AN; I have been snarked at, by mostly guests, that I use Caps at the wrong time. I use caps to show deeper meaning of the words. Where a house is where you live, a House is a bloodline, Honor code, and Wealth.
If you are Reading this…
Ch 6
ISDH
Monday Morning
Potter Estate
After their morning Tai-Chi, Harry and Sirius had retreated to their rooms to refresh and dress for the Coming Day.
A quick, but complete shower, before dressing in the Black silk robes, with the House Crests, on the Left Breast. Potter in Gold, with a silver Black on the Left arm. On his Left wrist, he strapped a wand holster, and slid his Holly wand into it. On his right wrist, His Father's holster, with a 'Potter' Wand from the Armory; Black Oak with a Quill from a Wyvern. Under the Robe, he was wearing a three piece suit in deep emerald green, with a pocket watch in the vest. The Potter Heir Ring, on his Ring Finger of his Right hand, while the Black Heir ring on the Middle finger of the same hand, glinting in the morning sun as he preened before the mirror.
As he stepped from the Master bedroom, Sirius looked up from where he was twisting his Lord ring, on his left hand, middle finger. "Ah, Pup, there you are." the new Lord Black stood, freshly washed, shaved and trimmed beard[van dyke], in matching Robes. The Black in Silver over his left Breast, with a Gold Potter on his left shoulder, rimmed in purple. "Ready to go?"
"As I will ever be."
They came down the stairs, into the Entry Hall. Dobby was bouncing on his toes, dressed in an Elf version of Potter's Robes, the Crest in Gold on his back.
"Looking Good, Dobby." Black smirked at the Elf.
"Feeling Good, Doggy." Dooby squeaked back.
Nooky tisked, as she swept her eyes over the trio. "Just Like Master James, He looks. Lady Lily would be so proud." She worked the Camera lever, before returning it to its place. "With Master Paddy at his side." She shook out the silky silver serape that was the Cloak. "Just in case."
Black swirled the Cloak about his shoulders, before twisting into the either.
Lupin Snorted, "Get Going, I am going to go help Booky fill the gaps in her Collection." He schlepped off to the Library.
Taking Dobby's hand, Harry popped out of the House.
121
Ron was having a grand time this Summer.
With the Help of the Twins and Ginny, he was perfecting his Keeper skills. He now could hold them off nine times out of ten, with the three of them working in tandem.
His Father had 'Conned' Ten tickets from Bagman, Director of DMSG[Department of Magical Sports and Games], for the Minister's Box. Very Hard to get, but Ron knew that his Father had played up the Fact that 'Harry Potter, my Son's Best Mate' would be there. Bagman, a Former Beater, and a Gambling Addict, had owed Arthur a couple Favors, when he had Over-bet his Money in the underground Betting Halls of London, and the redheaded Muggle-Expert had to expedite his release from the Muggle holding cells. More than Once, it was his bad luck that he was enjoying the entertainments of Said Halls when the Muggle Aurors had raided the place. Of Course, ten impossible to get tickets was a simple favor to throw to the struggling ministry Drone… It kept the Dice Rolling after all.
Ron was going to write Harry in the next few days to 'invite' him over. First to the Burrow, and then the Cup. He was including Granger, more to keep Ginny out of their hair, then for the 'Know-it-all' to be there. In fact he had the first draft already penned, just waiting for the Headmaster to tell him it was time.
Ron frowned as he intercepted the Quaffle, only to send it winging out over the Orchard. The Headmaster had gone quiet. He needed to send the letter in the next few days, or Potter would find something else to do in the meantime.
Ginny Bolted out after the Quaffle, catching it, just as Mom sounded a Cannon Blast Charm, to call them back. Like the growing boys they were, the three swund their Brooms about, and raced towards the Back Porch at breakneck speeds, twisting and rolling as they darted between the trees when they ducked below the canopy of the Orchard, only to blast up and over the Coop, to Land lightly a few feet from their Mother…
And Ginny. 'How did that little Bint beat us here?' Ron thought, knowing Way better than to voice those words. First Ginny would Hex him, his Mother would 'Soap' charm his mouth, than, straight to bed, with no Dinner! The kids quickly put up their brooms, washed up, and scurried to their seats, just as the last of the food was placed on the table.
