"You expect us to help Potter?!" Malfoy demanded, nearly spitting as he spoke. Thorfinn had summoned all the pureblood scions in Slytherin to a warded meeting on the morning students were to depart for winter break.
"No," Rowle answered, looking at the younger wizard. "I expect you to recognize the precedent Bartimus Crouch created as the Head of the Auror Department."
"What precedent?" Malfoy asked petulantly. Rowle forced himself to contain his temper before he re-explained his point.
"Crouch allowed and encouraged Aurors to use Unforgivables on suspects and fugitives, didn't matter if they were Death Eaters or not. Furthermore, he locked Sirius Black in Azkaban without hard evidence, a trial, a conviction or even confirming the man had a Dark Mark."
"The Scion of the Ancient and Noble House of Black never received a trial?" Gemma Farley demanded. While Gemma not the Farley scion, Rowle included her to represent her younger brother. Her fury at such an injustice was shared by the majority of the other students.
"He was a blood traitor," Montague said dismissively.
"Sirius Black was never formally disowned by Arcturus," Draco Malfoy responded, glaring slightly at Montague for the slight against his mother's house. "Only my great-aunt Walburga declared him to be disinherited. Legally, he would have still been the House's heir."
"How could he not be given a trial?" Gemma asked.
"Orion already died as had Regulus," Rowle explained. "The Black Family legacy was destroyed during the aftermath of the war. Would Arcturus have had the political clout to demand fair treatment after the Lestrange trial, and even Lucius Malfoy's? Every member in their generation either was accused, tied to a Death Eater or was proven a Death Eater."
"Exactly what is your point here?" Marcus Flint asked, voicing the question on many of the gathered Slytherins' minds. "Your own father was convicted of being a Death Eater."
"Exactly," Thorfinn answered, refusing to cow to Flint's judgement. "My father laughed himself hoarse when he realized why Sirius Black was incarcerated. The ministry never bothered to find substantial evidence and the only reason most Death Eaters escaped punishment were due to their name and wealth. Do you honestly favor those odds?"
"You believe Crouch will do it again," Lucian Bole concluded as Thorfinn gave a brief nod.
"Everyone knows Fudge is desperate to retain his power. Why else force Hogwarts to hold the Tri-Wizard Tournament?" Rowle asked. "It wouldn't even have to be Crouch."
"Crouch and Fudge were both responsible for the Auror Department and retained their influence," Bole mused out loud. "It wouldn't be difficult for them to collude again."
"The precedent already exists, which means they'd have a legal argument in favor of such a policy," Terrence Higgs pointed out. "It wouldn't even have to be a scion linked to the Dark Lord. All it would take is Crouch or Fudge holding a personal grudge against one of our parents. Merlin, could you imagine the implications?"
"It could cause a House to die out," Rowle said. "Many of us have no other siblings or cousins. Lock the male heir away and not only do you render your political enemy publicly shamed, but end the family line."
"Extreme," Bole said shaking his head. "There's plenty of Wizengamot members who are ruthless enough to try it."
Each student looked horrified at Lucian's conclusion.
"There is another reason to reinstate Sirius Black," Flora Carrow said. All eyes turned towards her and her twin Hestia.
"Headmaster Dumbledore filled the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot when Sirius Black was arrested and incarcerated," Hestia said. "He not once advocated on behalf of Sirius Black, which if you'll remember was one of his pet Gryffindors, and members of his group opposing the Dark Lord."
"Personally, I feel that reinstating Black to his position as the heir of his house would be the perfect opportunity to end Headmaster Dumbledore's control over Potter," Flora said earning several looks of interest from the older students.
"I would favor ending that particular alliance," Terrance said, "Reinstating Black would allow him to take Potter's guardianship away from Dumbledore."
"Why does Potter matter at all?!" Malfoy snapped. "He's nothing more than a washed-up pet that depends on his mudblood to get through classes."
"Have you honestly failed to realize that Dumbledore uses Potter's relatives as the ultimate example of benevolent muggles," Gemma asked as Higgs scoffed loudly behind her.
"Have any of you actually looked at Harry Potter? I mean really looked at that kid? Particularly at the beginning of each term?" Higgs asked, glancing around the room at his housemates.
"Seriously?" Higgs demanded as several of them shrugged. Rowle was surprised when he suddenly swore at them.
"Potter wears the school uniform on weekends and after class. The few times Potter does wear muggle clothing, none of it fits him," Higgs informed them. "No other student does."
"You've paid this much attention to him?" Parkinson asked scathingly as Malfoy nodded in support.
"Considering he's rumored to be the down fall of the Dark Lord, and Dumbledore's favorite, I'd be an idiot not to watch the kid."
"Terrence, make your point," Rowle said ending the minor argument.
"Potter hates attention. He shies away from any enclosed space unless it's quite large, and always keeps his back to the wall whenever possible. I'd bet my inheritance that his muggles abuse him," Terrence answered earning surprised looks from Malfoy and Parkinson.
"Imagine Sirius Black's reaction if he knew Dumbledore kept sending him back," Gemma said softly, clearly sympathizing with the younger student. "Godchildren are precious, even if you loathe them entirely."
"It'd shatter any alliance between the two of families," Montague pointed out. "Especially when you add the fact that Dumbledore could have demanded a trial for Black at any point of his incarceration."
"Why bother giving the Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black control of the Boy Who Lived?" Bole asked as Rowle watched bemused at how quickly his housemates had reached this conclusion. Breaking an alliance between Sirius Black and Dumbledore would have dire consequences, many which would drastically change the political landscape.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Black actually declared a formal blood feud between them," Pucey said.
