When the sun finally rose the next morning, Salazar couldn't help feeling a bit triumphant. He had stayed up all night, but he had found a solution to his problem, and there was nothing that Rowena could do about it. In fact, she herself had set up herself by calling a Professor's meeting for before breakfast. It was perfect.
He walked confidently towards the professor's common room, and opened the door with a serious look on his face. Luckily, Godric and Helga were there, but no Rowena. That he got there before Rowena was a somewhat vital part of his plan. He could make it work if she had been there first, but it would be much more difficult.
"Good morning," Salazar said, trying not to smile.
"Good morning," said Helga cheerfully, while Godric gave a tired grunt.
Rowena came in. When her eyes met Salazar's they were full of vengeance. Salazar stared coldly back.
"I would like to start and end this as soon as possible," said Rowena briefly. Salazar smiled internally. Rowena had just pushed Godric and Helga slightly over to his side by not saying good morning. Manners and pleasantries had a large place in this world.
It's time though Salazar. "As would we all, Rowena," quickly jumping in the gap. "And I most of all, because I know the reason why you called this meeting." Rowena looked at him surprised. Oh, there's more to come, thought Salazar. Just you wait.
"I acted rather poorly on my part yesterday," continued Salazar. "I treated a student unfairly and unjustly during the time when he and another girl had to finish their potion work, and I apologize to your student through you, Rowena.
Rowena looked confused. "I will tell him."
Before she could say anything else, Salazar started to talk again. "However, it came to my attention after the incident that we do not have a satisfactory and uniform discipline system in the school. Which is perhaps why you got mad at the way I handled the situation, Rowena. We have different ways of handling the situation when the students misbehave, and mine are perhaps a little more strict. Granted, yesterday I did step over the as of now non-existent boundaries, and I apologize again, this time to you all." He looked over to her with all the sincerity he could muster. Rowena was looking at him, stunned. She was trapped, and she knew it. She can't do say anything without making herself look bad thought Salazar cheerfully.
"You are forgiven," she said at last, and he knew it was against every fiber of her being. The other two nodded in agreement.
"Now, if I may continue," he said, glancing over to Godric and Helga to get permission. "I have come up with a solution.
"Detentions should be given in the case of a student misbehaving to the point of disrupting the class. As for anything that endangers the lives of other students or ourselves, that should be considered grounds for expulsion from the school."
"Isn't that a bit…extreme?" said Helga. "After all, we want to build up the reputation of our school."
"We're talking about the student's lives, Helga. I think expulsion would be necessary."
"I agree," said Godric, with a yawn.
"And what would these detentions consist of?" Rowena said, a glare in her eyes. "Redoing the days work?"
"No, of course not," said Salazar. "Redoing the work will not make the student behave.They would instead be of a physical nature. Say, cleaning out the privies, or helping to clean the hospital dressing. That way, the student would be giving something back to the school."
Helga and Godric made positive noises. Rowena sat there, hate building up in her eyes.
"But what happens when a student does something non-disruptive?" Rowena said. "For example, doing a potion incorrectly?"
"Thank you for asking, Rowena," Salazar said, jumping up and down in happiness on the inside. "Here's the beauty of my plan. We would instate a points system, and an inter-house competition tied in with it. Good behavior, and showing of knowledge would earn the student's house points. A right answer in class, 5 points. A hundred percent on an exam, 10 points. Or even an act of heroism-" Godric grinned "-it could earn 50, a hundred points. And at the end of the year, the house with the most points would have the end of the year feast in their honor- the hall decorated in their colours, and, of course, bragging rights for a year. So what does anyone think?"
"I like it," said Godric.
"So do I. A little competition, a little threat of punishment, could make the students behave," said Helga.
"Not to mention pressure from their house mates. If you do something insanely stupid, and lose your house 50 points, they will make sure you behave the rest of the year," said Salazar, eagerly.
"What do you think, Rowena?" said Godric.
She was silent, staring at Salazar with the utmost hatred and disgust. "I think it's a good idea," she said at last.
Check and mate, thought Salazar, triumphantly.
"How will we keep track of the points?" asked Helga.
"Simple," said Salazar. "Accio Hufflepuff Point keeper," he said, pulling out his wand.
Something that looked like a large hourglass flew into the room. Salazar caught it swiftly. "There are four more of these," said Salazar. "One to be placed in each of the dorms, and one in here that will be a replica of the current points leader, so we can see who's leading. They are each charmed to react to our, and only our voices. Watch." He put the hourglass down. "Five points to Hufflepuff!" The sand in the hourglass moved up to the 5 point line on the side. "Five points from Hufflepuff!" he said, and the sand went back to where it was.
