Sirius Black looked at Minerva curiously as he sat her proposal down. "You want me to talk to the Wizengamot about the future heirs finances?"
"I want you to speak with the Wizengamot about safeguarding the future heirs finances," she clarified. "Slythrein House had safeguards in place so only the heir can take from the vault once they are of age with the exception of a monthly stipend to be paid out for the children's upbringing. A trust vault was established for each heir and I quickly rerouted that monthly stipend in their trust fund equally. Ravenclaw House had no protections whatsoever. As magical guardian for said heir I could of taken everything."
"Bloody hell," he swore when he realized they had stumbled onto an issue that needed to be corrected immediately for the children's sake.
Minerva sighed deeply. "I had the same safeguards placed on Ravenclaw House that Slythrein House has immediately. I also requested that only an heir could make changes to that in the future. I chose not to regulate the House votes. They may be necessary to get our agenda through. I just hope this doesn't bite us on the arse."
"So we need to get safeguards on all newly claimed vaults before the newly established magical guardians rob them blind if they are able to?" he questioned.
Minerva nodded her head and sighed deeply. "I despise being used as a political ploy; however, I see the benefits of it now. I need your to charm that Wizengamot and convince the bastards to protect the children's finances."
"You realize I am going to need another front page story to raise public awareness of the potential issue," he said, a glint of mischief evident in his eyes.
Minerva noted the glint and felt a surge of giddiness at what he had planned. Sirius would find a way to safeguard those children's assests!
Minerva frowned as she looked at the Daily Prophet. Minerva McGonagall: Protector for Children? screamed the headline. Three pictures were below it. The first showed Minerva with Harry in her lap at Gringotts. Her arms were wrapped loosely around his waist and he had his fingers intertwined with her. The second one showed Fiona sitting contently in her lap while Duncan was standing on her thigh and leaning against her slightly. He had one hand threaded through her braided hair and the other hand's thumb was firmly in his mouth. The third picture showed Hermione sitting across her lap. The girl smiled brightly at her pictured self before playing with Minerva's wedding band.
The pictures showed different aspects of how she interacted with the children. She understood why Sirius chose those pictures although she did wonder how he managed to find a picture of those moments. She read through the article twice before laying the paper to the side. It was a brilliant story that raised concerns over how to protect the children's finances. It told of Minerva's refusal for any stipends and how she redirected them into her children's trust vaults. It also told of her immediate response to safeguard Ravenclaw House for future heirs. The article had ended with Sirius asking if Minerva's example should be added in the previous law.
"He really has a way with words," Remus said as he laid his own paper down. "How did he manage to get a quote and official records from Gringotts?"
"Gringotts asked me if they could discuss my dealing of the day with them," Minerva confessed. "They want to see the children protected as well."
"Let's hope Sirius can pull it off," Remus finally replied to his mentor.
Minerva walked into the Wizengamot session with her head held high. She had the Potter Family crest on her formal robes but she added the Hogwarts crest on the other side instead of the four separate family crests. It was a calculated risk but she felt it was best to show unity as opposed to arrogance with so many crests on her robes. She made a point of sitting in the Potter Family seat as well. The Hogwarts' family seats had never been sit at by others than the heirs and she wouldn't be the one to do. They would remain empty until the children were old enough to sit in them. She might use their votes to help unite Magical Britain but she would respect those seats.
Minerva watched silently as the meeting started and Lord Black stood to address the group. "I want to apologize to this esteemed body," he said to the room's suprise. "When I proposed the last law, I overlooked a very important aspect. I assumed all Houses had safeguards in place for the heirs like House Black does. It was arrogant to believe such. House Black is a male dominant line and I assumed all others were too. I forgot that earlier Houses were not all male dominant and that laws from time prevented female dominant lines from safeguarding their Houses. If Ravenclaw House had not chosen a magical guardian with integrity and morals, it could have been devastating for them."
"Devastating how?" asked Regent Longbottom.
Sirius looked at Augusta Longbottom and answered completely honest. "Minerva McGonagall had complete access to House Ravenclaw vaults. There were no restrictions on what she could or couldn't do. Minerva chose not to step foot in those vaults. She immediately asked for the same safeguards Slythrein House on its vaults to be implemented for Ravenclaw House. She also asked that not be changed unless it was made by an heir. As magical guardian, she could of asked for the stipend as well. She didn't do that. She had it directed to the family of the heir. The only items she asked from the vault was books to teach the children about their Houses."
"That knowledge shouldn't be shared with outsiders," another Lord said angrily. "Family magic is precious and should remain to family only."
Lord Black nodded his head in agreement. "I agree the importance of family magic and knowledge to remain to those of blood. However, these situations call for an exception. These children must be able to learn about their families and family magic. I propose we safeguard that information. I would like to include oaths from all magical guardians outside of the families that the knowledge from those vaults and family magic remains secret to all others including their other family members. Minerva will have to have help with teaching her wards. She has four wards with five separate family knowledge and magic to teach them while keeping it secret from the others. I plan on taking an oath and helping her learning those magics so that I can help her teach them."
"Thank you Lord Black," Minerva said with a smile and nod of appreciation.
"It's the least I could do," he replied honestly. "You are raising my godson to the expectations of his family and I shall help you where I can." He turned towards the rest of the chamber. "I beg this chamber to implement safeguards for all financial matters before any magical guardian claims the vaults and that we protect family knowledge and magic for the future of Magical Britain."
"I agree with Lord Blacks request," Lord Greengrass seconded. "Asking for safeguards on vaults and oaths to protect family knowledge isn't too much. I understand some families will need stipends to properly care for extra children but I appreciate the example set by Minerva McGonagall."
Minerva nodded her head in appreciation to Lord Greengrass. She watched as the Wizengamot agreed and voted on the the requests. It felt weird having five votes to cast but she used those votes to ensure the safeguards for all future heirs would be implemented.