Tybalt by Stephen Barr

When he got to the principal's office -- a little late, which was not entirely by accident -- he found that Mallison and a few of his fellow-students were sitting opposite the desk in hard chairs.

The principal behind it gave Dax a reprimanding look, and then one at his watch. On one side of him were a group of teachers and a member of the school board who Dax remembered was Mr. Lightstone's especial crony. On the other were Mrs. Lightstone -- a dour but subservient partner to her husband -- and an empty chair.