It had been a long time sorting out the different versions of the brawl but Leopold was fairly certain he'd gotten as close to the truth as he was likely to get.  He sighed and took a sip of his tea.  He'd forgone the brandy and added an extra shot of wit sharpening potion.  He'd needed it.  He looked at his notes again, before writing out his final version, complete with punishments.

It had taken four prefects and the head boy plus two professors to put a halt to the brawl that had pitted Hufflepuff against itself and several members of Gryffindor and all because one boy couldn't keep his mouth shut.  A student's life had been forever changed by a few thoughtless words and his house had been given an enormous black eye not just in front of three other houses but in front of three other schools.   It was going to take some time to live this down and some serious work by his students to make up the points he had been forced to deduct from his own house.

He was taking points from each of the principles involved[1].  Leopold felt terrible about penalizing Zel but he had kicked Figaro, admittedly so.  Three others had gotten involved to defend their friends and housemates, even if two of them ended up fighting other Hufflepuffs.  It was an admirable act but misguided.

The prefects and head boy were of course being rewarded  [2] and Leopold was assigning detentions in addition to the point losses.  Overall, the distasteful affair was resolving itself quickly.  There was only one thing left to do.  The old professor pursed his lips and waited for Figaro to knock on his door.

[1]
H -Zel Trumble -10 points
H - Figaro Sellaphix -10 points
H - Seto Spalding -5 points
H - Heliotrope LeJean -5 points
H- Cassie Flickwick -5 points
G - Sophie Flickwick - 10 points
G - Nicholas Bevan -10 points
G - Mairead ó Fearghail -10 points


[2]
G Raine Almasy  +10 points
G Joshua Harcroft +10 points
S Huxley Ward +10 points
R Ligeia Canterbury +10 points
R Church Corner +10 points

Last night, Figaro had sat in Professor Sandusky's office and they'd been given quite the scolding, but it was only the beginning.  Old Dusty had told him to come back the next morning before class, once he'd had time to think.  Figaro had stewed all night.  Probably no one in Hufflepuff slept a wink.  He'd gotten up groggy and ready for the worst, then got dressed and made his way out into the harsh light of day.  Things did not look better in the morning...

Sandusky's door was slightly ajar and Figaro pushed his way in around 7:30.  He looked appropriately sullen and took his seat in the chair he knew was for him.  The last time he'd sat here, he'd had a friendly start-of-term chat with their new Head of House about earning one's own success.  Now it was something entirely different.  Old Dusty looked much different, and so did Figaro.  Their postures telling a very different story.

He was sunk down in the seat, arms folded across his chest.  He looked up and got into it.

"Alright, Professor.  I just want to say that I didn't mean for all thatto happen.  I wasn't trying to start anything.  Like I said last night, it just slipped out.  I didn't mean to do that to Zel - I don't even have anything against werewolves!  I did keep that secret for almost a month, you know.  No one's giving me any credit for that! I -"

He shut his mouth when he realized this probably wasn't helping.  And he hadn't been asked any questions.

"Sorry.  What is it then?"

"The problem is that you seem to have a habit of speaking bef0re you think, Mr Sellaphix,"  Leopold said, his face grave.  "I realize it was not something you did maliciously but your error has had an affect on Mr Trumble's life that won't end here.  You stole a piece of his future."

Leopold sighed and took his glasses off and folded them into a pocket.  "There is no way to undo the damage but with any luck, this will be a learning experience for you.  In addition to the detention you will be serving with the others, I have decided on a punishment that might teach you to think before you speak.  I'm muzzling you, Mr Sellaphix."

He'd heard it his whole life.  Think before you speak, think before you speak.  He did try, but mostly he just went on with whatever he felt like doing and it mostly didn't get in anyone's way.  If anyone got in trouble because of his mouth it was just him - well except this time, but it was a set-up!

"What!"  Figaro was awash with disbelief.

"What do mean 'muzzled'!?  What are going to do?  Are you even allowed to do that?  I've been set up! Sophie told Zel to tell me and Seto.   She set me up! What was I supposed do? It was an accident!"

