Fullmetal Wizard | Chapter 32

Dumbledore ignored the man, and looked back to Ed. Ed golden eyes once again met the blue behind the halfmoon glasses.

"Edward. I understand that you... did... something that day. Could you, by chance, demonstrate it for me?"

Dumbledore said.

Ed narrowed his eyes, instantly suspicious.

"Vhy?"

"Why? Isn't it obvious? Not only is it part of your testimony, but I wish to determine your future placement in Hogwarts. That is, should you choose to make use of it's...considerable resources."

"Iz school of..magic." Ed wrinkled his nose in distaste. "As you yourself have said. Vwhy vould I vwish to go to such a place?" Ed said, and folded his arms across his chest.

Dumbledore again glanced down at the paper before Ed, covered as it was with Ed's mathenmatical calculations and notations. Then to the dent in the wooden table..caused by Ed's metal right hand a few moments before.

"Perhaps we should discuss this matter at another time, Headmaster." This was a woman's voice. One that Ed hadn't heard before. He glanced over to place it with a face. standing next to Tonks was an older woman, with grey hair done up in a bun. Upon her nose rested a tiny pair of rectangular glasses. She was the only one at the table, besides himself, that did not wear some sort of robes. More like a woman's pantsuit. "A more..private...setting would be more appropriate for a prospective student's placement. Tends to...sooth the nerves."

Ed snorted, and looked back to Dumbledore.

"This is mostly certainly not a case of nervousness that we have standing before us, Minerva.." Dumbledore narrowed his eyes slightly at Ed. Then he blinked. "Mr. Elric, could you please...?" He waved his hand vaguely.

"I vil stand. I do not tink you have much more to say that I vill vant to be listening to.." Ed said.

"Very well. I realize I am asking much of you. For you to place trust in me in that I have Harry's best interest at heart. You, and perhaps your testimony, are to be key in his defense of this case against him. The case itself should be simple, but political issues that you surely are not aware of are interfering and seek to make a mockery of what should be a simple case of juvenile misuse of magic. Justified misuse of magic at that, as magic used in the defense of one's own life is most certainly allowed by law."

Dumbledore paused, seeing Ed's face was scrunched in thought.

"I am asking that you testify at his hearing on his behalf."

Moments passed in silence.

Then Ed eased himself to sit at the table once more.

Harry sat in the chair and the chains clinked ominously, but, thankfully did not move to restrain him.

Up above him on the high benches sat various wizards and witches, all looking down at him, as if he were a bug to be squashed. There were about fifty of them, all, as far as he could see, wearing plum colored robes with an elaborately embroidered "W" on the left hand side of their chests. He swallowed nervously.

'The Wizengamot', he thought. Feeling very under-dressed in his t-shirt, jeans, and ratty, but comfortable! shoes. Mrs. Weasley couldn't even get his cowlick on the top of his head to lay down properly that morning.

In the center of the front row sat the portly Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. On his left, sat a broad, square jawed witch with gray hair with a monocle, and on his right was another witch who sat so far back on the bench she sat in shadow.

"very well," said Fudge, "The accused being present--finally--let us begin. Are you ready?" he called dow the row.

"yes, sir" said an eager voice Harry knew as Percy, Ron's brother. 'ESTRANGED brother', he amended in his head. Remembering Ron telling him of the arguement Precy had had with his father.

"Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August," Said Fudge in a ringing voice, and Percy began taking notes at once. in to offenses committed under the Decree for the Resonable Restriction of Underaged Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.

Iterrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic, Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Delores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley--"

"--Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," Said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who turned his head so fast he cricked his neck.

Dumbledore strode serenely across the room wearing long midnight-blue robes adn a perfectly calm expression. His long silver beard and hair gleamed in the torchlight as he drew level with Harry and looked up at Fudge through the half-moon spectacles that rested halfway down his very crooked nose.

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