Chapter 8

Wizzarding Society part two


It was after breakfast that Aries led Harry to the study for his first lesson on Pure Blood society.

'So what do I need to know to not make a fool of myself?' Harry asked nervously as he settled in the armchair opposite Aries in front of the desk. The man pulled out two book from the book shelf.

'Not much you don't already know. The first rule is always being respectful. At least until you get a feel of who the people around you are. You will also need to know why you're there.'

'Charity gala.' Harry remembered.

'But which charity.' Aries asked smiling.

'Er…I don't remember.' Harry sighed.

'That's because I didn't say. This time it's actually something I am interested in, they are trying to raise money for a ministry fund to help Wizards who have been hit by misfortune, be it a human attack or like the floods in south Wales one year ago, a natural calamity, the funds are divided yearly among the cases submitted to the ministry for review.'

'I didn't know that.'

'It has been tradition ever since the war with Grindelwald and it was set up by the so called Sacred 28.'

'Sacred? But is there religion in the Wizarding world?'

'Not in the sense it exists in the Muggle world, no. There are some who follow Christianity, and with more and more Muggle Born entering the Wizarding world we've adopted Christmas and Easter as our holiday names. But Sacred here is more a self-proclaimed adjective. Like the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.'

'So the Sacred 28 are families?'

'Yes, the families that were believed back then to be pure bloods. Abbott, Avery, Black, Bulstrode, Burke, Carrow, Crouch, Fawley, Flint, Gaunt, Greengrass, Lestrange, Longbottom, Macmillan, Malfoy, Nott, Ollivander, Parkinson, Prewett, Rosier, Rowle, Selwyn, Schacklebolt, Shafiq, Slughorn, Travers, Weasley and Yaxley. Now these families didn't all have Lordships, nor did they bear the title of Noble and Most Ancient House. They were just described by a man named Jacques Rosier as being pure bloods without dispute, according to the records that were at the time stored in the French Ministry of Magic.'

'So what is the difference between the Sacred 28 and the Lordships?'

'The families with Lordships were given the titles and respective responsibilities around the time Merlin was not even a thought in his mother's mind, by a Muggle Queen Eadgifu, who contrary to Muggle history didn't rule in the late 10th century AD but early 10th century BC.'

'Why a Muggle Queen?'

'Back then Wizards and Muggles knew of each other. Under her reign and that of her son Muggles and Wizards coexisted quite harmoniously. But we don't have time today for a proper history lesson. We'll get back to Eadgifu during summer.'

'Which of the 28 have Lordships?'

'Originally there were 12 Lordships: Abbott, Black, Fawley, Greengrass, Nott, Shafiq, Weasley, Peverell, La Fey, Gaunt, Lestrange and MacKinnon. But the only ones active are Abbott, Black, Fawley, Greengrass, Nott and Shafiq.'

'But Mr. Weasley is still alive.'

'Yes, he is. Unfortunately the Weasley family lost their title in a ritual about 300 years ago.'

'How?'

'I suspect a vow of honour and the impossibility to fulfil a task. But it is Weasley history, and every family I spoke of likes to keep its secrets.'

'So the others too, lost their titles?'

'No, not quite. The La Fey line died with Mordred La Fey back when Merlin and Arthur were alive. The Gaunts fell from grace, the same as the Weasleys two hundred years after Salazar Slytherin left Hogwarts.'

'So Slytherin was a Gaunt?'

'More like the Gaunts were Slytherin's heirs. Both names aren't the original ones from 936 BC.'

'Is Black?'

'Yes, and no. It was Mélais or Mélās which means Black in ancient Aeolic Greek. The Lestrange family died in the direct line, branches that lived on were all three times or more removed from it so they lost the Lordship and the MacKinnons were most of them killed in the war with Riddle, the ones that survived decided to leave the country, it has been 13 years almost and they have not made any attempt to return leaving the Lordship unclaimed.'

'What about the Peverells?'

'What about them?'

'You didn't say what happened to them?'

'They also lost their title but there is still potential there.'

Harry thought Aries was being deliberately cryptic.

'We will talk more about the Peverells during summer holidays. Until then, I want you to read this book.' He gave Harry a hefty tome with a green cover and golden letters.

'The History of House Piperellus.' Harry read out loud.

'We'll discuss more after you read it.' Aries gave him the all knowing smile Harry grew to be irritated with but at the same time it stirred his curiosity. 'Now, back to our Charity event today. Both members of the Sacred 28 and of the Ancient Houses will be in attendance, that doesn't mean you or anyone for that matter need to use Lord or Grace when talking to another person. A simple sir, or Mr. will suffice. Some will hold to the Lord title because they think it matters, but you shouldn't follow their example.'

