Chapter 2
Mia Wilde slammed her wand onto the counter. The man's expression didn't change,
"I am just following Ministerial operation procedures young Miss. If an underage witch and/or wizard performs magic outside the prescribed areas for that witch and/or wizard and has a subsequent trial as a result they are required to submit that wand to a Ministry of Magic officer for safe keeping until it is deemed necessary that the wand can be returned or destroyed" His eyes seemed to glimmer at the prospect of the latter "I'm just doing my job Miss" he added, snatching her wand before she could change her mind and placing it on a set of gold scales. The red dial swung back and forth, the man scribbled on an official looking form:
Mia Alexandra Wilde - Yew (Taxus), 6 inches, Dragon Heart String Core.
He then flicked his wand, causing the form to stamp and fold in on itself and then slip into a dull brown envelope.
"Take this to courtroom 4. Keep it with you, you will need it after the court proceedings". She took the form, giving the man one last glare before walking towards the court rooms of the Ministry of Magic.
Mia didn't really pay attention to the politics of the Ministry, but knew she liked the current Minister. A woman. What was her name? Gearing...Grimble...pondering this she didn't notice the man walking energetically towards her with a beaming smile on his face. He had a pair of circular glasses on his round face, a long handle bar moustache and was wearing a set of well-cut green robes, which even with all of the magic Dumbledore possessed would never be able to hide his protruding belly.
"Ah Miss Wilde, so pleased to finally meet you, although it could have been under better circumstances, I suppose, no matter we've all been in your position before..."
"Really?"
"Well no.. Not really...well lets just say only the best wizards do under age magic outside of school... I mean...gosh I'm not being very serious am I" He let out a loud ear splitting almost trumpet like laugh. "Well anyway, my name is Calarius Correlian, Deputy Minister of Magic"
"Nice to meet you Calarius Correlian, Deputy Minister of Magic" he let out another booming laugh, Mia watched him curiously,
"Oh hahaha a great sense of humour as well as a penchant for breaking the rules" he beamed at her, before leaning in conspiratorially "so how'd it happen eh? Deatheater attack? Muggle get on ya nerves?"
"No I...It just hap..." Mia hesitated "I need to get to the court room I don't want to be late"
"Oh of course not dear gal! Well that is why I am here, to escort you there of course"
"Oh right" Mia replied,
"This way" He opened his arms wide guiding her towards the lift, Mia followed her new companion reluctantly, she enjoyed her own company and this guy was loud,
"Between you and me you have nothing to worry about" he said,
"right, how so?" He blinked,
"Oh I think the ministry understand the difficulty a lot of young witches and wizards have, especially as they approach 17" Mia frowned, she always thought there would be more scrutiny the older she got, why after all this time had she not been able to keep it under control? Was she broken? Unable to yield magic and somehow by the skin of her teeth had made it this far undetected.
"I didn't mean for it to happen, I thought I had it under control but I was just so...it's the way they can be...I" she finished lamely,
"Don't worry dear, it will be over as fast as you know it. Besides you have friends in high places...a little bird told me, you know Mr Potter"
"Yes...but I don't really know him that well.. I'm friends with his son" Mia didn't think Harry was able to wield that sort of power, but maybe, the wizarding world is never going to forget what he did for them. Mia remembered when she first met James' dad on the platform after their second year at school, she had been struck dumb and didn't say a word to him, it was rather awkward actually. And she wasn't exactly ensconced in the wizarding world with her family.
"Oh right, yes he must be in the same year as you, ah quite brilliant, well I know his father very well...tried to pursued him to join the ministries governing body but alas he is stubborn as anything...ah here we are"
They had reached courtroom 4. "Well good luck. See you on the other side" And with that Calarius Correliun was striding off down the hallway with not so much as a backwards glance. Peculiar man Mia thought. She turned her attention to the black door with the silver 4 on it. She knocked,
"Come in" said a voice.
Mia stepped in, the room was small, ordinary. A mahogany table sat at one end with three rather serious looking individuals behind it.
"Please take a seat" Mia sat, the lady in the middle, fortyish with black grey hair tied back in a bun peered at her behind a reasonably chunky folder. "You've been creating quite an extensive record for yourself Miss..." she checked her notes "Wilde". Mia shifted uncomfortably.
