Apologies for the late update, peeps, but I've been down with a serious bout of the flu and the cough for the past week and a half, and even now, I'm not even fully recovered yet! Seriously, have you tried to sit down and work or even write when you're sneezing or coughing your lungs out? Not a fun thing to do, let me assure you.
Additionally, I think I need to clear some things up about some of the terms and mythological terms that I've been using in this story. I am very well aware that this is a Harry Potter story. But from my knowledge and understanding, the 'creatures' never really appeared that much in the books, and even if they do, there is a severe biased understanding of them (have you read the fourth book when the mermaids first appeared)? Hence, as this story is leaning more towards the 'creatures', the terms and mythological terms that will appear in here is mostly based off my own original novel.
P.S. Please don't ask me where you can buy said novel, as I'm still writing it.
Pairings: Cedric/Krista
Warnings: AU Universe. Gender switch. OC characters. Some character bashing. Mature scenes. Violence.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me
Chapter Five: A Wakeup Call
Vive memor leti
(Live remembering Death)
XXXXXX
It soon became quite apparent what Rufus Scrimgeour's plan for Magical Britain is when he built a team to go through every single bill and law that they ever had, and decide whether to keep or remove it, or even make extreme modifications to it.
Needless to say, the Wizengamot had protested greatly with this action, but they are powerless in the face of the new Minister of Magic's ferocity, with him having the support of several high ranking Ministry officials and wizards like Amelia Bones, Alastor Moody and even Charlus Potter, Sirius Black and Augusta Longbottom. It also helps that he has the Queen's backing in his actions, as she is far from pleased with how the magical side of her country had been slipping in recent years especially from the reports that she had gotten from her Prime Minister. It didn't help matters that both the ICW and the Downworlders have been increasingly unhappy with Magical Britain for several years now.
Hence, whether the Wizengamot likes it or not, they could neither say or do anything in the face of Rufus' ferocity; not when he had the backing of several powerful wizards and witches who wouldn't be cowed by bribes or threats, and even had the support of the Queen herself who had only given Rufus one order; clean Magical Britain up in two years, or the magical world will be brought under the rule of the Crown once more.
Hence, for the first time in their lives, the Wizengamot and several important wizards who had bribed the former Minister and the Wizengamot to get several laws that they wanted passed, were feeling powerless.
It didn't really help that the team and people who worked closely together with Rufus were either Aurors or former members of the DMLE who are either retired or have joined other departments after the war due to severe injuries. In other words, people that isn't possible to be bought by bribes or cowed by threats.
Dolores Umbridge, the personal Senior Undersecretary to former Minister Fudge was the first that Rufus had demoted to a small administrative position in the Ministerial Wizarding Register Department that is basically just a sub division of the DMLE.
Subsequently, people within the Ministry were either released or demoted to a place more deserving of their 'talents' along with the large pay cuts; whilst the people with talents were subsequently given the promotions and salary raise that they were long overdue. The muggleborns and the half bloods that have formerly applied to the Ministry for job positions but were denied due to their blood status have letters sent out to them, stating that they're free to apply for Ministry positions again should they still desire it.
The DMLE and the Magical Creatures Regulation that have suffered the worst of the budget cuts when Fudge was still in power have regained the budgets that they otherwise should have, whereas the departments that have larger than normal budgets no thanks to Fudge have found their budgets subsequently reduced. Hence, this meant that the DMLE could finally start training up new Aurors and hit wizards to match the numbers that they once had during the war; though Rufus had also given Amelia a new order: create a magical army similar to the one that the Queen had.
It will doubtlessly take time, possibly years; Queen's orders notwithstanding. But Rufus knew that Amelia is nothing but determined when she had an idea in her head; she didn't become the first female department head in the Ministry for nothing. In fact, he'll wager that Amelia will at most take five years before she had an elite magical force like that of the Queen's army now that they had the budget that they need.
In fact, Amelia had invited most of her retired Aurors back to the DMLE as Auror instructors. Rufus is also considering Amelia and Moody's suggestions to open an Auror Academy to give new aspiring Aurors the necessary training before tossing them out onto the field. This will save them from having to remove their senior Aurors from active field duty by assigning them as instructors to the new Aurors like how they've always done things.
The Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office was also given a complete revamp and had their budget adjusted. Arthur Weasley, the current head of that department was called in for a meeting with Rufus the same way that every single department head did. Rufus had a new idea in mind for the only muggle related department in the Ministry that he wished to run through with Arthur that is quite possibly the only pureblood wizard that he knew is increasingly fond of muggles; but even that is starting to come in question especially after Kristina Potter's fate was made known.
Like how Rufus is busy cleaning up the huge mess that Cornelius Fudge and Millicent Bagnold have left behind for him to clean, Margaret Thatcher, the muggle Prime Minister is handling the magical affairs on the mundane side of things due to the Queen's orders as well. There will be a team assigned to assist the Prime Minister and the Queen with inter magical relations with the magical Ministry for as long as needed, as with the way that the world had been advancing, it will only be a matter of time before the existence of the magical world is revealed.
Needless to say, all the extreme changes that Rufus had been making to their society as a whole is making the entire community uneasy—the more powerful and influential wizards especially, but he had ignored them all. Dumbledore especially was a frequent protestor of Rufus enforcing his decrees with force, but with Kristina Potter's death, and after the truth of his manipulations revolving around that child's life had came out, Dumbledore's popularity had plummeted. These days, even the students at Hogwarts don't respect him as much anymore.
Regardless of the methods that Rufus had used however, there is no denying that they are seeing results—positive ones in fact. Even the Wizengamot was given a complete revamp. While half of the seats are still held by the heads of the noble houses, the other half of the seats are voted in by the general populace—an idea given to Rufus by the Italian and American Ministers of Magic when he'd attended the last ICW meeting to introduce himself as Britain's new Minister of Magic.
Kingsley Shacklebolt, the newly appointed Head Auror, though young he might be, had also given the Daily Prophet office a visit under a request by Rufus. He had met with the chief editor and had given them a strict set of rules written by Rufus for them to clean their act up and stop writing in the favour of the Ministry or the purebloods.
Basically, Rufus had told them to declare neutrality and report only the truth as it is, or they risk facing lawsuits or even having their entire press office shut down. The Wizarding Wireless Network faced the same visit as well, along with every single magazine and magical paper in Britain.
It is an entirely new concept to all of Magical Britain; having the press report the truth as it is and not telling the news that is seen as favourable to either side. Xenophilius Lovegood is likely the only one who does, along with a small number of magazines, but because of this trait of theirs—'report only the truth'; they are seen as eccentric, crazy even.
The Queen was pleased with Rufus' work when he made his report to her and Margaret Thatcher when the two years deadline was up—that he could at least make Magical Britain possess some brains and common sense, and could at least make them advance with the times. All the companies that have looked to open branches in Britain that were previously denied by Fudge just because either their products or services have mundane origins were invited back by Rufus.
The wizard prison was given a complete revamp as well. Amelia Bones had gathered some of her best warders and curse breakers and had locked the entirety of the Dementor population on an inhabited island where it is hoped that without people's emotions to feed off, the Dementors will wither and die.
Hogwarts didn't slip under Rufus' radar either. If anything, it was the first on Rufus' list to revamp!
The moment that Rufus had taken the Minister seat and had gained the support and backing that is required, the first thing that he had done is send for the department head of the Department of Magical Education that is solely responsible for the education policy in Magical Britain, along with conducting the necessary exams and tests that Hogwarts students take in fifth and seventh year.
And to say that Rufus isn't pleased with the education standard of Hogwarts these days is a severe understatement, especially when you compare it with the magical schools of America, France and even Italy.
Due to Dumbledore losing all his power and backing, there is little that he could do once Rufus and his team started interfering with Hogwarts, all of them determined to bring Hogwarts back to its former glory when they could once more declare the school as the best in Europe. These days, even Drumstrang is held in higher regard than Hogwarts. If you tell anyone outside of Britain that you're a Hogwarts graduate, you'll get laughed at.
