My Family Are Professionals

Gabriel Truman had no better option. He could only accept Albert's suggestion; being expelled from Hogwarts was an outcome he could never accept.

After writing the letter, Truman watched the owl fly away, then turned to Albert and asked, "Will this really work?"

"The school was probably startled too. I don't think they'd casually expel a student without at least finding out what happened." Albert reassured him. The freckled boy gradually calmed down, or rather, Albert's calmness had rubbed off on him.

"Can I see that letter?" Albert asked.

"Oh, here. What an unforeseen disaster." Truman gave a bitter smile. "During the summer vacation after my first year, I was warned by the Ministry of Magic for using magic in front of my family."

He handed the letter to Albert and explained, "Hogwarts students aren't allowed to use magic outside school."

"But why wasn't Albert warned after using magic?" Nia was very confused.

"Probably because he hasn't started school yet." In truth, Truman was not entirely sure either.

"It must be some kind of loophole." Albert began reading the contents of the parchment: Dear Mr. Truman: We have received information that, at 10:40 this morning, you used the Levitation Charm in a Muggle residential area in the presence of a Muggle.

Seeing this, Albert's feelings became rather complicated. He knew exactly who the Muggle referred to was. After taking a deep breath and sorting through his tangled emotions, he continued reading.

This act constitutes a serious violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. As you have previously received a formal warning for violating Article Thirteen of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, we regret to inform you that you must appear before the Ministry of Magic for a hearing at ten o'clock on the morning of August 17.

If the charges are upheld, you will be expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the Ministry of Magic will destroy your wand.

We hope you take care.

Yours sincerely, Mafalda Hopkirk, Ministry of Magic Misuse of Magic Office.

"My suggestion is that, once this is settled, you apply to the Ministry of Magic for compensation for emotional distress." Albert's family were all lawyers, so he had picked up a thing or two about exploiting legal loopholes.

Truman was a little stunned. He had not even figured out what was going on, yet Albert was telling him to seek compensation from the Ministry of Magic for emotional distress?

"I'd wager the Ministry has some way of monitoring what happens around you, but they can't tell who actually cast the magic," Albert continued. "My sister and I only came here for the summer vacation a few days ago. Since you happened to run into us, the Ministry assumed you cast the Levitation Charm and prepared to expel you. In fact, this is a serious mistake on their part. And that letter gave you quite a fright, didn't it? You nearly lost control just now. They absolutely have to compensate you for emotional distress."

"Right, right. It's perfectly reasonable to demand compensation for emotional distress," Nia chimed in.

"My family are all lawyers, so I know more about these things than you do." Albert continued egging him on. "Someone will definitely come later, or at least send a letter. First, clear your name. Then accuse the Ministry of its mistake and demand compensation for the fright they caused you. Ask them for one hundred Galleons."

"Isn't that too much?" Truman was startled by Albert's outrageous demand.

"That gives us room to negotiate," Albert said without hesitation. "At the very least, fifty Galleons isn't excessive. If it's less than that, don't take it. Otherwise, they'll think they can just brush off a child. Adults are like that—they think children are easy to fob off."

"If the Ministry won't pay, I can write a letter for you and have the Daily Prophet anonymously expose the matter. I'm sure they'll be willing to pay you fifty Galleons then. But when you get the money, you'll need to give me half as payment for writing the letter." Albert's words made Truman think the boy was simply too... too formidable.

At Hogwarts, in the headmaster's office, Dumbledore had just received notice from the Ministry of Magic that Gabriel Truman had used the Levitation Charm in front of a Muggle and was required to attend a hearing at the Ministry. If the Ministry's charges were upheld, Truman would be expelled from the school.

This was hardly good news. Truman had a prior record; during the summer vacation after his first year, he had been warned by the Ministry for using magic in front of his family.

Just as Dumbledore was preparing to go to the Ministry to confirm the situation, a letter delivered by owl greatly surprised him.

The letter stated that Truman had nothing to do with the matter. He had merely encountered an incoming student practicing the Levitation Charm in the park, and the Muggle in question was the student's younger sister.

It did not seem to be a lie, because another letter had been enclosed. Its sender was Albert Anderson.

In the letter, Albert expressed regret for bringing unforeseen disaster upon Truman and said that he could testify for him if necessary.

Dumbledore searched his memory and found the name. Albert was indeed an incoming first-year student from a Muggle family.

Dumbledore could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. He felt that this was most likely what had happened. Expelling a student was certainly not something he, as headmaster, wanted to see.

Dumbledore immediately went to the Ministry of Magic and discussed the letters and the matter with the staff of the Misuse of Magic Office. The situation was not serious enough to require a hearing. If it had merely been an accident, the Ministry might become a laughingstock because of it.

After all, both Dumbledore and the Ministry staff knew that the Trace had loopholes.

The truth was much as Albert had guessed. Someone from the Ministry came, and he also met Dumbledore. The old man watched the two children talking in the park with a beaming smile.

"It seems this was a misunderstanding," Dumbledore said smilingly to the Ministry employee beside him.

"I suppose you're Headmaster Dumbledore." Albert studied Dumbledore, then extended a hand and shook his. "You look just like your Chocolate Frog card."

"Mr. Albert?" Dumbledore looked Albert over and said with a smile, "We received your letter, my boy. Could you let me see your wand?"

"Oh, of course. No problem." Albert knew what Dumbledore intended to do, but he still handed over his wand.

Sure enough, the headmaster used Prior Incantato to examine the magic the wand's owner had cast in the past few days.

Dumbledore looked at Albert in surprise. The child had actually mastered five spells in only a few days.

"Truman just corrected my hand movements for the Levitation Charm. I only just mastered the spell," Albert explained.

"Where is your wand?" the wizard from the Ministry asked Truman.

"I didn't bring it. It's at home. If you need to inspect it, you can come back with me to get it." Truman was completely forthright; he was not afraid of an inspection anyway.

"It seems this was a misunderstanding, Natley," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Yes, I think so too." Natley nodded. "I suppose I'll need to write a new report."

The Ministry of Magic had no authority to expel Hogwarts students or confiscate wands unless the charges were upheld.

This was my oversight. He should first have appeared before the Ministry of Magic Misuse of Magic Office for a hearing; only if the charges were upheld would he be expelled from school and have his wand destroyed.