Ministry of Magic, 1990, 27th of August, 10 AM
26 days had passed since we'd received the correspondence from Gringotts referring to the state of one of our vassal house's lords. The Black family, according to Lun's research, had fallen on hard times with many of the members falling to the allure of a dark lord known as Voldemort. '~Mouldy-shorts more like~' as my brother more aptly described him and his movement. Anywho... These members died during the first blood war with only a scant few members surviving.
Currently, according to Galatea's political information, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black was one of the most prolific family members left... with her cousin being much more notorious, Sirius Black, sitting inside Azkaban for his betrayal of James Potter and Lily Potter nee Evans. I had immediately sensed something wrong with information surrounding that specific case as the details didn't match up and when it was said that only a single finger was left from the explosion I felt an itch at the back of our spine. Lun had conjectured that perhaps a spell had hit a gas main or some form accelerant that burned away the rest of the body.
This is why, after more than three weeks, we find ourselves inside the ministry of magic... You see, I, being the slithery little snake of politics that I was; forged personally by my mother and father to do so, couldn't let the discrepancies go. Like a dog finding its favourite chew toy I failed to let go of my suspicions. This obviously came to a head a couple weeks back when Griphook confirmed that Sirius Black was still considered the Lord Black and therefor was innocent of all crimes. A Lord couldn't be a criminal, the goblins wouldn't allow it... We decided to side on the goblin's deduction in the matter and with Galatea's help searched the historical records of Sirius's trial...
Boy... Britain was FUCKING useless... There was no transcript of the trial. No signatures were present upon any of the documents surrounding the imprisonment of Sirius Black. Then, to top it all off, like some sort of rancid malpractice cake, the trial itself was never recorded to have been conducted. He had never, i repeat, NEVER, received a trial...
That was why, we, as the Lord/Lordess of houses LeFay-Emyrs-Grindelwald-Nightingale were currently striding through the ministry of magic with Galatea by our side.
~Sis, we have no voting power in the Wizengamot...~
With our face I grimaced, the thought of such pesky rules bothering me bringing physical disgust. A man hadn't received a trial and had been suffering in a place that Lun himself had said was worse than hell; and he knew a lot of interesting places that dad had told him about.
'I don't care. The old bastards can listen or I will fuck their entire economy beyond recognition.'
I felt Lun sigh within our mind as he watched our surroundings.
~What name are you going to introduce yourself with? Grindelwald is marred by the make-believe of those 'historians' whilst the LeFay name carries even darker connotations.~
'I am glad you asked dear brother of mine... You see, how would it feel for the stuffiest, most pompous, picks in this country to get a talking to by an ancestor of the very person they call out in surprise?'
~That answers that... You're going with the Emyrs name first.~
'Mmm, yeah, I'll start with that then get progressively darker. Have them sweat a little.'
~... Have you considered the fact that they may just attack you in broad daylight?~
'Yep!' I popped the P.
~I am done talking now, you never answer me properly.~
'I do... Just when it suits me and not anytime other than that.'
We passed by the monstrosity that they called an equality statue, the majority of the figures cowering under the foot of wizards and a few select races that the wizards and witches put up with. Father would have burned it into liquid gold and given it away to those species, I had a mind to follow that line of thought but ironically thought better of it. Now wasn't the time.
"Solaris, you are eleven years of age. None of them are going to listen to you." Galatea was getting better at not underestimating us, but it was still a process it seemed.
"Galatea... You forget that we are emancipated magically, contractually and economically... The goblins are allies to the Grindelwalds; which we are, and thus our will carries considerable weight. Your mind also slipped past the fact that we are the vassal lord/lordess to numerous Ancient and Noble houses including the Malfoys who I hear are politically powerful."
She gasped as her eyes widened.
~You forgot to tell her sis...~
"Well, poppycock..."
"You plan to use your status over the Malfoys to bend them into your own camp." She stated it in the midst of her shock, the idea of an eleven year old; or two, holding so much power bringing her into a minor state of duress. If she were any older I'd have thought she would have collapsed whilst holding her heart.
"Mhm!" Galatea sighed as we entered an elevator.
Delightful music started playing, reminding me of our lessons in playing piano when younger. The piece was one of Bach's and had us both swaying a little in time with the ebbs and highs of the composition.
"Do you wish for me to inform the Wizengamot of the injustice and then inquire if you are capable of speaking upon the matter?" Both Lun and I smiled at her words. She wasn't stupid and ultimately trusting in us a lot; risking her political power in such a way she could be ostracized.
"Hmmm, hmmm, hmmmmmm...." I hummed the last of the music before turning to regard her. "Yes, I believe that will give them just enough respect before I pummel their faces in with the facts and the government's ineptitude."
Galatea blanched at the sophisticated language coming from an eleven year old body, remembering that we were the daughter and son of a 'dark lord'. Lun snickered once more at that measurement of her body language.