Honestly, after Rufus had compared his notes with his talks with the American and Italian Ministers, he had honestly wondered how he had never seen it before. Their community is so backwards as compared to the rest of the world that it isn't even funny anymore. Little wonder that Her Majesty the Queen is so upset with them that it came to such a point that she had given Rufus two years to clean up their community or she'll do it for them and even bring Magical Britain under the direct rule of the Crown once more. The Downworlders too are extremely unhappy with Britain, and it is only due to the Queen's assurances that the new Minister of Magic is undoing all the damage that his predecessors had caused that had stayed their hand.
The education system is one that Rufus had done a complete overhaul and revamp, as Hogwarts is responsible for educating the future of their country. And if they want Magical Britain to even have a future, the first thing that he needs to do is to fix the damage that Dumbledore had caused at Hogwarts ever since Dippet had retired and Dumbledore had taken over as Headmaster.
Madame Olympe Maxime, the Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic was more than willing to help out Rufus when she had gotten a letter from him by sending one of her best teachers to assist Rufus in writing out a new education system for Hogwarts. America and Italy were willing to assist as well, given that they were neighbours and all.
Hence, Rufus had restored a lot of the lessons that Dumbledore had dropped when he had become Headmaster, deeming them unnecessary. Lessons like wizarding etiquette and customs were restored—that had gained Rufus points in the books of the purebloods who were far from pleased when the lessons were first cut out.
Defence Against the Dark Arts is now renamed to Magical Defence, as they won't just be covering the 'light' spells, but all spells, and the why and how, along with the history of the spells. And hopefully, Rufus hoped that this would work around the 'curse' on the Defence position that had been around even when he was a student. Divination was cut out from the lesson plans; instead, only students who showed signs of the gift would be offered an apprenticeship with a renowned oracle from France who willingly always took on as many students as she could in order to preserve the gift of Clairvoyance.
Muggle Studies had became known as Mundane Affairs; with Rufus revoking the use of the word 'muggle' as it seems almost demeaning to him ever since he was a boy, and had opted to use the word mundane for non-magicals. Mundane Affairs is now considered one of the core subjects—to be taken by every student starting from first year, and Rufus had placed a mundane-born witch into the position as the Mundane Affairs' professor, as she would know more about the mundane world and their history than someone born and raised in the magical world.
Likewise, History of Magic was also revamped, as their text was so out-dated that it wasn't even funny anymore. And Rufus definitely remembered his time as a Hogwarts student well enough to know that Binns is forever always droning on about goblin wars. A new teacher was hired temporarily to fill the position of the History professor until he could find another one, and the temporary professor actually had the capability to make his lessons interesting, even covering about the age of the druids and how magic came to be—even covering the events revolving around Lady Morgana le Fey and Lord Merlin Emyrs.
Potions is the one class where Professor Severus Snape was given a severe warning by both Rufus and Amelia; shape up and stop taking his temper out on children by actually doing his job as a teacher or risk getting fired. Needless to say, the Potions Professor wasn't pleased by this.
In fact, new introductory classes were started at Hogwarts that are only available to first and second years that are mainly mundane-born or mundane-raised—by teaching them the introductory techniques of preparing ingredients for brewing and even what each ingredient does.
Arthur Weasley who had later became part of Rufus' team to revamp Magical Britain due to his innovative ideas in working together with the mundane world had even suggested opening a new class in an attempt to make the wizards and witches of Great Britain more understanding and accepting of the Downworlders. Once they understood them, they won't fear and hate them so much anymore. Amos Diggory had even backed up Arthur in this; as by this point, Rufus, Arthur, Amos and even Charlus Potter have been working their fingers to the bone to get a peace treaty with the Downworlders, and hopefully being able to open Hogwarts to the Downworlder children like how the other schools in the other nations are doing.
Dumbledore had been a royal pain throughout the time when Rufus was doing this, not liking how Rufus is bringing back the classes that he had once dropped because it's 'dark', and even that Rufus had made it mandatory that every bookstore and library continuously update their book collection by importing books directly from America and Italy itself who have some of the best magical theory writers.
Hence, here Rufus sit two years after he had became Minister and just as long since he had placed Magical Britain under martial law and begun cleaning the gigantic mess that Fudge had left behind for him; facing Albus Dumbledore who is once more trying to force his opinions on Rufus.
