Repercussions

I read the sensational article multiple times, my shock deepening with each pass. The vagueness of the details left room for speculation, yet there was an eerie accuracy to some of the reported events. As I absorbed the words, an obvious realization struck me— Rita Skeeter had been present during the Forbidden Forest duel. How else could she have known such intricate details?

The thought of Skeeter tailing me sent a chill down my spine. The clandestine nature of her animagus form as a beetle was known to me, but the extent of her surveillance raised unsettling questions. Had she been an unseen spectator, lurking in the shadows, witnessing the magical clash firsthand? How had she remained hidden from my sight?

Could she hide her soul thread? Did her thread shift in size to match her Animagus form? Or, had she been watching from a distance?

I should have noticed something.

The bewilderment lingered as I contemplated the implications. The lines between truth and embellishment in Skeeter’s articles were always blurred, but this time, the uncomfortably accurate account left me with a lingering sense of vulnerability.

My eyes immediately moved to the head of the table, and I saw Ophelia’s eyes staring right back at me, looking pained. She had read the article as well, and she knew it was about her. I felt an urgent need to go to her, to say something, but the sound of someone’s throat being cleared interrupted my thoughts.

I turned to see Professor Flitwick, who did not look particularly happy.

In that moment, a mix of emotions surged within me— concern for Ophelia, frustration at the invasive article, and now, the unease of catching the disapproving gaze of arguably my favorite professor.

“Professor.” I greeted my diminutive professor evenly.

Flitwick gave me a terse nod, gesturing at the paper. “I see that you have read this morning’s paper; I take it that you will not object to answering a few questions, in that case?”

I stared at him for a moment, feeling only dismay and apprehension, but I nodded in acceptance and got up.

“Very well, Professor. Lead the way.”

“Adam.” Tony said, reaching out for me, but I shook my head.

“I’ll tell you two about it later.”

As I exited the Great Hall, the weight of everyone’s gazes bore down on me like an invisible spotlight. Conversations hushed, and curious eyes followed my every step.

A minute passed, and I realized that we were not taking the usual route to Professor Flitwick’s office. Unease grew, settling in my chest, and I couldn’t help but voice my concern. “Professor, aren’t we heading to your office?”

“No, Mr. Clarke. The matter has become far more serious.” Flitwick’s usually cheerful demeanor remained stern as he replied.

Before the professor could provide further explanation, my mind raced ahead, and I blurted my conclusion out. “The Ministry?”

Flitwick confirmed my suspicions with a grave nod, and as we reached an empty hallway, he came to a sudden stop. His gaze, usually warm and kind, turned piercing as he looked me squarely in the eye. The gravity of his next words hung in the air like a heavy cloak.

“I’m going to ask you once, Adam, and only once. Did you attack those boys?”

His question struck me like a sudden blow, and I recoiled as if he’d just spat in my face. The mere suggestion that I initiated the confrontation in the Forbidden Forest was an accusation that cut deep. My immediate response was vehement, a denial that carried the weight of my emotions.

“No, Professor!” I said firmly, meeting his gaze with anger and shock. “They came after me— I was only defending myself.”

The urgency in my voice mirrored the intensity of the situation, as I sought to convey the truth amid the growing storm of uncertainty. He had to believe me.

Flitwick stared at me for a few seconds, but it felt like an age had passed. As I began to calm down, I couldn’t help but notice that my professor’s soul thread had not wavered this entire time. He was not anywhere nearly as agitated as I had anticipated. The realization offered a glimmer of reassurance amid the uncertainty that surrounded us.

Finally, with a nod, Flitwick admitted. “I had a feeling that was what happened.”

Confusion knitted my brow, and I stammered out a few words in an attempt to make sense of the situation. Flitwick, however, held up his hand to silence me, signaling that he wasn’t done explaining.

“I believe you.” Flitwick said again, his gaze unwavering. “But that’s not really the problem anymore.”

Perplexed, I spoke. “What do you mean?”

Flitwick took a deep breath before revealing. “The Ministry has gotten involved. Two of the students involved spoke to their parents, and those parents have… connections within the Wizengamot. They hold a considerable influence within the Ministry.”

A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.

“Has Sirius been contacted?” I asked, hoping to add the involvement of my adoptive father in this escalating situation in order to balance it.

