Harry Potter: The Witty Wizard

Dumbledore gave another start of surprise but, before he could respond, she drew her wand and held it out so that the old man could clearly see it. "From this moment forth, Albus, each time you address me by my first name and not my title I'm going to zap you with increasingly stronger stinging hexes. Do you understand me?"

He gasped, "You wouldn't dare!"

She cocked an eyebrow at him and smirked, "For the past two plus weeks I've had to tell you over and over again you are to address me as Headmistress Marchbanks. Over and over again I have also told you not to address me by my first name.

"As you have not learned from that, I am allowed to raise the level of discipline to the next level. I've decided that will be through the use of stinging hexes. And, once again, if you do not like that - quit!"

As the old man sat there, clearly angry but not willing to say a word, she said, "Now, back to our topic. The use of hostages in the second task."

"Yes," he immediately said. "As I was saying―"

"Be silent!" she snapped.

When he immediately shut up and glared back she said, "You seem to be operating under a complete misunderstanding of what powers the Hogwarts Heads of Houses have relating to their legal status regarding in loco parentis.

"In loco parentis, as you otherwise seem to believe, does not give the Heads of Houses the right to act as parents or otherwise rightful guardians of the students at all times. In loco parentis only exists in situations where the permission of the rightful guardians of a student cannot first be immediately gained when it's necessary to be required immediately. That is, in cases of emergency medical attention and the like.

"In situations where the rightful guardians can first be approached, then the rightful guardian's permission must first be gained. That is the case here.

"There would have been almost two months between the Yule Ball and the Second Task. In other words, there would have been plenty of time for you to have sought permission from the rightful guardian or guardians of each of your supposed hostages, before you used said hostages in the Task.

"As such, in loco parentis does not apply. Rather, if you had used such hostages and they were underaged, without first gaining the written and signed permission of the guardians in advance, you would have been guilty of the crime of either flat out Kidnapping or Deprivation of Liberty. If even one of those hostages had been of an Ancient House or above - or, even worse, an Heir of one of those Houses - and any harm at all had come to the child, that could easily have meant the Veil for you, Albus.

"And... I remind you... if you had been found guilty of either one of those crimes and the hostage was of an Ancient or above House, execution by the Veil is the only sentence available to the Wizengamot!

"Based on the evidence, alone, I would have been one of those who would have found you guilty, Albus."

Dumbledore just sat there in disbelief.

Seeing the expression on his face, Marchbanks gave a huff and said, "What? Don't think it would have happened? Again, clearly Lord Potter is right when he thinks us all daft morons, when even the so-called great Albus Dumbledore could make such a stupid mistake."

Frowning in annoyance Dumbledore huffed back and said, "Nevertheless, the Second Task needs hostages for the champions to rescue. That―"

"No, it doesn't," she snapped. "Listen to the bloody clue, yourself, if you don't believe me. All it needs is something the champion would miss the most; not someone.

"As such, there will definitely not be hostages for the champions to 'rescue'. And, as such, no need to select said hostages from their dates to the Ball. That means the Ball does not play a part in the Tournament.

"Now, what else did you need to speak with me about?"

Dumbledore sat completely flummoxed. He really had no idea what to do from there as his entire argument pivoted on the need for hostages.

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