'Circe. How do witches wear this? How does Hermione duel in it?' Gellert admired as he tripped over the long, silver dress that he wore for the seventh time since he'd put it on fifteen minutes earlier.
'With considerable skill.' A deep voice chuckled. Gellert glanced up, eyes screwed up as he tried to figure out whether it was the real Herr Lintzen or Hermione. After a moment, he decided that it was his witch. She looked utterly at ease in the burly body of the massive wizard, already dressed in his duelling robes but he was reasonably certain that the true Lord Lintzen would have knocked.
'Put on the shoes. You'll find it easier once the skirts are the correct length.' Hermione continued. Gellert eyed up the heels dubiously but figuring that he had no other choice, he laced up the elegant boots over the delicate silken stockings already on his feet.
It turned out that she was correct. The extra inch and a half of height meant that his toes always cleared the hem, which floated just above the ground and no longer tangled around his feet with every step, especially once he remembered to shorten his stride to a more feminine pace.
With the most immediate issue solved, he took the arm that Hermione offered and allowed himself to be escorted out of his room. The rest of the coven was already assembled in the courtyard, ready to go to the ministry for the swearing in of the latest Minister of Magic. It would be a dull ceremony, but it provided the opportunity for them to make an appearance before the start of the school term and it would have been suspicious if they failed to attend.
Of all of them, Anneken looked the most comfortable in her mother's form. It was unsurprisingly really; she'd lost a little height and gained a little weight, but otherwise most of the differences were in the style of her dress. Frau Kollmann was still lecturing Krum on how to walk and Mareike was practicing wordless magic because it would be a dead giveaway if Frau Dünhaupt started bellowing incantations.
Now that he'd spent a little more time with the polyjuiced Hermione, he was gratified to see that she was having at least as much trouble as he was - Herr Lintzen was huge, especially considering her usually petite form, and she kept misjudging her own size and bumping into door frames.
'Stop oogling Hermione.' The real Herr Lintzen grumbled, his large arms crossed. 'I have a wife.'
'Yes, please do.' His mother sighed. Gellert scrunched his nose at the thought of and of the adults oogling one another, then caught sight of the expression in the reflection on the window and quickly relaxed his expression. It was odd, seeing something other than a blank mask on his mother's features. Hermione giggled - which sounded ridiculous coming from the mouth of the fearsome warrior wizard, and headed over to Anneken to practice walking without tangling in her skirt.
It took them an entire dose of polyjuice to get their outfits and mannerisms passable, then they headed into the floo room. The adults went over the ceremony a final time, then it was time for them to leave.
Gellert had only been to the Ministry of Magic a couple of times, and the most recent and memorable of those visits had been a battle when they'd snuck in at midnight to retrieve the enchanted map of the floo system.
During daylight, the ministry was obviously very different, especially on a day as important as the swearing in of the new Minister of Magic. Security had been escalated for the event; the floos had all been closed, with the exception of the single one that authorised personnel could travel through. Barriers ran the length of the atrium, and the press and public crammed every inch of available space in the main plaza beyond.
The massive stone eagle had been restored in the middle of the room, water pouring off it's massive wings and splashing into the pool beneath it. The dais beneath the wings was already prepared; the Sword of the Sorcerer hung by it's cross guard at the front. He'd always thought the weapon was impressive when he was younger, and had dreamed of actually swinging it in his early fencing lessons, but after learning to fight with Hermione, he realised how woefully useless it would really be. The golden blade glittered with ornate engraving, polished to a bright sheen, and the hilt was so encrusted with cut gems that he could only imagine how painfully it would cut into the hand if one blocked a blow with it.
Behind the sword was the Book of the Regent, resting on podium along with a slender box that Gellert knew contained a blood quill.
Chairs sat waiting at the edges of the dais, barely clear of the water cascading from the fountain's wings, and several officials hovered around, adjusting the flags so that they hung just so and checking that cameras were situated just right.
'Lady Grindelwald.' One of the officials bowed deeply to him and Gellert barely remembered that he was Lady Grindelwald in time to react appropriately. 'The others are waiting.'
He dipped his head and followed the official over the podium and down the dark staircase concealed in the pedestal of the fountain. Conversation rose up from below, and a moment later they emerged into a well lit, comfortable room. Several chairs had been laid out in an replica of the arrangement upstairs, all unused, and a buffet table took up the wall on the right, filled with light refreshments. Politicians schemed in small groups, drifting between the circles that surrounded the influential families like flies sampling different dishes at a summer party. Like he was a prime roast, a hoard seemed to descent upon him as soon as he entered the room.
'Lady Grindelwald!' The soon to be anointed Minister Beaulinger made his way over immediately, bringing over his own collection of simpering aides and bartering bureaucrats. He was exactly the kind of man that Gellert had always disdained; magically insignificant and physically weak, with a protruding pot belly that even his progressionist corset couldn't hide and a pair of jowls that drooped over his cinched collar.
