Chapter Sixty Six - Taking Seat

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. Me, I'm just a PR professional. I don't profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world. However, its her sandbox and she's left the gate unlatched so we can go in and play a bit. Which, I've done.

Chapter Sixty Six - Taking Seat

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

A quick trip down to the dungeons, escorting Daphne - and a dash up the secret passages to the Ravenclaw tower to change and drop off his note - Harry quickly returned to the Entrance Hall. He cast a couple of quick 'Photography' Cantrips on himself, and strode back into the Great Hall with his head held high like a proper Lord.

When he reached the head of the Ravenclaw table he spun on the spot and struck a pose. His hair was perfectly coifed, his eyes sparkled, his teeth glinted as he grinned and his robes fluttered as if in a light breeze.

He was dressed every inch the image of a Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House. His deep black outer robes were of the finest acromantula silk. His crest rode upon his right breast. His under robes were a quality business attire of deep green trimmed in black. His pure cotton shirt, startlingly white.

With one finger of his left hand pointed in the air for dramatic effect, while his other hand rested on a cocked hip, displaying his Head of House ring for all to see, he proclaimed, "Never fear - For, I am here." And struck another pose.

A couple of the young girls sitting near the head of the Ravenclaw table loudly sighed and pretended to swoon before giggling madly.

Cygnus and Sirius both roared with laughter while Isabel and Gran both tutted and rolled their eyes.

"Really, Mister Potter," came the voice of Professor McGonagall from behind him.

"Ah!" said Harry, surprised, before he could internally recover. "Such dulcet and melodious tones are truly music to my unworthy ears. It must be an angel, come to give me her blessings." He turned around to see Professor McGonagall standing over near the head table.

She stood there, trying hard not to smirk back. It wasn't helping her that Cygnus was head down on the Ravenclaw table guffawing and slapping the table top; or, that Sirius had fallen backwards off the bench and was rolling on his back on the floor laughing his butt off.

"Professor McGonagall!" Harry cheekily exclaimed in a chipper voice. "What an absolute joy it is to see you. My day keeps getting better and better!"

Without even saying a word, the oft-stern Transfigurations Professor hesitated for the barest of moments before she spun about and hurried out of the Hall via the teacher's entrance.

He also hadn't noticed that Daphne had entered the Hall and come up the side of the table to look down at a giggling Sirius lying on the floor.

"Really, Lord Black," she expostulated. "Is this the behaviour we should come to expect from the Lord of an Ancient House?" And looked over at her father who had hiccups and tears in his eyes from laughing too much.

"Darling!" said Harry, overly gaily, as he spun on hearing her voice.

"Harry James Potter," she glared at Harry. "What have you done to two of our Lords?"

Sirius had finally managed to regain control of himself and was using the bench to try and regain his feet.

"I have merely provided light and humorous entertainment while others have engaged in jovial conversation and contemplative study," he brightly replied with a flourishing bow.

That set the two men off a little again.

"You broke them," she sternly said.

"Nay, darling," replied Harry. "They are merely appreciative connoisseurs of fine humour and gaiety."

Daphne just rolled her eyes and sighed.

Gran smirked and said, "I think we best leave while we still can." Before she stood and cast a quick Cleaning Charm to the back of Sirius's robes.

The other adults rose as Harry came back around. He offered his elbow with a flourish and said, "May I have the honour of escorting my lady?"

Daphne glared at him and asked, "What have you been drinking?" But she took his elbow as they began to head for the main doors.

With a cheeky grin, he replied, "I have supped from the fountain of life only, dear heart. Verily, I find myself somewhat giddy in the joy of existence."

"Verily?" asked Daphne, glancing over and cocking an eyebrow. "Only you would think a word like 'verily' is still used in common parlance."

"Says the lady who used the word 'parlance' in a like manner," he retorted.

From behind, Harry heard the adults snickering and chatting.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

After being side-along apparated from outside the front gates of the castle to the apparation point in Diagon Alley, their little party made their way into Gringotts.

Just inside the doors they were greeted by a goblin who had hurried over. He bowed to Cygnus, Sirius and Harry before he said, "Lord Potter, Master Account Keeper Bloodfang is expecting you. Please, follow me." He spun on the spot and marched off across the hall to the doors at the rear.

