Ch 42 The Reign Begins
Wednesday April Twelfth Albus and Cleo aroseand went into the bathroom. They used the two-person shower for the first time, washing each other's back because, although they could do it with magic, it was much more delightful to wash each other. They washed each other's hair, and then dried off with magic. They put on their undergarments and went into the dressing rooms to get ready for the day.
John the Elf met Albus and showed him the clothes laid out for him. They were similar to the clothes he wore yesterday evening, dress trousers and white dress shirt without a tie, a comfortable dress jacket. John watched as Albus put the wand holster on his right arm, and together they fitted it so it would be comfortable.
"You don't want to display your wand?" John wondered.
"If I need it, this gives me almost immediate access to it," Albus replied. "I think I am always going to be a bit paranoid, and I want my wand immediately accessible. I also want my Auror wallet with me all of the time." Albus showed John the Auror wallet he had brought with him from the bedroom, and they spent a little time going over what was in it, before putting it in an inner pocket of his dress coat.
Mary the Elf met Cleoand led her into her dressing room. It was a larger and far more colorful place than the dressing room of Albus, with a chair for her to sit in as her hairdresser plaited her hair, putting in ribbons and beads in the process. Cleo seldom wore much makeup. She did need spells to support her rather large pregnant figure, however.
"I can plait my hair myself, using spells," Cleo told the hairdresser.
"It is a great honor to be hairdresser to my princess," Rona, the hairdresser, replied.
Mary added, "Part of being a princess is allowing people to do things for you that you could do for yourself."
Mary and Rona looked at Cleo when they were finished. She was as colorful, as maternally feminine, as uniquely Cleo, as ever.
At eight they met in what they learned was a modest sized private dining room, Al and Cleo, John and Mary, and Gerhard Richter with his wife Giselle. After they were all seated and ordered their breakfasts John started, "We have an issue. Not exactly a problem, but an issue. As the Elves of the Crown Princess and Crown Prince we know who we are, and who we serve. It is part of the magic that ties us to this castle. And what we are is the Elves who serve Crown Princess Cleopatra Desiree and Crown Prince Albus Severus Peverell."
Gerhard Richter added, "Most of the documents connected with the new rulers of the valley do not have the names of the rulers in them, and we have to add in the names. A few are magical, and the proper names magically appear when there is a new ruling couple. The names that appeared last night, as far as we can tell, are Cleopatra Desiree and Albus Severus Peverell."
Everyone looked at each other for a little while, processing this news.
"We have scheduled a news conference at nine-thirty to introduce you," Gerhart continued. "Someone has to talk about the name changes."
"You should, I think," Albus replied, looking at Gerhart. "What do you want me to say? Hi, I'm the new crown prince?"
Giselle Richter started to giggle.
"It is not like I have much choice," Albus reflected. "Cleo and I had the choice to either confront Jezebel or be hunted down and be killed, and now prophesies say we may have to confront the Lord of the Dementors as well."
Gerhart smiled. "Actually, 'Hi, I'm the new crown prince' might not be a bad way to start. Explain the situation, that the Elves and the documents we have confirm that once Cleo entered the palace with the second of the three original Crystal Balls the Elves and documents, we have confirmed that you are Crown Princess Cleopatra Desiree and Crown Prince Albus Severus Peverell, and that you are a direct descendent of the Peverell family."
"Why has our surname changed?" Albus wondered.
"I have no idea," Gerhart admitted.
"Neither do we," Mary the Elf agreed.
The meeting went on to other matters.
At nine-thirty Albus and Cleo walked out to a large meeting room on the main floor of the palace. The room was filled with reporters and cameras, including television cameras broadcasting live on the Wizard television networks. The meeting was also carried on the Wizard's Wireless Network.
Following Albus and Cleo were John and Mary, Gerhart and Giselle, and a large contingent of other beings, Elves and Magi, who worked with or for Al and Cleo.
Albus walked up to the podium. Cleo stood next to him. Everyone else sat down. Albus started by waving and saying, "Hi! I'm the new crown prince and my wife Cleo is the new crown princess.
"When Cleo walked into the palace with the second of the three original Crystal Balls several things changed. As most of you know, water started to flow from the lowest tier of the seven tiered-fountain on the plaza. The head Elves assigned to the palace immediately knew that they had a new couple to serve, and a number of documents in the possession of Gerhart Richter, the Prime Minister of the Valley, were filled in. All of this confirmed that Cleo and I are Crown Princess Cleopatra Desiree and Crown Prince Albus Severus Peverell.
