Sirius waited for his three guests at home. Amelia Bones, Rufus Scrimgeour and Frederick Rawthorn had asked for a meeting to discuss something important with him. He really wondered what they could want from him. He knew that they were organizing the downfall of Fudge in the near future, but what could he have to do with that? While he would vote against Fudge if the vote of no confidence came before the Wizengamot, he couldn't think of anything that he could do right now. He also hadn't really decided if he wanted to accept Moody's offer to join SMF-3. It was interesting, but to be honest, he didn't want to risk his life now that he was a father.
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Discover moreStory writing softwareBaked GoodsFan community platformComicsBooksAnd leaving Harry alone again was not something he wanted to do. Harry would need a stable home for the years to come to even think of getting ready to face Voldemort. As much as he wanted to keep his son out of a possible war, he knew it wouldn't work. If Voldemort managed to regain a body, Harry would be his prime target. He looked at the clock at the wall. Five minutes until they had said they would come.
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"Kreacher." He called.
"Yes, Master Sirius?" Kreacher asked.
Discover moreFiction writing toolsFan fiction writingWriting workshopsFan fiction forumMobile app marketing"Are the preparations for my guests ready?" Sirius asked.
"Of course. Kreacher prepared the snacks Master wished to have and the tea will be freshly brewed as soon as they arrive." Kreacher answered.
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"Very good; thank you, Kreacher. Please bring everything here after you brought them into the lounge." Sirius said.
Kreacher bowed and popped away.
Seven minutes later the bell rang and Kreacher opened the door.
Discover moreCartoonsFan merchandiseAuthor resourcesFan fiction booksMobile app development"Welcome to the House of Black. Please follow Kreacher to Lord Black." Kreacher greeted with a bow.
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Amelia, Rufus and Frederick noticed that the house elf was wearing a uniform with the crest of the House of Black on it. They had to admit that it looked better than having their house elves wear pillow cases or the like.
"Lord Black, your guests have arrived." Kreacher announced the three.
"Thank you, Kreacher. Please bring the snacks and the tea as soon as the tea is ready." Sirius answered.
Kreacher bowed and popped away.
"Welcome, Amelia, Rufus, Frederick. It's a pleasure to have you at my home. Please sit down. Kreacher will soon bring some refreshments. I can recommend the cupcakes. They are really great." Sirius greeted his guests.
All four sat down in comfy armchairs around a tea table. Kreacher popped into the room with a plate of cupcakes and little tarts. He placed it on the table and popped back to get the tea. As soon as he was back he started serving tea to everybody, starting with Amelia. When everybody had their tea, he popped away again.
"Wow, your house elf is strange." Rufus commented.
"You should have seen him when I came back here. He had gone mad from overexposure of the dark artefacts my family kept in the house. It took me some weeks of curse-breaking to get the house free of residual dark magic. Now he is completely loyal to Harry and me. I wouldn't have thought the elf that was so nasty to me during my childhood would have such a turnaround." Sirius commented.
"I think Rufus means that he is wearing clothes and not complaining about it." Amelia clarified.
"They are not clothes in the sense of giving a house elf clothes and freeing them. The uniform is a symbol for the service to the House of Black. Kreacher has been in the Black family since he was born. For him serving the Blacks is his life. With a bit convincing from Harry and me he accepted that we want to give a different impression of our family. And that includes that our elves proudly show whom they serve. And they look more professional in their uniforms than in pillowcases or towels." Sirius explained.
"Amazing." Frederick said and took a cupcake. "Hm, chocolate. You were right, Sirius, the cupcakes are great."
The other two also took some cake and resorted to exchanging some news. Finally Sirius touched the question he had wanted to ask from the beginning.
"While I like having you all over for tea, I assume you had a reason to meet me." He said.
"Yes, you are right. As you know we are assembling support to push a vote of no confidence through the Wizengamot. The thing we also discussed is the person who will be taking over for Fudge once he is out of office." Amelia started.
