Title: Testimony before oblivion
Harry listened as Mrs. Figg finished her testimony. He looked once more at the person sitting nearby, dark bag over his head. He was certain now it was Ed. No one else he knew constantly wore gloves on his hands, and wore long sleeves and pants inspite of the warmest weather conditions. As they were currently far underground, the room they were in was at quite a comfortable temperature.
'He wasn't in his bed last night. I should've guessed he'd be here to testify.' Harry thought.
"Not a very convincing witness." Fudge said loftily.
"Oh, I don't know." Said Madam Bones in her booming voice. "She certainly described the effects of a dementor attack very accurately. And I can't imagine why she would say they were there if they weren't--"
Dumbledore removed the bag hood over Ed's head, and tapped his wand twice on the earmuffs. He then said something that Harry recognised as the language Ed used when particularly irritated. The blond nodded once and reached up his hands, removing the blindfold and earmuffs. Ed then calmly looked around at the dark, dungeon-like room they all sat in, curious expression on his face.
"Full name?" Fudge said loudly, and Ed's golden eyes focused fully upon the man. Harry watched Fudge flinch back, his eyes widened in surprise.
'Must be because of Ed's eyes. Heh.' Harry thought, remembering well his own reaction.
"Edvard Elric."
"And who exactly are you?" Said Fudge, recovering smoothly and even managing a loftly voice.
"I am scientific and mathenmatic researcher per diem for Oxford University, concentrating in the fractals and nodes of particle physics and the relations to string and membrane theories, euclidean and non-euclidean forms, in relation to light, time, and gravitation fields in continuous flux. I am staying at a hostel on Birch street near Little Vhinging for now."
Ed's face scrunched in confusion.
"Dis vreally a school expulsion hearing?"
"We ask the questions here, Mr. Elric." Fudge said coldly, and sighed as if with boredom. "Can we verify any of that..that nonsense..?" The muttering in the upper benches began and Fudge turned his head slightly. Someone in the second row nodded to Fudge.
"He is too young, I think, for such a position. That is nearly like being a professor."
Dumbledore took a breath, but before he could say a single word..
"Age has nothing to do vith knowledge or skill. If dis really is SCHOOL hearing, you should already be knowing dis. And. Accepted it as truth." Ed said firmly. His golden eyes became molten fire as he glared at each face in the upper level. Clearly unafraid, and Harry found himself wishing he felt the same. Those people up above him held his future entirely in their hands, and that fact was hard for him to bare.
"Just how old are you, Mr. Elric?" The wizard on the second row asked.
"16."
More muttering in the upper benches. Mostly incredulous in tone. And Harry saw Ed narrow his eyes and lean forward in the chair until his elbows touched his knees.
"If you are vanting a demonstration of my expertise, I CAN provide vone for you. I highly doubt any of you vould understand, or be able to check my verk properly. I am knowing very few who can."
Fudge sighed again, rolled his eyes, and droned in a what sounded like a carefully crafted, dull voice, "My assistant Percy Weasley will verifiy what you say. Moving along: How do you know the defendant?" The muttering slowed and stopped.
Ed leaned back into the chair.
"Ve vere in class together trew July and August in basic alebra course held at local college. I tink the place vas called 'Little Vhinging Adjunct College' or somting. Ve vere forced to become study partners. He vas needing big lot help vith his maths."
"Hey! That's not..!" Harry yelled. Ed smirked, and glaced at him a moment without turning his head.
"Iz truth. You need more practice." Ed said.
After a moment, Harry nodded, and looked down, feeling slightly ashamed in spite of himself. 'It's not like I need math much as a wizard, now do I?' Harry thought.
"Very well. What is your story?" Fudge continued, hand holding up his chin.
"I had reached dead end in my researching at the local library branch and took a break. I vent to dis..field..just above vhere dis 'Little Vhigging' sign vas posted. Beautiful spot. I vas laying down in de grass, just vatching sky pass by above me, ven I noticed the clouds. One moment dey vere just.. dere, and it grew very dark and cold. As I sat dere, watching clouds form, it got colder and darker. I vatched the grass around me ice up in circular pattern..." Ed gestured his left hand, as if the circle were around himself.
"Circular pattern.... Explain, please..." Madam Bones said.
"It began at what I estimate to be radian .00023 and grew at a rate of..."
"I mean..was it like it was all around the field?" Madam Bones asked in her booming voice.
"Ah. It looked like it vas just around me. I stood up when I realized dat, looking for de cause. De clouds vere lowering over me, getting darker and colder as I vatched. I heard Harry yell, and looked to see he was running very quickly towards me, along vith his fat cousin. Another bunch of dark clouds vere over them..trailing them closely. They both yelled at me to run, like my life depended on it.."
"It did." Harry said softly, with a shutter. Ed looked over to him, and blinked.
"Ve ran into the alleyvay, and fat cousin tripped and fell ahead of us. The lights lining the place blinked out vone by vone, and soon I could barely see a ting. One of them being Harry standing by my side.."
Ed stopped and frowned. Closed his eyes a brief moment. Ed rubbed the bandage at his neck with his gloved left hand.
"Continue, if you would, Mr. Elric.' Madam Bones boomed.
:::
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