63 Nabakza

They stepped off the stone staircase at the top, and Professor McGonagall rapped on the door. It opened silently and they entered.

"Doesn't it seem like I come here often Professor?" Said Arth in an attempt to make the mood lighter.

"Now is not the time to make jokes Kingscrown." Replied Professor McGonagall with a stern look.

Arth sighed.

"What are the rumors even about?"

"You'll understand it soon enough."

Arth sat there silently for a few seconds before taking out a book.

"Put that book away Kingscrown. Prepare yourself for what's to come."

Arth sighed once more before putting away the book.

"I don't know why I'm here when I did nothing wrong."

"Just because you don't think you did anything wrong, doesn't mean others don't."

Arth narrowed his eyes.

"Are you saying someone suspects me of being the heir?"

"..."

Arth frowned and decided to wait patiently.

A soft weary voice came from within the room.

"Come in."

Professor McGonagall opened the doors and led Arth inside.

The room was just like how it was when he had first entered. Mysterious and amazing. However, the magnificent red swan had turned into an old wrinkly bird.

It looked as though it was dying.

In front of the desk was a portly little man, with rumpled grey hair. He wore a lime green bowler hat with a pinstriped cloak.

Behind the desk was an all to familiar old man.

Dumbledore.

"Hello my boy Arth. It seems as though we are fated to meet."

Arth gave a small smile.

"It seems like that doesn't it, although I would love to know why I am here today."

"Are you telling me you don't know?"

"Know what?"

The man with the green bowler hat stood up.

"I reckon that's about enough Dumbledore. He doesn't need to know anymore."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"I believe that my student has every right to know why he is in the headmasters office without any warning."

"Does it matter?"

"It matters very much, especially for the boy."

The man hesitated before sitting back down with a sigh.

"Fine."

Arth gave a quick glance at the green bowler hat man.

"So may I ask who this is?"

"Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge."

Said the man while tipping his hat.

"Ok."

Arth sent a weird look at the minister before setting his gaze back into Dumbledore.

"So why am I here?"

Dumbledore gave a light sigh.

"A misconception. A very big one too and fear my boy. Fear of the unknown."

"Can you explain in a way so that even clueless readers can understand?"

"You have rumors about you boy, and recent events caused these rumors to go out of proportion."

Arth rolled his eyes.

"I know I have rumors about me, what kind of rumors is what I want to hear."

Dumbledore gave another sigh.

"Rumors that you are the next dark lord in making."

Arth let out a disbelieving laugh.

"On what terms? I didn't even know people knew I existed."

"They don't. In fact, except for the Ravenclaws, Gryffindors and a select few people, Almost no one knows of your appearance."

Arth frowned.

"Then how do they create rumors about me if they don't know how I look?"

"Well you see my boy, it's a part of your friends fault. His fame precedes him."

"...what does Harry have to do with this?"

"Well," said Dumbledore. "People know that Harry has three friends who surround him constantly. Ms Granger and Mr Weasley. However, for some reason, many people cannot remember the face and appearance of the third. Quite magical."

Fudge gave a sigh.

"And very frightening too. Imagine it, someone who you know exists yet can never seem to spot. With all of this nonsense going on, people think you are suspicious my boy."

"...ok? So? Why is the minister here?"

Said Arth while pointing at Fudge.

Fudge gave a cough before sending Dumbledore nervous glances.

"Well my child, there has been a lot of complaints towards the ministry. Parents sending letters right to left, people who experienced the first time and didn't want their children to go through the same process of fear."

Arth narrowed his eyes.

"These parents want to stop it. And they aren't willing to back down."

Fudge tightened up his tie before speaking.

"I'm afraid that we will have to take you and Hagrid into our custody-"

"This was not what we agreed on Cornelius."

Dumbledore spoke in a calm but powerful voice that told everyone that he was not pleased.

"I have told the court many times, Hagrid is an innocent man that was wrongfully accused. And even more than that is the boy. He is still a boy. The fact that we are sending him there based on a childish rumor is nonsense."

Fudge wearily shrugged his shoulders.

"My hands are tied Albus. The parents are worried and they want a quick solution. They don't want any loop holes and want threats to become neutralized." Fudge sent a glance at Arth. "No matter how small they may seem."

Arth frowned, sensing something very wrong.

"Where are you exactly taking me?"

It was fudge who answered.

"We... we are taking you to Azkaban."