"Look, I don't care whether you like my methods or not." Rufus said, trying hard to control his temper over what Dumbledore is implying. He still hasn't forgiven the old Headmaster for the level of manipulation that he had done over the Potter family that had caused his old mentor to lose his entire family on that terrible Halloween night. At the rate that this is going, the Potter line is likely going to end with Charlus, as James Potter is his only son. "I don't even care whether you like me or not. I am not here to be liked. I am here to clean up our nation and bring it to the top rather than continue staying stagnant and being the laughing stock of the world!" Rufus slammed his hands atop his desk, glaring at a shocked Albus Dumbledore. "And you have neither the position or power to dictate what I and the others are doing, Dumbledore! You lost that right a long time ago when you decided it best to rip a child from her rightful family that ended up in Lord Potter losing his only grandchild before he even had the chance to know her!"
Dumbledore flushed like he did every single time someone brought that up which is quite often for the past two years. Even after two years, he still couldn't get used from being the most revered wizard to being the most hated. Even the students at Hogwarts don't trust him anymore. Neither does the staff especially after they'd learned what he had done to Kristina Potter. Even Severus doesn't trust him anymore, especially as the Potions professor had felt that that Dumbledore had indirectly made him break his Vow.
"I had my reasons for doing what I did." Dumbledore insisted stubbornly. "But you have no right making this many changes in just two years! Even Hogwarts! It is always the Headmaster who decides what is taught there and who should be hired! It always has been! It is one of Merlin's laws!"
Instead of backing down like how Dumbledore had expected after bringing up one of the magical communities' most sacred laws, Rufus glared right back. "And according to Merlin's law, the Ministry could interfere in the running of a school if we feel that the Headmaster is doing a piss poor job of it and disadvantaging and endangering students which to be honest, you are!" Rufus retorted. "I don't teach you how to run your school, so don't you dare to stand there and teach me how to do mine! I'll do as I damn well please if doing so might just prevent the Queen from placing Magical Britain under the rule of the Crown once more! And given the amount of bigotry and prejudice that this nation has which is in no small part thanks to you and Fudge, I got a gigantic mess to clean up, and mark my words, what I've done over the two years isn't even halfway done! And if I have to break it down and build the nation back up, you can bet your wand that that is what I'm going to do! A leader is never popular!" Rufus pointed out harshly; he had first-hand experience with that during the war when he had seen Crouch and Amelia who is then the Head Auror do what they did just to bring in Death Eaters. "He makes decisions that the people will hate him for, as those decisions are done with them in mind, but they will not be happy about it!" Lord Potter had taught him as such after Crouch's demotion and Amelia's subsequent promotion to the head of the DMLE before being followed by his promotion to Head Auror. "Either you accept our decisions and my ruling, or we can go with the alternative: lay Magical Britain under the direct control of the Crown, and you can bet your ass what will happen if so."
Dumbledore paled at the mere thought of being under the control of the Crown once more. The royal family is the one mundane family that are well aware of the existence of magic and the hidden magical community. Wizards or not, they are still British citizens, and hence, still answerable to the Queen. The Queen is the one person who could control Magical Britain to this extent. It is why Rufus had sought out the support of the Queen, as he would not be able to achieve half of what he even wanted to achieve in just two years if it wasn't for her backing.
"I still feel that it isn't a good idea." Dumbledore insisted.
"Then it's just too bad that I don't care what you think or want, is it?" Rufus retorted. "Count yourself lucky that Amelia didn't arrest you for you doing what you did to James and Lily and their daughter. Lord Potter is just this close to pressing charges against you and Hagrid for kidnapping his grandchild, as that action is indirectly the cause of Kristina Potter's death. Now I'll kindly ask you to leave my office before I have my Aurors forcibly remove you." Rufus pressed a button on the intercom on his desk—one of those inventions that had been sprouting up often lately, especially after some American company that combines mundane inventions with magic had opened a branch on British soil, "Sophia, can you escort Dumbledore out?"
"Of course, Minister. Sanguini, Madam Bones, Mr Diggory and Lord Potter are here for your appointment at ten." Sophia, Rufus' new secretary and personal assistant after he'd demoted Umbridge to the lowest post that he can delegate her, responded. "Should I send them in?"