"It is not like we had much choice in the matter. I do not think we could have refused to bring that Crystal Ball here anymore than we could refuse to battle Jezebel. Refusing to confront a challenge you are prophesied to confront is a recipe for disaster.
"Why Peverell? We do not know. I am a direct descendant of the fabled Peverell family. All I know is that our family surname has changed from Potter to Peverell.
"I know you have a world of questions. I am afraid that Cleo and I probably share in wondering about much of what you want to ask about. It is probably better for us to get answers for ourselves before trying to answer all your questions. I will try to tell you some of what I do know, however.
"We are living in the palace, and we intend to make it our home.
"Mr. Gerhart Richter will continue to serve as Prime Minister. There will be no sudden changes in how the valley is governed.
"Is there going to be some sort of formal instillation or coronation? Almost certainly, but we have no idea what or when. I do not intend to be crowned, partly because of what it implies. Cleo and I feel we are here to serve you, not to lord it over you.
"Of course, there is also the little matter of not having a crown! I do not intend to try and find or make one either.
"I would like to introduce a few people.
"Jesus, Ginny, would you please stand up." Albus turned to the couple, who were sitting on the stage, and they stood up to identify themselves.
"Jesus and Ginny Wang Rios are MELLs, Magic and Elf Language Learners. We feel that it will be important for people at the very top of governing the world of Magi and Elves that the Magi know Elfish. Jesus and Ginny do know Elfish and are interested in how the world of the Magi are governed. We are in the process of appointing them as Regents so if anything happens to Cleo and me there are successors in place.
"Richard, Annabella, would you please stand," as Jesus and Ginny sat down, and Richard and Annabella, who were also on the stage, stood up.
"Richard and Annabella Fagan are serving as our personal assistants. Since defeating Jezebel Cleo and I have been receiving a high volume of correspondence and have had many other demands on our time. Richard and Annabella are helping to make sure that none of your letters or concerns are ignored.
"Thank you."
Albus and Cleo turned to leave as reporters started to shout questions at them. They also shouted questions at Jesus, Ginny, Richard and Annabella. The two couples looked at Albus, who went back to the podium. He sighed. "I know there are a world of questions you want answered. We apologize, but we are not in a position to answer questions at this time."
To the grumbling of the reporters and the sound of shouted questions everyone left the stage.
A group of very unsatisfied reporters rushed to file their stories.
At ten Albus and Cleo met with Galadriel and Thorin. Jesus and Ginny were also there, as were Luthien and Beren.
"Now what do we do?" asked Albus.
"Proclaim you Crown Prince and Princess?" asked Jesus.
"I think I already did that?" Albus replied in a questioning voice. "Didn't I?"
"That is how you introduced yourself, Albus," Jesus replied.
"We haven't been crowned or installed or anything, though," Albus thought. "Have you been crowned or installed or anything like that, Galadriel, Thorin?"
"No," Galadriel admitted. "Some people call me a princess, but formally, well, formally we are just, Thorin, what are we?"
"The grandchildren of the lead Elves and the lead Goblin," Thorin suggested. "All that we have done we were able to do because we have the first two wands, and most Elves have acknowledged that we have the first two wands. We have been acting as leaders, but no one exactly elected or appointed us."
"How did you get the first wand?" Albus wondered. "You didn't have it when we first met, and then one day you did."
"It was in a box with very old Elfish writing on it. We are still trying to decipher it, but our studies of the original Elfish language have helped. It was to be opened and used by, we are trying to read it, but it implies she who will restore, or lead in restoring, or something, the original, free, if we can translate the word as free, or equal, or more than equal, status of the Elves. That is a very abbreviated version of what we think the tale written on the box is trying to tell."
Galadriel looked a little embarrassed. "I just opened it one day and took out the wand. It felt really good, and I showed it to my parents. They were shocked. It appears that once I had it the wand could not be put back, and prophesies said that all sorts of things would happen, but over time. We were already, the MELL students, talking about changing the status of the Elves. Thorin and I were, well, Thorin and Beren were good friends with Luthien and me, something that was not common, and my parents and grandparents were friends with Zefenslot and Mutneset, and their family, something that was rare, because they could see changes coming.
"There is much that few Magi know about all the changes, and how important Thorin and my parents and grandparents were, but we have been the public face of them, and when it comes to nominal leaders, especially the visible leaders to the Magi, we have been assigned that job, because of having the wands, but behind the scenes it is not that simple. Not simple at all."