"Not an easy task I guess." Sirius commented.
"A very difficult task indeed. We have gone over all the ones working at the Ministry and came up empty. None would really be the person we would need to lead the Ministry through some necessary put painful changes. We are aware that a thorough house cleaning will have to be done before we can even think of being an obstacle in case Voldemort returns." Amelia confirmed.
"We finally came to the conclusion that with all the competition between the departments at the Ministry for funds and influence we would be better off with an outside candidate." Rufus added.
"Okay; and you want me to help you find such a person?" Sirius asked.
"No, we want you to become Minister." Frederick said, shocking Sirius.
"What?" He shouted out. "Are you crazy?"
"Well, the thought came up that it might seem crazy to make you Minister, but there are very good arguments for you taking the position." Frederick said, amused about the disbelieving face of Sirius.
"And what arguments would that be?" Sirius wanted to know, trying to get over the shock.
"First, we need somebody from one of the old pureblood families to appease that faction. They have a lot of votes in the Wizengamot, so the only one to even have a chance to become Minister would have to be a pureblood. Second, while your family was dark, you are not, but you are also not light. You know how to use cunning and power but also how to be diplomatic. Third, you have the wealth to not be susceptible to bribery and don't need to get the position for political influence. For the next seven years you would be the single most powerful politician anyway as you would be proxy for your son.
"Your son is the next factor. The public loves Harry and as you were the one to save him from the Dursleys and have given him a home for the first time in his life, the public loves you too. You want changes and have propagated them even before your identity was revealed. And lastly you were one of the people who fought against Voldemort. While you were put into Azkaban you were proven innocent and the current administration had to take the blame for not doing right by their laws. You kept your sanity and are actively working for a better society. You have to agree that those are strong arguments, Sirius." Amelia summarized.
Sirius was silent. He thought about the arguments and could logically comprehend them. Taking the position would have advantages and disadvantages both. He would need to think about it. And he needed to ask Harry what he thought. He didn't want to make that kind of decision without his son. Harry was his top priority. James, Lily and Remus would also be good to ask for advice.
"I will have to think about it for a while. I also want to ask Harry what he thinks. I have promised to be there for him and I intend to keep that promise." Sirius finally said.
"That is understandable. We have written down our estimations of the probable timeline for the changes we intend to start. Read it thoroughly and then decide. It will be a lot of work for the first few months if you should agree, but we estimate that by the end of the year everything would have been done. And we also included some vacation time during the summer break of Hogwarts." Frederick said, handing Sirius a file with a bundle of papers.
"Okay, what do you think, how long can I take to decide?" Sirius asked.
"Take three weeks and then tell us what you think. But we really think you would be the best candidate for Minister. You have the time over the year while Harry is at Hogwarts and once everything is working smoothly your main responsibility would be representing the Ministry with other dignitaries, managing the budget and controlling the departments' work. But if Fudge managed it, you can for sure." Rufus said.
"Okay, I will do that." Sirius agreed.
Amelia, Rufus and Frederick finished their tea and then bid Sirius good-bye. They knew he had much to think about.
On Saturday morning Harry stepped out of the fire place at Grimmauld Place. He was curious what he would learn today. He was looking for his father but couldn't see him. That was strange. Normally he would be waiting for him. Perhaps he had forgotten the time and was in his study. Harry went to his father's study and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Sirius called.
Harry opened the door and entered the room.
"Harry, is it already that late?" He asked and looked at the clock on the wall. "I'm sorry, I totally lost track of time." Sirius apologized.
On his desk were three stacks of papers which he seemed to have worked on.
"No problem, Pa, I guessed it was something like that." Harry said.
"Take a seat, help yourself to some tea and biscuits, I just need to finish this, then we can start." Sirius said and Harry nodded.
He sat down in an armchair and filled himself a cup of tea and took a plate of biscuits.
"What are you working on, Pa?" Harry asked.
