Sutton made her way into the Girls' Dormitory, intent on dropping off her heavy bag before heading to the Great Hall for some food. Just outside the door, she could tell that there were some very upset girls inside. Wanting to make sure everything was okay, she went in, allowing the door to knock against the wall as it opened... mostly to announce her presence incase they were talking about something private.

Her eyes darted back and forth from Laura to the girl sitting in the window sill as she quickly attempted to assess the situation. While the girl in the window did seem to be very upset, Sutton addressed Laura instead. "Laura, is everything okay?" Sutton said, feeling like maybe she had intruded upon something she shouldn't have.

Laura looked up as she saw Sutton come out of a room. "It's Alyssa, something is wrong." Laura sighed. "I'm going to get a Professor." Laura was really worried about this now but well she would hopefully not be long. "I won't be long." Laura decided that she would go for Professor Hadley.

Laura ran off as fast as her legs would carry her, she just had to hope she could get to Hadley before Alyssa did something naughty, because well she seems really upset about something, was it the points loss or something.

__________________________________________________ _____________

Laura had barely been gone two minutes when she came back, hopefully Professor Hadley had followed her. "How lucky was that." Laura sighed. "Professor Hadley was already in the common room." Laura really had no idea why the Professor was already there but it was a good job that she was.

Everything happened so fast. One second Laura was there, and then she was running to get a professor as Alyssa yelled at her to leave her alone, and then Sutton turned back to the window to see Alyssa just sitting there crying.

"What on Earth..." she thought to herself.

Not sure when she'd be back or how long it would take Laura to find a professor, Sutton walked to the bed next to the window and sat down, looking up at Alyssa. It was pretty much Sutton had seen anyone cry since she'd come to Hogwarts, and she was starting to wonder if maybe she was the only one who ever got upset around here.

"Alyssa?" she began awkwardly, "Listen... I'm not sure what's wrong, but I know you're upset, and we're Hufflepuffs, right? And Hufflepuffs stick together! We're there for each other! And even though I don't really know you yet, I care about you. A lot of other people have been there for me this year when I've been upset, and if you need someone to listen, you can talk to me... before anyone else comes back..." she said, hoping that she could help somehow

When she heard Laura come back in the dormitory, Sutton turned away from the window, but she didn't move. She had told Alyssa that she'd be there for her, and she'd meant it. Everyone needed someone to care about them...

Sighing to herself and wiping the tears from her cheek, sat on the ledge and watched as the sun began to set. That seemed to give her a sense of peace.

So what if she had been penalized 100 points. She had already decided that she wasn't going to work that hard this term anyway. It was time for her other team mates to get the opportunity to be the top Badger of their house in terms of house points.

The view looked awesome from up here. Alyssa turned to see whether the other girl or Laura were still in the room. She felt sorry that she had scared and yelled at them. Sometimes she just needed to be alone to clear her head.

It had been years since Josephina had visited the Girl's Dormitory; as Head of House, she'd been in the common room a few times since being back as Professor. But the Dormitories was one of those places that she tried to leave for the students. Until now.

Making her way across the dormitory toward the window, she stopped at a particular four-poster, running her slender fingers over the mahogany and reminiscing. She even squatted down to have a look near the header and smiled at sight of the subtle engraving still there 'JFH '62'. And above it, were initials of someone who graduated in '70.

But enough reminiscing; she stood up and heels clinking against the hard floor, she found herself standing behind Alyssa, to which she stood quietly a moment, before turning to look at the two other girls in the room. She needed Anastasia; Annie would help her sort through her MANY thoughts. Not to mention she wanted a moment alone with the fifth year and she was sure dragging the girl away from her spot would not be advisable.

"Sutton? Laura?" Fina said quietly. "Can you two go get the Headmistress for me? Please? Once you send her up here, go to the kitchens and have the elves prepare some comfort food; soup, cookies, soda pop. You can help the elves even."

She waited until the third years disappeared before setting her back to the outside world and pulling herself onto the ledge beside Alyssa.

Laura looked at Professor Hadley. "Right you are Professor Hadley." Laura smiled she was going to be helpful. "I'll do what you say." Laura was growing up and had decided that after losing 10 points for Quidditch Practice in the school, she wasn't going to lose anymore and was going to try her hardest to get the points back.

Laura quickly grabbed hold of Sutton and went off towards the exit to the common room and off towards the Headmistress office.

Alyssa turned around when she saw Professor Hadley and hopped off the ledge. Wiping the remaining tears from her eyes, she looked at the Professor.

"Professor Hadley what are you doing here and why is the Headmistress coming? I'm sorry that I stormed away from Astronomy class. I was upset that Professor Burbage had deducted 100 points from me for something I didn't do. I know that I should have remained in class."

