Chapter 103
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Uncle Vernon parked the car in front of the manor, getting everyone out as he knew some sort of Magic would bring their belongings in.
"Right. Everyone, out of the car. Dudley, leave your stuff." He said when his son was about to grab it from the trunk. "Emperor, stop tormenting Hedwig before I chuck you into the house. Enyo, stop biting the mirror."
Vernon had to grab the little Dragon by the scaly scruff to pry her off the rearview mirror before chucking her at Petunia. Enyo just allowed herself to fly through the air until she was caught by Petunia, attaching herself to her winter coat as a necklace.
"Petunia, dear," He said, gesturing vaguely with a hand. "Grab the liquor. We're gonna need it eventually."
"Already have it in hand, dear," She said, holding up the bottle before ushering both Dudley and Rebekah up the stairs and out of the snow.
Rebekah stopped at the top of the stairs, waiting as the rest went in and she turned her head to the rolling, white hills full of Magical snow so they could feel the true effects of Yule on them.
It was the new moon tonight, and the Dursleys would spend the night at the Black-Lupin manor to celebrate Wizarding Yule.
They were the last to arrive, so the hosts were waiting for them to properly start everything.
"'Bekah!" Tonks greeted, purple-haired and grinning as she walked slowly towards her as Rebekah came into the Black-Lupin manor for Christmas.
"Oh, Merlin and Morgana," She hugged the older woman carefully before letting go. "Look at you."
"I'm huge." Tonks laughed. "I'm barely six months now and feel huge."
Remus appeared quickly behind her. "She means she feels out of control and isn't a fan of having a kid kick at her kidneys."
Tonks huffed, rolling her eyes just as Sirius came, having already greeted Vernon and Petunia, and given Dudley a Butterbeer. He came to hug his GodDaughter straight after Remus finished.
Remus forced her to take the long, fleece overcoat off and give it to Kreacher to put in her room.
She had on a dark green turtleneck under one of Sirius' Black Sabbath t-shirts, one that had a grey picture of a large skull surrounded by two skeletons and the name under it. Tight black trousers finished the look along with shiny black boots.
"So," Rebekah rubbed her hands together. "Alcohol?"
"Not yet, Cub," Remus said, lifting one finger just as Sirius opened his mouth. "Later. Most of your friends are here. Tracey and her parents are here, along with Logan and his sister."
"Oh, and the Greengrasses just arrived," Sirius said, nodding to the door where Kreacher opened it to let the family of four and a plus one in.
Mr Greengrass had been a Death Eater in the past, but he wasn't marked because of his station in life and ministry job. He worked for what he previously believed in, becoming part of Voldemort's group because that was what was expected of him.
It reminded Rebekah of Lucius Malfoy, how he was brought up in the sullied beliefs of Purebloods and Halfbloods. Luckily, having met her, they slowly changed their beliefs, seeing the other side, the wider side of life that didn't hate anything and everything that was not the same as them.
While Lucius was in Azkaban, Mr Greengrass was helping the Order figure stuff out at the Ministry without making himself a target.
With Pansy's parents still being Death Eaters, they didn't attend but Pansy managed to convince her parents to let her sleep round the Greengrasses' for Yule. Thus, this allowed her to attend the Black-Lupin Yule party.
After greeting Mr and Mrs Greengrass, Rebekah led her friends deeper into the manor just as Sirius and Remus were now speaking to them.
They went into the ballroom.
The place was decorated in hues of gold, silver, and red, very Christmassy but still having the tones of Yule as several wreaths were tossed around the walls in various patterns of colour.
A large dinner was to be served in an hour but another knock at the door interrupted the festivities.
Percy Weasley brought along Rufus Scrimgeour to the house.
Sirius was quick to come to the door when he realised, taking over from Molly who huffed at him and invited both in.
"Minister," Sirius greeted. "What brings you along here?"
"Ah, Mr Black,"
"Black-Lupin,"
A smile stretched across Scrimgeour's face. "Yes. Well, I brought Percy here since we were nearby and finishing up the night. I must be off soon but since I am here, I'd like to talk to Miss Potter, if that's possible?
Sirius nodded once before letting them both in, "Please, go into the drawing-room, she will be with you in a moment."
