"Sir?" Truman took a deep breath and said loudly, "Are you just leaving like this?"
"Is there a problem?" Natley looked at Truman with a puzzled expression.
"So, I'm in the clear?" Truman's dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Magic's attitude was palpable.
"Yes, it was all a mistake," Natley replied in a perfunctory tone.
Truman glanced at Albert beside him and said coldly, "I demand an apology, sir. Do you have any idea the impact this letter had on me? Do you know how furious I was when I discovered I'd been inexplicably expelled? Now you're just saying it's all a mistake and trying to brush me off. Do you think a child is an easy target, sir?"
Truman's tone hardened further. The Ministry of Magic's attempt to simply walk away after causing such chaos was infuriating. Albert's earlier preparation had helped him regain his composure, and his slightly trembling voice now carried steel. "I demand an apology from the Ministry of Magic. This entire situation was their fault, not mine. Furthermore, the Ministry must compensate me for the emotional distress they've caused."
"What? I didn't hear you clearly," Natley said, his expression freezing. Even Dumbledore's face showed a flicker of surprise.
"I'm sorry, but there's also compensation for emotional distress, sir," Truman said, clenching his fist. "One hundred Galleons."
"I'm sorry, child. I regret causing you trouble, but compensation for emotional distress... there's simply no precedent for that," Natley said, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't accept your apology, sir. It's insincere," Truman retorted angrily. "Do you think you can bully me just because I'm a child?"
Natley and Dumbledore exchanged glances.
"I think it's perfectly reasonable, gentlemen," Albert said calmly, looking at the two men without fear. "I was there when Truman read the letter and lunged at me. I even suspected he'd gone mad. It took me a long time to calm him down and suggest he write to Headmaster Dumbledore." To be honest, he disliked the Ministry of Magic—at least, that's how it seemed in the novels. Witnessing their handling of this situation only reinforced that impression.
"After making such a colossal mistake, the least you could do is offer a sincere apology, you bastard. Just walking away like nothing happened? What kind of behavior is that?"
"Honestly, you're just a bunch of power-hungry bureaucrats. No wonder Voldemort turned you into such a mess."
"And I also find your apology utterly insincere," Albert said, narrowing his eyes with a smile. "I've met plenty of adults like you before. One of my former teachers was exactly this type of person."
Natley's face darkened instantly.
"Of course, you can always just dismiss us as children," Albert said suddenly, chuckling and patting Truman on the shoulder. "Some people are just like that. Don't take it too seriously. Go home. I'll contact you by Owl later. Maybe we can discuss your studies."
Natley stormed off, his face still dark with anger, completely unaware of what awaited him.
"Goodbye, Headmaster," Albert said, nodding slightly to Dumbledore. "Thank you for resolving this issue for Truman. I would have felt terrible if he had been expelled because of me."
"Goodbye, Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Truman," Headmaster Dumbledore replied before departing.
"Those guys are such jerks," Truman said, clenching his fist. "What kind of attitude is that? It's infuriating. I really want to punch him in the face."
"So, should we write to the Daily Prophet?" Albert asked with a grin after Dumbledore had left.
Just moments ago, he had triggered a quest called "Truman's Discontent."
"Yes, we absolutely have to expose this."
"Remember, you're splitting the reward with me," Albert said, unfazed by the prospect of stirring up trouble. The quest rewards were substantial: 3,000 experience points and an additional 25 Galleons.
"Fine, you write it. By the way, are your family really lawyers?" Truman couldn't help but ask.
"Of course. They're all lawyers. That's why I'm pretty good at handling these kinds of issues. Besides, we're in the right. Society sympathizes with the underdog, and people would love to see the Daily Prophet expose a Ministry of Magic scandal. We'll just need to negotiate with the reporter to keep our names and photos out of the paper. And make sure to keep that letter from the Ministry safe."
Albert knew exactly who would be perfect for this.
London, England, headquarters of the Daily Prophet. Rita Skeeter was pondering today's special edition. Lately, there hadn't been any major news to write about, which was giving her a headache.
People loved big news, whether true or exaggerated. In Rita Skeeter's view, a successful newspaper was one that could capture readers' attention, regardless of the facts.
She was questioning her assistant, trying to find a story that would spark public debate.
Soon, several letters were placed on Rita Skeeter's desk. She opened them, finding some that insulted her and others that offered gossip. However, one letter caught her eye. After reading it, Rita Skeeter knew this was the story she wanted, especially since it included a photograph.
A few days later, the Ministry of Magic's Misuse of Magic Office became infamous. In the Daily Prophet, Rita Skeeter portrayed it as a department prone to blunders, refusing to apologize for its mistakes, and handling problems with appalling incompetence.
Natley was singled out by name, becoming the target of widespread public condemnation.
Rita Skeeter concluded her article by writing that the victim doubted whether the Ministry of Magic still deserved public trust. He had revealed the incident to the Daily Prophet and demanded 50 Galleons as compensation for the emotional distress the Ministry had refused to acknowledge—a sum they should have paid originally, along with a sincere apology to the boy.
Upon reading the article, Natley suddenly regretted his earlier decision. He recalled the boy's words: "Do you think a child is easy to bully, Mr.?" The boy had proven him wrong.
The article caused an immediate sensation.
Natley was forced to take unpaid leave as the Misuse of Magic Office was inundated with angry letters.
Rita Skeeter used her pen to demonstrate the lethal power of words. After obtaining firsthand accounts from Truman and Albert, the seasoned journalist skillfully manipulated their words to fabricate the story she desired, all while throwing the Ministry of Magic into chaos.
She wasn't worried about the story's credibility, as it included excerpts from an official letter from the Ministry's Misuse of Magic Office. There was no room for denial.
Truman was overjoyed. He received 25 Galleons as compensation for his emotional distress—an unimaginable fortune for him.
Moreover, the journalist hadn't revealed Truman or Albert's names. Just as Albert had predicted, the Daily Prophet ran the story as its headline, fiercely criticizing the Ministry of Magic and making those responsible pay the price.
Albert was also pleased. His mission was accomplished, and he had gained Truman's friendship. Throughout the summer, they frequently corresponded via Owl, with Truman offering Albert guidance in magic.
As for Albert's share of the Galleons, he used it to subscribe to the Daily Prophet.