MAKE AMENDS. 1, 2 + 2 = 5, MISS: Gain an ENEMY

Standing a good six foot two inches tall, long-limbed and muscular with a tendency to lean forward and loom over anyone he was speaking with, your older brother Aegidius regards you with a flat, almost dead expression as you and the other guilty girls (and boy) enter the room. A little green pointy-eared goblin in a white dress shirt, wearing a stereotypical accountant's green eyeshade on his head, is just finishing sweeping several piles of coins off the Headmistress's desk into a bag.

"Well. I hope that none of the friends of my sister had their hearts set too firmly on being home for the holidays." Aegidius scratches at his full but not-yet lengthy blonde beard. He is dressed somewhat archaically, wearing a full robe and carrying a full-length staff rather than a more modern and convenient wand wherever he goes.

You swallow. "Aeddy... I cannot thank you enough. If you would just let me explain a few considerations-"

He holds out his hand. "There is no explaining this. There is no remonstration. There is not even any scolding. There can only be restitution. I have already been in contact with several of the other affected families, and since I was nearest at hand to the school itself they have all agreed through messenger owl to allow me to handle this on their behalf, a favor to them to be repaid later."

At that, several of the others, notably Felice and 'Milly', give audible sighs of relief.

You ball your fists up and feel tears welling in your eyes. "You... you are not going to allow me to so much as give you my side of the story? You will not listen to anything I say?"

Aegidius puts both palms atop his staff and leans towards you giving his trademark one-eye-open-wider-than-the-other glare. "Perhaps you should put a 'Command' on me to listen then, oh yes, little sister?" he raps the staff on the floor. "Consider yourself fortunate you are not in the same boat as that one." he points at Kinzie, who snaps her gaze up.

"She," the tall wizard explains, "is going to be repaying me for keeping her in this school in spite of a spree of theft culminating in stealing and learning a spell specifically for torture for most of her adult life, considering the, to be frank, limited post-graduation opportunities available to one of her background and talent."

You can imagine that you see sparks flying as the freckled, slightly homely young woman grits her teeth and stares curses at you.

Headmistress Porcinilla clears her throat and sits at her desk looking very pleased. "Well then students. Consider your disciplinary records to be cleared at my next penstroke. After all, a scandal like this may damage the school and every house is implicated, though none more than Leontes. To, hmhm, show your contrition, and to cover the assumption of such risk, you'll be volunteering for a very special Christmas engagement. All of you, get yourselves a spare uniform or two and head to the aerie: you leave before the end of the day. If you have any letters you need to send or goodbyes to say do them now - you are going to be incommunicado for a fortnight or more."

The top-heavy, matronly woman leans forward in her seat and puts her chin in her hands, giving everyone present a look deep down her decolletage. "Really, even though it is a practical matter for the Weber family and other interests, I think this will be a good object lesson for you all who would use your gifts in endless, irresponsible partying if you had your way... being without most magical comforts for a time will help you appreciate how privileged you've been a bit more."

"But, but, I don't understand..." Milly Cherrywood looks on the edge of tears. "Yeah, yeah, I don't get this either. None of what you're saying makes sense. Is this... is this an errand, or a quest even?"

Your brother murmurs something to himself and turns aside with a swish of his robe, leading the way to the highest tower. "In a manner of speaking. If you are going to insist on learning magics that should not be meddled with by amateurs, you invite yourself to the sort of unpleasant duties that THOSE kind of witches are given."

He looks back to your friend Bertie. "What are you, Franziska's boyfriend? Ach... if I ever find out it was you that led her astray..."

"N-not at all, sir! I had a notion to try but she wouldn't have me!" Berthold says, holding his hands up.

"Hnnnnn." Aegidius makes a disapproving sound. "In any case, you have neither the knowledge of the questionable spells, nor the... other attributes to be of use here. I vill require a different favor from you, a thing to convince your father of. You can go, for now." You and your friend share a long, troubled glance before the stocky young man gulps, nods, and shuffles off.

"As for the rest of you, to your brooms. Our first stop shall be at a strange, desolate and corrupt place..." he throws his arms wide making his cloak billow as he points ahead with his staff. "...the house of Neiman Marcus."