Hermione argues her first bill before the Wizengamot...

1

Half Breeds and Pureboods-Oh My

"Just what is that mud blood bitch playing at now?"

Eric Bledsoe threw the parchment he had been reading on the table.

He looked around the room angrily. He was not alone in his study, there were about a half a dozen other members of prominent Wizarding families in the room with him, each of them the heads of their families

The Bledsoe's along with ten other pureblood families started meeting shortly after Kingsley Shacklebolt started some of his reforms in the ministry of magic. Bledsoe along with the others in the room with him felt there was no place for muggleborns in the wizarding community. Kinglsey reforms, basically saying for all intents and purposes muggleborns were equal to purebloods had to be opposed.

So far they were able to defeat that Granger bitch's attempt to give rights to the house elves. Who in their right mind would want to give house elves any kind of rights? House elves were only good for being servants? Now she wanted to eliminate the laws that had been made to protect people from werewolves. Who in their right mind would classify werewolves as anything but a dangerous creature! Even if they could be treated they were filthy half breeds. Not only did she want to give werewolves the right to get jobs, worse, she also wanted to give them the right to marry!

It was bad enough that muggleborns were being allowed to marry into pure blood family bloodlines. Granger had contaminated the bloodlines of one of the most prominent wizarding pureblood families by marrying into the Weasley family. The two laws she had presented to the Wizengamot was proof of this. One thing was certain, they had to stop Granger now or she would be a real problem for the purity of the Wizarding race.

Bledsoe knew the rest of the people in the room were waiting for him to speak.

"I cannot believe that the Wizengamot is taking this seriously?"

Adriane Jakes finally spoke.

"Apparently Miss Granger's bill has the backing of Minister Shacklebolt." He paused nervously before continuing. Jakes knew what he was about to say would not go over well with Bledsoe; however he knew he needed to point this out to him. "She also presents a very strong argument."

"I hope you are joking Jakes." Bledsoe stated hotly "How can you say there is an argument for this…" Bledsoe looked at the documents in front of him with pure disgust "travesty" he finished.

Jakes did not back down. Bledsoe needed to know what he was up against; he was surprised when he had received word this bill was going to the full Wizengamot. Miss . Granger had to have presented a very strong case for the bill to go before the full Wizengamot. Bledsoe needed to now this.

"Whether we think this is a good bill or not does not matter." Jakes spoke carefully, he did not want Bledsoe riled up any more than he already was, "Her arguments were strong enough for the bill to be argued before the full Wizengamot."

"Adriane," Bledsoe spoke softly "If you do not think you can defeat this bill then perhaps we need to find a more competent Barrister to represent our interest."

Before Adriane could answer Bledsoe he was interrupted by Thomas Knott.

"I don't think that will be necessary Eric."

All eyes were now on Thomas. Thomas Knott was a member of the Wizengamot, by birthright. His family was an old pureblood line. His along with another twenty pureblood families had seats on the Wizengamot simply because of their family's status in the Wizarding world.

"I do not really believe that Miss Granger's bill is being seriously considered by the Wizengamot."

Adriane looked at Knott, clearly surprised at his statement.

"I assure you Tom, they are taking this…"

Knott interrupted him.

"The Wizengamot would not be foolish enough for something this irresponsible to pass. They are allowing Miss Granger to argue the case to appease her and Minister Shacklebolt. This bill will get as far as her silly House Elf Bill of Rights." He looked at Adriane and continued. "Besides, like her House Elf Bill of Rights she has no standing to bring the law before the Wizengamot."

Bledsoe smiled. Of course Knott was right. Granger would not get anywhere with this law, the Wizengamot just had to appease her since she was one of the members of Golden Trio. Bledsoe laughed, if what he had been reading over the last six months there was no more Golden Trio. Well at least there was on bright side to that bitch marrying that blood traitor Ron Weasley. It had costs Harry Potter his two best friends.

***

"Mrs. Weasley, you may present your argument."

Hermione took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She had been preparing for this argument for two full weeks. Now it was time for her to make her case. She reflected back on all that had to be done for her to get to this point.

People would have thought that Wizarding laws were passed in a very orderly system. That was not the case. In the Wizarding world all laws were argued before the full Wizengamot by either a Barrister or a Solicitor. A Barrister was not only able to present bills to be passed into law before the full Wizengamot, but a Barrister could also argue both Civil and Criminal cases before the courts, which were staffed by the members of the Wizengamot. A solicitor could present bills before the Wizengamot but not argue court cases.

The full Wizengamot had two hundred members. In order to argue her bill before the Wizengamot she first had to submit a brief. Her brief had to state the purpose of her bill, what the law she was trying to pass, how it was to be enforced and finally an arguments supporting the law using British, American and Wizarding common law.