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She came in within minutes, sitting down in the drawing-room as Emperor followed right behind her. "You wanted to speak with me?"
"Charming," He muttered, sitting on the couch with both hands on the walking stick between his knees. "I've wanted to meet you for a very long time. Did you know that?"
"Somewhat," She said, letting Emperor jump onto the sofa with her so he laid his head on her lap to let her pet him. "
"Natural, after what you've been through, and with what happened at the Ministry," He waited for her to say something but she knew this tactic, one that allowed the silence to make another confess something. "I have been hoping for an occasion to talk to you ever since I gained office, but Dumbledore has prevented this, I have to say."
She still didn't speak, letting him say what he wanted.
"The rumours that have flown around!"
"Minister, get to the point of this meeting," She interrupted. "I don't mean to be rude, but we both know you're here for a reason other than simply wanting to meet me. Tell me plainly what you want and we can discuss it without all the pleasantries you think we need to have before the discussion."
He nodded, "For the Wizarding community at large… It's all perception, isn't it? It's what people believe that's important. They believe you are the 'Chosen one,'" He said, putting up air quotes around the word. "The point is, you've become a symbol of hope for some. Having the idea that someone can defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gives the people a lift, something to live for. And I can't help but feel that, once you realize this, you might consider it, almost a duty, to stand alongside the Ministry, and give everyone a boost."
"You want me to become a cover girl, an icon for people to root for," She said, her hand in Emperor's fur. "What would it entail anyway?"
"Nothing much at all, I assure you," He said. "You simply being seen popping in and out of the Ministry once in a while would give the correct impression of you being on our side."
"What would I get out of it?" She tilted her head. "What would I get for the trouble of lying to the public and saying that I am siding with the Ministry when I am not? After all of this is over, because it will be, by my death or Voldemort's because of the Prophecy, what would I get out of all this trouble? A medal? A pat on the back before you throw me out again? The Ministry gets a cover girl and a go-to icon for this war against Voldemort, and what do I get out of it?"
He looked at her with a hint of disbelief but a sort of approval that came from seeing your opponent being equally challenging as yourself. "What do you want?"
"I've got people in places, ones where you would gladly put them in Azkaban for," She stared directly into his eyes, not backing down. "I want the right to reserve to pardon such people if or when I see fit. Of course, this would only apply if Voldemort is gone by the time I get to use it."
"I…" He started. "I think I can make that happen."
"Then it's settled, Minister Scrimgeour," She stood up, coming over to shake him on the hand firmly. "Do we have a deal? I have veto power for pardons that may or may not be issued after this war?
"We do,"
"Good," She smiled. "Now if you would excuse me, I have a Yule party to return to. Kreacher will see you out."
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"What happened?" Pansy asked, watching as Rebekah came back in and the Minister left.
"I made a deal,"
"And?"
"I get something good out of it."
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Rebekah laid in bed with her creatures around her. Emperor buried himself into her side while Enyo slept under the pillow, her head peeking out from under it while Fidele was laying within her top, using her as a warm pillow. Hedwig was on her perch but it was nearby.
"Why can't life ever be simple?" She muttered in Parsletongue as she and Fidele spoke. "It's getting tiresome to try and win this damned war. I have no clue what I'm doing half the time."
"You have to march on," He hissed. "Some don't get a say in where they lie in history. This war will be here whether you plan to fight it or not."
"You're right," She sighed. "Since I'm gonna be used as a poster girl for the Ministry, that might help my image. I can't tell them anything because if I do, it might open—"
Something burned on her chest, making her sit up quickly, dislodging both Emperor who meowed in annoyance and Fidele who slithered out of her shirt.
She clawed at the shirt, pulling it down to see the tiny burn on her chest and golden locket open.
Pulling the locket so it sat over her shirt, she glanced at it as she properly sat up.
She had been trying to open it for ages, nothing, not even curses opened it.
The set of golden doors had glass compartments, holding a set of living eyes, both dark and handsome as Tom Riddle's. They were deep and without the scarlet of his cursed form, reminding her of his youth in her dreamscape.
She grinned, watching the eyes squint at her before it winked. She rolled her eyes at that, closing the locket with a click before laying down again.
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