Odyssey of a Mage Part III

by mootjeman7

Part III of Odyssey of a Mage. Post Grindelwald era. Atticus Sayre, reincarnated soul has chosen to carry the fate of all Magical-Kind onto his shoulders. A weight that bears heavy on his soul for all that must be done. And it is a weight he intends carry all the way to the very stars. Ruthless, Determined SI-OC. Fem Riddle. Pre-Halo Crossover.

6. Chapter 71

Hello All, welcome back to the story!

Without further adieu, please enjoy the post and let me know what you think! I read all of your reviews (especially those who I know have reviewed since Part I!)

PS: Thanks to the reviewers for your kind words! You guys are awesome.

Note: If you would like to read ahead, the next three chapters are available on P^A^T^R^E^O^N / Boombox117

The discord channel is d^i^s^c^o^r^d^.^g^g^/^v^r^8^8^t^6^4^Y^e^7

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3rd of November 1952 – New York, McDowell Estate

Sophia POV

"Well done Derek" Sophia said approvingly with a raised glass, one that clinked once the other glass touched it.

"Thank you, Sophia" Derek said with a gentle chuckle as he leaned back into his chair. "Third consecutive quarter where we've exceeded profits by ten percent over the previous quarter." Derek said almost preening.

No, he was definitely preening, she thought with amusement as she stared at her friend and subordinate.

The muggle conglomerate, the Sphinx Group of which Derek Saunders was the CEO of, had some of the fastest companies within its wings with the largest growing companies being in the shipping, manufacturing and in the telecommunications industries.

They were now the de-facto largest sea-freight haulers with a whopping seveteen percent shipped on either sea-freight ships made by Endrian Anchorage Company, a subsidiary of Endrian Shipping Company, or actually shipped on Endrian Shipping Company ltd sea-freight haulers.

Trade was also now expanding into Asia as more countries were building the necessary infrastructure at ports that could handle the logistics and the disembarking of goods.

With the growing normalisation of television and radio in wider America, their company Pear Incorporated which made television sets and cameras – which also included sub-divisions that supplied other television producers with parts and components – had the largest share of the market.

Having bought out manufacturing companies that churned out weapons and vehicle components by the thousands, all of that industrial capability had been turned into becoming a key supplier for several large companies in the automotive and aeronautics industries.

They had the potential to become a producer themselves however it would be a risky venture even if they had the Ancient Humanity knowledge.

Besides…it would also mean that they were directly involved in improving the muggles and that was hardly any of them wanted.

All of these industries had been key in the rise of Sphinx Group in the world and with the subtle use of magic, nearly all of it with regards to ensuring secrecy and preventing espionage – which was a serious problem especially with the communist threat, they were able to limit their expenditures without giving away that there was something afoot.

Despite the harsh MACUSA laws, most of the laws with regards to business in the muggle world were strangely lax as long as magic was not used in any capacity. Most of the laws were geared in limiting magic being exposed in the mundane world but MACUSA had always depended on the ability of magicals of being able to mingle with the mundanes which obviously included a senses of good old American entrepreneurship.

Derek continued "I'm hoping Congress reduces some of the restrictions when it comes to international trade" Derek said as he leaned back into his chair "There's opportunity in Asia when it comes to sourcing some of the cheaper less advanced goods that could free up some capacity for more valuable work" he said before sipping on his wine.

"Seems unlikely" she said a little sceptically "There's still a lot of support for protectionism. Just last year the Extension Act made sure the cotton and tobacco industries were protected just because their export interests were weakened. I can't imagine they'll be willing to extend that to other industries either given that it would outsource plenty of American jobs abroad."

"Not as much as you think" Derek rebutted before he drank of his glass of wine "Those like Eisenhower are increasingly gaining traction when it comes to increasing international trade. The decades long guaranteed prices are inhibiting greater world market share not to mention causing the federal government to stockpile tonnes of cotton and other farmed goods." Derek shook his head "No, I think we'll see a shift in legislation and trade agreements that'll throw away many of the restrictions currently in place."

"Hmm. Perhaps" she acceded before she peered a glance at him "I suppose there is a likelihood they'll loosen restrictions if only to bring other nations closer to Western influence."

Derek's eyes darkened "Yes…there is that too. After what happened with the Chinese, they'll want to make sure as few countries end up in their sphere of influence."

Derek's despise of the Communists was something that prevalent amongst most informed magicals, not only for the butchered implementation and practices of Marxist principles, but also for what was done to the Chinese Mages in Communist China.

During the Second World War, the Chinese Confederation of Wizards had initially refused to war against the Japanese, something that the Communists later used as an excuse to persecute magicals, but soon changed their minds when it was clear that the Japanese magicals were aiding the war effort of the Japanese Empire.

Had the Chinese magicals not aided as much as they had, it would have been doubtful enough leaders in both the Chinese Communist party or the Republic Party of China would have survived which all the current situation in China all the more disturbing.

As the Chinese Communist Party was removing much of the magical population of China out of their native home regions and cities, even going as far as destroying entire magical villages if they could find them in their quest of consolidation of power and misguided retribution.

Even the most tolerant of mundanes were appalled by the actions of the Chinese Communist government and only reinforced that mundanes should not know of magicals at any cost.

It was not surprising to know then that in many parts of the world there were new initiatives to remove any knowledge of magic from even the highest offices of government especially those who had proven to be untrustworthy to know.

Derek's expression brightened as a small grin formed on his face "Which I suppose is only to our benefit. With our new class of freight ships which nearly doubles load capacity, we'll be able to secure even more market share of the shipping industry" he said with a twinkle in his.

She almost smiled at her friend's optimism. He lived for the cut-throat world of business and he happened to be excellent at it.

"I doubt it'll be that easy." She said before drinking of her wine, pausing once she'd taking a sip and looked over the rim "Do not get too embroiled in creating a monopoly." She warned.

"No one likes monopolies, not even allies."

Derek laughed "True but I'll find a way around it, don't worry." He said with a grin, one that turned slightly mischievous "I've got enough examples from both yourself and your brother how to manage to get around such snags, don't I?"

She rolled her eyes at the comment before they continued talking.

Whilst Derek was in charge of the muggle ventures and businesses, she was directly in charge of the businesses in the magical world.

They did not nearly create the same kind of revenue as the muggle businesses did but they were far more profitable despite the vastly smaller consumer market, a consumer market that was even smaller now than it was only five years ago.

Her brother, during the short period where he reigned over all of the Sayre interests, businesses and so on, had massively expanded the portfolio away from just simply creature ingredients and other common household goods.

There had been practically no industry or niche left unturned as he forced his way into those industries – and at the same time creating entirely new ones from scratch – causing them to effectively gain unrivalled influence and wealth not seen since the days before the near extinction of House Sayre in the 17th century.

Atticus had intentionally antagonised many powerful peoples – and organisations – and for a moment it seemed like they might once again come into conflict with enemies keen to destroy House Sayre.

Thankfully that conflict had never come into play – no matter how incredible and creepy Atticus' seeing abilities had become, she'd never forgive him for causing their family such strife even if she understood his reasons and plans – though it had cost them severely.

The Sayre magical businesses were mainly constrained to the New World where there was a greater appetite for their advanced magical products such as the Reader-Tablets, basic Magi-Comps, M-Vision sets, and others like it.

The loss of business in Europe was a blow but it was a blow that was lessened somewhat with the revenue that was still coming in in the form of royalties as licences were sold to friendly families like the Delacours.

Plus, North America had more than doubled in population from the waves of immigration from Europe as a consequence of the increasing intolerance – and through the subtle aid of Illos – of squib-descendants and squibs, something that was set to continue over the coming decades, increasing the consumer market and lessening the financial impact of losing Europe.

Dayton walked into the room and met her gaze. "My lady" Dayton bowed before he stood back up straight "The President is here."

Derek's eyes widened "Ah." He said before he got up though not before taking a large swill of his drink, emptying in the process. "Time for me to go, I see."

Sophia hugged him before releasing him "Thank you for coming to see me, Derek."

"Ah, I'm always keen to visit you Sophia." He said with the incline of the head and a warm smile.

"Give Sandra my well wishes."

"I will." Derek said as he walked out of the office.

She turned to Dayton, a quizzical expression on her face "Did she say why she was here?"

Dayton shook his head. "No, my Lady. But…but she seemed slightly off." He told her and she frowned in response.

"Off as in unhappy?" she queried as she gestured him to walk with her towards their guest.

Dayton was the chief security of the guards that guarded her family, a job he took with a stoic ferventness that she'd ill seen in anyone else.

There was no one else that was as loyal as Dayton was to their family, to Atticus.

She was glad that Atticus assigned him to her family. She could trust him with her life and more importantly with the life of her most precious.

"Yes" he said in affirmation.

"I see." She said contemplatively before she nodded to him.

She proceeded down the stairs and the sounds of laughter echoed as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Auntie! That's not fair!" a childish voice cried out with a mixture of outrage and giggles.

"Oh? Maybe I should make it even more unfair?" a tickling voice of Aunt Voila echoed slightly as she rounded past the corner and into the living room.

A little girl of age four was stretching towards a plushy polar bear held by Aunt Voila out of the little girl's reach, a plushy bear dressed in a little suit with a bowtie around its neck that made it rather adorable.

"Marie." Sophia called out a firm but gentle tone. The four year old jumped up, her eyes wide as her head swivelled around faster than Sophia thought her little neck should have been capable of.

"Mama!" Marie said with a gasp before she rounded towards the older woman with a petulant glare "She took my bear!"

"Your bear?" the older woman said with a raised eyebrow "When did it become yours?" she said with straight expression though mirth in her eyes were rather easy to see.

"When you floo'd into my house!" Maria exclaimed.

"Your house?" Sophia said with a flat tone though inwardly she was amused and exasperated by her daughter's spoilt nature.

'I'll have to talk to her father about toning it down' she thought to herself.

It didn't help that her husband was rather wrapped around their daughter's finger.

"Mama's house" Marie corrected herself with a pouty smile, one that suggested she knew what she was doing and Sophia resisted to smile.

She was far too precocious for her own good.

Marie had not come long after she married her husband Louie Kōnstantînos, a third son of the Founding House of Kōnstantînos and who she was married to matrilineally. A political marriage, one she chose, that she grown to appreciate with her fondness of her husband growing over the years.

She did not bear him love, not like she did Charles, but she had grown to care for him nonetheless.

Still, it did not mean that she had no love in her life as she stared at the little girl who resembled her and her family so much.

Sparkling emerald eyes that shone with bright mischief and intelligence, rich dark hair that was just like Atticus', Marie was something she loved more than anything else.

The bear floated down towards Marie which she snapped up with rambunctious delight "Thank you thank you thank you!" she babbled towards Aunt Viola whose expression cracked and let off a warm smile.

"You're welcome." Aunt Voila said before she turned to Sophia and her expression shifted to seriousness and Sophia knew whatever it was that her aunt was unhappy about, was something they needed to discuss immediately.

She glanced at Dayton and nodded to him who took the cue to take her daughter away.

"Come along little Princess" Dayton said as he went to guide Marie away from the room "Why don't you introduce your bear to your Mr Sphinxy?" he said to Marie.

"Yes uncle!" Marie said as the sounds of her hurried steps disappeared into the distance, the sounds of Dayton's steps a source of comfort.

She watched her daughter being led away before she turned to her aunt "Your guards?" she questioned her aunt.

"By the floo room with your other guards." Her aunt confirmed and Sophia nodded. Even if the President was her aunt, protocol must be followed.

Something she was all too familiar given her own permanent guards of the family though only Dayton was allowed to be alone with Marie.

Whilst they were in little danger in their own home, a home warded personally by her brother and fitted in with some deeply hidden technological security systems that would soundly incapacitate anyone not permitted on site, it was for her own piece of mind to know that there was someone she trusted – to a certain extent – with her daughter at all times.

She dreaded to think of letting her go to school when she got to that age. Marie was by far the most important anything to her.

A serious expression grew on her face as she studied the older woman for a second before asking

"Aunt, what can I do for you?"

Aunt Viola looked her, a discontent expression replacing that barely held together expression that had only moment ago filled with amusement "Not here as your aunt, Senator Sayre" she said in a brusque tone.

Sophia's expression didn't let her surprise show.

She'd taken the Sayre seat amongst the MACUSA Senate when she'd left Britain for America from her Great Uncle Richard who'd been all too pleased to let it go.

