Space unraveled as four figures appeared inside what seemed to be like a building. Sol looked around and clicked his tongue. What a horrendous choice of color!
Those who frequented this place might’ve either gotten used to this place or haven’t noticed at all but the choice to use dark green was a poor one. His gaze swam upwards. The ceiling was just like Hogwarts, a mere simulation of the open sky.
In the sea of people going from one department to another, commuting to their job, or just doing their work, Sol and his mother followed the Auror Harold and his partner Connor as they awaited a trial to Wizengamot.
He asked one of them, “Where is the Ministry exactly?”
“It’s underground,” Connor replied ever so stiffly. “As you might’ve guessed the ceiling and windows are magically made to simulate sunlight and a calming outdoor view.”
“Ah, I see…” Sol’s voice trailed off. Getting an affirmation to his guesses both satisfied him and shocked him. The shocking part is that the Ministry is essentially a more refined sewer level in a videogame; a sewer for nobility if you will. Why else would they choose such a horrendous color for the walls and even the tiles of the floor?
Sometimes he’d see fountains with statues of gold in the middle; a wizard holding his wand up high, a centaur and a mermaid, and other magical examples. The symbol of the Ministry would also pop up from time to time. There were also rooms stacked like building blocks embedded on the walls. The huge windows served as a gateway to see what was inside, though most of them had their curtains drawn.
“Mom,” Sol suddenly looked over to Selene who was next to him, “you look nervous.” And indeed that was the case. She wasn’t anxious or panicking but rather had quite the grip on his sleeve.
“Well, of fucking course I’m nervous,” she quietly hissed at him. “My son’s getting tried at Wizengamot like he’s a crimin-” However, as soon as she said the latter part, she clamped her mouth shut. She had understood a bit too late that this wasn’t something a mother should say. She looked to see his reaction.
Sol nodded and chuckled, “Well, fair enough!” She relaxed. It seemed that he didn’t mind. But that feeling of guilt didn’t go away. Just because her son didn’t mind it, doesn’t make it any less okay for her to say it.
And Sol truly didn’t mind what she said. He had a feeling he had gone through worse and also because he, to a certain extent, could understand what she’s going through. As such, he stopped dwelling over it and kept on marveling over the structures in the Ministry.
Of course, he hadn’t forgotten to notice that Harold had started to make small talk with her. Right, small talk. If only he was better at hiding it and wasn’t indirectly manipulating Selene for more information about Pettigrew’s capture.
Sol sighed but did nothing. This truly was the best scenario for him. This type of indirect interrogation through conversation would only serve to prove that Selene truly had no part in this other than listening to her son’s words. Skilled interrogators could employ this technique to a frightening degree but that only applies against people who actually know something.
“I can see that you’ve seen through Auror Harold’s trick,” Connor looked at him and said in a low voice.
“Is that how it looks?” Sol replied with an impenetrable smile.
“Indubitably.” Connor nodded. Sol’s face hardened. That overly formal- no, that aristocratic way of speaking. He loathed it.
Headmaster Dumbledore also spoke that way. But that didn’t come from his status but rather age. Connor’s tone and words truly made him understand that, yes; he did not like his speech.
So much so, that he had unconsciously become much colder to Connor. Without a reply, he turned his head away and looked at the crowd. Connor couldn’t figure out what exactly he did wrong but chalked it up to Sol being nervous for the trial.
Sol’s problems with Connor’s speech had put another thought into his mind. There actually is nobility in the Wizarding World! He had forgotten about the pure-blood wizards up until now. That was because unlike the nobility he knew of, they didn’t have the want to control everything which bordered on obsession. But oddly enough, the blood racism, and haughtiness was still there.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
It might be because Sol wasn’t enough to fully integrate into Wizard Society and its roots but the pure-bloods to him were a minor inconvenience.
Damn, Sol shook the unnecessary thoughts away and prepared for the trial. We’ve been walking for a very long. Unbeknownst to him, they had entered a narrow hallway with no other in sight. It was strangely cold.
As they were about to reach the end of the hallway, Connor turned around and stopped Selene, “Ma’am, we have to ask you to refrain from entering the courtroom. Please be understanding as we want to keep accounts of events consistent and not create any unnecessary disturbances.”
