"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! The House of Lords and Ladies Wizengamot is hereby called to session! Let all who have business before this body stand forth and be heard! Wizengamot Clerk: What is the first item on the agenda?"
Percy Weasley stood smarmily and said, "The completion of testimony on the matter of the guardianship of Harry James Potter, minor and Scion and Heir Apparent of the House of Potter, Scion and Heir Presumptive of the House of Black."
After the death of Sirius Black in prison and the reading of his will, it had been found that he had been illegally incarcerated. The fact that he had been the legal guardian of Harry Potter was found out and there had been scrambling by different political factions to gain control of the boy who lived.
Albus Dumbledore's attempts for this to be quashed failed in the sheer weight of the political pressure brought to bear.
Every claim but two had been finally dismissed: Ted and Andromeda Tonks and Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. By law, these two were the most closely related magicals to Harry Potter and their claims took precedence over all others in the absence of a recognized will.
Lucius Malfoy had the "newly found" will presented by Dumbledore quashed using political maneuvering.
Harry was sitting at a table in the room and the two contesting parties were present.
The Minister of Magic had demanded the right to preside as Dumbledore was "an interested party".
Cornelius Fudge looked down at his notes and said, "We have heard testimony from both parties in this matter. Now, according to the law regarding such matters, the minor in question has a right to be heard, even though he is still a child and deemed too immature to decide." Harry's stated preference for the Tonks had been reported and Cornelius Fudge had been paid by Lucius Malfoy. "So, Mr. Potter is called forward to make his statement."
Harry Potter came forward and addressed the Wizengamot. All could see the boy's dislike for the Malfoys in the way he avoided them to come forward.
"Lords and Ladies Wizengamot, I thank you for the opportunity to speak to the matter at hand. Many arguments have been made on both sides as to the correct placement for myself – who has the greater right to hold my guardianship. Both claims are those of blood: These two women are my closest blood relatives in the magical world. Mrs. Tonks is the eldest and, according to most legal precedent, would have first claim. However, according to the testimony from the Malfoys, she was disowned from the House of Black. The Malfoys' contention is that they are the more reputable family and therefore have the greater claim."
Harry paused. "I would disagree with this." There was a hubbub which quickly petered out.
"First of all, the matter of Mrs. Tonks being disowned is not a substantive legal situation which affects her status outside of the right to claim the name Black and enjoy its aegis and succor." Hermione had helped right his speech and drilled him to say it all.
"It is true that, due to the fact that I am the legal heir of the last legal claimant to the House of Black, I have been named Heir Presumptive of that House. What has been ignored by all is my primary claim: I am Heir Apparent to the House of Potter, an Ancient and Noble line which can find its roots in Magical Briton since the time of the Romans. By all accounts, my family is more Ancient than almost all others within this room. Only the Bones enjoy a longer residence and only the Longbottoms and the Greengrasses have direct lineages almost as old as my own. And so, which family is of greater consideration to the traditions of this house? The Blacks, a family of Briton since AD 949, or the Potters, a family of Briton since 47 BC?
"By all traditions, the Potter family's standing is the greater claim. Now what does that claim entail? The Malfoys claim Mrs. Tonks disownment as a blemish on her name and family. Why was she disowned? She was disowned because she married a First Generation wizard, who had no recognized magical family before. IF this is a valid reason to claim a blemish on her family, than my own family has the same blemish. My father, Lord of the House of Potter, married Lily Evans, a recognized Muggleborn of a family with no recognized magical descent. By the very claim that the Malfoys make, my own birth is ANATHEMA.
"How then could such a family be guaranteed to offer me aegis and succor? How can a family which names me half-breed, by their own statements, ensure my proper health and care? I tell you – it is impossible. IF the Malfoy claim is considered more valid than you are ordering me to repudiate the beliefs and history and the very traditions of the Potter family. How is that in my, or your, best interests?
Harry had the Wizengamot riveted – Lucius and Cornelius were not happy.
"If one were to give weight to the traditions of my family – the Potter family – then the answer to the greater claim is clear: Andromeda Tonks has lived her life closer to the values that the Potters hold dear – much closer than the Malfoys. She married for love, regardless of the fact that her husband was muggleborn. She is the eldest of my blood – regardless of the claims of others."
Harry paused again "It has been noted that the Scion of Malfoy, Heir Apparent Draco Malfoy, and I do not get along. What should happen if the needs of my family find themselves in conflict with the needs of theirs? Is if fair to Draco that a new addition is deferred to? Is it fair to me to deny my needs for Draco's senior claim to the family? I say: No.
"The Tonks have one child who is already grown. She is an Auror who works for this Ministry. There is no competing needs against my own. The Tonks can concentrate on raising me and ensuring my health and welfare."
Harry took a deep breath. "Therefore, I ask that the claim of Andromeda and Ted Tonks be upheld and the claim of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy be rejected in whole. Thank you."