'Minister Beaulinger, congratulations on your successful campaign.' Gellert fractionally inclined his head as the recently elected official bowed deeply. Revolutionary, the man might be, but he was too much a politician to not grovel before the influence of Katerina Grindelwald.
'Thank you, High Witch. I'm so glad that you could make it to the ceremony.' As if the ceremony could go ahead without the Grindelwald Head to wield the Sword. Legally, the minister was still only administering the country in the stead of the coven, and it would remain that way until the revolutionaries could get the unanimous vote required to change the constitution, which wouldn't happen whilst the Grindelwald family still held a vote.
'Yes.' Gellert replied, spotting the newly released Herr Freidl. If there was anyone in the room that was familiar enough with the coven to spot their deception, it would be him. Fortunately, it appeared that the wizard was deep in discussion with a group of foreign diplomats. Concerningly, Alice Tunninger was also present as the representation for the ancient Tunninger family, but Gellert doubted she'd try anything against the adult members of the coven.
'... work closely together in the future. I have great plans to renovate the magical transportation act to include ministry sanctioned instruction and testing in apparition. With the general shift towards the reliability and safety of wands, accidents are becoming unsustainably high in the use of portals and alternatives must be considered.' Gellert glanced back at Beaulinger, realising that he'd missed an entire speech.
'Apparition unsettles the magical core and makes wandless casting unstable at best, dangerous at worst. The only danger in the use of portals is if they are improperly activated by those without the training. Perhaps the ministry should focus on that.' Gellert countered sharply.
'Surely, Lady Grindelwald, you must appreciate that wandless magic is a dying art?' The minister replied condescendingly. 'It is, in and of itself, dangerous. It would be much safer and more convenient for everyone if we all stopped using it. Wands are perfectly safe and stable, these days, and a good one can even increase the caster's ability.'
'More convenient for everyone?' Hermione growled in Herr Lintzen's voice, looming over the portly politician. 'Or more convenient for the ministry, because it allows them to more easily control and trace what magic it's population uses?'
'Law abiding citizens have nothing to fear from ministry oversight.' The minister stepped back nervously, despite his confident words.
'Perhaps... if one's political ideals are congruent to those of the ministry at the time.' Anneken stepped up beside her husband's form. The minister spluttered at the suggestion.
'The ministry represents the people. I am an elected official.'
'You are not who I voted for. You do not represent me.' Anneken replied bluntly. Gellert didn't know whether that truth was spoken from the point of view of his friend, or of the coven witch she was impersonating. Fortunately, they were saved from having to negotiate themselves out of the nasty pit that Anneken had dug them into by the announcement that they were going to go through the rehearsal for the ceremony once more.
Magical ceremonies were usually short, the importance of the event reflected in the magic that was summoned to it. Gellert theorised that modern, ministry ceremonies were long and flowery in a failing attempt to make them seem as significant and meaningful as the traditional magical ones. This particular one definitely qualified as the latter and they were still in the introductory phases when his attention began to wander.
The organisers had made a deliberate effort to blend traditional and progressionist officials in the VIP audience, perhaps in an effort to present a unanimous front in support of the new minister, despite the visible difference between the two factions. The result was an eclectic mix of clothing and an undercurrent of awkward tension as wixen studiously ignored those seated near them. The stage was a little more coherent; the remaining members of the coven sat at the centre of the horseshoe of chairs. To their right was the representatives of the wizengamot and to the left were the cabinet. One of them actually had the audacity to wear a muggle style top hat.
Notably, there were no witches in among that group. It was a muggle concept, Hermione had told him; that women belonged at home, raising children and didn't have the emotional control required for work. He thought it was nonsense - the only thing Hermione couldn't do better than him was sorcery, and perhaps dancing.
His attention was brought back to the ceremony by a sudden jab in the side from Krum, who was filling in for Frau Kollmann. Hastily, he stood up, remembering to smooth his skirts in a ladylike manner at the last moment, then crossed over to perform his part of the ceremony, someone's cane acting in for the sword.
The old minister had picked up the cane and was holding it, point down. When Gellert approached, he knelt and lifted the cane so that it lay flat across his palms and Gellert formally thanked him for his service. Then, he picked up the blade and the old minister left, rose to stand by his shoulder. The new minister took his spot, knees hitting the embroidered cushion with a dull thud.
Gellert extracted the oath, words rolling of his tongue with familiarity borne of an entire night of rehearsal. The new minister replied to each section, swearing to govern the state on the behalf of the coven, to be just and true and to adhere to the laws. Only half a century ago, there had also been a section on respecting magic and being guided by it's ancient influence. Gellert didn't know how or why it had been removed, but it was a bitter sign of the negative progress of society all the same. He wondered how everyone would react if he changed the oaths, in public, where nobody could object... then he realised that it was hardly a magical oath anyway. What they were saying was little better than words.