The brief would be reviewed by the senior members of the Wizengamot, if they felt the law was supported by the arguments presented in the brief she would be allowed to present her case to the full Wizengamot. Unlike the muggle government, the members of the Wizengamot did not debate the bill, the bill was argued, much like a case was argued in the courts by two Barristers or Solicitors. One for the bill and one opposed. After the arguments were presented the full Wizengamot would then vote on the bill. If a majority voted in favor of the bill it was passed.

Hermione believed that her hard work in the department for the regulation and control of magical creatures had paid off. It was during her time in the department she not only learned the basics of Wizarding law, but she had also studied for and passed her Barristers exam. She was now arguing her second case as a Barrister before the full Wizengamot. This was something that had never been done by someone as young as her.

She cleared her throat and spoke clearly. Hoping her voice did not show how nervous she was.

"Esteemed members of the Wizengamot,"

Hermione made sure she was looking at the members of the Wizengamot and not at a piece of parchment. She had read it would be more effective when making an argument to make eye contact with the people you were making the argument before, than if you were looking down at a prepared speech. She continued.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address you today. I am here today to work with this esteemed body to address a great injustice…"

Adriane Jakes interrupted her, by standing up and moving onto the floor.

"The only injustice I see here," He looked at Hermione with disdain as he continued. "Is that Miss. Granger has been allowed to waste this esteemed bodies time with a bill that at best is laughable."

Hermione just gave Jakes the sweetest smile she could.

"Perhaps if Mr. Jakes would let me present my argument, he would see this is not a waste of the Wizengamot's time."

"I would be happy to hear why Miss. Granger feels this bill is not a waste of all of our time." A Jake's continued he motioned as if he was dismissing Hermione, "However I do not see where Ms. Granger has any standing to present this bill."

Hermione smiled to herself. She had lost first attempt at arguing a bill before the Wizengamot on a technicality. A Barrister or Solicitor could not just present any bill they wanted to argue before the Wizengamot. They had to be representing a person or entity. She had no client when she submitted the House Elf Bill of Rights and the bill had been dismissed.

When she prepared her brief she purposely had left out the affidavits of standing, naming who her clients were. She hoped that her opposing council would see that she had not submitted her affidavit and try this. She also did additional research. The rules of the Wizengamot did not require she submit the affidavit with her brief as most Barristers did. All she had to do was submit the affidavit at the time she argued her case.

Hermione handed Jakes her affidavit of standing, and another the clerk.

"My apologies," her voice showed she was anything but sorry, "In my hurry to complete and submit my brief I forgot to include my affidavit of standing. As you can see today I am representing three clients, Lavender Brown, Theodore Lupin and the Ministry of Magic."

Jakes looked at the document she had given him. For a second she could see she had surprised him. However he quickly recovered and looked at her as he spoke.

"Miss Granger seeing that this is only the second bill you have argued before the Wizengamot I would like to give you a little bit of leeway." He gave her a sympathetic look as he continued, "However, I am sure that any one that has had experience before this esteemed body is aware that they must submit proof of standing with their briefs."

Jakes looked up to the Chief Warlock.

"Since Miss. Granger in her inexperience failed to submit proper documentation of her Legal standing with her brief I ask that the Chief Warlock dismiss this bill for lack of legal standing."

As Hermione answered Jakes she too addressed the Chief Warlock.

"Actually Mr. Jakes, Wizarding law states that proof of standing is to be shown at the time a bill is argued before the full Wizengamot, not with a brief supporting a bill. The practice of submitting proof of standing with a brief was started to avoid having to argue legal standing before the Wizengamot. By submitting my proof of standing now I am within the law."

Jakes looked at Hermione; he was clearly surprised by her argument. He went to his table and pulled out his book on procedures, as did the Wizengamot's clerk. Hermione was correct in her thought that everyone was so used to how things were done, they thought this was law.

The clerk found what he was looking for in his book and whispered to the Chief Warlock. As the clerk stepped away the Chief Warlock spoke.

"It seems Mrs. Weasley you are correct. Motion for dismissal is denied. You may proceed."

Jakes stared at Hermione sullenly. He realized that Hermione had withheld the affidavit of standing on purpose. He was counting on the bill being dismissed right away. He knew his other arguments against the bill were extremely weak.

Over the next hour, Hermione argued that lycanthropy was now a treatable disease. She presented testimony from several respected healers from St. Mungos as well as one of the prominent potion masters in London explaining how the Wolfsbane potion worked.

Jakes smiled to himself. Granger had presented a strong case. However she had not addressed the main issue many wizards had when it came to werewolves. Werewolves had been known to attack and kill people, and when not killing, infecting their victims with lycanthropy. Jakes had documentation of at least fifteen attacks over the last three years to support his argument. He wanted to pick the right time to interrupt the case that Granger was presenting. He could not believe that Granger had missed the fifteen attacks while she was preparing her argument. She may be brilliant, but she was also careless. Jakes listened as Granger continued.

