SPANKING

The grand feast had finally ended, and the Masters retreated to their opulent chambers, leaving the servants to clean up the remnants of the banquet. {if S = 1} Neville Longbottom {elseif S = 2} Percy Weasley {elseif S = 3} Cedric Diggory {elseif S = 4} Colin Creevey {elseif S = 5} Oliver Wood {endif}, his body aching from sunburn and the day's humiliations, moved mechanically, gathering plates and scrubbing the marble floors. The other servants worked silently beside him, their faces etched with exhaustion and resignation.

Once the hall was restored to its pristine state, the overseer gathered the servants and led them back to their quarters. The moon cast a pale light over the compound, the cool night air a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the day.

Back in the cramped, dimly lit quarters, the servants lined up as they did every night. The overseer, a figure of authority and cruelty, stepped forward, a leather whip in hand. This nightly ritual was a reminder of their place and a reinforcement of the kingdom's brutal hierarchy.

"Line up and prepare yourselves," the overseer commanded. There was no room for resistance; the servants had long been conditioned to accept their fate.

{if S = 1} Neville Longbottom {elseif S = 2} Percy Weasley {elseif S = 3} Cedric Diggory {elseif S = 4} Colin Creevey {elseif S = 5} Oliver Wood {endif}took his place in the line, his heart heavy with the knowledge of what was to come. His skin, already raw and tender from the day's sunburn, was about to endure another layer of pain.

The overseer began with the first servant in line, delivering a series of swift, hard lashes across their back. The whip cracked through the air, the sound a sharp reminder of the authority held over them. Each strike elicited a muted cry, quickly stifled by the victim to avoid further punishment.

{if S = 1} Neville Longbottom {elseif S = 2} Percy Weasley {elseif S = 3} Cedric Diggory {elseif S = 4} Colin Creevey {elseif S = 5} Oliver Wood {endif} watched as the overseer moved down the line, his turn approaching. The faces of his fellow servants were masks of pain and resignation, their bodies flinching with each blow.

Finally, it was {if S = 1} Neville Longbottom {elseif S = 2} Percy Weasley {elseif S = 3} Cedric Diggory {elseif S = 4} Colin Creevey {elseif S = 5} Oliver Wood {endif}turn. He stepped forward and presented his back, knowing that resistance would only make things worse. The first lash struck, sending a searing pain through his already tender skin. He clenched his jaw, determined not to cry out.

The overseer delivered each strike with precision, ensuring maximum pain. Percy felt the whip tear into his sunburned skin, the agony almost unbearable. Despite his resolve, a low groan escaped his lips, quickly swallowed by the oppressive silence of the quarters.

After what felt like an eternity, the overseer delivered the final blow. {if S = 1} Neville Longbottom {elseif S = 2} Percy Weasley {elseif S = 3} Cedric Diggory {elseif S = 4} Colin Creevey {elseif S = 5} Oliver Wood {endif}staggered slightly, the pain radiating through his body. He straightened up, biting back the tears that threatened to fall, and moved aside to make way for the next servant.

As the overseer continued down the line, {if S = 1} Neville Longbottom {elseif S = 2} Percy Weasley {elseif S = 3} Cedric Diggory {elseif S = 4} Colin Creevey {elseif S = 5} Oliver Wood {endif} found a corner of the quarters to sink into. His back was on fire, each breath a reminder of the whipping he had just endured. Around him, the other servants bore their pain in silence, a shared suffering that bonded them in their misery.

The ritual complete, the overseer left the quarters, locking the door behind him. The servants were left to tend to their wounds as best they could with the limited resources available. Percy found a small rag and dipped it in the communal water bucket, gently dabbing at his torn skin.