After agreeing with Fred and George that he would take them into the box after lunch, Kael finally had a moment of peace.
To prevent Kael from sneaking away, Fred and George did not go to the Gryffindor long table but instead followed him to sit among the Hufflepuffs.
Having been here many times, they naturally sat on either side of Kael and greeted the people around them familiarly.
They thought this would be foolproof, but plans can't keep up with changes.
No one expected that just as Kael was finishing his last bite of corn pancake, Dumbledore suddenly appeared in the auditorium and walked straight to the Hufflepuff table.
"Kael, can you come with me... if you've finished eating?" he said.
"No problem, Professor," Kael replied.
He shrugged at the stunned Weasley Brothers, then followed Dumbledore out of the auditorium.
"I've just received news," Dumbledore said quickly as he walked through the auditorium doors: "Sirius's retrial will take place at one o'clock. Cornelius has invited us to attend, and if you agree, we can go together."
"Of course I agree, but Professor, can I really go?" Kael asked, puzzled.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "Fudge specifically mentioned your name. He said that as the first one to notice the clue, you have every right to participate in this retrial... he also said that the retrial was arranged for today because Hogwarts is off for the weekend."
Kael pouted.
He didn't believe a word of it. Fudge wasn't the type to do such a superfluous thing. If he truly thought that way, wouldn't scheduling it during the holidays be more convenient?
"He probably wants a witness," Kael muttered, "to add credibility."
"Cornelius has thought of everything," Dumbledore didn't deny, "After all, it was through you that we all learned about this matter, so your presence will reduce some controversy in the retrial.
Moreover, as a recipient of the Merlin Knight Order's second-class medal, even though you haven't graduated, you have some say in the Wizengamot."
"The Wizengamot?" Kael exclaimed in surprise, "Do I have voting rights?"
Dumbledore didn't speak, only gave a polite smile.
"Alright, I get it," Kael said.
Evidently, this 'say' only has a literal meaning... he could greet others, and that's about it.
Dumbledore didn't go all the way to the school gate; he stopped at a clearing in front of the Black Lake.
He extended his arm to Kael and said, "There's less than ten minutes until the retrial, I think we'd better get there quickly."
Kael grabbed his arm.
With a swirl and a twist, when Kael opened his eyes again, he found himself in an imposing hall.
Kael didn't question why Dumbledore could perform Disillusionment at Hogwarts; it wasn't necessary. For a wizard powerful enough, such restrictions were less significant.
Besides, Dumbledore was the headmaster; granting himself a temporary privilege wasn't too difficult.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, you've finally arrived." A tall figure walked over from the other side of the hall.
"I can't believe it; Blake might actually be innocent. I thought his case had been settled twelve years ago."
"I was as surprised as you when I heard, Kingsley." Dumbledore shook his hand and asked, "What's the situation now? We're not too late, are we?"
"No, the retrial is scheduled for one o'clock, and we can make it in time," Kingsley said,
He glanced at Kael but didn't question why Dumbledore brought a student along, evidently having been informed in advance.
"Follow me, the retrial is in the third trial room..."
Kingsley led the way out, with Kael following.
After exiting the hall, they entered another ornate hall, almost filled with wizards, perhaps hundreds, all moving swiftly forward.
"This way," Kingsley said.
They joined the crowd, but with Dumbledore, the way was relatively smooth, as other wizards would courteously step aside upon seeing them.
They passed a table marked "Security Check", where wands of guests were being inspected, lined up in a long queue.
But Kingsley didn't stop and walked straight past, and the wizard in charge of checking wands took another person's wand lazily, as if he hadn't seen them.
"Oh... why don't they have to be checked..." someone with a heavy accent asked from the queue: "That child... clearly isn't staff..."
The previously dull line immediately buzzed with activity, as everyone craned their necks to see the speaker, speculating which remote corner he came from to ask such a foolish question.
Didn't he see who the child was standing next to?
The wizard conducting the wand inspection looked up and lazily said, "If your name is Albus Dumbledore, then you can go now too..."
A burst of laughter erupted around them.
And by then, Kael and Dumbledore had already crossed the hall and entered an elevator.
Inside were several people, all enthusiastically greeting Dumbledore.
"Long time no see, Albus; I assume you're here because of Blake," a bald wizard holding a box said.
"Yes, Ackerley," Dumbledore said.
"It's truly surprising," remarked Ackerley, "Every trial-eligible person in the department has gone over; I dare say this will be on the front page of the Daily Prophet for the next month.
If Blake manages to overturn the verdict, it'll be there even longer."
Then, a cold female voice sounded.
"Seventh floor, Department of Magical Games and Sports, including the Britain and Ireland Quidditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club, and Ludicrous Patents Office."
The elevator doors opened to reveal a chaotic corridor, with Quidditch posters haphazardly stuck on the walls.
"Oh, this is my stop," Ackerley said, stepping out of the elevator, "See you next time, Albus."
"See you next time."
The elevator doors closed again.
They passed the Magic Transportation Department and the Department of International Magical Cooperation... and after reaching this floor, only the three of them remained in the elevator.
Then came the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, and their destination...
"Magic Law Enforcement Department, including the Office of the Prohibition of the Misuse of Magic, Auror Command Headquarters, and the Wizengamot Management Agency."
"Here we are," Dumbledore said.
They followed Kingsley out of the elevator, arriving at a corridor lined with doors on both sides.
"Follow me, we need to hurry," Kingsley said, taking a left turn and proceeding down another corridor. After passing the Auror Command Headquarters plastered with various portraits, he finally stopped in front of a heavy wooden door.
"This is the third trial room," Kingsley said,
"Someone suggested holding it in the tenth trial room... fortunately, the Minister didn't agree. That place has been abandoned for a long time and is deeper down, inaccessible even by elevator.
Here is much better, at least it's not as dark, and there's no musty odor... you should head inside now."
Kael stepped forward; even through the heavy door, he could hear the commotion inside.