Dad was home for Lunch, and some interesting things to say; Black found innocent Fudge, Umbridge, Crouch, and Dumbledor facing charges for the attempted Murder of the now Lord Black. Malfoy family incarcerated…"
121
Dobby brought Harry into the Atrium of the Ministry, promptly at 09:01. Black having arrived ten seconds sooner, was taken into custody by Bones (just as a precaution, and for protocol.) His cousin Andy, and her husband Ted Tonks were right there to escort him to the cells below. They only had an hour…
Auoror Tonks was assigned to watch Harry and show him to the courtroom by 09:45… she only tripped twice the whole morning. First on his morning agenda was the DOM, so Tonks led him through the check-in area. His Holly wand was 'weighed', recorded, and returned, the other was never noticed, nor volunteered. Then there was the 'Lift system'. It reminded him of the Glass elevator of Willy Wonka. At the bottom most floor, where almost everyone going, the two youngest people in the lift stepped out, and turned down a dark hallway, to knock on a heavy door.
A slot in the door opened, "Yes."
"Heir Potter to see the Hall of prophecy." Tonk intoned.
"Come." the heavy door slide open softly. They followed the grey-cloaked 'wizard' down the hall, through a room of spinning doors, into a room larger than the Great Hall of Hogwarts, filled with shelves filled with 'glowing' orbs. After checking the tome next to the door, the grey-cloak of an Unspeakable led them deep into the Hall. after five minutes of combing the shelves, they hit upon: SPT to APWBD re; Dark Lord vs ?(HJP).
Taking the orb, Harry handed it to the grey-cloak, who tapped it, for it to play…
THE ONE TO DEFEAT THE DARK LORD APPROACHES…
BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES,
TO PARENTS WHO THRICE DEFIED THE DARK LORD.
MARKED BY THE DARK LORD HIMSELF,
ONE KILLED THE HAND OF THE OTHER,
AS NIETHER CAN LIVE AS BOTH SURVIVE.
THE ONE TO DEFEAT THE DARK LORD APPROACHES AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES.
The younger two shared a look, before the grey-cloak returned the orb to rack on shelf. They were then led back out of the DoM. the whole trip took twenty minutes.
Checking her pocket watch, Tonks led the boy the cafeteria for a midmorning snack, before returning to the Lifts to descend into the depths for the Full Wizenmot. As they were waiting, they were swarmed by many 'Lords and Ladies' dressed in shades of purple. As the lift down, opened to disgorge it's payload, Tonk hooked an arm through Harry's, and let the crowd carry them into the 'Mot Chamber. Once beyond the doors, Harry stopped to gasp at the controlled Magic bound within the very chamber.
Tonks tried to led him up into the visitors gallery, but Harry felt a stronger pull to the Left, and followed it. The Pull led them to the Potter 'box' where a short wizard with a purple tophat was trying to enter. As the Smallish wizard tried to step into the Box, he was gently pushed back.
"Excuse me, sir." Harry allowed Tonks to lead as She stepped forward, her voice had the edge of Authority. "Is there a problem?"
"No, no, deary." the wizard turned to face them, "Just the wards being playful this morning."
"Your Box?" Tonks cocked her to read the crest.
"By Proxy." the wizard tried again, only this time he hit a solid wall.
"And who named you Proxy." while the words were a question, the tone was not.
"Chief Warlock Dumbledor. As the Dear Potter lad, is not ready to take up his post…" he leaned on the wall of air.
"And Who said he was not Ready?" Harry asked as he stepped around to look the wizard in the face.
"His Guardian, Albus of course. Told me the poor chap had no interest in taking his seat…" the Wizard trailed off as his eyes drifted to the scar on the Lad's brow. "Why are You here? Why was I not told?"
Harry clicked his tongue twice. "Okay, you can stay to advise me on court procedure. But no longer are you the Potter Proxy. Join us Tonks." At his words, the wall of air faded, allowing the wizard to stumble in, and land in the chair on the right, Tonks took the chair on the left, as Harry made a show of sitting on the throne like chair, before turning to his advisor, "Now, who are you, why did the Old Man place you as my Proxy, and why should I let you sit there, today, instead of banishing you from this box, this chamber, and the Ministry itself?"
"You wouldn't!"
"Just after Court has been called to order." Harry hissed. "Test me."
"No, I'll take you at your word." the wizard offered his hand, "Diggle, Dedalus Diggle. We met when Hagrid brought you to the 'Pub' back in '91." Harry just glared at him, "Your Father and I were both in Gryffindor and the Order. With Black… well you know, and all. Ole Albus would give me a list of things to vote on and how to Vote, before every meeting. Must have been doing a good job, today was the first time I had an issue with getting into my... ah your seat."
"Were you told how to vote today?" Tonks inquired as she swept her gaze over the galleries about the Room as they filled with the sheeple.
"No, but that normally means that I can vote as I choose." Diggle dug out an oversized pocket watch, to look at the time, "These are the favors I can trade, the votes that I can sell, you know what I mean?"
"Politics." Harry snorted, "My Uncle likes to bitch about the Liberal Whigs ruining the Empire, or how the Tories would do a better job, if they weren't sucking up or really Whigs just pretending." He sat back in his chair. "Okay, what are the Factions?"
