Gideon took a deep breath as he walked into the clearing where the counsel was to be held. Firenze, Remus and Hagrid all stood with him. Sword of Gryffindor strapped to his waist and the full robes of the High Lord on, he hoped he could remember all he had been instructed by both Firenze and Hagrid.
As he entered the circle he held back a gasp at those he saw around and instead bowed to the leader. "Great High Lord of the counsel of others I seek audience."
The vampire lord who served as head of the counsel, Lord Vladimir, spoke. "And who are you human to seek an audience of the counsel of the others?"
"I am Lord Gideon Sirius James Potter Prewett Black-Snape Gryffindor, Head of Hogwarts and High Lord of the Wizengamot. I speak on behalf of the wizards and witches and seek not only an audience but the rightful seat due a wizard among the counsel." Gideon said as he continued to kneel.
"You have called the order by truce of blood and are granted a seat among us, a seat no human has claimed in two centuries." Vladimir spoke.
Gideon stood. "I would also like to introduce my companions and beg them be given petitioners audience tonight in aid."
Vladimir looked at the other three. "You have brought members of our races. I am intrigued. You may introduce them and they may remain."
"Hagrid, son of Fridwulfa of the Franco Giants, Remus Lupin, member of the Order of Four and werewolf by bite. And Lord Firenze of the Forbidden forest centaurs and eldest son of High Lord Mandragoran of the British centaurs."
Vladimir turned to Mandragoran. "Has your son joined this human by your consent or has your heir turned his back on his tribe?"
Mandragoran managed a chuckle. "My son and heir has my blessing to stand with Lord Gideon who has himself earned my respect and support here tonight."
Vladimir pointed at an empty chair left. "Take your seat Lord Gideon and your guests are welcome for tonight's counsel but their actions you are responsible for."
Gideon slid into the seat, adjusting his sword. "My guests will show the honour and respect due upon this counsel and I stand as assurance to that."
"So you have come to ask the counsel of others to stand with you in this war? I see the centaurs have already agreed, why should we?" A hag asked.
"This war will touch all races. Voldemort shows no respect even for his own race. He will enslave all races if he gains control." Gideon spoke plain.
"He had shown respect to many of our groups. Werewolves are among his top army." A werewolf who Harry knew would be a pureblood, not a bitten, spoke.
"Do they have the death mark? Do they sit in his counsels? Are they partial to his secrets? Or are they dispensable troops to send into battle to die for him."
The wolf smiled. "We have great power beyond that of the death eaters and when he comes to power, we could gain more of the power."
Gideon looked to Remus who nodded. "Do you think he'd allow you to continue to breed knowing your powers? Purebloods have been banned from breeding in England until recently because of it. Shifters are too dangerous. Do you want your breed to be wiped out?"
The werewolf sighed. "You speak wisdom for such a young age. We have been informed of the community have created for us here. You seek us to fight, in return?"
Gideon shook his head. "I seek only that if you don't fight, that you remain neutral. I make no war on peaceful races. The villages is yours and I hope more with time. Remus Lupin may only be a bitten but he is among my closest advisors and a father to me. I owe much to your race great lord Greyeyes."
"You'd have us believe if you win this war and we don't fight with you, that we'll not loose our freedom or our lives?" The Lady of the elves spoke.
"Lady Gwendolyn I seek no death or unwilling allies. I ask aid but if you refuse, I will not punish you. The rights I have returned are yours to keep forever."
"I for one believe Gideon. My brother reminds me of the aid his family has given us for centuries." The Goblin High Lord, Lord Ragnald's elder brother, spoke.
"The free house elves stand with Lord Gideon and offer what services we can. He has proven his loyalty to our race." The little House Elf Lord spoke.
Mandragoran spoke. "The centaurs of the Forbidden Forest have offered their bows to his aid and we request all other tribes here to air him."
Greyeyes spoke. "I can not speak for the werewolves who under Ferrier serve Voldemort but those who are mine to control, stand behind you Lord Gideon."
A half giant who had remained silent spoke. "There are only a half dozen of the giants to come to your aid, but we will stand with you as Hagrid has chosen to."
Gideon watched in awe as all of the races gave their answers. A few like the hags and the pixies refused their aid but promised to remain neutral but the others all agreed to come to his aid. There were those among their race that he might still have to fight like Ferrier, but he had their support.
Vlad spoke. "No humans will lead us into battle. I demand you choose a General and two captains from among this counsel, to lead the others."
Gideon nodded. "Lord Mandragoran will be general of the troops and lead from the archers and our back. Greyeyes of the wolves and Cygnus of the giants as captains."
