"We are the MMMB, and I suggest you stand aside. We can bring charges against you for obstruction. Healer Potter must come with us, now," an older wizard hissed.
"Why?" Joel pressed. The kid wasn't backing down, though the people in front of him had the power to strip him of his Healer's License. "This amount of aggression is not necessary. We are both healers, and this is where we practice healing. You could have simply asked."
The witch ignored him and tried to look around Joel. "Healer Potter, please come with us, now."
Joel again blocked her view. "No one is taking him anywhere against his will," he insisted.
"You cannot stop this," Healer Trimdel said, pulling out her wand.
"There's absolutely no need to pull out your wand, healer. If you would but explain yourself, we can resolve this matter peacefully," Joel said, and if Harry hadn't been so out of it, he would have been impressed. His mind was too fuzzy, too distraught to think rationally.
"Harry, look at me," Draco whispered. "Focus...."
"Healer, stand aside. You cannot change what is about to happen."
"Wanna bet!"
Harry met his eyes, briefly finding resolve and said, "Joel...."
The kid turned around. "Harry?"
"Don't...."
Joel knelt next to him. "Harry, they can't just...."
Healer Trimdel almost contradicted him, but Harry closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah, they can."
"Harry, it was a minor injury that Healer Bones didn't even bother healing. I checked. He's lying! They can't remove your license for that!"
"It's... not about that, Joel," he whispered.
Joel's shoulders dropped. He hadn't seen that the world doesn't work in the way of right and wrong.
"Harry... what is it? Come on, tell me," Joel urged.
"Enough! We need to go!" the older wizard snapped, impatiently.
"Shut the bloody hell up. We don't live by your fucking schedule," Joel hissed and the old geezer pulled out his wand, too.
"Don't, Joel," Harry warned. "You can't stop it."
"Our authority is higher than the Wizengamot's!" the other wizard squeaked.
"Oh, shut it, too," Joel growled, losing his patience. "Come on, spell it out, Harry. What is happening?"
"They're here for... it's a competency exam."
"Competency?" Joel gasped and looked at Draco first. "Harry... you're competent. How could they think...."
"It's an ISS complaint, Joel."
The witch sighed. "It is. Now, please, we must interview you to put this matter to rest. We have another appointment at the Ministry of Magic to get to."
Joel stood up and rounded on them. "Oh, really? I'm sorry if our lives are getting in the way of your stodgy meeting!"
"Now, see here!" Healer Trimdel gasped, red-faced.
Joel turned back to him. "An International Statute of Secrecy violation? Harry, you haven't done magic in front of muggles... have you?"
Harry shook his head. He kept his eyes on the table.
The snotty wizard sighed. "But he might."
"Might? That's why you're here?"
"Accidental magic at his age? We must take precautions!" the witch insisted, almost scandalized at the thought.