"This is for the opening celebrations for the JWT shop in Diagon Alley in two weeks. As I am promoting JWT in Britain, I am pretty busy with the preparations. We want to present some classic top-sellers together with some new items. We hope to break through here in Britain with the Wizarding TV. At the moment we can just use the principle of recording and playing things, much like a VCR in the muggle world works. Live events are not possible for us yet. We can't send images with magic like muggles send signals with radio waves, because the magic would interfere too much with the muggle electrics and short circuit them. Too much risk of them finding out about the wizarding world." Sirius explained.
"It still seems like a good chance. I understand it right that the Wizarding TV is brought on the market now because the Quidditch World Cup will be held in England this summer?" Harry asked.
"Exactly. In other countries the marketing for the TV devices has been started months ago and many have pre-ordered a device for their homes. Here in Britain though, with JWT not being that well-known, we need a big event to promote our products properly and the World Cup is a chance we couldn't let slip away. The new games Arthur has developed will also go into selling soon. The three that were already tested are in production now and will be available for the opening of the shop here in Britain and in the other countries in a month or so. The game Percy suggested will probably be ready for the start of the summer break as well, from what I heard from Arthur Percy is really doing a good job with the game." Sirius answered.
"Yes, I was also surprised. I think he really thought about his career ambitions. Your trial shook his faith in the Ministry. He didn't think that the Ministry would allow such blatant miscarriage of justice. I think it was good that it happened now before he was caught up in their swamp of corruption. We really need a better Minister than Fudge. How far are the rebels of the Ministry with getting their plans moved?" Harry asked.
Sirius finished his document and signed it. Then he turned to Harry. As he had mentioned it, he could as well get this over with.
"They have a plan of action and a time-table for the plan to work. They think in about a month they can get the vote of no confidence against Fudge on the way. So the end of Fudge's career would be at the end of March. Then normally we would have one month for the candidates to present themselves and then elections." Sirius said. "Once the new Minister is elected things would be a bit busy. There is a lot to be cleaned up after twelve years of corruption and bribery being normal occurrences. They expect the first part of it being over by the end of June, the next phase would mostly be done by the department heads. The Minister would only have to keep the survey of all the departments.
"In the beginning there would be a massive sacking and arresting of corrupt politicians, the incompetent fools would have to be kicked out and the overall structure remodelled to work with a leaner workforce that knows what it does. Some departments would have to get new duties and some need to do their jobs properly. Amelia and Rufus told me that they know those that fit the description and would inform the new Minister about them as soon as he was elected."
"That will be hard for the new Minister to manage that all in the first few months until everything works again. Do you know who they want to have as the new Minister?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I do. They asked me to do the job." Sirius said.
Harry was shocked. He even let his biscuit fall to the floor.
"You? They really want you to be Minister?" He asked disbelievingly.
"Yes. They had some pretty good arguments prepared, because I had a similar reaction to yours." Sirius admitted.
"Well, what are the arguments? Not that I think you couldn't do the job, you would be worlds better than Fudge." Harry said.
"Thanks, well they argued that first they didn't have anybody in the Ministry that would combine all the characteristics they wished for in a leader. I am a pureblood, but neither dark nor light. As you know, I think in shades of grey. Therefore I would be accepted by most of the old families. The truly dark families were taken care of by the spirit of Wizengamot already. Their patriarchs sit in prison by now after going through the ritual of soul judgement. It is still discussed if they should pay retribution for working against the Magical Government with Voldemort.
"I have enough money to not be susceptible to bribery and I hold so much political sway through the Black seat and as your proxy for the next seven years that I wouldn't be tempted by more power that could be offered to me. I am seen in a very positive light for my connection with you and my actions in getting you away from the Dursleys. That I adopted you also helps in the public opinion. I am known as a powerful wizard who still knows how to use cunning when possible but who will also act if there is a danger to our world. After all I fought against Voldemort.
