I shuffled my papers and looked around at the circular seats where the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot sat. Their expressions all indicated disapproval and impatience. Brushing back the loose strands of my dark hair, I tried to make myself look more presentable.
I bit my lip. All this, all this for one thing. I looked around again. Everything appeared on the failing side for me. For one thing, I was the only defendant here. But I had come this far, and I was going to, if possible, go even further. I remembered the time I had first heard of this business, when I had peered at the front page of the Daily Prophet that Wednesday morning. Although I had only recently started working at the Ministry of Magic, I had already created a problematic and argumentative issue with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. But it was for a good reason, I told myself firmly. I worked in the department, and I was going to ensure that no harm would come to the Thunderbird.
The Thunderbird. I recalled the Prophet's title -

'Dangerous, Fierce Thunderbird Attacks Innocent Muggles Publicly'.

I scowled. Was the Ministry so oblivious to a creature's natural instincts? They shouldn't expect that a wild, untamed Thunderbird would go up to people and let them pet it. Yes, maybe it had created quite an affair - the Muggles that had been harmed had had to be taken to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, and the Muggles that had witnessed it had had to all be obliviated, but it was, I thought, the Ministry's job to ensure that magical creatures were kept hidden from the non-magical world. And it was terribly unfair to kill a Thunderbird just because of its natural instincts.
I heard more whispers, that had started as soon as I had entered the chamber, and continued now.
"She's so young."
"Unreasonable, really."
I ignored them. I was not going to let a few offensive words discourage me.
The head of the Wizengamot cleared his throat significantly and drummed his fingers on his desk. I felt tempted to glare at him, but I merely raised my chin a little higher and looked him directly in the eye. He frowned, straightened, and said, "Let us begin."
The whispers hushed. There was complete silence in the room. Then the Head, the Head Warlock, spoke again.
"I am sure you all know the reason we have gathered here today. It is primarily because of the aggressive Thunderbird that attacked an innocent group of Muggles publicly on the 14th of July, and the protests that have followed after its sentence was declared."
This time I did glare at him. He sniffed haughtily and continued.
"It has proved a heated subject," he said, pointedly looking at me, "And the one defendant, Olivia Agnor, a worker in the Department For Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, has her opinion on the subject. Miss Agnor, please stand."
I stood, confidently and irritably.
"Miss Agnor, please give us your reasons for your defiant objections."
I swallowed, clutched my papers a little harder, and began.
"Well, let's be straightforward," I said. "Why is it considered reasonable to kill a Thunderbird for it's natural instincts? Maybe it has been a significantly difficult situation for the Ministry, but you must accept that the Ministry is here to manage our section of the magical world, England, and that includes the magical creatures. For one thing, what was the Thunderbird doing in London? Isn't it registered in one of the rural country sections? And so, then, wouldn't that depict inattentive management? Yes, Thunderbirds aren't kept in sanctuaries, but they are registered and kept an eye upon. The managers of them, then, must have been -"
"Miss Agnor," the Head Warlock interrupted impatiently, "Are you suggesting that our Thunderbird managers are being careless? Lazy, perhaps?"
"Yes," I replied bluntly. "It would be unfair to blame the Thunderbird, as they have no comprehension of our registrations of them, and how they are unpermitted to reveal their presences to the non-magical world. For the reasons it attacked the Muggles, it is a wild animal! And it was in London, for goodness's sake, England's capital! It would have been frightened by the noises, the crowds, the -"
"Yes, yes," the Head Warlock said, waving a hand dismissively. "We understand, what we want to know is -
"Very well, then," I snapped, "I'll move on. Why do you want to kill it? Because you can't be bothered caring for it, so you promptly decide confiscation is the best solution."
"Miss Agnor!" The Head Warlock exclaimed. "How dare you accuse us of -"
"But it is the truth!" I said heatedly. "It is the simple truth and you shouldn't deny it! Think! The Department For Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is supposed to care for magical creatures, and it is doing anything but that! I simply refuse to participate in the department if this is how it is run, and -"
"Well, then," the Head Warlock said, his face flushed red with anger, "Don't. You are hereby dismissed from that department, from the whole Ministry, in fact!"
I gaped. It seemed particularly difficult to digest this information - I couldn't believe it.
"But -" I began.
"No!" The Head Warlock said. "No buts. I am the Minister for Magic and you should uncomplainingly accept my decisions. You are a young, arrogant woman, and I do not like having you in the Ministry if you are constantly disagreeing with me. Now, allow me to dismiss this meeting." He slammed his fist onto the surface of his desk and stood up. After a hesitant pause, the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot followed suit. I, however, could not move.
As people flocked out of the doors, I remained standing where I was before my desk. My papers fell from my hands. The Head Warlock paused in the doorway, the last to go. "I think it's about time you headed home now, Miss Agnor," he said stiffly. And then he was gone, striding off down the corridor outside.
I swallowed. Then, picking up my bag, I walked slowly out of the chamber. It appeared that I had completely given up, and all my determination was gone.
But it was not. It was still pounding inside me, soon to be unleashed.