"Would Dumbledore even recognize one?" Parkinson asked. "Do we even know if he knows about that tradition?"
"Not formally, but it would most likely renew the one between the Blacks and the Weasleys," Draco said. "They'll automatically take Dumbledore's side any feud, and given that they collect so many kids I wouldn't be surprised if they objected to a change in guardianship."
"Given how Weasley has been treating Potter since his name came out of the goblet, that will lend more support to Black distancing them from the Weasley," Theodore Nott pointed out.
"Would Black really be angry enough to formally declare one for Potter's treatment?" Daphne Greengrass asked, no one was surprised by her question. Her father's behavior towards his wife was common knowledge.
"Considering Black has already threatened to pull Potter from the school due to the tournament, I'd say so," Rowle answered slyly. Even for the normally composed students, pandemonium exploded.
"The Chief Warlock is in contact with a wanted fugitive?!"
"As Miss Carrow pointed out, the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot has the ability to call a trial at any time for an incarcerated felon, and Dumbledore has hard evidence that Pettigrew set Black up," Rowle told them. "Apparently he's been living as rat for the last thirteen years."
"Didn't Weasley lose a rat last year?" Malfoy asked looking at Theodore for confirmation.
"He did. Honestly the idiot wouldn't stop yelling at Granger about her cat eating it," Nott answered.
"One of his brothers had a rat until his last year of Hogwarts," Gemma said thoughtfully. "The one who was Head Boy. He kept bragging about how he earned a new owl for making Head Boy is final year. That family doesn't waste anything. Who wants to bet that applies to used pets?"
A round of snickers erupted at her question.
"Are we in agreement then?" Rowle asked, securing nods from all the students in the room. "Montague?"
"It'll be worth it just for the look on Dumbledore's face when half the Wizengamot demands his removal as Chief Warlock," Montague answered giving a singular nod.
"Crouch will be a problem," Gemma pointed out. "He'll need to keep in the dark until its too late. I'm second cousins with Susan Bones. Amelia will demand a trial or outright acquit purely because of the illegal incarceration. She's one of the few members dedicated to justice and cannot be bought."
"How many members will react similarly?" Rowle asked.
"Normally I would say Augusta Longbottom," Gemma answered, "but she may be too close to the situation considering what happened to her son. The Abbotts, Shacklebolts, and MacMillians should be willing to give him a trial at the very least."
"All of the sitting members from Sacrid-28 families should be agreeable based on protecting their heirs," Bole pointed out. "It'd be too easy to ruin a House. I doubt anyone would be willing to risk that loophole."
"Not even my father would run that gambit," Draco agreed. "Even if he did, my mother would demand her house be restored."
"You'd be losing the Black inheritance," Nott said.
"Not like I need it," Draco answered shrugging. "The real trick will be getting Black to show up."
"I've got that handled," Rowle said. "How likely will the Wizengamot be to accept witnesses? There are at least three that have seen Pettigrew alive, and I suspect two more."
"The elected members might be more of a challenge. Most won't be able to see beyond the accusation of killing the Potters."
"Except that he didn't, the Dark Lord did," Nott said. "The only real charges he'd be facing would be violating the Statute of Secrecy and murdering twelve muggles."
"Go home and speak to your parents. Ensure they understand the need for secrecy until we have enough members on our side," Rowle said. The group of scions dispersed and Rowle headed towards Great Hall to wait for a Gryffindor to show up. Thankfully he wasn't waiting long, and before Potter fully stepped into the corridor outside the Great Hall, Rowle approached.
"Got a minute Potter?"
The younger student nodded before following Rowle to an empty classroom nearby.
"I need to speak with Sirius Black," Rowle said without hesitating.
"Who are you?" Harry asked suspiciously, "Why are you asking me?"
"Thorfinn Rowle," he answered, surprised when the younger wizard obviously recognized his name.
"You're friends with Hermione," Harry said looking at him mistrustfully. "Apparently you two aren't as discreet as you think you are. What's your intentions towards her?"
Rowle suddenly grinned at the younger wizard, "Well played. I wasn't expecting you to know, much less be so guarded. Good to see your loyalty on display, she deserves it, she's quite protective of you. Princess is a spitfire, and my family enjoys that spirit in witches."
"She's muggleborn," Harry said defensively before realizing, "You're who she asked about the tournament."
"Yes, and regarding your first question, Granger is better at magic than any witch in Hogwarts, regardless of her age. You should see her duel. Little witch is ruthless and quick."
"How do you know that?" Harry asked suddenly looking curious.
"We've been hexing each other since her third year," Rowle answered. "She's vicious. Best tutor you could possibly have, all she needs to master a spell is watch me cast it once. Next thing I know, she's got it it memorized. Regardless of her brilliance, I'm asking about Black because he's your godfather."
Harry stared at him, refusing to respond. Before Rowle sighed, "It's common knowledge amongst purebloods, and with our family traditions, there's no way Black isn't in contact with you."
Potter once again remained silent.
"I'm trying to get his conviction overturned by the Wizengamot," Rowle told him.
"Why? What possibly could you get out of it?"
"Several things," Rowle answered evasively before sighing. "I'd rather not see Granger go to Azkaban should the Ministry find out she knows his whereabouts. Besides, I take it you don't want him on the run forever."
"Of course not," Potter answered. "Doesn't mean I trust you not to set a trap for him."
"Suffice it to say, our interests are aligned in this matter. Tell him I want to talk to him. He'll know where to find me."
Potter nodded, having enough sense not to vocally confirm he was in contact with Black.
"If you hurt her, I'll kill you."
"I'd let you willingly," Rowle answered truthfully.