Peter Pettigrew, Most Wanted
06
ISDH
July 31, 1995
Neville was wearing his second best set of robes.
Neville was wearing his Heir ring.
He had Hopped over to Hodsmead to buy 2 boxes of Witch's Delite Fudge, and a Mother-in-Law box. He paid an extra gold for the sales witch to charm them 'chilled'.
He then used the Floo at the Three Broomsticks to Arrive in the 'Greeting Parlor' of Abbot Manor. Dusting the ash from his robes, he was met by the House Elf, Tweani. A female, little taller than Loki, dressed in an old velvet curtain made into a dress, with a matching kerchief wimple.
"Neville Longbottom to see Miss Hannah, please." Neville fidgeted with his sleeves.
"One minute." the elf squeaked out, popping away.
It was actually three minutes when Hannah and Susan entered the Parlor, in summer dresses and barefoot.
"Neville." Hannah asked, losing her smile, "Why so serious?"
"Ah, Good. Sue is here too." Neville fidgeted with his sleeves again. "I need to step this up, or Gran will."
"Neville?" the girls choursed.
"A few days ago, Gran pushed on the 'find a good wife' thing, and this time I had an answer." Neville stood up straight, "Hannah, of House Abbot. Heir Longbottom seeks a Parley. Not knowing how you feel about Heiress Bones, but suspecting that she is a sister in all but blood…" the witches exchanged a look and a nod, "You have caught my eye, on the romantic front, and piqued my interest. Knowing that you two are close friends, encourages me to speak to both at once." He pulled the fudge bites from his robe, presenting one each to girls. "Knowing too, that Bones will need a Consort Contract to keep House Bones viable, House Longbottom seeks to enter into talks, and begin Wooing said Lasses."
"Interesting." a sharp tone snapped all three heads about as Hannah's Mother strode into the Room. "I find it very Interesting, that just this morning I received a note from Regent Longbottom about this very subject."
"Damn, Gran!" Neville snarled as he stood. "She could not give me three more hours!" Pulling out the 'Mother-in-Law' box of chocolates, He presented said to the Lady of the House. "Lady Abbot. As I was just telling the girls, House Longbottom seeks to Woo Hannah of House Abbot as it's new Lady while, with Her permission, seeking the Hand of Susan of House Bones in a Consort Contract." He returned to his seat across from the girls as Lady Abbot eased into a chair off to the side.
"House Longbottom gets two witches for the Price of One?" Lady Abbot purred.
Neville grinned, as he leaned back. "Nay. We are prepared to pay the full value on both brides, but we know that we bring more than just coin to the table. Word has it that your Heir is having trouble pinning his prospective Bride's Father to the Table. Longbottom gives Abbot Three Houses to back them. First and Foremost would be House Bones of Course. My Lady Wife-to-Be, lends the touch of the Regent to whatever is brought to the Table. Longbottom is a Powerhouse in the Wizengamot, and as Long as she is able to, I will be asking my Gran to helm our Seat." Then he leaned in, resting his elbows on his knees, "Finely, House Potter is talking about reopening it's circle of influence. Heir Potter… Nay, Lord Potter has just this week placed me personally above Weasley."
The Girls hissed at this piece of news.
"Bold Claims." the Lady spoke softly.
"Time will show my truth." Neville once more sprawled across the back of his loveseat, giving it the image of a large throne as opposed to a couch for two. "It is also why we seek to Woo and Court Hannah and Susan. If all parties find the union to be in our favor, yeah!" jazz hands at his shoulders, "If Hannah finds love elsewhere, She will still be best Friends to Consort Bones, and welcomed to seek boons. If Both find love elsewhere, then Longbottom swears friendship to Abbot and to Bones, and stands ready with his Brother, House of Potter."
The two girls whispered to one another…
Hannah turns to Neville. "Good Sir, give us until the weekend to weigh your proposal. We will meet you at 10 on the morning of Saturday, at the Leaky Cauldron. We will see how we function as a Social unit. If we are pleased, we will request our Houses to open talks as we explore our options."
Neville repeated the words in his head, before smiling at the Girls, kissed their hands, kissed the knuckles of Lady Abbot, and stepped into the Floo… "Longbottom Hall!"
"Not going to wait for your Father to weigh in on this? Completely ignoring my presence? Hannah Elsbeth Abbot, what have you done?" the Lady cried in mock outrage.
