Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter story or characters. I do, however, reserve the rights for any characters I develop and the plot of this story.
Harry Potter and the Veela Life Debts
By Jojobevco
Chapter 10
Team Potter 3 Ministry 0
Harry and the girls walked up to the Headmaster's office feeling much better than the night before. There, they were met by Headmaster Dumbledore, Minister Delacour, and Miss Delaterre, who had the forms and just handed them to Harry.
"You're a strange one, Mr. Potter, most people learn to not save a Veela after what happens the first time."
"You think I should have just stood by and done nothing?"
"No, and that's why I like you Mr. Potter."
Harry smiled a little and started signing the same forms he had the last time, at least the process was standardized. There was the Veela Bond Recognition Form (version 22-B), Custody Form (Version 5-Veela-B), and the Power-of-Attorney Form (version 72-VeeBon-B). Ange nodded her thanks and left through the Floo. Everyone sat down in the horribly clashing chintz armchairs Dumbledore had conjured; Jean-Pierre began the meeting.
"Harry, let me fill you in on what has happened in the past few hours you were sleeping. An emergency session of the French Magical Parliament has been called for this afternoon. I will address the situation, and request two things. One, a statement of support for you, and two the option to provide aid to Britain if and when they request it."
"No offense, Jean-Pierre, but what about the Voldemort supporters in your country?"
"There are some, but they are the minority, our pureblood population tends to be more forward thinking than Britain's."
"Why's that?"
"Have you heard of the French Revolution, Harry?"
"In passing,"
"There was a magical version as well. It was less bloody, and a bit more orderly, but it served the same purpose. It removed most of the conservative Pureblood base from power, leaving only forward thinking and moving families, like the Delacours for example."
"So no Voldemort supporters?"
"Very few, perhaps, some more that this war might bring out of the woodwork, but certainly not as many as here."
"Why would the French want to help then?"
Albus chimed in here, "To them, Voldemort is a terrorist, who has the power and capability of expanding beyond Britain. Also there's the problem of other magical creatures, we will oppose Voldemort just to keep him away from our werewolves, vampires, and giants."
"Correct, Albus. That brings me to our next point. You will undoubtedly be recalled from the ICW by the Ministry, ending your tenure as Supreme Mugwump."
"I have anticipated that, we will have to make sure we get a candidate in my place that does not support Voldemort or his agenda."
"Agreed, I have the perfect person in mind."
"Who?"
"Telling would ruin the surprise, Dumbledore."
"Okay, next, how do we tell the Muggle Government?"
"I can't."
Harry was surprised by this, "Why not, Professor?"
"There is a magically enforced rule on the population of Britain saying that only the Minister for Magic or someone he authorizes can speak to the Royal Family, or Government."
"That doesn't surprise me. While you might not be able to speak to them, I can. President Chirac will be coming here for his introductory visit to Great Britain, I can get a private meeting between the Prime Minister, The Queen, President Chirac, and myself, where I will brief them and tell them a few things about the Ministry for Magic that they probably don't know."
"What things?"
"Some things someone said to one of my predecessors in passing."
"We have to wait for the outcomes of those three meetings before we come up with a plan."
"A plan to what?" Harry asked.
"Take down the British Ministry for Magic."
"Let's move on to Harry's plans for the summer…"
That Afternoon
French Magical Parliament, French Ministry for Magic
Underneath the Place de la Bastille
After the rather famous storming of the Bastille by the muggles in 1789 the ruins of Paris' armory/prison were a rather large eyesore on the city. So, the Ministry (who were kicked out of their rather nice compound under the Louvre, by the coinciding Magical Revolution. The Louvre later turned the upper two levels into part of the Muggle museum already operating at the site and the lower eight levels became the preeminent magical art museum in the world) decided to secretly build a newer, more state of the art ministry under the square being constructed above.
That is where they were meeting today, to discuss the return of one of the peskiest problems in the history of France. Lord Imbécile, as they liked to call him, not only attempted to convince the local giant population in the Pyrenees to attack France (the giants said no, they were quite happy, thank you very much.) He then had the audacity to attempt to convince the Veela to side with him. (Who in turn returned his "emissaries" to him with the consistency of fried chicken, after they attempted to assault some of the members of the community). Then he tried the vampires (who really like Paris' lovely nightlife, clubs and the Moulin Rouge too much, and were quite happy with only turning voluntary candidate or eating from the volunteer blood banks. However, it should be noted that they absolutely hated that "just like blood" substitute the Pasteur Institute came up with last year.) Also his name Voldemort, was a affront to the French because of the use of their beautiful language in such an evil and bastardized form.
