It was pissing down in central London today. My hand waved through the air as I stepped out of my limo, the rain softly hitting a skin-tight shield that made the rain slip around me without dampening my clothes.
Looking around I watched as hundreds of people walked through the streets, work having just been ended for the day at the crisp time of 4pm. Cars and busses honked and hummed distantly as the thudding of rain upon cobbles and cement consumed most sensory information. Shielding my eyes, despite the lack of a need to do so, I looked upwards watching the moody dark grey clouds eclipse the faintly visible sun.
The entire day felt dreary, putting it mildly. The Brits around me didn't seem to notice however, many carrying umbrellas or covered head to toe in rain coats... Insane they were. It was pissing down and here they are walking around in it. Even in Australia most people didn't walk whilst it rained. I shook my head and closed the door behind me, walking out into the large public square.
A large statue depicting Cromwell upon his horse, raising his sword upwards, hung just behind a rather obvious phone box. It was made mostly of glass and tinted red. What little wood made the edifice to the past was pocked and scraped at, the paint amidst the process of peeling. The façade was apt for the stagnant state of the magical world that it secretly represented.
Chuckling at the 'ancient' form of entrance I walked up to it and softly entered. The texture of the wood felt as old as it looked, my fingers scraping along the exterior as I stepped into the tight, musty, space. A black phone hung from a cord, rocking back and forth slowly. Picking it up I quickly extended my magic around me and detected the password needed for the transportation wards. It was simple really... The entire thing was simply connected to the floo-network and when the password was entered the entire box would shift me into the ministry's atrium network.
With a few dull beeps upon the number pad I felt a yanking at my navel and I was suddenly thrust out into the atrium below, my feet softly meeting the vibrant dark green tiles of the British Ministry. Hundreds of men and women strut through the halls. Some with practiced arrogance, others with the hustle of a wage slave. The sight wasn't exactly unique if you didn't pay any notice to the odd suits and dresses they wore. I shook my head as I continued deeper into the atrium.
Stepping past several groups of witches and wizards I cast a small spell that would give me a perception filter, an advanced version of the 'Notice-me-not charm'. 'Lethevela'. None so much as gave an inclination of understanding my presence as I simply walked past the security line, the magical ward placed for disillusionment failing to ping against someone who was neither using illusion or invisibility. In fact, the ward ignored my presence entirely, a useful bit of knowledge within my arsenal.
Calmly I walked into the depths of the ministry journeying to an elevator before entering and travelling towards the Wizengamot session. Casting a quick 'Tempus'spell I grinned as I was several minutes early to the session. With my fortune I arrived in the main chamber, the various politicians ambling towards their spots as Lords and Ladies sat on specific chairs at the edges of the chamber. A funny detail was the presence of a tier system in the seating plan... The more powerful and influential seats were lower, closer to the central podium, whilst the less powerful were further back and forced to watch the proceedings as if they were merely observers. A psychological tactic no doubt.
With my presence going unknown I stood next to Sirius, who was currently seated in the Black Family Wizengamot seat. To his opposite side was Harry, his official heir and currently the heir apparent of house Black. He was here to experience politics and to get himself used to the power he would wield within this chamber when he reached 17. Despite being emancipated he couldn't legally take up his position as Lord Potter or claim any other position that being an Emyrs, LeFay or Pendragon could afford him. Those laws were written by Merlin himself and were enforced by Ancient Magic; a form of magic that I was quickly becoming more intrigued with, the whispers about its power quite enticing.
Dumbled'de'dore, or however you wanted to call him, marched into the chamber and quickly approached the main pedestal, his Warlock position making him the presider over the session. It was a close thing as well since Fudge and his undersecretary swept into the chamber casually, the Minster of Magic shrugging his coat off and draping it over the back of his chair as Dumbledore stood there patiently, those damn twinkles in the eyes unsettling anyone he passed them over.
Finally they all settled in and the session slowly took off.
