Author's Note: This chapter is much longer than usual. Don't expect this to happen again.
Chapter Seven
It was Harry Potter's first real day at the Wizengamot as a member, and that, unfortunately, meant that he had to set up his office. Fortunately, he had a lot of help, most of which had arrived before him. Even Ron had somehow managed to arrive before him. Of course, Harry had delayed his arrival just a little bit to have a late breakfast with his uncle in London.
It had taken a good hour to get his office like he wanted it. Only then did he return to the main room of the office. He looked at the bustle going on. Hermione had a stack of books from the Wizengamot Library already. From what he could see of the titles, it looked like he could expect a briefing for the Education Committee's meeting tomorrow. Luna looked to be going through a pile of parchment, making brief notes. Ron appeared to be practicing his transfiguration, turning some stones into inkwells. Ginny, who had slid right into the job of office manager, was talking with some of the Hufflepuffs that would be working as pages for his office.
As he stepped out into the main room, Ginny looked up at him. "Harry, you've got some messages."
"Already?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Ginny replied. "Her Majesty would like to meet you sometime towards the end of the week, and regrets that it can not be earlier. She suggests the time right after Thursday's Morning Wizengamot Session. A side note, the Royals have notified all members of the Wizengamot that a royal will be in attendance during every session until further notice."
"Inform her Majesty that I shall be there as she requires," Harry replied. He wasn't sure about a lot about his new job, but he was sure that when the Queen asked you to meet, you met her. "Next."
"Professor Dumbledore says that he regretted not being able to work on your garden this weekend, but hopes to put in a couple hours this afternoon."
"Hermione, can you get word to my Aunt Petunia on that?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded.
"There is a General Services Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, call it an organizational one, as there are three new members, and Professor Dumbledore wants to make sure everything is handled. Other than a bunch of congratulations, that I'll summarize for you to read later, that's all I have."
"Harry, I think you need to make a few statements," Luna said. "The Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly have both asked for interviews. I don't think either of them expects a response, it's just the first time they've been able to have a chance to get an answer to their questions in the summer. I think you need to say something about Friday's trials, and maybe something about Tom Riddle."
Harry's mind went back to Friday, and the horrors he had heard from Lucius Malfoy's mouth. He had to gulp to prevent the bile from coming up again "Perhaps, some suitable beginning, then an expression that justice has been done, taking a vile man to his deserved final reward," Harry replied. He wasn't quite sure how to phrase it, but he was glad Lucius Malfoy was no longer part of this world.
Luna tapped her quill on her lips a couple times before replying. "Then ... the Honorable Member from Surrey, having witnessed the late Lucius Malfoy's trial, believes justice has been done, sending Lucius Malfoy to his well deserved final reward."
"In Hell," Harry concluded. "Send it to the major papers. As for the statement on Tom Riddle ..." Harry had to think a bit. With Lucius Malfoy on his mind, he remembered his exchange with the late Death Eater after the Chamber of Secrets. "It is my intention to see that Tom Marvolo Riddle, the wizard that killed my parents, is dead. He can rest assured that I will always be around to see to his death no matter how many times it takes for it to take.."
"Thank you Harry, the nargles seem to be staying away from you today." Luna said.
Harry turned to Hermione. "I know you have something for me. I've seen that look before."
Hermione pushed a stack of paper across the table. "Quick Evaluation of all members of the Wizengamot for the post of Minister of Magic, so you won't sound out of place. I'd read Bones, Dumbledore, Longbottom, Scrimgeour, Thicknesse, and Potter, first."
"You evaluated me, as Minister of Magic?" Harry shook his head. "I'm not even fifteen until the end of the month, Hermione. They'd have to be crazy to place my name in nomination."
"Harry, they gave you a seat on the Wizengamot when you were two," Hermione said. "Given that, and some of the laws I've been reading over the last couple years, I will not say that they're not crazy. Read and memorize every objection I gave for you. I have a feeling that you'll need that... and maybe some sort of a Shermanesque statement."