"So do you need to be installed, or at least acknowledged, as the leaders of the High Elves?" Albus wondered.
"Maybe," Galadriel reflected, "but not as absolute rulers. Maybe as, I don't know, nominal heads ruling after much consultation?"
"That is what I want for Cleo and me as well," Albus replied. "Not the old fashion king and queen as absolute rulers, but maybe heads for a time but only ruling after much consultation."
"A Constitutional monarch?" Jesus asked.
"Do the Magi have a constitution?" Ginny wondered.
"I don't think so," Albus responded.
"What is a constitution?" Cleo wondered.
Albus, Jesus and Ginny looked at each other and sighed.
"I will explain later," Albus told his wife. "A constitution is going to be an interesting document to write, since it has to acknowledge what Cleo and I are, what we and/or our immediate successors will be, and what eventually the temporary holders of the first wands will be."
"I agree that you are describing the document reasonably well," Galadriel replied. "Elves are more communal beings, and our agreements will not mirror yours. Deciding how the wands and the power they represent will be passed on is an issue, however, and not an easy one to solve."
"People seem to like you, Albus, Cleo," Gerhart told the young couple. "Cleo really has charmed the children of the valley. Everyone is fascinated by you and your story. I think you need a publicist to feed the world of the Magi stories about how you are living, how you are trying to change the world of the Magi for the better. You want to tell your story, not have others tell it.
"Do you have anyone who would make a good publicist?"
"Rich Hudson," Albus responded. "He could do for us what his mother and father have been doing for the Potter and Weasley families. I will contact him after we are through with this meeting."
The group met for the rest of the morning, trying to figure out how the arrival of Cleo and Albus was going to change the way the world of the Magi was governed, and what they and the others needed to do next.
"Hello, Rich, Albus calling. Do you have time to come over here to Switzerland to talk to us?"
"Do you have a story for me, Albus?"
"Maybe much more than a story. Bring Molly and the family."
"Sounds interesting. I can come this afternoon, if that is a good time for you?"
After double checking Albus' schedule, a time was set for the visit/interview.
After greetings, and Cleo gushing over the children Kyle and Scarlet Hudson, Rich asked, "What is on your mind, Albus?"
"How would you like to work for us, be our publicists like your parents are for the Potter and Weasley families?"
"We would have to move here, I expect," Rich proposed.
"Yes, although I think we can make it worth your while," Albus responded.
"Just Rich, or both of us?" Molly wondered. "Cleo, I don't want to be a brood mare, just raising children. Even little Scarlet is old enough to be in day care, and I'm eager to be working full time or close to it."
"We will have childcare at the castle," Cleo replied. "I have talked to some people about having the whole roof a garden and play area. Every summer we have been here I have talked to the Magi, more witches than wizards but both, who are in charge of primary school and preschool care and education of the children."
"I am sure we can employ both of you," Albus added.
By the end of the day Rich and Molly Hudson had agreed to move to Switzerland to be the publicists for Albus, Cleo and the castle.
"There ought to be another generation of leaders of the International Aurors' Association," Harry grumbled as the group met.
"I'm not happy that I'm the third generation in this role," Dan Van Lente volunteered.
Al Van Lente explained, "We lost too many senior Aurors in the Muggle World War Two, plus our own battles around that time, plus our battles with Vold … sorry Harry, Tom Riddle, with Jezebel, and with The Lord of the Dementors."
Raphael Vaud added, "I need to be on this committee, as head Auror in Switzerland, and as the one most directly in charge of Cleopatra and Albus, but I do not have the freedom to travel like Al and Dan have."
A middle-aged Chinese man, 'Sammy' Sun, added, "As the Auror directly in charge of guarding and battling The Lord of the Dementors, I am in all honesty too busy and too focused on my challenges to be too involved in anything else. Tom Riddle is dead, Jezebel is dead, and all the prophesies say that our next big battle is going to be with The Lord of the Dementors. I need your help."
"Harry," Al insisted, "I know you would like to be able to retire, but the International Aurors' Association and your son Albus and his wife need your help."
You could tell from the look on Harry's face that he both agreed and didn't like it.
The committee went on to what they needed to do next, including discussions on Aurors from around the world that could be called on at a moment's notice to guard and, if necessary, fight for and with Albus and Cleo.
2022