Still escorting Daphne, he followed along as they were led down the back hallway to the doors, wherein he knew Bloodfang made his office.

After being bid to enter, the party filed inside. Harry made the introductions before he and Daphne took seat in front with the adults seated behind along the back wall.

"Lord Potter," began Bloodfang. "I'm pleased you have decided to attend Gringotts with such haste."

"Your missive implied haste was needed," said Harry.

"Indeed," replied Bloodfang. "The Minister is not happy you have taken your mantle as Lord. He has attempted to block you access by way of Ministerial decree."

"He dares?" exclaimed Cygnus.

"He does," replied Bloodfang as he slid parchment work across his desk to Harry. "My Lord, I need you to sign these documents. Once they are signed they will be magically filed, both here and at the Ministry. Once that is done, the Minister's current efforts to have you stripped of your Lordship will be circumvented."

Dewey came forward and read the documents over Harry's shoulder. Bloodfang also placed before Harry a blood quill ready to sign each document.

As Dewey finished each, he tapped it and said to Harry, "Sign it." Which Harry did.

As he signed the last document and they were slid back to Bloodfang, Harry asked, "You said the Minister's current efforts; do you anticipate others?"

"Yes," replied Bloodfang. "Our - informants - within the Ministry believe he is attempting to have your Lordship overturned by having you stripped of your emancipation." He then hesitated a few moments before he said, "However - there is one sure way that it cannot happen."

Harry stared at Bloodfang and frowned. "You're being reticent in telling me how, my friend. That is quite unlike you."

Bloodfang placed the seal of Gringotts on each document before tapping the seal and causing the document to vanish with a flash of magic.

Once he was done, Bloodfang looked back at Harry and said, "The betrothal contract between yourself and Lady Daphne." He gestured to her. "States that you are to marry once you come of age. It does not, however, state Lady Daphne must also be of age."

Harry gasped in surprise. Daphne suddenly gripped Harry's left hand very tightly, while he was madly reading the contract in his mind.

After a few moments he sighed and said, "Damn. No, it doesn't." Turning to Daphne he said, "I'm so sorry. I did not consider the impact my becoming emancipated would have on our betrothal contract."

Cygnus cleared his throat and said, "Harry; this was somewhat anticipated. As you are a little over a month younger than Daphne, it was always expected she would be of age before you. As such, we never considered the possibility of you being emancipated at such an early age.

"However, we also knew this might be a possibility, if Dewey's other efforts to have you removed from the tournament failed."

Harry nodded and looked back at Bloodfang. "How would our being married circumvent the Minister?"

"A marriage ceremony undergone with the blessing of magic cannot be undone without the blessing of magic," replied Bloodfang. "Once you are married, the Ministry cannot strip you of your emancipation, even if you wanted to be."

"It seems like using a war-axe to cut kindling to me," sighed Harry.

He turned to the adults and said, "Now that those documents are signed and filed, it's going to take time for the Minister to shift his focus. I'd rather call the Minister out for attempting to interfere in the practices of an Ancient House than be forced to marry so soon, when we're both not ready for that commitment."

Cygnus nodded and said, "I'll speak directly with the Chief Witch, Griselda Marchbanks, and demand an emergency session of the Wizengamot..."

"I'll second it," interrupted Sirius.

"Thank you," said Cygnus with a nod towards Sirius. "We'll need a Wizengamot led investigation into the actions of the Minister. If necessary, a vote of no confidence in him will also need to be filed. While it might not work, it'll hamstring him in taking any further pro-action until it's resolved."

"If I've already taken my seat in the Wizengamot, that will put paid to his shenanigans, as well," said Harry.

Cygnus sat thinking for a little while and said, "The last time anyone was allowed to take their seat in an emergency session of the Wizengamot was during the last war. And, even then, the emergency session was for the purpose of allowing that to happen."

"There's no reason an emergency session has to be for only one item," said Harry. "It could be to allow me to take my seat and to start an investigation into the actions of the Minister."

"Good point," mused Cygnus. He turned to Gran and asked, "Augusta? You're current Regent for House Potter - Well, you would be proxy now - How do you feel about this?"

