Gabriel Truman, still shaken by the Ministry of Magic's letter, had no better plan than to follow Albert's lead. Being expelled from Hogwarts was unthinkable, a blow that would shatter his dreams of becoming a fully-fledged wizard.
With a mix of reluctance and hope, he agreed to Albert's suggestion to write to the school and clear up the misunderstanding. As Shira, Albert's snowy owl, soared into the sky with their letters, Truman watched her disappear, his freckled face etched with worry. "Will this really work?"
"The school will be just as surprised as you are," Albert said calmly, leaning against a park bench. "They won't expel a student without investigating. They'll sort it out." His steady tone seemed to ease Truman's nerves, the older boy visibly relaxing under the influence of Albert's unshakable composure.
"Can I see the letter?" Albert asked, curious about the Ministry's wording.
Truman handed over the parchment with a bitter smile. "What a mess. I got a warning last summer for using magic in front of my family. Now this."
Albert scanned the letter, his expression unreadable:
Dear Mr. Truman,
We have received intelligence that you performed a Levitation Charm at 10:40 a.m. in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle.
A pang of guilt hit Albert—he knew the "Muggle" was Nia. He took a deep breath, pushing down the unease, and continued reading:
This constitutes a serious violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Wizardry. Consequently, you are expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A Ministry representative will visit your residence to destroy your wand.
As you were previously cautioned for breaching Clause 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy, you are required to attend a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 10 a.m. on August 17.
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office, Ministry of Magic
Nia, peering over Albert's shoulder, frowned. "Why didn't you get a warning for using magic?"
"Probably because I'm not at Hogwarts yet," Albert replied, glancing at Truman, who shrugged uncertainly.
"There must be loopholes in their system," Albert mused, his mind already turning to strategy. Growing up in a family of lawyers, he'd picked up a knack for spotting legal gaps. "Once this is cleared up, you should demand compensation from the Ministry for the distress they've caused."
Truman blinked, stunned. "Compensation?"
"Absolutely," Albert said, his tone matter-of-fact. "The Ministry clearly has a way to detect magic in this area, but they can't pinpoint who cast it. I've been here with Nia for the summer, and you just happened to be nearby when I used the Levitation Charm. They assumed it was you—a serious error on their part. That letter gave you a scare, nearly pushed you over the edge. You're entitled to compensation for emotional distress."
"Totally reasonable," Nia chimed in, nodding vigorously. "They messed up!"
"My parents and grandparents are lawyers," Albert continued, a glint in his eye. "I know how this works. Someone from the Ministry will show up soon, or they'll send another letter. First, we clear your name. Then, we demand 100 Galleons for the trauma they caused."
"A hundred Galleons?" Truman's jaw dropped. "That's… a lot."
"Start high," Albert advised. "Fifty at the least. If you ask for less, they'll think you're not serious. Adults always underestimate kids, but if we push, they'll pay to avoid trouble. If they refuse, I'll draft an anonymous letter to the Daily Prophet exposing their mistake. Trust me, they'll cough up the Galleons to keep it quiet. But," he added with a sly grin, "if we get the money, we split it—half for you, half for me, as payment for my help."
Truman stared at Albert, half-impressed, half-bewildered. "You're… kind of terrifying for a first-year."
Albert just smirked, unfazed. "Let's head to my grandparents' house to wait for a reply."
In the headmaster's office at Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore sat behind his cluttered desk, the room aglow with the soft hum of enchanted trinkets.
He'd just received a troubling notice from the Ministry of Magic: Gabriel Truman had been expelled for casting a Levitation Charm in a Muggle area. The news was unsettling, especially since Truman had a prior warning for underage magic during his first-year summer.
Dumbledore was preparing to visit the Ministry to investigate when an owl swooped through the window, delivering two letters. The first, from Truman, claimed he was innocent, explaining he'd merely encountered a new student practicing magic in a park.
The second letter, from Albert Andersson, a Muggle-born first-year, expressed regret for unintentionally causing Truman's trouble and offered to testify on his behalf.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he recalled Albert's name from the admissions list. The boy's initiative was impressive, and the explanation seemed plausible. Expelling a student over a misunderstanding was the last thing Dumbledore wanted. He gathered the letters and headed to the Ministry of Magic, determined to resolve the issue.
At the Improper Use of Magic Office, Dumbledore presented the letters to a harried official named Nat Li. "It appears there's been a mistake," he said, his voice calm but firm. "The Trace, while useful, isn't infallible. It detects magic but not always the caster."
Back at Charlie Street, Albert, Nia, and Truman sat in Luke and Sansa's living room, sipping tea and nibbling on scones. Shira perched on the back of a chair, her amber eyes fixed on Tom, who glared from a cushion.
The tension was broken by the arrival of another owl, followed by a soft pop outside. Albert peered through the window to see an elderly man with a flowing beard and half-moon spectacles, accompanied by a Ministry official in a pinstriped robe.
"It's Dumbledore," Albert said, recognizing the wizard from the chocolate frog card. He opened the door, greeting them with a polite nod. "Headmaster Dumbledore, I presume?"
Dumbledore's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Mr. Andersson, I take it? We received your letter. May I see your wand?"
Albert handed over his redwood and phoenix feather wand, suspecting what was coming. Dumbledore cast Prior Incantato, revealing the spells Albert had practiced in recent days: Lumos, Reparo, Scourgify, Alohomora, and Wingardium Leviosa. The headmaster raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Five spells in a few days? Remarkable for a beginner."
"Truman only corrected my wand movement for the Levitation Charm," Albert explained smoothly. "I just mastered it today."
The Ministry official turned to Truman. "Your wand?"
"It's at home," Truman said confidently. "You can check it if you need to."
Dumbledore smiled at the official. "It seems we have a misunderstanding, Nat."
Nat Li, flustered, nodded. "We'll need to verify, but… yes, it appears so."
As the adults conferred, Albert caught Truman's eye and mouthed, "Fifty Galleons." Truman stifled a grin, beginning to believe in Albert's audacious plan. The magical world was full of surprises, but Albert's knack for turning mishaps into opportunities was something even Dumbledore couldn't help but notice.