The Price of Politics
The group that had stayed behind at Harry's house waiting for news fortunately didn't have to wait long.
Not long after Sirius, Edward, and Narcissa left to deal with the situation, another owl flew in through the window carrying a Ministry letter in its beak.
Hermione was the first to step forward and take the Ministry envelope, this time not giving it the chance to open on its own, and began reading it aloud with obvious nervousness.
"Dear Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger:
Regarding our letter from approximately twenty minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has reviewed the case, and the punishment of destroying your wands has been suspended until the charges can be properly assessed and pending your corresponding disciplinary hearing on August 12th, when an official decision will be made.
After consulting with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as the Chairman of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, supported by several of its members, the Ministry has decided that the matter of your expulsion will also be determined during that hearing. Therefore, consider yourselves excused from attending school pending further investigation.
With my best wishes.
Sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk."
After reading the letter, Hermione, who had been a bundle of nerves, looked much calmer, as though the knot that had formed in her chest had loosened slightly with the relief of knowing she hadn't been permanently expelled.
Not yet.
Of course, her fears hadn't disappeared completely, but at least she trusted that Sirius and the others would be able to fix this.
Draco, who appeared fairly calm, wasn't calm at all on the inside.
As Hermione finished reading, the faint frown he had worn until then finally eased.
Even so, Draco's frustration wasn't because of the possibility of being expelled.
It was because the reason for it was the use of his magic—the very same magic he had used to stop Pansy Parkinson when she had been about to do something truly terrible to them.
And even then, the Ministry didn't seem to care that it had been self-defense.
"Maybe it's because of everything that happened a few days ago," Harry said, as though he could read his friend's mind.
Though, to be fair, it wasn't very difficult at the moment.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. Now that she had calmed down a little, she could finally think more clearly and tried to understand why defending themselves had landed them in trouble.
"Remember how angry Tonks was because of all the work that came after the whole Red incident? A lot of members of the International Confederation of Wizards came to England and investigated everything that happened, imposing several sanctions on the British Ministry of Magic. And even though Fudge managed to keep most of the information under wraps, the rumors still spread easily. Now the Confederation has its eye on the entire Ministry. That's probably why enforcement of the International Statute of Secrecy has become much stricter. On top of the fact that they never managed to find the supposed wizard who caused that whole disaster. Fudge obviously wants to regain control by showing everyone he isn't the useless fool he actually is," Harry said calmly, laying out a theory that perhaps wasn't that far from the truth.
"So we're being used as an example," Draco said, understanding the point immediately.
"But wouldn't that be counterproductive? Draco is one of the winners of the Triwizard Tournament, which made him incredibly popular lately," Daphne said with a confused expression.
"Yeah. Besides, everyone knows Nicolas Flamel is our teacher, that we created the battle golems, the alchemical owls, and a bunch of other things. Normally no idiot would try to mess with us. But... if there is an idiot like that, instead of starting with the son of the witch whose limits no one even knows, since even Dumbledore is afraid to get close to her," Harry said, pointing at himself, "and the daughter of the leader of the neutral faction and one of the most powerful families in England... it's a lot easier to start with the weakest links," Harry said with a slightly mocking smile as he looked toward Draco and Hermione.
Both of them frowned when they heard that.
But they didn't let their annoyance at Harry's teasing distract them, because they had already understood one key point.
"That's why Skeeter's article," Draco said, thinking back to the words that woman had used, words that still seemed to echo in his mind.
"So you're saying they aren't attacking us—they're attacking our families," Hermione said. "By tarnishing their reputation... but if it's only about smearing them, what would they gain from it?"
Harry didn't know how to answer that part properly.
If it was because Fudge saw them as possible rivals for the position of Minister, then it would make sense.
But none of their families—or even their friends—had any real interest in that position. Their interests lay elsewhere—in business and their families.
"Well..." Harry scratched his cheek. "That part, I honestly have no idea."
Making Hermione, Draco, and Daphne all give him unimpressed looks.
His explanation had sounded very convincing.
And it really did seem like a possibility.
But then he had ruined it with those last words.
...
Meanwhile, Wanda, Selene, and Susan, who had left the youngsters in the living room so they wouldn't overwhelm them while still keeping an eye on them, couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Their minds are getting sharper every day. I don't know whether I should feel proud or worried," Susan said with a smile.
"Indeed. If any of them ever lose control, we might end up raising future Dark Lords... or Dark Ladies," Selene added calmly, though she didn't seem particularly bothered by that possibility.
Although, realistically, Harry was probably the one most likely to end up that way.
As for Daphne...
Well, she was Daphne.
She'd only lose control if she got bored enough.
"As long as they're happy," Wanda said with the calmness only a mother could have, even if her children someday became legendary criminals in the magical world.
Because, after all, she was their mother.
And nothing mattered more to her than her children's happiness, no matter how chaotic they might become.
Susan and Selene seemed to think exactly the same, smiling in amusement just imagining it.
After a while, Sirius and the others returned, though irritation was still written all over their faces.
"So?" Hermione asked the moment she saw them step out of the fireplace.
After all, she still had to attend a disciplinary hearing, whatever that even meant.
Something Hermione was certain she had never attended in her entire life.
Even if her wand hadn't been broken and she hadn't been expelled yet, the words "pending the corresponding punishment" were not comforting in the slightest.
"Don't worry. Nothing serious is going to happen. It's just an idiot trying to get something," Sirius said with complete disgust.
Judging by his expression, he would have much preferred being attacked directly so he could hit back and claim it had been self-defense.
But bureaucracy had never been one of his strengths.
"And what are they trying to get?" Harry asked.
"The position of Headmaster of Hogwarts. Or rather... they want me to give it back," Sirius said with a smile that looked downright dangerous, as though he was thinking they'd only get that position over his dead body. "To Dumbledore," he added.
At that moment, the words Harry had said just a little while ago suddenly made sense again.