Authors: Andy Holland
"Now, who would like to begin?" the headmaster asked politely. "Professor, perhaps you could tell me what happened."
Professor Silver nodded, glaring at Rosie with his nose held high. He cleared his throat before beginning. "I was on my way back to my office, when this girl here," he paused to look down at Rosie, "began screaming hysterically about a fight. I looked over, and saw a crowd gathered around these two, who were fighting. I broke it up, dispersed the crowd, and was in the process of dealing with the matter when this girl demanded that we see you, and asked her brother to drag both of them here. Quite unnecessary, I thought. It's a simple matter, and surely doesn't require any of your time."
"Hmmm, quite," the Headmaster replied. "Surely you're not implying that fighting is something minor though, are you, Professor? We treat these matters as very seriously, do we not?"
"Of course, Headmaster," Professor Silver replied. "Most serious, which is why I was going to issue severe punishments…"
"And if it is most serious, then of course, I should be consulted regarding their punishment. Should I not?"
"Well, of course, Headmaster, but I didn't want to waste your time—"
The Headmaster cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Most kind, Professor, but please, encroach on my time when these matters arise, which, fortunately, does not happen very often. Now, perhaps Rosie could provide a little more detail."
"What about the boys?" Professor asked. "Perhaps we should ask them what started this. Daniel, could you tell the Headmaster how this started?"
"No, no," the Headmaster said, shaking his head. "I will hear Rosie first."
Rosie glared at Professor Silver. "I didn't cry out hysterically," she corrected. "I demanded that he stop the fight. He was watching, just like any other spectator and doing nothing about it."
"Now, young lady, I hope you're not accusing me of…"
The Headmaster interrupted Professor Silver again. "Professor, Rosie, we're not here to discuss what either of you were doing, but what you saw. Please concentrate on that."
Rosie glared at the Professor again, but continued. "These two weren't fighting as such. That implies that both sides are attacking each other. No, he—Daniel—was just pummelling John. He knocked him down, and then lifted him up again to start hitting him again. John didn't fight back at all. His only contribution was to act as a punch bag. This was an assault, a vicious beating, not a fight. He shouldn't be getting a detention, he should be thrown out! Expelled from this school!"
Professor Silver began to object. "Now, Headmaster, I'm not sure Rosie is portraying the situation fairly."
The Headmaster turned to him sharply. "You said that Rosie drew your attention to the fight, did you not?"
"Yes, well, she did—"
"So you can't have seen everything she did, could you, Professor? I mean, you weren't watching the fight before Rosie screamed, so you're not able to contradict her story, are you?"
The Professor coloured up. Daniel answered to spare his blushes.
"I think this may have been a simple misunderstanding, Headmaster…"
"Misunderstandings don't usually result in beatings," the Headmaster replied coldly. "We take this sort of thing very seriously. It's not something we tolerate at this school."
Daniel nodded, frowning. "I understand, Headmaster, which is why you need to understand the situation completely before making any rushed decisions. After all, it would be very unfortunate if I had to leave the school. My father, well, he's donating a lot for that new building, Headmaster. I doubt he would be able to continue if he lost face by my expulsion. Something which is totally avoidable, as this is really just a misunderstanding that got out of hand."
The Headmaster paled noticeably. "Losing funds would be a shame. But beatings cannot be ignored. This is clearly not just a fight. I'm amazed that John is still conscious. He looks like he's fallen off a cliff. John, perhaps you would like to add something here."
He looked at John, and in his eyes, John could detect a hint of pleading. John raised his head slowly, wincing at the pain. "A misunderstanding, sir. Things got out of hand."
"What?" Rosie screamed angrily. "What are you saying? How could this be a misunderstanding?"
John repeated himself. "A misunderstanding. Nothing more."
The Headmaster nodded. "I see. Still, a misunderstanding should never have got this far, but perhaps expulsion is unnecessary. Daniel, your father will be hearing of this incident, and I think we don't need to see you at school for the rest of this week. When you get back, I will have thought of an appropriate punishment for you. Now get out of here."
Rosie's jaw dropped, watching in horror as Daniel rose and headed for the door, a triumphant smirk on his face. "Headmaster, what are you thinking? He should not just be expelled but arrested as well. He deserves to be in jail for this!"
The Headmaster nodded. "Thank you, Rosie. I think you've done us a great service here. But I can't punish him further if John insists that it's a misunderstanding."
Rosie stood up, glaring at them all. "Something stinks here. I'm not wasting any more time with the lot of you." She stormed out of the room, knocking over her chair as she left.
"Pick up that chair on the way out," the Headmaster said to the Professor. "Close the door behind you as well please."
"Headmaster," Professor Silver began. "I hope you don't think that—"
"Thank you, Professor," the Headmaster interrupted sharply. "You may leave now. Oh, and send for the nurse."
The Professor rose to his feet, picked up Rosie's chair and headed for the door, frowning at the Headmaster before leaving.
The Headmaster gave a sigh of relief after the door was closed. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief and studied John, a puzzled look on his face.
"So, just a misunderstanding, eh? Just between you and me John, why did you say that? It was obviously not just a misunderstanding, and I've heard from other teachers that you've been picked on a lot, especially by Thorne. Why did you let him off the hook? Rosie was right; he could have been in a lot of trouble. His family are very rich, but not as influential as you'd think, and especially not here in Furnace. You could have got rid of him for good if you'd wanted. Why didn't you?"
John looked up at him, his movements slow and clearly painful. His face was a complete mess: swollen, bruised and with blood trickling from a cut under his eye. "What would that have cost the school, headmaster? I'm already seen as the scholarship boy, someone who shouldn't be here. I don't want to be the boy who put a stop to the new building as well."