“I-I understand,” Selene nodded and looked at Sol with a worried face.
Sol flashed a reassuring look, “I’ll be back in a bit.” saying that, he turned around and followed Connor and Harold into the room.
He entered the room and much to his dismay, it was still dimly lit here. There were benches much like you’d see in a university except the benches formed a ring around the middle which was empty. Lit torches illuminated the room and created a rather gloomy and archaic atmosphere.
In the middle of the room surrounded by the benches was a singular chair made of dark oak. It faced a high table which had a wooden sound block on it as well as some documents.
Sol came forwards and surveyed the benches. Other than the council of men and women led by Cornelius Fudge who was wearing glasses, he looked stunned when he saw Headmaster Dumbledore sitting on the benches behind where he was sitting. He smiled calmly at Sol.
Sol wanted to sigh, he really did. I just told the Aurors that the Headmaster was a tough person to see and can’t possibly meet a student for no reason. But look who fucking shows up? Just about fucking had it here.
Sol sat on the wooden chair without looking at the council and leaned on the backrest. The council would’ve thought that he was disrespecting them if only he didn’t look depressed.
Fudge hit the gavel down repeatedly which stopped the council's hushed gossiping. All of them wore wizard robes and a hat that was flat at the top. Some of them had black robes while most had red robes.
Fudge’s gaze looked over the room as he spoke, “Hearing of the events occurred on the 20th of August where Peter Pettigrew was apprehended by two Aurors after being incapacitated by Selene Balor resident at No. 12 Privet Drive, Surrey.”
He then stopped perusing at the documents and took off his glasses before looking at Sol. He smacked his lips and asked the Aurors who had also entered, “And why is Mr. Sol Balor here?”
Connor spoke up, “We have found out through interrogation that Selene Balor had no more part in this than simply casting the untransfiguration spell and the Petrification Charm. It was revealed that she was acting on her son, Sol Balor’s words.”
One of the red-robed councilmen stood up and handed Fudge a document. He read through the document once and then spoke to Sol, “Mr. Sol Balor, we will again ask you the questions and we will see if your testaments match against this document.”
“Understood,” Sol slightly nodded.
“How did you find out Pettigrew was hiding as a rat within the Weasley family?”
“With the help of the Marauder’s Map.” As if on cue, the same councilman stood up and handed the map over to Fudge. Fudge unraveled the map and the same thing as the two Aurors from before. As the map hadn’t been closed, anyone could see it.
“I see,” Cornelius Fudge nodded and kept the Map to one side. He then narrowed his eyes at Sol, “But Mr. Balor, how did you know that this map could see Animagi?”
“Well, Professor McGonagall, our transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts is also an Animagi. She sometimes turns into a cat as an example in our classes. One day, when I was walking with the map, I happened to see it.”
“Is there anyone to support your claims?” Fudge put on his reading glasses again.
“Why do you need someone to support it in the first place? The map is in your hands. You can find out yourself if I’m speaking the truth.” Sol looked at Fudge like one would look at an idiot.
“…right.” Fudge didn’t like Sol’s look but there was nothing he could do since it was his blunder. He coughed and asked the next question, “Why didn’t you inform any of the Professors or the Weasley family?”
“Tell them about Peter Pettigrew?” Sol raised an eyebrow. He looked at the councilmen, “The man the Ministry and Aurors couldn’t capture but actually put someone innocent in Azkaban.” All of the councilmen looked away from his piercing gaze to avoid further embarrassment.
“Hum hum,” something squeaked.
Sol jumped in fright. He squatted on his chair as he frantically looked at the ground trying to search for something. When he couldn’t find it, he looked at Fudge and said in a panic, “Is there a rat!?”
“What are you talking about?” Fudge looked at him with puzzled eyes.
“A-A rat squeaked!” Sol looked like he feared for his life.
“Hum hum,” that sound rang again. Sol jumped again and looked at the room. His eyes met with a small but posh woman who was glaring holes at him. Her pink clothes could be seen through her black wizard robes.
Dolores Umbridge made that sound once again just to show Sol. Sol’s expression collapsed.
“O-Oh…”