too close to Ms. Potter, but I do think Mr. Malfoy's education still needs to be taken into consideration."

"You all seem to be operating under the assumption that my son is automatically guilty of this crime due to previous behavior." Lucius pointed out silkily. "You are moving solely on the word of the female student. Is she in charge here? She asks to have my son expelled and just like that her wish is granted?"

"She has not requested his expulsion," Albus said tiredly. "Rather, she specifically asked that I not have him expelled, but she is far too empathetic for her own good. She's worried about what his home life will be like if he leaves, rather than what her everyday life will be like here if he stays."

"This meeting is a mockery," Lucius said with a humorless laugh. "The supposed victim doesn't even want him expelled, how exactly can you justify any of this?"

"A brutal attack did take place," Severus pointed out quietly. "It is precedent that such a case be brought before the governors."

"Precedent or not this meeting would have been called," Minerva shot off, quickly losing control of her temper. "Mr. Malfoy's behavior has not place in this school. This is a place of education, not criminal deviancy!"

"It seems there is a serious difference of opinion with all parties involved," the head governor pointed out forcefully, cutting off the argument before it could get started. "The education of both students must be taken into consideration, but I am inclined to take the request of the victim into consideration as well. I move to have Mr. Malfoy placed on probation. I would suggest he serve detentions until the end of the year, attend counseling, and be restricted to his common room or the library outside of lessons so as to remove contact from the victim. I would also move that any further infractions this year lead to his expulsion."

"I second that motion," the wizened governor spoke up.

"All those in favor?" the head governor posed.

There were eleven ayes and just like that it was decided. Lucius Malfoy was relieved that his son would still attend Hogwarts, but Albus was furious. He wanted to rampage, but he stood stoically to the side. He was frustrated with Severus for essentially suggesting the exact punishment that was given to his star pupil, but he could see a darkness in the man's eyes that told him Severus was not happy with the punishment either. He sometimes forgot what it was like to have to stand up for your house no matter how you might feel on an issue, and that didn't even take into consideration that he would defend Slytherin to the end simply because no one else would. Albus did not miss being a head of house.

"You need to gain a firmer grip on your son," Severus whispered to Lucius as they slipped out of the Headmaster's office together. "I cannot protect him from Albus if he is going to be so blatant with his actions."

"Surely you don't believe he did this?" Lucius whispered back. "He is eleven Severus."

"I personally have seen the wounds he inflicted upon her in the past," Severus said, barely managing to keep from growling in his anger. "I must admit, I believe him capable of it."

"And have you seen her?" he asked. "Does she look like it has happened? Merlin knows we'd be able to tell, we've seen them enough."

"I have not seen her," Severus said, his face contorting with disgust that Lucius misunderstood. "She is not a student in my house; I do not spend more time with her than strictly necessary."

"See that she stays away from my son, and I will see what I can do about his behavior," Lucius said before he swept away, leaving Severus alone in the entrance to the dungeons.

Severus stood there for a long time, unable to bring himself to start his day. He stood there long enough to see Albus slip out of the castle to return to Hagrid's hut even though he should be going up to bed. He kept standing there when Minerva went to stand sullenly at the house hourglasses, lost in thought. His own thoughts were in disarray as he stared at the wall before him rather than heading down to Slytherin common room to inform Draco of his punishment. He couldn't help but feel something over what had happened to Bianca Potter. He didn't like her one bit, her last name ensured that, but she looked so much like Lily that she still managed to elicit emotion in him.

He didn't want to see her now that this had happened. He didn't even want to imagine what that familiar face would look like marred with bruises. He didn't want to see dead eyes staring out of that face. It was hard enough to see that face when she was happy. Why had he ever agreed to teach at this blasted school?

Albus left the castle with every intention of returning to Bianca's side, but he was simply too angry. For the first time in years he really, truly wanted to physically hurt someone, but he could not afford to give in to such a temptation. The last time he had done so he had lost more than he could ever begin to cope with. It was that thought that told him where to go. Aberforth would keep him from doing something he would regret. He'd be absolutely dreadful about it, but he would be there for him in his time of need.