The senate was majorly comprised of elected senators but the Twelve Founding Houses, one of which Sayre was part of, curtesy of Isolt Sayre's contributions to the early magical settlements in North America and her founding of one of the Great Schools in the form of Ilvermony, were grandfathered into the Senate with a permanent seat in their 'home regions'.

In the grand scheme of things, with a total of 104 senators, it was not as powerful a seat as their seat was in Magical Britain as their vote counted the same as any other senator but it was a useful tool for gaining influence, influence that had served them well in the past during their rebuilding era after Henry Sayre – Isolt Sayre's brother and their direct ancestor – had brought their family back from the brink.

Just as it served them well now during their more…challenging era.

In any case, her great-grandfather Benedict had passed up on taking it full time, preferring to spend his time travelling the world with Sara visiting and excavating ancient sites of magical civilisations forgotten and lost to the Magical World.

If her aunt was here on official business, then it was serious.

"Then, Madame President…please" Sophia gestured towards the sofas as she spoke respectfully.

As they got settled in, her aunt began, a harsh expression on her face "How does your brother know so much about MACUSA?" she asked, harshly and to the point.

Sophia's eyebrows raised. 'What did he do now?' she wondered.

"What do you mean?" she asked carefully.

Her aunt narrowed her eyes. "I think you know." She said sternly.

She continued "It would be one thing if he knew information that made sense for him to know. Things others within MACUSA might know" her aunt raised her hand to halt Sophia from interjected and levelled a glare at her "I'm well aware of the espionage that happens – that is happening especially by the ICW – so I don't expect your brother to be any different even if he is Morgana knows where" she said before a halting sigh escaped her lips.

"But for him to direct me towards twenty-eight cases of abuse of magical children in the Deep South under the age of eight – children that were never been logged as magical despite the magical nets they were located in – that is far from being something that leaves me comfortable knowing he is capable of without knowing how he is doing it" She said with a cold look in her gaze.

Sophia remained silent for a moment as she processed what her aunt had said.

There were still very few who knew about the technological inheritance that Moira's people left behind for them.

Herself, mother, Emily and of course Atticus were the only people who knew everything. Others knew various degrees but never the full details. The Flamels, the Saunders, Dayton and a few others of Atticus' close circle knew various degrees of the truth but never the full truth.

Just as their family only knew what they were allowed to know.

Grandfather knew some about the advanced technology as he got to know about Moira's origins – just as her Aunt Viola and her cousins knew that she was from an ancient civilisation from space – but none of them knew the extent of the technology.

Moira, before she left with mother on the expedition, had requested that they keep it a secret for as long as possible as her people had known hundreds of examples of alien civilisations, some according to her similar to humanity, that died out because they were not culturally or socially ready for the technological and scientific advancement…often leading to their extinction.

She'd read up on some reports on the excavated ruins in the Ancient Database and was rather eerie to know how many civilisations had ended because of atomic science just as mundanes were at the cusp of reaching that same level of development.

For all she knew magicals were different from mundanes, they really weren't, at least temperament wise.

For that reason, she knew that it was best to limit as much as possible until things were different…even if she hated what she was going to do next.

She trusted her aunt immensely and she owed her much…just as she owed MACUSA.

MACUSA had taken her in like she'd been a long lost relative eager to offer the best room in the house and she'd grown to love the country more than she'd ever cared for Britain and its stuffy atmosphere.

She married Louie as a way to solidify her family's position here in MACUSA…something that had paid off immensely as it brought in the Kōnstantînos and their alliance into their sphere of influence allowing them to rise to new heights politically but…

It was the people who she had come to cherish the most.

It was why she wouldn't do anything to harm the country and she knew that Atticus excluded the country from his more…harmful methods to get things ready to move to a world of their own.

Of course it helped that he admired much of MACUSA's – and the United States – history and formation…and it was obvious to see in the Constitution of Illos.

For all that he changed, he was still a romantic at heart…A nation of people from different backgrounds coming together and sharing the same core principles…of core ideals…

Still…no matter how much he admired things, she knew that he had penchant of sticking his fingers in places they didn't belong. Even if it was for a good cause.

"Atticus…" Sophia began carefully as she eyed her aunt "Atticus' Seeing abilities have…grown, Madam President"

Her aunt scoffed as her eyes closed to near slits "Don't give me that, Sophia" she said as she leaned forward, her eyes unflinching. "I know much about Hyper-Percipience and I know that even the most powerful variant could never See events or people this precisely."

"Unfortunately, Atticus is throwing out much of what we knew about our family ability" Sophia said to her aunt. "You know that Grade Three had never really been documented all that well with the last person claimed to have that strength being thousands of years ago."

Her aunt scowled but said nothing further for a few moments before a flash of uncertainty and concern cut across her face.

It wasn't really surprising to see that. As much as she was their aunt, she was still a leader of a nation and to know that someone could obtain information that precise, even if it was someone you cared for, was troubling.

"Even when your brother has disappeared of the face of the Earth, he is a pain in my…" she stopped and let off a deep sigh.

Sophia watched her aunt carefully

Her aunt might have taken advantage of her links with Atticus and his victory over Grindelwald to get elected some six years ago but her popularity in MACUSA was all down to herself.

Through her, MACUSA had reflected their mundane counterparts spectacularly and had grown to become the most powerful economic magical nation in the world and it was in her administration that the population had more than doubled as refugees, either from the war or from consequences of the revelation that muggleborns were really all squib descendants, had made MACUSA their new homes – which had been done nearly seamlessly as nearly American magicals made them welcome, even housing them in their own homes until they were back on their feet.

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Enchanted figurines of Lady Liberty had become a staple in households during those years, something her aunt had been very clever in taking advantage of as she drew parallels to the early days of American settlement running away from obstinate nobles who turned away good people because they weren't lucky to be born in the right families.

If there was something that could be truly described as American, it was the smugness they revelled in as they rubbed moral victories into the faces of obstinate nobles.

"At least he's warning you of troubling injustices." Sophia tried with a wry smile causing her aunt to bark out a short laugh.

"Oh, I'm sure that's the only reason he's doing it" Her aunt said sarcastically, drawing towards a topic that she knew occupied her aunt's mind more often than she'd like.

Sophia let off a mild shrug as she give a light smile at her aunt. Her aunt knew of Illos though she'd never been…yet.

Aunt Viola had more than once said to her that she wished that he would come back to Magical World only when her second term had ended and it was far from said in jest.

Whilst MACUSA held Atticus as a hero, a hero treated unjustly as he tried to bring about equality to an unequal Magical Britain and Europe, he was hardly someone MACUSA would blindly follow.

As much as the ICW liked to profess differently and claim that her aunt's relation to Atticus was why MACUSA left the ICW, it was truly because of the horrific casualties MACUSA had taken as a consequence of the war, a war that many in MACUSA had seen as a war that was heavily mismanaged by the ICW and the European Ministries.

As such people recognised his contributions, actions that aided or affected MACUSA positively in a long line of other Sayres doing the same, but it would not mean he could capitalise on that to more than a reasonable extent.

Not even Merlin himself could.

Still, her aunt was rather worried about the international political quagmire Atticus would bring to MACUSA once he brought Illos into the open.

The ICW had firmly established themselves as opponents to Atticus – and the rest of their family – and inevitably MACUSA would find itself drawn into the conflict that the ICW would instigate.

"In any case, if you happened to speak to your brother soon, let him know that MACUSA does not appreciate the violations of its domestic security" she said with narrowed eyes before she lost the expression "I might just set the DDMR against him to figure out a way to block his Sight" she said as she looked at Sophia "If it is his sight anyway."

"If you figure out a way to do it, let me know" she said half serious with raised eyebrows. Even if Atticus didn't know about those poor children via his Sight, his Seeing abilities really had cranked up to ridiculous standards. It honestly was terrifying that such abilities existed even if it belonged their family.

How do you even fight someone who knows what you'll do days, months, years before you do it?

"You have no idea how annoying it can be when he sends a congratulatory letter for something that hasn't yet happened yet" she said exasperated.

"What?" Her aunt said a little flummoxed.

"Atticus sent Marie a congratulations letter for passing her Latin test…four days before she took it." Sophia said in a deadpan expression. "A test that literally no one but myself and the tutor would know about as it was meant to be a small surprise test to see how she was getting on."

Her aunt shook her head before she stopped and spied a look at Sophia "And?" she prompted.

Sophia sighed and gave her aunt a weary exasperated look and nodded "She did pass. With flying colours." She said with a hint of a smile.

Her aunt's face went through a number of expressions, some that seemed like she was quite disturbed and she got to find out why when she asked "How often do you think he sees embarrassing moments?"

Her eyebrows raised before she looked at her aunt disturbed and disappointed "Why? Why would you even put that contemplation into my head?"

Her aunt flashed a mirthful look and soon the direction of the conversation went towards gossiping and far more disturbing things than she liked to think about but it eased away from the tense topic.

They talked for nearly an hour afterwards, from Marie and about her cousins Sara and Odette and what they were doing and more.

One thing was for sure though…Dayton had mentioned that Atticus wished to speak to her soon and she'd talk to him…

The least he could do for their aunt with how much she's done for the family is to at least wait a few more years.

-Break-

10th of November 1952

Ryan Smith-Rowe POV

He stood straight with his arms hanging loose, his eyes fixed as the next individual walked up to the Swearing Stone, a large round stone that lay on a dais on a podium in front of a packed crowd as nearly everyone from Illos came to watch the ceremony of the first elected Representatives of Illos.

His fellow Representative placed his hand on the stone which glowed slightly and began to speak the oath

"I, Harold Filch, solemnly swear upon my magic that I will support and defend the constitution of Illos against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will discharge the responsibility required of me by virtue of my membership of the Council of Representatives as so demanded by those whom I serve to faithfully represent and as so decreed and permitted by the Lord and Lady of Illos, Rightful Guardians of Illos, the realm to which I bear solemn allegiance to.

This So I Swear!"

Filch glowed slightly as he completed his oath and the crowd gave a warm applause as Filch walked away to join the others who'd sworn before him.

The next one stepped up and began the same ceremony.

Not long after it was his turn.

As he swore the oath all other Representatives had done, he reflected on the words that he spoke, the words that he had bound himself magically too.

It was a strange mix in truth, one that borrowed heavily from several other oaths of allegiances and oaths of offices. A mix that was almost contradictory in ways…one that swore to uphold the Constitution, to serve the people and at the same time to remind Representatives that they serve the people by the grace and will of Lord and Lady Sayre.

The constitution was written – and he applauded whomever had worked on that masterpiece – just as contradictory but one that burned into the minds of all those who had read it that Illos, above all else, belonged to all those who espoused its values.

Values of meritocracy, of hard work, of academia, of ingenuity and above all else, of a shared destiny.

A destiny that espoused common good and care, to be guided by the reaching hands of Lord and Lady Sayre, hands that ensured that their grip on what they had built would never slip, but a shared destiny nonetheless.

He wasn't ignorant or unobservant enough in the fact that the governmental system was built to check the powers of individuals and ultimately ensure that the right of intervention in domestic matters remained in the hands of the Lord and Lady of Illos, a way of power that resembled the constitutional monarchy of Britain yet at the same time not as limited or artificial, and he wasn't sure how to feel about it.

Illos was their creation, and, just as any tenant or landowner, they were entitled to protect their home and establish rules that ensured their rights but at the same time…

It left him uneasy that the power of office was limited by people who were unelected, people who were nobles…even if they were more like monarchs than they were nobles.

He shook his head as he walked towards the others as he completed his oath, his eyes trailing across the faces of his fellow Representatives.

No matter.

He had more pressing issues to concern himself with at present…

His expression shifted into mild neutrality as he mentally recalled what he knew of the other Representatives.

Yes…he had more pressing issues to concern himself about…such as winning the right to be the first Chief Representative.

Twelve days later….

"He will see you now" Pierce said calmly as she looked at him with her hands behind her back.

He stood up from his seat, feeling more nervous than he'd like, and made it through the door

He walked through the door and breathed in deeply.

It's been twelve days since the elections, six since he was voted in as the first Chief Representative of the Representative Council and four days since he was Oath-Sworn into the office of Chief Representative.

It hadn't been easy to convince the other Representatives to give up the prestige and power of becoming the first Chief Representative but he had done it.

His face contorted slightly in distaste.

He had to promise some things that he wasn't too happy promising but none of it was detrimental either to himself or to the public.

Still…

It was rather jarring to see the men and women wilt under the weight of their ambitions and desires.

Perhaps he shouldn't have expected so, after all…

Even if most of these people had never before held a political position before, with the exception of purebloods like Filch who'd worked at the Ministry for a time, people were rather simple when it came to power.