Gran nodded and said, "Let's get Harry inducted onto the Wizengamot. He can then, if he wishes, retain me as Proxy. I think Griselda will call the emergency session once we explain to her what Cornelius is up to. She's never liked the idea of the Ministry interfering with the business of the Ancient Houses."

Harry turned to Daphne and said, "Daphne. Please don't think I'm trying to find a way out of marrying you. I'm not. I'm trying to find a way out of marrying you right now, because I have to. I want you to have the big, lavish wedding you and your Mum have probably dreamed about. And being forced into it right now will deny you that."

Daphne smiled back and said, "I know. But, thank you for being considerate enough think of my feelings in this."

Harry smiled back before turning to Bloodfang, "My friend, I'm going to need the documentation for me to take my seat on the Wizengamot; and then hand my proxy off to Madam Longbottom. We'll be holding off on the marriage ceremony for now; but, have the parchmentwork ready, just in case."

Bloodfang nodded and got to work by drawing out a couple of sheets of parchment and his quill.

Harry turned back to the adults and asked Dewey, "Dewey? You've been awful quiet. Do you think the emergency session is the way to go forward?"

He nodded and said, "I do."

"Alright," said Cygnus. "We have a plan of action; plus, a fallback if it's needed. Once Bloodfang's finished the parchmentwork we need to head directly to speak with Madam Marchbanks. We have a fair bit to do and not a lot of time to do it before the Minister tries something else."

"But, why is the Minister so determined to stop Harry taking up his Lordship?" asked Isabel.

"He's not," replied Cygnus. "It'll be Malfoy and his ilk. I daresay they've had this ready to go since Dewey and I first applied for Harry to be emancipated a few weeks ago. Fudge wouldn't have done anything unless Malfoy told him to."

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

From the bank, the party, except for Dewey, headed directly to the Ministry. Dewey headed back to his own offices.

They found Madam Marchbanks in the Chief Witch's office. The place she would often be found since the ouster of Dumbledore, and where he was rarely found.

Entering the outer office, Cygnus approached the young secretary and asked, "Could you please inform the Chief Witch that Lords Greengrass, Black and Potter - and Lady Greengrass and Dowager Lady Longbottom - would like a word?"

The young witch looked up with a bit of awe before she hurriedly rose from her desk and said, "One moment, My Lords and Ladies." She dashed to the door of the Chief Witch, knocked quickly and ducked inside.

A few moments later, she came out and held the door open. "Madam Marchbanks will see you now," she said.

The party entered the office to Madam Marchbanks struggling to rise from behind her desk.

"Sit down, please, Griselda," said Cygnus. "None of us expect you to rise for us, you know that."

With a nod, the old witch retook her seat and drew it back in to her desk. With a light cough she asked, "Cygnus? I take it this is an urgent matter?"

Sirius conjured more seating across from the Chief Witch and the party took seats.

"Yes, Griselda, it is," replied Cygnus, sitting down. "Fudge has just attempted to strip a new Lord of his emancipation, within mere hours of him accepting it, and is attempting to stop the boy from taking his rightful seat."

Madam Marchbanks frowned and said, "That's a pretty damning allegation. Perhaps, you should start at the beginning and let me see if I can determine what is going on."

Cygnus then ran through the events of the day and what they had discovered when they visited Gringotts.

As he talked, she questioned. And Harry realised that, though she was of great age, she was still a very sharp lady. It added to the high esteem he held of her from the trials.

When Cygnus finished, the Chief Witch turned to Harry and asked, "I take it, it is your intention to retain your Lordship and take seat on the Wizengamot?"

"To retain my Lordship and hand my proxy over to Madam Longbottom," he easily replied. "I find myself quite offended the Minister is attempting to deny me my rightful seat before he has even met me to make such a decision."

"Indeed," she said. "Such actions offend me, too."

She leaned back in her chair and said to Cygnus, "Under my authority I'll call the emergency session for tomorrow evening. I agree, it appears necessary young Lord Potter should be inducted into the Wizengamot with all due haste. And, I further agree the Wizengamot needs, through its own authority, to investigate the Minister in his actions.

