Unholy Alliance Part 1

1938 - 1939

Cedrella spent much of the next years attached to Sirius, her Head of Family, at the hip, learning everything he was willing to impart. She proved to be an enthusiastic and particularly adept pupil. Cedrella hadn't quite expected to truly enjoy learning the ins and outs of the Wizengamot, but she did, and soon discovered she had a flair for it. Sirius took full advantage of her skill and enthusiasm … and her sex.

While women could and sometimes did act as Regents and Proxies for a family, it was rare. There was normally a well-defined line of succession along the male line that ensured a woman's intervention wasn't required. Every once in a while however there was either a disaster that killed all the adult males in the line of succession or a thoroughly incompetent Head of Family that neglected to set up a line of succession before his death. At that point, one of the women of the line inevitably got involved.

It was not easy. Women were seen as less competent (to put it nicely) at a great many things than men were, and this was especially true in the field of politics. Female Regents and Proxies had a very hard row to hoe if they wanted to be listened to. It made little sense, but that was the way it was.

Sirius took full advantage of that state of affairs as Cedrella's skill became apparent. The other Heads and Lords governed their tongues in his presence. They were not anywhere near as discreet if Cedrella was about. Thus she became Sirius' 'snake in the grass'. She kept an ear out for what the other Wizengamot member really thought about various things, what they were planning, with whom, and which of the group might be swayed to another line of thinking. She also kept her eye and ear out for things people shouldn't be doing but were, for potential use as blackmail material if such was needed.

For herself, Cedrella was only too happy to act in this capacity for her Head of Family, as it would be the best possible way she could help Septimus in the future. One of the two of them was going to have to have their finger on the pulse of events in the Wizengamot, after all. Septimus was personable enough to make allies easily, but he lacked the suspicious, cutthroat edge he needed to make him a truly effective politician, and Cedrella could assist with that.

She made a lot of notes over the years, filling several diaries with names, political leanings, who'd voted for which law, who was accepting bribes, and whatever other bits of information she could glean that would be of use in the future.

When she wasn't up to her eyeballs in plotting, Cedrella could most often be found in Septimus' company. They crossed paths every morning once she learned what his schedule was, and when he and his partners were advanced, they ended up crossing paths twice a day, as the Wizengamot sessions ended right about the time the day shift ended.

It didn't take long for the two of them to end up parking themselves in the Leaky or at Fortescue's in order to talk for a while without risking Cedrella's reputation. Cedrella soon came to enjoy those talks, as they invariably ended up debating some one thing or other. She was delighted to discover that while Septimus' world view was definitely Gryffindorish and Light-side in orientation, he was not as extreme in his views as some on that side of the political divide could be, nor was he as extreme as Weasleys historically were. He was far closer to the middle than the far end of the spectrum.

Not even Cedrella was entirely sure when their daily talks went from 'friends meeting up to gossip' to 'courting'. The transition was so gradual and subtle that it was hard to pin down an exact moment when it happened officially. Ok, that was a lie. Cedrella knew *exactly* when they tipped over the line.

It happened in the latter months of 1938. Cedrella had settled in at Fortescue's alone, as Septimus had been held up briefly, needing to finish and file some paperwork before he could go off-shift. So naturally, Abraxas, who had not given up on acquiring her as his wife despite her firm refusals of him, showed up and started being his smarmy, overbearing self. She ignored him, up to the point where he said he was sending a betrothal offer to her father.

"He will not accept it." Cedrella said, her voice cold. "You and your Family are far beneath the Blacks. To marry such a creature as yourself would be an unacceptably large step down. There are far better prospects available."

Septimus apparently had the best timing ever, because he'd walked into the shop right at the tail end of her declaration. He assessed the situation with a glance, and closed the distance between them. He bowed to her, the sort of social gesture they'd long gotten past needing. Not that Abraxas would know that, which was probably why Septimus had included it. That it was also considered desirable to return to such overt displays of genteel respect towards one's intended during a courtship was a fact that Cedrella promptly took vicious advantage of.

She lifted her hand to Septimus, allowing him to kiss her knuckles – a move she had not made to Abraxas, and never would. "My darling." She greeted, giving him a warm smile.

She caught the brief look of startlement in his eyes at her address – something she'd never called him – but years of learning to deal with unpredictable events as first a Marauder and then an Auror allowed him to cover it fairly smoothly.

"I apologize for my tardiness, but business delayed me, my dear." Septimus said. 'Dear' being something he'd never called her, but was again something quite common during courting.

Abraxas was not slow to pick up on all of this. The poisonous look he gave the pair of them was quite amusing.

"This?" He snarled. "This homeless, worthless beggar is your choice?" Abraxas scoffed. "I would have thought a Black would have more ambition than to push out a dozen babies and live in squalor."

Septimus' expression at that made Cedrella blink before she mentally gave a smug, delighted purr. He was coldly furious, and probably only seconds from drawing his wand, if that look was anything to go by.