Just because Illos valued different things did not mean people who'd come from places like Britain would so easily get rid of their habits and what they knew.

Illos may have been founded on different principles, principles that everyone he knew cherished and equally valued but it would not be enough to dissuade people of their vices and politicians…

Well, it took a certain kind of person to become a successful politician no matter if their motivations, their politics or their sense of integrity was different.

They were all deeply ambitious.

Even himself.

His own motivations may be different but ultimately they were all alike. He would not lie to himself about that.

Their oaths would not punish them from achieving their ambitions and desires as long as it did not conflict with the spirit and understanding of the oaths.

Oaths that he foresaw would be tested over the years and in truth he was intensely curious to see the public ramifications of breaking the oaths.

The punishments would not strip people of their magic nor would it cost them their lives but they would be branded as Oath-breakers on their forehead, a marking that would not be removed until the oath breaker had repented and paid penance to the society he betrayed.

Oath breakers were viewed harshly in the magical world, much harsher than in the mundane world. It was a damning sign of a person's untrustworthiness and dubious character and when even magic, something that judges impartially, damns you as an oath breaker, it is enough to ostracise and maybe even persecute said oath breaker.

It was an ingenious way of dealing with the creeping nature of corruption in truth and he had to tip his hat to whomever came up with it.

Death and loss of magic could have created a martyr but someone marked as a traitor to society forced to vividly live in that society he betrayed with an unavoidable reminding sign of his crimes?

Well, it was certainly something that no one would want to experience, not even the most avarice of people.

Given some of the disposition of his fellow Representatives, he could see at least one testing the limits of the Oath. Though Filch was rather a clever man so he may not be lucky enough to see Filch remove himself from power.

Power and influence that was growing if he manages to convince some of the Representatives of his ideals.

He expected groups to form among the present few Representatives but not as fast as Filch seemed to move. Groups that eventually would become parties, parties that shared the same ideals, the same goals.

Parties that would be on different sides of the political spectrum.

He'd have to makes sure that he was involved even if he was expected to be a mediator between the growing groups.

As he walked in deeper into the office, his eyes widened as he caught a glimpse.

He stared at the ceiling and faltered in his steps.

Lord Sayre's life was well documented, everyone knew every little bit of his life, his years at Hogwarts, the tragedy that befell his family, the war he won and what ultimately led them all here.

The sight of the naked universe, the stars, the galaxies and the beautiful yet distant colours of nebula, surprised him though perhaps it should not have, he pondered, as enchantment hung atop the surface of the ceiling stared back at him.

It was well known that Lord Sayre had a deep fascination with space and the stars.

If he recalled correctly, this was the, or at least the newer version of the 'The Night Sky' enchantment, one of Lord Sayre's first creations.

He had not seen the first iteration at Hogwarts – it was after his time – but he had seen a much larger variant at the Observatory at one of the peaks of Mount Celestis.

It was an amazing Observatory, one that could zoom in into distant stars and even be capable of capturing silhouettes of the planets that orbited those stars.

He had kept several images of the planets that orbited different stars of the triple star system Alpha Centauri, striking images that sparked the imagination about the wonders of the universe.

It was a marvel, a truly wondrous creation, entirely made with magic, and he knew that many Pandrosion students were inspired by what they saw and it reflected in the high percentage of students that chose Physics, Arithmancy and Astronomy in their electives.

It helped that it was also a good career path with how the Offices of Magical Innovation and Technology were famously invested in 'cracking the secrets of the universe', something that Lord Sayre had bid them to do.

"Mr Smith-Rowe" he heard and he snapped back into to reality and the realisation he'd ignored the very man he'd come to see as he turned to him.

"M-my" Ryan cleared his throat and tried again "My Lord" he said with a deep bow.

He might only be what had once before might have been called a second generation half blood from an unimportant family, but he was well aware of etiquette, especially before someone who might not bear the title but was, for all intents and purposes, king.

He stood back up straight again and saw Lord Sayre staring at him with a mild smile on his face before his eyes flickered towards the ceiling.

"Don't feel too embarrassed. I often get distracted myself once in a while." He said as he stared at the ceiling enchantment, a certain hint of something passing in his eyes, something he couldn't quite identify. "They have a kind of draw to them, don't they?" he said with a soft inflection in his voice and Ryan was unsure what to make of it or how to react.

He'd heard that Lord Sayre was a…unusual person to speak with but someone who could speak of anything and everything and probably knew more than you do on your subject of expertise too.

That was most he could really draw on, the words of acquaintances and people he at times worked with as he collaborated with some of the Offices given his nature as a Chemist which didn't overlap much what Lord Sayre is known to be heavily involved in.

That meant he had not met Lord Sayre all that often.

Something that was a bit of a weakness at present.

He looked back at Ryan, his smile curling ever so slightly at the edges of his mouth "Jen sometimes has set off a mild explosion to get my attention back again." Lord Sayre said with a hint of humour in his voice but before Ryan could say anything, Lord Sayre's expression changed and the humour fell away as if it had never been there.

Ryan unconsciously stood straighter at the change. One thing that was made clear to him though…

Lord Sayre was sharp, sharper than you would have thought possible, no matter how…unusual he could be.

"Please." Lord Sayre said as he gestured towards the seat across from where he was seated, behind a wide desk that had an ancient look to it.

Probably was as ancient as it looked, he thought.

He traipsed his eyes across the desk, a desk with piles of paper work and several Holo-Tabs lain across it.

"Congratulations on your elevation to Chief Representative, Mr Smith-Rowe" Lord Sayre in a congratulatory nod.

Ryan smiled slightly "Thank you, my Lord. It's an honour to serve the people and to be elected among my peers as the first Chief Representative of Illos" he said, hints of pride creeping in his voice.

It hadn't been easy to convince the other Representatives to choose him and he knew that the next time in seven years would be even harder but for now, he could breathe a little easier.

"It no doubt is." Lord Sayre said with a nod. "Have you selected your advisors yet?" Lord Sayre asked curiously.

"For the most part." Ryan confirmed. He'd chosen his advisors now, a spread of senior individuals from the Offices that the Overseers recommended to him along with a few from the High Council Departments that came recommended to him.

For now, anyway. Later he'd chose people who proved loyal to him.

The system of governance was different from what he knew most other governments to be like, in both worlds. His role as Chief Representative was not as Head of State, no that belong Lord Sayre and Lady Sayre-Slytherin.

The Chief Representative was the Head of the legislative branch of the State.

The Legislative branch consisted primarily of legislative functions of State, that is submission and ratifications of laws in compliance with the Constitution but also was responsible for setting directives and inquiries for the Offices of Responsibilities.

For example, the Representative Council could set directives to the Office of Agriculture to alter the current percentages of produce in order to maximise yield of profitable foodstuffs but it could be refused by the Overseer if said Overseer saw it to be impacting Illosnegatively…at least that would be the reason publically.

Thankfully though there were procedures in place to override that refusal by lodging a protest to an independent Council of Judicial Arbitration that was part of the State Department who had presently Silas Merek as its Director who liaised with the Overseers of several Offices, including the Justice Office.

They would be able to overturn that refusal pending an investigation.

Similarly, the control of the budget of Illos was rather more complicated.

The national budget was controlled by the Director of the Treasury, Eldric Carson but as Chief Representative he had the authority to dictate how use that budget as he saw fit – within a certain limits.

Limits that primarily involved the Offices who'd take the vast majority of that budget and with whom he'd have to work with in order to set their budgets.

"Good." Lord Sayre said before hints of contemplation covered his expression as he seemed to study Ryan.

Several minutes passed without anyone speaking and it was growing to be unsettling.

"Lord Sayre…" Ryan began, slightly hesitant.

"Do you know why Emily and I formed this method of governance?" Lord Sayre spoke up, cutting off his question as why exactly he was here given that he'd already met the man in an official capacity – and the rest of the High Council – during the swearing in into his role as Chief Representative.

The question startled him but he didn't let it show.

Ryan had ideas, well-educated ideas to be sure but nothing concrete. He did not know the man personally to know his character.

But he knew what the man championed for, meritocracy, competence and equality but his very position and even the High Council itself was in direct violation of the ideas he had championed.

Perhaps the members of the High Council were competent, perhaps they did deserve their positions but ultimately, they were selected by Lord and Lady Sayre.

"I don't" Ryan confessed, not quite telling the truth.

Lord Sayre smiled and almost seemed indulgent.

"Institutions…" Lord Sayre began, his words seemed to slip from his lips like driftwood on a calm river stream, his calm voice making Ryan pay utmost attention.

"Institutions are what make or break a nation…a people." Lord Sayre said, his eyes now boring into Ryan.

"Ideals and laws are not enough…you must have the institutional framework and the right social attitudes to allow laws and societal cohesion to work." Lord Sayre leaned forward, his hands placed on the desk like a heavy anchor as his eyes shone with an intensity that froze Ryan in his seat.

"At present, people trust those institutions. They trust in a fair legal system, in a fair and helpful policing institution" Lord Sayre drew himself up in a way almost made him seem as if he was towering over Ryan.

"They trust that the institutions of Illos are for the benefit of the people as a whole." Lord Sayre said with a tone of finality, words that carried a crackling truth.

It was true, after all. The people had unwavering trust in Illos, an optimism and a sense of responsibility that he had rarely encountered in Britain…everyone had bought into realising Illos and its promises into reality.

"Are you concerned that this may no longer be the case with my election and final selection as Chief Representative?" Ryan asked as he recomposed himself, his eyes meeting the gaze of Lord Sayre.

He felt a sense of unease, perhaps even a tinge of guilt for what he had promised to some of the more cut throat Representatives to get his position.

He wondered…

Did he know?

Lord Sayre sat back in his gaze, his gaze not breaking with Ryan's own as he remained silent for a moment.

"Yes." Lord Sayre said after a moment and Ryan felt his stomach drop.

"Why?" Ryan asked, his voice held a creeping hints of dismay and deep unsettling unease, something that startled him.

Lord Sayre broke away from Ryan's gaze and stared towards the window where Mount Celestis loomed over the city.

After several moments, he spoke again. "Do you know why citizens of mundane Scandinavian nations such as Denmark or Norway trust their government the most and have the societal and cultural practices that value and place highest importance on a common good?" Lord Sayre asked as he peered out of the window.

"No." Ryan said, his voice level as he tried to keep a sense of irritation out of his voice by the evasion of his question as why Lord Sayre believed they…he would lose the trust of the people.

"Geography, conflict, religion and institutions." Lord Sayre simply said as he looked back to Ryan.

"These Scandinavian peoples were communities that experienced harsh winters, harsh winters that necessitated the formation of traditions of communities working together for a common good, to survive winter, and from those traditions, they developed societal attitudes that good times as an opportunity to prepare for the bad times." Lord Sayre waved his hand in an unconcerned fashion as he continued

"Not just individuals but also as communities. As time passed, through the storage of supplies, common economic institutions were established by the peasantry that were run by the peasantry." Lord Sayre smiled thinly, his eyes were radiant and the green flecks in his eyes were aglow in a sea of purple like the stars that draped the ceiling above.

"These communities started to create communal institutions for the wider benefit of their society, run by them and trusted by them." Lord Sayre said as he paused for a moment as he tapped on the desk with his index finger.

"Of course, harsh winters are not something that is unique to these Scandinavian peoples. In Russia, in the lands near the Black Sea and so on, the criterion of harsh winters is also met but what prevented those peasantries from developing similar medieval practices was access to the sea and the institutions kept in place by absolute monarchies and powerful aristocrats who were able to completely exploit the peasantry as much as they could without limitations or restrictions.

Whereas the Scandinavian peoples, through access to the sea, were granted the opportunity to trade unencumbered from the looming and restrictive presence of the nobility that levied high taxation on goods through tolls and other means.

They became traders and merchants, developing means of gathering wealth unimpeded by aristocrats and through traditions, through communal social attitudes, they developed institutions that were free from the socially suffocating restrictions that would have otherwise been placed on them by the aristocracy. The nature of the Baltic Sea made such policing and restrictions impossible in the medieval era.

In Britain, the peasantry was unable to grow wealthier as the aristocracy were able to maintain control over the shorelines and just as mainland Europe, aristocrats were able to restrict trade and required heavy tolls to use roads or river systems." Lord Sayre paused in his historical accounts, his hand lay flat on the desk as he sent a penetrative gaze towards him.

"Complete economic power had lain with the aristocracies." Lord Sayre said and Ryan moved to interject but Lord Sayre raised his hand, preventing Ryan from speaking up.