"So as you can see, lycanthropy is a treatable disease. With the treatments available today werewolves can be made harmless during the…"

"Did my ears deceive me?" Jakes shot out of his chair, this was statement he was waiting for. "It seems that Miss. Granger has failed to completely research her case."

Jakes smirked at Hermione as he continued.

"Werewolves are far from harmless as Miss. Granger would have you believe."

He handed Hermione and the clerk a copy of the report he had prepared on werewolf attacks over the last four years. "As you can see, this is documentation of at least fifteen attacks by werewolves over the last four years. Eight of which have resulted in the death of its victim, the other seven have contracted lycanthropy as the result of their attacks. Given the evidence I am shocked that Miss. Granger would even make the statement that werewolves are harmless!"

"My name is Weasley Mr. Jakes" Hermione smiled as she answered Jakes, "Had you done your research you would have known I took my husbands name when I married him." She then handed the clerk and Jakes her own document. "Had you in addition to researching my name researched these attacks you would see the attacks were all committed by Fenrir Greyback, who is now serving a life sentence in Azkaban prison."

Jakes glared at Hermione, keeping his anger in check he answered quickly.

"That does not change the fact that werewolves attacked…"

"Werewolf." Hermione interrupted.

Jakes waived her off.

"It does not matter if only one werewolf committed the attack, any werewolf could…"

Hermione once again interrupted Jakes sharply.

"Mr. Jakes what is your blood status?"

Jakes glared at Hermione as he answered.

"I do not see how my blood status is relevant to this case and I ask the Chief Wizengamot to remind Miss. Granger that blood status is not the issue here."

Hermione addressed the Chief Warlock.

"I ask the Chief Warlock to give me some leeway here. I think if he will have Mr. Jakes answer my questions the relevance of my question will be made clear."

"You may proceed Mrs. Weasley, but you are on a tight leash so make your point quickly." The Chief Warlock addressed the next part of his statement to Jakes,"Mr. Jakes I must insist that you address Mrs. Weasley by her proper name. Her Marriage to Ronald Weasley is well documented."

Hermione asked Jakes for his blood status again.

"Pureblood." He answered, not sure where Hermione was going.

"I also believe that Bellatrix Lestrange was also a Pureblood?" Hermione inquired sweetly. He answered she was. Hermione won her case with the next question she asked.

"So by your logic, you and every Pureblood in this room is also a cold blooded Murderer would you agree with that?"

Jakes did not answer the question. He knew he was beaten and would not dignify the question with its obvious answer.

Shortly after that Lupin's law passed in by a vote of 150 to 50.

***

Jason Walker stared at the parchment in his hands and shook his head in disbelief. The Walker family had not heard anything from the Knott family in more than nineteen years. After Lord Voldemort had been banished by Harry Potter, the Walker made it a point to distance themselves from the Pureblood families that had fallen under his control. The Walkers had no wish to tarnish the family name by associating with known death eaters. The Knott's may have not been convicted by the Wizengamot, but it was well known they were Death Eaters. This was proven by the fact that the senior member of the Knott family was currently in Azkaban prison for war crimes.

That had been a very dark time in the Wizarding world. Many families had members disappear, all assumed murdered by Lord Voldemort. Not wanting to have the same happen to his loved ones Jason Walker had made a huge mistake. He entered into an arranged marriage agreement with the Knott Family. His daughter Katrina would marry Theodore Knott, the son of Theodore Knott Sr. who was a well known death eater. In exchange, the Knott's would guarantee the safety of the Walker family.

With the fall of Voldemort the Walkers and Knott's never discussed the arranged marriage any further. Jason had assumed since he had not heard from the Knott's that the arranged marriage was off and did not stop his oldest daughter from dating.

His daughter was now engaged, and set to marry a wonderful muggleborn boy by the name of Arnold Kaplin. How could he break his daughter's heart by telling her she could not marry a man she was clearly in love with, and make her marry a man she had never met?

He looked at the letter in his hands. The letter was from the senior member of the Knott family Thomas. The letter stated the Knott family expected the Walker's to honor the arranged marriage that had been agreed to, and present their daughter to her future husband in no less than two weeks. It also stated that should he refuse they demanded he appear before the patriarch of the Knott family and explain why they were not going to honor the contract.

Jason knew there was nothing to debate. His daughter would marry the man she had fallen in love with. Not someone that she had never met. Jason reached for a piece of parchment and a quill and began to wrote his response to the elder Knott, informing him that his daughter was already engaged to be married and she would not be available to marry his nephew. He also informed the elder Knott, since he was clearly stating the reason for not allowing the arranged marriage to go through, it would not be necessary for him to appear before him.