Detention: Thomas Kingsman

[MadMadamMalfoy]

After talking it over with Cami, Gaston had decided to team up with the Transfiguration professor and combine their detentions for Mr. Kingsman into one big one. The Charms practice room seemed the ideal location for the activity they had in mind and had been set up accordingly. The tables and chairs that normally furnished the room were gone, and the craft cart and work bench had been pushed against the walls, leaving the middle of the room completely empty... except for a few necessary supplies that were hidden by a disillusionment charm.

The dark-haired Frenchman entered the Charms practice room a few minutes ahead of the assigned time with his black and white Persian cat, Phantom, nestled in his arms. She had her front paws wrapped around his arm and was licking his hand as he scratched under her chin. He smiled when he saw that Cami had already arrived with Bonsai and said hello to both of them. He started to give the Bengal cat a pat on the head but decided against it. That would involve putting Phantom down, and she was clearly loving the attention he was giving her. He knew she wasn't going to like what was coming... best to keep her happy as long as possible! He was definitely going to have to give her a healthy portion of fish and maybe a bowl of milk too as a reward after this!

[Weasley174]

Thomas was very nervous about what to expect from the detention, when he heard the Professors were teaming up on him it made him feel even worse than he had before.

Thomas walked slowly into the room, and spotted his head of house and the other Professor already there. He stood still and silent, waiting to hear what was going to happen.

[MadMadamMalfoy]

Gaston hadn't been waiting long when Mr. Kingsman entered the room without a word to anyone. "Hello, Mr. Kingsman," he greeted. "Thank you for being on time." He was concerned, though not exactly surprised by the boy's silence. Was he angry at them? Or afraid of what they might do? Either way, he had to at least try to put his mind at ease.

Still holding Phantom, he turned to him with a smile. "I hope you know that the purpose of this detention isn't to bully you," he said. "It, like everything else we do, is a tool to help you learn. I'm not angry at you, and I don't think Professor Stewart is either." He looked back at Cami, waiting to see if she had anything to add before they got started.

[Kolyander]

Camilla was glad that she had arrived several minutes as agreed upon between Gaston and herself. It had given the two of them a few extra moments to ensure that everything was set up as needed and that both of their pets were relaxed. Just like her fellow colleague her own cat, a male Bengal named Bonsai, was nestled in her arms. He unlike his feline friend was asleep purring softly in content.

The silent arrival of young Mr. Kingsman did not go unnoticed and the professor shifted her attention from Gaston onto the boy. "Hello, Mister Kingsman," she greeted in her usual warm manner. It was no surprise that the child was so quiet, surely he was wanting to know what the days detention held in store for himself.

"Professor Marchand is exactly right. I'm not upset with you but you're behavior was very much unnecessary which I'm sure you already know. That being said, we have decided to combine two detentions into one. Would you like to explain what it is he'll be doing this afternoon, Gaston?" her brown eyes swept back towards the other professor. She had no trouble in telling Thomas what his assignment would be but seeing as to how Gaston came up with the main idea she though he might like to be the one to explain things.

[Weasley174]

Thomas listened to both the Professors speak and he just stood there silently as they both said that they were cross with him, he looked a bit stunned when he heard his head of house called Gaston, so that was his first name was it. Well, he wasn't going to say anything to anyone, he just continue to stand there looking at them both as he waited for his head of house to tell him what was involved in the detention.

[MadMadamMalfoy]

Gaston waited patiently to give Cami a chance to speak, silently petting Phantom. The little black and white Persian purred contentedly. He smiled. It was nice to see his little feline friends so happy, but he knew it wouldn't last long. He nodded slightly as Cami invited him to explain the detention and gently set Phantom down. "Yes, of course," he replied.

Then he turned his attention to Mr. Kingsman. "This is Phantom," he said, gesturing toward the black and white fluffball standing beside him. The cat's yellow eyes darted from him to the boy and back again. "And the cat Professor Stewart is holding is Bonsai. Since you seem to like cats -" Or at least he liked imitating cats. "And Professor Stewart tells me you have an affinity for water as well - you're going to give both of these cats a bath without magic."