Flitwick nodded in agreement with my unspoken thoughts, confirming as much. “Yes, he has.”

“Then…” I said, feeling a sense of urgency. “I want to wait until Sirius gets here. I need him there for this.”

Flitwick reassured me. “With myself present, I won’t allow anyone to attempt to overstep their bounds. There will also be impartial parties present to ensure fairness. There’s no need to worry.”

The assurance that there would be oversight and impartiality in the proceedings offered a measure of comfort, but I couldn’t help but to think about what was done to Hagrid in the second book.

Expelled from Hogwarts with no recourse, and then sent to Azkaban for supposedly the same crime. I thought. If they need to be seen like they are ‘doing something’, they will not hesitate to do the same to me.

Still, I nodded in acknowledgment. Refusing to heed Flitwick’s words at this particular juncture would hinder the trust he had placed in me, which would utterly annihilate my chances I had at this inquiry.

Realizing I had to play along for a while longer, I accepted and told the Professor to lead the way. Flitwick did so, and we reached one of the empty classrooms.

As he opened the door, I saw that the student desks were gone, replaced by a long rectangular table. At one end of the table sat four officials from the Ministry, with sheafs of parchment arrayed in front of them. On one side sat all the boys who had attacked me, as well as their parents. On the other side, I saw a teacher I recognized from Uagadou, as well as one Severus Snape.

The sun shining through the windows behind them made me squint for a few moments as I entered the room.

Before I could adjust, one of the Ministry officials gestured toward a chair, saying. “Have a seat, Mr. Black.”

As I settled into the chair, the air in the room seemed to thicken with tension. The Ministry official’s tone, though perfectly polite, carried an undertone of hostility that sent a shiver down my spine.

His jittering soul thread hinted at an unspoken animosity against me. The unease in the atmosphere was palpable, and with no time to decipher the underlying currents, I suppressed the instinctual gulp that threatened to escape, instead taking a seat.

As I took in the room, my gaze swept across several silhouettes enshrouded in a film of magic. The realization struck me— these were wizards and witches stationed here, sentinels to put an end to the possibility of another duel breaking out between me and the others. Flitwick moved to stand beside me, a subtle reassurance in his presence.

The official began to speak, his words a deliberate slow drawl.

“Mr. Black.” He began, his voice carrying the authority of his office. “My name is Adjudicator Terrence. We are here to investigate the matter that was spoken of in the Daily Prophet— the duel which took place in the Forbidden Forest.”

“Yes.” I said, and immediately, I felt like I made a mistake as the man’s soul thread seemed to almost dance in glee.

“Very good.” Terrence’s slowly building satisfaction caught me off guard, but I schooled myself, realizing what he was doing even as he asked his next question. “So you admit that a duel took place. And, this duel— who was involved?”

I glanced to my left, seeing Flitwick’s expression remain the same, before pointing at the four boys. “They were; they attacked me, and I defended myself.”

“See? He’s already lying.” One of the parents, a long-necked, shrill sounding, gray haired lady said. “It’s just as the boys said.”

“Pardon?” I said without thinking, and felt Flitwick’s hand on my shoulder, warning me away from saying more.

“You heard me, boy.” She said, sneering. “You are a liar. Attacking from the shadows and snapping my son’s wand.”

“I must insist on maintaining decorum, here, Mrs. Blackthorn.” The official said, attempting to quell the escalating tension.

“You see… This boy.” The woman, Mrs. Blackthorn, interrupted with a venomous tone as she ignored the official’s words. “Attacked my son and his friends in the Forbidden Forest. It’s an outrage!”

The official tried to soothe her ire. “Mrs. Blackthorn, let us proceed calmly, otherwise we cannot see that justice has been met.”

“…Very well.”

It was then that I realized it was all an act on their parts. Their soul threads were dancing to the same soundless tune.

“Mr. Clarke, can you confirm or deny these allegations?”

I hesitated for a moment, collecting my thoughts. “I deny instigating an attack on anyone. Once again, I defended myself in the Forbidden Forest as I was on break from my usual work.”

“Preposterous! You’re a danger to the other students, and I wish for the full weight of the law to come down on this… delinquent.”

The underlying motive started to become painfully clear to me, and I knew I had to tread carefully in the face of this prejudiced hostility. So we’re playing ‘pin the blame on the Mudblood, are we?’