"E-eh sure. Just, please don't be too crass." Shrugging with a hint of smugness we started swaying side to side again as O' Fortuna started within the elevator as it tussled side to side as we swept through numerous floors and junctions.
...
Today was a long day for Augusta Longbottom. This morning she had woken to the screams of her grandson as he had another one of those blasted nightmares from that night eleven years ago. Then, as he settled down, she had received a summons for the Wizengamot for later in the morning; the notice being oddly delayed until this abrupt point in time. Like most political matters however, she would manage the hasty changes to her schedule.
All haste given she had reached the Wizengamot chambers an hour earlier than required, her poise and timing bringing some grimaces to her political enemies who sat in the opposing benches... The so-called dark faction. Their countenance was strange for a morning, most other lords and ladies yawning or hiding grimaces at the lack of sleep. Politics was a tiring business when the sessions were held so close together and delved into the mires of business law and magical law; as it did just yesterday.
Her haste wasn't for nil it seemed as she was able to speak to some of her fellow lords and ladies, being informed of various political murmurings with regards to the discovery of a Grindelwald in Gringotts. The idea was utterly inconsequential to her... The other Grindelwalds were all perfectly sane before they were slain by the bloody French, then Paris burns down due to a Grindelwald and everyone thinks that it was the act of a dark lord, etcetera... It was all so tiring. No, she shook her head at the nonsense that was spilling from the 'light' faction. Most of them postured and postulated that they would 'deal' with this new upstart before they become a threat to the magical world. Nonsense is what it was. They would sooner piss their pants than draw a wand on a Grindelwald. Hell! Half of them would join Gellert if he'd come to Britain at all.
'No, we just had to deal with Voldemort... A great trade that was...'
Sighing after half an hour of chatting she resigned herself to a long wait. Her eyes wandered during this waiting period, catching Lord Malfoy as he entered the chamber and also quickly finding Lord Greengrass; the leader of the Grey faction, speaking to the Abbots and Davises.
Malfoy was always a prat along with his father. Both brought shame to Abraxas's name, that man could stand against Arcturus Black and have the balls to draw on him and hex him to Timbuktu... These weasels couldn't even piss in his presence, let alone prattle on with their lordly titles and feminine hair styles.
The wait was making her antsy and drawing out her inner cynic. She hated long waits and would always descend into long recollections of past figures, comparing them to the modern standards out of boredom and ultimately reaching the conclusion that all these pissant politicians were nowhere near the level of their fathers and mothers.
Like sap pouring from the dying trunk of a tree, time passed. All of the seats were filled with a few exceptions; three or four seats that were held in stasis as a lord or lady recovered from some ailment or returned from overseas. The din in the chamber was slowly settling into a murmur as Dumbledore slowly rose to his podium, the old sod needing to be dragged up there by an assistant chamber scribe. Following the old coot was the ponce of a minister, wearing a bola cap and smiling at his own stupid presence... Sometimes she swore she could kill them all and actually feel happy in going to Azkaban. A thought process that she rarely indulged of course.
"Lords and Ladies if I may have your silence for the conveyance of the minutes?" The old coot's voice resounded across the chamber, the swelling murmur dying into a coughed silence. He grinned like a cat who had found a toy to play with.
"On this morning of 1990... Upon the date of the 27th of the month of August, at 10 AM... We shall convene the Wizengamot's 1732nd session. All lords and ladies will, from this point forwards, maintain a respectful atmosphere and maintain the etiquette of the Wizengamot." With a small gavel he struck the wooden slab before him, his authority oozing from his voice like honey did over pancakes.
"The first matter of this morning's session is with regard to the bill on Werewolf rights, as introduced by Lord Malfoy and Lord Nott in the previous session. If any Lord or Lady would wish to regard the room please raise your wands." He sat back down and eased himself into his chair, his white beard billowing softly over his chest before he adjusted it and scraped his fingers through the beaded monstrosity.
Augusta immediately raised her wand but was beaten by Lady Rosier who was seated on the right of the Grey faction; the section closer to the Dark. This little detail was a normal thing, however, what wasn't was the presence of a lilac haired little girl who stood directly next to the Ladies seat. Augusta knew that this had some level of importance, but, for the life of her, she couldn't see how an eleven year old could be a threat politically; thus she ignored the idiosyncrasy for the staunch and unyielding figure of Galatea.
"Lady Rosier has the floor." Dumbledore's voice poked out once more.
She inclined her head before slowly examining the faces of her fellows, August included.
"Great Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, I, as you all must know, do not usually speak upon such policies preferring to stay neutral in these chambers." Many nodded sagely whilst many on the dark narrowed their eyes or scowled at the potential betrayal. "However... As a representative of my vassal lord I must speak out against such an acerbic and vile bill such as this!"
