howler in the hall open

November 21, 2023 6:30 p.m.

Rhys should've known the second they heard the startled gasps of their Gryffindor peers that something bad was about to happen. And when they turned to see what the commotion was, they certainly should've guessed that the red envelope in the talons of an approaching owl was certainly for them. It swiftly descended down towards Rhys, then swiftly dropped the envelope before them before flying off. It had done its job, so now it was off to hunt mice and leave Rhys to face the wrath of whoever had sent what was surely a howler.

It was probably their father. He was good at yelling at his kids, and Rhys's mother was as likely as to know how to send a howler as their father was to be able to file his taxes using a computer. Yeah, it would most definitely be Rhys's father. And this was almost certainly going to be about a conflict Rhys had recently had with another student. A conflict that had resulted in Rhys punching the other student several times and giving him a bloody, probably broken nose. They weren't necessarily proud of it, and it had been semi-deserved, but Rhys's older brothers had caught wind of it almost immediately, so it was only a matter of time before their parents did, too.

Cautiously, Rhys picked up the envelope before them. It was shaking, like their mother's cell phone would if she had clients desperately trying to reach her. And it was... growing warmer. Steadily overheating, also like their mum's cell phone after she'd been on it all day to manage her clients' issues. It's going to explode if I don't open it, it suddenly dawned on Rhys. That was the nature of Howlers-- upon delivery, they would steadily overheat until the point where the envelope itself would explode and the recipient would be forced to hear whatever the sender of the Howler had to say. Rhys didn't particularly want to make a scene in the middle of the Great Hall, but it wasn't like they could dip out for a minute to find somewhere else to open the Howler. It would explode before they got the chance. They had to open it there, in front of the entire school.

Might as well get it over with, Rhys thought, sighing. With a single, quick motion they tore the wax seal of the envelope off and were blown back by the force of it bursting open. Almost immediately, the loud, booming voice of their father filled the entire great hall as the Howler began its long tirade.

Rhys Read!
You've got a lot of nerve, young lady. Just when it seemed like you weren't going to be an issue at Hogwarts, I hear from your brothers that you're going off and punching another student! And a Slytherin, at that! You should be ashamed of yourself. Just how do you think that this will reflect back on me? I have a reputation to uphold, and if word gets out that my wayward daughter is at Hogwarts getting up to a load of trouble, I'll be the laughing stock of the firm!
And the stress this is putting on your mother as well! We are both heavily disappointed in you, but to see your mother fretting over your wellbeing most of the time! She has important work to keep up with as well, and cannot afford to be stressing herself over the fact that you're off at Hogwarts getting into fights.
Winter break is coming up shortly, and you can bet that you'll be sitting out while the rest of us partake in the festivities.
I expect an apology letter addressed to your mother and I to arrive by owl within the next week, or else you'll spend winter break cleaning the house as well.
I've got my eye on you.

Upon the end of the letter, the envelope promptly burst into flames, raining ashes down onto the table and leaving Rhys to sit there in shock. They were embarrassed beyond belief. Not only had their father addressed them as young lady -- a term that made them want to gag-- he'd also gone on about Rhys "getting into fights" and "punching students", phrasing it like it was multiple fights, multiple students. When the reality was that they'd only punched one bloke, after he'd pushed them into the goddamn lake! Plus, now the entire school knew all of their family business, and the fact that their parents can't afford to be caring about their children because they have to work. What a load of bull.

A bit further down at the table, Rhain and Rhun guffawed, smirking at Rhys and exchanging comments with each other. It felt like every single pair of eyes was on Rhys, and they were not enjoying the attention. They'd accepted that some form of punishment would follow the Great Lake debacle, but they didn't expect to be so humiliated, in front of everyone. Flushing, Rhys kept their gaze on their food, avoiding looking at anyone and hunching their shoulders down. Leaving the Great Hall in favor of being somewhere, anywhere, else would single them out as the recipient of the Howler and they'd be the talk of the school. Forget their dad being the "laughing stock of the firm", now they would be the laughing stock of Hogwarts.

Rhys pushed their tray away, not particularly hungry after being called out in front of the entire school, and slouched forward to rest their head down as they crossed their arms. Distantly, they remembered to breathe, but they couldn't break the feeling that everyone was still looking over at them.