Suffice it to say, the French hated Voldemort.
Jean-Pierre approached the podium and rapped the gavel.
"I do hereby declare this emergency session of the French Magical Parliament open." Pause. "Last night, I received absolutely horrible news, at about midnight Greenwich Mean Time last night, Lord Voldemort returned to corporal form. This was confirmed, under veritaserum by Harry Potter. However, the British Ministry refused to recognize this fact, creating a crucial situation. I therefore propose that we pass the following two resolutions. 1. That the French Magical Government fully supports and believes Mr. Harry James Potter's testimony and that steps must be taken to contain the Voldemort situation immediately. 2. The French Magical Government hereby lends its full support to the governments of Great Britain upon their request."
"Minister, did you say governments?" One of the members, Dominick Malfoi, asked.
"Yes, I did."
"I second the resolutions and compliment the Minister on his excellent use of grammar."
"Thank you, Monsieur Malfoi."
Dominick Malfoi was the head of the French branch of the Malfoy family, which split in the 1790s when one side (the Malfoys) supported blood purity and fled the Revolution, while the other, which was more progressive stayed. They haven't officially talked since.
"Shall we vote? Very, well, all those in favor?"
"AYE!"
"All those opposed?"
"Nay."
Everyone groaned and looked at the one person who would say that, Jeanne Rankin, the absolute pacifist lady who had been sitting in Parliament for the past 96 years and was the only one to vote against the declaration of war against the German Magical Government that had been taken over by Grindenwald.
"The vote is 99 in favor and one opposed," here everyone glared at her, she simply shrugged, "the motion is carried."
Then the next four hours were spent hammering out every little detail about funding and stuff. Very annoying. Finally at about seven they adjourned with a plan of action.
Two Days Later
International Confederation of Wizards
Located under the Peace Palace, The Hague
The International Confederation of Wizards was formed in 1692 to write and ensure compliance of various portions of the Wizarding World to the International Statute of Secrecy. In earlier times, meetings rotated through various countries, before eventually, after World War I, settling with the Muggle international organizations in The Hague. They absolutely refused to move to New York when the UN was founded, so they stayed there.
Today, it was used as a forum to address international issues about muggles (namely those 'satellite thingys') and individual country issues (for example the laughably backward British Ministry for Magic) and international crises ( Grindenwald and, to a lesser extent, Voldemort.) Today's meeting dealt with the latter two.
The international community was in an uproar. Voldemort returned, it was confirmed by the Boy-Who-Lived, who saw it happen. The worst part was that the British Ministry was in such a state of denial. This meeting would probably be the most interesting meeting they've had for a very long time.
Albus Dumbledore was concerned. He knew that the British were going to recall him, thus ending his 51 year reign as Supreme Mugwump. That he didn't mind. However, he was worried about who they would pick to replace him. He certainly didn't want a pureblood like Lucius Malfoy.
He arrived in the chamber and the sergeant-at-arms called the meeting to order, "This Emergency Meeting of the International Confederation of Wizards is called to order, Chief Mugwump Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore presiding."
"Thank you is there any business of procedure before we begin?"
Minister Fudge, who had joined in the British seats stood up. At this point Albus noticed Lucius Malfoy and Delores Umbridge sitting next to him, oh, damn.
"At this time the British wish to recall Albus Dumbledore from the ICW with our thanks."
Outrage and chaos sparked the chamber. Everyone was pointing and yelling, every language was being hurled toward the British seats, who shrunk back in fear. After a couple of bangs emanated from Dumbledore's wand, everyone shut up and sat down.
"Please continue, Minster."
Fudge's face briefly turned a lovely shade of puce before he settled down. "The British believe it is time for us to move forward in a new direction with a new generation."
The people in the chamber were finding it very hard to contain their laughter at this point.
"Thank you for those kind words, Minister Fudge, I will step down gracefully and wish this esteemed body well in the future." Dumbledore smiled, waved, and apparated up a level, taking a seat next to Minister Delacour, who was sitting in the VIP visitors section.
The elderly sergeant-at-arms took the podium; he had only done this once before in his career, fifty years ago.
"The Acting Chair will now accept nominations for the office of Supreme Mugwump."
Minister Fudge stood again, "Britain nominates Lucius Abraxas Malfoy; he is a fine, upstanding member of the magical community."
"Is there a second?"
Jean-Pierre gave a nod to the head of the French Delegation.