'So I am to address you as Sir?'

'No, you can always call me Aries, even if we are in stiff company.'

'The Malfoys you mean?'

'More like everyone tonight.'

'Will Mr. Weasley be there also?'

'I don't know. It is a ministry Gala but that doesn't necessarily mean everyone working for the Ministry is coming. Usually the ones that come also donate.'

And the Weasleys were not rich people. Harry began to understand.

'Will you also donate?'

'We already donated.' Aries smiled 'I had Silvermane transfer 2'000 Galleons in our name for the cause.'

'Our name?'

'We are both going, and even if Potter isn't among the sacred 28 or the Ancient Families, it is still an important name in Wizarding society.'

'Right.' Harry stood up straighter at that.

'Even if being respectful will get you through the night with the adults, the more important interactions you will have are with your peers. I am sure Draco will be there tonight. Until now, both his parents kept quiet about your play dates.'

'Why? You said they would try to get you to name Draco heir.'

'Yes, they would, but they are also smart enough to realize that Draco is not mature enough to hold his tongue around you. And I am sure this goes both ways.'

'Only because he starts it.'

'I don't doubt you.' Aries chuckled 'But I will be the cautious adult and ask you to try to keep your calm with him.'

Harry frowned and tried not to glare at Aries before sighing 'I will try.'

'Count to 5 if it helps. The pause in conversation can only work in your favour if your response to his rude remark is well thought out and more mature. You would be surprised how many Witches and Wizards get bored at these gatherings and start eaves dropping on the younger generation, if only to have gossip material later.'

'And if the response isn't well thought out?'

'You still emphasize that it was he who started it all.' Harry nodded but still looked concerned 'Listen to me Harry, he can't say anything true to you. He might try to insinuate that I only took you in out of pity, as his mother thinks, or maybe that I try to do you harm because of what people think of the Black family name, but neither of them are true. It is the opposite of pity that I feel about you and though we know each other for a short period of time, I hope you got to know me well enough to trust I do not want to cause you any harm.'

'I know you're not a bad person Aries.' Harry said his heart beating faster than usual. 'I just, can't help but feel a bit inadequate going to a gala with so many important people. I-I'm not used to it.'

'I know. But I will be there with you. And you need to remember that you're more than Draco Malfoy will ever be. Your family is much older than his, it might not be as pure blooded, but that's not important. The Potter vault might not be as rich as Malfoy's but Malfoy made his money through blackmail and treachery while your ancestors were honest inventors with a good head for business. Draco is your age, he didn't accomplish anything, all that he thinks is rightfully his was built by his ancestors. You are the youngest seeker in a century, aren't you?'

Harry smiled and felt his cheeks heating up a bit. He was sure Aries would say he was the Boy Who Lived, but instead the man spoke of his Quiddich prowess, and that was, indeed his achievement.

'Thanks, Aries.'

'Now, back to the ball and rules on how to act around someone like Abbott's daughter.'

'Hanna. She's in my year. But she thinks I'm the heir of Slytherin.'

'Why would she think that?'

'Er, I speak Parseltongue. With the Chamber of Secrets being opened this year and all those petrifications, the school thinks it's me.' there was a pause before Aries spoke again.

'That's absurd. You're in Gryffindor.'

Harry fidgeted in his chair. 'Actually.' He said quietly 'The hat wanted to place me in Slytherin, it only chose Gryffindor because I begged it not to.'

Aries stared at him for a moment before speaking.

'Are you loyal?'

'What?'

'Are you loyal to your friends, to your house?'

'Yes. But-'

'Are you ambitious?'

'I don't think so-'

'Then why do you try to prove yourself as a good seeker for example?'

'That's different.'

'Is it?'

'Alright, I try to prove that I am good enough for the confidence others show in me. But that doesn't mean-'

'Are you clever?'

'I'm not stupid.'

'I'd say you're more than not stupid. You're forgetting who read through your school essays two weeks ago, or was it three.'

'I don't understand where this is going.'

'Don't you? Maybe I should revise the clever part then.' Aries smirked at him before continuing. 'Are you brave?'

'I'm in Gryffindor.'

'So, you're loyal, Hufflepuff, ambitious, Slytherin, clever, Ravenclaw and brave Gryffindor.'

'But I'm braver than loyal or ambitious or clever.'

'Really? How can you tell? Do they measure on the same scale?'

'You're making fun of me.'

