Sopor Mortis

Chapter Two- Judgment

On the way to his office Dumbledore stopped at the picture of Sir Cadogan to ask him to find Professors McGonagall and Snape and ask them to report to his office immediately. Eagerly sir Cadogan agreed and set off on his quest.

Finally they reached the great Phoenix Entrance to Dumbledore's office. "Ice Mice," commanded Dumbledore and quite obediently the large Phoenix began to rise to his office.

The four boys looked around the large room cluttered with old astronomy trinkets as Dumbledore glided to his desk with Mafalda clomping close behind. Once settled, Dumbledore conjured some, four red velvet chairs and asked the boys to sit. As each took their seat Dumbledore stared down his crooked nose at them as if trying to decide what to do. When the boys were seated he too took his seat. He folded his long fingers together, looked quizzically through his half-moon spectacles and said to the boys "Alright, what happened?" The boys looking very uncomfortable sat in silence and looked anywhere but at the Headmaster. After awhile Neville accidentally made eye contact.

"Yes, Neville, would you like to start?" questioned Dumbledore.

Neville, wishing he hadn't looked up, drew a deep long breath and explained the event as he saw it happen.

"Thank you Mr. Longbottom, Crabbe you next, then Mr. Potter, please."

Crabbe looked at Draco to save him. Draco shot him a warning look and then fixed his gaze at the wall. Crabbe nervously mumbled and stuttered what was supposed to be an explanation and then quickly sank his enormous form back into the velvet chair as far as he could.

It was Harry's turn. Harry sat up, gave a brilliantly detailed account of the event, smiled falsely at Mafalda, shot a smirk at Malfoy and them relaxed in his chair.

Finally it was Draco's turn. Draco knew he was in over his head. He knew if he lied too much he would only be in more trouble and that his father could not save him if he did. So, Draco coldly spat, "They started it and the stupid girl got in the way."

"I see," said the Head Master

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and in walked Professor Snape followed by Prof. McGonagall, both looking rather wary; Dumbledore conjured another two red velvet chairs and continued to fill them on the situation. When Dumbledore finished both teachers looked quite annoyed and embarrassed. "As you are all aware we had with us a guest today, Mafalda Hopkirk from the improper use of magic office in the Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore said, smiling at Mafalda. "Mafalda, would you be so kind as to enlighten and impress upon these boys the seriousness of their actions?" he asked.

"Gladly headmaster," she said staring at Harry. "Well..."

Blah Blah Blah is all the boys heard. They all wondered at how she managed to be even more boring than professor Binns. At long last she finished.

"Thank you, Ms. Hopkirk. Now that you all understand the seriousness of you actions the following will occur: your heads of house will decide the amount of points they deduct from you, but all involved will receive detention and a personal letter delivered home. I hope this will insure that nothing of this nature will occur again?" Dumbledore said looking at them quizzically.

All four boys nodded.

"Good. Now, Professor Snape, will you please escort your students back to their dorm?"

"Certainly, headmaster," replied Snape. "You two, up now!" he barked as he left the room. Crabbe and Draco quickly jumped up to follow.

Once they were out of sight Dumbledore turned to Mafalda and said, "I'm terribly sorry you had to see such a disgraceful day, but I know that the children learned a valuable lesson from your visit."

"I hope so, Headmaster," Mafalda huffed. "Well I must be going back to the Ministry, thank you for having me Albus." She briefly shook his hand and disappeared from the room.

"Come, we must see what we can do for Miss Weasley," he said kindly as he gathered some bottles and left the room. Professor McGonagall, Harry, and Neville followed the Headmaster out of this office and towards the hospital wing.