Chapter 558: On Trial (Edited)

Harry had been holding the blade in his mouth for two days, and was just getting used to talking and eating with something in his mouth, when, without realizing it, August 12 was approaching.

Tomorrow he would have to go to the Ministry of Magic to be tried and decided if he could continue attending Hogwarts and if, like Hagrid, he would no longer be allowed to use his wand.

When Harry heard Ginny remind him of this, he was actually a bit stunned....

The last few days, between cleaning and practicing how to talk and eat with a leaf in his mouth, Harry had completely forgotten about the trial.

"I've ironed your best clothes, you can wear them in the morning, Harry, and I want you to wash your hair again tonight. A good first impression can do wonders."

Mrs. Weasley whispered this to Harry over dinner.

Although her tone was as gentle as it could be, the content of her words hit Harry like a brick in the gut.

Harry's already terrible mood worsened when he learned that Dumbledore had been at the house the night before, but had not wanted to go see him, only to warn Sirius not to accompany him.

"How nice... Harry can get out of classes and homework nya..."

Ψ(?Φ~Φ?)

Fish sighed enviously as he ripped a few ribs.

"Then you can go to the Forbidden Forest every day, just like Hagrid, nya."

As for confiscating his wand, it was no big deal, since he was more used to using his claws in fights anyway, though it was a bit of a stretch that he couldn't summon his patronua.

"Eat your food!"

Scolded Professor McGonagall to Fish with a fierce glare at Fish's heartless comment.

"Ow~"

Ψ(? `o′?)

Fish replied, then obediently stopped talking and continued nibbling on his plate of ribs.

But after Fish's interruption, Harry's mood improved a bit.

What worried him most was that he would be expelled, have his wand confiscated, and have to leave the magical world and go back to living with the Dursleys on Privet Drive.

However, Fish's words reminded Harry that Hagrid had been expelled from Hogwarts and had his wand confiscated by the Ministry, but was he still working at Hogwarts?

With this in mind, Harry finally felt less apprehensive than he had been before....

Of course, he was still in a bad mood, after all, if he could have, Harry would have preferred to keep his wand and study at Hogwarts with everyone else.

Even if Snape had to teach him every subject in the future!

The next morning, Harry, who had been restless, got up early, walked cautiously down the stairs, past the heads of Kreacher's ancestors, and into the kitchen downstairs.

He thought the kitchen was empty, but he had just reached the door when he heard a murmur of low voices behind it. He pushed open the door and saw Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, Lupin and Tonks sitting as if waiting for his.

And shortly after that Fish and Professor McGonagall came in as well.

"Huh? Harry, you're awake too nya."

(?ΦwΦ?)?

Fish greeted him cheerfully, then walked over to the table and sat down.

"What would you like to eat, Fish? Minerva?" asked Mrs. Weasley loudly, "Porridge? Muffins? Smoked fish? Ham and eggs? Bread?"

"Fish wants porridge and smoked fish! And ham and eggs nya!"

Ψ(?≧?≦?)

Fish shouted, holding high the knife and fork.

And Professor McGonagall took a seat next to her, then nodded to Mrs. Weasley, "A muffin for me, Molly."

In a jiffy, Mrs. Weasley brought them both breakfast, and Fish, who had been waiting impatiently, immediately waved his knife and fork and chewed.

"Professor McGonagall?"

Although he was still worried about the Ministry's interrogation, Harry couldn't help but be curious....

It was so odd to see Fish up so early!

"It's the second stage of the Animagus Charm."

Professor McGonagall's words instantly made it clear to Harry what was going on.

After having enough of the leaf for a month, aside from having to bottle it and hide it in a prepared potion on the day of the full moon, he had to point his wand at his heart and recite a spell every sunrise and sunset until the storm came.

"Today is the third day Fish is getting up early nya!".

Ψ(? `~′?)

Chewing ham in his mouth, Fish mumbled, "Fish didn't feel the second heartbeat Minerva said!"

Apparently, Fish was still a little annoyed at having gotten up early.

"It's only been three days, it's normal not to feel it, and the timing of the second heartbeat varies from person to person, it doesn't have much to do with power or talent."

Professor McGonagall reassured Fish, then turned to Harry, "Don't worry, the law will back you up. The Ministry of Magic is not just up to Fudge."

Mr. Weasley interjected, "The trial is on my floor, in Amelia Bones' office. She's the head of the Law Enforcement Division, an impartial person."

Harry nodded, and relaxed a little again.

"Don't lose your temper," Sirius interjected, "Be polite and practical."

And Mrs. Weasley grabbed a wet comb and tried to smooth Harry's unruly hair.

Harry listened to the advice and reassuring words as he finished his breakfast and then, at Mr. Weasley's suggestion, joined him on his early trip to the Ministry of Magic.

"Good luck." said Lupin, "I'm sure everything will be fine."

Everyone else gave their blessings to Harry, even Fish... though his blessing was that he hoped Harry would never have to do homework again....

Afterwards, Professor McGonagall gave Fish a good smack upside the head.

When Harry left, Fish finished the rest of his breakfast and then slipped off to his room to take a nap...he'd been doing the same thing for three days, which was why Harry and the others hadn't noticed Fish getting up early.

It was almost noon when Fish yawned again and got up from his bunk.

"Nya...seems a bit noisy nya..."

(?Φw??)

Fish muttered, rubbing his misty eyes, the triangular ears on the top of his head fluttering back and forth.

By the time he opened the door and stepped out, a clearer voice reached his ears....

"I knew it!" came Ron's voice from downstairs shouting, "You always get your way!".

"And thanks to Fish's animal friends," continued Harry's explanation, "Because there's no denying the fact that Azkaban is missing a Dementor, so Fudge couldn't even convince the others that he was lying."

To top it all off, there was George, Fred and Ginny shouting at the top of their voices the whole time, "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay...".

The song was accompanied by a series of beats that more or less followed the rhythm, but were actually uneven. From the looks of it, they must have been doing more than just singing, they must have been dancing.

"Harry's back nya?"

|ΦwΦ?)

Fish darted downstairs at the sound of their voices and poked his head out inquisitively.

"Hahaha, Fish, you're here too!"

Ron ran over, pulling Fish into the room and laughing.

"Harry's been acquitted!" Hermione said to Fish with a happy face.

"Okay, okay, okay, okay..." as the song and dance of the twins and Ginny continued.

"Doesn't that mean Harry will have to go back to doing homework? What's so happy about that?"

(?w?)

Fish looked at the cheery crowd, and looked at Hermione with a puzzled expression.

"If it were you, Fish would still understand, but Harry doesn't like to read as much as Fish nya..."

Harry: "..."

I couldn't argue with that.

Fred, George and Ginny: "Okay, okay, okay, okay..."

Fish, who had no answer, cocked his head to one side, then saw the twins and Ginny dancing in amusement, so he joined in.

"It's okay, it's okay, it's okay..."

????