'No Harry, I'm just trying to tell you that you, as many that go to Hogwarts, have traits from all four houses. Most don't realize it, or at the moment of the sorting are more inclined towards Hufflepuff than say…Slytherin. But that doesn't mean all Hufflepuff will stay loyal throughout their life, or that everyone in Ravenclaw is a know it all. What matters, what truly matters, is your choices. And you chose not to go to Slytherin.'

'So I can't be a Slytherin.'

'You can, you just don't want to.'

'I can't not want to be the Heir of Slytherin.'

'Even heirs have the choice to accept or decline their legacy or inheritance.' was that a shadow passing on Aries's face when he said that?

'So I could be.' Harry pressed on.

'Do you believe you are?'

'I don't know. I mean, why can I speak Parseltongue?'

'The ability to speak with snakes is not exclusive to Salazar Slytherin. And if you were the heir of Slytherin, then you would be the one to open the chamber.'

'But I didn't open anything, I don't even know where it is.' Harry said anxiously.

'That means you're not the heir of Slytherin.' Aries concluded and Harry nodded sighing. It was stupid, he never opened anything, he just talked to snakes, not set them on unsuspecting class men.

'Good, now, back to Miss Abbott. Remember the rule about kissing hands, though I doubt anyone your age will be inclined to initiate the gesture. Address them with Miss. Lady is commonly used for the Lord's wife or if the Lady is head of house herself and it has been replaced by Madame or Ma'am just as Lord has been replace with Sir or Mr. Inclining the head slightly in greeting is also polite, not expected between peers, but it shows a greater level of respect.'

'So, Miss, and inclining head. Sir or Mr. and Madame or Ma'am for the adults, and inclining the head is a sign of respect. What about the guys my age?'

'Well, if you're familiar there's no sense to stand on ceremony. Even with Draco, with your history I would not try to show a greater level of respect where you both know there isn't any. But for the ones that are new to you or not quite friends, Mr. will suffice.'

Harry nodded relieved he didn't have to call Draco Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Pig Head more like it.

'It is also useful to know about future or past events, and what goes on in the wizarding world.'

Harry thought about him being able to now read the Daily Prophet during breakfast, which he sometimes did, since Aries had a subscription. He knew the official story about Hogwarts that had been front news for two weeks almost. He knew about some wizard discovering 17 uses of Devil Snare seeds, about the scandal between a Miss Elinor Bulstrode and some guy named Mustafa Abraham and more importantly the scores in the Quiddich tournament. But future and past events…only the broom racing.

'I read the Prophet but the events.'

Aries opened the second book he had pulled out of the shelves.

'This is the events calendar for this year.' Harry eyed the hefty tome ominously.

'Don't worry, you don't need to memorize it or read it for tonight.' Aries reassured him 'Besides, more than half of these events are, well, a bit silly. I'm sure no one there tonight will mention the party of Witches who knit with their toes.'

'Why would anyone try to knit with their toes?'

Aries shrugged 'I heard they get a tingle down there.'

Harry snorted before his eyes grew big 'How do you know?' An image of Aries knitting with his toes in front of the fireplace popped into his head.

'I also get bored at these sort of things, you'd be surprised who gossips about what.'

Harry nodded and tried hard not to let his smile show as the image of Aries knitting still didn't leave him.

'In any case, the events that have taken place so far were the Journalists of the Year Ball normally hosted by the Daily Prophet at the end of January. The Quiddich Fair Days, a succession of three Weekends in February where the top six teams of the previous year open their Quiddich pitches for fans to raise money for flying scholarships. And the races organized the Quiddich league with the Avery family. That one was about supporting flying schools around the country.'

'Does the Quiddich League have many events like this?'

'All the games that are organized have a part of the profit set aside for sport associations. But these two and another event in late November are the three main events it organizes every year.'

'What about upcoming events?'

'There is the Summer picnic organized by the Ministry in the Fields of Heather in july, the Open Doors here at the ministry in September where Wizards can bring their children to visit and they explain how the ministry works, the Oddity Food Festival with wizarding food from all over the world in Diagon alley in October. November is another charity event that I support, the one raising funds for the children wing in the St. Mungo's hospital. And last but not least, the Christmas Eve Day Ball of the Aurors, which is a tradition of the Auror department to raise money for orphans. It is held on the 24th but during lunch. It usually ends by three o'clock.'

'I never knew there were so many.'

'You're forgetting there are many more. I just told you about the more important ones.' Aries pointed at the book between them.

'Will you go to all of them?'

'If I have the time. Would you like to go to any of them?'