The girl is a fresh graduate from Salem—the only other magical school in Britain, but unlike Hogwarts, it is only a day school. She is however highly capable and got to her current position by talent. In fact, before Rufus had started cleaning up Britain, Sophia was actually a junior clerk in the Minister's office due to Umbridge's jealousy over Sophia's pretty looks and talent.
"Yes, I'm done with Dumbledore. Send them in." Rufus responded before sinking back into his chair. "I have an appointment, Dumbledore. So leave. Now." Rufus said, pulling out a binder from under his desk.
Dumbledore frowned, but he knew when he is being dismissed, and turned to leave, also coincidentally running into Sanguini, Amos Diggory, Amelia Bones and Charlus Potter on the way out—with the latter three giving him deathly glares; with none more so than Charlus Potter.
In fact, ever since Kristina Potter's death, Charlus Potter had been giving Dumbledore several headaches by opposing him at every turn. It is in part due to him and Sirius Black why Dumbledore had lost his numerous positions and even his Order of Merlin award. There were even rumours going around that Dumbledore might even lose his Chocolate Frog card.
"You don't look to be in a good mood, Rufus." Amos joked even as Charlus Potter closed Rufus' office door behind them, with the self-activating silencing and privacy wards going up as it did. "Bad time with Dumbledore?"
"Since when is it good whenever Dumbledore forced himself into my office? And he didn't even have the decency to make an appointment with my secretary! Just barged into my office like that as if he owned the place!" Rufus scowled before conjuring up extra chairs for his visitors.
"My guess is that he's still in denial over becoming one of Britain's most hated wizards now, no thanks in part to the Potter family's deaths." Amelia said, glancing at Charlus and deciding that a change of subject is for the best due to how stormy that his hazel eyes are becoming. "So you set up this meeting to talk about the Downworlders?"
"Yes." Rufus said immediately. "We've taken care of most of the most pressing problems. The groundwork has been laid out for most of the problems—all that leaves is us ironing out the most extreme hiccups. Right now, it is the Downworlders' unhappiness with us that is the most pressing—assuming that they wouldn't suddenly decide to declare war on us due to how Fudge and Umbridge have been disadvantaging them in Britain to the point that all of them have to go into hiding to prevent getting hunted down."
"And the death of a daughter of the Rosario vampire clan two years ago didn't really put things in our favour." Amos pointed out. Honestly, all the lemon drops that Dumbledore is eating must be muddling his brains if he thought it a good idea to send hunters after a group of underage Downworlders just for being Downworlders. "It is all that I could do to pacify them that I didn't order it, and that the person who did would suffer the consequences."
"Trust me, it took Nain and me everything that we had to convince Lord Rosario that the last thing we need is to declare war on the wizards." Sanguini added dryly. "But needless to say that the Hidden Circle are all up in arms."
"I still stick to my opinion, Rufus. If you want the wizards and witches in Britain to accept the Downworlders and vice versa, you must also open Hogwarts to them, and allow the Downworlders the opportunity to gain an education alongside their wizard counterparts." Charlus pointed out. There is something in the Potter lord's eyes that told Rufus that he knew something that he didn't, but Rufus didn't press on.
"But don't the Downworlders have their own Academy?" Amelia Bones asked with a frown. "I remember Amos talking about it once."
"Yes, but I agree with Lord Potter." Amos responded with a nod. "If we want to smooth the shaky relations between us and the Downworlders, the first thing we need to do is to open our community to them. We already did so to foreign ministries and nations. The next thing we need to do is to open our doors to the Downworlders."
Rufus frowned. "I don't really know all that much about that, due to my previous post as the Head Auror," he admitted. "To my knowledge, you're the one who liaise with them. What do you suggest?"
"Our first step: reopen Grim Avenue." Amos said immediately. Clearly, he had already done his research prior to the meeting. "I'm not sure if you even know about it, Rufus, as it was closed down around the time Dumbledore rose in popularity due to defeating Grindewald. But after Venusia Crickerly retired as Minister and Dumbledore gained the power that he did, he started outlawing everything that is deemed as 'dark'. Unfortunately, this includes the Downworlders. Grim Avenue used to be a street for the Downworlders—similar to how Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley is for us. This is way before bigotry started setting in; and all those insane laws and bills about 'creatures' passed."