"Actually, I think I'll just say that even my best friends think the idea is crazy," Harry said. "Mind if I cite you by name?"
Just as Hermione shook her head, Harry noticed that there was some commotion in the corridor. There was shouting, and several Aurors ran past. That was when Neville poked his head in. "Harry, you're going to want to see this. Malfoy's just had his whole staff fired and arrested."
Draco Malfoy sat outside the offices that where now his, since Lucius had been executed. He sat in the same chair that his father had him sit in the previous summer, after he'd dropped the dungbomb into the research room. He'd done it to get out of a very boring lecture on par with Professor Binns.
At the time he'd tilted back in the chair, and spent the next hour waiting for his father while fantasizing about Pansy. Pansy had been better than his fantasies. Today, however, he sat in the chair, which he'd moved across the hall, watching as staff member after staff member was removed from the office, bound, and headed for more questioning in the Auror Offices. Lucius had employed twenty-four in his office, and after Miss Cash-Knut being escorted out, he was sure that all of them were going to be charged with something.
As they exited, the Auror would give the charge. For Miss Cash-Knut it had been bribery and harlotry. Draco had only one response, "You're fired." He'd said it twenty-three times so far.
The last member of Lucius's staff was being escorted out now. It was Lucius's chief of staff, Gideon Nott. His left sleeve had been ripped off. Auror Shacklebolt, the lead auror assigned, announced his charges, "active Death Eater, murder, rape, kidnaping, use of curses unforgivable and cruel, and attempted bribery of an law enforcement officer."
"You're fired," Draco said, standing up and looking firmly into the eyes of Gideon Nott. He hadn't realized that he was nearly as tall as Nott.
"My master will save me, and the Dark Lord will have his revenge," Nott replied, practically spitting at Draco.
Draco replied as calmly as he could, pulling on the long training that his father had given him. "Your master has no idea what he has awakened. I'd have you tell him that Snowdon comes, but you're not going to be able to warn him in time." Then looked towards Shacklebolt. "Make sure that's unrepentant Death Eater, and add resisting arrest. He was at Malfoy Manor awaiting Lucius's return. How long will my office be unavailable?"
"No longer than two days," Shacklebolt replied. "Thank you for disarming the traps on your father's office."
"Do not call that man my father," Draco said. "That man was a Death Eater who dishonored the family line. He is forever stricken from the family rolls, and died nameless." Shacklebolt nodded, and with a tilt of his head, directed the last of the staff of Lucius who once was a Malfoy away. It was not long after that Draco collapsed into his chair.
"Wow, Malfoy, that was cold." Draco looked up to discover that Neville Longbottom was approaching him. It looked like the entire Gryffindor and Hufflepuff fifth years had gathered down the corridor. He dimly recalled noticing them, early in the process. "Well done."
Draco was unaccustomed to receiving compliments, especially from Gryffindors. Especially from Gryffindors that had thrown him out of the compartment on the Hogwarts Express less than a week before. Still, it was a compliment, and it would not be good politics to ignore it. Plus now, he actually ranked over Longbottom. He stood, and clasp the offered hand of the Longbottom heir. "Thank you, Longbottom. Now, I've got to find some place to prepare for taking my oaths in this afternoon's session. I'm afraid my office is not going to be suitable for a while."
"Perhaps you would prefer the hospitality of the Lincolnshire Offices?" Longbottom offered. His grasp was surprisingly firm for the boy that had only recently got the courage to stand up for himself. "My Gran will not mind." Longbottom let go.
"Or perhaps Surrey can help." Draco was surprised to hear the voice and see Harry Potter approaching. "I know we're still getting organized, but we've apparently got the only press secretary in the Wizengamot, and you could use one, Malfoy."
It was pure impulse, and he'd latter wonder what had got into him, but he replied. "Call me Draco. I understand some members of the Wizengamot are better than others. Perhaps you can help me with that?"
