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*A/N: The picture above is an idea of how the administration block will look like.
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Jayden left the Scorpius building and made his way over to the administration complex, walking past streams of students who were making their way to the dorms.
They chattered excitedly amongst themselves, laughing and fooling around as they climbed up the hill. A few cast curious looks at him as he made his way past them.
The administration complex was located near the entrance to the estate. It was therefore quite a trek but it didn’t take long for Jayden to arrive before its doors.
He stood before the complex and looked up at the grand 18th-century manor house that used to be the home of Lumière’s first Headmaster and founder. He had converted his manor into a school but as the school grew over the years, more and more buildings were added and the old manor house was now used as the administration complex.
It contained the offices of the Headteacher, the school governors, their assistants, prefects, teachers, and other members of staff. It also contained conference rooms, formal dining rooms, and art classrooms. Most of its rooms were empty and only the central structure and east wing were inhabited. The west wing was mainly used as a museum and the art classrooms and grand ballrooms were the only rooms frequented.
He entered the building and relaxed as the cool air-conditioned air washed softly over him. The interior of the building was extravagant in its design. Huge pillars stood along the sides, painted and decorated with gold and silver.
A large fountain stood in the centre of the reception room and behind the reception desk was a large marble staircase, that branched off at the centre leading to both the east and west wings.
Jayden walked towards the reception desk, taking his time to admire the rows of statues that depicted various myths and legends. The receptionist was busily typing when he arrived at the desk and he cleared his throat to get her attention.
She looked up at him. ‘Yes, how may I assist you?’
‘I’m looking for the one who is in charge of houses.’
The receptionist looked confused. ‘You mean the Head of House? You can ask your house prefect for that.’
Jayden shook his head. ‘Not them. The one who gets to decide which house students stay in.’
‘No one decides that. It is decided by a special software. As you are aware, after admission has been granted, the school summons the applicant to undergo a series of tests. The software conducts those tests and places students in their respective houses based on the results.’
Jayden nodded. He was getting a bit frustrated. ‘I know that. What I want to know is who is in charge of that programme. Who oversees the test and supervises the house staff?’
‘Oh. You would be looking for the Director of House Affairs then. Her office is up the stairs to the left. When you arrive at the corridor, walk straight and look around. Her nameplate will be on one of the office doors.’
Jayden nodded and walked towards the large marble staircase. He climbed the stairs, pausing at the branch to gaze at the giant-sized portrait of the Headmistress that hang on the wall.
He shook his head and turned left. Aquilas.
He arrived at the corridor and walked along it, looking closely at the doors. He finally paused in front of an oak door which had the words, Director of House Affairs, emblazoned in silver across it.
He knocked softly and waited until he heard a soft ‘enter’ before entering.
The Director of House Affairs was a young woman who wore a kind expression on her face. She nodded to a chair in front of her desk and waited for Jayden to sit before she began.
‘What can I do for you, young man?’
‘I would like to change houses.’
Her brows furrowed slightly. ‘I’m afraid that’s not possible but if I may ask, why do you want to?’
‘I don’t want to change mine,’ he specified. ‘I want to change someone else’s.’
A small frown appeared on her face. ‘Why do you want to do that?’
‘He’s being bullied by his roommate.’
The frown grew. ‘If he is being bullied then you need to take it up with his house prefect or at most, his head of house.’
Jayden shook his head. ‘That won’t solve the problem. It would just aggravate it.’
‘Have you tried?’
He shook his head.
‘Then how do you know it would. I’m afraid I can’t help you. Changing houses is too dramatic a move for a simple case of bullying. At most, his head of house can change dorms. I’m sorry.’
‘There must be something you can do?’ Jayden insisted.
The director shook her head. ‘I’m afraid not. I can’t help you even if I wanted to. There is an ironclad rule about changing houses. I can count on one hand how many people have managed to change houses since the school’s inception about two centuries ago.’
Jayden refused to give up. ‘Can I ask you a question?’
The director looked unsure. ‘Yes, I guess.’
‘If you had a magic lamp right now and a genie popped out asking you to wish for anything, what would you wish for?’
The director contemplated about it. ‘I guess I would wish for the release of my brother. Why do you ask?’
Jayden ignored her question. ‘He’s in prison?’
The director nodded sadly. ‘Yes. But don’t think too badly of him. He’s the sweetest person you could meet with a heart of gold. He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.’
‘What was his sentence?’ Jayden continued to probe.
‘Thirty-two years. He’s served four already. I’m worried about him, prison isn’t the place for him. He wouldn’t survive four more!’
She sniffed and looked up. ‘Wait. Why am I telling you this?’
Jayden shrugged. ‘What if I told you I could get your brother released from prison with no parole?’
The director stopped sniffing. ‘What? How?’
