Pants
“Miss Hawk,” Professor McGonagall said sternly.
“Professor McGaongall,” I replied.
I had just finished my first week at Hogwarts. Hogwarts! It was amazing. This morning I had received a message from Professor McGonagall saying that she wanted to see me in her office.
“Do you know why you are here, Miss Hawk?” McGonagall asked.
“Because you sent me a message asking me to come here,” I replied.
“You are not abiding by the Hogwarts dress code,” McGonagall said. “Girls must wear skirts and leggings to class.”
Was this seriously about the pants? For the past week, I had been wearing a Gryffindor school sweater, black pants instead of a skirt like the other girls and my Gryffindor robe.
“Actually I have been. On page 68 of the Hogwarts Rulebook, it says that students must wear pants or skirts and leggings under their robes. There are no specified requirements based on gender,” I said.
“Would you like a biscuit?” she asked, offering me a tin of biscuits.
“Thank you very much Professor,” I said, taking a biscuit and biting into it. It was a very British tasting biscuit.
“Pants are for boys. The girls are supposed to wear skirts,” McGonagall said.
“But it doesn’t actually say that. Furthermore, it’s very sexist to insist that only boys can wear pants and only girls can wear skirts. Both genders should have the option to wear pants or a skirt based on their personal preference,” I argued.
“Miss Hawk, you can wear pants on the weekends and when you are not attending classes. However you must abide by the Hogwarts dress code while in classes,” McGonagall said.
“I am. As I previously stated, the dress code does not specify which gender must wear which clothing article. It provides two options to wear and I chose the option that I personally prefer,” I said.
“All the girls wear skirts,” McGonagall said.
“Either because they prefer a skirt or they haven’t read through the Hogwarts rulebook and realized there was another option,” I argued. “I am perfectly within my rights to wear pants.”
“Do you truly wish to be the only girl wearing pants to class?” McGonagall asked me, trying another angle.
“Absolutely. I’m not really the type to bow down to peer pressure. I prefer pants to skirts for everyday use. Don’t get me wrong, I love wearing floor length dresses on fancy occasions, but for everyday activities, I’d take pants over skirts any day.”
McGonagall sighed, “Very well, dismissed.”