"I understand that this may be long winded but you will understand" Lord Sayre said, his gaze unflinching.

Ryan swallowed and nodded, signalling Lord Sayre to continue.

"As centuries rolled over, whilst the peoples of Europe waged war against each other – in major part due to the power and interests of the aristocracies and in part due to religious unrest – and peasants struggled to obtain rights and privileges, in Denmark, much of that had passed it by. While in most of Europe it took until the industrial revolution for the peasantry to gain some economic power, it happened centuries earlier in Denmark and it was centuries earlier that the Danish peasantry gained political power as well.

Through religious doctrines of Lutheranism, one that demanded that people to be literate in order to read the bible, the rates of literacy exploded in the peasantry and they, in turn, along with a centuries long established interest in the common good of society, developed into a well organised, well educated social class that started to act more assertively and demand more political rights and powers.

They became more enfranchised – in part thanks to the political struggles between the aristocracy and the king – and began to shape what Denmark is today; a developmental democracy.

They retained strong communal bonds despite the industrial revolution because of this long history of communal good that allowed them to prosper when all other peasants were little more than cattle for the aristocracy.

They set the standards of the wider norm of society and their institutions reflected the societal attitude of common care and service, their society solidifying on the idea that it was inherent to them to look after each other, to care for each other…and in turn…they are countries whereby equality is the strongest, the average person wealthier than the average person in the strongest economies in the world and, of course, far more pleasant to live in no matter what social class you are in." Lord Sayre paused momentarily, the words he spoke in strong passion simmered to a quiet but intense tone

"A powerful aristocracy can cause major damage to the state, perhaps even destroy it if they feel powerless, if they feel their privileges are not as extensive as their wealth supposedly demands it should be.

They would destroy their own country if it benefitted them.

Mundane Denmark and Norway are not the norm, especially in our world. Many of the Ministries around the world are inherently contrary to what these mundane nations have formed…

Institutions that ensure social insurance and social responsibility that combine to form a state that exists to serve and work together to improve society, that finds problems for the state to solve rather than let unknown problems to fester and grow.

They worked actively to prevent social inequalities from arising and that otherwise would have driven a wedge between the communal bonds that centuries of time and effort has established." Lord Sayre paused, leaning back in his chair as he maintained eye contact.

"Laws and institutions are not enough." He said firmly, his eyes almost narrowing.

"Institutions once established, by those who established it or work within them have an invested interest in preserving said institution however it may be the fairest, the most just institution in the world but it may mean nothing if political structures that ensure and grant liberties can be readily hijacked by those work within and without those structures and abuse those institutions and those liberties to undermine the liberties of others." Lord Sayre paused momentarily, his eyes softening ever so slightly.

"Liberties are far more fragile than you might think. Just as aristocrats can and likely will undermine the state and the good of the people, so too can wealthy businessmen and politicians who seek to use the system to enrich themselves, to empower themselves or limit political and economic inclusivity to an exclusive elite." Lord Sayre paused briefly, his expression showing no emotion as he spoke once more

"The core principles of a people, of societal attitude is just as key what is formed as law. If a people believe in a shared common good, like those Danish peasants who became a literate and economic social class of their own right over centuries of development, or like the people of Illos who are becoming a new form of social class unseen in most magical society, then what is enshrined in law will only be enhanced and succeed to work…

However, none of that will be possible if the people who are chosen to represent them do so without the right principles and social attitudes, social attitudes that emphasise and exalt common good and common care as is so expected of them and pervades throughout society…

Social attitudes that must pervade at the top as well as at the bottom otherwise…cracks will form in the bedrock of the state…" Lord Sayre's voice trailed off to a crushing calm.

"…Do you understand the importance of your position?" Lord Sayre asked, his calm voice not once wavering.

Ryan closed his eyes momentarily.

"…I see." Ryan said after swallowing harshly. "You know what I have promised to Filch."

He'd promised Filch to push through approvals for his Grocery Company to obtain the rights to sell any produce made by the Office of Agriculture.

At present, people who owned their plots of vertical farms had their own little shops that sold their produce whereas his idea would allow Filch to purchase all produce and have it sold in one central location.

At present there is concerns about impact to the business of small farm owners which is causing a delay in granting an approval…something he promised to step past to get him his approvals.

Lord Sayre only smiled thinly and his eyes were cold. "I will not interfere with how you deal with the Representatives. That is not within my jurisdiction nor has it breached any of the established laws."

Lord Sayre leaned forward, his eyes glimmering like frozen embers of emerald and violet ice "However…" he whispered, his deathly tone caused Ryan's heart to skip a beat.

"It is a slippery slope, Mr Smith-Rowe. Avarice is a nasty trait to encourage even for a minor matter. Today it is pressuring Offices to push through approvals for matters that are outside of your jurisdiction and tomorrow it could be something worse that would heavily weaken the authority of the Councils or the Offices and breach the trust of the people." Lord Sayre cold expression melted away as he leaned back, his unblinking eyes remained steadfastly onto his own.

"Emily and I have chosen this method of governance because of the flaws that power inspires in people. We created comprehensive checks and balances and ensured our own legal power within the state for emergency purposes all that what we have spent on Illos never deviates away from the greatness it can achieve." Lord Sayre sighed as he picked up a Holo-Tab and broke away his gaze from him.

"There is a reason why corruption is considered to be creeping, Mr Smith-Rowe and the reason why I believe you will break the trust of the people is because you have already shown that you are willing to compromise on the integrity of your office before you had even taken it." Lord Sayre said as he looked down at his table.

"But I ca-"

"You may go." Lord Sayre's voice was cold as he interrupted him. Lord Sayre looked up from his tablet, his expression was neutral but his eyes startled him. They showed a bottomless fury that made him swallow harshly and made him comply.

Lord Sayre fury ridden eyes vanished and a blank expression settled on his face before he looked down at his Holo-Tab.

Ryan felt his face heat up.

Out of shame and out of anger. Anger at himself and anger at Sayre.

Shame for his actions…

He turned on his heel and began to walk towards the door.

No, he practically screamed in his mind as he came to a half turned around, anger burbling in his chest.

"I understand that what I did was wrong, that I should have refused to even entertain what Filch demanded of me but I am not betraying the ideals of Illos nor will I ever." Ryan scowled out as he clenched his fists.

Lord Sayre placed the Holo-Tab down on the table and met his gaze with an impassive expression.

Ryan continued "What you say is true, that it is a slippery slope that could lead to anarchy, that could lead to the loss of trust of the public, that it could mean the end of what Illos promises to be!" Ryan said impassioned, his voice regretful as his hands shook in anger and his eyes closing for a single second as he levelled himself.

He reopened them "And I realise that now, the truth of what my actions could set precedents for and I vow to uphold the integrity, the honour and the duty that my office requires of me." He walked forward, his eyes brimming with determination.

"I will guard society against the avaricious, against the corrupt, oppressing influence of wealth and against the morally bankrupt. I understand now that is what is required of me, what is needed from me and I will not sway from that position again. I promise you that!" Ryan nearly growled out and his eyes widened as he remembered who he was speaking to.

Ryan took a step back "M-my" he cleared his throat "My apologies my Lord. I let my anger influence me." He said as he bowed his head.

Lord Sayre said nothing for a few moments, causing his nerves to rise.

"Good." Lord Sayre finally said and Ryan's head snapped towards him.

Lord Sayre had a small smile on his face. "We all make mistakes, Mr Smith-Rowe. We all at times can take the wrong choice, not even I am immune from such a thing. However…" Lord Sayre leaned forward, his eyes aglow

"What makes us different, what makes us great, is our willingness to learn and to not make the same mistake again. That is what will be our greatest strength Mr Smith-Rowe. From learning from a bad moral choice, to a bad economic decision, to a bad investment of time and money into a magical or technological idea." Lord Sayre sat back in his chair again, his glowing eyes dimming slightly.

"I will hold you to your promise, Mr Smith-Rowe." Lord Sayre finished.

"As will I to myself and to the public, my Lord" Ryan said with a nod.

Lord Sayre gave a tiny nod. A Holo-Tab began to rise from the table and floated towards him.

Ryan's eyes widened for a moment. He'd known that Lord Sayre was capable of wandless magic but he hadn't realised he could do it without any gestures!

He resisted the urge to swallow.

'This was the man who I was practically shouting at' he thought to himself as he picked the Holo-Tab from the air and began to read it.

His eyes almost jumped out of his eye-sockets.

"It is time for people to own their own homes in Illos." Lord Sayre said as Ryan looked up from the Holo-Tab.

No one owned land in Illos and he knew that many wanted that to change. It wasn't an issue yet but he could easily see it becoming one.

'Did he foresee that?' Ryan wondered.

He knew of the legendary Seeing capabilities of their Lord but he had trouble understanding it.

He looked down again and began reading more of it.

"This…" Ryan tried as he processed it.

The document specified the condition of sales of occupied homes to the present tenants along with future condition of sales of plots of land outside of Illos.

The sale prices were affordable, the conditions of which homes could be sold were reasonable…

"You'll have to establish inheritance laws before I sign that document" Lord Sayre spoke up, breaking his reading of the document.

Ryan blinked a few times "Yes." He said as he shook his head slightly "Inheritance laws, property laws, maintenance laws…" he said as he thought of all the things that would have to be established.

The laws on property and land were incredibly vague as far as he could tell from his initial readings of the concise Representative self-updating Guidebook – readings that everyone who ran for office had to read – which was on purpose he now realised.

He turned to Lord Sayre "Why?" he asked simply. He had not expected the history lesson nor the chastisement let alone this.

"You need several victories under your belt in order to establish yourself…and of the importance of integrity of your office." Lord Sayre said calmly as he intertwined his hands.

"You have shown yourself to be someone who promises to be worthy of your office and this…this will enable you to become what you promise you'll do and uphold, be what every Chief Representative after you should aspire to be like." Lord Sayre smiled slightly.

Ryan laughed loudly as he shook his head.

Merlin…

He peered at the man, silently studying him for a moment.

"I think I understand now." He finally said to Lord Sayre who tilted his head inquisitively.

Ryan bowed his head.

"Thank you my Lord for setting me straight and for giving me the opportunity to do right by Illos." He said.

"It was my pleasure." Lord Sayre said and Ryan straightened before he twisted on his heels and walked out of the office with Holo-Tab in his hand.

Yes…

He understood now.

Why Lord Sayre was needed.

Illos needed a guardian and Lord Sayre was the man for it.

A defender of the people, a defender of the health of the society.

He chuckled softly to himself as he reached the elevator.

He really was more than just a noble, wasn't he?

"King Sayre…" he whispered to himself. It didn't sound as ridiculous as it had once before, his mind replaying what had just happened again and again.

-Break-

10th of November 1952

Jason Harrison POV

Jason apparated in at the edge of Godric's Hollow and walked towards the Crying Castle pub.

As he entered the pub, he briefly exchanged a few pleasantries with a few men he recognised before heading down towards the far end of the pub, towards the stairs that led down to the backroom meeting room.

He nodded towards the lookouts who stood by the door and was allowed in when they checked him with standard identifying charms.

He looked around and saw about half dozen people, all of whom he recognised except for two. He narrowed his gaze at them.

Their robes were robes of good quality, the kind of robes that purebloods wore.

"Jason." Michael Carmichael called out, snapping him out of his thoughts. He met the gaze of the man who gave him an approving nod as he gestured him forth, towards two unknown men.

"These are Samael Danton and Beli Allord…representatives from the Order of the Phoenix."

"Order of the Phoenix?" Jason asked inquisitively.

"Yes. We chose it because it is fitting. Rebirthing a corrupt ministry into a fair from new beginnings." Samael said with a shrug before a grin plastered across his face though there was something in Samael's eyes that sent shivers down Jason's spine.

It was almost as if there was a kind of…hateful vacancy there. He was snapped out of it as the man continued, that vacancy having lost its glare.

"Helps with the recruiting too. Phoenixes are Light creatures too so it gives a positive idea."

"Your names…" Jason began, his eyes flickering towards their clothes.

"We are mostly half bloods and a sizeable number are purebloods" Beli confirmed as he gave Jason a hard look "Muggleborns aren't the only ones that suffering under an oppressive and incompetent regime."

Before Jason could interject, Michael intervened "Now that we all here, shall we move onto more pressing matters?"

Jason bit back a retorted and nodded firmly and the other two agreed.

The meeting went on for several hours, disagreements had almost escalated to conflict but reason had somehow managed to win to out and as the meeting ended, he was left with Michael.