'Me?' Harry thought a bit. They all sounded interesting, but he would be at Hogwarts. The only two he could go to were the Fields of Heather in July and the Aurors' event. But he'd like to at least contribute to the hospital.

'I'd like to see some of them, but I'm at school.'

'Think about it, I can get you permission to leave for a weekend. And with that, I think it's time for us to get ready for lunch.'


As green flames diminished Harry saw the Atrium of the ministry bathed in a warm dimmer light than when he first visited during working hours. The place was full of witches and wizards in fancy dress robes. Plates with food and drinks were floating around the room seemingly unsupervised as a small orchestra was playing some low key tune. Aries steered Harry inside the room greeting the minister first then some members of the Wizengamot. He remembered some of their names: Selwyn, Yaxley, Greengrass. It was a boring first hour with talk of legislation and financial problems until Harry spotted Neville Longbottom of all people staying hidden in a corner. He managed to find the proper moment to ask Aries permission to go see his Gryffindor colleague which the Black Lord gave.

'Hey there Neville.' Harry said taking one of the floating pumpkin juice glasses.

'Harry!' Neville's surprise was written all over his face 'What are you doing here?'

'Came to accompany my new guardian. You?'

'My grandmother is a member of the Wizengamot. You have a new guardian?'

'Yes, Aries Black.'

'Black? But Harry, that's a dark family.'

'I've been told. Only Aries is different.'

Neville still looked frightened and unconvinced.

'How was your holiday so far?'

'It was good. Gran thinks they sent incompetent people if they couldn't get rid of the Wollywasps in two weeks. But I don't think there were any wasps to begin with.'

'Why would you say that?'

'I was around the greenhouses that day and didn't see any. And those things are attracted to fabric in an instant. I should have returned without any clothes on if indeed there were any wasps there.'

'There aren't.' Harry sighed 'This is about the Chamber.'

'How do you know?'

'Aries told me. They are trying to stop the monster that lives inside it.'

'He told you that?'

'Yeah. But they can't find the chamber.'

'Oh. That makes sense now.'

'Well, well, what do we have here? Gryffindors.' Harry turned to see Draco followed closely by Pansy Parkinson. With the corner of his eye he saw another girl from Slytherin turn towards them, if he was not mistaken, she was a Greengrass, Daphne Greengrass.

'Hello Draco, Pansy.' Harry said trying to control his snipping retort. 'Miss Greengrass.' He inclined his head to her. She was heiress to one of the 12 Lordship families, Harry remembered.

'Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom.' Daphne said nodding. This made Pansy frown and Draco too. 'This is my younger sister Astoria. She was sorted in Ravenclaw this year.'

'A pleasure to meet you, Miss Greengrass.' Said Harry and Neville took the queue from his friend.

'I have to say, I didn't expect Lord Black to bring his charity case tonight.' Draco smirked at Harry.

If it hadn't been for Aries' advice in the morning, he would have hexed the blond on the spot. As it was he counted to 5 and faced Draco with as much of a straight face as he could muster.

'Lord Black supports many charity cases, Draco. He has explained some of them to me. To be honest I am partial to the St. Mungo's children's wing, which I plan to support myself. Since tonight is about the ministry's donations, I can only assume you think of the ministry as a charity case for Lord Black. While I am new to this world and don't know as much as, you, the Malfoy Heir, I would not call the Ministry a charity case without proof.'

Draco turned completely red at this, making a lame excuse he and Pansy turned to leave the way they came.

'That was brilliant Harry.' Neville said in awe.

'Do I look as red in the face as he did?' Harry asked his voice finally betraying his nervousness and anger.

'A bit flushed, but nothing to Malfoy's tomato.' Daphne Greengrass smirked at him.

'Right, sorry about that. Draco is Aries's nephew, which makes things a bit awkward at family meetings.'

'With your history, I'm surprised Black Manor is still standing.' Daphne commented.

'We've only met outside it.' Harry chuckled.

'Make sure it stays that way, I'd very much love to see the manor before you two destroy it. My mother talks about it and its gardens very fondly.'

Harry, blinked, did Daphne Greengrass just have a civil conversation with him? A half-blood Gryffindor. He had noticed her in school, although they were in the same year, unlike Pansy who was dogging Draco's every move, Daphne Greengrass and her two other friends Jane Selwyn and another not Millicent Bulstrode, were always keeping themselves above such plebeian squabbles between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

'I am sure Lord Black will make the necessary invitation for that to happen.' Harry said hoping it was the right thing to say.

'Good, now. What do you think it's keeping them from reopening the school?'