"The French will second, on the condition that Mr. Malfoy agrees to undergo Veritaserum questioning before this august body to resolve the ongoing investigation by the French Government into the accusations of his allegiance to the person self identified as Lord Voldemort."
For the record, no one outside of the British Seats shuddered.
"The United States seconds the French stipulation."
"Albania also supports."
At this point everyone started calling for Veritaserum.
The Sergeant-at-Arms produced a loud bang.
"Mr. Malfoy, will you submit to the questioning?"
"I will not, and this is most certainly not an august body if they take the word of a little boy over its higher citizens," Malfoy then apparated out.
"The Acting Chair will take that as a sign of Mr. Malfoy's decline of the British Nomination. Are there any other nominations?"
Fudge stood again, "Britain nominates Delores Jane Umbridge, a fine member of the community with excellent wholesome values."
"Is there a second?"
"Burkina Faso, seconds." The British had offered them several trade concessions to second the nomination.
"Are there any other nominations?"
Jean-Pierre nodded to the head of the Delegation again, and shoved two boxes into Dumbledore's hands.
"Put those on now, Albus!"
Albus opened them. Oh, damn. Inside was a sash, two medals and a star.
"Jean-Pierre, I can't, you know."
"Just do it."
"France nominates Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin 1st Class, Grand'croix, Légion d'honneur, and Compagnon de la Libération, Ordre de la Libération."
Cheering and pandemonium ensued.
"Britain, objects, Mr. Dumbledore is not a French Citizen, and therefore you cannot nominate him."
"Mr. Dumbledore was awarded French Citizenship in 1945 after his defeat of Grindenwald."
The Chair spoke, "Then the nomination is valid, is there a second."
"Germany seconds and requests a voice vote so the stupid British can stop wasting our time."
"You are out of order, Germany! Is there a second to the voice vote request?"
"The United States seconds."
"Motion carried, are there any other nominees?"
Nope.
"Then we will vote. All voting for Delores Jane Umbridge please say Aye now."
"Aye." The British section was the only one that voted for her. Even Burkina Faso had given up.
The Acting Chair put his fingers in his ears, "all those voting for Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, please say Aye now," he finished with a squeak.
"AYE!"
The response practically brought down the building.
"Very well then, by a sheer overwhelming majority Albus Dumbledore has been selected as Supreme Mugwump. Congratulations."
He stood off to the side as Dumbledore apparated back down to the podium.
"I thank this august body for the faith it has placed in me and send my best regards to Miss Umbridge." Delores looked very angry and now appearance of a lovely blueberry.
"Shall we move on to new business then?"
"Britain," good grief they didn't know when to give up, "would like to propose a statement censuring Jean-Pierre Delacour for slandering the good name of the British Ministry for Magic with his false and completely untrue statements concerning the supposed return of the Dark Lord and for interfering in an internal matter."
"The proposal is on the table, are there any statements concerning this proposal?"
"Albania objects, Voldemort was seen in Albania as recently as last year, thus making his return an international matter."
"Objection noted, anyone else?"
"France objects, the statements in question were given under high quality veritaserum and to a legal grade dictation set, also we are offended by the statements made."
"Any other objections?"
Nope.
"Then let's bring the matter to a vote, all those in favor of the proposal?"
"Aye," once again the British stood alone.
"Opposed?"
"NAY!"
"Motion defeated. Any other new business."
"France would like to propose a statement of support of Harry Potter and the official acceptance of his testimony into the record." It had been agreed ahead of time to not censure Britain because that would give them an excuse to withdraw from the ICW.
"Are there any objections?"
Finally the British had enough sense to shut up.
"Very well then, all those in favor?"
"AYE!"
"All opposed?"
"Nay." The British once again.
"Motion carried."
At this time the meeting turned to more mundane things, such as cauldron bottoms, and the latest satellite issues, and how to deal with the emerging presence of cell phones, and magical interference (eventually they decided to develop the term "dead zone" to describe a loss of reception.) All in all the meeting went normally.
Three Days Later
Buckingham Palace
President Jacque Chirac, Minister Jean-Pierre Delacour, and the Director of the British Library, with one of the four surviving original 1215 copies of the Magna Carta, made their way to the Queen's office, where they met HM Elizabeth II and Prime Minister John Major.
The aide outside announced them, "President Jacque Chirac and Minister Jean-Pierre Delacour of France, and the Director of the British Library."
The Queen rose and shook President Chirac's hand, "President Chirac, welcome to the United Kingdom and congratulations on your election."
"Thank you, You Majesty. I am happy to be here and thankful to the British People for the welcome they have given me."
