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Shadow Council 125
🕑 Added 2022-10-10 01:30:27 +0000 UTC*****
Albus was a rather unhappy Chief Mugwump as he stalked through the Ministry, heading to one of the full courts that the Minister had, apparently, moved the proceedings against Harry to.
The very fact that there were proceedings against the boy was a bad enough situation on its own, since such things were supposed to be thoroughly investigated before a court case was scheduled… for obvious reasons. Since no such investigation had been completed, Albus had to wonder deeply as to what exactly Cornelius’ game was.
Surely he knows that he cannot win a case such as this?
Cornelius was a fool in many, many, ways. This was a fact that Albus couldn’t refute even were he so inclined to try, but the man was a savvy political animal despite all apparent faults.
Further, with Malfoy likely pulling the strings making the Minister hop, it was even less likely that the plan were so simple as to lock young Harry up, or somehow snap his wand.
Albus steeled himself for a fight as he let himself into the court, just in time to see Andromeda snap threateningly at the Minister with enough vehemence to cause a hitch even in his step.
*****
Harry turned to stare at Andromeda Tonks, shocked by the sheer vehement rage that seemed to seethe beneath the surface of the normally composed lady’s features.
He was inwardly shocked at her words, as they seemed clearly counter to everything she’d told him in preparation for the trial. He was supposed to be calm, not let the Minister goad him into losing his temper, and she just opens up with that?
He had a bad feeling about this.
His feelings seemed supported by the shift from shock to anger on the face of the Minister, who was now glaring openly at Andromeda and entirely ignoring him.
“Madame Tonks! You have no right to speak to the Minist…”
Andromeda ignored the toad-like woman who had tried admonishing her, eyes remaining focused on the Minister.
“Minister Fudge,” She snapped, cutting the toad off without a glance, “You had better have a damned good reason to drag Regent Black before this assemblage without any notice of charges or formal statements.”
“Of course I have a…” The Minister blustered before he stalled out, staring, “R… Regent… Black?”
The murmurs in the room rippled through the assembled persons, and Harry felt the eyes of the room fall on him again.
“That child cannot possibly be Regent Black!”
Harry, remembering Andromeda’s tutelage, pulled himself up and fixed his gaze on the woman who’d objected, the toad-like woman from earlier.
“I assure you, Madame,” He said firmly, “That I am. My blood sworn Godfather nominated me for the position since his current… problems with the Ministry precludes him from fulfilling his duties.”
The murmurs grew louder as the woman stammered out something none of them could properly hear.
A throat being cleared brought the attention back to the dias where Albus Dumbledore was approaching the Minister’s position, though his gaze was on Harry and Andromda.
“I confess to puzzlement, my boy,” Albus said to Harry, “how is it you claim the title of Regent as a minor?”
“There! You have it!” The toad like woman who still hadn’t been introduced, crowed, “The boy is clearly a liar! The Regent must be of age!”
Harry had spent most of the previous year and the summer thus far studying the requirements of his position, including the proper responses to insult.
“Madame,” He said firmly, his hand dropping to his wand, “Whoever you are, if you are calling me a liar you are treading closely to demanding that honor be satisfied.”
Her mouth snapped shut with an audible click, and now Harry could hear approving sounds from many in the room.
“Indeed,” Albus said, scowling at the woman. “Madame Umbridge, perhaps you should refrain from further outbursts while the… adults in the room determine the situation more clearly?”
Several snickers filled the room at that, but Albus wasn’t smiling as he turned back to Harry.
“We will need to know how it is you claim the title of Regent despite your age, my boy.” Albus said, kindly but firmly.
“Of course, Mrs Tonks?” Harry looked to the woman who had been acting as his secretary and more for the past year.
“Here you are, Regent Black.” She said, producing a sheaf of papers that Harry accepted.
“These papers will show that I have stepped into the hereditary position of my family,” Harry announced with a gesture. “If I might approach?”
“Of course, my boy,” Albus said genially, though his expression was far from the grandfatherly one he normally held.
Harry approached, passing the papers up to the Chief Mugwump.
“These will show that I have been accepted by Her Majesty as the Mage Knight of the Realm.”
The quiet whispers and murmurs abruptly went silent at that, every eye in the room turning to stare at the boy and the Mugwump, who looked like he’d been poleaxed.
“That is impossible!”
“Minister,” Albus Dumbledore snapped, glaring over at him, “I will remind you of the decorum required of your position!”
“But, it’s impossible! We blocked the child from ascending to his title!” The Minister whined, his bowler hat now crumpled in his clutching hands. “We voted on it!”
