Chapter 25: Guilt
Kiba waited patiently in the Leaky Cauldron for Dumbledore to arrive. Her was dressed in his finest clothing and nervously taped his fingers against one another as his trial drew closer. "Kiba!" he heard a familiar voice call to him just moments before he was attacked with a hug. Hermione hung herself around the continuously growing boy "it's so good to see you again, how've you been?" she asked releasing him.
"up and down honestly, i got that thing going here so that's good.."
"are you still feeling guilty for running away?" she asked him carefully trying to make him look her in the eyes
"Maybe.." he sighed again. Only now did Hermione realize how well the boy was dressed. He looked almost like Draco's father, wearing expensive clothes. "they weren't expensive, Dumbledore told me to dress."
"why?"
"for my trial" he replied averting his gaze
"trial? Trial for what?" she asked with disbelieve as she walked to his other side to see his face again
"For last year?"
"Bu-"
"I Attacked 19 people!" he cut her off louder then he intended "Hermione, unlike you i can't forgive.. well, Me" Hermione wanted to speak but another voice cut her off, calling for Kiba
"Kiba, my boy" the red haired man stepped towards them
"Remus" Kinda greeted the man, slightly ashamed that Lupin, of all the wizards he knew, was the one accompanying him
"time to go, we don't want to be late"
"Sure. See you Hermione" Kiba said as he followed the man out of the pub and into the morning light. Kiba walked silently alongside the man at they wandered through the alleys of London until they reached a red phone booth.
"Here, after you" Lupin held the door open as they stepped inside. Lupin simply pressed five buttons and without a warning the inside moved towards the ground as they disappeared from view. The Muggles didn't even seem to notice as the booth disappeared into the ground and was replaced with a new, empty one.
The view as they traveled down into the gigantic Hall filled with wizards and witches was astounding. A giant, round, Stone fountain stood centered in the center of the giant circular gathering are which the hall led to. The fires in the hundreds of chimneys burned green as wizards after witch stepped out from them. Lupin opened the booth door and slightly pushed the boy forward as they walked side by side again. The circular part seemingly had no ceiling as it ascended upwards for as far as Kiba could see, most of the glass windows on the wall covered by a giant moving poster of the minister himself. They entered an elevator and held on to the knots that hung from the ceiling as the elevator rumbled and instead of going up or down, instead traveled backwards first and then up.
"don't be scared of the minister," Lupin said suddenly once the elevator was empty of all other wizards and witches. Kiba looked at the man curiously "he might be a powerful man and wizard, but he it's bound to the law more then any of us"
"But he won't be the only one judging me," Kiba replied "i know how a court trial works" Lupin chuckled at that
"I figured, but you're not going into a tradition trial" the elevator stopped and moved forwards towards a single for. On it hung a golden name plate.
'Cornelius Fudge. Minister of Magic' Kiba read to himself, now realizing what was happening.
"You, along with Dumbledore will be having a private trial"
"And you?" Kiba asked
"I'm simply here as your guardian. You are underage after all" he said. He knocked on the door and waited for it to open by itself. "I'll be right out here once your done" Lupin smiled reassuringly as Kiba entered the office where the two men were already waiting.
"good morning, Kiba" Dumbledore said kindly, as always.
"please sit, Mr. Scamander" Fudge said more sternly. Kiba sat down not knowing what to expect. "now, Mr. Scamander. Dumbledore had filled me in, that you want to be judged for your committed crimes. He had described it to me but if very much like to hear it from you"
"it started when i found an old diary in mid-October which, as i understand it, concealed a memory of Vold-" Kiba sensed the men stare at him dangerously, he cleared his throat and continued "He-who-must-not-be-named. And he used me to open the chamber of secrets like he himself had done fifty years prior. I obeyed and used the basilisk from the chamber to attack and nearly kill Argus Filch and his cat" Kiba revealed all his attacks and the reasoning behind them to the minister.
Fudge looked unimpressed as the boy finished the story. He shuddered as he remembered again what he had done, not just last year but to Quirrell too. "Dumbledore, is this a joke?" he asked
"far from it, this boy wants to be judged for his crimes" Dumbledore replied
"You know that he will never return, Dumbledore. He was destroyed, more then a decade ago" Fudge said
"wether that be true or not, Kiba needs to know if he is guilty of the crimes committed at Hogwarts this past year?"
"Ahem" a high pitched and irritating throat clear suddenly stopped them all. A woman dressed in all Pink stepped into the room as she overheard Dumbledore. "guilty or not, the story seems to be imagination" she said in a positive tone "he-who-must-not-be-named disappeared when his curse failed and took his life. Therefore, this boy must be lying" she spoke in a disgustingly positive tone even when she spoke ill of others and smiled throughout.
"I agree with Miss Umbridge. Innocent. No go, i have other things of greater importance to do" he said waving them off and turning to the woman dressed in pink.
Kiba stepped out of the office followed by Dumbledore. Fudge's judgement hasn't satisfied him, but it did Dumbledore. He placed his hand in Kiba's shoulder and spoke softly "I'll see you in Hogwarts" and without another word, he vanished.