With a wave of his wand, he removed the disillusionment charm to reveal a tub, shampoo, towels, and brushes sitting in the middle of the room. "You'll wash, dry, and brush each of the cats with the supplies here," he went on. A nonverbal Aguamenti was aimed at the tub, and it filled with water. "I must warn you, they won't be too keen to have a bath. Your job is to figure out a way to get them to cooperate without using magic and without harming the cats." Hurting the cats was a big don't! He reached into his pocket for a pack of cat treats and a toy mouse. "these might help," he said, offering them to the boy. "Now which cat would you like to start with?"

[Kolyander]

Camilla hadn't yet decided if Thomas' silence was unnerving or not but surely the young boy would have to speak sooner or later. There was no doubt in her mind that once he knew what they had in store for his detention he wouldn't be very happy with it.

As Gaston had done with his own cat, Cami knelt down to gently place Bonsai on the floor. The Bengal rubbed himself up against her leg with a soft purr his eyes now moving around the room to take in the newcomer as well as his feline friend. Moving her own brown eyes towards Thomas she watched him to see his reaction to having to bathe both cats without magic. This was not going to be an easy task.

The moment the tub was revealed and water was added into it, Bonsai padded forward to put his front paws on the side of the tub looking down into it, his tail flicking back and forth. It was true that the cat adored water but only when he was playing in it on his own accord. Being given a bath was not going to make him happy. "I suggest the use of treats and toy mouse. You may very well be needing them." Both Gaston and herself would be close by keeping an eye on things to ensure no harm came upon either cat... or Thomas.

[Weasley174]

Thomas stood there with his mouth hanging open as his head of house spoke about his detention. Now surely this wasn't fair, where they trying to hurt him, he had heard at primary school how cats hated water and he wasn't allowed to use magic, now that wasn't fair.

He just stood there staring from the professor back to the cats, seriously he felt like arguing but he knew that it wouldn't do any good and so he just stood there silently looking at the cats, maybe he could figure out a way of being the cat's friend and then back at the Professor.

He took the things the Professor was holding out for him after a few moments, now how would these help him.

[MadMadamMalfoy]

Gaston glanced at Mr. Kingsman as he finished explaining the detention. He was half-expecting him to argue or complain, but he just stood there with his mouth hanging open for a moment; the professor wasn't sure whether to interpret that as a good or a bad reaction. Did he not understand the directions he was given? "Any questions before we start?" He asked.

He waited for Mr. Kingsman to begin, but he just stared at the cats... and Phantom was looking right back at him! It was as if they were locked in a staring contest. Gaston had to cough to stifle a laugh. He didn't want the boy to think he was laughing at him! No, he was laughing at the little black and white Persian trying to stare him down. His eyes followed Phantom as she casually strolled over to Bonsai, but unlike her feline friend, she didn't put her paws on the tub. She just looked at it for a moment, her head tilted to one side, and gave a curious meow. Gaston wondered how well this was going to go. Phantom didn't like water, but she would tolerate a bath as long as he was the one giving it to her. This should be intetesting...

His attention went back to Mr. Kingsman as he took the cat treats and toy mouse. He couldn't wait to see how the boy was going to use those. But he wasn't doing anything just yet. The professor reasoned he must be taking time to come up with a strategy... smart. He stood aside, keeping a watchful eye on the child and the cats. "You may begin whenever you're ready," He said, giving his student an encouraging smile. "If you need help, just let us know."

[Kolyander]

Camilla remained silent for several moments taking in the look on the young boys face. Was that surprise? It should be. It wasn't everyday that a student got to bathe cats for detention.

"Is everything alright, Mister Kingsman?" she asked watching Thomas accept both the kitty treats and the toy mouse. Camilla glanced at Gaston when he 'coughed' her brown eyes drifting back onto the boy and Phantom. That cat was staring him down with a level of curiosity that made her grin. Bonsai turned his head, ears flicking about when his feline friend meowed at him. His tail flicked back at forth as he turned to peer back at the water inside the tub.

"We'll be standing nearby if you need anything." Camilla wouldn't be going to far away from where her cat was. They needed to ensure not only the safety of their cats but of Thomas as well should the cats get to out of hand once they were in the water.