"Am I in trouble because I did that?"Alyssa asked.

Sutton watched as Professor Hadley strode into the dormitory. Watching curiously as the professor examined the headboard over her very own bed! Making a mental note to look at it later before she went to bed, her thoughts went back to Alyssa as the professor continued her approach and then spoke to her. Apparently, this was not something normal... a professor making house calls to the dormitory... otherwise why would she need the Headmistress.

For a brief second, her eyes flitted back and forth between Professor Hadley and Alyssa, not sure what to do. She had told Alyssa that she would be there for her because that's what Hufflepuffs did. Although, Professor Hadley was a Hufflepuff, so... maybe it would be okay?

With a sincere look at Alyssa, Sutton replied, "Okay, Professor Hadley, but I'll be back, Alyssa!" After giving Alyssa a compassionate smile, she turned to Laura. "Let's go, then, I guess..."

Slowly and quietly, Sutton exited the dormitory, feeling terribly guilty for leaving Alyssa but knowing that Professor Hadley would not have allowed her to stay.

Ah good, the third years left without complaint. Nodding in approval in their direction, she then turned her attention back toward Alyssa.

Who removed her gaze from the window and after taking a moment to collect herself, she addressed her. Fina remained quiet, however, for a moment, as she just listened, biding her time. "The Headmistress was a Hufflepuff," Fina admitted quietly, "Besides, I wanted to be able to talk to you, one-on-one, so I needed a place to send the two girls to." Yes, of course, as she suspected it went to that moment in Astronomy class. "Professor Burbage, it seems, is a bit touchy and sensitive. But I'll have you know she did rescind that point deduction after you left, upon hearing remarks from your classmates. She took 10 though for leaving early."

She paused, fiddling with her fingers a moment, before looking up to meet Alyssa's gaze again. "I'm worried about you. Overreacting as you did, leaving a class before it's dismissed. I'm just ... is ... everything alright? You can talk to me, you know?"

Alyssa hung her head in shame. "I know that I overreacted but I was also upset that the Professor had accused me of practically being a snitch and writing lies about her in the rubbish paper. Like I told her, I don't lie and I don't like that piece of rag they called a newspaper."

"That accusation plus the 100 points deduction for something I didn't do was said in front of everybody. I was embarrassed. You know how I feel already for having disgraced my family. That accusation just made me feel even worse. I couldn't stay in the courtyard and know that everyone was staring at me and believing that I did write for the Apare..." Alyssa stopped. She couldn't even say the name of the paper. The bane of her existence.

"Right now I bet that rag is already reporting about what happened." Alyssa sighed. "That's why I came up here. To clear my head and be alone for awhile. I don't know why Laura or Sutton were in our room. She may have seen me crying and came in to check on me.

Anastasia moved swiftly through the halls of her beloved Hogwarts, reaching the familiar territory of the Hufflepuff common room in no time at all. She didn't even seem to need to crawl through the cumbersome barrels by the entrance, or at least she didn't really remember needing to do that... it was just second nature, getting from the kitchens to the dorms.

So there she was, in the girl's dormitory, inhaling lightly before she spoke. She put on a gentle smile for the girl and her Head of House as she approached the little window. She could hear the two talking quietly and decided to make her presence known straight away. "Hello... Alyssa, is it? Professor Hadley," she nodded to them both and wondered what to say next.

.....

"How are you two doing today?" Best to start simple.

Alysa was talking to Professor Hadley when the new Headmistress walked into the room. Alyssa sighed. She knew that the Headmistress had more important things to do then come and see how someone as insignificant as her, was feeling.

She quickly straightened her stance and looked at Headmistress Truebridege and greeted her.

"Good evening Heasmistress. I'm sorry that my early exit from Astronomy class without Professor Burbage's permission has caused so much problems. I am doing better now.[/b]"Alyssa replied before quickly looking down. She had a feeling that what was going to be said next was not going to be good news.

It was a good idea that the Headmistress was on her way, because without the other adult present, Josephina was tempted to buy into her shame and apologies. Obviously Alyssa was having a rough year and it made her feel empathy for the girl.

"But ... did you ever stop to consider that perhaps leaving after the comment would be close to admitting guilt? That sometimes it is better to just ignore, then to let ... remarks get to you?" Something that obviously Burbage had to learn if she was believing what the gossip paper wrote about her.

Before Fina could continue, she heard footsteps coming up the stairwell and turned to have a look of who it was. Oh, it was just the Boss!Lady; "Hello.... Headmistress." She said, smiling gratefully that she was able to come offer her input.

At least her story was consistent in leaving early from Astronomy. But doing fine? That was something that Fina knew better, given all that Alyssa herself had told her just five minutes ago, but then again at the start of the term.