"The only thing anybody could say against me is that I was in Azkaban, but the whole world knows that I am innocent of the crimes I was accused of and it went through all wizarding publications, not only the Prophet. That I am still sane after twelve years in Azkaban is also seen as a sign of my mental strength which I would need on the job. It is hard to argue if you are presented with that many positive arguments." Sirius said.
Harry nodded. He had to process this for a while. He knew the arguments were true, but did he want to have his Pa become Minister? He just had got him and was getting used to have a father that took care of him. Was he ready to share him so soon? Then his rational side woke up. Sirius mostly spent his time at home. He could easily work while he was at Hogwarts. He would still be there for him on the weekends and during the breaks. And their world needed a competent leader. His father could be that leader. Did he have a right to oppose it?
"Harry, whatever I decide, I want you to agree with it. I want to know your concerns about it. Tell me if you worry about something or are scared. I know this is a huge change." Sirius said, seeing the conflicting emotions on his son's face.
"I, it is just so much to process. Logically I understand that you probably are the best man for the job. The arguments they had are true, but, will you still have time for me if you become Minister?" He asked.
Sirius sat down on the armrest of the armchair and put his arm around Harry's shoulders.
"You will always be my first priority, Harry. Never doubt that. The others also know that and agreed on that condition in case I would take the job." Sirius assured him.
"If I got elected, I would work at the Ministry from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays and Sundays we would still see each other and continue your studies and have some family time. Our vacation for the summer will still happen like we planned. Amelia and Rufus are sure until then the first phase of cleaning up will be done. The departments would need to reorganize for a month anyway so I could get away in July without a problem. After that the Quidditch World Cup would be a time where I would have some duties of representing the country. But the eighth finals start at the beginning of August.
"And with your love for Quidditch I guess you wouldn't mind to see some games. The only games I would have to be present for are those of teams from Great Britain; that means England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. And of course the final game." Sirius explained.
Harry nodded; that sounded reasonable.
"How long do you have to think about it? I don't think I could tell you my opinion right now." Harry admitted.
"I have three weeks. Take your time and think about it. If you are absolutely against me taking the job, I won't do it." Sirius promised.
Harry nodded and leaned against his father.
It was the first of March and the committee for the disposal of dangerous magical creatures met to discuss the case of Buckbeak the Hippogriff that had attacked the Malfoy heir at Hogwarts. The owner of the Hippogriff, Rubeus Hagrid was present to defend his creature, the accusation was presented by Narcissa Malfoy, as her husband was nothing more than an insane squib right now and sat in muggle prison. Just when they wanted to start they were surprised by the appearance of Sirius Black who sat down next to Hagrid. Hagrid looked extremely relieved to see the Lord of House Black.
Narcissa looked massively displeased with the appearance of her cousin, but there was no rule to keep him out of the hearing.
"Alright, let's get this done. Hearing on the charges of attack against Draco Lucius Malfoy by the Hippogriff Buckbeak during the first Care of Magical Creatures class of the term under the watch of Care of Magical Creatures teacher Rubeus Hagrid. The charges are that the accused attacked Draco Malfoy unprovoked and nearly injured him. Only the quick reaction of Harry Potter-Black prevented that the accused injured Draco Malfoy. Presenting the accusation is Narcissa Virgo Malfoy, presenting the defence is Sirius Orion Black. Presiding the hearing are Amos Fenimor Diggory for the Department of Regulation of Magical Creatures and Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic. Mrs Malfoy, you have the floor." Fudge said.
He had insisted to personally take care of the hearing to ensure he was seen of doing something right by the public. Narcissa stood.
"Minister, my son, Draco, took his first lesson in Care of Magical Creatures in September of last year. The teacher for the class, Professor Hagrid," she obviously hated addressing Hagrid with the title "introduced the class to Hippogriffs. Creatures that shouldn't be shown to third years at all. They are dangerous and not suited to be handled by beginners in the class. The Hippogriff in question attacked my son when he was petting his head after having performed the procedure to approach a Hippogriff. I demand that this dangerous creature will be executed to not be any danger to other students anymore." Narcissa said.