"However, I won't allow the investigation to be - if you'll pardon the pun - a witch hunt. The investigation will be specific in finding out why the Minister is trying to block Mister Potter's elevation; that is all. We'll also put in place an embargo on the Minister and the Ministry taking any such action until the investigation is complete."

"That's all we ask, Griselda," said Cygnus. "Thank you."

After the meeting, and back out in the atrium, Harry said, "Nice lady."

Cygnus said, "She is. One of the few within the Ministry I'm confident to say is completely incorruptible. She can also be utterly ruthless when she wants to be."

Escorted by Sirius, Harry and Daphne floo'ed back to Diagon Alley so Harry could be fitted with Wizengamot robes at Madam Malkin's. As they needed to be customised with the Potter House crest, he promised he would return early the next evening to pick them up before floo'ing to the Ministry.

Afterwards, he, Daphne and Sirius floo'ed to Hogsmeade and walked to the gates of the castle. Sirius bid them a safe walk back and headed back to the Ministry to meet up with Cygnus, Isabel and Gran. The Greengrasses and Madam Longbottom stayed at the Ministry. They claimed other business to which they needed to attend. Harry suspected they would be questioning their own contacts to see if they could discover just why they were attempting to deny Harry his emancipation and Lordship.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

Harry and Daphne had returned late afternoon and headed to their dorms to get changed out of their 'spiffy' robes back into school robes. They met up, again, in the Come and Go Room.

The first to see Harry walk in, Neville asked, "How'd it go?"

Harry explained what he, Daphne and the adults discovered. And what he and the others then did to block the attempted circumvention.

"So, I'm going to have to get spiffed-up again tomorrow, early evening, and head to the Wizengamot chambers. Sirius will be waiting for me outside the gates to escort me," he said.

He hadn't heard Daphne walk in, and didn't know she was there until she said, "He'll be escorting us, Harry. I intend to be there to see you inducted."

Harry turned and smiled. "You don't have to, you know," he said.

"I want to," she said, walking around the lounges and sofa to take a seat at her and his normal seat.

Harry joined her and softly said, "Thank you. I'd like that."

She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. Turning to the others, she said, "Anyway. Homework from today?"

Hermione handed over what she'd written down for Herbology to Harry and DADA to Daphne. And they were quickly working on long assignments. Harry received his Potions assignment from Susan and an explanation of the potion they made.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

The next evening, Harry waited in the Entrance Hall for Daphne and, together, they walked to the front gate. Sirius waited just beyond.

A quick floo to Diagon Alley and Harry was in Madam Malkin's to collect his robes. Sirius told him to wait on wearing them until he was in the antechamber of the Wizengamot to don them. He showed his own robes in a package in his pocket.

After arriving at the Ministry and passing through the checkpoint, Sirius escorted them down to the chamber on the tenth floor. Daphne was escorted into the VIP guest section of the visitors' gallery, and Sirius took Harry through to the waiting area.

Harry quickly donned his new robes and was shortly joined by Cygnus, Gran and Aunt Amelia.

Cygnus said, "Isabel's sitting with Daphne. Now that you're ready we're taking you through to the House Potter meeting room behind the tiers. Its blood warded, so you're going to need to press your thumb on the impression. It will take a small blood sample to open the door."

Harry followed Cygnus and Sirius through another door into a passageway that curved around behind where he knew the Wizengamot tiers were found. He passed a number of doors before Cygnus stopped at one that bore the Potter House crest on the door.

Above the handle was the indentation for a thumb lock. He pressed his left thumb to the indentation, and suddenly felt like a thumb tack lightly stabbed him on the ball of his thumb. A moment later, there was a click as the sound of a lock disengaged.

He took a breath and opened the door into a decent sized room, clearly wizard-spaced as the doors either side of his own were too close for it to be otherwise. He stepped in and the others followed in behind.

Looking around he saw a small desk off to one side with a comfortable office chair. A couple of chairs on the other side showed for guests. There was also a group of four armchairs around a centred occasional table set up for discussions. On the far wall was a large fireplace.

Turning to Cygnus he asked, "Is the fireplace connected to the floo network?"

"No," replied Cygnus. "They used to be - before the war - now it's considered a security risk. They haven't been reconnected since."

