Chapter 7
Following the downfall of the Dark Lord, Lucius Malfoy thrivedboth politically and financially. His family remained at the highest echelon of society, their reputation for philanthropy flourished, and Lucius became one of the most powerful members of the Wizengamot. Their entire existence was carefully cultivated to avoid any impropriety following his acquittal of being a Death Eater.
However, Lucius still willingly met with members of the elite group privately, when the situation called for it. Careful to protect his public persona, any meeting that even appeared to be related to the dark arts was kept strictly in private, which was why he summoned Thorfinn Rowle to his private study in Malfoy Manor.
"You've convinced Draco to clear Sirius Black of all crimes, and restore power to one of the most powerful houses in pureblood society," Lucius said the moment Rowle had been seated. "Tell me, why would I choose to restore a fallen house, of which my son is heir apparent, and install Sirius Black who will, no doubt,be a constant thorn in my side."
"Surely Draco explained in detail about the travesty of Sirius Black's incarceration," Thorfinn answered, taking a drink of the firewhiskey Lucius provided.
"Why would I care about Sirius Black not receiving a trial?" Lucius asked pragmatically. "From where I'm sitting, my family benefited greatly from his incarceration. Through my wife, Draco will inherit the Black fortune. Although, you did an excellent job of terrifying the boy. Don't think I believe you care about Black's conviction any more than I do."
The coy smirk on Rowle's face confirmed Lucius was right. The elder wizard wasn't sure what to expect with this younger Rowle. Lucius was used to interacting with the wizard's father, Torsten, a nightmare of a man.
Torsten Rowle's cruelty was renown amongst the Death Eaters,particularly for not discriminating amongst his victims, unlikeLucius' sister-in-law, the man was in complete control of his mind. It came as no surprise when Torsten's first wife, Thorfinn's mother, suddenly died, when the boy was a child. Despite the hushed nature of her death, not a single family from the Sacred-28 were ignorant of the circumstances, nor were they willing to marry a daughter off to him.
The rest of the pureblood families with a daughter followed the lead of those in the Sacred 28, forcing Torsten Rowle to settle on a halfblooded witch, who's family was desperately in debt. Her death followed shortly thereafter, and Rowle was left only with muggleborns, who had no wizarding family to protect them from his predatory nature. If any Death Eater deserved incarceration, it was Torsten Rowle.
Instead of answering Lucius' unspoken question, Thorfinn asked, "Were you aware Potter's muggles are abusive?"
"Draco prattled on about it. I presume its merely idle gossip," Lucius answered dismissively with a shake of his head. "As if Dumbledore would be stupid enough to leave him in a dangerous situation."
Rowle remained silent, merely looking at Lucius.
"You cannot be serious. The public was furious enough over learning Potter was muggle raised. Dumbledore will have a riot on his hands if they learn their savior was abused in that house."
"Exactly," Rowle answered with a small smirk. Lucius sat back in his own chair, studying the younger wizard. This meeting was not at all what he'd expected after Draco insisted that he at least speak with Rowle. His son remained utterly irrational about the Potter boy, and Lucius believed this meeting would be more of the same.
"What game are you playing Rowle?"
"I'm securing my own future," Thorfinn answered. Lucius pondered the response. While still a student, Rowle couldn't risk angering Dumbledore. Once the young wizard graduated,Thorfinn would inherit his family's seat and all the Rowle holdings. Refusing his proposition out of hand would be foolish, and moving against Dumbledore would require the utmost precision.
"How did you come by this information?" Lucius asked, reaching for his own glass of whiskey.
"The Granger girl," Rowle said. "The Higgs boy also confirmed that Potter looks malnourished at the beginning of each school term. A welfare check by the Board of Governors would be enough to warrant medical records from the school."
Lucius snorted, "Clever certainly, but Dumbledore would refuse to hand over Potter's records. Can you imagine the reaction he'd have if the board forced his hand?"