"I don't know about that, Draco," Potter said, clasping Draco's hand just as firmly as Longbottom had. "I'm still feeling my way around this place. Now, Neville here, he knows everything. If we're really lucky, he'll tell us before we do something wrong."
"You already have," Neville said. "I just lost a Galleon to Ginny."
"Speaking of bets, I've got an outstanding one with Hermione," Potter replied. "But before I do that, I want to say something. Draco, you have to be one of the bravest people I've met. Are you sure you're not a Gryffindor? I mean, Friday you stood up for what you believed was right against your own father, whose crimes ... well, it's probably best not to list them."
The crowd had dissipated, with the last member of the Wiltshire staff having been taken away, leaving him alone with the two Gryffindors. Somehow with the two, one he'd often derided as little more than a squib, and the other a boy he'd envied all his life. Today though, today he knew the cost. His father was dead like Potter's parents. His mother's recovery was uncertain. It was possible that she'd never wake up like Longbottom's hadn't. "I'm no Gryffindor." He knew that among them, their house name was the ultimate compliment, just like Slytherin was to his house. "I'm just ... I've just got Pansy and she's having my baby." It was the first time he'd admitted it to anyone outside his family.
"Congratulations, Draco," Potter said. "How far along is she? My aunt is four months pregnant."
"Three months," Draco replied. With the stress of firing and having his father's staff arrested finally passed, he knew he was going to start babbling. He always did, but he didn't care right now. "I'm really worried about her. I mean, we're awfully young to be becoming parents. The Queen's doctor gave us all of these pamphlets about it. There are so many things that can go wrong. I'm not really ready to be a father either. I mean I just finished my fourth year, and suddenly I'm going to be a father and I'm a member of the Wizengamot."
"I can't help you with the father part, Draco, but I'm glad I'm not the only one my age in the Wizengamot now," Harry smiled. It was a genuine smile. One like he'd dreamed of receiving back when his father had told him to befriend Potter. "Think you can call me Harry?"
"Think you can handle being friends with the reformed son of a Death Eater, Harry?" Draco asked. He hoped the answer was yes. He needed the answer to be yes. He'd needed the answer to be yes during his first year, but did not know how. He'd gone from friend to foe in seconds, and had never quite figured out why. Now he hoped he had a second chance.
"Might take a bit, but we can try." Harry replied. He looked up and down at Draco. "Come on, I think you need a bit of prep for this afternoon's session. Lavender first, I think."
"Why am I getting a sudden shiver of doom?"
"Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, the Wizengamot stands ready to open the second day of its Summer Session on this the hundred forty-eighth day of the forty-third year on the reign of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth, the second of that name to reign over the British Isles, Defender of Faith, Lord of all that is Magical. Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore presiding at the pleasure and the sufferance of her Majesty."
Albus Dumbledore banged the gavel, opening the day's session. All the sworn members were accounted for, but there was one new member standing at the East Threshold, Draco Malfoy. No, there was a woman standing next to him, with the hood of her white robes up. With members at threshold, as expected, he knew that a Royal should be appearing at the South Threshold shortly, unless a notice of delay arrived. He knew of none, so it was with no surprise that the sentinel standing guard there banged his staff on the wood of the threshold. His words, however, that was a surprise.
The hood deep purple robes of the waiting royal slid back as she stepped across the threshold, as tradition stated, and the sentinel began to announce. "All rise for her Majesty, Elizabeth the Second, by grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Dominions Beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of Faith, Lord of all that is Magical." As the Queen moved down the center aisle, Dumbledore descended from the presiding officer's post, causing it to slide aside to reveal the steps to the Queen's throne.
As the Queen came to a stop in the well of the chamber, Dumbledore bowed deeply. "Your Majesty." As he looked up, he noticed that she was wearing the Imperial State Crown. That told him that today was an most important session. It was not often worn, usually only in the official opening the Monday after Easter, a four day official session known as the Opening Quartet. "May I assist you to your throne." That was a traditional line, and sometimes a necessary one. The Queen's grandfather often had needed assistance.
