If looks could kill, Scrimgeour's eyes glaring right at Marchand would have. The man's response was uncalled for and very unprofessional. He had given an order and that was that. "You will do exactly as I say, Marchand," he grunted, so done with the man who decided to speak up now when quite frankly it was too late. "The punishment is final, and you will see to it. Otherwise you can leave immediately and I will take care of it myself since you're too incompetent to follow simple orders and set an example."
If only Marchand would take a leaf out of Noble's book. The man was already up and out of his seat. Rules were rules, and they all would be getting the same consequence for breaking with on purpose. If the students wanted to evade going hungry and running laps, it was very easy to do so. He was, out of the goodness of his cold heart, giving them one last chance to correct themselves.
But, of course, some weren't taken advantage of that. Faces and names were already in his mind as he returned to his seat after giving his speech. He had plans to wrangle up the ones that had late-night laps to run, and he'd be starting with the Gryffindor table. But first he was going to fill his stomach, which wouldn't take any time at all.
He picked up his fork ... only to set it down when the doors of the Great Hall opened and the woman he had fired at the beginning of the term appeared. Scrimgeour's eyes narrowed. What was this all about?
Letter after letter was given out, and then he was given one was well. For a moment, the old man remained stiff in his seat, with no intent to move. But, begrudgingly, the metallic hand reached out for the envelope she was carrying and ripped it open.
Recently the Board has received a number of student accounts and a formal staff complaint... His eyes shot over to Marchand first and then the others. Betrayal.
The rest of the letter, however, he skimmed over. Yes, Ainsworth and Petrov hexed children. Scrimgeour couldn't deny that. But the Board clearly failed to see how the children were behaving all term, how certain staff members were encouraging that behaviour, and that he had taken care of the situation rather swiftly once it had come to his attention. But, of course, the Board was going to side with rule-breaking students and incompetent staff members.
Then so be it.
The man rose from his chair, following his hires, and then stated loud enough for everyone up at the dais to hear, "If you think this will solve the problems here at Hogwarts, think again. Students who have no understanding of respect and obedience, staff who don't follow protocol and allow students to get away with breaking rules, and a lack of structure and consequences will get this place nowhere."
One last grunt sounded from Scrimgeour and he made his exit.
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