Professor McGonagall stared out the window from her office. The sun was setting in the west and she was relieved that the day was drawing to a close. The weekend had been taxing and she was ready for the school week to begin, at least then she'd be doing something she loved, rather than dealing with unruly students, harsh criticisms from the Ministry, and unruly professors.
One such professor was pacing a hole into the smooth wood of her office floor. The constant pacing that wouldn't have been irritating if not for the squeak of leather upon wood each time he changed direction.
McGonagall sighed, scanning the darkening woods and the school lawns. Students were hurrying back into the castle for dinner and to get our of the cooling weather. Had it already been a day since Neville and Cho returned.
"You cannot just let him get off free." Snape said, his pacing suddenly coming to a stop.
McGonagall sighed again. She wondered, briefly, how much Professor Snape really hated Harry. If is was a casual dislike one wouldn't be spending so much time in trying to either get the student expelled or locked in the dungeons. She knew Snape was not one to give up on something. He had a stubborn streak that paled even Harry's, if such a thing were possible.
"What do you want?" McGonagall asked. She with held a sigh and a feeling of betraying someone. It was not betrayal, it was compromise. Two parties in disagreement. Two parties that were too stubborn to see reason. If things were to be peaceful between the two parties each side had to give a little. Comprise was what was needed.
McGonagall turned about and sat behind her desk, face expressionless and steeling herself to hear the worst Snape would throw at her. If she could at least satisfy his need for redemption, then she could be able to focus upon the other problems which were begging her attention.
"I want Potter off the Gryffindor Quidditch team, I wand him under strict curfew, and I want a public apology to the Slytherin House for his actions yesterday." Snape said, folding his arms across his chest.
McGonagall watched Snape for a moment. He did not look satisfied nor did he look happy about what he was saying. "Is that all?" She asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." He replied.
McGonagall leaned back in her chair and thought. What he was asking was not unreasonable; in actuality it was amazingly generous on his part. He could have asked for worst and given the time and the energy he's put into badgering her the last two days, would have probably gotten it.
Compromise. McGonagall thought. It was the way of the world sometimes. You couldn't have everything turn out your way. There were times when you had to give up in some areas to gain in other areas. Compromise.
"These punishments all fall under your jurisdiction." Snape added when McGonagall hadn't said anything.
Compromise and punishment. The events in the Great Hall were too big to go unpunished. Too many had seen who had started it and too many had witnessed it. This could not be covered and squashed as had happened the other times.
McGonagall nodded slightly. There were no options. "So be it." She answered.
XXX
Torches burned along the walls, their flames fluttering in a soft wind that blew from one of the many tunnels that led into darkness. Samuel stood motionless in a junction between several of those tunnels, the hood of his cloak raised and shadowing his face.
From several of the tunnels emerged several men and women, all dressed in hooded cloaks. They milled around for a moment, whispered speech murmured to one another. Samuel stood in the center of the chamber, watching as their shadows danced upon the rough stone walls.
"We have lost Damon." Samuel suddenly said. All motion in the chamber stopped and everyone turned to Samuel.
"Damn them." A male voice hissed. He pulled back his hood to reveal a the hard face of a young man, short haired and blue eyed. "What happened to him?" the man demanded.
"Be calm, Jacob." Able said, taking a step forward.
"He was careless. He chased after the students and didn't return when they came back." Samuel stated. There was a slight murmur from the gathered.
"Damn." Jacob muttered, his head dropping for a moment. "What are we going to do?"
"We proceed as planned." Able announced.
"What about the students?" A female voice spoke up.
Samuel glanced to Alexandra, a short whip thin woman with sandy blonde hair. She glanced to Samuel, question in her eyes. "When we open the Well, then they'll be dealt with, as well everyone in this school."
Alex suddenly glanced to Lilith who was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed. Samuel noticed the questioning look passing between the two and felt a stir of warning. "Things aren't progressing as well as I thought they would." Alex said.
"Explain." Alex barely managed not to flinch from the coldness in his voice. She knew that voice, it usually was followed by lots of pain and death.
"The wards and charms protecting the Well are a bit more difficult than expected. I won't be done until at least tomorrow evening, maybe later." Alex explained hurriedly. "I'm unraveling them as fast as I can. But whoever made them in the first place was a pro."
"Damon might have told those kids something. He might have told them what we are doing." Lilith suddenly said. "We can't let them live."
Samuel thought for a moment. "Open the Well as fast as you can. Do not cut corners and do not rest until it is done. As for the two students. If we kill them now. How long will it be before the Professors, the Magical Law Enforcement arrives and tears this place apart?" He asked, no one had an answer. "We will keep an eye on them. If they awaken we kill them. If not, then they'll die when the Well is open. We cannot be foolish now, we can't make mistakes. The Heir are counting on us to do this job."
The others nodded at his words. Caution for now. Until the wards were removed from the Well and the sacrifices given. Once that was done it didn't matter what they did. Everyone in the school would be dead.
"I want to be the one who kills them." Jacob said his voice low and rough. "Damon was a mate of mine. His death will be paid by their deaths. His blood for their blood."
Samuel nodded slightly. "So be it."