However, seeing as the Mark had been formed by his own magic and not Potter's, it was very clear it wouldn't be there if the punk wasn't indeed guilty of betraying Potter. So again Harry had been correct. It was his right to administer punishment upon the brat who'd tried to kill him. And it could've been worse. No matter what the Triad thought, things could've gone a hell of a lot worse for all of them. And probably would've had their punishment been delivered by anyone but Harry. Merlin knew, Severus would've done a lot worse to them for what they'd been doing to a child under his protection. He might not like Potter and Merlin knew he resented being his Guardian/Protector but he definitely would've taken vengeance for the boy had he learned of their duplicity before Potter had acted against them.
The Triad were still free to act as they wished, go where they wished and do as they pleased so long as what they chose to do or say didn't in any manner impinge upon Mr. Potter, his actions or his character. They were free to live at home and attend school. They could play sports, study as they would, take whatever classes they like, or even quit school and get jobs of their choosing to support themselves. Mr. Potter wasn't controlling what grades they received or even demanding a minimum standard for them to remain enrolled in Hogwarts. And with the two Weasely children, he most certainly could do that if he chose. He was the source of their scholarship. He could set the rules for that quite easily. Nor was he demanding they withdraw and attend a different school where he wouldn't have to see them any longer as he so easily could've since he paid their tuition here. Merlin knew, if anyone else had been paying their tuition, Ronald Weasely would've lost his scholarship half way through his second year here seeing as he rarely got a mark higher then a 'D'. Potter had even made a point of telling that blowhard he knew there were other secondary level magical schools he and his sister could attend. Yet they were free to remain here at Hogwarts.
The punishment wasn't permanent since by acceding to the rightness of the brands and then atoning for their wrong doing, it was possible the marks would fade away in time. It'd take a lot of time for the runes to fade but the potential for them to do so was there. And that was all that was necessary by law.
He paused in his step as he thought he really did want to know just how and when Mr. Potter had learned that spell and the laws that allowed him to bring it into play today. That was something he never expected the Potter he knew to know of. Let alone know well enough to be able to actually enact it against three of his enemies. He continued on his way for once happy with the way his day had gone. For that matter, he thought, he wanted to know what else Mr. Potter was hiding in that head of his. Because if he was hiding the ability to do spells that old and powerful as well as the knowledge of said spells, there was no telling how much the boy really knew or could do. For that matter hadn't he heard the brat say he hadn't made himself any fresh Throat Soother yet? Since when could the Brat brew his own potions? If he could brew that, what else could he and was he brewing for himself? He intended to find out.
But for Severus - he grinned as he made his way down to his own chambers - the best part was there was absolutely nothing Albus could do about it. His Slytherins had all received his message loud and clear to immediately compose a letter to their parents informing them of the ritual punishments they'd witnessed today in the library and to spare no details in the telling. He had no doubt many of the witnessing Ravenclaws were doing exactly the same thing right now. Being in a class right now or not, the Ravenclaws who had witnessed the Showdown would be composing letters home one way or another.
Severus knew he only got the chance to spread word of today's happenings because Dumbledore was out of the Castle right now. What he was doing was anyone's guess as, of course, Albus hadn't seen fit to inform any of the staff what his plans for the day were or where he could be reached should a situation arise here. Oh well. His loss. As the saying went. He was tempted to start whistling he was so happy. Too bad he really couldn't whistle at all.
And by the time Albus returned and learned of the confrontation, the owls would already have flown free with their missives. Word would have gone out and there would be no way to recall it. But he was determined the old man wouldn't be able to cover this up or put such a spin on it people would hate Potter over it like they did so many of the other games Dumbledore had enacted here in the Castle. Harry Potter had finally had enough of the old man's games and manipulations and had taken a stand. Slytherin house would support that stand even if they didn't like the boy personally. Which a lot of them didn't. But they were his peers and even they knew the Triad deserved what he did to them.
Most of the parents, who'd be contacted by his students and the Ravenclaws, held important positions either in the Ministry or on the school board and all of them would, if they didn't already know it, immediately look up the legality of Mr. Potter's actions. They'd be ready for any play Albus tried to make to force Mr. Potter to recant his position and remove the runes. Not that he could. As Potter had told the Triad, only they could remove the marks that were made with their own magic, formed by the guilt in their own minds and hearts and held in place as a monitor of their future choices and actions by their own innate magic.
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