I was very glad I’d kept my wand in my pocket. Once I had seen the hidden Magical Law Enforcement officers hidden in the ranks, I had half of a mind to place my wand on the table, but I realized that, in a meeting like this, I would likely need it.

“Can you relay the events as well as you remember them, Mr. Clarke?”

I nod, though I give the man a flat look. “Certainly. And, ‘Mr. Black’.”

“What?”

“It’s ‘Mr. Black’.” I said again, hiding my own amusement at how his soul thread jittered. “Clarke was my name before my adoption into House Black, Most Noble and Most Ancient. I would thank you to address me as such, Adjudicator.”

The official nearly gaped at me in reaction, but another official started speaking before he could.

“Yes, of course. Proper protocol must be observed.” The younger man said, nodding very quickly in an attempt to distract everyone from his superior’s actions.

“Mr. Black.” The lead official said, now having composed himself. I could tell, now, that he didn’t seem as sure as he had been previously. “You may recount the events which took place.”

So, I did. I explained how I was in the Forbidden Forest, enjoying a walk while waiting for dinner with Hagrid and Harry, as we regularly have our dinners together after my work with the groundskeeper.

“And what kind of work is it that you do, Mr. Black?”

“I take care of a few menial tasks.” I said, nodding. “Taking care of the Thestrals, transporting their manure to the Greenhouses, among other things. I could give you a full list if you—”

“No, no.” Adjudicator Terrence waved my response away. “That will not be necessary, Mr. Black.”

“Why do you do this work?” The teacher from Uagadou asked, intrigued. I recognized him as the man who had been holding the wandless magic seminars, Professor Isaka.

“Well, I do it to make money for myself, Professor.”

“How odd.” He said, scratching his chin. “Surely, as a son of House Black, you are endowed with quite the significant sum as an allowance.”

“True.” I said, nodding. “But I’ve asked my… father to send most of that money to Gringotts, to be kept in a vault. I enjoy the work I do— it’s honest labor.”

“Admirable.” He said, responding with a nod of his own. Professor Snape, beside him, still hadn’t said anything.

The official instructed me to get back to the testimony at hand— the duel. I nodded and continued recounting the events. I spoke of the ambush, the mockery, the spells launched at me, as well as my plan to retaliate.

I was interrupted by another one of the officials.

“Why were you attacked?” A young lady questioned.

Her line of inquiry seemed to irritate the other officials, as well as Mrs. Blackthorn.

I answered. “It was over a girl, Ophelia Scarlet is her name— she’s a Seventh Year, in Ravenclaw. Mr. Blackthorn believed that she and I were possibly attached.”

There was a moment of silence before the boy’s mother exploded again, sending the chair behind her a few steps and filling the air with the torturous sound of wood groaning against stone. “It’s a pack of lies! Tell the truth boy!”

The lead official once again took the time to calm the woman down before encouraging me to finish the tale. So, I did.

“I was able to distract the boys long enough to summon my wand back to me.” I explained, not mentioning Absol in any way, and not lying, either.

“Wandless magic?” Mrs. Blackthorne scoffed. “You could at least make a feasible lie.”

“It is no lie.” Severus Snape said, finally speaking up since the beginning of the meeting. He looked supremely bored with everything that was going on, and the expression on his face told me that he seemed aggrieved to even have to deal with this waste of time. “Anyone who witnessed his latest match can attest to that fact.”

“Indeed.” The teacher from Uagadou said in agreement. “Impressive wandless magic, especially considering your earlier struggles during my seminars. You have improved greatly— you discovered your own method?”

“Yes, sir.” I replied, smiling for the first time since this meeting began. It was at this point that Mrs. Blackthorn and the lead Adjudicator began to realize that they probably weren’t going to get their way.

“Very well.” Adjudicator Terrence continued, now looking dismayed. “It seems that, with the situation having opposing testimonies, we will have to settle the matter at a higher level.”

“I wish to press formal charges against Mr. C—Black.” Mrs. Blackthorn said, refusing to heed the looks the official at the head of the table was sending her. “For assaulting my son, breaking his arm and—”

“Are you all out of your minds?” The door burst open, and everyone tensed to see Sirius Black walking into the room, his dark eyes wide with fury.

For a moment, I saw one of the hidden officers begin to respond to the sudden intrusion, but something seemed to hold them back.