"Michael…" he began before he reached for a full glass of Jack Daniels and drank it on one go, his face contorting slightly before he met the gaze of his leader.

Jason had risen through the ranks of the Movement with his swift ideas to garner support from the public eventually leading to him being considered a leading voice in the Movement he'd only recently joined.

"I don't like them." He said flatly, his gaze boring into Michael.

Michael sighed "I don't either." He said with a thin smile "But they have at least thirty people in their group and if they are to be believed, that number is actually only half." Michael swept his hand lazily towards the empty room.

"We have only forty people and most of them are not prepared to fight for the cause." Michael turned to him, his eyes hard. "Not like they are."

"There is fighting for the cause…and then there is fighting for the cause." Jason said meaningfully.

"They are bloodthirsty Michael." He said with a sigh as he looked away from Michael and towards the rather plain portrait which contained a hilly landscape. "We might just endanger everything we're trying to fight for."

Michael said nothing for a moment. "What other choice do we have?" Michael said quietly though the hint of bitterness was not hard to miss.

Jason turned to him and saw Michael staring at his glass.

"We are still, at best, second class citizens that have no real right of representation, no real right to purchase homes in wizarding villages, whatever inheritance we might have is not safe from the Ministry, we can be killed at a whim by purebloods who the Ministry will bend over backwards to give little more than a slap on the wrist." Michael turned to him, a cold angry sheen covering his eyes.

"No…the only thing these people understand is violence." Michael downed his drink before he placed the empty glass hard onto the table and got up "And it is high time that we make them understand that we can be just as violent, just as determined to get our way as they are."

"We might not have been alone with our friends in the real government aiding us with supplies but with the Order of the Phoenix…" he turned to Jason, sparing one last look as he held onto the knob of the door.

"We can truly change things for the better." He turned away from Jason "We simply have to fight for it."

Michael left the room and Jason slumped into his chair, his eyes staring at the ceiling.

"Aye…perhaps you're right." Jason whispered quietly to himself.

Muggleborns were leaving right left and centre to go to the United States which was reported to be everything Britain should be.

As much as what some people were doing, like that Slytherin woman with her initiatives in Hogsmeade or those progressives, it did not deal with the heart of the issue.

He leaned forward, placing his hands on his thighs as he paused for a moment before getting up, letting off a soft sigh as he stood up.

The lack of true equality.

It seemed like blood, sweat and tears were needed to be shed to obtain it.

-Break-

2nd of November 1952

International Magical Press

EXECUTION OF JACK COULSON IS THE BEGINNING OF TYRANNY CLAIMS LEADER OF ISONOMIAN MOVEMENT

By: Barnabus Cuffe

Just days after the execution of Jack Coulson, the former head of the now dead Ancient House Eymer, outcry has sparked all across the British Isles and has been condemned by several Ministries around the world, including the Irish Minister of Magic Moran who had this to say

"Instead of coming together during a difficult few years, the British Ministry is all the keener on polarising society, perhaps even doing so implacably. I urge Minister Lowe to reconsider his current path" Minister Moran comments come after…

[…] Whilst the Isonomian leader Michael Enoch, said "This is the last draw. Jack Coulson was a victim of a systemic attack against all those that they consider to be lesser than they are! This is not about being a squib descendant, this is not about being a half blood or even a pureblood, no, this is all about taking what they think belongs to them which they believe to be everything! I say enough and I know that many of the good folk of the Isles in these difficult times believe that to be the same as well!"

Fiery words from an impassioned man and they are words that may cause significant penalty, perhaps even the same sentencing that got Mr Jack Coulson sent through the Veil.

"Someone has to step up and say enough is enough. No one else is doing that in the Wizengamot chambers! Even the so called Progressives are doing nothing but letting the Ministry and the Traditionalist run roughshot over the country! No, if the Ministry wants to shut me up on some bogus treason charges for calling them out on their racist, discriminatory policies against those who aren't 'pure enough' even when it is proven that muggles can't have magic then by all means, they can try!"

...

These are concerning words but are they concerning words of a concerned yet determined man or words that unnecessary and serve to fuel the growing unrest?

Stay tuned for more breaking news!

12th of November 1952

Daily Prophet

DIAGON ALLEY PROTEST! DOZEN ARRESTED!

By: Rupert Scrimgeour

In what Minister Lowe hails as 'excellent policing by a strong Auror force', a series of arrests have been made during a scandalous protest that disrupted law abiding citizens from shopping peacefully yesterday afternoon…

26th of November 1952

International Magical Press

SEVERAL INJURED IN 'BRAWL' BETWEEN AURORS AND 'PEACEFUL PROTESTORS'

By: Hubert Higgins

As the nation is rocked by nearly a month of protests against the current administrations, matters escalated on the 26th of November as messy duels broke out between the Aurors and the protestors resulting in at least five injured innocent bystanders.

One shopkeeper who prefers to keep his name out of the papers had this to say "They were behaving well. They hardly disrupted the quiet high street on this morning. They were mainly chanting and had signs up to protest against a, well pardon my French, a rather ineffective and harsh Ministry!

Pah! The way those Aurors just came swooping down on those protestors wasn't right, I tell you. They just apparated in and fired against the protestors without warning!

I'm not happy about the way those Aurors behaved, especially once they stunned those poor folk and dragged them away. Seems to me there might be some truth in what they saying!"

This latest incident returns us to the questions that were raised several years ago about the status of the Auror Department and whether the cuts in personnel has led to a loss of experienced aurors who could have deal with matters better…

30th of November 1952

International Magical Press

THE MINISTRY IS UNABLE TO FIX DISASTROUS ISSUES SAYS LORD LESTRANGE

By: Jules Jebbins

In what seems to be an escalation of disquieting proportions, the once protests have begun to turn into what seems to be a growing storm of unrest as Aurors led dozens of raids in the past two weeks leading to over sixty individuals to be arrested including several prominent members of society such as Potion Master Angelus Eibon who has been charged for 'aiding and abetting a rebellious organisation known as the Order of the Phoenix'!

Lord Lestrange had this to say "The Ministry is only escalating the situation when it should have been de-escalating it. It's handling the situation poorly and it is just reflective of its current predicament."

Over sixty individuals were arrested in…

11th of December 1952

Daily Prophet

MINSTER LOWE ASKS FOR PATIENCE, CLAIMS FORMER LORD SAYRE HAS DONE MUCH DAMAGE TO FIX IN SHORT TERM

By: Rupert Scrimgeour

Last night, Minister Lowe held a press conference and had this to say "The issues that has gripped our society has deep roots, roots that Mr Sayre has inflicted on this proud nation. I can understand people are unhappy with the current state of affairs but the damage done will take time to solve and it does not help for people to unlawfully cause havoc on the nation with these riots which is worsening the economy.

I implore people to come to the Auror Department with any information about these miscreants and I ask for your patience. We will get through this." Minister Lowe

This comes after…

18th of December 1952

International Magical Press

IS THE MINISTRY USING THE EXILED LORD SAYRE AS AN EXCUSE TO COVER UP THEIR INCOMPETENCE? RESPECTED MERCHANTS SEEM TO THINK SO

By: Hubert Higgins

22nd of December 1952

International Magical Press

MINISTER LOWE SETS CURFEW AND BANS GATHERINGS – IS THE MINISTRY OVERREACHING?

By: Jules Jebbins

25th of December 1952

Daily Prophet

LORD LONGBOTTOM CLAIMS THE MINISTRY IS ONCE AGAIN MAKING THE WRONG DECISIONS AS HE COMPARES CURRENT PATH TO THE NEUTRALITY AGAINST DARK LORD GRINDELWALD

By: Cordelia Smith

5th of January 1953

Daily Prophet

PROTEST ESCALATES INTO 'NEFARIOUS RIOTING BY UNSCRUPULOUS RABBLE' AS EMBATTLED MINISTER LOWE HITS OUT

By: Barnabas Cuffe

10th of January 1953

International Magical Press

HAS THE MINISTRY LOST CONTROL? DIAGON ALLEY UP IN ARMS ABOUT 'MILITANT AURORS'

By: Jules Jebbins

15th of January 1953

Daily Prophet

BREAKING! HORIZON ALLEY RIOTS TURN DEADLY! BYSTANDERS CAUGHT IN DEADLY SPELL EXCHANGE!

By: Cordelia Smith

22nd of January 1953

International Magical Press

BREAKING! MINISTER LOWE ENACTS MARTIAL LAW!

By: Hubert Higgins

30th of January 1953

Daily Prophet

EXCLUSIVE! REBELS UNCOVERED: AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX AND THE ISONOMIAN MOVEMENT

By: Rupert Scrimgeour

2nd of February 1953

International Magical Press

'TIME FOR CHANGE' SAY LORDS ABBOTT, AVERY, NOTT, PRINCE AND SMITH IN A UNPRECEDENTED CROSS-FACTION JOINT STATEMENT

By: Jules Jebbins

9th of February 1953

Daily Prophet

ORDER OF THE PHOENIX DEMANDS DEMOCRACY, SAYS WIZENGAMOT'S TIME IS OVER AS CONFLICT GROWS FEVERISH!

By: Cordelia Smith

14th of February 1953

Daily Prophet

RIOTS BREAK OUT IN MAJORITY OF WIZARDING SETTLEMENTS, SHOUTS OF AVALONIA, OF 'DOWN WITH THE MINSTRY!'

20th of February 1953

International Magical Press

CALLS FOR MINISTER LOWE TO STEP DOWN GROW DEAFENING SAYS UNNAMED HIGHLY PLACED MINISTERIAL OFFICIAL

22nd of February 1953 – Malfoy Manor

Arcturus Black POV

His cold gaze fell upon her as she sat across from him.

She was the picture of calmness, her expression fixed in coolness as her dark eyes radiated out from her pale flawless porcelain skin.

Oh how he hated the bitch, how much he wanted to let loose a damn killing curse just so he could wipe that tiny curl of the lips and savour the look of fear before she died.

But they were sworn to ancient guest rights and he would not be the one to violate it as much as he wanted to.

No…he'd leave the violation to her.

It was what she was good at.

He knew she was heavily involved in what was going now, the anarchy that had befallen Magical Britain but there was nothing that even suggested a Merlin-damned link between the half-blood and those filthy mudbloods.

Not even to those blood traitor filths who are more of a problem than the mudbloods were!

Yet he was powerless to stop it.

The Ministry was but a step away from falling apart, his own faction was growing uneasy and traitorous and the progressives were not much better off.

Yet the Ouroboros faction was calm, united and had been, more importantly and for the most part, silent.

Until recently.

Lords within the faction had been quietly seeking out other seat holders to test the waters, to slither into their embrace and offer poisonous solutions.

He suppressed a snarl.

He interrogated Lord Avery and find out what they were planning and he despised the fact that it would likely mean that they would succeed, at least in the short term.

How long have they been working on this?

Since Sayre had been exiled?

Or even before that? When Ouroboros had been formed?

In principle, he did not disagree with what they were offering.

But in principle he was loathed to let her succeed.

Whilst the Black family was far from destitute, in the past few years they had spent millions of galleons propping up the Ministry giving them unprecedented political power but…

The damn Ministry was a sieve, a bottomless money pit that was unable to deal with the economic crisis with any kind of competence.

He had his suspicions on how that came to be but once again, he would never be able to prove it, not without forcing down veritaserum down their wretched gullets.

He'd been surprised when none of the families that were members of the Ouroboros faction bought controlling shares – or any shares – in businesses in Magical Britain when the opportunity had arisen.

Yet now he likely knew why that was. With the way the Ministry was structured, the incredibly low rates the Wizengamot Houses paid in taxes, effectively what they had done was rip out the major income of galleons.

Where before businesses paid forty percent tax, now they paid two percent.

They were never going to fill that deficit, not without major conflict breaking out amongst the noble families.

To even suggest they give up the businesses they purchased would only result in Lords breaking away from his faction and making it damn easier for them to join the bitch.

He suspected that she had agents in the Department of Company and Taxation for years, the central department that dealt with the registrar of companies, where all companies file annual financial statements, and with the taxation of both businesses, individuals and households, they would have had critical information they would need to cripple the Ministry.

He knew now that the Department had encouraged Traditionalist members, and certain Progressive Lords, to sweep in and buy out entire businesses, all adding up to a Ministry that was struggling to pay for the pitiful Auror force that barely could contend with rabble and mudbloods with how many veterans and high ranking, high salaried aurors had been let go at the onset of the economic crisis.