Harry nodded before he changed the subject. "What happens now?" he asked.

"We four have to meet in the assembly room at the other end of the passageway," replied Cygnus. "You wait here until your Gran and I come and get you and escort you onto the floor of the chamber. There, we will present you to the Wizengamot. Simply answer the questions asked of you, and you will shortly be told to take your seat. You can sit anywhere you like that isn't already occupied."

Harry nodded, and quietly said, "Thank you."

Sirius reached out and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Relax, Harry," he said. "It's just the way things are done. It'll only be a few minutes."

Harry nodded again before both Gran and Aunt Amelia stepped forward to give him a hug, offering their own soothing words.

After they left, Harry took to exploring the reasonably sized room. He sat at the desk and tested out the drawers. The top draw on the either side also had blood locks. Opening them, he discovered there was little in them other than blank parchment. It wasn't until he looked at the blotter before him that he noticed an envelope tucked just under the edge of the blotter.

Pulling it out he saw it was addressed to 'Lord Harry James Potter'. It was written in his father's spidery handwriting.

He quickly opened the envelope and pulled out the small note within.

Dear Harry,

Congratulations on coming of age. If you are reading this you are clearly about to assume your rightful place on the Wizengamot. It's a huge step.

By now you've re-established the Alliances and, I suspect, it will be two of Cygnus, Frank, Arcturus, Benjamin or their successors who will escort you through to be inducted.

When you walk onto the floor, remember to stand proud. You are a Potter of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. You are powerful. People respect you.

Listen to the advice of your allies, but make your own decisions. And, you will do fine.

Dad

Harry smiled and refolded the letter. After sliding it back into the envelope he pocketed it and thought about his father's words. He found them - comforting. And wondered how many other letters from his father he would come across in future.

Getting up from the desk he walked over to a filing cabinet and, again, opened a blood lock to peek within. This time, it was filled with manila folders in a muggle style. Taking a couple of them back to the desk he opened them and saw documents dating back to the late 1970s and early 1980. The latest were often intelligence on Death Eater movements and background information on one's that were known about.

'Hmm,' he thought. 'That may come in handy in future.'

He closed the folders back up and returned them to the filing cabinet, locking it, once more.

He then moved on to a tall cabinet. When he opened it, he saw it was filled with bottles of wizard and muggle spirits; many of them only partially full. Set in the door were what looked like little potions phials, with Pepper-Up Potion and Calming Draughts being prevalent. Of course, they were all beyond their use-by date.

He smiled knowing why they were there. It explained how previous Lord Potters were always seen as being alert and calm when the chamber devolved into semi-controlled chaos.

He had just closed the cabinet again when there was a knock on the door. Opening it, he was greeted by Cygnus and Gran.

"Ready, Harry?" asked Cygnus.

Harry smiled and nodded. "Let's do this," he replied.

Both grinned back.

As he was escorted back out the passageway through which he was originally led in, Cygnus quietly said, "Fudge was right ropable when he found out you were being inducted tonight. He's been doing everything he can to try and block it. However, it's been in vain. You will be inducted tonight."

"However," said Gran. "You're going to have to hold off on handing me your proxy. He did manage to get the proxy hand-off blocked as that wasn't specifically on the docket for tonight. That doesn't change things, other than you'll have to remain for the entire session instead of being allowed to leave early."

"Because it's an emergency session it won't be long, anyway," said Cygnus. "After your induction, we will immediately get to the Wizengamot investigation into Fudge. I do not see that taking too long."

Then they were there at the doors leading out onto the floor. Hesitating a moment, Cygnus asked, "Ready to go?"

Harry took a couple of deep breaths and nodded. He stood up proudly and pushed the door open. And strode out into the middle of the floor. Gran and Cygnus took up station on either side of him. The members watched him come with barely a murmur.

After a couple of moments of hesitation, Madam Marchbanks asked in a clear voice, "Who presents this new Lord before us for induction into the honoured ranks of the Wizengamot?"

"I do, Chief Witch," replied Cygnus. "Lord Cygnus Greengrass of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Greengrass."

"And, I do, Chief Witch," replied Gran. "Dowager Lady Augusta Longbottom, Regent Longbottom and Regent Potter, of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom."

