November 11th, 1997
Slytherin's letter was cheeky. There was no denying it. He kept toeing the line. The previous letter had ensured Harry's safety at the Lansdowne Ball, and this new one was asking for a private meeting to discuss policy. Policy Harry had no idea about.
Harry was certain that if Thomas Slytherin had not been seeking the throne they would be friends. The man was the consummate Slytherin and a challenge.
Harry pushed the letter into his bag and his fingers brushed Arcturus Black's journal. He was only able to advance his research so far because of it. He owed Regulus a big present.
December 11th, 1997
Sacred 27 & Wizengamot to Convene Regarding Heir of Slytherin
Rita Skeeter
In a move that surprised no one, the Wizengamot petitioned the families of the Sacred 27 to hold a vote regarding Lord Slytherin's ascension to the Throne of Magical Britain. It is believed that the Wizengamot will be pushing for a referendum to see how the population feels about having a monarch or if the throne should remain empty.
The Sacred 27 have agreed to meet but prominent members have anonymously expressed that they feel that it is not the Wizengamot's place to interfere with the rule of nobility.
Rabastan Lestrange: "It is unlikely that the referendum will occur. Unlike the muggles, we will not allow for our parliament to interfere with our right to rule. The Wizengamot has grown to believe they hold the power over the nobility in recent centuries. It is time for us to fix this perception. It was assembled by Queen Calliope as an emergency measure centuries ago and should have been abolished shortly after. I do hope that Lord Slytherin ascends the throne and removes the inefficiency of the Wizengamot and returns Wizarding Britain to her rightful place in the world."
Fabian Prewett had this to say: "We have lived without a monarchy for almost two centuries now. It has been fine and putting an unknown variable on the throne will ruin what we have going. Who cares if he's descended from Slytherin? So are the Gaunts and look where that has gotten them! (laughter) They resorted to inbreeding so much that it led to mental and physical degeneration. They weren't even allowed to attend conclave after that incident in 1880's! Do we really want someone who could be related to the Gaunts on the throne? No thank you."
With the nobility split on the issue we are forced to wonder what will happen in the upcoming months.
The meeting is set for January 2nd and the Sacred 27 conclave will occur the following month.
Tom threw the Prophet down on his desk and looked to Severus Snape. "Who agreed to that meeting?"
"Abbott, Fawley, Longbottom, Macmillan, Prewett, Shacklebolt, Shafiq, Slughorn and Weasley voted for the meeting."
His jaw was clenched tight, "There was only nine of them and they managed to overturn our majority. Where were our people? They are supposed to be the majority for a reason." He was seething.
". . . There was supposedly an incident with many of the owls and most of the Sacred 27 filed to receive notification of the emergency conclave. Only Black, Avery, Burke, Bulstrode, Crouch, Greengrass and Travers made it. They voted against the Wizengamots proposal." Snape answered in a drawl.
"Black voted against it? Interesting." Tom frowned and glared at the paper again, "This reeks of Dumbledore's involvement."
"I concur. He was missing for most of last week and it has recently come to my attention that he was seen at the homes of several prominent families. I suspect he offered incentives to the more neutral families to 'miss' the notifications and then actually arranged that the ones already serving you never received their owls."
The old man still had it out for him even after all these years despite him never doing anything to provoke him, "Theoretically, can Dumbledore be removed from the picture before the conclave of ascendancy?"
Snape nodded, "Anything if possible but there would be questions. People would suspect your involvement."
"He's old and I don't care if people suspect me." Tom snapped, "How would you go about removing Dumbledore?"
Snape was quiet for a minute as he considered his options, "Poison. Ricin preferably. Probably a bit sprinkled on those dreadful lemon drops he prefers."
It was Tom's turn to raise an eyebrow, "Interesting. Ricin is a muggle poison."
"It is also tasteless, undetectable by magic, and a few small grains of it can kill a full-grown man. It would look like he came down with Dragon Pox." Snape answered and watched his master for a reaction.
Tom stood from his desk and looked out the window to the grounds below him for several minutes before responding, "Arrange it. I hear the Defense post is opening for the first time in forty years. That would be a good way to get into the castle."
"...What about Harry Potter? He is already positioned at the school and-"
"Harry Potter is not an agent of mine. He does not know my plans. His uninformed involvement would likely destroy my cause. He is headstrong and," Tom stopped and looked like he was searching for a word, "-moral."
"If you permit my question, my lord, what is your interest in the boy? If he is anything like hi-"
Tom's laugh rang throughout the room, his silhouette standing out against the brightly lit window, "Is that why you suggested him? To disgrace James Potter? Severus, you do amuse me so." He chuckled weakly and smiled at the frowning man still seated across from him, "My interest in him is my own. That is all you are required to know."
Snape looked like he was searching for words and Tom watched his face move through a variety of emotions, "Are you interested in him. . ." the man shuddered like someone had force fed him a whole bottle of skele gro, "romantically?"
When Slytherin next spoke after several minutes of silence his voice was cold and devoid of any emotion, "Make the arrangements for Dumbledore. Harry Potter is none of your concern. Dismissed."
He remained at the window overlooking the snow-covered town of Little Hangleton as Snape quietly exited the room. The man certainly had his uses and was more than happy to learn the Dark Arts from him but he had a tendency of asking too many questions. It didn't help that he and Bellatrix Lestrange had a tendency of antagonizing each other whenever they were in the same room.
Returning to his desk he pulled out Harry's letters.
The boy had agreed to attend the Yule ball with him. It would be there that he would find out if he could recruit Harry or have to silence him. He didn't want to silence him. Harry had such a pretty mouth.
How the boy had uncovered so much about his past was impressive. The only person he would have thought able to do so would have been Dumbledore but he imagined the man had forgotten about him over the years. He turned over the photograph's that had been included with the first letter.
Potter had challenged him by including the photograph. With only the letter he could have assumed the boy was lying but there he was in the Chamber of Secrets, Salazar's statue behind him and a satisfied smile painted on his lips.