gooseberryhigh | PUNISHMENTS

After dinner, Sylvester Stoker and Reid Wainwright are called into Ms. Vector's office for a mandatory meeting with her and Mr. Thorn. The mood in the room is tense, but the two strict teachers get right down to business. They don't mince words.

For attacking a fellow student, Sylvester Stoker is being benched until the new year, January 1. This means he will not be participating in the game against Azurcrest.

He may keep his badge and act as Captain during practices, and he'll have to decide whether he'd like Ira Ashworth or Dinah Dixon to replace him for the next two months or so.

Mr. Thorn makes it clear that if it were up to him, Stoker would have his badge removed permanently.

Further inquiries will be made into whether or not Stoker is a fit captain. This means that interviews will be set up with his team, Coppertale senior and junior prefects, the Coppertale Cheer captain, and the other Quidditch captains.

Stoker has a week to tell his team, after which it will be made clear to senior prefects and the victim of his attack how and why he was punished.

With that said, the boys are dismissed. You can attempt to ask questions or make arguments if you like, but Mr. Thorn and Ms. Vector rarely sway from their decisions. This sounds like a done deal.

Elsewhere, Calvin Evercreech is being spoken to by Mr. Hightower about implications that he had, in fact, tried to frame Stoker. Ribbonfin junior and senior prefects (and the Head Boy) as well as Calvin's roommates will be asked if they can vouch for his character or his whereabouts.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It was wrong." Is what Roxie says first, sitting neatly in her chair, voice quiet and firm. "What Sy did was wrong, I won't deny that. But you're asking me if he's a good captain."

To which there's no hesitation when she answers in the affirmative. He's the only reason why she's on the team - and she rolls her shoulders back, chin tipping upward in contrast to the way her voice dips briefly as she adds: the only reason she's actually made friends at Gooseberry. That she's never done it at a school before. Hadn't ever bothered.

He's harsh, sure. And he's undoubtedly tough with them. But he's also fair and he's only so hard on them because they allow him to be. Because they want him to be. He knows them. Knows what they want and what they're willing to do. It's his team. They're his team.

She makes no mention of their track record, their wins or their chances for the Cup. Doesn't seem particularly bothered by them at all. Just shrugs and adds, matter-of-fact, that Sy makes mistakes. But he tries. And he listens. This isn't gratefulness - she wouldn't do that and Roxie's firm on this, eyes up and fingers folded neatly on her lap - it's just a fact. The question was if Sy's a good captain. And her answer is yes.