Her words hissed across the chamber floor as Augusta narrowed her eyes even more intensely. A vassal lord was a rare position these days and suggested some historical link between houses that was until now unknown. This could either be very good, or utterly horrible for the political minefield as it was today.
As she contemplated the ladies words the Dark faction stood up in indignation, curses and verbose language filtering into the chamber. They descended into chaos, their voices clashing like blades in a darkened alley.
"The werewolves are already sanctioned by the law, driven to the edges of our society by our prejudices and the risk they involve! To go any further will risk rebellion!" The dark faction quietened down and lowered to their seats, the mention of any civil war bringing a hefty weight to it. Augusta noted the slight glimmer to Dumbledore's eyes as he examined the woman, his steepled hands leaning backwards into himself.
"Think for but a moment, of the devastation caused by Fenrir Greyback. The lives he has taken, the children; those which we as witches and wizards hold most sacred, he has turned into monsters to sate his predilection towards violence. Now, imagine if every werewolf in the country and beyond finds justice in the idea of attacking the British Government and forming their own nation..." Many faces paled, including those of the Dark faction; Malfoy and Nott grimacing at one another as they considered the political ramifications of failing this bill. Augusta smiled at their squirming.
Dumbledore stood after this, his twinkling eyes a clear mark of his happiness.
"Thank you Lady Rosier, have you a position to state?"
She rolled her eyes at the old coot's antics.
"I ask you all, to throw this bill into the deepest depths. Squash this nonsensical bill." She nodded before strutting off to her seat, getting comfortable as the chamber slowly descended into hushed conversation. From what Augusta could hear, her words were being taken very well.
After several minutes of intense debate between numerous lords and ladies the bill was put to a vote where the abolishment was supported by 80% of the Wizengamot. The only Lords and Ladies who continued their support were those of the dark faction, and then, only the most fanatical in their belief of blood purity.
"Very well! With the first bill having been abolished, we shall move onto the second topic of the session..." He flipped a few pages in his stack of papers. "An announcement from the house of Rosier as well as the re-introduction of three Most Ancient and Most Noble houses."
Augusta sat up in her seat for this, her arms dragging away from the armrests to sit upon her lap. This, most likely, had something to do with house Rosier's vassal status.
Lady Rosier stood once more.
"Thank you Chief Warlock." She walked forwards whilst turning on the spot to regard the Wizengamot. "As you all have no doubt heard in my last speech, house Rosier has become a vassal to an Ancient House." Augusta watched the eleven year old chuckle, her eyes scanning across the room until they latched onto her own, sending shivers down her spine.
"Today I would like to announce that house Rosier is officially under the control of the Most Ancient, Most Noble and Most Arcane house of Emyrs!" Every single Lord and Lady inside the chamber jolted backwards in their seat except for the eleven year old girl who looked weirdly gleeful.
"Alongside that announcement I would also wish to state that we are also the Vassals of Her Dark Eminence's Royal Family of LeFay and vassals to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Nightingale. All united in one bloodline."
Dumbledore collapsed back into his Chief Warlock seat as Fudge, the Minister of Magic just frowned. Numerous Lords and Ladies didn't dare to speak, perhaps most of them feeling that to speak would grant credence to these claims. Lady Rosier didn't seem to care however as she simply continued on with her speech, or was it still an announcement?
"House Rosier is also not the only house to become vassal under this united bloodline. Today, I wish to announce to the world, on behalf of my liege lord/lordess that the Most Noble House of Malfoy and the Most Noble House of Weasley is also included in their claim, alongside the The Noble and Most Ancient House of Greengrass and The Noble and The Most Ancient House of Black!"
Lord Cyrus Greengrass stood with all the tact of a stormfront rolling in, his eyes aflame with thinly veiled anger and insult. Lucius looked mightily similar at this point in time whilst no one even blinked an eye for the Black family.
"How dare you insinuate that our fa-" He was cut off abruptly by a large explosive sound originating from that unique eleven year old girl.
"I, am insinuating nothing, Lord Greengrass."
Augusta, for perhaps the first time in her stint as a politician, gaped openly at the small, domineering, little girl who had at most been a curiosity previously. Dumbledore was even wide-eyed at the spectacle, as the little girl stared down the venerable Lord as if he were a bug beneath her boots.
"As for the specifics, I would suggest you visit account manager Griphook at your earliest convenience..."
A grunt echoed from the visitor gallery.
"That will not be necessary your highness..." The account manager turned towards Cyrus, his steely Goblin eyes burrowing into the stunned human eyes of the Lord. "She speaks the truth. Houses Malfoy, Rosier, Weasley nee Prewett, Greengrass and Black are officially vassals of House LeFay-Emyrs-Grindelwald-Nightingale."
Augusta felt her breath escape her mouth as she tried to calculate the sheer number of political ramifications.
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