"Good morning everyone," Dumbledore started his speech whilst scanning the entire room "before me start this session I would like to ask if anyone has some last moment issues that may be discussed within this session." Almost all of the Lords and Ladies of the Ancient and Noble houses frowned or began hushed conversation. This likely wasn't the norm and probably had something to do with the topic today...
"This is most irregular Chief Warlock... Is there a specific reason that you have asked this?" Fudge was a coward all things considered, he currently lacked much of his authority due to the fact that he had neither party on his side, Light or Dark. Lucius payed him off and supported him when he felt like it, don't get me wrong, but as the Minister of Magic he was pathetically reliant on bribes.
Dumbledore responded as the old coot usually does, in riddles. "Ah, minister, I was just informed of something rather troubling and wished to give the informant of mine an opportunity to speak up." I almost growled as his eyes slowly slid over towards Harry and Sirius. Whether he was speaking to me or one of them was innocuous as a detail, it mattered little.
Everyone in the room, catching his easily noticeable eye-slide, panned towards Sirius and Harry, the latter gripping his chair in nervousness. My training had installed confidence in his own power, but this was obviously somewhere his magical prowess could not get him far. His brain would need to take him everywhere here.
Sirius stood up before the young man did anything silly, his hands pulling back his mop of raven-black hair. "Dumbledore, I can't help but notice you're looking towards my Heir... Is there something that you wish to say?" His visual perspective must have given him a better calculation as to the old man's focus as the rest of the room metaphorically tightened their anuses at the staring match the two men reached. This was one of the things about Sirius that made him deadly, he was strangely serious when it came down to actual issues or problems.
"I thought I would offer the chance for the young man to announce his recent inheritance..." I scowled and barely resisted the urge to drop my perception filter spell.
Sirius glared at the Chief Warlock, his power wafting off him as if it were almost a physical entity. I could almost feel the Black family magic gathering behind him in the form of a massive Panther. If Dumbledore noticed, he made not outward show of witnessing it. Sirius spoke up once more...
"As I understand, Chief Warlock, he has no legal requirement nor is there any precedent for him to disclose that information. Now, if you would now start the session?" The old man's sparkle dimmed heavily, his eyes snapping between the two as the atmosphere in the chamber became laden with the weight of the Warlock's magical immensity.
'Heh, destroy the Philosopher's Stone my ass...' I shook my head as the chamber silenced to such a state that you could probably hear a pin dropping.
"Very well, then I shall reveal it to the members during the session." Sirius snarled menacingly, his eyes flashing with the bright yellow of his Grim Animagus form. The Black magic solidified within my eyes as the family magic slowly came to accept its new Lord.
'Yes let your anger flow Sirius...' I smirked physically as a laughter maniacally ushered from within my mind.
"YOU WILL DO NO SUCH THING!" Sirius's voice boomed through the chamber as nearly everyone winced at the sudden plunge from silence. The Aurors around the room were all watching closely, many of them now holding their wands within their hands as even a few of the Lords and Ladies now palmed theirs.
"Lord Black has no power to stop me from speaking about these matters as they relate to the future of Britain and the political landscape." He off-handily answered whilst adjusting his gaze firmly forwards, his stubbornness and penchant for getting his way within the Wizengamot was giving him a confidence that would put most men to shame.
"I'LL STOP YOU RIGHT HERE, WITH MY BLOODY WAND POI-" Half a dozen Aurors pointed their wands at him as the audience drew back a little.
Sighing quietly I walked softly to the middle of the chamber, in line with the old coot's gaze.
"Please take-"
I released my spell and emerged in the middle of the Wizengamot floor, every single Auror flinched in my direction, their wands leading the way as they all held the ends of their spells on the tips of their tongues. Fudge stood immediately as the Old Coot blinked several times towards me, recognition sparking in the depths of his sparkly eyes as Sirius and Harry turned towards me. Sirius was enraged but slowly calming with my presence whilst Harry was smiling massively.
I winked towards them whilst grinning, Sirius guffawing before settling back down in his chair. Now I focussed back on the podium where the manipulative old cunt sat. This was no doubt a move to control Harry once more, gaining leverage over 'his' latest weapon against his old student, Tom Riddle.
