Judgement Day (Hogwarts Mystery Year 7 Retell)

Chapter 4: Right where it hurts.

Ethan had gone into Dumbledore's Office plenty of times before in the past. The first time was when he thought that his goose was cooked when he, Bill Weasley, and Ben Copper ended the Cursed Ice. McGonagall didn't take away any house points from Gryffindor and Dumbledore awarded 50 points to Ethan. Hip hip hooray for Ethan. 

This time he wasn't alone. Ethan could already see Ben Copper, Liz Tuttle, Tonks, Charlie, and Barnaby Lee there as well. Ethan wondered what the reasons for that was. "Why is everyone here?" He asked Tonks.

"Dumbledore called them too." Tonks shrugged.

That was when Dumbledore entered the area of his office. "You wanted to see us, Professor Dumbledore?" Ethan asked.

"Indeed! All of you are here?" Dumbledore asked like he was giving out knick knack prizes. The kind you get when you've completed some school fundraiser. 

"Well there's Liz, Ben, Tonks, Charlie, Ethan... The portraits of Phineas Nigellus Black, Armando Dippet, Fawkes, those other portraits I don't know the names of.  " Barnaby started.

"Yes." Ethan answered for Barnaby. The ones that Dumbledore called anyway.

"I had to double check! Maybe even triple check." Barnaby started to count again.

"It can never hurt to double check. But I have always found a Triple Check to be more reassuring." Dumbledore replied. There he went again talking in his riddles. Until he didn't. "But on to why I gathered you six here today." 

"Is this about that announcement you made to us 7th Years at the Welcoming Feast?" Liz asked.

"That's exactly it." Dumbledore answered. 

Ethan felt a really big heart beat in his chest. This was really happening to him. He hoped that Corey would be able to stand on her own with the investigation into Merula.

"Now listen very carefully." Dumbledore requested. And everyone listened. "Through some special arrangements. The six of you will recieve different assignments working in the Ministry for your future careers in the Wizarding World after Hogwarts."

"So it's like an internship?" Ben asked.

"In a manner of speaking, yes." Dumbledore answered.

"Well, you have to start somewhere." Ethan thought.

"Remember that despite all of this, you are still Hogwarts Students and represent this School. Everything you do at the Ministry will reflect this school." Dumbledore reminded.

Ethan rolled his eyes. He knew where this was going. Every time an adult said that a student was representing something, that meant to do it in the most boring way possible. And that also meant a big fat: "Don't screw this up, kid." So no pressure.

"Any Questions?" Dumbledore asked.

Ethan raised his hand. "So you said you chose us based on our talents and interests?" He asked.

"Indeed. You six are excellent candidates for the Ministry." Dumbledore answered. He looked at all of them with great pride. And Barnaby. He was taking a gamble with that kid. "Miss Tonks for her dependability. Mr. Lee for his loyalty. Miss Tuttle for her knowledge. Mr. Weasley for his bravery. Mr. Copper for his steadfastness. And Ethan for his determination and luck."   

Ethan seemed to find those descriptions a little odd. "And also I might even say some stubbornness." Dumbledore added. Okay, Ethan couldn't argue that one.

"I suppose I'm just lucky. I kind of have that since I survived Trotsky." Ethan thought out loud giving a shrug out pose.

"Well, fortune favors the bold." Dumbledore quoted.