Max didn’t return home to their dormitory that night. As Cat lay awake in bed, she was grateful for the heads up, but conflicted with worry about the fate of her roommate. Why would the dean keep her overnight for a laboratory that she wasn’t even getting graded in?

When Cat woke up the following morning and Max still wasn’t in her bed, she started to really worry about what might have happened. Cat showered, got dressed, and went to brunch at The Great Hall alone. She had a light meal, also alone, somehow no one else from her dormitory had decided to come for brunch today. She didn’t know what might be keeping them. It’s not like anyone had been allowed to get inebriated in any way at the mixer.

Cat made her way back to the dormitory through an eerily quiet campus. She walked up the steps to her dorm, opened the door, and was violently thrown into the opposite wall by the house patron. She shrieked in shock and alarm. She had no idea the old woman had anywhere near that kind of strength. She had no idea why the woman was assaulting her as soon as she walked into her house.

“What did I tell you?!” The patron hissed in Cat’s face. Cat’s mind reeled. What was she talking about?!?

“I…I…” she was struck across the face with a rod that came whipping out from absolutely nowhere and slashed a vivid red line across her cheeks and nose.

“Do NOT commingle with the boys from St. Joseph’s!” She spat. “Do!’ The rod flashed across Cat’s shoulder. “Not!” Across the opposite breast. “Commingle!” And the opposite shoulder. Her entire upper body flared and burned from the strikes from the rod.

“What are you talking about?!?” Cat begged.

“Where is your roommate? Where is Maxine? She did not come home from the mixer last night and I suspect deviance. I suspect deviance from BOTH of you! Dean’s Study NOW!!” She narrowed her eyes at Cat and brandished the rod in the air again to add to the threat.

“She had a laboratory with the dean! And a couple of boys from St. Joseph’s.That’s all I know, I swear! She told me that she might not be home but she didn’t tell me why…” Cat spilled the information easily. “I haven’t seen her since the dean took her off last night. I swear it! I swear!”

The patron blanched and immediately backed away from Cat, “The attic.” She murmured in a strange voice and turned away towards the kitchens, leaving Cat standing alone in the main entry of her house wondering what the hell had just happened. Did she still have to go to the Dean’s Study?!

:::::

Cat wished she could hide within every article of clothing she owned as she stood in front of the neat and tidy receptionist to the dean’s study.

“Catherine Davis, it is Saturday,” the receptionist said, surprised to see Cat standing in front of her desk.

“My patron apparently reported me for deviance. She directed me to come here immediately,” Cat replied, sullen, scared.

“Well that was dumb. One second,” the receptionist buzzed the pager box on her desk.

“What?” The dean’s tinny voice came through.

“Catherine Davis here to see you, Doctor.”

“Why?”

“Her patron reported her for deviance, Doctor. She said you’re expecting her,” the receptionist quirked an eye up at Cat.

“She may come in.”

The entire room flashed red, the buzzer rang out loud, and the doors opened to allow Cat inside.

“Well,” the receptionist huffed, “isn’t it your lucky day, little lady. I think he’s in a good mood, don’t fuck it up.”

Cat blanched as she took a step towards the door. Leave it to her to totally fuck up his ‘good mood’ and leave the poor girl at the desk to pick up the pieces. Her heart beat faster as she stepped into the room just as the wall began to turn to that of her nightmares. But the dean was… he did appear to be in a good mood. He was wearing his personal, affable smile, he was actually chuckling to himself as the white table came into view.

“Deviance, eh, Catherine?” He stepped over to the table and patted the top of it. “Come on over.”

She was going to hyperventilate on the spot. This was not - could not - be happening right now. She had been good! She had been so, so good and, maybe worse, she could have and might as well have been bad. She was still fantasizing about how August had smelled when he had pulled her close to him… Surely that didn’t count as deviance?!?

She slowly made her way across the room and was kind of surprised that the dean just… smiled and waited for her. Did he often frequent his study on Saturdays?

“Do you want to explain why you were reported for deviance, Catherine?” He sounded more curious than angry. It confused Cat about how she should feel.

“Sir, I believe it was because Max - Maxine, she didn’t come back to our dormitory last night,” Cat explained, looking down at his shoes “The patron suspected that she had done something of deviance. And because I didn’t say anything to anyone about her not coming back somehow I was involved?”

She dared to look up at the dean and he was… thoughtful?

“Hop on up, Catherine,” he slapped his palm against the table and she jumped. “Just a couple quick questions for you and I’ll send you on your way back home.”

She wasn’t about to argue with him, but she also desperately didn’t want to open her legs for him again. She hopped up onto the table and crossed her legs tightly at the knee.

“Did you have fun last night, Catherine?” He made no move to touch her. In fact, he took a step back and visually assessed her from head to toe.

“I… yes, I thought so,” she replied, confused.

“I’m sorry to have interrupted while you were making introductions with August Rogers, bad timing from me,” he went on, “How did you enjoy his company?”

Was this a trick? This had to be a trick.

“He was nice… sir,” he still hadn’t made any move to touch her or anything else untoward.

“Did he kiss you, Catherine?” The dean asked in a teasing(?!) voice.

“No, sir.” Much to her chagrin.

“I apologize, Catherine,” her heart leapt into her throat hearing the words, “I think your roommate spending the evening with me and the grad students maybe inadvertently got you into a little bit of trouble. I will have a discussion about it with your house patron later and make sure she is aware of Maxine’s… erratic schedule for the upcoming semester.”

What had he done with Max?! “Sir?”

“I suppose you must be wondering where you roommate has been, Cat,” the dean said as he walked back in the direction of his desk. “It’s a good thing you came by now when you did, she’s waiting out with my receptionist for you to walk back home with.”

Wait. Was she done? He…he was done?!

“You may go, Catherine,” he waved his hand towards the door and she didn’t need to be told twice. She leapt off the table and fled to the opening doors. She stopped short when she saw Max standing near the door - looking completely exhausted, utterly disheveled and incredibly, furiously angry.

:::::

Cat offered up exactly three “Are you OK?”s on their walk back home from Temple Hall. Max had said nothing. Not a word. She was walking funny, slower than usual. When Cat tried to link their arms, Max cried out and jumped away in surprise.

Cat was terrified for her friend. What had the dean done to her?!

The house was silent when they returned, the patron of the house nowhere to be found this time. Max took the steps slowly and bit back a low moan when she reached the top and stepped onto their floor. Cat offered a hand, her arm, but Max pushed it away and walked to their door alone.

“Max, what happened?” Cat begged when she closed the door behind the both of them. Locked it. Threw on the extra bolt. Like it would do anything anyway, she was pretty certain there was a secret tunnel or passage in the ceiling of their closet.

“Well, they didn’t fuck me. Not exactly,” Max threw herself onto her bed and covered herself up completely. Scratchy clothing and all.

“Are you OK?” Cat tried once more. No response.