The Headmaster shook his head in disbelief. "I must admit, I was hoping you didn't want to take this further, but I never thought you'd let him off, and especially not for the benefit of the school. Well, thank you, John. You've saved me from a very awkward situation there. This school does need his father's money, the building work can't be finished without it, and you're probably right, you probably would have blamed for the school building project being stopped. It's hard to believe, when you think how rich the students' parents are, but this school has been short of funds for a while now. I just don't know many students who'd have done what you did. But why didn't you fight back? Look at you, you're a complete wreck. I can't believe you're still conscious. I've heard how fast you can transform; weren't you tempted to resort to your claws?"
John tried to smile, but the effect was lost on his puffy lips. "Fight back? As a dragon? I'd be locked up by now. You heard Rosie. Professor Silver was watching the fight. Fight! The assault. He was waiting for me to fight back so he could have me thrown out."
The Headmaster nodded. "Rosie isn't one to lie or exaggerate. She has her father's bluntness and honesty. And I assure you, Silver won't last here. I'm afraid you're stuck with him this year, but I'll be replacing him next year. Of course, if you had stuck with Rosie's story I'd have probably had to get rid of him as well. Another of your enemies would have been gone. You're definitely a strange one, John Wood. Do you mind telling why he attacked you? What this misunderstanding was about?"
John shook his head. "Over nothing really. He thinks I deliberately embarrassed him."
There was a knock on the door. "Come in," the Headmaster called.
The school nurse walked in, closing the door behind her. "Professor Silver said to come and see you. Something about a boy who'd been in a fight…oh!" The nurse gasped at the sight of John, putting his hand over her mouth in shock.
"Did he now?" the headmaster said irritably. "A boy who has been beaten up would be more accurate, and he knows it. I need you to take care of John, nurse. Can that be done here?"
The nurse shook her head. "I've never seen anything like it. We should call a doctor. What happened to the other boy? Is he hurt badly as well?"
"Not a scratch," the Headmaster replied. "As I said, this wasn't a fight. Is there anything you need from me?"
The nurse started examining John. "I can clean him up, but you'll need to send for a doctor. He'll have to stay at the school tonight in the sick room. Someone will have to tell his parents and bring clothes for him."
The Headmaster nodded. "Well, we have no shortage of rooms. John, do you think any of your friends would be able to go and get your things for you?"
John laughed bitterly, thinking of the expression on Daisy's face as she left the scene of the fight. "Did you remember any part of Rosie's story where any of my friends stepped in?"
The Headmaster frowned. "Come on, John, you must have some friends. What about that girl? The one with the blonde hair that you requested to be in a class with? I forget her name. Aren't you friends with her? I'm sure I've seen her talking to you."
"Telling me to go away," John replied. "Besides, she's with him now, with Thorne." He said the name bitterly, spitting the word out.
"Ah, is that what this was about? Was it over a girl?" the Headmaster asked knowingly.
John shook his head. "No, I doubt Crystal had anything to do with it. Thorne just doesn't like me. Hasn't since day one."
"This isn't helping us find someone to get his things," the nurse pointed out.
"Yes, yes. I know," the headmaster replied. "I'll go and find a student to give that task to, and then I'll send for the doctor. In the absence of any suggestions from you, John, I'll just choose the first one I see. I'll see you later, John. And thanks again for, well, you know what for."
John nodded weakly before closing his eyes, and the Headmaster him alone in his office, where he closed his eyes to sleep.
Outside, Crystal was waiting with Seth, Jenna, Arthur and Daisy to see what happened, when the Headmaster spotted them and hurried over.
"Ah, Bragon, you'll do. Come along, I have a task for you."
"What's happened to Thorne, sir?" Seth asked. "Has he been charged? Is he going to be sent to jail?"
"Never you mind about Thorne," the Headmaster replied. "I need you to run an errand for me. I need you to go to the library for me and deliver a note, and to bring back some of Wood's things. Can you do that, Bragon?"
"What's happened to John, sir?" Daisy asked.
"John is with the nurse, princess," the Headmaster replied. "Not that any of you seem to care. I'm glad Rosie had the sense to intervene. I wonder at what point any of you would have done so. I doubt John could have taken much more and survived. Come on, come with me, Bragon. I'll write you that note."
Seth grumbled, but followed after the Headmaster, leaving the other four behind.
"Where do you think Daniel is?" Jenna asked.
"He'll get out of this," Arthur replied. "John will be offered money if necessary. And the Headmaster."
"Still like him now, Crystal?" Daisy asked coldly. "How do you like Daniel now? Did you enjoy watching him beat up John?"
Crystal reddened and glared at Daisy. "That's funny; I thought I saw you watching the fight as well. Didn't hear you trying to stop it either."
"I wasn't cheering Daniel on though. I wanted John to fight back." She turned to her brother. "Why didn't he? He could have transformed and fought as a dragon if he'd wanted. Daniel couldn't have beaten him then."
"Really?" Jenna asked with a sneer. "You really need to ask that question? Why do you think they wear all that equipment in those competitions? What do you think would happen in a fight without them?"
Daisy looked her brother for the answer, a confused look on her face.
"Unprotected fights lead to fatalities, Daisy," Arthur told her. "The school guard aren't allowed to intervene unless dragons are involved, but if John had transformed they would have broken it up. Although it probably wouldn't have got that far, whoever started it would probably be executed. Well, maybe not if it had been Daniel."
Daisy gasped in horror, her eyes wide.
"Exactly," Jenna added with a sneer. "John's not stupid enough to not realise that. Too stupid to fight back with his fists though. Shame, I'd have liked to have seen a proper fight. Anyway, this is getting boring now. Can we just go? Seth can tell us what happened. If Daniel has been expelled I'm sure he'll come and tell Crystal. He'd be delighted." Jenna put her arm through Arthur's and led him away. "Coming, Crystal?"