Cedrella Black 1941

"Of course, Miss Black, we will regard this matter with the highest urgency. We are glad there are still people who speak up, even though –" Cedrella's mind drifted off. She vaguely wondered whether the officer in front her was simply afraid or corrupt, as he couldn't possibly believe the garbage her sister was spraying. Incompetent teacher, overly ignorant in her own domain, should not be allowed to misguide the poor, naïve students any longer, all in all, professor Zeening was a complete and utter fraud, as were most of the teachers who opposed the poor, young Miss Black. Most likely her dear sister Charis had gotten an Poor on her Divination essay.

It was then when she saw a face that she hadn't seen for the past one and a half year. A friendly face. A freckled face. A face retorted in anger as he passed by, which was a rare sight in itself.

Leaving her sister's side for the moment – why had she come along anyway? – Cedrella followed the large steps of Septimus Weasley. She made a very sophisticated and dignified sprint, and caught up with him as she joined him in the lift. They went down.

"What's the matter, Sep?"

When he heard that name, he swirled around bewildered, to the women that came into the lift after him. It couldn't be…

"Ceddie! It's you! How are you, dear girl?"

Cedrella rose her eyebrows and smirked. "I thought I asked a question first. Why is my sweet Weasel-snake looking so thunderous today?" Through their shared years at Hogwarts they'd invented many puns and nick-names for each other. Weasel-snake was one of the more regular ones. After all, he was only in his sort.

As soon as the words left her lips, the scowl returned immediately. "Alrod died." he grunted.

Cedrella directly began apologizing, but he wove her regrets away. "That's not it. Of course, it had been a tragedy, but that's not why I'm here. Well, not entirely."

The lift halted with a jolt, almost knocking its occupants from their feet. Cedrella looked up at the floor they had landed, quirking an eye-brow. "Wizengamot?"

Septimus sighed wearily. "He left three children and a wife, who automatically claimed all his properties, as he had never bothered about the will, the bloody git." He gave the memory of his brother a melancholic smile.

"She came from America, you see? Obscure background, no money, no solid magical education, certainly a marriage you wouldn't approve of – I didn't approve of it, in fact, I did object! But Alrod wouldn't listen, of course, when has he ever listened to common sense." Septimus lamented bitterly, "That's how he died, in fact. Apparently American Muggles have this weird hobby of trying to ride untamed bulls and horses, to broadcast their bravery or something, and Alrod – don't ask me why – thought he needed to do something similar with a graphorn… Ah well, anyhow, I appear to be right in the end, and the woman tried to sell the house in Lockerton and surrounding woodlands and move with the money back to America! Deceitful scum, it is, I'll tell you that. And my mom and dad would've let her, they don't think I should care so much…"

"They don't quite agree?" she enquired. He was silent for a moment, not looking at her, working his jaw as he shook off his agitation and regained his calm. Slytherin had taught him a lot about keeping hold over his emotions, Cedrella had seen is progress over the years, but it was still not to the standards with which the likes of the Blacks had grown up; the fact she had noticed his effort regaining his composure, was a failing in the traditional books.

"They just misunderstand." he explained, "They dislike what they see as a common, low argument over money, but it's not just about the money. It's about our standing in the wizarding world, I am trying to bring us all to a higher plane. I'm not doing this just for myself, but for them too, for George and Galieus, I'm doing this for the family." He sighed. "They're too kind. They don't see that if we let Jenny do this, we'll lose much of any respect we've left. A self-respecting, old pureblood family doesn't let itself be trampled, you and I understand that. And if they are not willing to act, and do the unpleasant thing, I will do it for them. And they will thank me for it in the future."

She smiled encouragingly. "I'm sure they will. Sometimes wizards from the other houses need a Slytherin to make them see sense. And it reflects well on you too, you know, to take up responsibility and defend your case. It shows initiative and cunning."

He gave her a tight smile in return. "Yes. Thank you. But you'll understand why I'm a bit… annoyed."

A bit annoyed? His expression would've been 'a bit annoyed', were it on her uncle's face, Septimus wasn't supposed to show any anger or fierceness at all. She had known him as the mellow lad, the carefree lad, the if-it-doesn't-concern-me-why-would-I-be-concerned type of person. Easy to talk with, always open to a game of chess or a bit of mischief, a relieve in the stuck-up Slytherin house. Never she'd expected to see him angry, although the calm, cold way he was it didn't surprise her in the least.

"Anyhow, what've you been up to?" Cedrella said, wanting to know a bit more about Septimus' life, "What do you do now for a living?"

"I'm helping an old wizard out in an antiquarian bookstore in London. He says I might take over in a few years' time, which is nice, though it doesn't make me as much as I hoped it would. The books are interesting, however, so I think I can't complain."

She nodded, that sounded nice enough, even though she didn't really have much of a reference when it came to jobs. Her only job was to get married to a respectable, pureblood wizard, and live a luxurious life. She had been promised to Abraxas Malfoy since her Hogwarts years, an absolute swine, but luckily her parents had given her the liberty to betroth someone else if she found a man they deemed fit. She had always felt attraction to Septimus during her Hogwarts years, even though they were nothing but friends at the time, but now she just wondered if maybe she could convince her parents of the fruitfulness of a relation with the House of Weasley.

"You're still with Emily Bark?"

He turned back in surprise, his hand already on the door that gave access to the courtroom.

"No, actually. As a matter of fact, we broke up last summer." There was a hint of strain in his voice, making quite clear to Cedrella who'd broken up with whom. Ungrateful hag. She'd had one of the nicest, sweetest, cleverest men in Britain, and thrown him away. Well, her bad.

She gave him one of her warmest smiles. "Please visit us when you're done with the case. Tell us how you won back your house and your land, and maybe about your findings from your books in the shop. I believe my parents would be very interested in your views on blood and family, I believe they would find your conviction to bring back glory to an ancient and noble House admirable. I find it admirable, anyhow. I would like for my parents to get to know you better, Mr. Weasley."

Blushing, his face blank in wonder, Septimus entered court.