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Chapter 11
(Ebony P.O.V)
Two days later saw me being woken up early by Blinky, who had a dress out ready. I wrinkled my nose at the piece of clothing.
"Do I have to wear that?" I asked.
"Young Mistress has to look her best for the meeting. Young Mistress can not be seen in a bad light today, or members of the Wizingamot may take Bad Wizards side. Young Mistress must do everything right." The elf squeaked, as she summoned a robe to go on over the top of the dress. The dress was a light blue, and the robe matched. The crest of Rowena Ravenclaw was on one side of the robe, and a crest which held a rearing gold dragon gripping a staff was on the other.
"Blinky, what's this?" I asked, running my hand over the crest.
"It is the Emrys crest. It was styled similar to the crest of the Pendragon crest, after King Arthur accepted Merlin into his family." Blinky answered. "As their heirs, it is only right you bare their crests."
"And dad?"
"He will be wearing the Emrys and Creed crests." Blinky answered.
I nodded, and went to the bathroom to take a shower. When I was done, I dried and dressed, and Blinky came back, and dried my hair, and arranged it into a tight bun.
"I can't believe I'm dressing like this." I muttered, standing up. I felt very uncomfortable in what I was wearing, and I felt even more uncomfortable when Blinky handed me the blue high heel shoes. I slipped into them.
"What does Young Mistress want for breakfast?" Blinky asked.
"Nothing thank you Blinky. I'll have a large meal when I get back."
"Young Mistress may be gone all day." The small being protested.
"Fine, get me an apple. I'm not all that hungry. And what do you mean, all day?"
"Sometimes it takes all day to sort these matters out." Blinky popped away then, before popping back in. She had two apples in her hand. She held them both out. "One for later, just in case."
I smiled at her. "Thank you Blinky." I said.
"We shall prepare steak for dinner tonight, just how you and Master like it."
"That's very kind." I said. I took the apples, and slipped one into one of my robe pockets. The other, I started munching on. "I just hope that I'll be here to eat it."
"Even if Bad Wizard wins, young Mistress can teleport out, and come here. Here, young Mistress will be safe- no Bad wizard can get passed the wards that Master Merlin put up."
I smiled at her. "Then I will definitely be having that steak tonight. You and the others do cook a great steak. There's enough blood on it- very fresh."
She smiled, and then frowned. "Young Mistress must head down to the entrance hall now; it is time to be leaving."
"Alright, here we go then." I said, and I walked purposefully out of the room, and towards the stairs. Dad and Sirius were already waiting for us, and I took note of the Creed family crest. It was a staff, with a ruby at the top. There were red Celtic designs surrounding the staff. Dad was wearing a muggle suit, with a plain black robe over the top.
I raised my eyebrow at him. "Not wearing those dashing Wizingamot Robes dad? Like Sirius is?"
Dad snorted. "Like hell. I want to wear something as close to what I usually wear as possible."
"Lucky for you- you can." I drawled. "I get stuck in a dress and high heels."
"It's time to go. We'll have to register Ebony as a visitor to the Ministry." Sirius said. He held up a piece of parchment, baring the Wizingamot seal. "They provided us with this."
I knew then that it was a portkey. Dad and I both placed our fingers on it, and when it started to glow blue, we were jerked up and away. When my feet hit ground my legs jarred. I cursed high heels under my breath. I looked up and around, and saw many witches and wizards heading past a fountain to a pair of gold gates. The fountain was gold, and was of a wizard, a witch, a centaur, a goblin and a house elf. The witch was looking up at the wizard with adoration. The centaur, the goblin and the house elf were all lower than the witch and wizard, and were looking at the two of them with adoration. I snorted. "Pathetic." I muttered.
"What is?" Dad asked.
I nodded at the statue. "That is. Are they really that big headed?"
"Yes." Sirius answered. "Come on. We have to get you registered."
Dad and I followed Sirius to a desk, at which sat a security wizard.
"Ebony Creed, for a guardianship hearing. Full Wizingamot." Sirius said.
The wizard looked up, and his eyes widened at the sight of us. "Of course Lord Black, Lord Creed. May I have your wand, Miss Creed?" He held his one hand out, as he picked up what looked like a weighing scale with only one platform on it. I looked at Sirius curiously.
"Go on, Ebony." He said, telling me it was alright to hand over one of my weapons.
I flicked my wrist, and had my wand in my hand. I gave the wizard my wand and he placed it on the scales. The scales vibrated, and a strip of parchment came out.
"Ten inches, ebony wood with the hair of a storm panther coated in the blood of a feral. Been in use three years, correct?"
"Yes." I replied. He handed me back my wand, and we headed away. We headed away, past the fountain and to the gates. We walked through, and to a lift. We crammed in with others, and the lift started going down until we got to the right level.
"Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizingamot Administration Services." The recording of the woman's voice said after what seemed like an age. The doors opened.
"Here we go." Sirius said, and he led us out onto the corridor.
We walked down a long corridor, bypassing several witches and wizards. I kept close to dad as we walked, and every so often, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him look at me, checking on me. Sirius led us to a set of oak double doors and he paused at them, hand on the door handle.
"Victor, whatever you do, never interrupt when another member is speaking. And always indicate that you wish to speak, and Madam Bones, who is presiding over this today, will allow you your turn. Ebony, do not speak unless you are spoken to, understand?"
"Why?" I asked.
"It's the way things are. But it is of the utmost importance that neither of you speak out of turn. The better you make yourself look, the more they will favour you, understood?"
