It had been a month of meetings, bowing, and scraping but the Potter Children's Protection Act was being heard by the Wizengamot.
Sonny and Sirius entered the chamber as members of the Wizengamot for the first time ever. Dressed in the plum colored robes with the silver W that marked them as members of the council. Sonny thanked a deity she wasn't sure she believed in that she didn't have the silly hat since she was acting as the Potter family regent. They took their assigned seats on separate sides of the round room and Sonny began to prep (again) the materials she had with her including a copy of the proposed law.
While she was re-reviewing her points the room filled up around her. It was a brief tug on her elbow by Augusta Longbottom that alerted her to the fact that the session was about to begin. The topics that were covered varied from business that had carried over from the last proper session to a few other proposed laws that were slated to be heard before she would get to speak. Most of the other laws were actually amendments to pre-existing laws whereas the PCPA was proposing the creation of a new Ministry department and new training for several existing departments as well as effect healers and Hogwarts.
After what was the most boring two hours of her life, which was saying something as she had spent five years in Binn's History of Magic class, Sonny was finally called upon to present the PCPA.
"The Wizengamot recognizes the Potter regent has prepared a law for consideration. Please raise and give a brief overview before we vote to continue review of the propose law," Dumbledore intoned from his position in the center of the room.
As she stood to take the floor her stomach swooped as her nerves made their presence known. The feeling faded quickly as Melanie caught her eye and gave her very discreet thumbs up of encouragement from the Cromwell seat.
"Thank you, Chief Warlock. I am here to propose the Potter Children's Protection Act. This law will essentially create a new department within the Ministry that is geared towards the protection of magical children and will monitor those in dangerous home situations, it will also create orphanages for magical children who have no living relatives, have been removed from the care of their family, or have been abandoned. We as a community are recovering from a war that has ravaged our population and eliminated whole bloodlines. Children are our greatest resource do they not deserve to be protected and treated as such. It is the hope of the Potter family that Wizarding Britain learn from the selfless acts of the late Lord James Potter and his wife Lily Potter and proceed not only to review this proposal but pass it into law," Sonny proclaimed loudly and laying on the charm/guilt a little too thick.
She took a deep breath as Dumbledore called for a vote on hearing more about the PCPA.
"House Bones would like to further review the proposed law," said Amelia Bones from her heritage seat while nodding an acknowledgement of their newly formed alliance to Sonny.
"House Black seconds the review," Sirius bellowed.
Sonny needed one more vote and was waiting for Melanie to add it then she heard a voice directly to her right, "House Longbottom would also like to further review the proposed law," Augusta added shocking Sirius, Sonny, and Melanie.
"The motion carries the Potter Children's Protection Act will be further reviewed by this august body. You have the floor Miss Cromwell-Black," Dumbledore declared.
Sonny had to fight to keep her motions precise as she felt all eyes turn towards her again. She waved her wand sideways over the pages copying the proposal and then with a swish every member had a copy to read along while she explained the main points.
"As I said in my introduction this law, if passed, will create a new department in the Ministry. It will not be an extension of the DMLE but will work in close conjunction with it. This new department will have the authority to intervene if it is believed that a child is being or at risk of being abused or neglected. To achieve the goal of protecting all magical children regardless of blood status, wealth, and injury not only will this department work with the DMLE but it will also work with the professors at Hogwarts as well as the Healers at St. Mungo's to actively look for and report dangerous situations," Sonny explained and continued walking the Wizengamot through the various duties and goals of the department. Now came the time for questions including where the idea originally came from.
"It says here that you also plan on creating homes for squibs and half-breeds," an older wizard exclaimed.
"Yes, children who have been abandoned because of their magical abilities or because they have been infected will be given shelter as they navigate their new living situation. It is my hope that muggleborn and raised wizards and witches can help squibs learn to live in a world without magic. As for newly turned werewolves and vampires the belief is that if they are given a safe haven they can be just active and productive members of the wizarding world. In these homes we can provide them medical care and the love and affection every child is due," Sonny said shocking several older members of the court.
When the vote came Sonny was hurt but not surprised to see the old guard vote down the proposed law.
As she gathered up her things and moved with the crowd to exit the meeting chamber she used her heightened hearing to listen to what others were saying to better understand what had been the death knell for the PCPA.
"Imagine thinking we need to be told how to raise our children and by muggles no less. It's downright offensive," she heard a gossiping witch exclaim.
Another wizard said in hushed tone as she walked by, "What would someone like her know about family anyway? The bastard daughter of a second son unwilling to learn her place."
Finally the most offensive comment of all, "Can you imagine she'd have paying to take care werewolves and vampires. The only thing I am willing to pay for is to have those monsters put down," came from a squat toad like woman.
Sonny sighed her idea was too muggle and the circumstances of her birth would always haunt her as would the prejudice and fear of "half-breeds". She entered the elevator to exit the Ministry before she could get too bogged down in her failure it was here that she was cornered by Albus and one of his cronies a man named Dodge if she wasn't mistaken.
"Sonia, I would like you to speak to the staff about looking for signs of abuse or neglect in the students. It is not much but if we can help in some small way I would like to know that we are," Albus said.
"Owl me with a time that will be convenient for the staff and I will make it work," she answered dumbly not expect him to be so open to what she had tried to accomplish after all he never asked for anyone's help when it came to Hogwarts matters.
It seemed that Dodge wanted to give her advice on what would work in the Wizengamot and what wouldn't. His advice was what she already knew so she tuned him out praying that he and Albus were getting off on a different floor. One thing she was certain of was that they still needed a way to unload Harry's birthday "gifts".
AN: Hey all I am writing again. I was so blocked on this story it was crazy. There will be two more chapters before we time jump to about two years to Harry starting primary school. Also a quick note on my Wizengamot is divided into two types of seats: heritage seats i.e. one inherited by the old families that existed before the Wizarding Council was formed and the other are people who are either very notable like Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, etc) or elected officials.