Even the higher import tax and tariffs did little to turn things around – not when the rampant corruption had resulted in several high ranking Ministry officials pocketing hundreds of thousands of galleons – and in fact only resulted in worsening relations with several European Ministries.

If only he had known what game they were playing, then.

He expected her to be brutish, to be a Dark Lady pretender in the mould of Morgana, of Grindelwald, an insane whore with too much power who didn't know her place.

Yet she was outplaying them in a way that was worthy of the name she barely had the right to bear.

He grimaced internally.

Their victory against Sayre had made them overconfident and they missed far too much.

Sayre wanted to fundamentally change Magical Britain from what it was and had promised to be an existential threat to them all.

He expected her to be the same only with force and wielding a wand instead of using the public sphere to win yet…that had not been true.

And it drove him and Cassie furious once he had come to realise was she wasn't behaving as he expected her to.

He thought all of this philanthropist nonsense was something Sayre had persuaded her to do yet it was something she was entirely driving herself.

And it worked in a way he had never expected.

She insulated herself against what Sayre had done, successfully preventing people from associating her from the actions of Sayre that had ruined this country.

The threat of what she would do with Hogwarts would have been empty had it not meant that the Ministry would have faced hundreds if not thousands of furious purebloods who benefitted directly from her schemes.

The ICW had been ready to intervene on their say-so but the risk was too high and none wanted to risk conflict that could have escalated into a civil war within every part of society.

Perhaps they should have he thought bitterly. At least then it would have been on his terms and not like on hers like it was now.

They were breaking Magical Britain at the fault lines that had been left behind by Sayre and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

It was infuriating and for the first time in as many years he could remember, he felt outplayed.

The grip that he was holding onto the Traditionalist faction was slipping and it didn't help that the bitch was a damn Archmage, one that was as Dark as her cursed forbearer.

He had never been blind to the sympathies and allegiances of the heirs of his allies and had worked to ensure they did not abandon the faction to join hers but it seemed like it would be all for naught.

The fact that he was here meeting her, in the home of what should have been a firm ally instead of a neutral ground was telling.

He snarled internally.

Slippery traitorous lot of them, those Malfoys.

"So you've come to bargain." She said without inflection or hint of emotion in her voice as she broke the tense silence, said in a way that was as dead and empty as her black eyes were.

"Bargain?" He scowled, his stare piercing down at her.

Her eyes shimmered as the ends of her blood red lips curled upward even more "What else would you call this meeting?" she leaned forward "You are here to bargain with me to retain a sliver of power when Ouroboros will be asked to fix this mess you helped made."

"I made?" Arcturus stood up, his face contorting in a hateful snarl. For years, the bitch just wouldn't disappear to the filthy muggle sewage she came from.

For years, she stymied any attempts of removing her from the lofty position she planted herself in, even after he focused entirely on her after he'd gotten the Sayre family out.

Not even the subtlest form of assassination worked and the last time he thought of other means of forcing her to bend like the whore she was, Sayre had sent him a message, one that had stayed any forms of retribution through the weak links that might have been bound to her.

The hatred he felt for this woman, the slow but certain usurpation she was committing of the Black family's claim as the Darkest family that ruled all others…

What she made him do to his own son…

"Yes." She said simply unfazed by the magic that boiling off of him as she slid a strand of hair behind her ear, her cool dark eyes gazing at him impassively. "You have acted against myself and Atticus again and again, hindering, sabotaging even directly acting against us and all that is happening is partly because of you." Her smile was now acidic, her blood red lips growing to a vile smile.

"All because you acted out as if we slighted you."

Arcturus laugh was cold and it reverberated across the room as he sent a withering look "You did slight me. As did your husband." He said with a mocking smile.

Her smile fell off and he felt a deep sense of satisfaction at it but he wasn't done "Your husband slighted me and every noble family with what he planned to do, he even slighted his ancestors as he turned his back on his noble heritage! And you…" he said with a violent rumble in his throat as he sat back down.

"You made this personal." Arcturus growled out as he placed his hands on the table.

"Ah…that." She said with the barest of movements of her facial muscles. "I see you still hold a grudge over what you did to your own son and heir." She said with faux innocence.

Arcturus resisted the urge to let fly a killing curse as he acidly narrowed his eyes. "What I did?" he growled out, the rumbling in his throat added a dangerous and harsh undertone to his words. "You twisted my heir into a damn slave."

One that would have gotten House Black vassalised to House Slytherin once he'd passed!

"Is that what you see my friends as?" She spoke again, her melodic voice was insidious with how beautiful it sounded.

"Orion was a dear friend of mine, Lord Black, never a slave. I resent such statements." She said as her eyes lit up in cruel mockery "He was perhaps too heavily dedicated to our…friendship…but he was still himself" her eyes were now sharp and cutting in their cruelty as her beauty twisted to show the evil that lay behind that thin veil.

"You could not say that now can you?" she continued as she poked at him with false insincerity, false concern "I hear that he is little better than Walburga's pet with how…docile he is now."

In a blink of an eye, he unholstered his wand and the tip of his wand crackled with a sickly green glow.

She remained unfazed as she met his gaze unflinchingly.

They stared at each for what seemed an age, his wand tip levelled directly at her forehead until…finally, the boiling anger in his chest simmered into a cool hatred and he put away his wand as he sat down.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly and curtly.

At this her eyes began to glow, a caustic black blue, one that seemed like it could strip flesh from bones had it been a liquid dripped onto skin "What we all wantsss..." She began, her words stretched and tinged with a sibilant undertone.

"Security"

Arcturus narrowed his gaze "What are you blathering about?"

She leaned back in her chair, her eyes still aglow as her face twisted in an angry distaste, one that seemed break through what had been an antagonistic approach this this…ceasefire.

"Do you know that as we speak, the Statute of Secrecy is shattering even more than already is?"

Arcturus' eyes widened momentarily before he coldly demanded "Explain."

Her eyes narrowed momentarily at the demand but she spoke anyway "The muggle government has over a dozen traitors working with their military and their scientists and they have wizards spying on us. I'm not certain yet how long it has been going on but I believe it may have been since before the Grindelwald war."

"Impossible" Arcturus denied. They would have known. They would have known.

"I'm surprised" she purred "That the great Black spy network is unable to find out that Underhill, our attache to the Royal family is comprised and has been for years." She said with a mocking tone in her voice before her expression shifted to cool seriousness.

"Through him the muggles have found about our supposed treachery and lack of allegiance to the Crown. You know more about that than I do, Lord Black." She said with an amused smile.

Arcturus scowled.

Of course he did. His family had made sure that Queen Victoria and her descendants were unable to wield the power granted to them by ancient covenants many centuries ago.

Their allegiance to the Crown had ended after the Statute and it was unthinkable that a muggle could wield power in their world to the extent that family could.

Over the centuries they whittled down any avenue of that family into the magical world to the point that they were only allowed to know as little as possible – their allegiance allowed them that much

"They have recruited more than a dozen now amongst their spy organisation and it is a near certainty that they are partly responsible for the rise of the Isonomian Movement."

Arcturus shook his head "I cannot believe this."

Her hand went into her pocket and she threw a file onto the table and it slid across to him.

He scowled at her as he looked at her coldly "How do I not know that this isn't doctored?"

"You don't" she said with a shrug. "I am willing to take a vow that it is not doctored and that what I am telling about the traitors to the magical world is true." She said calmly.

"Swear it." He demanded and she pulled out her wand and swore the oath.

He narrowed his gaze and felt the oath settling in. Reluctantly he began reading and what followed rocked his entire notion of what was reality.

"This…" Arcturus trailed off as he looked over the images of the guns with runes etched onto the surfaces, runes that would make what was already deadly weapons into absolutely lethal ones.

"We have traitors to the magical world." She simply said.

"Underhill is a pureblood…" Arcturus murmured.

Why would he betray their world?

She laughed coldly as she stared at him with black eyes "You underestimate the muggles and their ruthlessness in obtaining compliance."

"At least when it comes to Underhill." Her eyes darkened "It wouldn't surprise me if they somehow managed to get the upper hand on him. From there.." she opened up her arms as if to signal how easily they would find invading the magical world like she claimed they did.

He wanted to deny it but he couldn't see the angle of why she would. Nor could he discount the oath she swore.

"What do you mean security?" He finally asked.

Her smile was cold. "Do you think this would have happened if we did what most other wise Ministries do with magical children? If we had not allowed this issue of blood purity to fester to the point that they could use it to instigate civil war?"

"You want to initiate what your husband championed." He simply stated. Sayre wanted to rid every shackle of the muggle world from the magical world.

A worthy cause but one that was ultimately doomed to fail. The blood traitors in the Ministry and amongst the Progressive would never have stood for it.

It would have caused far too much unrest if his measures had passed, measures that included informing families of the magical world as soon as underage magic was detected and effectively make them part of the magical world.

It would have allowed more time for mudbloods to familiarise themselves with the magical world whilst also ensuring an eye could be kept to the families of the mudbloods.

It was a decent idea but one that would have also costed significant amount of galleons and manpower.

In the end, it was doomed to fail.

"No." she said calmly as she stared at him. "We'll go further."

His eyes narrowed "You want to go the route of taking magical children away from their families?"

"When the other option is risking the destruction of the Statute of Secrecy, just as what is happening now, extreme measures are required." She calmly said before she leaned forward. "We may fix this now but in two decades time, in five, in ten?"

She shook her head. "These magicals born out of squibs will keep being born in the muggle world and one day it might expose us in a way that we can't stop. And even then…it might not be enough."

"Do you think that the British muggle government are the only ones that employing magicals in their clandestine operations?" She said with a cool tone, her lips curling in an almost grim fashion.

"You've heard the rumours of the Russian magicals aiding the Soviet Communists, I'm sure." She said with a tilt of the head.

Cassie had mentioned that there were rumours amongst the ICW about the likelihood of magicals aiding the Russian muggles.

The fact that the whore knew rankled him and more than a little worried him. It spoke of her abilities to ferret out secrets that had taken decades for their family to set up.

"I have." He said simply "The ICW is dealing with it." That was true at least.

She inclined her head, her expression remaining unchanged "True but they underestimate the muggles and the pervasiveness of their nature."

"I find it laughable that you speak to me about muggles in this manner. Are you not the one who claims that we are superior to them to all of your followers?" Arcturus asked coolly.

"I am" she said unfazed as she leaned back in her chair, her right leg crossing over her left "and yet it does not detract from the truth. Are we not superior to Dragons? Smarter and more capable? Yet can a single dragon not defeat a dozen wizards despite our intellect and capabilities? Are they not more destructive?" she posed to him with a mocking smile before it fell away, a cold sneer marring her face

He remained silent to that. He was not as ignorant to the threat of the muggles as some may believe. For all of their inferiority they were a stark threat to the magical world.

Even when they had little more than little sticks that fired little balls that would take minutes to reload they were a threat.

When they only had bows and arrows, spears and swords, they were a threat.

Most magicals were pitiful and never used their magic at the same level they did once they were in magical schooling.

Their skills atrophied as they aged, as their inherited power lay largely unused except to conduct everyday mindless household tasks or apparition.

It had been like that since the beginning of dawn. There was a reason why families like House Black…House Nott, House Bones and so on were Lords.

Magical families of limited talent or drive sought the protection of those who could provide it and had the strength to stand up against hostile muggles.

That meant that were few families that could truly stand up and lead against hordes of hostile muggles.

With how drained most noble families were of members, it was bad news. Very bad news.

Between the years 1000 and in the mid 1500s, most magical families could have claimed members of over thirty and that was without considering branch families that took up different names.

Now…

House Black had three magical scions in his sons Orion and Cygnus and his nephew Alphard.

None of whom have any male heirs with only Cygnus having a newly born daughter in Andromeda.

This was the case for many other families.

That meant a strong Ministry was vital.

If things were as dire as they seemed, and they were dire, they were in imminent danger.

The Ministry was in no condition to sort out this mess and should they go to the ICW they would never leave.

The agreement they had with them had only covered conflict with either or both of Sayre and the half blood.

Should they find out the Statute of Secrecy was breached in a worse way than even in China…

But why would the muggles involve themselves in our own conflict? His eyes widened and they snapped towards her.

"They are seeking to directly rule over us." He simply stated and she smiled coldly.

"Yes. Instigate unrest before coming in and appearing as 'saviours' whilst installing a puppet regime that is beholden to the muggles." Her eyes darkened

"And if you're wondering why now, well..." she smiled thinly as she continued "The moment they found out about Grindelwald and what he'd done and planned to do was the moment they were set against us."

He remained silent for a moment as he weighed up his options.