"Even if that was the eventual fate of the future Lady Weasley." Septimus snapped. "It would still be a better fate than being forced to bed a slimy, smarmy, abusive waste of air and magic like yourself." He glared. "We are no longer boys, Malfoy. Cedrella made it clear during her school days that your attentions were not desired. Harass her *now*, and the results will not be embarrassing pranks. I can and will call you out in defense of her honor."

It would be a fight that Malfoy, for all his superior airs, would lose. Badly. Oh, Cedrella knew that he probably had a thorough education in the Dark Arts, but Abraxas was first and foremost a politician, not a duelist. Septimus, on the other hand, was a born warrior, and would make mincemeat out of Abraxas in very short order.

It would seem that her campaign to wiggle into Septimus' affections had finally borne real fruit. To say Cedrella was pleased was to vastly understate the case. She had, after all, been working on Septimus for three years. In this one instance, it was quite a pleasure to see a man willing to get in a fight over her.

Abraxas, not being lethally stupid, departed in an offended swirl of robes, leaving a distinct odor of singed ego in his wake. Septimus glared after him for a moment before he huffed out a breath and settled into the chair beside Cedrella.

"I apologize for my behavior, Cedrella. He just makes me very angry. You'd think he'd have wit enough to realize you don't want anything to do with him and give up."

"Unfortunately, it would seem he does not have that much intelligence." Cedrella said. "And there is no need to apologize."

They talked for a little bit, then Septimus gave her an odd look. "You realize he thinks we're courting, don't you?"

Cedrella grinned. "Yes."

"Would your father allow him to … "

"My father knows very well what my thoughts on Abraxas Malfoy are." Cedrella said with no small amount of asperity. "Abraxas would have to bankrupt his family and sell the members into slavery before my father would entertain any notion of him courting me, never mind a betrothal. And my Head of Family is of the same mind."

Though in Sirius' case, he was willing to leave Abraxas high and dry in favor of Septimus. He was enough of a political animal to understand that marrying into Light-side families would help the Black Family's reputation. Septimus was helping his own cause (albeit unknowingly at this point) by his actions over the years. It was readily apparent to anyone that paid attention that Septimus was going to be *quite* the force to deal with in time.

Septimus gave an amused chuckle. "Well then, it sounds as if there's nothing to worry about." He said.

They continued to talk for a while longer, but Cedrella could tell that Septimus was working himself up to asking something. She let him do it in peace, rather than trying to draw it out of him. While she dearly hoped that whatever was on his mind involved courting, there was no guarantee of that and she'd rather not make a fool of herself. Towards the end of their usual meet-up time, Septimus finally gave Cedrella an oddly serious look.

"Cedrella … " Septimus hesitated a moment, then forged on. "I have come to think on you quite fondly over the last few years." He admitted. "Enough so that occasionally, the thought of … well … "

Again, he trailed off, much to Cedrella's concealed amusement. Apparently, Gryffindor courage did not extend to things like asking to court someone. She was hard-put to conceal her glee that he'd finally come to this point, and tried her best to seem attentive and nonjudgmental of his atypical hesitance.

Septimus took a deep breath, then spoke again. "I would be honored if you would permit me to pay court to you." He finally said.

Cedrella smiled openly, ducking her head in a coquettish gesture she'd learned from Callidora. "I would be honored to allow you to pay court to me, milord." She replied. She promptly had to bite the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing aloud at Septimus' immediate pleased smile.

"I fear I must take my leave." Septimus said at that point. "There will be much to discuss with my father tonight. I will see you tomorrow."

He offered her a slight bow, and she nodded, offering him her hand again. That got her a rakish, pleased grin as he kissed her knuckles then made his way out. Once she was sure he was well clear, she made tracks for her family home and her father, finding him once more in his study.

"Father." She said as she entered the room after he called for her to enter.

"Cedrella." Father greeted, then, after a more assessing glance. "You seem quite pleased today. Enjoyable talk with Septimus?"

"Far more so than usual, father." Cedrella readily admitted. "Septimus was slightly delayed this afternoon, and in his absence, that odious Abraxas attempted to make a play for me again. Septimus arrived at a very timely moment. I made out as if Septimus and I were courting. Septimus caught on very quickly, and went along with it. Even threatened to call Abraxas out in defense of my honor."

Father looked quite pleased. "Well, it would seem that your campaign to win his regard is working."

"Better than I realized, father. After Abraxas had gone, towards the end of our usual meeting … Septimus asked permission to court me. I fully expect you to get an owl from him and his father by the end of the month. Perhaps sooner, depending on how convincing Septimus is."

Father sat back in his chair, looking well pleased. "This is excellent news, Cedrella. I had not thought you would get quite this far this soon – the Weasleys are notoriously leery of anything that smacks of the Dark. Have you told Sirius yet?"

"No. I wanted to warn you first. I have no idea how Septimus' father views this, or if he even knows, so I thought to warn you first, as his father might come to you in an ill-thought-out attempt to warn you – and me – off."

Father laughed. "Septimus' father isn't quite that foolish, Cedrella, but I appreciate the warning. Now you'd better go and fill Sirius in. The days and weeks ahead are about to get very interesting."