‘Does it matter? All you need to do is change houses.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Are you bribing me?’ she exclaimed.
He shrugged again. ‘Call it what you want just think of your brother. As you said, he doesn’t belong in prison. Imagine what could be happening to him, the horrors he has to endure. Think of him sleeping on his cot at night, crying silent tears as he thinks of home, of you. Too afraid to make any noise because he knows it will be used against him. Think of him being beaten up and forced to do things against his will. What kind of person would he be after thirty-two years of that? Certainly not your sweet little brother.’
Silent tears rolled down the director’s cheeks. She sniffled and choked out, ‘Stop, stop! That’s enough.’
Jayden was quiet as he waited for her to compose herself.
She drew in a shaky breath. ‘Even if I wanted to help you, what about the Headmistress?’
Jayden smirked to himself. She was considering it. ‘She doesn’t need to know.’
‘She’ll find out. She already has the list of the new students and their houses and she doesn’t miss a single thing.’
Jayden shrugged. ‘Then tell her you made a mistake. It happens and you’re human.’
The director still looked unsure. ‘She might still find out.’
‘Aren’t you willing to take that chance?’
She nodded slowly. ‘Yes… Yes, I am.’
Jayden allowed a small smile to escape from his lips. ‘So you’ll help me?’ he asked, already sure of the answer.
‘Yes. Yes, I will.’ Her voice was confident and her face was set. She turned to her computer. ‘Just give me their details.’
‘Great! The boy’s name is Noel. He is moving from Aquila to Scorpius. He was previously in Dormitory 13 on the twelfth floor. He would be staying in my dorm. That’s Dormitory 12 on the sixth floor.’
The director nodded as she typed. ‘I assume your roommate would be replacing him then. What’s his name?’
‘Freck-… erm…’ Jayden cursed softly under his breath. He knew he should have stopped calling his former roommate Freckles and find out his name. He had just been too unbothered to care.
He sighed. ‘I don’t know.’
The director raised an eyebrow. ‘You don’t know your roommate’s name? Very well, I suppose your dormitory number is all I need.’
She typed for a few moments and pulled open two files on her computer screen. ‘Well, you are in luck. The result of the test show that your new roommate will be okay for Scorpius. He had it as a second choice. Your roommate on the other hand… I don’t think he has the brains for Aquila. Are you sure he’s willing to go?’
‘I’m sure.’
The director nodded and with a few more clicks, turned to him. ‘It’s done. Their houses have officially been changed and it will reflect in all systems across the school.’
A printer whirled and a second later, it spat a piece of paper out. She took it and handed it to him. ‘Their new student ID is on it and I’ll be sure to send them their new student cards.’
Jayden took it and got up. He turned to leave but halted when a voice called him back.
‘Hold on. How do I know you’ll keep your end of the deal?’
‘You have my word and that’s all you need.’
She nodded and he left the office, closing the door softly behind him.
He left the old manor house and made his way casually back to his dormitory. He opened his dorm door to find Noel sitting silently on the couch. He looked up as he entered and closed the door softly behind him.
‘Where were you?’
Jayden said nothing, he just tossed the paper to him and lay down on the opposite couch.
Noel grabbed the paper and glanced through it, eyes widening in surprise. He looked up and stared with amazement at Jayden’s supine figure.
‘How the hell did you manage to pull this off?’
Jayden shrugged.
‘Oh come on, you’ve got to tell me. In the school’s two hundred year history barely a handful of people have managed to pull it off!’
Jayden shrugged again.
Noel huffed. ‘Fine. Have it your way then but I will get it out of you eventually. Come on, let’s go. If we don’t hurry we will miss supper.’
He got up to leave but stopped short when he noticed that Jayden continued to remain on the couch. He stared at him for a few seconds before sighing in resignation.
‘Very well, I guess I can make supper here. I saw some beef and veggies in the fridge. I hope you’re up for pot roast. A fair warning though, I’m not that much of a cook so prepare yourself.’
Jayden glanced at him as he made his way to the kitchenette. He didn’t believe that Noel was actually going to cook but the clattering and banging of the pots and pans that soon came from the kitchenette convinced him otherwise.
A few hours later, he found himself dragging his body off the couch to sit at the kitchen counter. He looked at the plate with trepidation and raised the fork hesitantly to his lips.
It turned out that Noel was being humble when he made that statement. He was in fact, a great cook. Jayden even found himself taking second helpings.
As he lay in his bed at night, he couldn’t help but give himself an imaginary pat on the back. It looks like his decision to stand up for someone had provided him with a roommate who wasn’t a total waste of space. Someone whom he could at least tolerate.
With this last thought, he closed his eyes as the gentle warm hand of slumber embraced him, guiding him into the land of dreams.
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