"First you have the Light." Diggle giggled, as he rubbed his hands together, "They are led by Dumbledor. Many of the others refer to us as Sheep or that we spend too much time kissing up the Chief Warlock. Next is the Tradisionals. Forty years ago, they just wanted to keep to or re embrace the Old Ways. But with the War with He-who-must…"
"Voldermort!" Harry snarked, quietly, causing the other people in the box to twitch, "Or if you must, Riddle. He was a half-blood."
Diggle sat up, grunted, "Well, what do you know. You really do learn something new everyday." he took his tophat off, setting upside down by his feet, before he reached in, and pulled out a silver tea set, before reaching back into his hat, to pull out two more silver teacups, each with a saucer and spoon. Using his hat as a table, holding the tea service, he puttered about making tea for those in box Potter. "Where was I...oh right; Tradisionals. After He burst onto the scene, killing most if not all of that crowd, the next generation followed in His footsteps, took the Faction from Grey to Dark. They are Led by Lucius 'My Bank Account is bigger than yours' Malfoy. Then we have the true Grey. They mostly can't or won't join the Traditionalists, for one reason or another, and won't follow Dumbledor." He passed a cup, saucer and all to Tonks, "Last you have the Green Faction, led by Cyric Greengrass, no less. No they are not named 'The Green' because of Cyric. They are House of Commons among us House of Lords. While they outnumber us, they only have one vote. We, or rather You, Lordling of Potter, Ancient and very Noble House of Potter, get five votes. One for being a Lord, meaning you hold a seat here for one reason or another, Two, for being Ancient, able to trace your Magical Line back to the Founding of Hogwarts." he passed a cup and saucer to Harry, "and two for being 'very' Noble. Noble just means that your ancestors did a deed that earned aclaim to be granted either an Order of Merlin, Or a Knighthood of the Realm. Very Noble means that your Line has at least two such awards, but rather than start a new House, they boosted the fame of the Prime Line." the tea pot chirped that it was hot, ready to pour.
A quick pass of the silver pot, followed by milk and sugar, and they sat back to watch the last of the stragglers either crowd into the Visitors Galleries, or rushing to their Seat or Box.
"Explain the seating arrangements for me, please." Harry asked the wizard, as he sipped his tea.
"First, at the bottom rung," Diggle nodded towards the center of the room as he blew on his tea, "We have the Chief Podium which is flanked by the Directors chairs." he nodded to high desk with twelve seats and a scribe's nook making up innermost circle. "That is where the Minister and the Directors sit when they have Business before the 'Mot. If they have business, they are supposed to find a proxy, as Directors and the Minister do not have a Vote, or even a Voice." He pointed across the chamber with his cup, "House Bones is being Proxied by Lady Abbot, while her Husband," the cup swung and dropped to point halfway across the room, "Lord Abbot is holding his own seat." He sipped, "The next tier is just Seats or Chairs. Mostly filled with the 'Green', as those are the ones held by Order of Merlin winners, minor Lords and new Nobles. Above them, are the House Boxes. These are those who have a century or more of Holding their Seats. The only way to move up, is for a Place to open up above. Either House Lines becoming one, or just dying out. Then We Have the Nobles, the Ancients, the Very Nobles, and the Very Ancients. Now, the Ranking here is hodgepodge, Now, Most Laws are made in backrooms, smokey parlors, and dimly lit dining rooms. We only meet here to Vote and set into Stone." He Pointed up with his cup, "At the Top, we have the Press Box and the Visitors Gallery."
Diggle stood up to see better, "I do not see Malfoy, he usually is in Black."
"Black?" the younger two echoed.
"Yeah." Diggle eased back into his seat, "Old Lord Black named ole Luci as his Proxy, as the Father of the next Heir, or so he Claims. But something never seemed solid about that."
"Could it be because Sirius Black never had a trial?" Harry sipped his tea, noting the shocked looks on the faces of his box-mates. "Or that he was named Heir by his Grandfather, when his Father had disowned him?" the cup tink'ed as he returned it to the saucer, "Or that Malfoy is not the Father of the Heir...Not any longer."
"You know something." Tonks hissed.
"Yes, I do." He waved his left hand, flashing the Heir of Black ring, "Lord Black was planning to ask your mother if she wanted to return to the Family. He also, after Naming me Heir, Rebuked House Malfoy for Breach of Contract, Rebuked House Lastrange for Breach, and declared that they had willfully broken not just faith, but the Contract itself, and declared it Null and Void, reclaiming the Dowry, and the rest of House Lastrange as penilites, fines and interest."
Just then, a Gong Sounded, as the Doors to the Chamber boomed closed.
The trials had begun.