The Queen then turned to Jean-Pierre, who promptly introduced himself, "Minister Jean-Pierre Delacour of the French Republic."
Both of them cleared their throats and looked over at the Director.
"Thank you for coming director, please leave the Magna Carta there and Gerald will take you to my private library, there are several rare books in there I think you will enjoy."
"Thank you, ma'am." The director left.
The Queen gestured to the three to sit in a small sitting area. They all sat.
"I must say, President Chirac, this meeting you requested is quite unusual."
"As is the topic we are here to discuss, Jean-Pierre?"
"Your Majesty, does the name Voldemort mean anything to you?"
Major looked stunned, and the Queen quirked an eyebrow, "What exactly are you minister of, Minister Delacour?"
"Magic."
"Ah, yes, I thought so, yes, I am briefed on the matter, well to the best of our knowledge anyway."
"Has your ministry informed you that he has returned?"
"What, I thought he was dead, I thought the Potter boy killed him?" Major was even more shocked than last time.
"No, not dead, he just entered a noncorporal form."
"Like a ghost?"
"No, he had more of a connection to the earth, he was all here, just didn't have a body, until about a week ago when he managed to use a dark magic ritual to gain a body, killed a student, and dueled Mr. Potter."
"Why wouldn't they have told us?"
"Because, ma'am, they don't believe it happened, they have accused Mr. Potter and his supporters of being insane, attention seeking, brats."
"And why should we believe Mr. Potter?"
"Because, save Magical Britain, everyone else does. Your Majesty, within the past week the British Ministry for Magic has gone from being a mild embarrassment to being the laughing stock of the wizarding world. France passed a statement of support of Mr. Potter and an offer of assistance to the British. The International Confederation of Wizards, the magical equivalent of the UN, also passed a statement of support of Mr. Potter."
"What can We do Minister, We do not control the Magicals."
"Actually, you do ma'am, at least, I think you do."
"What makes you say that?"
"Back during World War II, the French Ministry had sided with the Free French movement, although we had been very nearly forced to side with Germany, because of the fact that we worked with whoever controlled the seat of government, Paris, before these events. We were struggling to find a solution to separate us from the German controlled government. Eventually, we just ignored the Germans and sided with the de jure government.
"The point to this story was that after the war, the French Minister was at a party with the British Minister and retelling these events. The British Minister had regarded that they never had that problem, because they had hidden the rights of the Monarchy back when they separated the Wizards Council from the Monarchy with a variety of notice-me-not and muggle repelling charms placed on the document in question. That would be the Magna Carta."
"You mean to tell me that they have modified the Magna Carta?"
"Correct, ma'am, and I can restore it, may I?"
"Please do, Minister."
Jean-Pierre walked over to the Magna Carta and flicked his wand over it in a jerky motion and magically text started to appeared. Everyone leaned over and started to read it.
"Oh, my God!"
"If this is right, then…"
"The Ministry for Magic is not supposed to exist!"
"What?"
"Look, look here, 'Where as the Esteemed Council of Wizards shall not, under any circumstances, change or alter its composition or structure without the express written permission of the Monarchy."
"So that means what exactly?"
"That when the changed the Council into the Ministry, they violated the contract, meaning that the Ministry does not have the right to exist and therefore, control of the peoples under the jurisdiction of the Council revert back to the direct control of the Monarch. Meaning you, ma'am."
"Well it's not like We can enforce it."
"Actually, you can, this is a magical document, as the current reigning Monarch of Britain and Ireland you can just say, 'We, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith do hereby declare the Council of Wizards to be in violation of the Magna Carta Liberatum and terminate its right to rule effective immediately,' and voila, no more issues."
"We just have to say that?"
"Yes, but I wouldn't do it just now, even if you remove the ministry, the people will not support you, for the simple reason that you are a muggle and not worth their time of day. However, if you were to do this after the ministry admits their foolishness, then you would be seen as a conquering hero, cleaning up corruption and an all together better choice."
"But what will we do until then, how will we protect the people?"
"I have been authorized by my government to issue you whatever support you may need," Jean-Pierre got a conspiratorial look in his eyes and said, "I think it is time for some joint Franco-British counterterrorism operations."
"I agree Minister; do you have certain people in mind?"
"Oh, yes, I do."
They worked late into the night, called in a few other people, and hammered out a plan. A special group of French Aurors would start operating in Britain tomorrow, to cover for their highly incompetent counterparts.
AN: Please Review! Thanks to those who have.
AN2: Next chapter we will return to Harry's issues
AN3: Can anyone find the obscure historical reference in this chapter?