“Mr. Black.” Adjudicator Terrence by way of greeting, bringing my attention back to the matter at hand. If he had looked dismayed before, now he looked hopeless. “You were… Able to make it in time. Good, good…”

Somehow, I had the feeling that his feelings on the matter were anything but.

Sirius Black immediately moved to stand by my side, and I felt a surge of reassurance with the man beside me. His presence radiated a fierce and protective aura, his gaze sharp and unwavering, sending a clear message to everyone in the room that he was ready to defend and support me.

“Sirius.” I said, and he merely put his hand upon my shoulder, as if to tell me that he had this situation in the bag.

“There’s no need to explain.” Sirius said. He could tell what was going on by my face and the feel of the room.

He turned to everyone. “I do hope that you weren’t about to do the same thing the Ministry has done to me in the past.” Sirius said, his tone hard and leaving no room for argument. “Because the last time, I let it go. Seeing these events has made me reconsider my decision on the matter.”

Blackthorn got mad at Sirius, even as the official paled at the possible political scandal he had stumbled into. “I don’t care about your issues with the Ministry— I want justice for my son!”

“Justice?” Sirius calmly replied, giving her a nod. “Very well, tell me what happened.”

Blackthorn proceeded to list the accusations against me. At the end, Sirius turned to me. “Is this true?”

I nodded. “Yes, but I did not attack them; it was in self-defense.”

“I see.” Sirius said as he turned to look at the boy. “I see no permanent injuries on the lad.”

“Now, see here.” Blackthorn insisted, getting back up. “Just because the injuries were easily taken care of doesn’t mean that the boy should escape justice!?”

“And he most certainly will not.” Sirius assured her, sending me a stern look. “I will be attending to his punishment myself. I am, however, surprised at the restraint he showed.”

“Restraint!?” Blackthorn screeched.

“Indeed.” Sirius said, smiling a little.

“You call breaking my son’s arm in multiple places and snapping his wand restraint!?”

“Yes.” Sirius nodded before turning to the boys. “The last time Adam’s life was under threat, he killed no less than four adult wizards and witches.”

“The attack at Village Du Phantasime.” Professor Isaka said in realization, sending me a look which I didn’t reciprocate.

“Yes. The very same.” Sirius confirmed before fixing his attention squarely upon the official once more. “Though Adam’s actions of self-defense were justified, the lengths he went to were not. However, since the damage was not permanent, I ask that you allow me to handle the boy’s punishment myself.”

Sirius then sent a look towards Flitwick. “I’m sure his Head of House will also act accordingly.”

“Of course.” Filius said, nodding.

Silence hung in the air as everyone in the room turned their attention to the official once more.

“In that case, then…” He said, his soul thread flailing in impotence as he very obviously did not send a look to Mrs. Blackthorn, who seemed to be beside herself in anger. Her son, beside her, had been steadily growing more and more pale as the interview took place.

No… I thought and kept my damn mouth shut as the official said that there would be no inquiry or any charges levied against me. He lied to his mother about this, didn’t he?

The two of us shared a glance, and I could see the fear in his eyes swiftly replaced by an anger so intense that he did not hear his mother telling him to get up after she’d decided she’d had enough.

“This isn’t over.” Mrs. Blackthorn said quietly as she passed Sirius by, followed by her son and all of their shared cohorts.

“Are things ever?” Sirius muttered with a shake of the head before turning to me. “Come on. I think we should have a talk.”

Numbly, I followed him out of the room, leaving everyone behind. Though the inquiry itself had been a hail mary attempt from Blackthorn junior, I realized that his mother’s involvement had escalated the issue so much that she now held a grudge against me.

This was what I feared would happen in my first year of schooling; I was making enemies who were deep in the magical community. The Blackthorn witch would talk to her friends, and they would talk to theirs, and so on.

“Adam.” Sirius said once we were far enough away from the proceeding. His back was still turned to me.

“Yeah?” I said, unsure of what to do, here.

It was then that the man turned back to me, giving me a smile and a shake of his head.

“You’ve done well.” Sirius said, ruffling my hair. “I’m proud of you.”

My eyes widened.

That was not what I had expected him to say.

“…Thanks, Sirius.” I said, feeling a strange weight in my chest even as he ruffled my hair.

Why…?