The Marauders - Order of the Phoenix - Part Two

Basic Human Rights

"Oh. I've... missed a couple of classes, but I've managed to keep up without any trouble. Top marks, if you look." 

"I see that, your work has been very impressive indeed," Ms. Leonard nodded, she flipped through a couple sheets of the paperwork before her. "The quality of the work isn't really what the concern is, though, it seems some of your professors have reported missing you in class in excess of the a lotted amount of absences to a given student per term." She looked up at him.

Remus hesitated. "I've made up all work that was missed - and done extra curriculars --"

"It appears you've missed at least one day a month the entire year... with the exception of the last two months."

Remus hesitated. "I... suppose that's... probably accurate, maybe. I'd have to check my calendar but --"

Ms. Leonards hesitated, "Remus," she regrouped the paperwork and looked up at him. "I'm going to be perfectly honest with you."

"Alright."

"The... administration... of this school is very particular about the students which they reward degrees to, you see, and they have designed their attendance and curriculum rules around the preservation of these standards, giving students little room to maneuver around the standards which the University wishes to uphold."

Remus let these words sink in a bit - they were such a lot of very large words, carefully chosen and arranged to speak volumes without saying anything in particular, and so he knew he needed to carefully process their meaning. He stared at Ms. Leonards. "And why should anyone need to maneuver around those standards?"

"If one were to believe the standards were not worth upholding, or if one did not actually fulfill the requirements that the standards present. The rules and requirements act as a way for the administration of the University to rectify any overlooked situations that may present themselves following a student's acceptance, should a student have omitted information that might have otherwise affected the acceptance."

Remus thought for a moment, then, "The university came to Hogwarts specifically to request my acceptance of admission to the school, they spoke to Albus Dumbledore, who highly recommended me, and they accepted a generous donation by an anonymous donor that allowed me to attend. Financially and academically, I meet every standard the school puts forth - so much so that they sought me out, and not the other way around. What if a student upholds the standards but is in need of a bit of grace on some of the rules that have been put in place?"

Ms. Leonard said, "Well, Mr. Lupin, it seems that there are certain allowances for student that need that grace, when it is proved that they are not breaking the rules to avoid the standards the university upholds, but in situations where the broken rules align with the reason that the university has installed the rules to begin with, such grace is not generally extended."

Remus asked, rather frankly, "And you feel my attendance has broken the rules in a way that points to a standard not being upheld?" he narrowed his eyes at her.

"It just seems quite... coincidental... Mr. Lupin, that upon comparison of the list of absents and tardies by date co-align with other calendars which conflict with the school standards."

"What are you insinuating?" Remus asked.

"It appears that your tardies and absences align perfectly with the Full Moon Calendar and the quarantine required by the Ministry for Magic of those suffering from a condition known as Lycanthropy, Mr. Lupin."

Remus stared at her.

"The University has a strict policy, for the safety of all our students, mind you, of not accepting lycanthropic students, Mr. Lupin, as the presence of such a condition endangers the students who have not been affected. Therefore, the administration has created rules that prohibit such students from achieving academic success as a barrier that allows them to guarantee safety to the entire student population." Ms. Leonard's smile was a benign one. "As I said, I am certain that the absences we've seen align with the Full Moon Cycle are entirely coincidental and therefore we do not intend to expel you at this time." 

She flipped through a couple papers on the desk. 

"The University has confirmed that you are not registered as having lycanthropy, Mr. Lupin, and so we intend to extend the grace you mentioned through the remainder of the term. However, going forward as of 1 September when the Autumn term begins, we do recommend that you mind your tardies and absences very closely to be sure that you are not in alignment with the Moon Cycle any longer... if you are, the University would see you as... in violation of school policies and would be obligated to report you to the Ministry for investigation. Do you understand?"

Remus's voice was steady, "Does the University typically threaten and accuse it's students of such things like this?"

"No, Mr. Lupin. Typically, the University does not take time to warn their students when such violations and procedures are pending. This is a courtesy - because of your excellent academic achievements. A typical student would have already been rounded up by the Ministry for observation by now without the - erm - threats."

Remus bit his lip.

Ms. Leonards took a deep breath, then held out her hand, "I see you have the summer and fall registration form?"

"Yes," Remus held out the form, feeling quite numb, and she took it and perused through the list of course that he was signing up for. 

"Art courses at the college over summer, well that will be a very interesting class indeed."

"Yeah, I hope so."

She nodded. "You may be please to know that the College does not have the same standards as the University."

"Good," Remus answered. "It's a shame the University has to be so... vigilant... over the students."

Ms. Leonards met his eyes. "They care about the students, and do not wish to see any put in harm's way."

"Except the ones with lycanthropy."

"Well. The university does pride itself on it's standards... They believe in basic human rights, Mr. Lupin."

Remus certainly felt less than human as he left the office a few minutes later, carrying his briefcase and the schedule for the Summer and Fall in his fist.