"Why Mother, I have done both the Worst and Best Possible thing." the Honey Blond smiled at her Mother. "I have led a boy on. This time next week, I will either be a tease, a tart, or in Talks to the Right Hand of the Second Coming of Merlyn."
PPMW
A Silver Town Car ghosted to a stop just off the curb, Under the Eiffel Tower. The Back door opened, as a Dark Haired lad stepped out, looking about. Followed by a red head. Soon three females and two males stood outside the car, before it faded into traffic.
Three platinum blondes stepped from the crowd, as the youngest bolted for the young lad…
"Monsieur Potter, vous êtes venu pour moi !" she impacted with the scrawny youth, grappling tight to his left arm.
"Monsieur Potter, merci d'être venu. Hier soir, son changement a commencé." The Mother patted the youth on his shoulders.
"Oui, She took three 'ours of grooming this morning." Fluer floated in to kiss Harry's cheek.
"Fluer!" Gabi buried her face in his sleeve.
"Three hours?" Harry combed his finger through her silkie hair, "Just for me?"
The youngest nodded her head, burrowing deeper into his arm.
"It looks like it was worth it." Harry smiled at her, as she beamed back at him.
The walk to the entrance of the Plaza de Magic was pleasant. The Veil that separated the two worlds tickled as it ran over their skin, as the noise went from a mildly busy street in downtown Paris to the ruckus of a Busy Marketplace. As it was just before noon, they found an open air cafe' and ordered a light meal of finger sandwiches and champagne.
Champagne because no one drinks water in France…
Then it was off to the Shops. Harry needed new threads. Gabi got to play with her new 'Doll', as Dan chuckled at the young man's discomfort… until Harry Told Emma that he would cover her if she wanted to do some shopping too, while glaring at Dan. The woman understood, and drug her Husband off, first for her shopping… then for his.
Six hours later, the two men, dressed in silk robes, sat at a table in a Restaurant waiting for the Females to finish freshening up.
"Damn you." hissed a tired Dan. "You just had to drag me under with you."
"You kept making the 'Ken and Barbie' jokes." Harry spat back. "I don't lose."
"What do you call this?"
"I have a whole new wardrobe, a blond sex-doll hanging from my arm, and I am the apple of the eye of the two women that have power over you." Harry grinned lazily at the old man.
"Clothes that you can not wear in London." Dan shook his head, "The Blond is too young, even if you were of age, and as to that last one…" the No-Maj shivered. "Well played. But you can not just throw a shopping trip in front of them, and all be forgiven."
"Hermione loves her books." Harry allowed his head to roll back. "I do not know Emma's weakness yet, but I will."
"Bastard!" Dan shared a smile with Harry.
PPMW
Rita Skeeter was reading over her article in this Morning's Prophet. She had sat on the story for 48 hours, before turning it in. It was a detailed interview with Lord Potter on the Happening of his Third Year, and the background involved. He retold in detail, the Night of the Dementor Drive, or the Night Black Escaped. He told of the Night Pettigrew framed Black. He told of the Plots by Dumbledor to prevent His Godfather from taking him in and raising him. He provided memories, as Bozo snapped off picture after picture. He did not cast his Patronus, as they were in a Muggle area, but he had included His Memory of it in it's full Glory.
She had enough base material for three stories. The First, the one in this morning's paper, was on how Black was innocent. Second was on the Sins of Albus Dumbledor, and the third was on how the Ministry was trying to Assassinate a Lord of the Realm. They were set to run over the Next few days.
And now her sources were telling of a case against the boy in the 'Mot. Something about breaching the SoS. She smirked, as folded the paper. Fudge and Umbridge had really stepped in it this time, and Potter had let her off her chain with the Promise that she would only report the Truth.
Besides, the Truth was more wicked than even her most salacious stories. Twisting into the Either, Rita Skeeter headed for her next target… Minister Fudge
PPMW
August 5, 1995
08:40 am
Fudge was salivating.
Deloris had done it. That Potter Brat was as good as gone. What had started as a set up for a slap on the wrist, She had twisted into a case that would allow the Ministry to seize the boy's House's entire fortune. Lucious had applied his silkie touch to shift the Quorum in their favor… and with the Headmaster displaced from his posts, there was little if anything that the sinale old fool could do to save his puppet.
It was twenty minutes until the court case was to begin. Already the seats were filling up.
Corny frowned. This was More than the Quorum he needed.
Then Bones entered. She was Flanked by both Lord and Lady Abbot.