"And who do you present?" asked the Chief Witch.

"We present Lord Harry Potter of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, Chief Witch Marchbanks," replied Cygnus.

"Is our young lord of age?" asked the Chief Witch.

"He is not!" snarled a rather portly little man. Under his purple Wizengamot robes he wore a bottle green pinstriped suit and scarlet tie. His rumpled grey hair looked to be parted down the middle and had a sparse moustache.

Harry took one look at him and wondered how the hell he managed to be elected. Clearly, there were no coloured photographs of the man.

"He is!" snapped Cygnus back in a loud and carrying voice. "He was emancipated only yesterday during the first event of the Tri-Wizard Tournament being held at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"His emancipation was not approved!" snapped the little man right back.

Madam Marchbanks banged a gavel a couple of times and regained silence. She snapped at the little man, "You will remain silent, Minister Fudge."

Once she knew she had it, she turned to a young man sitting at the end of the bottom row of tiers. "Mister Fawcett; do the records show that Mister Potter is emancipated?"

The young man looked a bit fearfully at Fudge before he glanced back down at his records. He flipped through the pages of a book before he looked back at the Chief Witch and said, "Harry James Potter, born 31st of July 1980, aged 14, emancipated by official representative of the Minister, Mister Bartemius Crouch Senior, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, on the 24th of November 1994, at 2.37pm. And recognised by magic one minute later."

Fudge surged to his feet again and shouted, "Crouch was not authorised to make such a determination. He exceeded his authority. As such, the emancipation is void!"

Madam Marchbanks banged her gave a few more times and turned to Fudge. "Sit down, Minister!" she barked back.

Fudge resumed his seat.

"Clearly," she said, a smidge quieter, "you did not pay attention to the part where it said magic has recognised the emancipation. Whether or not you believe Mister Crouch had the authority, magic recognised he did. As such, we have no choice but to accept Mister Potter was emancipated at that time. Now be silent!"

Fudge fumed where he sat but didn't respond.

Madam Marchbanks glared at Fudge for a few moments longer before she turned back to Harry and his 'escort'. "As Chief Witch I acknowledge Mister Harry James Potter has been lawfully emancipated."

When it looked like Fudge was going to open his mouth again, she glared at him and raised her gavel. The portly little man quietened down again; and Madam Marchbanks lowered her gavel back onto the bench before her.

She turned back to Harry and asked, "Has Mister Potter accepted his Lordship?"

"He has, Chief Witch," replied Cygnus firmly with a glare at Fudge.

Fudge surged to his feet again, anyway. He was clearly becoming desperate. "He's too young!" he snarled. "He's not yet ready to be seated..."

Madam Marchbanks banged her gavel a few more times before she finally snapped out, "Minister Fudge!"

The man, who was publicly proving himself to be an idiot, finally regained his seat in a sulk.

Madam Marchbanks let out an exasperated sigh and turned back to Harry and his two escorts. She looked at Madam Longbottom and asked, "Madam Longbottom, as Regent for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, is it your opinion Lord Potter is ready to take his seat among us?"

"It is, Chief Witch," stated Gran firmly.

"Then that is all we need to know on that matter," she said with a sideways look at the Minister.

She then looked firmly at Harry and said, "Lord Potter, as you have been found to be of age, have accepted your Lordship and have been found to be ready to accept your seat by your Regent, as Chief Witch, I welcome you into our ranks. Please come forward and take seat among us."

The entire seated Wizengamot, with a few notable exceptions, rose and applauded Harry as Cygnus and Gran escorted him up into the tiers. He was guided into a seat between Cygnus and Sirius.

Given the supposed nature of the Houses of Greengrass and Black, that surprised a few members who didn't seem to know of Harry's relationship to the two men. That surprised Harry, seeing as his betrothal to Daphne, and that Sirius was his godfather, were well and truly public knowledge.

Harry looked up and across to the visitors' gallery and saw Daphne and Isabel almost bouncing in their seats in happiness for him. He grinned back and gave a small nod. Some of the other members came around and offered their own congratulations to him. Both Cygnus and Sirius whispered to him about who each member was and to which House they belonged.

Harry was gracious in his thanks to each.

