Chapter Ten: Calling all Lords and Ladies.
With the heads of the departments secured along with the Aurors they had brought with them, Severus returned to the library, "Once we have called forth the Lords and Ladies you give them one hour to comply to arrive, the rings each family holds is embedded with a portkey hidden so deep within it that only the Alliance has the right to activate it."
"What if they do not attend?" Samantha asked quietly.
"Then we have the right to decide if they continue to hold their title," Severus answered, "but it would do us no well to isolate them from the start."
"Three strike rule?" Michael looked around the group, "In Muggle culture people are normally given three warnings before they are out."
"Three strike rule then for the Lords and Ladies, the ministry do not apply to that rule."
Severus nodded, "There is one other issue we need to address, but first you need to call forth upon the Lords and Ladies of our world."
"How?" Mark asked softly.
"Our rings," Kayleigh glanced at her head of house seeing the nod, "Our rings give us the power to do so."
"The ring of power," Eike laughed, only a few in the room getting the reference.
Kayleigh rolled her eyes, "We speak to the Lords and Ladies of our community," she spoke clearly to her ring, the stone giving off a slightly glow as it grew warm, "We the Alliance call you forth, upon thy hour your presence is required." Severus gave a brief smile quickly writing on a piece of parchment handing it over, "Upon thy hour the court shall be held," Kayleigh read the lines, "All are requested to attend, should thou for reason unknown be not in attendance then speak thy name upon thy ring." Lowering her hand and parchment at the same time Kayleigh closed her eyes briefly, "Now we wait."
"No," Severus shook his head, "Now we need to question the head of the department of mysteries upon his own request for it to be done so privately."
"How do we ensure the truth?"
"I am but a potions master," Severus held up a vial of clear liquid.
High Lady Kensiskikov's office, Alliance manor 7:40pm.
With the potion administered the group sat quietly before the hooded man, who neither gave put up a fight with taking the requested potion or had seemed surprised when it had been mentioned, "Given we cannot ask your name," Kayleigh spoke quietly."
"You can Milady," the monotone voice answered.
"Your department holds many secrets Sir, which are your own we shall not pry into it," Eike spoke.
"We shall keep our questions to this night only," Kayleigh continued, "but we do thank you for submitting to our request, why were you asked to attend this evening?"
"The minister requested that all Heads attend to meet the Alliance."
"And yet not all are in attendance," Mark spoke.
"No Milord, as High lady Kensiskikov pointed out not all are in attendance just those the minister sees as important."
"Important and can fight," Samantha looked around the group.
"You are correct Milady," the man answered lowering his hood slowly revealing a man in his late 70's, "As I should state that my department given our nature we have built up a tolerance to the potion you have given me which is a requirement, if I may be as bold as to speak freely?"
Kayleigh nodded, "You may master Unspeakable."
"your positions are ones of great power and the Minster a fool that he is sees that as a threat to himself, though I did not agree with his plan of requesting a meeting I was interested in you all. My department has researched the Alliance for hundreds of years ever since they were thought to be lost," the man smiled, "as to your earlier statement, we are of course known to keep our identities hidden it protects us and those of us who do have families, but as a show of good faith and trust I shall release my name to you, I am Master Unspeakable Jackson Cornwell at your service."
"Jackson Cornwell was thought to have died in the first war," Severus spoke clearly for the first time.
"He was Lord Proclotect, and yet here I sit it was prudent for my own family that it was believed I was dead and though some of us do have families when you hold the position that I do it is a necessary burden to leave your family behind," Jackson shook his head leaning back in his seat.
"May we ask," Michael broke off, "I mean…"
"Ask your question Milord and I shall answer if I can."
"Thank you, May I ask what your department learnt about the Alliance?"
"You wish to know if we discovered whose lines you all came down from."
"I do," Michael whispered.
"There was only one line we could trace and even now it holds and seems to disappear in the early 1900's, but that is the line of Proclotect, the protector," Jackson smiled kindly glancing to the Lord in question, "yet through research of my own I have managed to trace it further."
"How far?" Severus asked carefully.
"Far enough to know you are not who you appear to be," Jackson smiled, "But fear not Potions Master your secret is safe with me. Keeping your identities secret is a must for the Alliance, otherwise you would never be able to step foot outside of this manor without being swamped by the public."
"You never shared your discovery?" Kayleigh asked quickly.
"No Milady for it is not my secret to share, but I offer my departments' help should you ever need it with or without Ministry approval."
"We have gotten slightly off track," Eike spoke, "What did you know of this evening?"
"Nothing bar I was requested to attend and as I have stated I was interested in meeting you all. Unlike the Minster and certain employees I understand that we must work together for the good of the community and I swear to you upon my life and that of my families I do mean you no ill harm."
Alliance Manor 8:20pm.
Voices filled the Grand Court room as the Lords and Ladies had arrived, the House Elves were busy providing refreshments yet the main topic upon everyone's lips was 'why had they been called?' In a room off to the side the Alliance themselves were starting to look a little grey with the prospect that was before them, the only one who still wore managed to seal with emotions was Severus, "They still have ten minutes before the wards will seal then, we shall need to address them," he spoke quietly.