IHeather Abbott was a kindly woman by default and had a naturally soft interior.
However, as Headmistress of Skyward School of Practical Sorcery, there were times when she had to be hard and ruthless.
Sometimes, it was her responsibility to punish and discipline students. And sometimes, the punishment she had to administer involved expelling students from her school.
On the night of Tuesday, October 6th, 1992, Heather had gotten to her feet at the staff table after the student body of Skyward School of Practical Sorcery had finished eating a dinner of pepperoni and sausage pizza and breadsticks along with Budweiser to wash it down with and fudge brownies with embedded M&Ms for dessert and was holding her enormous yellow megaphone in her hands.
"So," began Heather, "I take no joy or pleasure whatsoever in making this announcement. It is my utmost desire to see all students at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery graduate from this school. Unfortunately, I have had to expel two students from this school effective immediately."
There was a screaming silence that followed this announcement. An unmistakable tension filled the Eating and Meeting Hall. People started looking around at their friends/and or fellow club members.
"The two students who have been expelled were sent home this afternoon," continued Heather and everyone relaxed a bit.
"The first student that I have had to expel is Zacharias Smith," revealed Heather.
At this, a large portion of the student body gave off indications of relief in the forms of things such as facial expressions and sighs of relief.
Meanwhile, all four members of the Yellow Quartet, Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah, as well as all six members of the Water Club, Justin, Hannah, Amanda, Crystal, Fiona, and their adult leader Wanda all burst into applause.
Heather looked around the Eating and Meeting Hall and saw that no one at all looked upset about or bothered by Zacharias's expulsion. Given her own experiences of unpleasant interactions with Zacharias, this did not surprise her in the slightest.
"There are three incidents that have led me to the decision to expel Zacharias Smith," explained Heather, "On September 15th, Justin Finch Fletchley was burned in a cauldron explosion in Potions class. The cauldron in question belonged to Zacharias. Zacharias failed to turn off the heat on his cauldron and also failed to vanish the remnants of his work after presenting his potion to Professor Ivanoff. I believe, though I could never prove, that Zacharias was guilty of deliberate negligence. He claimed to have merely forgotten but my interactions with him don't make me inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. While I couldn't prove that Zacharias was deliberately negligent, I did suspend him from this school for one week for carelessness causing serious injury and harm to a fellow student."
At this, Justin walked up to the staff table and grabbed Heather's megaphone. Heather did not object to this.
"I just wanted to say," said Justin sincerely, "That on the day in question, the Water Club was supposed to have its second meeting. This meeting was canceled because Hannah, Amanda, Crystal, Fiona, and Wanda chose to visit me in the hospital wing during the planned meeting time. My parents are muggles and cannot penetrate this school. I also have no close friends although I get along well with most people. I was feeling very lonely and miserable on that day. But, when Hannah, Amanda, Crystal, Fiona, and Wanda visited me in the hospital, it really lifted my spirits higher than a helium balloon. I just wanted to take this moment to publicly thank Hannah, Amanda, Crystal, Fiona, and Wanda for being there for me and supporting me in my darkest hour and a special thanks to Hannah because it was her idea. I would also like to thank Headmistress Abbott for going against the wishes of Madam Pomfrey and allowing Hannah, Amanda, Crystal, Fiona, and Wanda to visit me."
At this last bit, the entire student body started applauding and chanting, "Heather, Heather, Heather."
"Madam Pomfrey was wrong," said Heather bluntly as Justin returned her megaphone, "Justin didn't need peace and quiet. He needed company and support."
Everyone nodded. Madam Pomfrey looked on with a look of defeat on her face.
"The second incident that contributed to Zacharias being expelled was the insensitivity he displayed towards Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, and myself on September 30th when we were paying tribute to my husband and Hannah's father Hunter Abbott on the eleven year anniversary of his tragic death."
"I remember you gave him detention on that day and rightfully so, the prick," piped up Luna Lovegood from her seat.
"And Luna has as much reason as anyone to see Zacharias as a prick," continued Heather, "The straw that broke the camel's back and led to my final decision to expel Zacharias occurred just this afternoon. After classes had ended, I saw Luna sitting on a bench outside looking at a picture and seemingly quietly reflecting. I then saw Zacharias dart by, snatch the picture from Luna, and rip it up in her face. I then saw Luna start to cry. The picture in question was of a nine year old Luna sitting on her mom's lap. It was the very last picture Luna ever had taken with her mom before her mom's tragic passing a few weeks later."
"Ouch!" interjected Cedric Diggory, "There is no worse tragedy than a child losing a parent."
Those who had lost parents all nodded in understanding.
"That asshole Zacharias deserves to be expelled," said Harry fiercely, "But is there any way that the picture of Luna and her mom can be repaired or salvaged at all?"
"It would be more likely if it were merely torn in half," said Heather sadly, "Zacharias ripped that picture into many pieces and was actually laughing hysterically at Luna when he saw that she was crying."
"Luna?" asked Harry desperately, walking over to her, "Do you still have the pieces of the picture?"
"Yes," answered Luna sadly, "I don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to throw them out. But the loss of this picture is heartbreaking. "
"Luna," exclaimed Harry, "If you give me the pieces of the picture, I will stay up all night tonight and make every possible effort to repair the picture. "
"I doubt you'll be successful, but I really do appreciate that you're going to try Harry, so thank you," said Luna softly.
When Harry was reseated, Amy, Susan, and Hannah gave Harry approving smiles and pats on the back, proud of how he was going to put every effort into trying to help Luna no matter how unlikely it was for his efforts to succeed.
"The second student to have been expelled from Skyward School of Practical Sorcery is Romilda Vane. Long story short, she was found to be in possession of Love Potions. Not only are Love Potions banned at this school, but any and all forms of sexuality and sex are banned here. I have made it clear from the beginning that any staff member or student who soils the asexual purity of Skyward School of Practical Sorcery will be fired or expelled. Romilda confirmed under the influence of Veritaserum that she intended to slip a Love Potion to Harry Potter," explained Heather.
"I'm grateful Romilda was caught and expelled, but I would never have accepted any food or drink from her anyway," piped up Harry, "There should be a picture of Romilda Vane next to the word fangirl in the dictionary."
"I take absolutely no joy or pleasure in expelling students," said Heather seriously, "But Romilda and Zacharias left me no choice but to expel them based on their behavior. Let this be a reminder to all of you that actions have consequences."
Everyone nodded.
Yes, actions had consequences, and everyone was relieved that they wouldn't have to deal with or put up with Romilda and Zacharias anymore.
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