"And, i take it you were found innocent?" Lupin asked with his jacket hanging from his arms. Kiba nodded silently and stepped into the elevator. "I didn't doubt it. Here, for you"
He handed Kiba an envelope with familiar green ink writing on it. When he grabbed it a strange smile appeared on his face, a smile of happiness or of joy maybe. He never really wanted to leave Hogwarts he only wanted to protect those there from himself and what he came from, who he came from. Before Kiba even realized it, they were on their way through the alleys of London towards the familiar pub. "train leaves tomorrow, don't forget to get it done today, yes? Good" Lupin said with a smile before leaving the boy outside the pub, Kiba simply nodded and waved.
Kiba didn't waste much time ultimately heading into Diagon Alley with Hermione and Ron. "can't believe we're going to see your vault," Ron said excitedly as the goblin turned the key "did i tell you that we went to Egypt during the holidays?"
"Twice already, Ron" Kiba replied as he stepped into the large room
"Bloody-" Hermione quickly turned Ron away from the vault and waited patiently
"don't be rude Ron, that's Kiba's private vault" she explained. The vault for closed behind them and together with Kiba and the goblin they ride the cart back to the surface so they could get Kiba's supplies. "Have you chosen your electives yet?" Hermione asked
"yeah, I'm definitely taking Care of Magical creatures" he said with a smile "i was thinking of Ancient Runes and Arithmacy for the other two"
"Here," Hermione said dropping a few books into the boy's hands "you'll need those for your electives"
"thanks, 'mione" he said with a huff as he carried the heavy books to the counter to pay for them. The three continued on for a few more shops, buying a bit of candy along the way until Hermione dragged them into the magical creature store.
"I mean you three all have pets" she said responding to Kiba's curious look "about time i get one too"
"Maybe i should get Scabbers checked out, he hasn't been looking right since Egypt" Ron said. Hermione looked around at the cages for any creature that would interest her. Ron walked behind her with his Rat Scabbers carefully cradled in his hands.
"good day children, looking for any particular pet?" the man behind the counter asked "ho, Mister Scamander-"
"I'm not here to buy today sir, she is" Kiba said quickly before the man could offer him an exotic pet he couldn't resist. Hermione was still browsing the cages as Ron approached the counter.
"How can i help you?" the man asked Ron
"Well, i went to Egypt and my rat hasn't been the same since" he said handing the Rat to the man who placed his glasses on his nose.
"Hmm." The man looked at Scabbers "how old is this fella?"
"I'm not sure sir, he used to belong to my brother" Ron replied
"do you know what powers this rat has.. if any?"
"Erm…" Ron didn't have an answer
"I'd say that this is a common garden rat, they live roughly three to four years" he might be reaching the end of his line. The man gave Scabbers back to Ron who was clearly saddened by the news. Kiba frowned at the information but was distracted when suddenly a cat hissed from the top of the shelf and broke out from it's cage.
'Bad Rat! Bad Rat! Bad Rat!' it shouted as it leaped onto Ron's head and took a swing at Scabbers. Ron quickly shook his head but they cat stayed on as he tucked Scabbers into his pocket. The cat didn't waste a second diving to the ground and attacking Ron's pocket. The shopkeeper had to restrain the cat and put it into a new cage to save Ron
"What kind of a monster is that?!" he asked
"it's a Cat Ronald" Hermione answered as she continued to Snicker
"A cat? Is that what they told you? That thing looks more like a pig with hair if you ask me" Ron said angrily
"That's rich coming from the owner of that smelly old shoebrush!" Ron didn't reply, he instead turned and left the shop. "how much for the cat, sir?"
"this one, sixty-two galleons" he replied "not just a Cat, it's half Kneazle" Hermione dropped a handful of galleons on the table "this is fifty-six, I'm going to need-" Kiba put on ten more of the golden coin and the two left the store quickly.
"half Kneazle, that's something" Kiba said "high intelligence, very loyal not to mention that they can sniff out evil intentions" Hermione looked at the cat in the cage with excitement
"You bought that thing?" Ron asked in disbelief as they stepped out of the store
"Yes, i bought him. His name is... Crookshanks"
"you named it too?" Ron said now more as a joke as they started walking back towards the Leaky Cauldron to get some dinner with the Weasleys.
Kiba stayed up late helping Tom one last night before he would eventually go to Hogwarts the next day, as he did Tom suddenly headed for the door and not long later returned with none other then Harry Potter. They didn't speak when Harry passed the boy standing behind the counter, they simply exchanged glances and Harry's screamed that he was in trouble. The man with the metal leg and the red haired woman both turned their heads towards Harry but remained seated, as they had done so often when something happened. "you should probably head to bed now Kiba," one of the other workers said "we'll do the rest"
"Alright," Kiba said "thanks. Good night"
"Thank you for all the help these last few months, Good night" he replied kindly as he too looked at the two guests. Kiba shook his head and then headed for the stairs and his room.
'Hogwarts, huh?' Kiba thought to himself as he laid down 'wonder who I'm going to kill this year' he sighed and turned to his side to look out of the window but it showed him nothing but darkness. What would have been a sky full of stars was nothing but a bed of dark clouds. But then Kiba saw two holes in the clouds, which each let one star shine through. It looked like two peering eyes in the darkness.. like those eyes in the woods.
AN: so yeah, Harry just got to the Leaky Cauldron which means POA officially starts now. next chapter is back to Hogwarts!
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