"Who are you!? Aurors!" They all started walking forwards toward me as I stared the most powerful men in the country, legally speaking, down.
Exhaling a touch I waved my hand and transfigured the floor below me upwards, creating a throne of pitch-black and stark white marble. Small cracks of opal shone through the merging slabs of stone as I rested backwards into it.
"Calm down." I willed my magic to bare down over the chamber, the entire room filling with a sense of quiet contentment and soothing calmness. A basic use of my magic that was communicated to my from the knowledge of Salazar Slytherin... He was a rather respectable figure if you ignored the legacy his adopted son left behind; Salazar Slytherin Jr.
The Minister widened his eyes whilst the Aurors' spells failed, the emotions needed for the spells slowly unwinding under the pressure of calmness that I gave them. Honestly, this technique was easy to resist if you were knowledgeable in Occlumency or Psychic in any way, but they were rare things for the modern caste of Magicals; a tidbit of information I received from Rowena Ravenclaw.
"Now that we are all settled. I would first like to state that revealing Harry James Potter's secrets is tantamount to breaching Australian secrets and therefor will incur the wrath of our nation, politically, economically and possibly even militarily."
Gasps echoed through the chamber as the Minister began sweating bullets. What was just a yelling match had turned into international politics and relations. Reporters were taking pictures of me and hastily dictating words to their quills as the political audience all began murmuring and discussing what this could mean.
"Why? Harry Potter is a British citizen and has no relation to Magical Australia."
My eyebrows rose as the man dug himself into the trench that I had dug for him. Dumbledore winced.
"As of a week ago, Harry James Potter has become a Citizen of Australia also. More than that, he is one of the only Ancient and Powerful family members within Australia and therefor has our nation's full support."
I continued amidst the increased murmurs of surprise.
"Not to mention, as the Nation's ruler, I have personally decided to take him on as an apprentice." Shouts of surprise and jealousy were aplenty, but I ignored them. "Although unorthodox, choosing an apprentice from the 3rd year is not illegal." I paused, letting the proclamation set in.
"Before we continue I will pledge that I will provide no favouritism to my apprentice during classes at Hogwarts school of Wizardry..." Dumbledore sat down and regarded me evenly, his hands steepening as he voiced his objections.
"What is the proof that you will abide by this 'pledge'."
"I swear on my magic and life, that during my time as a professor within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry I will be as fair as I can be to all students that i teach." Dumbledore now lacked his signature sparkle, lamely resting backwards in his seat as he was bested and politically outmatched at this current moment. He may have influence, but it was just that, influence... Not power or control.
I waited and felt no life slipping from my body nor did my magic fade away.
"There we go... An unbreakable vow. How is that?" Sirius gaped at me as Harry was excitedly staring at me, his eyes wide and mischievous. No doubt he was wondering what magics he would learn under the apprenticeship.
"Now. Before we continue. I would also like to state that the Magical Government of Australia allies itself with House Black and House Potter... Thus I will name every one of their secrets as national secrets of Australia and ask that the British Ministry accepts this and, as agreed in our political dealing, does not ask what should not be asked of any Ministry."
Fudge gulped but nodded very quickly. This was followed by the undersecretary coughing a touch, hoping to get her word in. Everyone ignored the toad of a woman as the meeting was called by the Minister, the rest of the chamber looking towards Harry and Sirius with a modicum of shock and intrigue. My move would solidify their position against Dumbledore and further serve Harry in connecting with the 'Grey' faction. The Greengrasses and several other families would help him carve his own block of supporters out from under Dumbled'de'dore and good old Mouldymort.
"With the session begun, I would like to inform the chamber that Bellatrix Lestrange has escaped Azkaban." They ignored my presence in the chamber, deciding to simply accept it for what it was.
"WHAT!?!?" Augusta Longbottom shouted aloud within the room, her magic wildly sparking along the wooden desks and splintering them.
As the drama unfolded I had a single thought that failed to leave my mind. 'I wonder if I could heal Nevil's parents...?'
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