Trick 79: Threatening another teacher... with Magic!

Ace was frowning as he walked the halls in the morning, going to the Great Hall. A rather troubling piece of news reached him last night, and he was determined to confront the one responsible.

As he came to the Great Hall, he saw Dolores. Ace frowned and walked over, saying "You have some nerve!" Dolores giggled, "My dear, what exactly are you talking about?" Ace raised his voice, saying "You know exactly what I'm talking about! Using your 'so-called' Dark Quill on students!"

Dolores smiled, giggling "Pardon me, but it sounds like you're insinuating something?" as she stepped on the stairs, getting on eye level with Ace, who was much taller than her.

Ace looked at her and frowned, "You have harmed a student! You should know that a teacher must never inflict severe pain on students! A bit of smacking with a book is fine, however, using methods of punishment for criminals is absurd!"

More students ran out of the Great Hall to see the commotion as Ace stepped on the stairs, looking down at Dolores as he continued "Not only did you use the method of punishment, however you imployed it on a first year! Are you insane!? Honestly, please tell me if you are, we can have a psychiatric evaluation done!"

Dolores scoffed and stepped up the stairs again, retorting "Are you telling me how to run my classroom!?" Ace stepped forward, leaning over her as he said seriously, "I am. In fact, I want you to know, if another student shows up to my study lessons with scars from your dark artifact, I promise you, you will not be comfortable."

Dolores stepped up, saying "Is that a threat?!" Ace frowned and retorted "If it makes you feel better, yes. I'm threatening you. Do you understand now? I will not have you terrorizing students in the name of teaching! If need be, I will go to Cornelius. Maybe you're not suitable for teaching at Hogwarts."

Dolores backed up and Ace stepped forward, continuing "The students come to learn. This is not Azkaban. You have no right to send a child away with scarred hands and tears in their eyes, do I make myself clear?" Dolores giggled and smiled, replying "I'm sorry. To question my practices is to question the Ministry."

Ace frowned as Dolores continued "And by extension, the Minister himself! I am a tolerant woman but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty!" Ace replied "Oh, disloyalty. That's cute. Did you come up with that by yourself?"

He stepped up, looking down as he continued "Listen to me, very carefully. I am a kind person. I am also very tolerant. However! There is a limit to my tolerance." he forced her back against the wall as he slammed the wall with his hand, turning it to dust as he added, "I don't care about your Ministry protection. Truly."

He leaned over her and threatened, "Should you harm the students again. You shall be testing your own quill as you write an appeal letter to Cornelius himself, from an Azkaban prison. Do you understand me?" Dolores said "I do-"

Ace's eyes glowed as he punched the wall, the dust turning into little dragons and crawling on Dolores as Ace repeated, "Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear." Dolores looked at the little dragons as they hissed at her, she swallowed and retorted "To threaten a Ministry Undersecretary is an offense punishable with imprisonment!" Ace frowned and rebuked her "I would like to see you try and send me to Azkaban. Perhaps we'll be cellmates?"

Dolores was flustered and stuttered, "I-I-I-" when Minerva appeared, shouting "Ace!" as she walked over, pulling him away and waving the little dragons away, saying "We do not threaten other Professors!"

Ace retorted with his arms crossed, "I will not stand by as the students are harmed. I am really angry, apparently it's not the first time!" Minerva frowned and Dolores smoothed out her clothes, walking up the stairs, saying "I never! Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I've feared! You can expect Cornelius to hear about this!"

Ace stepped forward, saying "Is that a threat?" Dolores stepped back and walked away quickly as Minerva held him back, frowning "Ace, what has gotten into you?" Ace spit in disgust, replying "You'll see."

Before turning around to the huge crowd, saying "Norman, where are you?" a little boy stepped out and Ace smiled gently, "Come here, kid." Norman walked over and Ace took his hand gently, showing Minerva the scars on the back of his hand, frowning "You see this!?"

He added angrily "A 12 year old boy! Punished with a torture method for asking about cool spells! Are you joking, Minerva? I am apoplectic with rage!" Minerva frowned at the boy, leaning over and saying softly "Are you alright, Norman? I'm so sorry, dear. Here you go."

As she tapped on his hand, the scars disappearing.

Norman sniffled and said "Thank you, Professor." Ace smiled at him and flipped his hand, a giant lollipop appearing. Norman took the lollipop and wiped his eyes as Ace rubbed his head, saying "Go play with your friends, Norman."

Norman nodded and ran off.

Ace looked at the crowd and frowned, "Don't you have somewhere to be?" the crowd dispersed and Minerva frowned at Ace, "This is a serious issue, Ace. However, you should not threaten her."

Ace smoothed out his shirt, sighing with a frown, "I know. I couldn't help it. My bad." Minerva sighed and patted his shoulder, saying "I will speak with Dumbledore. Do not blow up like this anymore, calm down and think clearly."

She turned and frowned, continuing "People like Dolores, threats will only make your own life more difficult. You must approach the issue with a more gentle angle. What she has done is heinous and I will see to it that she pays the price." before turning back to Ace, adding, "Stay out of trouble for now. I do not wish to see you get sacked because of this."

Ace sighed and nodded as Minerva walked away.

Hermione, Harry, and Ron ran over asking 100 questions instantly.

Ace held his hand out, saying "Relax. Everything is under control." Ron chuckled "Bloody hell, that's control? I thought you'd knock the piss outta 'er!" Ace rolled his eyes and pulled on his scarf, replying "Lost my cool for a moment."

Harry added, "A moment? More like several, right?" Ron laughed and Hermione said "Shut up! This is serious! Teacher, you won't get sacked, right?" Ace smiled and wrapped his arms around their necks, chuckling "Even if I do, won't I have you three to see me off? Hehehe~"

The three struggled as Ace chuckled, letting them go before walking away, saying "Don't worry about me, worry about yourselves. There's only so much you can do before the Ministry makes a decision." Hermione frowned, muttering "A decision?"

As Ron waved at Ace and Harry smiled, "Brilliant, that guy!" Ron laughed, "A bit of a rage monster, innit?"

A few days passed