Many murmured agreeing comments. Starting a class with Hippogriffs was a bit much.
Sirius stood. Now was his time to show them why you didn't mess with Harry's friends.
"I would like to show you the memory of my son Harry Potter-Black of the class in question. The memory has been extracted by me under the watch of Madam Amelia Bones this weekend when Harry was at home for his lessons in family magic. Madam Bones can confirm that the memory hasn't been tempered with. I think the memory will say more than any words I can say." Sirius said and poured Harry's memory of the lesson in question into the pensieve he had got from the DMLE to use during the hearing.
He tapped the pensieve with his wand and the image of the class was shown to the attendants of the meeting. When they saw the attack they looked impressed with Harry showing skills in wandless magic. Once the projection was over, Sirius tapped the pensieve again and took out the memory.
"I think that the only one to blame for that near accident is Draco Malfoy himself. Professor Hagrid explicitly warned the class to not insult Hippogriffs. The boy still did it, thinking he knew better than his teacher in the class. He was warned that it was dangerous to insult the Hippogriffs and that it could end really badly. I think the Hippogriff in question isn't any more dangerous than all Hippogriffs are. They attack if they are insulted. Everybody who has studied Magical Creatures knows that. I will admit, Professor Hagrid could have started a bit smaller, like with knarls, but Hippogriffs are a suitable part of the curriculum of third year and to give the students an interesting start into the subject they are great."
Narcissa was silently fuming. There was nothing she could say against Sirius' arguments. He had covered his bases well. Having Harry Potter's memories of the incident, the one who had saved Draco, was an iron clad proof against the overly danger the Hippogriff posed. And the Malfoy name didn't hold as much sway as it did in the past after Lucius had been arrested and put on trial for being a Death Eater. The subject just wasn't worth to spend much money on buying the judges. She hadn't expected Sirius to present the defence after all.
Amos Diggory and his colleagues discussed the shown memories and the arguments both sides brought up.
"Hippogriffs in general pose a certain level of danger, but from what we saw in the memory, that Hippogriff in question doesn't seem to be vicious. If it was, it would have hurt Potter-Black before that." Amos said.
"But it still attacked the Malfoy boy." Finius Opporis, an older member of the committee said.
"Just because the boy didn't listen to his teacher. I would think with the kind of warning Professor Hagrid gave his class it should have been obvious to the boy not to do it. He disregarded the warning and paid the price. He can be glad Potter-Black was so quick to react." Terrence Ginnis supported Amos' position.
"I think we should clear the Hippogriff. He only followed his instincts. There is no reason to execute him. And we really have better things to do than acting on a temper tantrum of the boy who caused the incident." Amos said.
That argument was agreed on. They turned to Fudge, who didn't look that happy. He had thought he could look good by getting rid of a dangerous creature.
"Did you come to a conclusion?" He asked the committee.
"Yes, we vote to clear the Hippogriff Buckbeak of attacking Draco Malfoy unprovoked. The provided memory of Harry Potter-Black proves that it was Draco Malfoy who provoked the Hippogriff into attacking by insulting him against the instruction of his teacher." Finius said.
Fudge nodded reluctantly.
"Then hereby I declare the Hippogriff cleared of all charges. Take him back to Hogwarts, Professor Hagrid." Fudge said and left the room.
"Thank you so much, Sirius. I don't know what would have happened to Beaky if you and Harry hadn't helped me." Hagrid thanked Sirius happily.
"You're welcome, Hagrid. After Harry showed me his memories, I knew Buckbeak was innocent. I just couldn't let an innocent creature be killed because my cousin's spoiled son thought it would be a good idea to have others suffer for his mistakes." Sirius said.
He knew that Rita Skeeter was in the room as the reporter from the Daily Prophet to report the case. It would make a nice article.
So now Draco get's revealed as the spiled brat that he is. You will have to wait and see how not having Lucius around will influence him. Till next time.