"We've got it." Dad said gruffly.
"Good, now, Ebony I'll sow you your seat, but it will be apart from everyone else."
"Do I have to?" I asked him.
"Yes, you aren't a member of the Wizingamot." Sirius said, before we walked into the chamber.
The room we entered was set up with seats on different platforms round three of the walls. My sharp eyes picked up a family crest engraved on each chair.
"Your seat is there, Ebony." Sirius pointed to a seat in the middle of the room.
"Why is it in the centre of the room?"
"Just be thankful it's not like the chair in the court room. That one chains you in." Sirius said.
I wrinkled my nose in disgust and looked at dad. He was eyeing the room and the several witches and wizards in it with obvious disgust and malice. I didn't have to be able to read minds to know what he was thinking. In this room was where the wizarding government would decide whether or not he was to be allowed to raise me any longer.
"It'll be fine dad." I said quietly.
"I know it will Cub." He said. "Go sit down." He said.
I nodded, and sat in the seat in the centre of the room. Dad and Sirius were sat in the front row of seats, next to each other. The members of the Wizingamot were soon gathered, Dumbledore being the last to come. When he did, I glared at him. His calm expression didn't change, and he still had that damn annoying twinkle present in his eyes.
When everyone was seated a stern looking woman, obviously Madam Bones, stood.
"Lords and Ladies of the Wizingamot, we are here today to decide on the guardianship of Ebony Creed, after the accusations of Headmaster Dumbledore that Lord Creed is not a suitable guardian to raise the heir of his family as he himself has not been raised in our ways and traditions. Headmaster Dumbledore, I call on you now to state your reasoning in full."
Dumbledore, the old goat, stood from his seat. "Lords and Ladies, when it came to my attention that the young Miss Creed was in fact the heir to four very influential Most Ancient and Noble Houses I knew that she was in desperate need of tutelage on our laws and customs. She is extremely lacking in proper behavioural conduct. She is course, violent and has a blatant disregard for rules and authority. Lord Creed has raised her to be this way. He himself has no idea of our society's culture. He himself is just beginning to learn. That is why I have petitioned for the guardianship of Miss Creed, who shall one day take over the seats of power that her father currently holds in our society. I will be able to instruct her in correct etiquette and mannerisms befitting someone of her status." Dumbledore sat down.
"Thank you, Headmaster." Madam Bones said. "Lord Creed, what is your view on this situation?"
Dad stood up, he glanced at Dumbledore, before speaking. "Lord's and Ladies of the Wizingamot," His posture said that he was entirely relaxed, but I was able to pick up on his seething anger from his tone of voice. "I may have taught my daughter to be a fighter, but that is necessary. The both of us are Feral mutants, which means that we have an animalistic trait. Our instincts are enhanced, and so are our territorial natures. I raised Ebony in such a way that she would know how to defend herself, as that was needed. We live in the muggle world a lot of the time, and there is a lot of prejudice against people like us there. Even here in the wizarding world people are prejudice against us. I have just taught Ebony how to protect herself. Wizarding customs are alien to me, Headmaster Dumbledore is right in that aspect, but my custody of my daughter, and my right to raise her doesn't need to be taken away. In January, I formed a family union with the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Lord Black has offered his services in teaching both Ebony and myself the proper etiquette." Dad sat back down, and Madam Bones nodded her head.
The hearing continued on for what seemed to be an age. I wasn't even called on to speak. Madam Bones finally drew it to a close. I held my breath in anticipation. This was the moment that mattered. Madam Bones stood.
"All in favour of granting the guardianship of Ebony Creed to Headmaster Dumbledore raise your hand."
Less than a quarter of the members of the Wizingamot raised their hands.
"All in favour of allowing Lord Creed to keep the guardianship of Ebony Creed, raise your hand."
Over three quarters of the Wizingamot raised their hands, and I met Dumbledore's eye. I saw the rage in them, and held back a smirk, keeping my face impassive.
"Wizingamot dismissed." Madam Bones said.
The Wizingamot all stood, and began exiting the room. I met up with dad and Sirius and we also left the room. I saw Luna's father and waved to him. He smiled absentmindedly, and came over.
"Hello, so glad everything worked out. It was lucky that the Nargles kept their infestations to a minimum today." He said.
"Yes, very lucky." Sirius agreed, nodding.
Just then, a wizard came over to us. He wasn't wearing the traditional robes of the Wizingamot, and I hadn't seen him in the chamber. "Lord Creed, Lord Black, Lord Lovegood." He greeted, nodding his head, before he faced dad and Sirius completely. "There is something Miss Creed and Mr Potter must see. I am an unspeakable from the hall of prophecy, and there is a prophecy down there pertaining to them. Two pertaining to Mr Potter, well, it's the same one, just… edited, to suit a certain wizard, whom I am sure you can guess."
Sirius pulled out his wand. "Expecto Patronum." A large silvery shaggy dog burst from the tip of his wand. "Moony, bring Harry to the Ministry. There is something that needs to be done. More has been hidden from us." The dog disappeared off to deliver the message.
"We need to go wait in the Atrium." Sirius said.
"Very well." The wizard said. "I will not say my name here, if you don't mind. Too many people."
With that, the man led us towards the lifts, but Xenophilous Lovegood disappeared, probably back home. I could definitely see where Luna got her bizarre nature from.
A/N: So, Dumbles plans are thwarted once more, what will he try next? And what has been hidden, I wonder? Review and find out!