Inhaling deeply, she looked to the Headmistress first, before then looking at Alyssa. Hopefully Annie would approve of what she was about to say next. "Alyssa? I think, what you need is some time away from the school, just to collect yourself. Relax. So it is at this point, from tomorrow morning, that myself and the Headmistress have arranged for you to take a one month leave of absence. Don't worry about the work missed, as we'll send you regular updates."

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireboltAvis88

Alysa was talking to Professor Hadley when the new Headmistress walked into the room. Alyssa sighed. She knew that the Headmistress had more important things to do then come and see how someone as insignificant as her, was feeling.

She quickly straightened her stance and looked at Headmistress Truebridege and greeted her.

"Good evening Heasmistress. I'm sorry that my early exit from Astronomy class without Professor Burbage's permission has caused so much problems. I am doing better now.[/b]"Alyssa replied before quickly looking down. She had a feeling that what was going to be said next was not going to be good news.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

It was a good idea that the Headmistress was on her way, because without the other adult present, Josephina was tempted to buy into her shame and apologies. Obviously Alyssa was having a rough year and it made her feel empathy for the girl.

"But ... did you ever stop to consider that perhaps leaving after the comment would be close to admitting guilt? That sometimes it is better to just ignore, then to let ... remarks get to you?" Something that obviously Burbage had to learn if she was believing what the gossip paper wrote about her.

Before Fina could continue, she heard footsteps coming up the stairwell and turned to have a look of who it was. Oh, it was just the Boss!Lady; "Hello.... Headmistress." She said, smiling gratefully that she was able to come offer her input.

At least her story was consistent in leaving early from Astronomy. But doing fine? That was something that Fina knew better, given all that Alyssa herself had told her just five minutes ago, but then again at the start of the term.

Inhaling deeply, she looked to the Headmistress first, before then looking at Alyssa. Hopefully Annie would approve of what she was about to say next. "Alyssa? I think, what you need is some time away from the school, just to collect yourself. Relax. So it is at this point, from tomorrow morning, that myself and the Headmistress have arranged for you to take a one month leave of absence. Don't worry about the work missed, as we'll send you regular updates."

Hmm, was it really the girl's abrupt departure that had caused 'so many' problems? Anastasia thought otherwise, and knew Hadley did too. She gave the girl a tight-lipped smile and moved a little closer, waiting for the Head of House to give the verdict she knew was coming.

Hopefully the girl wouldn't just fall apart on the spot there, because Annie did NOT deal with criers.

"Yes, Alyssa, we think this is for the best," she added in after Hadley had spoken. "We'd like you to take a 'mental health break' as we'll call it, for your sake and for the sake of your peers." They shouldn't be subjected to her ... erratic behavior whenever something small went wrong. "As Professor Hadley said, it's no trouble at all to owl you your missed work, and you'll be able to complete it at your leisure now instead of on strict deadlines. Plus, I'll even speak to Professor Burbage about the House Points loss and see about her reversing her decision."

What had the girl even lost points for? She didn't call the woman OLD, did she??!

Alyssa looked at first at Professor Hadley as she told her what her punishment would be. Then she looked at Headmistress Truebridge to see whether she would add on more to what Professor Hadley had already given her.

She breathed a sigh of relief when the Headmistress agreed with Professor Hadley. Alyssa hung her head in shame. She was being sent home. That would definitely cause more disgrace to her family, but Alyssa knew that this time it was all her fault. She was disappointed too because that would mean more loss of house points due to her absence from classes but Alyssa knew that she needed the break. At least she could still do her homework and hopefully when she got back, she'd be able to catch up on the lessons that she had missed.

One good thing about being send home would be that it would give her a chance to let her grandfather check on her and make sure that the cause for her headaches again weren't the same as before. Getting the chance to see Evan would also be a bonus.

So Alyssa looked up and nodded to both the Headmistress and Professor Hadley. "I truly am sorry for the problems I've caused both you and the school especially with the Board of Governors being present in the school now." Alyssa couldn't hold their gaze any longer and looked down at her shoes instead. "I will send an OWL to my mother to come pick me up and then I'll pack my things. I will be gone early tomorrow morning, so that no one will see me leave."

"May I have permission to leave so that I can send off that OWL and then start packing?" Alyssa sought permission from both women not wanting to leave the room without their permission.

Laura had finally managed to get the food that Professor Hadley had asked her to get, she now hoped that the Professor was ready for it, knocking on the door, she slowly openned it and smiled at Professor Hadley and the Headmistress

"Professor Hadley I brought the food that you asked for." Laura smiled putting the tray down on the table, there was soda, tomato soup, some chocolate chip cookie and much more. "I hope there is enough there Professor Hadley." Laura smiled at her head of house.