"Don't ask for Potter's records," Rowle suggested, "Go straight to Madame Pomfrey, and explain that the Governors are auditing all of the first years' files. Request at least a decade's worth of classes. By the time she mentions it the Headmaster, the Board will already have the files."
"Bury what we're actually looking for in paperwork," Lucius said thoughtfully. "An anonymous tip would be enough for the Governors to act, and if it came from someone aside from me Dumbledore would have a difficult time arguing against it. Restoring the House of Black would hardly be necessary for such action."
His comment about ignoring the plight of Sirius Black didn't even phase Thorfinn. Had he made such a suggestion against a plan of his father's, Torsten Rowle would have erupted into violence. Instead, Thorfinn took another drink of whiskey.
"If you intend for the Wizengamot to take action against Dumbledore, you will need Sirius Black restored as Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble House," Rowle said, his voice quiet, but his eyes gleaming. "An investigation by the Wizengamot would significantly sway public opinion infinitely more than a simple accusation."
Few things surprised Lucius at this point in his life, but even he was having difficulty hiding his astonishment over the audacity that the young wizard in front of him was suggesting. Rather than become distracted with the idea of a Wizengamot without Dumbledore's influence, Lucius focused on pragmaticism.
"Exactly how will you prevent Black from allying with Dumbledore? Black did choose to work with Dumbledore against the Dark Lord."
"If Lady Malfoy's godson was malnourished and abused, and the individual responsible wanted her support would she provide it?" Rowle asked him.
"Narcissa would crucify the responsible party," Lucius answered reflexively, before realizing exactly the point Thorfinn Rowle was making. "The Blacks are infamous for their ruthlessnessand their ability to cause pain."
The concessions Sirius had forced on him during the Wizengamot Session was not enough to spoil the glee created in Lucius by watching Dumbledore's own supporters turn on the old man. Thorfinn Rowle had provided a golden opportunity to diminish Dumbledore's influence over the Ministry and the public, and a werewolf, albeit abhorrent, sitting on the Wizengamot for House Black wasn't going to stop Lucius from seeing it.
The accusation of being a Death Eater, however true, was a stain that Dumbledore refused to allow him to escape. Instead of allowing the Malfoy's to make amends, Albus Dumbledorefound Lucius' acquittal and Narcissa's philanthropy for impoverished students wholly irrelevant. The old man roused efforts to prevent any legislation sponsored by the Malfoy family and insisted any support of ending Ministry raids was a tainted as a conflict of interest.
The Wizengamot's investigation of Crouch's actions against Lord Sirius Black was a rare collusion of political rivals, much like the decision to award the House of Black guardianship of Harry Potter. Never had the Wizengamot turn on one of its on members in such a manner. Even Crouch's consistent allies dare not acquit him. Few were ignorant of the Black Family's reputation for ruthlessly seeking vengeance, none of whom were stupid enough to risk supporting Crouch.
"Now, we come to our Chief Warlock, Albus Dumbledore," Amelia Bones called out, turning to address him. "Albus, if you'll please."
Despite Amelia's gesture towards the dais Crouch had just stepped down from, Albus Dumbledore merely looked at her. Lucius, as eager as he was to begin the investigation of the old man, almost wished Dumbledore would refuse entirely.
"Albus, you either cooperate with this investigation, or I will call for a vote of no confidence right now," Amelia told him, allowing her voice to carry across the chamber. As Albus Dumbledore slowly stood up, and approached the dais, he looked every bit his true age. After he took his place, Amelia opened the floor to questions from the Wizengamot, selecting Madame Longbottom as the first to ask questions.
"Why did you place Mr. Potter with his muggle family?" Augusta Longbottom asked, listening as Dumbledore repeated his earlier response to Sirius about the Dursley's being Harry's closest relatives.
"Specifically, why were you the one to determine where to send Harry Potter, much less take him there personally?" Augusta clarified. "I find myself simply perplexed at the choice you made to take an infant wizard and abandon him amongst muggles."