Once the oath was complete, he touched the cane to both shoulders, then handed him the prop itself once he was standing again.
The next stage was the signing of the Book of the Regent. Performed with a blood quill, it was now the only binding part of the ceremony. Of course, the book itself was on the podium upstairs, but Gellert knew that in the real ceremony, the quill would use his blood as ink, extracting it from beneath his skin without leaving a scratch.
By the time the rehearsal ended, they were all due another dose of polyjuice, which Hermione slipped into fragrant herbal tea to disguise the smell. Acting as if they had nothing to hide, they continued to dominate the room with their large political presence. Gellert had been instructed by his mother to find an opportunity to approach several other family heads, as had Hermione in her role as Herr Lintzen.
He watched enviously as his witch cornered the unfortunate individual that regulated muggle repelling permits and masterfully led the man in circles until he was the one suggesting that a muggle repelling charm be applied to the Lintzen owned restaurant in Berlin to allow it to open to wixen on the streets of the muggle city, and act as a gateway down to the Unterhalb. Hermione agreed as if that wasn't exactly what she'd been pushing for in the first place and left after less than five minutes of small talk to approach her next victim.
Gellert spotted one of his own targets near the fireplace and steeled himself before heading over.
'Herr Konger.' He greeted smoothly, offering one gloved hand.
'Lady Grindelwald!' Herr Konger greeted nervously, eyes darting between his face and the ring on his fingers. Konger was new to the political field, having come up through the magic creatures departments, and had no family name to give him weight in the wizengamot. His mother had selected him as one of the easiest revolutionaries to sway, and Gellert was quickly realising that the man was intimidated by his mother.
'I hear that your experimental breeding bill will be voted upon in the next session.' Gellert purred, extracting his hand from the shake distastefully.
'Yes, yes. The new bill is far clearer on the legalities of selective breeding and the promotion of dangerous or abnormal traits...' Gellert let him ramble on for several long seconds about the additional powers that the bill would give the ministry to regulate the cross-breeding of mundane species with magical counterparts with the introduction of a breeder's licence.
'Of course...' Gellert interrupted, 'this would make it almost impossible for small breeders to introduce magical immunities into their herds.'
The department representative paused, reluctantly acknowledging the point.
'I imagine you'll struggle to get progressionist support for the bill, considering most have small herds to support their estates.'
'Well... yes.' Konger winced.
'Have you considered looking for support among the traditional bloc? You'll find most larger breeders there, and considerably less resistance.' Gellert suggested, gesturing at the Lintzens. Hermione was, at that moment, opening up a line of communication between the Lintzen family and the Morgensterns; revolutionaries, but still an old family that held a virtual monopoly on the international shipping of livestock to land-poor wizarding Britain.
Gellert knew that Konger hadn't asked anyone for support yet. The traditional bloc was tight knit, and it was rare that they'd make a move in any direction without consulting with the Grindelwalds first. It was a political faction based in real world influence, and it was a fraught playing field for those without the capital or a family name to protect them. Departmental representatives frequently went an entire career without braving the mercurial support of the traditional bloc.
'I... er...' Konger stumbled and stuttered, eyes darting across the room. The representative was aware enough to realise that he was in a difficult position - refusing Lady Grindelwald's generous offer of assistance would be enough of a sleight to almost guarantee the end of his career, unless he could quickly gather enough support and influence outside the traditional bloc to defend himself - unlikely. Accepting the offer would be a near guarantee that his bill would go through, but with the catch of essentially handing her a blank cheque. He'd have to vote for something the Grindelwald family wanted in return, and there was no promises what it would be.
'There is the small matter of the upcoming vote on the regulation and control of underage magic.' Gellert folded his hands across his skirts. 'I consider time spent with our children to be essential to our legacies, instructing them in the family magics and the use of the old grimoires... Even for those families without such a rich family magic, the holidays should be a time for supervised, one on one tuition and practice for our children with their parent. The new law would mean that I am obliged to not allow either child a chance to learn from me, and their would be unable to teach their children anything more than what can be crammed into a seven year school curriculum.'
He allowed Konger a moment to consider. Gellert had carefully selected the demand with his mother, knowing that it was a bill that the representative was neutral on. It would be no great chore for him to give them his vote on the matter, and it would leave them with a positive relationship, allowing the Grindelwald family to call upon him for more demanding exchanges in the future.
'I think, perhaps, I can agree with you on that.' Konger agreed, jowls sagging in relief at the offer. Once more, Gellert extended a hand and allowed it to be vigorously shaken.
'Wonderful. I shall have my representative owl you. Gellert gave an insincere smile, extracted his hand and glided away towards Hermione and Anneken to see how they were going. In hindsight, he wasn't sure what he'd been nervous about. He was a Grindelwald; he's been born to wield his power over people.