Rufus frowned before turning to the quiet vampire also present. "Sanguini?"
"I've told you when you called for this meeting; I'm in no position to decide for the Downworlders—for the Shadow Society." Sanguini pointed out. "I am just here to listen to what you've decided and take a message to the High Warlocks. From there, they will make the decision. But yes, I agree with Amos that reopening Grim Avenue is a start." He admitted. "I was still human when Grim Avenue was around. Back then, the wizards and witches coexisted together with the Downworlders. It is why no one said anything when I decided to have myself turned. It is a far cry as compared to now. Besides, what the Downworlders could offer in terms of products and services would only boost Britain's economy—like how it has done for the other nations."
"Your opinion on the education system? Do we need to change anything further?" Rufus enquired, writing some notes down on the binder that he had opened in front of him.
"Yes." Sanguini nodded. "What you're doing now to Hogwarts is a step in the right direction by restoring the countless lessons that Dumbledore had cut from the lesson plans of Hogwarts, but I noticed that you didn't restore the duelling and combat lessons."
A very long silence reigned as the remaining four humans in the office stared at the sole vampire in their midst.
"We used to have that?" Amos Diggory was the first to find his voice.
"Of course we do!" Sanguini said indignantly. "At least they do when I was human and a Hogwarts student. I have no idea when it got cut out from the lesson plans, but that's not the issue here. If we're going to do this; if you're truly sincere in opening Hogwarts to the Downworlders as well, then either you bring the worst wizarding school in the world to the standards of America or Italy at least, or you let us run our own classes too if we're not going to send some of our kids to Nightshades—our academy." He added when he saw blank looks on the faces of Charlus, Amelia and Rufus who clearly didn't know what Nightshades is. "In Nightshades, the students receive combat classes and such. Trust me on this, they will refuse to go if you don't have that."
"Well, I might as well open some teaching positions to the Downworlders for the new combat lessons, as I honestly can't think of anyone good enough to teach combat to a Downworlder." Rufus murmured, scribbling something down on his binder. After all, the Downworlders were trained from early childhood in combat. There's a reason why they were feared in battle.
"Let them have free rein of the Forbidden Forest too." Charlus Potter spoke up, a thoughtful look on his face. "And while you're at it, restrict access to the Forbidden Forest for the other students. I'm certain that the Downworlders would want a secure place for them to hold their yearly rituals like Samhain and Imbolc."
"What of the centaurs though?" Amos asked, looking concerned. "They are highly territorial and regard the Forbidden Forest as theirs."
"We'll talk to them. They'll listen to us." Sanguini reassured Amos.
"But students wander into that damn forest every single year!" Rufus sighed, recalling his own days as a Hogwarts student when it is almost tradition for the first year boys to walk into the Forbidden Forest as a test of courage. "If the Downworlders could erect the proper wards and barriers to prevent students from venturing near the forest, then it might be a great help."
"I'll run that by Nain." Sanguini nodded. "They might add more clauses that they want; but as it is, I can more or less tell you what they will want. My suggestion is that you build a new dormitory for the Downworlder children that will attend Hogwarts. They will never agree to share a sleeping place with humans; and honestly, I think it'll be easier to promote co-existence if we do it slow. Also, if I know the High Warlocks—and I definitely know how they think by now, they will want a few Downworlders in teaching positions at Hogwarts—especially one in the capacity as the History professor. I probably already know who they are going to send as the History professor. You might also want to make some changes to the History lessons to include wizard, mundane and Downworlder history."
"Also, due to how prejudiced that the teachers and several students at Hogwarts still are, you might also want to make it so that any punishments that the Downworlder children receives and will carry out is only applicable by a Downworlder professor." Charlus pointed out grimly.
"We should start out slow—maybe only opening Hogwarts to two Downworlder children for the upcoming school year." Amelia pointed out. "We can increase the numbers as the years goes by."
