It Only Takes One (Tag: Lacetta)

Eirina sat in her office, a large piece of paper sitting on her desk. She had heard the voices in the hallways, the students gossiping, and she didn't know what was going on, at the time. But Eirina wasn't stupid. She saw the Daily Prophet in nearly every students's hand, and it was clear where the source came from. Speeding her way back to her office, she picked up her scattered list of rumors, she wasn't sure how it could even be considered a news paper these days, and read it.

Clear as day, the front page featured two articles. One being the culprit of the rumors, and the other being another article, though not on topic, that still touched her heart. It had not been time for that, however, and she had focused on the problem at hand. A newspaper spreading around an ill outlook on Hogwarts, once again. Once again, it demanded her action and attention, and once again she'd be left with little choice. As Headmistress, Eirina had to protect the school's integrity, even if all the Daily Prophet held were rumors. Because now it was out there, and now it was at the public's disposal. They'd read, and they'd believe.

That led Eirina to where she was now, sitting at her desk, paper sitting still on top. She'd sent an owl to summon Lacetta, and soon she'd arrive.

Having been in the Hospital Wing all morning, Lacetta was rather easily reached. It hadn't been that she wasn't doing much, even without injured students Lacetta was working hard on either filing or taking care of the medical cabinets within the Hospital Wing.

It was when she had been putting away a few potions that she had been interrupted, though not by a student. A cute owl had dropped off a letter for her, asking for her to go to the Headmistress's office. Lacetta only smiled at the cute owl, promising she'd be on her way.

It didn't take long for Lacetta to reach the Headmistress's office, smiling up at the Gargoyle.

"Headmistress Naer asked for me?"

The Gargoyle soundless opened the door, not a snarky word coming from it's mouth. Nor did it move or blink, it displayed none of the qualities that it usually had when others asked to enter. The door opened slowly, a great heavy door that was almost a foot of thick steel, painted a deep brown with golden veins crawling up, serving as locks on the door. Inside there were a few stairs, leaning to the right and made of a dark and old wood. From the door, you could just make out the top of the stairs and the floor that they had reached, the bottom shelves of book cases appeared, as well as the bottom of Eirina's desk, in the center of it all.

Eirina could see Lacetta's blonde hair, the curls bouncing as she had made her way up the steps and into her office. She had made a gesture to the seat in front of her, a soft chair made of dark blue, plush fabrics. It hardly looked like a chair whose business was mostly spend on children in trouble, but it was just that. There was seldom of an occurrence in these times that Eirina handed out awards to any student. And she wasn't about to hand one to Lacetta.

"Lacetta, have you read the Daily Prophet?"

The inquiry was a simply question, no hardness arrived in Eirina's flat voice. Though on her desk laid the prophet itself, both the front page and the second, opened and ready. Eirina had her culprit, the telling of more lies then realities, but it was a teller, and people believed what they were told. The Daily Prophet served as evidence, she hated to say, toward her reasoning for what she was about to do. What she was required to do in order to uphold the integrity of Hogwarts. There could be no favorites under these rooftops.

Looking at the headmistress with a curious face, Lacetta had shaken her head. She hardly ever thought about reading the news papers, although it seemed like a wise thing to do. It simply hadn't been appealing to her, she preferred to read books.

"I'm sorry, but I have not. Should I have?"

She hadn't known what else to say to the headmistress. It wasn't a requirement, she was sure of that. What need would there be for her to read the prophet? Perhaps new discoveries of ways to cure certain things that she had not yet known of a cure for? Oh that would be just awful, she would be depriving the students of a better health if that were the case!

An arrow of pity struck Eirina in the chest a bit, Lacetta having no idea what was going on. But what if it was true? What if one of her employees really was using a love potion on other people, on students? Eirina easily shook off the pity, just as she did with Madison. This was her job, as Headmistress, and she couldn't let anybody question her actions, not when she had just barely been elected as the Headmistress. There were still so many years to come before she could feel comfortable, and before her decisions would no longer be questioned, but honored. Or so that was what she had hoped for.

Taking the Daily Prophet into her hair, Eirina took another slow glance at the paper and it's claims, and handed it to Lacetta over her desk. There were many papers over her desk, and the edges stacked up high, but the busy pages of the prophet stood out, as though it was shouting among a crowd of introverts.

Eirina would be sad to see Lacetta go, even for just a little while, but it had to be done. Just as she had done to Madison a while back. It was her position, and they both represented the school. She was prepared to tell that to Lacetta. A forced leave of absence, paid, of course, but a leave. And in the meantime Eirina had already sent in a call to St. Mungos, who had given her the name of a middle aged nurse who would temporarily take Lacetta's place. She was just as capable, if not more, and had many years of experience with more complicated procedures then Eirina had never hoped to witness at Hogwarts.

"Lacetta, as you may see, this is an issue that must be resolved. As Headmistress, I'm required to take action, and I must see to it that this problem is solved. In the mean time, I'll have to ask you to take a leave of absence from your position as Head Nurse, and find residence outside of Hogwarts. Do you understand this?"

As Lacetta read through the daily prophet article, she immediately felt hurt. She didn't know how someone could have the heart to write such a thing, or how some of the students could say such things. Perhaps she couldn't blame them though, they were just children, and the daily prophet had some manipulative reporters.

A few tears sat in Lacetta's eyes, and she did her best not to cry. She felt ashamed for any of this ever happening, but she didn't blame anyone but herself. The Headmistress was doing her job, and the daily prophet had always been harsh. She should have been more careful with how she portrayed herself.

Nodding her head in response, Lacetta wasn't able to speak. She understood, and chocked out a "Thank you," to the headmistress. She's wish to leave as soon as she could, before anything worse could occur.

Eirina simply nodded her head at the girl, seeing the tears that Lacetta was clearly fighting back. She honestly didn't know how she could still smile and manage a thank you, but Lacetta had always been sweet, and too kind. Eirina allowed for the door at the bottom of the stairwell to open, allowing for Lacetta to leave when she pleased. Eirina had nothing more to say, and she didn't think that Lacetta did, either. If anything, Lacetta appeared to have wanted to leave as soon as possible, and no matter how bad Eirina felt about it, it was her job and it was the action that was required for her to take. There was no other option.

"I'll allow you to see yourself out. Thank you."

Nodding her head, Lacetta stood up, giving a slight bow to Eirina and quickly turning.

Lacetta was making quickly to the Hospital Wing, where she'd be sure to pack her things and leave as soon as she could. She hadn't wanted to be a burden any longer, and would much rather leave quickly and quietly.

It was only a matter of finding out where she'd go next.