"Minister of Magic," Tom breathed in disbelief. "They actually voted me Minister of Magic!"
Minerva looked at her husband of decades with such pride that it stole his very breathe. All of these years together and she still had the ability to turn him into mush with a single look. "Well I think you will make a fine Minister," she uttered as he kissed her lovingly. "I have been telling you that for over a week now. I have no idea why it is so hard to grasp for you. You are a natural born leader and aren't afraid to go against the grain. Now let's go out there and show them how dignified their new Minister of Magic can waltz his wife."
"Thanks my love," he replied with a smile. "It is still hard for me to believe I am meant to run the government especially with my past. I don't believe I deserve this chance at atonement sometimes," he said so only she heard him.
"You deserve oh so much my love," she replied. "One day you shall believe it as well."
Tom gently grasped her hand and lead his wife to the dance floor. Tonight was his first Ministry event since they voted him Minister of Magic last week. Tomorrow was his first official day in office. He gripped his wife's hip with one hand and held her other within his sure grasp. Once the music filtered throughout the room, Tom gracefully lead his wife through a traditional waltz. He gently kissed her lips at the end of it much to the room's amusement if the applause was anything to go by.
"Remember the plan," she whispered in his ear as the music changed into an upbeat Latin beat.
He smirked at his wife, "Show them we value the traditional ways but are open to change if the occasion calls for it."
Minerva laughed as she felt Tom's magic swirl around her. "You planned this," she accused with a smile.
Her traditional green dress robes were replaced with a scarlet red Latin style dress. It clung to her curves and split up to mid thigh on both sides. It also showcased her pregnant belly. She was 7 months pregnant but so far her robes hid it. She hadn't gained much weight but Poppy hadn't been concerned about it. They hadn't felt the need to tell anyone other than family and staff at Hogwarts. "I certainly did," he admitted freely. "I adore you and your pregnant belly. I want to show both off to the world and what better way than this?"
"I can't decide if this is a move worthy of a Slythrein or Gryffindor," she teased as she stepped into position to start their Latin dance.
"Always Slythrein my love," he answered as he drew her into his arms and led her into a steamy and rather passionate tango.
Applause errupted as he dipped her low and kissed her lovingly. "Seems we stole the show," she whispered as she noticed they were the only ones dancing to the song. "I was too distracted by the dancing to realize we were the only ones doing so."
"I'm sure a picture of this dance will make the Daily Prophet," he commented with a grin. He surrounded her with his magic once again and switched her dress back to her emerald dress robes. He kissed her palm gently and spun her away.
Minerva smiled mischievously at him before turning to the French dignitary nearby. He watched as Minerva danced off with a wizard he knew was married to a witch with a Veela mother. He watched as she threw her head back and laughed happily at whatever the French wizard said. Shaking his head, he moved towards Lady Black and asked her to waltz. This Ministry event he planned to show everyone he could uphold valued wizarding traditions as well incorporate new ones.
"You have a lovely wife," Druella Black commented politely as they danced.
"I do," he replied honestly. "You have lovely daughters."
"Thank you," she replied. "I have high expectations of them."
"As all parents should," he commented. "I have spent many hours in the Hogwarts library discussing current topics, magical theory and life goals with all three of your daughters. May I offer you a piece of advice?"
Unsure where the conversation was going, she merely nodded. She was curious about what the new Minister of Magic had to say. Tom smiled charmingly at her. "You have such wonderously talented daughters but you have already stripped Bellatrix of any potential she had because of blood purity ideas. Narcissa is far too good for Lucius Malfoy and will remain nothing more than a trophy wife for him. Don't continue to do that to her," he begged. "She has the potential to make one of the best Unspeakables I have seen especially that young. She is strong, passionate and so intelligent it is refreshing to see. She will lose her strong will if she remains married Lucius Malfoy. Find a way to break their contract."
"But blood purity..." Druella stated but he cut her off.
"Has bore nothing but hate, squibs and ends of respectable wizarding families that disagree with their philosophy," he offered factly. "Blood purists would have labeled my wife as a halfblood when she was the lost heir of Ravenclaw. A long line of squibs finally came back into a line of magic and restarted such an important house. Blood purists would have ended her if given the chance decades ago and look what the wizarding world would of lost had that came to pass."
Druella frowned as she thought of his words. "Blood purists only want to use your daughters to gain favor with their current leader. They will destroy more traditions and purebloods than anything else. Stop allowing them to strip the Noble House of Black of its dignity and treasures. Please find a way to break Narcissa's marriage to Lucius and reach out to Andromeda. It's not too late to be involved in your granddaughter's life. She's a metamorphmagus you know. Quite a rare and coveted trait, isn't it?" He said as he bowed as their dance ended and walked away.
"You are quite Slythrein," Isobel said a little later in the evening. "Druella Black has looked quite pensive since your dance. She had been eyeing muggleborns and halfbloods in thought. Whatever you said while dancing has her reflecting on her decisions."
"Good," he smirked. "I want her to reevaluate what blood purity is doing to her family."
"Do you think you can change her opinion?" his mother-in-law asked curiously.
"I hope I can," he answered. "House Black is notoriously dark and strong believers in blood purity. If I can sway Druella Black then I certainly can sway more of the less darker leaning Houses. Minerva is already swaying the younger generation without even realizing she is actually doing it."
"How," Isobel asked intrigued.
"Minerva shows her muggle roots in a way to bridge the gap for muggleborn students," Tom said. "She goes by her father's last name instead of Lady Ravenclaw, Slythrein or even Dumbledore because she adores her father. She writes with muggle ink pens when working on research because it is more easily gotten to when on the go. You know how she has to write down an idea as soon as it strikes her. She adores Muggle literature and frequently can be seen outside reading. Minerva dresses comfortably during evenings and on weekends. To Minerva, muggle clothes are the go to comfort. She would rather have a pair of jeans and a jumper over a robe any day. The students watch her yet she is unaware."
Isobel thought about it for a moment and then met her son-in-law's gaze, "Minerva has to be aware on some level. She is too intelligent not to be."
"I thought so too," he confided. "However, I have learnt something very interesting about our favorite witch. She is more at home at Hogwarts than any other place. She adores Caithness and she loves the cottage but it is like Hogwarts calls to her. She allows herself to be more herself while there and that is what the students see."
"Fascinating," Isobel replied as she turned and watched as her daughter danced with Theseus Scamander. "I hope you find success with House Black. It would be a turning point in the blood purity ideology."