Mel was sitting in front of him on a chair, he had invited her in just moments ago. Harshing was taking time to flick through an enormous book that was bigger than ten bibles but back to back. "Ah," he exclaimed when he came to a page entitled "Hunter, Mel" - her name in thick black ink. There was a table with different coloured marks on. He traced his finger until he found the most recent entry.

"Yes, our detention. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss your future here, Mel. Perhaps you would like some refreshment before we begin our formal talk?" He pointed to a jug of icy water.

Melanie:"No, thank you, sir." *Melanie replied politely. She'd had a long discussion with Kiley after her detention, and apparently being polite was the way to go. It was harder than she ever could have imagined. She waited for him to speak again. She wasn't going to say anything else unless he asked her a question.*



~Mel

He coughed harshly then placed on some glasses on the tip of his nose, there was a fracture in the left lens making his eye seem eerily broken.

"Melanie, I will be candid here. I am not impressed with your conduct at all. I had to give you a detention last night in which you disobeyed me several times."

He opened a draw and pulled out a thin cane that made a noise as it moved through the air. "I shall be delivering a series of hand caning to you over the next few weeks in order to re-educate you in the hope you do not fall into another detention."

He placed his glasses on the side. "However before we begin I would like you to voice your opinions and thoughts on the matter."

Melanie:"Yes, sir." *she had to admit that she was scared to voice her opinion, because she was afraid of what he would do to her.*"I think the premise on which you gave me the detention was unfair, as were the threats you presented and the actual physical violence. At the same time I realize that detentions are not supposed to be fair or enjoyable, so I can't reasonably complain. I think this detention was given to me not as much for what I did, but for who I am. You're denying me any sort of personal freedom but giving no limits to yourself. For example, I know that because I said this, you'll punish me."



~Mel

"I was going to punish you anyway, but yes, your outspokenness will make it more harmful." He took the cane in his hand and stood up, moved around the desk slowly and twizzled it in his hands. "Stand up please and hold out your left hand." He raised the cane high.

*Melanie held out her hand and took and held her breath, knowing she was in for excruciating pain. It was so horribly unfair; She was being punished for being herself. She again had to fight back the urge to snap at Harshing.*




~Mel

He quickly dealt 20 strikes to her hand before returning to his seat and placing the cane in his draw with utmost care. He coughed and drank some water. "Please resit, feel free to have a drink."

"Now, we have to set some personal goals and targets in these meetings, oh yes you will be having more."

He made a note in the massive book. "Twenty Strikes" and then the date. "Over the coming months I shall increase the number of strikes to around 30 per meeting. There will be one meeting per week. Of course, because you are a witch your hand will heal more quickly. But it is the pain that counts."

He took his quill in hand. "So we need three targets for improvement in your studies. Ideas?"

*Melanie cried silently from the pain of the strikes. Her hand went numb on its own after a while.*
Melanie:"Well, I'm going to be a healer once I finish school." *She refused to say 'I want to be', because she figured Harshing would shoot her down for it if she did.*"Currently my grade in potions is good enough for me to be accepted into the program, but I would like it to be better, solid. I'd like to have stronger grades in Charms, too. For my third goal...I'm doing very well in Herbology, but I want to be the best in my class."




~Mel

He wrote down the three points in perfect script, placed his pen down at looked at her. "A healer is a very difficult career. You may not succeed in the exams. They are second only to auror exams in their difficulty. Only the best succeed. Mediocrity is not good enough."

"Your grades, as you say are good but not the best. We shall continue the disciplinary meetings until you are a the best in all three of those subjects. It is down to you to extend your interest in potions beyond the class, meet with the subject teacher and inquire for extra help, practice etcetera... If by the end of the year you have not improved you shall be placed into Room 101 on a daily basis."

He licked his lips. "Apart from potions, your other two options are useless. Charms is pathetically easy and Herbology is simply knowledge you can acquire in potions. I suggest you focus your attention on Potioneering."

"Now you are seventeen I suggest you come to Protectorate Meetings." He gave her an envelope with information in, propaganda and agendas. "It will do you good and stand you in good stead to end the PBM scheme."

*Melanie stared at Harshing with a mildly shocked expression on her face. 'Your grades, as you say are good but not the best.'' he had said. That was the most complimentary statement he had ever said about her. In fact, it was the first time he said anything to her that didn't deny the fact that she was actually mildly intelligent. Then he suggested that she go to The Protectors' council meetings....Even though she new that it was because she was 17 and for no other reason, all of this was still a shock to her, especially since he had just tortured her both mentally and physically the night before.*

Melanie:"Of course, sir. I'm pretty sure you know that my true loyalties have always been with the Protectors' cause."


*Although now, the cause was seeming to become corrupt.*



~Mel

"Mmm... even though you did become Sentinus's pet." He drank some water and continued to write. He stood up, it was time for a lecture. "The Protectorate strives to restore order and discipline into this chaotic Britain. You and your allies destroyed this country, forced it onto its knees - begging at the hands of a Polish fraudster." He paced around the office.

"Only recently have I been able to consolidate absolute power. You may think me a dictator, I am indeed but not a tyrant. There can only be one ruler for progress in these times."

"My methods in this school seem harsh, yes. But Hogwarts could not continue as a playground. Only rigid discipline and a firm hand can carve a new breed of Britons, a breed of obedient, strong and elitist Britons, capable of defending this nation."

He paused and looked at the portrait of Hans snoozing in his hands. "The days of idiocy are over. War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength."

*'Pet'. Whether that was supposed to be an insult or not, Melanie didn't care; She took it as one regardless. Throughout Harshing's explanation of the new breed, she felt her anger boiling up, but suppressed it as well as she could. 'Breed of Britons' he had said. Another insult? Again, she chose to take it as oen. She balled her hands into fists so tight that they almost broke skin. She listened to Harshing instead of just blowing up at him, maybe that was the key to gaining his acceptance, hearing him out for once.*

Melanie:"Yes, sir, I understand where you're coming from." *Even though I completely disagree with you she thought.*



~Mel

"You like the fifty million others who have made me a deity." He smiled and sat back own, drinking some water. "THe people love, no adore, me. I am their Saviour in times of peril. Radical change is what people want."

"Mel, I cannot force you to agree or disagree but I can force you to obey. It is not about our personal feelings, it is the good of Britain we must fight for until the bitter end."

He made some finishing notes. "Same time next week." He pointed to the door.