"How do I know you won't turn against me once you've gotten your pawn as Minister?" he asked curtly.

"Why would I turn against my allies, Lord Black?" she asked in return, her blood red lips curling with dark humour.

Arcturus snorted as he leaned back, his gaze fixed on her. "Not good enough."

He narrowed his gaze "I want your guarantee you will not act against House Black."

She tilted her head, her black eyes seemingly boring into him "You want to extend the ceasefire." She simply stated.

"Yes. Into a permanent peace."

She narrowed her gaze. "I didn't think you were capable of setting aside your personal grudges." She commented idly.

He chuckled coldly "Oh, I am not. Not usually. But this is a problem that supersedes any grudges." He might not act against her…or his House but that did not mean there were not any other matters he could…pretend not to know about and allow to happen.

She said nothing for a moment. "Very well. But in return I expect the Traditionalist faction to not oppose any of my measures."

"Your measures?" Arcturus smiled coolly.

"Ouroboros and I are one and the same."

Yes…they most certainly were. After all, she was a snake that would devour itself for any measure of success.

"As long as they don't impede on our rights I don't see that as an issue, at least for now." Arcturus conceded before he continued "However…I want those mudbloods, those traitorous scum and the rebels dead" he said with a narrowed gaze.

"I can accept that." She said as she stood up.

Her eyes glittered with amusement "Shall we shake on it?"

He sneered at her and got up. "I will send the documents to you to sign of our…peace." He said distastefully before he walked out of the private room.

As he descended down the stairs, Septimus Malfoy was waiting for him. "Has an accord been reached?"

'As if you hadn't charmed the room let you hear everything' Arcturus snorted to himself. "Yes." He said curtly as he stopped before the man. "Do not think House Black will forget this…favour."

Septimus' smug expression disappeared and a flicker of fear came across his face before he composed himself. "Noted, my Lord." Septimus said evenly.

Arcturus snorted before he simply walked past the man towards the floo. He grabbed a handful of floo powder and went back home.

Hours later…

"Morgana…" Cassie whispered as she left the pensieve, her expression pale.

Arcturus' eyes flickered towards his son who was almost as distressed as his sister was.

He'd shown them both the meeting – of course he excluded the parts of when they spoke about what he'd done to his son even if the dark memory suppression mind magic should prevent him from retaining anything related to that event – and waited for them.

"Well?" he asked impatiently.

Cassie snapped out of her thoughts and turned to him "You should not have offered her peace" she spat out.

"Even in the face of muggle aggression? Aggression that could doom us with the state we're in?" he asked evenly.

She snarled and walked towards her seat and sunk into it.

"I despise the whore." She simply grouched.

His son walked over and sat in the other seat before he spoke up "Why hasn't she acted?"

Arcturus turned to his son, surprise etched on his face.

Cassie cackled mirthfully "Why would she?" she said as she turned to him.

"What benefit" she spat out "Would she have in eliminating the threat they pose when she could use it to maximise her gains as she is now?"

"Still…" Arcturus murmured "It is an unacceptable risk."

Cassie smiled grimly "And why would she care of the risk to Magical Britain? When she could go to wherever he took thousands of magicals?"

Silence reigned for several minutes.

Charlus' words on what the man had likely done was something that he tried hard to ignore.

"We keep underestimating her." Cassie finally said before she straightened up. "No more."

"We can't do anything to jeopardise the peace." Arcturus warned.

Cassie turned to him and sent him a withering look "Of course." She said mockingly "The peace." She said with a sweet smile etched on her face before it fell away and a cold look replaced it "As if that will stop the enmity between our Houses." She shook her head.

"You may plan to bound our family to a peace but that does not mean we are not enemies." Cassie said with a sigh. "Anyway…" she said as she got up.

"It seems like I have some work to do." She scoffed "I knew filthy mudbloods couldn't be trusted." She muttered as she walked out of the room.

Son and father remained behind, both stewing on the happenings of the day.

"Father…" Orion began and Arcturus turned to him, a steely expression on his face.

"What does this mean with our agreements with the ICW?" he asked tentatively.

Arcturus said as he swiped his hand across his face.

The agreements with the ICW had been to corner Riddle and use her to find out where Sayre was.

He knew they were tracking Sara Beauclerc and Benedict Sayre but the political situation and immunity they had as direct offspring and parent of the President of the ICW made it into a situation that could spiral out of control against a powerful united MACUSA whereas with Riddle…

That was different.

And unfortunately it seemed like their dealing with the ICW would have to come to an end.

"It means we're done with them. At least for now." He told his son as he got up tiredly.

"For now, we are tied irrevocably with her." He said with a grimace.

In some ways he was relieved. She was an archmage that kept outplaying him in his own field of expertise.

Now that they reached an accord, he could breathe a little easier for the safety of his family.

He shook his head. It was far from time to relax he thought as he left the room.

-Break-

2nd of March 1953

Fleamont Potter POV

"We cannot agree!" Lord Smith said with a scowl as he slammed the butt of the cane on the marble floor.

Fleamont sat back in his chair, his hands in front of his mouth as he remained silent in the discord before him. He was here with Lords Abbott, Bones, Longbottom, Prewett and Smith to discuss the…offer Lord Abbott had been given.

"We may not have a choice." Lord Bones said calmly as he stared at Lord Smith.

"I cannot believe Lord Black would completely reverse course" Lord Prewett said with a shake of the head "Not after all that he's done to aid the removal of the Sayres"

"Why not?" Lord Longbottom growled, anger etched on his face. Longbottom had almost broken away from the near millennia long alliance he had with several of the Progressive Houses when it was clear that they would join forces with the Traditionalist in combatting the Sayre in any means necessary.

He wasn't sure what made Longbottom stay but if rumours were true Atticus Sayre had asked him not to get involved.

To ask your allies to abandon you when you needed them the most did not make sense…but it did if Charlus' suspicions were right…

That Sayre never intended to stay long term and that everything he had done was to get people to leave with him.

"That snake would sell his own soul for power perhaps even that of his son's!" Longbottom said with a harsh laugh "You all know the rumours of what Black had done to his own son to make sure he kept control over his own heir."

Fleamont grimaced.

The rumours had started not long after Heir Black had returned to Hogwarts with a changed personality…and changed memories.

According to the rumours it hadn't been noticeable at first but it seemed as any interactions the young man might have had with Slytherin was altered heavily…misremembering events at best and at worst…well…

"It should not surprise you that the bastard made a deal with the Ouroboros to deal with this mess" Longbottom said with a dismissive wave of the hand "And truthfully, I don't blame him." He said with a scowl as he peered at them all.

"It's not as if we're likely to do any better if our track record is anything to go by." Longbottom added scornfully and Fleamont sighed.

It was going to be a long meeting.

Hours later…

Fleamont sunk into his comfortable chair as a hand with a glass full of firewhiskey entered his line of sight. He looked up and saw his brother looking at him with a commiserate look on his face.

"I might just abdicate in favour for yourself than to deal with something like that again" he said with a sigh as he took the glass and took a large gulp of the drink.

Charlus grimaced "No thanks. I'm happy just being the reluctant heir." He said cheerfully and Fleamont chuckled before it ebbed away and a morose expression fell on his face as he stared at his drink.

"That bad?" Charlus asked quietly and Fleamont looked up and saw his brother's concerned expression.

"Yes." He said with a sigh "The offer that Ouroboros has given us is good but it is meaningless once they get their man as Minister and the backing they'll get from the Traditionalists."

"What's the offer?" Charlus asked after a moment.

Fleamont told her brother and after several moments had passed his brother spoke up again

"The traditionalists agreed to it?" Charlus asked bewildered.

Fleamont smiled grimly "They did though the reason they might have is that Ouroboros offered to pay them the same amount they paid for the businesses they effectively ruined."

"Bribes." Charlus said with a distaste.

Fleamont inclined his head "Effectively." He agreed "However Ouroboros also intends to return those businesses to their original owners in return for higher taxes over a set period of time." Fleamont drank of his glass as he paused speaking for a moment.

He continued "That would reduce the deficit massively and with some of the projected earnings Ouroboros estimates the Ministry to be gaining with their initiatives, within six months the Ministry would be in a stable condition. Something they might even help along if they took over the debts the Goblin Nations holds over the Ministry."

"That would give them unprecedented control over the Ministry." Charlus pointed out.

"Yes." Fleamont said with a sigh "That would be the case." He peered at Charlus "And at present they are also the only ones that the public will accept being in power even if we promised to do all that Ouroboros promises to do."

Charlus scowled for a moment before it faded away "I can understand that" he said tiredly "There hasn't been a violent outbreak for nearly two weeks now, not since Ouroboros broke their silence." He said with distaste.

Fleamont stared at his brother for a few seconds "Has there been any evidence?" he asked.

Charlus shook his head "Nothing. No links between the Isonomian Movement or the Order of the Phoenix and Ouroboros." Charlus said disappointedly "Even the ones we caught and interrogated with veritaserum got us nothing." Charlus' expression darkened ever so slightly as his eyes showed something disturbing.

"But you found something?" Fleamont pressed slightly.

Charlus looked up and met his gaze. It seemed as he was struggling on the decision on to tell him or not. Eventually Charlus decided "Yes." He said hesitantly.

Fleamont waved his brother along with patience.

Charlus grabbed the bridge of his nose for a moment before he brushed his hair back with his hand and sighed as he met Fleamont's gaze "There is evidence…" he pursed his lips as tension filled his expression "that the muggles might be involved."

Fleamont's eyes widened "What?!"

Charlus then took the time to explain and Fleamont crashed into his seat. "And nothing leads us to this…muggle group?" he asked his brother concerned.

Charlus scowled and shook his head "No. It seemed like the vast majority of information is constrained to this Michael Enoch and a few others…none of whom we have in our custody."

"Merlin…" Fleamont whispered. This was bad. "How many know?"

"At the moment only the Director of the MLE and a few other key Department heads." Charlus smiled thinly "the Former Minister Lowe hadn't needed to know."

Fleamont remained for a while. "This changes everything…" he murmured as he trailed his hand across his face. He met the gaze of his brother "We need the Ministry back in order as soon as possible. We need to find out how far this all goes."

Charlus nodded "The Director has already made this a priority. Half the reason why we've been so…zealous…against the Isonomian Movement has to do with this."

Fleamont stared at his brother disapprovingly "And it is also half the reason why this completely spiralled out of control!"

Charlus glared at him "We are the only reason why this hasn't gotten bad enough to devolve into a bigger conflict. We are preventing them from gathering in public, preventing them to spread their chaos amongst the population."

Fleamont shook his head "And yet it seemed to be to no avail given how much the public has been supporting them."

"They support the Order of the Phoenix." Charlus corrected "People who are like them, not these muggleborns."

"Squib-descendants" Fleamont corrected distractedly as he thought on the Order of the Phoenix.

They were the major reason as to why so much compromise was going around. Most of them were from pureblood or half-blood households and worked in a way that had the public very much on their side…even to the point of demanding a change of how the government worked!

It was honestly disturbing how effective they were.

He drank of his firewhiskey to the last drop and got up "I'm turning in for the night." He stopped as he glanced at his brother "Will Dorea be here tomorrow for dinner?" They usually had dinner twice a week together.

Charlus got up as well "Yes. The past few weeks have been quieter at St. Mungos so I doubt she'll have to work late." He confirmed and Fleamont nodded before he bid his brother farewell.

-Break-

16th of March 1953 – The Leaky Cauldron

Rupert Scrimgeor POV

"The Chudley Cannons continued their spiral towards the bottom of the table with the demoralising loss against the Appleby Arrows…"

He tuned out the rest of the Quidditch Recap Show that was playing on the T.W. as he necked down the last of his pint, his gloomy mood unable to disappear.

He ordered another one and watched the people in the pub with weary eyes. He wasn't the only one that was gloomy or tense.

Recent months had raked up tensions to its highest that was only recently subsiding, the long inactions of the Wizengamot and the economic downturn that plagued Magical Britain for years enhanced what had previous lain below the surface of the black sea, what had been simmering.

The inequalities of life.

There had been a quiet discontent amongst the populace before it all went wrong, that had been waiting for a spark, a spark that the smart people had been dreading, dreading that it would get worse.

And things had gotten worse.

The end of Grindelwald's war was meant to be the turn of a long prosperous peace yet, he thought grimly, it seemed like those had been the good days, the days of when the collective fear of the war arriving on the shores of Britain kept the long held divisions and anger at bay, of when there was a sense of unity.