"Seven counts of underage magic outside of school not including your most recent...misdemeanour"
"Yes"
"Well? Do you have any explanation for this?" Mia paused,
"I was messing around. I realise what I did was wrong"
In Mias experience at least 1 in 4 had a predilection for disliking muggles that was normally followed by a dislike for muggleborn's but the less they lingered on that the better. She liked her odds.
"You see my family they just don't understand, they are muggles" Mia paused making eye contact with the three across from her "they hate everything to do with magic, you see there was an issue with the fire, my little brother who has been quite sickly"
He's 15 and 6 ft already and hasn't had a cold since Christmas,
"He really wanted this fire to stay warm and well, I just thought one spell can't hurt..."
"You burnt the whole house down Miss Wilde" Said the man to the left of the women his face resembled that of a birds, his dark eyes bore into hers.
"Yes but that was because my step father realised what I was doing and knocked the wand out of my hand and well, have you seen what a flame can do to polyester curtains..."
The trio stared at her looking confused,
"Miss Wilde, that may explain the last use of magic but what about the last seven?"
A knock at the door broke the silence, the door opened to reveal a spectacled man with jet black hair and a faint scar on his forehead, Mia grinned at him but he ignored her.
"Ah here we all are. Sorry I'm late, got caught up with a deal between two Deatheaters and a goblin"
"Harry, oh what brings you down to Courtroom 4. Why it's a delight to see you. What can we do for you?"
"Ah well I'm here for Mia actually, she is staying with us at the moment whilst we sort out everything with her family. I just wanted to see how she was getting on" Mia frowned as far as she was concerned, she was going to be camping in the garden next to the charred remnants of her house.
"Oh is that right, well I think my colleagues and I are done here...Miss Wilde I clearly see understands the error of her ways, I think we can call this hearing I mean interview to a close...but young lady you can be sure that if we see you in here again you will be leaving the Ministry without a wand!" And just like that she snapped Mia's folder closed. Before walking round the table and shaking Harry's hand enthusiastically,
"It is a real pleasure to meet you Harry. I'm sure under your capable supervision Miss Wilde will be guided in the right direction" He glanced at Mia ruefully,
"Yes I'm sure she will. She only has a month left before she is 17 anyway, I'm sure between now and then we can keep her out of trouble. Thank you for understanding, how is your son Peter by the way? I heard he graduated from Hogwarts with flying colours"
"Oh yes! We were all so pleased, he's now applying to become a trainee healer at St Mungos. You might know the Director of St Mungos, Susan Bones, I believe she was in your year at school?" The message was received and understood, Harry smiled graciously,
"As a matter of fact I do, very cleaver women, your son will learn a lot from her." There were a few more exchanges but after a suitably polite amount of time Harry made his apologies and left with Mia in toe.
Mia collected her wand from the surly Ministry Officer, leaving with a smug last glance in his direction. They walked out of the Ministry in silence,
"Ha that Corellian guy was right..." Harry kept walking but jerked his head slightly,
"You do have a lot of power, one click of the famous Harry Potter's fingers and whoosh people are happy to turn a blind eye... I mean what if I was the next Voldemort..." Mia paused trying to gauge his reaction, "I mean it's slightly concerning..." Still nothing "Why did you do that?" Harry glanced over looking curiously at her,
"Do you wish I hadn't?" Mia glanced around her taking in her surroundings, they were above the surface now making their way towards Green Park, people were streaming around them walking in different directions, following their considered paths.
"Well, maybe." Harry slowed his pace,
"What do you mean Mia?"
"Perhaps that was the best thing that could have happened to me and my...family" He stopped now,
"Listen Mia, you don't deserve to be thrown out of your home and you certainly do not deserve to have your wand taken away from you. Witches and Wizards who have their wands taken away from them are never the same again. Do you understand? And you have a brilliant future ahead of you.."
"Right" Harry stared at her, his face then softened,
"Now, if you are going to stay with us there's two important rules okay? Look after yourself... and don't use magic" He grinned at her, "Now let's go find my eldest". Harry held out his arm and Mia grabbed without hesitation.
