"Knowing that one person's actions are their own responsibility means you're not a coward, but do you think a single word from you can break the rules I've established?" Alan looked at him, showing no mercy in his words.
"Your cheating allowed you to achieve results that didn't match your true ability. Now, all your personal scores are reset to zero. Do you accept this?"
"I accept." Hader's face was pale. This public execution under everyone's gaze was even more unbearable than death, but he couldn't argue.
"And your Third Year benefited because of you. I will clear all of Third Year's scores and honors, including your year's first-place achievement and the honor that comes with it. This includes Evan, your year leader's personal first-place achievement and honor. Hader, do you accept this? Evan, do you accept this?" Alan continued to speak expressionlessly.
Hader was thunderstruck, his expression filled with fear and unease. He tremblingly turned his head to look at his classmates and Evan beside him. At this moment, the Third Year wizards involuntarily turned to look at Hader, their eyes filled with anger and resentment. Had the honors they had worked so hard to achieve together just gone down the drain?
Hader finally understood why Alan had discovered his cheating early on but hadn't exposed him on the spot. It was to give first, then take away. This feeling of gaining and then losing was now fully reflected in the eyes of the Third Year students, and each gaze made him feel even more distressed and self-reproachful.
"I obey the arrangement, Chief!" Evan also glanced at Hader, but he didn't show any hatred. Instead, his eyes were filled with determination.
"It's all my fault. I didn't give Hader attention when he needed help, and I was blinded by rewards and honors, only knowing how to constantly add pressure to everyone. We are all responsible for Hader doing such a thing. Third Year is a collective, and we are willing to bear the consequences together if we make a mistake," Evan said with a resolute expression, sweeping his gaze across his classmates.
Looking at Evan's clear eyes and unhesitating answer, this united and responsible attitude infected everyone in Third Year. Subsequently, their gaze toward Hader lessened in resentment and gained more understanding, determination, and a sense of disappointment that he hadn't lived up to his potential.
"E-Evan, I'm sorry." After hearing Evan's words, Hader was the most distressed. Overcome with guilt, he completely lost control and began to sob uncontrollably.
"Good. You're responsible. Everyone should learn from Evan and Third Year." Alan nodded, clearly approving of Evan. "However, discipline is discipline. If you violate it, you must accept punishment. Slytherin boys, all stand up!"
At his command, all the boys in the House stood up.
"Hader, you've made a mistake once before. According to regulations, the punishment is upgraded. All boys in the House are implicated. If you violate discipline again in the future, the entire House will bear the consequences!" Alan looked at Hader with cold eyes. "All boys, prepare for push-ups—fifty of them!"
Seeing Alan still enforcing the punishment so ruthlessly, everyone's hearts turned cold. They knew that this Chief made no compromises when it came to maintaining discipline, so they could only find an empty spot and get down.
This was especially tough for the boys in the Second, Third, and Fourth Years. They had just done fifty push-ups due to previous implications, and the soreness throughout their bodies hadn't subsided yet. And now again?
But rules were cold and merciless. As Alan began to count, the young wizards could only tremble and complete the movements one by one. After only a dozen repetitions, sweat had already formed puddles beneath them. The pain of muscle tearing with each repetition made them groan uncontrollably.
"I'm a bit tired of counting," Alan said leisurely, looking at the suffering.
Hearing his words, those being punished felt a sense of relief. Could it be that the Chief saw how miserable they were and planned to show them some leniency? Alan didn't continue counting, but he also didn't order them to get up. Instead, he slowly paced, walked over to Hader, and squatted down.
"Hader, your physique is good. I suppose such a childish punishment isn't much for you, is it?" Alan said with a slight smile.
Hader felt an inexplicable tightening in his heart. What did the Chief mean?
"Since punishment is optional for you, then you can help me count the rest. It'll save me some energy." With that, Alan pulled Hader up. "I counted to 23; you start from 24."
"C-Chief, I..." Hader was no longer just nervous and flustered; he felt like he was about to collapse.
*I'm the one who made the mistake, yet you're making me carry out the punishment for everyone else. Aren't you putting me on a spit roast?*
As Hader stood up, he felt as if every male wizard in the House was staring straight at him. There were all kinds of emotions in their eyes, but none of them was forgiveness.
"Hurry up, louder!" Alan saw Hader standing rooted to the spot, trembling all over, and roared.
"Yes, Chief... 24, 25, 26..." Hader quickly recited the numbers in a trembling voice. This feeling of being publicly executed while bearing his guilt was unbearable. He just wanted this nightmare to end. Every time these young wizards did a push-up, every groan they let out, it was as if someone was branding him with a red-hot iron.
"You're shouting too fast, and your voice isn't loud enough. Do you want me to teach you how to count again? Start over!" Alan reprimanded him mercilessly. He wanted to completely crush this young wizard psychologically today, to make him remember this day for the rest of his life.
"Yes..." Hader felt completely weak, as if he would shatter with a light touch. He was relying entirely on instinct to stay conscious.
Subsequently, Hader, under the Chief's personal supervision, counted the numbers one by one. After he had counted ten times consecutively, he simply couldn't bear it anymore and started to wail. But under Alan's reprimand, he continued to carry out the punishment, his voice choked with sobs.
Listening to Hader's mournful cries, those doing push-ups felt their resentment toward him diminish considerably. From his cries, they gradually understood how miserable he was. The fear stemming from guilt made everyone feel pity for him. And more than that, there was a deep fear of Alan. He was putting everyone through the wringer, and Hader was being driven to the brink.