witch hat

[mswoods]

Well, the jig is up. If her House mates had any doubts about Sadde, they're gone.

...kinda. She's still young enough and androgynous enough that most of them think it's just a matter of changing her hair a bit and maybe some makeup and differently cut robes. It's not a belief that stands a whole lot of scrutiny, but given that most Slytherins give her a fairly wide berth, there's not actually been a whole lot of scrutiny.

She did find the Hufflepuff boy she spooked and tell him about it and offer to help him with his Potions homework. He was quite bewildered and suspicious because Slytherin so he didn't accept her help, but she told him to watch who she hangs out with so that he'd see she's Not Like Other Slytherins, and eventually he agreed, unable to see any way this could be a cunning plot. Which just goes to show that some people really couldn't be Slytherins.

Presently, it's Sunday, and Sadde would really like to talk to a certain Hat, which means she needs to talk to a certain Headmistress, and she suspects the most likely place she'll find her is the Head Table, at one of the meals. Breakfast is the first of those! Is McGonagall there?

Comments

[mswoods]

"I'm not totally sure yet!" she beams. "It's part of the reason I'm here. And she's here because she's super smart and has great ideas so she could help! Anyway, the first idea I had was something like bringing the firsties together, sorta? And trying to reverse some of the peer pressure for being evil and stupid that's going on with all the older years. I got one of the boys on my side already! His name's Jacob, and he pretends he doesn't like me so the older years won't pick on him too much. And there's only one other boy and two other girls this year, so it shouldn't be hard! And also we could try to influence the new kids who'll come in the future, you know, kinda be an opposite example? She suggested a buddy system," she points at Miranda.

"She also suggested better internal policing, and I'm not sure how I'd do that but your help and probably Slughorn's would be good. Prefects, maybe? And also the other very good idea she had was talking to the Hat, maybe it'd be able to help, or something."

[chanuphis]

"Well - I suppose there's no harm in letting you talk to the hat," says McGonagall. "Is there someone against whom disciplinary action is currently needed?"

[mswoods]

"Hm? Like whom?" she asks, having completely forgotten by now about the punch or the jinxes.

Well, more like the fact that those are things that might call for disciplinary action slipped her mind.

Until she remembers. "Oh! Er. Maybe?"

[chanuphis]

"Maybe?" says McGonagall.

"You might have to actually decide if you want Slytherin policed or not, Sadde," Miranda points out.

[mswoods]

She sighs. "Well, I mean, in theory I do, but like, it feels like the standard methods aren't actually working? Unless internal policing has been extremely lax these past few years, but Professor Slughorn doesn't look like- well, I mean, he's fun and boisterous and stuff, but he looks like the kind of person who takes serious things seriously?"

[chanuphis]

"Professor Slughorn was brought out of retirement a few years ago," McGonagall says. "Prior to that time the head of house was Professor Snape, who did not devote very much attention to such affairs. So there may be some lingering effects from that, although you are correct that Professor Slughorn takes a serious approach to serious matters."

[mswoods]

"Hm. In that case, there's this boy called Nyle Arens who jinxed me the other day, Professor Spukhafte might tell you about what happened, and he also punched me and flung me against a wall. This last part was in revenge, though, because I replaced all his underwear with girls' underwear, which I did because of the jinxing. So I guess both of us need disciplinary action?"

[chanuphis]

Professor McGonagall sighs. "One detention with Professor Slughorn for you, he will let you know when, and I will see about Mr. Arens separately."

[mswoods]

"Wouldn't it be funny if this was enough to make them get in line?" she giggles. "Anyway, can I talk to the hat? Or did the underwear thing cross some line?"

[chanuphis]

"You may still talk to the hat. Have a seat, Miss Woods."

And then she is hatted.

[mswoods]

And then she is hatted!

"Hello?" she tries.

[alicornucopia]

Hello again. It's not often I speak to the same student twice.

[mswoods]

She smiles.

I bet. So, I dunno how much you know about what goes on in the world outside, in fact I'd love to ask you all sorts of questions about you later, but now mostly I wanted to see if you could think of ways to help me help Slytherin.

[alicornucopia]

Your own successes will lend it greatness, the hat says. And its greatness, such as it has, will encourage more children to consider it, which will give me more flexibility to fill it with the best suited instead of the least unwilling.

[mswoods]

Well, yeah, sure, I imagined something like that would happen already, but surely there's some way to help now? I expect you can't tell me personal stuff about the students, and I wouldn't really want to know them anyway, but maybe you could give me some tips? I was thinking about uniting the first years and having us become an actually positive influence there, sort of a reverse peer pressure to the older years, and also to the younger years. Professor McGonagall said that better policing was also going to happen.

[alicornucopia]

Slytherins do not take so well to being policed. You're too liquid and determined. Directing their efforts toward things other than infighting will work better than trying to disincentivize infighting. First years will have difficulty commanding respect; you will find this obstacle shrinks over time, and faster the more accomplishments you have to your collective names.

[mswoods]

Hmmm, do you think Professor McGonagall would go for that? The no-policing thing? I like the idea of directing efforts, though, that feels nicer. Do you think I have any chance of getting the older students to change, too?

[alicornucopia]

I don't mean to say that policing ought to be eschewed entirely. Only that it will not curb misbehavior altogether, in any quantity. Your odds are poor but not negligible. But first you must impress them. Or trick them, if you can.

[mswoods]

She grins. Oooh, those sound like good ideas! I bet I can impress them quickly. I'm pretty impressive, she sends, a tad smug.

[alicornucopia]

This attitude will serve you well, says the hat.

[mswoods]

She giggles. I know. Any other tips? Also can I status report in the future? And if McGonagall really likes me, would you mind too much if I came back just to ask you lots of questions?

[alicornucopia]

I usually have little else to do, says the hat. Cultivate social capital in any quantity you can and spend it down as needed; it does no good hoarded and is your most valuable currency.

[mswoods]

Wow, who'd have thought an ancient magical artifact would have so much wisdom! She's clearly jesting. Anyway, thanks for the advice. Hopefully I'll manage to get you some better candidates for Slytherin in the future!

[alicornucopia]

Best of luck.

[mswoods]

Thanks!

She unhats, and focuses on the other two witches.

"So, it said that I had to get really awesome so people would look up to me, and also that Slytherins and policing don't mix too well and trying to channel their efforts into productive stuff will work better than punishing unproductive stuff, but the punishment thing might also help some, there. Kinda carrots-and-sticks thing? Yeah. Also that I should try to cultivate social capital and spend it a lot, so lots of politicking, I guess. And I'm gonna unite all Slytherin firsties and be Queen Firstie!"