"Well, I need to meet with the Downworlders at least to finalise everything." Rufus murmured. "But I can first start on building the groundwork to at least show them something to prove our sincerity. It's a long time coming, if you ask me."
"I can set up a meeting for you with them, Rufus. But chances are that one of the shadow dwellers will be the one meeting with you—most likely their leader." Amos pointed out.
"Shadow dwellers?" Rufus echoed with interest. He didn't miss the knowing look in Charlus' eyes or even the interested ones in Amelia's eyes.
"It's what the Downworlders, or the Shadow Society calls them." Amos explained. He only knew as much as he did thanks to being the liaison between the Ministry and the Downworlders. "They're the Shadow Guides. The Enforcers of the Downworlders. They take care of the lawbreakers in the event that the clans couldn't."
"The Shadowguardians, or the Nightguardians as they're more commonly known as now." Sanguini added his two cents. "Not even I've actually met one before. I think only the High Warlocks knew who they are. There is only one rule that you follow when you're dealing with them; never hurt one of their own, especially the children! They'll turn on you without hesitation if you do. The Downworlders takes care of their own first. The Nightguardians on the other hand are also known as the shadow dwellers. They basically make sure that the Downworlders follow their laws, and are the ones taking care of the oathbreakers—the ones who betrays the Shadow Society. Never underestimate them just because of how young they are, Rufus." He warned the startled Minister. "The Downworlders are all trained in combat since early childhood—the Nightguardians more so. And it is said that the current generation of Nightguardians are the most powerful. Even amongst the Downworlders, not all of them know who the Nightguardians are. Just know that they exist. Also, chances are that if the Shadow Society agrees to take the olive branch that you've offered, then chances are that a Nightguardian might be sent as a student in the future."
XXXXXX
"Tell me why are we the ones sent out when Elijah could have gone instead?" Nathaniel Krauss asked, scowling, even as they walked across the forested grounds that had the trees above blocking out the little light offered by the moon and the stars to the point that there is literally no light at all. If it weren't for the fact that they're both Downworlders, they would likely have tripped over something by now.
"Because Nain wants Elijah with him when they go and meet with the Ministry official in regards to this education system in Britain." Seven-year-old Krista Nightray said in a self-suffering tone like she'd said it a hundred times before. "And Julius is needed by Magnus to decide who should attend school with the British wizards, and who should go as professors. Thus, we're the only ones that the Praetor trusted to find Fenrir and his pack."
"Ironic that the heads of werewolf kind trusted a half-vampire to find one of their pack brothers, and not another werewolf." Nathaniel pointed out with a smirk.
Krista didn't bother to grace Nathaniel with a response, as she could already smell the scents of werewolf all over the clearing that they've just stepped into. She could even hear the rapid beating hearts of werewolves no thanks to her enhanced senses.
"Fenrir, I know you're there. Come out. We just want to talk." Krista said, hands stuffed into her pockets to appear less threatening. Next to her, Nathaniel was almost slouching.
It only took several moments for a rugged man to leap down from above the treetops, with golden eyes almost glowing in the darkness as he almost growled at the pair of children before him, having smelt the scent of vampire over the female of the pair—what with vampires and werewolves being mortal enemies and all.
"What does Avalon need from me?" Fenrir Greyback almost growled at Krista, his eyes regarding the pair suspiciously. Nathaniel glanced upwards only to see several pairs of amber eyes amongst the treetops—the werewolves of Fenrir's pack, he's assuming.
"The Lupina and the Lupus are calling all Lycans back to Avalon, Fenrir." Krista responded, throwing a golden medallion bearing a wolf's paw print towards Fenrir who caught it with ease—the very symbol of the Praetor Lupus—the rulers of all werewolves. "It's a summons that you and your pack can't ignore, and you know it."
The Shadow Society sometimes addresses the werewolves as 'Lycans'—with that being the official name for one bearing the wolf gene. The Praetor Lupus or the Wolfsguard are also the official rulers of all werewolves in Avalon. They've often acted as the guards for Avalon, and often take it upon themselves to teach young and new werewolves to control their strength and temper and even their transformations—allowing them to keep their minds even in wolf form instead of relying on that poison otherwise known as the Wolfsbane.
