6 July, 1995
"I feel like a bloody Malfoy!"
Sirius looked over at his godson with an amused expression. Harry was so much like James in looks and mannerisms that is was scary. He could almost hear Prongs saying those same words.
It was amazing how much Harry was an amalgamation of people he'd never met. In looks and manner he was James. His morals and drive was pure Lily though. Lily got her outlook from her mother, Rose, but Harry also had the iron will that reminded Sirius so much of Lily's father, Michael.
Sirius supressed an involuntary shiver at the memory of Mr Evans. The Marauders had played a prank on the Express returning to London after Fifth year. Several girls including Lily had been caught and suddenly added fifty pounds and a bad case of acne to their appearance. It was an illusion but most of the girls had been devastated. Lily had been beyond furious.
When the train arrived at the London station, the Marauders suddenly found they were boxed in a corner by an equally furious Michael Evans. But where Lily's fury burned hot, the Evans father burned cold. Even knowing the man was a Muggle the boys were terrified. In a low, dangerous voice, the man told them exactly what he thought of their behaviour. Then just when they thought it was over, Charlus Potter joined in. The two men took turns ripping into the boys. By the time they let the boys go, Sirius felt like a complete slime, Remus looked like a kicked dog, and Peter had pissed himself. James didn't lift his eyes for three days.
James made an embarrassed shuffle over to where the effected girls were standing watching the reaming the boys received. Lily was standing in front of all of them. James stopped just short of the girls and made an abject apology. He also told the girls the magic would have faded on its own in two hours but eating chocolate would cancel the effects immediately. James pulled a chocolate bar from a pocket of his robe and offered each girl a piece with an individual apology.
It was the last malicious prank the Marauders ever played.
Years later at James and Lily's wedding, Sirius learnt that Michael and Charlus became friends after that and would meet ever few weeks at the pub until the elder Potters were murdered by Death Eaters. The old Auror-turned-solicitor wizard and the shop foreman came from very different worlds but had common ground in their children and their outlooks on life. When Michael learnt of James and Lily dating he reckoned that no son of Charlus could be a complete prat and the boy had shown some sand with his apology.
Sirius never lost that fear and respect of the Evans male. To Sirius, Michael Evans was proof positive that his family's beliefs in the weakness of Muggles was so much bullshit.
And the grandmothers were not left out of the mix in Harry. Lily inherited her eyes, sense of justice and fair play from her mother, Rose. The Evans mother was the model for a proper English housewife of her generation that was both sweet and gentle while firm against any that she saw as acting against proper behaviour. In many ways, Petunia had turned into a grossly distorted image of that loving woman.
Dorea Potter nee Black on the other hand was Sirius' great-aunt; making James his first cousin once removed. Dorea Black had been the epitome of what daughters of the Black family were taught to aspire to: calculating, ambitious, beautiful, and Hell on the enemies of the family. The quintessential Slytherin student, Dorea was loved by and terrified her fellow students in equal measure. So it had been a complete shock when Dorea suddenly turned her back on the Black family's plan to marry her off to a political ally and instead wed Charlus Potter, the Gryffindor son of a potions master with a shop in Diagon Alley. Yes, the Potters were an old and respected family but not in nearly the same social class as the Blacks. Charlus had left Hogwarts the year before and had just finished his year of training as an Auror. After the marriage people were shocked at the happy, carefree witch that had suddenly appeared as Dorea Potter. Whispers started about love potions and the like. That was when Dorea Black reappeared and ruthlessly crushed anyone that spoke or acted against her new family. This included her own father. The Black family quickly backed off, accepted the marriage and never made any effort to disown their wayward daughter. Sirius asked once what she had on the family to make them back off. Aunt Dorea merely smiled and offered him a warm biscuit fresh from the oven. Harry may think his ruthlessness came from the Beast, but Sirius suspected it was just as likely to have come from one of the most loving people he'd ever known.
Sirius had once heard some Muggles in a pub arguing over what was more important nature or nurture. Harry never met any of his grandparents and barely had any time with his parents but it was so easy to see them living on in Harry, but their strengths and their weaknesses in to a package that was uniquely Harry. It didn't really matter to Sirius if Harry's traits came from some family disposition, his life experiences or some combination of both. But it was somehow comforting to see the spirits of Harry's parents and grandparents living on in the newest Marauder.
....
He had only been home from Hogwarts for four days and he'd already been to the Ministry three times. Once was to answer some questions for DMLE investigators on the events in the graveyard. The second time he'd accompanied Sirius to pick up some papers related to restoring the Black seat on the Wizengamot. Now here he was again only this time it was a hearing on the results of the investigation.
More out of ideal boredom than any true interest, Harry asked, "So why doesn't the Potter family have a Wizengamot seat if it's so old?"
Sirus snorted in amusement. "Because they were too honourable and too stubborn."
"What?"
"Did you cover the formation of the modern British magical government in History of Magic?"
Now it was Harry's turn to snort, but this time in derision. "Were there goblin rebellions in it? Because otherwise, no."
"Binns was always a bit limited," Sirius allowed. "To make it short, the Ministry was formed after William of Normandy invaded and defeated King Harold II. Magical England stayed out of the fight but William brought several of his own magical followers, such as the Malfoys, here and made alliance with several of the prominent native families, including the Blacks. William granted lands, title, and trading concessions to many of his key magical supporters. William's magical council became the Wizengamot.
"Now the Potters were an old and respected family based near the border of England and Wales. Very independent minded – not that that has changed much. They objected to many of the new King's policies towards the separation of the magical world and the suppression of remnants of the old Druidic religion. So they were pushed out.
"About three hundred years later there was an effort to incorporate some of the leading native families that had been frozen out, like the Potters and the Longbottoms. The Longbottoms accepted, but Arthur Potter, the head of the Potter family at the time, called them a pack of self-serving idiots more interested in lining their families' pockets than doing any good for the people of the British Isles - but in much less polite terms. James showed me the quote once. He was very proud of that. Well, he seriously offended the older Wizengamot families and the ones that had just accepted the elevation. But they became really popular with the common magical folk and creatures. It was another 300 years before a Potter would work for the Ministry and none have ever worked outside the DMLE."
Harry chuckled at the story. He had to admit his ancestor was on target with his characterization of the Wizengamot. Even the families of his friends like Padma, Susan, and Neville seemed to spend much of their time defending their privileges and interests. A hereditary legislature was even worse than the House of Commons or the US Congress!
Harry wanted to ask how the Patel's had come to hold a seat but further discussion was interrupted when an uniformed Auror stepped out through a pair of heavy wooden doors.
"Mister Black? Mister Potter? The Wizengamot is ready for you now," he said in a polite tone.
Sirius acknowledged the man and the two wizards stood and followed the Auror back the way he'd come.
"Relax, Harry," Sirius said softly. "We'll be fine." Harry smiled wanly at his godfather. He appreciated the support and could only hope he was right.
.....
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