'H-Harry was just telling me, the Wollywasps were just a pretext not to frighten us. They are looking to kill the monster inside the Chamber.' Neville managed to say.

'So you have the same theory as we do. Of course father didn't tell us in so many words, but he is one of the school governors.'

'They won't find the chamber.' Astoria said quietly. 'It can only be opened by Slytherin's Heir.'

'It was opened about 50 years ago.' Harry said

'Yes, but they caught the culprit.' Daphne said

'They got the wrong guy.' Harry explained 'They thought Hagrid's acromantula was to blame.'

'That's a lot of hippogriff dung. Acromantulas don't petrify people.' Snorted Daphne and then turned pink realizing she just said such unladylike things. 'Forgive me, I see my mother calling for me and Astoria.' And she bowed slightly leaving Harry and Neville confused and Astoria being dragged after her sister towards their oblivious mother.

'That was strange.' Neville sighed in relief. Harry agreed with Neville as the two were left alone to observe the party until Neville's grandmother came to fetch him.

'There you are. Oh, you're not alone.'

'Grandmother. This is Harry Potter.'

'Of course you are. How do you do, Mr. Potter? I heard you have yourself a new guardian.' Her face frowned at that.

'Good evening Madam Longbottom. Yes, Aries Black is my guardian now.'

'Well, I can only say, keep your guard up always, a Black can never be trusted. The ministry is incompetent leaving the Boy Who Lived with such a family.'

Harry stiffened at that. He didn't like it when people simply judged him just by that moniker and the bias seemed to extend to Aries, he was the Boy Who Lived, the symbol of light and Aries was from the darkest family in the history of the Islands. But Harry didn't know why he was the Boy Who Lived, and Aries may be a Black, but Harry couldn't see the man as dark. It was all prejudice.

'Good evening, am I interrupting something?' Aries's intervention was spot on. Harry felt relieved he didn't have to talk with Madame Longbottom alone.

'Lord Black.' Augusta Longbottom said stiffly.

'Madam Longbottom.' Aries bowed his head but as Augusta didn't extend her hand he left it at that.

'Is this your grandson, of whom I heard Harry talk about?'

'Yes, this is Heir Neville Longbottom.' Augusta said stiffly.

'A pleasure to meet another of Harry's friends.' Aries extended a hand which Neville eyed nervously before grabbing in a curt shake.

'You've met another of H-Harry's friends?'

'Yes I did. Arthur Weasley and his family were our guests.' Aries explained.

Augusta looked shocked at this news.

'R-really?' Neville looked at Harry.

'They came by and we flew in the garden. Maybe next time Neville can join us.' Harry said turning to Aries and Augusta.

'That will have to be in the summer, unless they will prolong your Easter holiday.'

'I hope not. A Woollywasp invasion is no reason to stop children's education.' Augusta interjected. Harry thought it was a good reason, what did the woman expect? That they wear leaves to class? Those insects were known to eat through an entire wool manufacturing facility in a day, Hogwarts would have been wearing their birthday suits within two days max.

'I am confident the ministry will be able to sort this all out by the end of next week.' Aries said right before Minister Fudge went on stage to announce the guest of honour. A very well-known Magical singer from Germany, Leila Weinberg.

The woman was incredibly beautiful and her voice was out of this world as Harry felt Goosebumps on his skin. He wasn't a music lover or a connoisseur but he realized he heard the voice before, on one of Aries's disks, only disks didn't really do the voice justice. Conversation dropped as the woman sang a few songs one after the other. People started to dance elegantly. He saw Lucius dancing with Narcissa Malfoy and to his surprise Cornelius Fudge danced also, but not with the Pink toad cat lady, instead he danced with Mrs. Avery. Neither Neville nor Harry made any move to go find dancing partners and neither did Aries or Neville's grandmother. Instead Aries explained to Harry, and Neville too was listening intently, about what sort of dance this was, the wizards' version of the waltz.

When the singer took a break Aries excused himself and Harry and they went to pay their respects to the minister as it was time for them to leave. Madam Longbottom also made her final round before taking Neville home. It was almost midnight after all, and Harry got home with one thought running through his head: it hadn't been so bad, in fact, it hadn't been bad at all, and he got one over Malfoy.


And this chapter is done. It was mostly Harry talking with Aries, but I like referencing imaginary history, it gives the fictional a bit more flesh, bones, background. You guys get it J Thank you for the reviews, especially the Latin correction, my high school teacher would have skinned me alive for that. As usual, review if you feel like it and have a nice weekend.