At this moment, the three students who had violated the rules were the most terrified; they didn't understand why Alan was angry at their entire year when they were the ones who had made the mistake. The Second, Third, and Fourth Year students who had stood up were trembling from Alan's roar; they couldn't fathom what wrong they had committed.
"Continuous rule-breaking has caused these three companions of yours to lose their sense of shame and their sense of collective honor." Alan glanced at the three offenders, then looked at their classmates. "What pains me even more is all of you. You knew they still had bad habits they couldn't shed, yet you didn't help them in time. Slytherin is no longer a House where everyone only cares for themselves."
"What is the last of Slytherin's three main principles? Tell me loudly!" Alan's expression was icy, his eyes staring at the crowd without a trace of emotion.
"To maintain a proper attitude, be united and friendly, and respect each other," Evan reacted quickly, leading the reply.
"Louder!" Alan suddenly roared.
"Maintain a proper attitude, be united and friendly, and respect each other!" the three years, including the rule-breaking students, shouted in unison.
"Can you see that attitude in those three? Can you see respect? And as for the rest of you, I haven't detected any sign of unity or friendliness at all." Alan cast a sharp glance at those standing, then turned back to the three trembling students.
"I know. You've broken rules too many times, been punished too many times, and you feel nothing anymore, right?" Alan slowly paced beside the three, his voice low and chilling.
"No, it's not like that, I... we just accidentally..." Hader Chris of the Third Year was so frightened by Alan's state that he shook all over, his voice shivering.
"It's alright. I will make you learn what unity means, what respect means, and what attitude means." Alan's sharp gaze stung them. He turned back to the stone platform and coldly scanned the room. "A single punishment seems no longer enough to instill awe. From now on, for disciplinary violations, I will implement a 'joint responsibility system'!"
Joint responsibility? The students didn't understand the term and exchanged nervous glances. Alan explained in a low, gentle voice: "If a person violates a rule for the first time, the punishment is 50 push-ups. If a person accumulates two violations, I will conclude that your entire year has not learned how to help them properly; therefore, the entire year will be held jointly responsible."
"If there are three accumulated violations, I will believe that you, as fellow males or females of that year, wish to give up on them. I cannot tolerate such behavior, so the same gender within that year will be jointly responsible. If it exceeds three times, the entire House will be held responsible, and the person who violated the rule will have every student in Slytherin help them correct their ways."
After hearing the Chief's explanation, a chill ran through the young wizards. If one person made a mistake, the entire year could be punished? The three students who had violated the rules felt their legs turn to jelly. When they looked at their classmates, the gazes cast upon them were full of silent fury. If this system remained, they would be pariahs the moment they stepped out of line.
"What are you waiting for? Second, Third, and Fourth Years, all of you, prepare for push-ups. If there isn't enough space on the steps, find an empty spot on the floor." Alan's tone left no room for sentiment, commanding with an iron will.
The students dispersed and got down. Under Alan's supervision, they completed fifty push-ups without any compromise. Due to the large number of people, students were sprawled across the stone platform, the open space, and even in the narrow gaps between the long tables.
The young wizards who were not being punished felt deeply uncomfortable watching their friends struggle so close by. For many who had never broken a rule, including many of the young girls, fifty standard push-ups felt like it was taking half their lives. Wails of pain and heavy breathing filled the stone hall, making the students at the tables shudder.
Finally, the punishment came to an end. Those who stood up were sweating profusely, gasping for breath as their muscles spasmed. As for the three offenders, while they had grown somewhat accustomed to the physical strain through frequent weekly punishments, the psychological weight was now far heavier.
"Disciplinary punishment concluded. May you remember this lesson. If you re-offend, the punishment will escalate. To the rest of you, remember: it is your responsibility to help your companions obey the rules." Alan calmly announced the end of the session.
The punished students breathed a sigh of relief, though their thoughts regarding the three offenders remained dark. However, Alan immediately dropped another bombshell.
"While daily discipline has been addressed, we must also discuss exam misconduct. I am pained to inform everyone of a discovery: during this month's exam, someone was caught cheating."
The common room erupted. Someone dared to cheat in the monthly exam, an event tied to the year group's honor? Hader Chris stiffened instantly, a cold current shooting up from his feet. When he looked at the platform and saw Alan watching him subtly, his heart sank. He knew it was over; his "perfect" method had been seen all along.
"Hader Chris, do you have anything to say? Perhaps you would like to argue your case," Alan said indifferently, his voice devoid of emotion.
The students looked at Hader in surprise. His own classmates, including Evan, stared at him in disbelief. Hader stood up, trembling. "I'm sorry, Chief. I plead guilty. I was just too scared. I'm not good at many subjects, and I was afraid of dragging the year group down."
"So you chose to willfully trample on the House's honor? To disrespect the efforts of everyone else?" Alan opened his eyes and glared, making the boy flinch.
"I'm sorry, Chief. I have shamed the students; I have shamed the Third Year. Please... punish only me." Hader was terrified of the joint responsibility system. If the whole House was punished for his cheating, he would never be able to show his face again.