"Of course, we have to trust that we all use our judgment when handing out points, and not be partial to any one house. But that goes without saying."
Godric and Helga nodded, and grinned.
"Right! Shall we go to breakfast now?" said Godric. "The students should be arriving soon, and I want to announce the points system before the meal."
"Wait, Godric," said Rowena. "Shouldn't we all agree to the idea first?"
Godric looked surprised. "I was under the impression that we were all in agreement."
"Never make assumptions," said Rowena severely.
"Are you opposed?"
Rowena looked uncomfortable. "No."
Godric turned to Helga. "Are you?"
"I think it's a brilliant idea."
"Well, that settles it! I'll announce it at breakfast then."
"Since when do you speak for us?" said Rowena.
Godric looked confused. "Well…It's just I've always really made all the major announcements…I'm just usually the one to speak, that's all. So I figured-"
"What did I say about making assumptions?
Godric looked uncomfortable. "Well, would you like to make the announcement?"
"I think Salazar should," Helga said, cutting in. "He did come up with the idea, it's only fair."
Godric turned towards Salazar. "Will you?"
"I think you should, Godric," said Salazar, eager to annoy Rowena. "You have the best speaking voice."
"I will then, if it's all right with you, Ms. Ravenclaw."
"It's fine, Master Gryffindor," Rowena said, curtly.
"I think we should go now," said Helga. "The students…"
The four got up, and walked to the hall silently. Godric announced the plan to the excited students. Each house seemed eager to go on with the day's lessons, for once.
Salazar walked around the hallway aimlessly after breakfast. They still had another half- hour until the morning classes began. He felt a hand grab his shoulder. He whirled around. It was Rowena.
"Yes?" he said, in all innocence.
"Don't yes me. I bet you thought that was terribly clever of you," she said, fire in her eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Taking over the meeting like that. My meeting."
"The majority of the meeting was me presenting my idea, but I certainly didn't take over," Salazar said, remaining calm.
"Majority? Try the entire meeting, Salazar."
"Nonsense. We all talked and exchanged ideas."
It was often said the two of them were remarkably alike. Black hair, black eyes, tall, powerful, and stubborn. Godric had remarked on occasion that standing between them was like standing between two waterfalls. What was happening now was like watching two dammed rivers on the bursting point. Neither was yielding. Until-
"I won't let you get away with this," Rowena said, letting lose a flood.
Salazar abandoned all innocence. "Ah, my dear Rowena, you already did. I presented my version of events first. And thanks to your behavior at the meeting, anything you say now will be like sour grapes to them. They'll think you're jealous for not coming up with the idea."
"I beg your pardon," Rowena said angrily.
"Come on, Rowena," Salazar said, exasperated. "You come up with everything. The level system. The sorting. The school crest. If you complain, it'll seem like you're mad for not being able to control the school."
"What?" Rowena said, disbelieving. "What have I ever done to make it seem like I want to control the school."
"The meeting. The argument over whom would announce my idea. If I were one of them, I'd think you were after a loftier position."
Rowena said nothing. The bell that signaled 5 minutes until class started rang.
"I think it's best if you got to class now," said Salazar. "Mustn't keep your students waiting."
"You and your bastard ways will burn," she said. She turned on her heel, and started off towards the charms room.
"Don't make assumptions!" Salazar called back, before going his own way.
He lay awake thinking that night, tired as he was from last night's all night vigil. He had never really thought of the devil, or of hell, or of heaven, or of god. The village priest had said that witches made contracts with the devil, which he knew was false.
Or was it? Who was to say that wasn't how wizards had first gotten their powers? And passed it on, damning the generations after them?
He shook his head. The muggles were fools. Granted, it was out of ignorance, not stupidity that the believed this, but they were fools all the same.
He finally drifted of to sleep. He had a strange dream that night. He was running through the fens near his house. He didn't know from what, but the name Matthew was in his head, and it played over and over, changing each time, until it was the word traitor. And then the devil came in a flash of light, and beckoned for his soul, for that was the arranged dream. When he awoke, he remembered nothing, except the two words.
A/n- I think this chapter should defiantly be subtitled "Salazar creates corporate America", but it wouldn't fit with the The____ pattern I've got going. And I'm sorry to get all religious there, but it was a religious time.