Chapter 13 Outtake
Ron
Ron trudged his way to McGonagall's office, wondering if he were going to be expelled, and if he could somehow explain to his mother before she went howler crazy. Still, he couldn't bring himself to be sorry for what he'd done, or to regret it, and he fully intended on telling Snape and McGonagall that. Let them do their worst. What that bint Parkinson had said was inexcusable, and it didn't matter that it was Malfoy's parents she said it about.
He reached the door to McGonagall's office, took a deep breath, bracing himself, and knocked. At the sound of his Head of House commanding, "Enter!" he opened the door and stepped inside. McGonagall rose from her desk, her face stern, her lips nearly disappeared into a thin line. She came round her desk to join Snape, who was standing in front of it like the Grim Reaper, his face like stone. Ron swallowed hard and took another deep breath. Don't show fear, a voice inside him whispered. He pulled his Gryffindor courage up, and waited.
"Mr Weasley," McGonagall started, and Ron could tell she was furious; her Scottish brogue was in full force, but before she could go further, a sharp knock sounded on the door, and Parkinson entered before being bid to do so, producing a hard scowl from Snape. Parkinson, her pug face screwed up into a pout, spread her hands in an appealing gesture at Snape, tossing a glare at Ron somehow at the same time. Ron glowered back before turning back to the teachers. Seeing Parkinson"s face gave him even more resolve to refuse to apologise if required. He was glad for what he did.
"Mr Weasley," McGonagall began again, "what you have done is inexcusable. You drew your wand and cursed another student! Are you aware that this is an expellable offence? You've broken a cardinal school rule. You could have your wand snapped for this!"
"Yes, Ma'am," Ron said.
"Well?" she snapped, "what have you got to say for yourself? You owe Miss Parkinson an apology at the very least!"
The moment of truth then. Ron drew himself up and said, "With all due respect, Professor....I won't apologise. It was wrong, it's against the rules, it might get me expelled, but she deserved it, and I won't apologise."
McGonagall was, apparently, too astounded to respond, her eyes enormous behind her square spectacles, her mouth dropped open in an 'O' of surprise. Soon enough, she began to sputter, but Snape's low and dangerous voice quieted her.
"Mr Weasley," he intoned warningly, "do not make things worse for yourself."
"Again, Sir, with all due respect...do your worst. I won't apologise. I'm not sorry for it! She deserved it, and I'd do it again! Nobody…"
Ron was suddenly shoved forward with a blow to his back, and turned to find Parkinson, her eyes glittering defiantly, standing there.
"Miss Parkinson!" both Snape and McGonagall barked at once.
"Assaulting another student will not be tolerated!" McGonagall said, outraged "Why I never!"
"Miss Parkinson," Snape hissed, "do not make the mistake of thinking you are the wronged party here. We are well aware of what prompted Weasley here to draw his wand, and while that does not excuse his actions, neither does it yours. Your conduct is most unbecoming, as a student, as a Slytherin, and as a purported proper young woman. Most adults would not have the audacity to say the things you said to Mr Malfoy, so please spare us all playing the victim." He let that sink in a moment, and Ron tried not to laugh at her shocked expression.
"Detention, for both of you," Snape said, "starting Saturday morning after breakfast. You will report to the dungeons, where Professor McGonagall will supervise you as you scrub cauldrons, without magic." he said pointedly to Parkinson, who was red faced with anger now.
"Sunday morning after breakfast, you will both report to Mr Filch in the trophy room, where you will spend the day polishing trophies and cleaning the glass cases, again, without magic " McGonagall said.
Parkinson was now not only red in the face, but also gesturing wildly, her mouth flapping soundlessly.
"Yes, Miss Parkinson," Snape said, "we are perfectly aware it is the first Hogsmeade weekend. If you would like to attend the second one, I suggest you show some grace and accept your punishment. You are dismissed."
She closed her mouth with an audible snap, turned and stomped out, slamming the door behind her.
"So...I'm not expelled?" Ron asked McGonagall.
"Not today, Mr Weasley," she said curtly, "you may thank Professor Snape for that."
"Sir," Ron said promptly, happy there would be no showdown with his mother, "Thank you, but..."
"You may thank Mr Malfoy, Weasley," Snape said, "while what you did is a serious breach of school rules and something you had better think twice about pulling again, Mr Malfoy spoke in your defence. What Miss Parkinson said is inexcusable, as is your cursing her. However, Professor McGonagall and I have agreed there are extenuating circumstances at play in this situation. I need not, I assume, warn you that should you ever repeat your actions, you will be expelled immediately."
"Understood, Sir," Ron said gratefully.
"You are dismissed, Weasley," McGonagall said, and Ron quickly escaped to dinner.