"I did not abandon Harry Potter," Dumbledore answered. "I placed him with family, and had a neighbor watching over him."
"A neighbor," Augusta repeated. "Upon whose authority did you take Harry Potter to his muggle relatives?"
Lucius watched, as the Chief Warlock did not answer. Rather than wait for him to admit he acted on his own, Augusta continued her line of questioning.
"At what age was Harry when you first spoke with him in person?"
"He was eleven," Albus answered. "While Arabella kept an eye on the boy, I did not have contact with him until he attended Hogwarts."
"Did this neighbor, Arabella, ever bring up concerns about Harry's health?"
"Arabella is similar to most witches her age," Dumbledore answered. "From time to time, she would mention she felt he was too skinny. At no time did she bring up concerns about violence or abuse."
"At any time did you investigate the situation to clarify Harry's health?" Augusta asked, clearly unimpressed with Dumbledore's answers.
"No."
"Madame Bones, I yield my time."
"Mr. Lupin, representing the seat of House Black," Amelia said as Remus stood. Lucius glanced at the halfbreed next to him, curious as to what line of questioning he would pursue. Hopefully he wouldn't be useless.
"Regarding your position as Chief Warlock, were you ever curious about the lack of a trial for Lord Sirius Black?"
"The aftermath of the war was chaotic," Dumbledore answered, looking too comfortable over being questioned by Remus. "Numerous trials, funerals, and celebrations all blended together. I cannot say whether I noticed or not."
Remus nodded, "How were Sirius and James at Hogwarts? Did they get along, or merely tolerate each other?"
"I've never seen two boys more inseparable."
"When you first learned of Sirius' arrest, did it ever occur to you that he was innocent?" Remus asked.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I suppose I believed he'd finally given into his family's alignment with Voldemort," Albus answered earning multiple shrieks and hisses from the surrounding witches and wizards, even Lucius was susceptible to flinching, although to the werewolf's credit he ignored all of it, the name and reactions.
"When did you learn of the Potter's deaths?"
Dumbledore's eyes tightened minuscule before answering, "Sometime late that Halloween night I believe."
"How is it then, that you knew to send the Hogwarts groundskeeper, Rebeus Hagrid to Godrics Hollow to retrieve Harry Potter for you?"
"No doubt it was because I had heard of Sirius –"
"Lord Black," Remus corrected, interrupting the Headmaster.
"No doubt it was because I heard of Lord Black's arrest," Dumbledore answered. "Knowing the Potter family as I did, it would have been a logical step."
"I find that highly unlikely," Remus said, earning several looks of interest. "Because Sirius Black was the first to arrive at the wreckage. He was due to have dinner with the Potter's that night, and was holding Harry when Hagrid arrived."
Lucius nearly lost control and displayed his own shock at the revelation, yet still Remus continued speaking.
"How is it possible that you knew to send the groundskeeper of Hogwarts, a man you employ, when no one aside from You-Know-Who, Pettigrew, and Sirius even knew Potter's had been murdered?"
"Did you ever have any intention of allowing Harry Potter to be brought up by his godfather according to his parents wishes?" Remus asked. The Wizengamot Chamber was silent as they awaited Dumbledore's answer.
"Albus, please answer the question," Amelia said, after he'd remained silent for several minutes. It was clear that every single member both Wizengamot and the audience was waiting to hear his answer.
"Harry Potter was in grave danger, and so, knowing his parents and grandparents, I acted to protect him."
"On no one's authority, but your own," Remus concluded. "Did you have any intention of letting Sirius Black, the man the Potter's chose, to raise his godson? Had he not falsely been imprisoned what would you have done to remove Harry from his care?"
"Harry Potter is safest with his muggle family when he's not at Hogwarts," Albus answered, sidestepping the question. Lucius sat still as multiple Wizengamot members erupted into anger. Shouts and demands ranged from censoring the Chief Warlock to stripping him entirely of his position. Despite, his own attendance, Lucius Malfoy couldn't believe what had just been revealed.