Vlad nodded. "Wise choices young Gideon. We have your back and when the war comes our races stand behind you. You're welcome at our counsel any time."
Gideon bowed and took his leave quickly though Firenze told him he'd act as a go between for him between his father and the others. Gideon had to get to the castle now for there was too much to doing a short time.
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Severus looked up relieved when his husband came into the Great Hall. "Gideon, you're safe. I worried you might not return."
Gideon smiled and kissed him. "I reminded you of the blood truce that would protect me for another day among their race."
"How did it go? How many of the races will stand for us?" Severus asked.
"A few like the pixies and the hags refuse but they will remain neutral. All others will fight for us." Gideon aid sand explained how it had gone down.
Remus smiled. "He did us all proud. I think he was probably more nervous about his first days in the Wizengamot then he was when he appeared before them."
Severus laughed. "Only my husband would be more scared of a bunch of political wizards then of vampires, centaurs, werewolves and the lot."
Gideon shrugged. "I guess it's kind of like me being scared of Moody but not of Voldemort. Anyways I knew the truce would keep me safe."
Hagrid nodded. "He showed all respect and honours and deserved their support. I never believed Mandragoran would ever find a human that he liked."
"I have left him to general our troops of the others with the Giant Lord and werewolf Lord as captains. They will serve as back up and aid." Gideon explained.
"The order of the four, the lords of the counsel and the aurors are all in place. The students we could get out have left. The older ones remain." Lucius explained.
"We meet them on the grounds and keep the battle as far away from the castle as we can. All remaining students are to be sent to the dungeons." Gideon said.
Luna gaped at him. "Wouldn't their own dorms be safer for them?"
Gideon looked at his husband. "I assume there are few enough left that they can fit in Slytherin?" and when Severus nodded. "The dungeons are below ground so if giants or something else attack the school and the building begins crumbling; they'll be safer down there then up in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw towers."
Severus agreed "The space might be a bit tight but Gideon has a point. There will be those among the other races who still join Tom against the orders of their lords and the dungeons are structurally safer for them."
Gideon turned to his husband and the girls. "We lead the front. We need to end this battle as soon as we can. As few lives lost as possible."
Susan came over to him. "We're ready and the three of us will stand behind you Lord Gryffindor. "
Luna agreed. "You and your husband have proven that the two of you are powerful. Now let us show Voldemort why the four of us are unstoppable."
Severus joined the girls in their assurance to his husband and then they moved away to start planning the battle. They knew by morning the enemies would be upon them and they'd need to be ready. Firenze came with messages from the other troops though eventually Dobby became the go between for them.
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Gideon stood with his husband and the girls on the front laws of the school. The Order of the four and half the aurors stood behind them while the teachers, house elves of the school and a number of graduates of the school who had return by request were in the school. The forest was full of their new forces and the other aurors, the lords of the counsel and any other air they had, were in town.
Gideon felt something coursing through his veins. "They're coming. The wards have come down."
Severus looked over at his husband. "I assume this has something to do with your link to the castle. Call the troops to order."
Gideon took out his wand and sent a patronus to all troops to warn everyone that the battle was about to start. Gideon rarely used his own wand as he had become linked to the sword of Gryffindor as his own wand, but for a patronus he used it.
Sure enough the entire grounds were soon filled with the sound of apparation as the death eaters appeared. "Remember we have allies among them" Severus whispered.
Gideon remembered that Lucius and the Zaibinis, Rabastan Lestrange and a few others were among them. "For the light." Gideon called as a battle cry for his troops."
Gideon left his sword in place for now as he and his husband and the girls advanced across the grass. Voldemort was at the heart of his troops. His troops could be handled by their men and women. It was Voldemort that they needed to take down.
Voldemort spotted them. "So the little usurper of my title has come to me has he?"
Gideon smiled. "Poor little Tommy, angry because you got outed as the false Lord Slytherin. Forgot did you that your line lost the title centuries ago."
Voldemort laughed. "I will kill you and your husband and I will reclaim the title. Foolish you didn't name that brat of yours heir to Slytherin. It'll be mine again."
Gideon shook his head. "My sister will inherit the title if I die without child. You have never been entitled to the powers and they will never be yours."
Voldemort laughed. "Doesn't matter, I am stronger even if I'm not lord Slytherin. You four will die like lambs to the slaughter and this world will be mine."
Gideon slid his sword from the scabbard and felt the fire coursing through his body and through the sword. His power was stronger here on the grounds. He watched as his husband and the girls drew their wands and they stood their ground.
"Your days are done Riddle."