Harry snorted, “You stopped me from ascending to my title as an infant, yes, however that was not the only service I have done for the realm, Minister.”
“Ah… yes, of course,” Albus whispered softly. “Severus and I had wondered what happened to the body… you harvested it, I presume?”
“A friend did,” Harry nodded.
“That does fill in some rather confusing questions I had been pondering, I admit,” Albus nodded, a sardonic smile twisting his lip. “Very nicely played, young man. I presume you’ve done your research into the situation?”
Harry nodded, glancing at Andromeda.
“Of course, you could hardly have not,” Albus said absently as he flipped through the sheaf of papers, noting the royal signet and the Queen’s own signature. “These are authentic, I believe. Minister, would you care to do the honors?”
Fudge glared at the papers like they were a particularly vile beast that might strike at any moment, looking like he’d rather do anything else. Nevertheless, he reluctantly drew his wand and tapped the papers in the Mugwump’s hand.
The room fell silent for a moment as they waited, then exploded into excited talking as the pages glowed with a blue light.
“That’s not possible…” Fudge repeated softly as he stepped back.
“The papers are authentic,” Albus said, almost reluctantly as he handed the papers back to Harry, who retreated back to Mrs Tonks and gave them back to her. “Sir Harry… would you like to claim your seat?”
“Now see here!”
“Minister Fudge,” Albus snapped angrily, “The Mage Knight of the Kingdom stands before the Wizengamot… the Full Wizengamot that you personally called for. Magic demands that he be offered the chance to claim his rightful seat, and any that stand against him also stand against magic itself.”
*****
Albus was beyond furious, both with the idiocy of the Minister and with his own complacency. He’d clearly allowed for too much freedom on the part of young Harry, but now it was far too late to do anything about it. The Ancient compacts that provided for the ruling powers of England and Great Britain were clear.
Had the Minister not insisted on a trial before a full seating of the Wizengamot, Albus might well have been able to avoid this… but standing in what was, in effect, a full… if emergency… session of the Wizengamot he had no choice.
“Harry,” He went on, taking a breath, “I don’t believe that you should accept this…”
“Chief Mugwump,” Harry held up a hand, causing Albus’ heart to drop. “I will sit in my place for the summer sessions, however I appoint Andromeda Tonks as my representative for those sessions I am unable to easily attend.”
Albus nodded, suddenly feeling rather tired, “A rather astute and mature choice, my boy. Mrs Tonks? Do you accept the proxy vote for Sir Harry, Mage Knight of the Realm, and the Potter seat?”
“I do,” Andromeda said, a sly smile appearing on her face, “As well as the proxy for House Black in the name of our family’s Regent.”
“Ah, yes… of course,” Albus said ruefully, almost unable to entirely fight off the urge to chuckle.
The boy currently held the vote for two Ancient and Noble houses, as well as the Queen’s vote. Three full votes that had previously been inactive had just returned to the Wizengamot, and he had no doubt that the previously established balances of power had just been chattered irrevocably.
Under other circumstances, Albus might even celebrate it, but he had to admit that while he could certainly see good uses for the votes, he would have preferred they not reside in the hands of Mrs Tonks. She was entirely too savvy a political player, albeit one with limited experience due to her choice of life partner.
He had no doubt that she would shortly, if she hadn’t already, put any such lack to the wand however.
A bell sounded deeply in the core of the room, and everyone felt the wash of magic fall over them as a section of previously inactive seats glowed. The dust that had covered them vanished as the Potter, Black, and Windsor coat of arms appeared before them.
“My Regent and I will take our place then,” Andromeda said with a nasty smile, leading Harry to the seats. “We have a farce to complete, after all.”
Albus sighed.
This did not bode well.
*****
Comments
Gavin Spammed
I think you should update your site to tell the free viewers about the delay. Basically, a sorry not dead message
Douglas Braning
This is a scene I've been dying to see ever since Harry was knighted, looking forward to Fudge and Umbridge being torn to political shreds!
Matt Harris
I think chattered is supposed to be shattered... but given the propensity of politicians to ramble on, chattered might be the right choice.
Brian Dorion
Glad to see that you've gotten things cleaned up enough to get a chance to write! Thanks for the chapter.
Well, I guess the two 124s are identical, so yes 125. Sorry, my confusion.
Wonderful chapter, but... isn't this126? Hmm. Two 124s...
Yanni
Glad to hear that power is back on for you…thanks for the awesomeness
Yanni
😂 I love andromeda, she such a BAMF
Alex Wierzbicki
Awesome
