Office Hours [Monday]

[umbitch]

As soon as Umbridge walked into her office this morning, she knew something was wrong. She only had to push open the door to be met with the strong stench of hot maple syrup and a blast of stuffy air

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[vkandis_son]

Karal had donned his best robes, the ones with the gold embroidered and subtly jewelled placket, his Vkandis medal arranged to lie perfectly in the centre, before coming to the office.

Now, standing outside it, he took several deep breaths, wrinkling his nose at the sweet smell and the warmth wafting through the door. With one last fervent prayer, and really wishing Altra was here, he assumed a mild expression and tapped lightly on the door. "Excuse me, Headmistress."

[umbitch]

She looked up, clearly irritated and snapped, "What is it?"

[vkandis_son]

"I was wondering if I might come in and speak with you," he said, bristling internally at her obvious hostility, but determined not to become angry. "Is everything all right?"

[umbitch]

"Everything is fine," she said, reigning in her irritation. "Come inside. Sit down. What is your name?"

[vkandis_son]

Karal came in, feeling more as if he entered a Colddrake's lair than an office, and sat, smoothing his robes carefully. "My name is Karal Austreben, Sun-Priest of Vkandis Sunlord, and I am one of your students," he said neutrally.

[umbitch]

"And any one of my respectful students is welcome in my office," she said and smiled. "Is there anything I can help you with Mister Austreban?"

[vkandis_son]

The smile was disturbing, given what he knew she'd done, but Karal mustered a small one in return. "I wanted to speak with you," he paused, trying to choose his words with the utmost care, trying to push away the memory of Gavin's butchered hand as he did so, "about the appropriateness of the punishments you are assigning."

[umbitch]

Her smile faded almost immediately. "I do not need advise from students on my disciplinary actions."

[vkandis_son]

"I am not here to give you advice," he said quickly, folding his hands in front of him, striving to sound respectful. Or at least neutral. "I am just trying to understand why you have chosen such arguably brutal methods. It seems far more likely to incite further disobedience than to make students compliant."

[umbitch]

"Which method are you addressing?" Umbridge asked.

[vkandis_son]

"The ones where you abuse magic, use it to inflict pain on people," he said, voice intense as he leaned forward. "The ones where you hurt people with it."

[umbitch]

She met his gaze and grinned. "You sound upset by those facts. Are you upset, Mister Austreban? Did I discipline a disrespectful friend of yours?"

[vkandis_son]

He couldn't help the flash of anger, couldn't hide it, but he drew in a deep breath. Sunlord, she is frightening. "Of course I am upset," he replied, struggling for calm. "Friend or enemy, it doesn't matter. Abusing magic is wrong. Torturing people is wrong. Why? Why would you do that to your students? You're responsible for them!"

[umbitch]

"And they are showing a complete lack of disrespect for me," she hissed. "What I am doing is disciplining students so as they might adhere to the standards I have set. If they are too weak and too frail to take said discipline, well then, too bad."

[vkandis_son]

"If the standards you set encourage abusing people in your power, I hope that no one ever adheres to them, for their sake, and for yours." Karal lifted his chin, just a little, praying for both wisdom and calm, even as he was certain she wouldn't listen. "What you are doing here, it is hurting you, as well."

[umbitch]

"No, dear boy, it is not," she said and smiled slowly. "And I warn you to keep your lectures to yourself. I've no need for children who know big vocabulary words."