Whatever Professor Sandusky meant by 'muzzled', Figaro didn't like it. 

"This isn't fair! Look, I'll clean something.  Anything! Just don't! C'mon, please, Professor! I don't get why people are making such a big deal out of this! They were all going to find out anyway, and there isn't anything wrong with werewolves! Why is everyone so pissed! Who cares if Zel is a werewolf! This is bullshit!"

He was leaning forward, pleading earnestly, and loudly.  He couldn't let this happen.  It would be humiliating!  He knew he was going to get an earful from Sophie enough to last a lifetime and he'd be totally unarmed - whatever 'muzzle' meant!

"You weren't  set up, Mr Sellaphix and quite frankly, I'm disappointed in the way you are refusing to accept responsibility for your actions,"  Leopold said.  "What isn't fair is what happened to Mr Trumble.  First he has to suffer the attack that infected him and now everyone knows what was most likely the darkest secret he would even have in is life.  Not everyone is as accepting as you are.  If they were, the SAWS group would not be necessary.  Because of their involvement in this matter, that group may lose its right to exist.  That is up to the headmaster.  Your actiona have moved far beyond just yourself, Mr Sellaphix and there will be consequences.  Believe me, in the real world, they would be much worse.  I'm going to mute you, Mr Sellaphix for one week.  Your teachers will be informed and will be aware that you will not be able to speak in their classes.  This does not exempt you from completing your assigned work, however.  You will have to make up any casting practicals that you have missed after your voice is restored."

Leopold picked up his wand.  "Do you have anything to say? Think very carefully before you answer.  These will be the last works you speak for the next week."

The look on Figaro's face was abject terror.  Sandusky was completely serious!  He opened his mouth to protest multiple times as his Head of House lectured him about responsibility and the repercussions of his answers, but all he could get out were isolated single words.  (But-! I-! It wasn't-!)

Agape,  Figaro couldn't think of a single thing to say.  There was too much! He couldn't pick just one thing. With a giant sigh, he slumped back into the chair fully, eyes darting around searching for some answer.  His head was swimming.  It seemed like an Azkaban sentence.  A week.  A week without being able to say anything.  It was unthinkable.  He could barely go two minutes.

What were people going to say?  He was going to get no end of it soon as they figured it out.  If he couldn't speak, he wouldn't even be able to cast spells (not something he was normally worried about).  How would he survive? Keep his sanity?

"I don't believe this...!" he muttered. 

"Believe it, Mr Sellaphix,"  Leopold said.

And then the deed was done.  For the next week, Figaro was without his voice.

Leopold hated taking such an extreme measures but this was a lesson Figaro desperately needed to learn.  He held out a small blackboard.   "You will be needing this.  Report back here in one week and I will remove the curse.  In the meantime, I truly hope you learn something."

Like ripping off a bandage, Old Dusty was quick about it, and matter-of-fact.  It was over quickly, as magic often was.  There and gone with hardly a flash.  The spell danced towards Figaro and it tickled his throat and tongue and then the sensation quickly faded.

Tentatively, keeping a cautious eye on Sandusky, Figaro touched his throat.  But he didn't try to say anything - he kind of didn't want to know.

He took the little chalk board and before he knew it, he was trying to talked.  He'd fully meant to say "What's this for?" and his mouth and lungs did the work as they normally did, but no sound came out.  And he knew the answer to his question.

Fig rolled his eyes and shook his head as he stood up from his chair.  Today was going to suck. 

He raised his eyebrows in a questioning look, and glanced at the door. 

"Yes, Mr Sellaphix, we are done here,"  Leopold said.  "You may go."

To steal a voice was a terrible thing.  Leopold was well aware of that.  Speaking was the way the vast majority of people communicated.  Those without voices were cut off from friends and family alike, one step short of being completely isolated.  It was a harsh punishment to be certain but it was also possible that there was a chance Figaro would learn the value of his voice and use it with more caution.