"Professor, Headmistress if you want me to leave I will do." Laura had no idea what to do now so she just stood in the spot where she was and waited to see what they wanted her to do.

Yes, of course Annie was going to endorse her verdict; it wasn't like the woman hadn't been totally blinded when her badgers went to get her. They had communicated. The same way that she knew of Alyssa's "point loss" in Astronomy. Mental health break; she always liked that wording.

Surprisingly though, Alyssa seemed to react rather boldly to her verdict; no major tears. She just accepted the 'mental health break' as surely and maturely as Josephina could remember the girl ever accepting anything. Hearing the fifth year mention about her mother picking her up, Fina raised an eyebrow. "Or would you prefer a portkey home? We can arrange for one from Hogsmeade. And in a month, you can return by Portkey or perhaps Headmistress Truebridge would be able to arrange for use of the Floo Network to her office.....if you had access to the network..." Which considering there were available connections in Diagon Alley, it shouldn't be an issue?

Just as Alyssa asked for permission to leave to send the owl and start packing, Fina turned her attention to the dormitory door opening and Laura there with a tray of snacks. Snacks that she had entirely forgotten that she had requested. "Thank you Laura. Five points for your help."

"I think we're pretty much done, actually," Hadley looked to the Headmistress to be sure and then back to Laura, smiling appreciatively again. And then over to Alyssa. "Have some soup first, while its warm, Alyssa, and then you may go send the owl."

Alyssa smiled when she saw Laura enter with some food. She really wasn't hungry but thanked the younger girl anyway. "Thanks Laura" she nodded to her before turning back to Professor Hadley. "Portkey would be fine, Professor and I'll return through one too. Thank you for arranging it for me."

Alyssa sat down and drank the soup all the while thinking how she was going to tell her parents what had happened and why she was returning home. Once she was done with the soup, she pushed the bowl aside.

"I am finished with the soup, Professor. May I leave to send my OWL now? "Alyssa asked her Head of House.

Annie calmly nodded at Alyssa and tried not to wince too much at the Board of Governors mention. While Professor Hadley finished speaking and Alyssa went to eat her soup, Annie casually stepped to the side, edging toward the door.

"I'll walk with you to send the owl, Alyssa, as I go to get your portkey ready." She opened the door and gestured for the girl to go first. "Thank you, Professor Hadley. We'll chat later." And... they were out.

Alyssa nodded as Headmistress Truebridge told her that she would accompany her to the Owlery to send the OWL to her parents. "Thank you. Professor Hadley. Headmistress." as she followed the Headmistess out of the dorm.

Still shaking from her encounter down at the Forbidden Forest, Glenn stormed into the common room. Well - her sign. She had to make her stupid sign for tomorrow. Pulling her suitcase up onto her bed and drawing the curtains around her bed so hard she heard them strain. Sitting on her bed, she reached into a pocket a found a tub of black paint. She also had some cardboard too... also a chain.

She dipped the paintbrush into the tub and wrote in big black letters across the cardboard 'I LOST HUFFLEPUF 50 POINTS' Satisfied, she placed her sign on the side table next to her bed. Tomorrow would easily be the most embarrassing moment of her life.

Laura ran into the third year dorm and then laid on her bed crying, she was really upset about her party, she had decided to have one and then people gatecrashed it then more people gate crashed it and then it sort of snowballed from there and then a few people made her upset and angry that she decided to walk out, she was so upset with everything that had happened, she wanted the christmas holiday to come.

Minerva was headed up to the fourth year dorms when she heard Laura crying. She knew it was Laura and went inside. "Laura, I'm so sorry about that." she wasn't sure why she was apologizing since Maxwell and Elliot were to blame not her, but she still felt bad. "Elliot is a troll and Maxwell is jut a jerk." There were no other words for the creep that she could think of at the moment. He just needed to go away and leave her alone.

Laura didn't want to be seen, she was so upset, she grabbed hold of her pillow and throw it at the door. "I don't want to talk to anyone." Laura sobbed, she was really upset about the whole situation and she knew it wasn't Minerva fault but still her birthday had been ruined and she hadn't even got to give her twinnie a present, she really wanted Carigan, Ella and Sophie now.

Laura continued to sob into her pillow as she thought about how her life had changed since she decided to behave, everyone was first teasing her and then ruining her birthday, she had decided that next year she would have tea with her twinnie and that would be it.

Minerva frowned at Laura, "Well I'm sorry I bothered you Laura, I understand why your upset and I am sorry." Minerva wasn't sure whether to go or stay. She just stood there watching her friend trying to figure out what to do. She had never not known what to do before, this was difficult finally she turned, "I will be in my room if you need me. I won't stay if you really don't want me here."