The Transfiguration Hall had never been so silent.
Students lined the balconies. Professors stood in the shadows. And in the center — beneath enchanted light and the echo of held breath — stood Harry.
His hand was bare. The mark was visible. Not glowing, but unmistakable — burned into his skin like a promise he hadn't made.
At the far end stood a woman in deep navy robes, wand resting across her forearm.
Ministry official.
Her eyes were unreadable.
"Mr. Potter. Step forward."
The Evaluation Begins
"State your name."
"Harry James Potter."
"Do you consent to magical evaluation, as required under Section 3 of the Wand Regulation Act?"
Harry nodded.
"Yes."
The woman turned to McGonagall and Snape, then back to him.
"You will demonstrate the following spells: Lumos, Expelliarmus, Protego. Nothing else."
He drew his wand.
"Lumos."
The light sparked — but it was too bright. Nearly white-blue. Students flinched.
"Expelliarmus."
The dummy's wand didn't just fly — it cracked.
"Protego."
The shield flared — and shimmered green.
Not standard. Not right.
Whispers Turn to Warnings
"She's going to report him," someone muttered from the stands.
"Magic like that shouldn't exist."
"It's illegal if he can't control it."
Snape stepped forward.
"He has not harmed anyone since the incident."
"But he could," the Ministry agent snapped. "That's what matters."
She raised her wand again — and this time, it wasn't for a spell.
She touched it to her parchment.
Words burned into the scroll.
"Magical Unbound. Glyph Reactive. Control: Unstable.""Recommendation: Probationary Surveillance.""Marked subject may require suppression."
Harry stared at the words.
"Suppression?"
A Voice From the Crowd
Before anyone could answer, a voice rang out — cold, steady.
"I object."
It was Draco.
He stood at the front of the Slytherin row, arms crossed, voice sharp.
"You tested his spellwork. Not the intent behind it."
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"And you are?"
"Someone who's dueled him. Trained with him. Watched him hold back every single time his wand wanted to do more."
Another voice joined. Theodore.
"You're judging his magic, not his character. That's not justice. That's fear."
More murmurs.
A few Ravenclaws nodded. A Hufflepuff even clapped once before shrinking back.
McGonagall Speaks
Then, finally, the voice that carried most weight.
McGonagall stepped forward.
"Magic responds to will. And yes, Mr. Potter's will is unstable. Because he is fighting it. Every day."
She turned to the agent.
"I will not allow suppression of a student who is trying — and succeeding — to remain himself."
A long pause.
Then the Ministry woman rolled up her scroll.
"We'll monitor him. For now."
She walked out. The hall exhaled.
End Scene – In the Corridor
Later, in the empty corridor, Harry stood alone.
Until Snape stepped beside him.
"You won't thank them," Snape said flatly.
"No."
"They didn't do it for you."
"I know."
He paused.
"They did it because the mark doesn't scare them yet."
Harry looked down at his hand.
"Should it?"
Snape's answer was almost a whisper.
"That depends on who you become."