'Well Shit!' Fudge frowned as he replayed the case before him. He was bound to run the Case. Oathbound. But he could claim that the whole shit-pile was Deloris's Fault. In fact… If He allowed Her to M.C. the Show… Yes, She was the person to present the Case. If She won, He could have her focus on Black, letting her run out her Lead. When She failed, she would Hang alone. Yes, Both Malfoy and Selwin would cover his arse as he would cover theirs.
At Ten Minutes, the French Delegation entered. They spent a few minutes whispering with Bones, Kingsley, and a Pink haired witch in red robes of an Auror, before climbing to the Visitors Gallery.
'That can't be good.' Fudge stood from the Warlock's Seat, to lock eyes with Malfoy. Malfoy was Proxying the Lestrange Seat, having been Named a year before the Brothers were sent to Azkaban. It was understood that when the Brothers Died, the House would be declared Dead, but until then Malfoy Helmed the Seat masterfully. Fudge locked eyes, with Lucious, and pictured letting Deloris take the lead. He felt the silky touch of the Frenchman on his mind before Luci nodded, and turned to talk to the Members next to them.
At the Five Minute Mark, Deloris waddled in. She made a beeline for the Minister's Seat. Weatherbee was on her heels, his arms stuffed full of scrolls, memos, and tomes. They spend the next five minutes getting ready.
At the Ten Second mark, Deloris looked up and went Pale. Not a good look for her complexion. 'Then again what is a good look for her?' Fudge thought.
As the Clock struck the Hour, Cornelius Fudge Stood, and Ordered the Doors Closed and Sealed.
The Potter Brat had Failed to Show.
Dumbledor had Failed to Show.
"Good Morning Everyone." Fudge spoke softly from the Pulpit, trusting in it's charms to carry his voice to every corner of the Chamber. "So pleased you were all able to arrive." He knew that Weatherbee was behind it. There was a reason that the Lad had survived Crouch's term in office. He had kept the Department running, filled reports on Everything he had done, including forwarding his Orders. The Lad was the perfect Ministry Drone. So of course, when the order to call for a 'Mot Judgement crossed his desk, or more likely, the order for a Change of Venue, Time, and Date, the prissy popenjay had sent out notices to Everyone. "We are here in the Matter of Misuse of Magic of one of our own before Muggles. These charges range from Unlicensed Use in a Muggle Populated area, to Hexing said Muggles, to Breaching our very basic rule! The Scared Statue of Secrecy!" the Hall hissed. "Seeing as how we are without a Sitting Chief Warlock, and I must remain impartial, I will sit as Acting Chief Warlock. Deloris Umbridge will be Leading the Prosecution. Avery is acting as Her second. Weatherbee is our Scribe."
"Weasley, Sir." the Redheaded lad peered up at him, "It's Percy Weasely, Sir."
Fudge nodded, "Yes yes. Now where is the Accused?" Here he made a show of reading the paperwork in front of him. "One Haritic Pother?" the chamber giggled.
Again Weather popped up. "Potter, Sir." the Scribe marked in his notes. "The Accused is Harry Potter."
The Chamber hissed. Now was it because Potter was accused, or because of the crimes being laid before the Lad.
Avery sneered from his spot to Deloris's left. "The Little Toerag did not even show up."
"Tonks for the Defense, Sir." a potbellied, balding Wizard ambled onto the trail dais. "It might have been a bit tricky for my Client to arrive, seeing as he never received a Court Order to appear, let alone a Change of Venue."
"That's Okay." Umbridge sneered. "We will just try him in Absentia."
"If you want to set that precedent." Tonks smiled, "I am sure the Pureblood Houses have no trouble allowing for an Heir of an Ancient and Most Noble House to be tried when the Lad is not present. From there it is but a Small Step for this Court to Pass Judgment on a Sitting Lord, without Said Lord's knowledge."
The Chamber grumbled.
"Be Silent!" Deloris struck her smaller gavel. "Read the Charges!"
Fudge looked 'his' Gavel, on the desk before him. As he had yet to even touch it, this Meeting Officially had not begun.
Avery stood, and through a pair of specks perched on his nose, read the list in his Hand. "Potter, Harry James. Stands accused of the following; Willful Use of Magic before a Muggle. Willful Use of Magic on a Muggle. Willful Use of Magic while Underage. Willful Attempt to Breach the Statute of Secrecy. Willful Flight from Prosecution." Avery set the sheet of the desk before him, "And Willful Wasting this Court's Time, Energy, and Money!"
Part of the chamber hooted in agreement.
Deloris Leaned Forward. "How does the Accused Plead?"