Even the audience could see how exhausted the punished students were becoming. Their arms quivered visibly, and sweat rolled down their faces, dripping steadily onto the floor.
"Twenty-five!" Alex shouted, his voice unwavering.
"Twenty-five!"
"Still not up to standard. Twenty-five!"
"Twenty-six!"
By the time Alex finally called out "THIRTY," the students collapsed onto the ground, completely spent. They lay there panting, too tired to even wipe the sweat off their faces.
"Get up. The punishment is over," Alex ordered sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. The students struggled to their feet and trudged back to their seats, defeated. Alex turned his attention to the rest of the group. His piercing gaze swept over them like a hawk. "Attendance punishment is finished. Normally, this would mark the start of self-study time. But…" His voice dropped ominously. "Your behavior today has been absolutely disgraceful!"
The room fell silent. The remaining students stared at the floor, unable to meet Alex's eyes. "I was going to save this for the evening, but your complete disregard for discipline makes it necessary to address now." Pulling out a recording board, Alex's expression hardened further. "First, let's talk about internal violations. Since this morning, some of you have ignored the rules and walked out of the Slytherin common room in a disgraceful state."
Alex began listing names rapidly. "Gar Murray, second year, missing a house badge. Lewis Heywood, Dantai Mulenga, both fourth years, no disciplinary pins."
Each name called out felt like a hammer falling. The guilty parties flinched visibly, and the audience watched nervously, dreading their own names being added. "Stand up," Alex barked. Those named rose reluctantly, their shoulders slumped in shame.
"Grade leaders, up as well," Alex added. His tone brooked no argument. As the grade leaders stood, Alex slowly descended the steps, his presence imposing. He approached Joey, a student leader, and fixed him with an icy glare. "Do you know why you're up here?"
Joey fidgeted under Alex's scrutiny. "Y-Yes, it's because we didn't check properly…"
"Incorrect!" Alex cut him off. "This morning, I watched you. You noticed violations but said nothing. You didn't demand corrections. That's not negligence—that's deliberate indulgence!"
Joey's face turned pale. "I… I thought it was just a button. Not that serious. They knew they were wrong…"
Alex sneered at his weak defense. "Not serious? Do you know what this behavior leads to? Today, it's one button. Tomorrow, it's untidy robes. The day after, complete disregard for rules. Lowering your standards is the first step toward chaos!" He turned to address the room, his voice rising. "Some of you think this is just about neatness. But let me make this clear—even if you aim to change the world, it starts with the little things. Clean your robes. Straighten your ties. Respect the house rules!" He paused, letting his words sink in before his tone shifted, sharp and disapproving. "But Joy, do you think you're helping anyone by ignoring the rules? You're wrong. You're harming them—and yourself."
Alex's stern voice silenced the group of young wizards gathered around him. Joey and the others who had broken the rules stood frozen, their heads bowed in shame. "Prefect Alex, I was wrong," Joey admitted, his voice laced with regret. "But it's my fault. If punishment is necessary, let it be mine alone. I'll take responsibility for Lewis and Dantai."
Alex raised an eyebrow at Joey's declaration. "Oh? The punishment is thirty push-ups for breaking the rules. That applies to everyone—including you. If you want to take their punishment too, the total will be ninety. Are you prepared for that?" His face betrayed no emotion.
"I understand!" Joey's voice trembled slightly, but his gaze remained steady.
"No!" Lewis and Dantai, standing beside Joey, immediately protested. Guilt was etched across their faces. Seeing Joey take the blame on their behalf made them feel even worse.
"We all slacked off and ignored Joey's warnings," Dantai said firmly. "We'll accept the punishment ourselves."
Lewis nodded in agreement. "Joey's already done enough for us. This isn't his burden to carry."
Joey glanced at his friends, noticing Lewis's trembling arms from fatigue. He opened his mouth to argue, but Alex's cold voice cut through the air. "Enough. This isn't a bartering stall at Diagon Alley. The rules are clear: thirty push-ups each. No excuses." Alex's tone brooked no argument. "On the stage. Now."
The three exchanged glances, realizing there was no point in protesting further. Reluctantly, they moved to the stage, bracing themselves for the ordeal.
"One!" Alex's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"One! One! Two!" he continued, his strict counting echoing through the hall.
The room grew tense. The punished wizards gritted their teeth, struggling to keep up with Alex's relentless pace. Those watching felt a mix of fear and admiration for Alex's unwavering enforcement of the rules. Lewis, already exhausted from an earlier punishment, was visibly struggling. Each push-up came with a groan of effort, his arms shaking uncontrollably. Despite this, Alex's stern expression never wavered.
What the students didn't know was that Alex had subtly adjusted the standards. He understood that most of them lacked the physical fitness to perform perfect push-ups for all thirty repetitions. Yet, he maintained his strict demeanor, instilling discipline while allowing some leeway. When Alex finally called out "Thirty," the punished students collapsed onto the floor, utterly spent. Lewis, having endured two rounds of punishment, couldn't even stand. He had to be helped down the steps by his friends.
As the punished students returned to their seats, Alex's voice broke through the hushed hall. "That concludes the punishment for improper attire. Next, we move on to the next violation."
Gasps rippled through the room. The ordeal wasn't over? The seated students froze, mentally replaying their actions from the day. Fear etched itself on their faces as Alex began calling names again. "Irregular dining etiquette: third-year, Cliff Palmer—shouting at lunch. Second-year, Julie Taymor—grabbing food with her hands at dinner..."
Each name Alex called brought visible dread to its owner. By the time he reached the last name, the tension in the hall was palpable. "Fourth-year, Rumen Heywood—throwing food at dinner and wasting over half of it."
All eyes turned to Lewis. His face fell, and he stood up, looking utterly defeated. The earlier punishment had drained him, and now he could barely lift his arms. Seeing Lewis called out again, Joey shot to his feet. "Prefect Alex—" he began, but Alex cut him off with a sharp glare.
"Did I give you permission to speak?" Alex snapped. "Sit down and call for a report properly."
Joey sat down quickly, then shouted, "Report!"
"Speak," Alex said, his tone icy.
"Prefect Alex, Lewis's body can't handle another punishment. He knows he was wrong. Please, let him off this time," Joey pleaded, his voice earnest.