Something that had been shattered and crumbled in the past seven, six years starting when muggleborns suddenly no longer were 'born from muggles' and became politically powerful.

The Hero of Magical Britain who saved Britain from the 'dastardly' Grindelwald had been chased away and in his wake left economic ruin where before Britain had flourished.

In that ruin came a morally bankrupt Ministry too incompetent to get out of the mess it created. A Ministry that was embattled now with riots and perhaps in reality a rebellion.

Merlin how did it get so bad? He wondered.

At least now with the Ministry effectively crippled and a change of government imminent, he no longer had to bow to their decrees and restrictions.

He had hated the 'Ministry approved' stamps that forced him to write what they wanted and how they wanted it.

To this day he had no idea how the noble families allowed the Ministry to take control of Daily Prophet.

Actually he did know. They feared Atticus Sayre more than anything else and were willing to do anything, allow anything.

In some ways, he had sympathies with the cries of the rebels, of wishing to tear down the corrupt Ministry and rebuilding into something that did more than cater to the nobles who were almost as responsible for this mess as the Ministry was.

He knew Sayre had been taking things too far and perhaps it was for the best he left but what the Ministry did after Sayre left with his wealth was criminal.

Sad fact was that it was probably in part completely due to incompetence.

At least Lowe was ousted now and Crabshaw, a member of the Ouroboros faction, was set to be sworn in.

It seemed like the promises the Ouroboros were making had calmed things down a bit. There hadn't been a conflict between the Ministry and the rebels since they began to speak publically.

They made a lot of promises, promises such as equality and abolishing of discriminatory policies and heavy investment by the Ouroboros in fixing the economy, an investment of twenty million galleons if the figures were right.

Merlin, what he'd do with that much money…

In any case, it seemed like things might turn out to be alright.

The door jingled and a messily dressed boy stormed in, his eyes wide as he looked around until they fell upon him, his eyes widened more as he recognised him and paced quickly towards him.

"You're late" Rupert said gruffly as he stared at the young man.

"Sorry" Pyrites said a little abashed as he plodded down opposite him in the seat of the corner booth they were at, one that had a little more privacy than the rest of the pub.

The waitress arrived and handed his second pint of the day. "Before you go" he said stopping her from leaving "Can you put on the Wizen-Watch?" She looked at from him a moment before her eyes went to the clock and after seemingly mulling it over for a moment nodded.

He thanked her with a lazy gesture and she left.

"Isn't a bit early? It's only 10 in the morning" he said with wide eyes as he glanced at the pint of beer.

"It's evening somewhere in the world" he said in a deadpan before he drank of his beer, closing his eyes in pleasure as he did so.

"R-Right…" Pyrites said a little unsure.

Rupert looked at the young man for a moment. Theodore Pyrites had been a friend of Atticus Sayre during their days at Hogwarts and had chosen to become a reporter at the Daily Prophet.

One might think there was something suspicious going on there but it seemed to be have been of his own volition especially after he'd made some decent contributions to the paper about the man though he kept private associations with the man to himself.

Rupert at least could respect that even if at times Pyrites was a bit...underwhelming.

He glanced at the T-Watch, a knock off version of the M-Vision and saw things were being set up.

It seemed like every Lord or Lady was attending the ceremony today.

Rupert scoffed. No one wanted to miss this today.

Not when the tentative peace was on the line.

"Do you think it will last?" Pyrites asked.

He turned to the young man. "The peace?" he muttered and Pyrites nodded slowly.

"I don't know." Rupert said after a moment. "In truth I never expected that it would get so bad so quickly and so…effective."

"You think there's a lot more to it?" Pyrites said with a shine in his eyes.

Rupert said nothing as he turned his gaze towards the screen. He did think there was something more to it…his nose was telling him so.

Of course his wife would say he was just smelling the dragon dung that was his mind was conjuring up but it was a real thing.

The thing was…

He was directionless. His nose was directionless…as if it was surrounding him completely rather than leading him to a specific location.

"Most things have more to it than meets the eye, Pyrites" He said as he stared at the screen "Now be quiet, I'm watching the screen" he said to the young man.

He gestured towards the barmaid to up the volume and he listened as he watched the swearing in ceremony be conducted.

There was light applause and soon enough, Crabshaw was in his seat in the Wizengamot.

As the man spoke up with a certain eloquence suddenly he was interrupted as someone leapt from the top part of the visiting gallery and grabbed one of the aurors that had been too lax.

"What?" Pyrites exclaimed and he wasn't the only one. The pub's noise picked up substantially as the man held a wand against the Auror's neck and etched closer to the central part of the chamber.

"Surrender" "Cease or I will fire!" the voices of the aurors were ever more harsh until one of them fired a Reductor at the man's feet and the man stopped.

"Let him go. NOW" the Aurors barked out but it was to no avail.

"What is going on?" Pyrites asked confused. "What is the point of that? Doesn't he realise that even if he gets a spell off he'll never get away?"

Rupert said nothing as he watched the screen with avid eyes.

The man began to speak. "Just as a Phoenix rises out of the Ashes reborn from the waste of the old, so too will a government wiped clean from its sins for I and my comrades are the destroyers of false hope and the TRUE MESSIAHS!"

The man began to glow and an awful ripple of explosions rocked their screen as hurried cries were drowned out by the sounds of overwhelming noise.

The Leaky Cauldron was deathly silent, the sounds of the crackling fires and the eerie faint sounds of pained moans and distant cries of pain was all that could be heard until…

Until the smoke, the dust, whatever it was began to clear from the screen and what he was seeing now shook him to the core.

"Merciful Merlin…" Rupert whispered, his voice hollow as he stared at the carnage, the rivers of blood that splattered down in every crumbled seat.

Body parts could be seen in the blown apart far from any body it belonged to just as bodies lay below crumbled stones.

And, in the distance, he could see some survivors as shield protected some pockets of surviving people but they were few.

He saw in the neutral faction there were more survivors, Lady Slytherin was obvious to see but even they suffered more deaths than there had survived. In the Progressives, he could see Lords Longbottom and Potter and a few others whilst in the traditionalist section…there were hardly any standing.

Merlin…

There were a hundred seats within the Wizengamot yet he could only pick out clearly less than a dozen survivors.

The gallery had fallen and suffered just as badly as the others in the Wizengamot.

Rupert stood up and somehow managed to tear his gaze away from the screen and turned towards Pyrites who was pale and in shock. He glanced around and saw similar expressions, of shock, of horror.

Things could never be the same again…

He grabbed Pyrites on the shoulders and pulled him up which seemed to draw him out of his shocked state even if he was still dazed.

"Come on kid, we need to get back to the office." He said to Pyrites who blinked several times and nodded slowly.

"Yes" he said dazedly before he turned to the screen as Rupert dragged the young man with him "I guess we'll need to" he said distractedly and it seemed their movement out of the pub was enough to force others out of their shock and the pub…

The pub descended into chaos…

And as he walked out of The Leaky Cauldron, he realised the calm in the last few weeks might have just been the calm before the storm and now…

The storm was tearing into them, breaking it all apart

-Break-

Twenty days after the Bombing of the Wizengamot…

Atticus sat on the highest peak of Mount Celestis, his eyes gazing down at his country.

Nations…

The history of nations was varied as the people themselves. Some were built through fire and brimstone whilst others were built out of commonality, through community.

Yet in all of these nations…blood, sweat and tears went into them. Their own blood, the blood of others…the blood of innocents…

Sweat of labour, of hardship and of true belief.

Tears of pain, of joy and of relief.

"Hmm…" he let escape from the gap of his lips.

Things were falling into place.

Pieces were nudged, pieces were pushed, pieces were placed and the portrait they created became clearer each day.

He glanced upward, towards the heavens, his eyes turning cold and harsh.

Uncountable unknowable whispers made millennia upon millennia years ago were culminating closer and closer to reality…

Seeking…

Hoping…

Desperately, endlessly, that repeating horrific cycles of time would finally come to an end, at least in a small insignificant way, that a minor victory on the cosmological scale would finally come, a victory that had never come in the billions of years of existence and in the trillions upon trillions of years before the existence of this universe.

A desperate wish that he had come to know from the horrifying truth of the nature of existence in this universe…of its hopelessness, of its wickedness…

He closed his eyes, traversing through the flow of Living Time…

He reached out, into the Domain, linking, learning, waiting…

Remnants of images, feelings, knowledge…

All of it flowed past him and through him in the form of shards of shards of shards, tiny quantities that held nuggets of experiences of those that came before…those that had the fortune of escaping the abominable endless torture many of their brethren had been unfortunate enough to fall to yet they were far from being at peace.

For how could they…

For beyond this Milky Oasis lay a sea of monstrous uniformity, one that continued to push and stretch into an endless sea drawing ever nearer to the beginning of Time once again…

If he understood rightly, there were only few pockets of islands in this terrible sea, those few lucky ones that were exempt of the painful sterility and unending conscious torment yet…

Their time was drawing nearer.

Just like in this Oasis, there had been others strong enough to deal a blow but at a cost of most of their existence, of their people.

Did they know their victory came because it was allowed?

That their pyrrhic victory had been allowed to pass as so enrich the flavour, the sweetness of their existence before it passed into the Domain?

That in the end, whether or not you join the endless sea or die and join the Domain, the same eventuality is reached?

Like crops, Life was seeded, allowed to grow ripe and tested before consumed whole…

In one way or another…

Time and Time Again…

What a truth that was…

It was a truth that could drive entire civilisations into suicide…

Yet…

There was a glimmer of hope…

A desperate hope that his people could escape…

That they could break through the Cycle…

He understood more now…

Of what it meant to be him…what it was he was to guide into existence…

At times he wondered if Moira's daughter had known what she had tasked him…

What she expected of him…of them…

The scale in which the buried conspiracy ran…a scale he only knew a fraction of a fraction of…

A future that ran tens of thousands of years into the future, long after he and all he knew was gone but...

Like a cornerstone, all he was to do was to till the soil that would allow a tree to grow, a tree that would breach the endless circle.

Though he was not certain if it would in his lifetime or if it would be after him…

He supposed in a way it did not matter…

A wave of magic pulsed from behind him, dark and rich, overwhelming and drowning.

Emily had arrived.

He gazed down from the sky and towards Celestis City before his eyes trailed downwards, towards the jagged edges of the Mountain on which he was sat perched on a peak with his feet hanging over the edge.

She sat next to him, her beautiful legs hanging over the edge just as his own did.

He looked up, towards the stars.

He wondered if people would understand…if they wanted to understand.

Why they were doing what they were doing…

No one but Emily knew of what he had seen in Living Time, the threads that stretched endlessly into the past and into the future, threads that looped and looped to the point that none could know where it started…where it ended…

Divergences, split threads, were little more than an eventuality, no matter how improbable but in the end they also looped back to a point of the 'main' thread…

The Domain, filled with shards of lives spent, knowledge stored, of remnants of consciousness, had more often than not vague hints, images or feelings, not shared without cost and each time it was shared, it would never be the same individual again as if there was a central controller that limited information, had given him enough to understand what it was they were up against…

"Complete?" he asked, his gaze still remaining towards the stars.

"Purges are nearing completion and peace has been restored. All of the Isonomian Movement and the Order have been executed. I have the unwavering support of most of the new Lords and Ladies and almost all of the public." She said calmly.

In the end, it had been remarkably easy to set things in motion that led to the path of this thread.

"And?" he asked, this time somewhat quieter.

"It felt hollow" Emily said after a moment.

He hummed noncommittally.

Idly, he wondered if she saw it as a hollow victory for breaking centuries old society so easily or because it meant little to her.

"A waste yet necessary." She said and he turned to her, their gazes meeting.

"Our best has often come after strife and loss." She said with an expressionless look.

He smiled though he wasn't sure if it was bitter or sweet. "No matter if we're magical or mundane"

Her expression shifted slightly as she turned away from his gaze "That is true. We share that with them. Though our best will far exceed theirs."

Yes…

Much depended on that single belief.

More than anyone could possibly know…

Atticus followed her gaze and saw the three Orbs that were dimly lit in the same luminosity as the Moon.

He basked in the silence, in her presence.

A momentary respite of the enormity that rested on their shoulders.

He extended out his hand with the palm facing upward on his thigh and, without turning towards him, she extended hers and met his hand before interlacing her fingers with his.

"And so it begins…" he whispered.

"And so it begins" she agreed, though it was not with a whisper it was quieter…quiet with heaviness in the way that the situation warranted…

…In the way destiny warranted.

For the destiny that promised to unfold itself was terrible…

Yes…

But great.