"What for?" Fenrir asked, staring at the golden medallion in his hands before turning his gaze back to the pair whom he knew hails from Avalon—the Downworlders' sanctuary. They have the scent of Avalon clinging to their skins.
"A decision must be made by all the Downworlder clans." Nathaniel added. "Thus, the Nightguardians have been sent out as messengers to the ones roaming the lands. We're just the ones sent by the Praetor to seek you out, as you're a hard one to find. Besides, the Lupina and the Lupus wants to hear your side of the story in regards to the rather fearsome reputation that you have amongst the British Isles."
"What makes you think that it isn't the truth?" Fenrir asked carefully.
"We know how backwards that society is, and how they acted like sheep before their new Minister seems to have a backbone and is now cleaning the mess up." Krista pointed out. "Besides, we the Shadow Society always takes what that the British believes with a pinch of salt. Furthermore, the Lupina and the Lupus don't seem to believe those rumours. They want to hear your side of the story, Fenrir. Will you respond in kind, or will you force us to drag you back to Avalon?"
"…Only a fool will ignore a direct summons from the Lupina and the Lupus." Fenrir admitted at last. "I know that better than anyone. They are the ones who have saved and protected me from werewolf hunters as a child. They taught me how to live as a werewolf. I'll respond in kind. I'll return to Avalon with my pack." He raised a fist, and the wolves of his pack appeared by him—all of them gazing at Krista and Nathaniel with suspicion. "And you say that the Praetor is summoning all werewolves?"
Nathaniel nodded, but Krista knew what he is getting at. "Not those that have continued living in denial as wizards and continuing to deny the lycan part of themselves." Krista responded. "There is a decision that must be made by all those under the Praetor's rule. The High Council is meeting as we speak, as the British Isles have contacted us in regards to a proposal."
"A proposal?" Fenrir echoed with suspicion, not having the best experience when it comes to the British wizards.
"Something that we have been waiting for ever since we've gotten 'kicked out' of Britain so to speak." Nathaniel said stiffly. He had heard plenty of stories in regards to that time from some of the High Warlocks, along with every Downworlder. To say that Britain is right at the top of the most hated list of every Downworlder is a severe understatement, especially after what had happened two years ago when Eve had died. "They're reopening their doors to us, especially after their new Minister had declared martial law and had repelled every creature legislation bill that had gotten passed."
"About damn time." One of the werewolves in Fenrir's pack growled.
"We're sent to be your escorts, since I highly doubt you know where the nearest Portal entrance to Avalon is located." Nathaniel noted. "Shall we?"
"Lead the way." Fenrir grunted. He might not have been back to Avalon for years ever since he was a teenager and decided in his bout of teenage rebellion to get back at the bigoted British wizards, but he knows how they worked, and knows that it isn't the brightest thing to do to ignore a direct summons from the Praetor.
The pair in front of him might be kids, but he would be surprised if they couldn't handle themselves in battle if their individual clans have believed that they're ready to leave Avalon. A fledgling could only leave the protections of Avalon for long if they're capable enough in combat after all.
A muscle in Krista's cheek twitched before she shrugged and started to make her way out of the forest with Nathaniel and the rest of Fenrir's pack following them. She had some inkling of what is going on in Britain these days no thanks to the regular letters that she had exchanged via owl (or raven in her case) post with Charlus Potter who had bought a new snowy white owl the moment that he reconciled with his once thought dead granddaughter. Krista was the one who named said owl in fact—something that Charlus had insisted on.
And Krista knew enough to know that Rufus Scrimgeour had plans to wake Britain up big time and to kick them off their high horse.
One thing is certain however: Britain will never be the same again.
A/N: This chapter is just one big information dump, so my sincerest apologies if it isn't up to my usual standards, as I'm honestly also not that all happy with it. You'll see the Downworlders settling in the wizarding world next chapter as well as the reactions. And I'm still wondering what to do about the Remus problem.
Additionally, if there are any Persona fans here, do you mind dropping off a review for my rewritten Persona 3 story, Etiam Alter Locus?
Anyway, I hope that you like this chapter, and please read and review! Reviews give me inspiration to update!