Once it appeared the congratulations had settled down, Madam Marchbanks banged her gavel a few times and called the meeting back to order.

"The second item of business has been kept under wraps under my own authority as Chief Witch," she said.

Harry was surprised to hear that, he didn't know they hadn't made it public.

"By formal request from the Houses of Greengrass and Black, further supported by the Houses of Longbottom and Bones, a motion has been made to enact a formal Wizengamot investigation into the office of the Minister of Magic..."

The members of the Wizengamot, including the Minister himself, went bananas. There was shouting and accusations flying all over the place.

Madam Marchbanks calmly took up her gavel again and started banging it. After the first ten bangs with no change in the volume, she put the gavel aside and drew her wand. She caused a huge bang to be ejected by her wand that was near deafening. Finally, the members settled down.

"To continue," she said. "... into the office of the Minister of Magic into his interference of the birthright practices of a Noble and Most Ancient House; namely, the House of Potter."

After a short hesitation she called, "Lord Greengrass, the floor is yours. Members are - once again - reminded they are to remain silent while Lord Greengrass speaks."

Cygnus calmly stood and said, "Honoured members. Tonight you were witnesses to the latest attempt by the Minister, in attempting to interfere in the succession rights of an Ancient House, ..."

After an hour of 'to and fro' the investigation was approved by clear majority. Fudge tried to circumvent the investigation by immediately resigning. However, he failed to grasp that the investigation wasn't into 'Cornelius Fudge'; but, into the entire office of the Minister of Magic.

Those involved in the investigation included Cygnus, Aunt Amelia (as Regent for the House of Bones), Madam Marchbanks herself, an Elphias Doge, and two members Cygnus told Harry were 'Imperioused' Death Eaters. Both Cygnus and Sirius were happy as the people involved would ensure the investigation would not be wasted.

By the time the session was closed, Harry was almost asleep. Some members' droning manner of speaking was quite soporific. It was only rising and walking down to get changed, that Harry was able to stop from nodding off.

He went into the Potter office and stripped off his Wizengamot robe before changing back into his nice business style acromantula robe. Leaving the Wizengamot robe hanging from a hook behind the door he stepped out and made his way back to the main floor of the chamber, and met with Isabel, Sirius and Daphne.

Sirius looked at him and said, "Cygnus and your Aunt Amelia have headed straight for the Minister's offices to seal them under the imprimatur of the Wizengamot before Fudge or any of his lackey's can get there to - abscond - with any evidence. As Head of the DMLE, Amelia has placed two auror guards directly outside the doors for the night. They're going to commence the investigation first thing in the morning."

"That explains why I saw Lord Malfoy practically bolt out of the chambers while still wearing his Wizengamot robes," smirked Harry. "Maybe he was keen to get started on the investigation for himself."

"Yes," smirked Sirius right back. "Maybe someone should have told him that Amelia had already sent a message via her auror badge to her department and two aurors were already stationed outside the Minister's offices with orders not to let anyone in, including members of the Wizengamot until 8.00am tomorrow morning."

Harry chuckled.

As they were heading through the atrium - quiet, due to the time of night - Harry was scanning around looking for threats. He noticed Sirius was doing the same.

Harry said, "I wonder how long it's going to take the Wizengamot to figure out they've just given the Head of the DMLE carte blanche to search through everything in the Minister's offices."

Sirius looked askance back and said, "The Wizengamot investigation is only into Fudge's interference in your House's business, Pup."

"I know," said Harry, with a bit of a shrug. "However, if they find anything else that might be criminal in nature, while they're searching for that - Well, Aunt Amelia has no choice but to act as Head of the DMLE and investigate, doesn't she? Just because she's not looking for anything else, does not imply she's not going to find anything else, yes?"

Sirius suddenly stopped and looked at Harry in shock. After a moment his face slowly morphed into a wide gleeful grin. "That's brilliant!" he softly exclaimed. "That's - bloody - brilliant!"

Turning to Isabel, he asked, "Isabel, did you get that?"

"I did," she smirked. "I'll let Cygnus know tonight. I don't know if he's already figured that out, yet."

Sirius just barked with laughter and led the way to the outbound fireplaces so their small party could floo through to the Three Broomsticks.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/