"Not at this time, Chief Warlock," the Queen said. "We have business that necessitates our presence on the floor. We are given to understand that there are new members to swear in before we take up the business of the Crown."
"I do see two standing at the East, though I am only aware of one outstanding warrant for membership, that of the member from Wiltshire," Dumbledore said, still puzzled by the hooded woman standing beside Draco.
The Queen turned to address the assembled still standing members. "We wish to remind the members gathered here in, that memberships offered in this body are not withdrawn by refusal of the candidate, but withdrawn by the body with the consent of the crown. In 1946, this body made a rare offer, an offer made at the same time as to many other heroes in the war known in the non-magical world as the Second World War, and among those magical as the Grindelwald War.
"Of the ten seats offered, one of them is seated as your Chief Warlock. Another inherited his father's seat. Seven are no longer of this world. The remaining, then only a girl of fifteen, almost sixteen, chose not to be sworn in as a member. This candidate earned the offer in battle and in service. She stood before the King, my late father, and defended our family from wizards sent against us. She stood before you, presiding as the Wizard Royal, Royal Delegate of our father, and mobilized you to join your non-magical brethren in defending the kingdom. She is rightly feared by many.
"Your Royal Highness, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, approach to give your oath before this body."
With that, the lady ... princess in the white robes stepped across the threshold, her hood dropping. As she approached, Dumbledore noticed that the robe wasn't truly white, but had patterns of iridescent snowflakes embroidered in it. Two Tudor Roses flanked a thistle on the badge on her left breast. The years had not been entirely kind to the Princess, but then again, he mostly remembered her as the energetic young Princess who had once had his back against Grindelwald.
Princess Margaret curtseyed to her sister, as Dumbledore falling into his role as head of the Wizengamot, with the aid of a slip of paper that the Queen had discreetly sild into his hand said, "Your Majesty, I present to you the member from Gwynedd, Her Royal Highness, the Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon."
"Sister, you stand before us, finally taking your place," the Queen said. "You were chosen young, but chosen well. We have accepted you as one of our loyal Wizards, to serve our magical people in Gwynedd and in these isles. Raise your wand and swear your oath."
Princess Margaret raised her wand, a slender branch of birch, and said, "I, Margaret Rose, Countess of Snowdon, swear by my magic that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, by law and by magic, so mote it be."
"We accept your oath," the Queen announced. "Take your seat, and know that all in this chamber hold you to your duty."
A new desk appeared to the right of the center row, pushing Dumbledore's own desk to the side. As a royal she had precedence over him, now that she had sworn her oath. Princess Margaret curtseyed to the Queen again, before taking her place. Dumbledore looked over at the Queen, and receiving a nod, called out the next member.
"Draco Malfoy, son of that which served before him, as did his father, and his father before him, enter and approach to give your oath," the queen called.
Draco walked in, and bowed before the Queen. "Your Majesty, I present to you the member from Wiltshire, Draco Malfoy." As Dumbledore finished, a pair of royal guards entered, their royal blue robes adorned with the royal standard. One, a tall almost of age boy, carried a sword carefully held in his hands. The other, a much young boy, not yet of Hogwarts age, carried a cushion.
"Before you give your oath, Draco," the Queen began. "We must acknowledge the service to which you have given our kingdom. You have at great cost to yourself revealed the misdeeds of your predecessor, to whom's posts you have regularly advanced. You revealed traitors to this body, and to our Crown. Such devotion should not go unacknowledged or rewarded. As one of our magical subjects, we may bestow honors as we see fit upon you. Therefore, let it be known from this day forward that Draco Malfoy shall be known by the title Baron Amesbury.
"Draco, Baron Amesbury, raise your wand and swear your oath."
As Draco raised his wand and began to say his oath, Dumbledore found that his mouth was open. He closed it.
"I, Draco, Baron Amesbury, swear by my magic that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, by law and by magic, so mote it be."
"We accept your oath," the Queen announced. "Take your seat, and know that all in this chamber hold you to your duty."
As Draco moved to take his seat, his father's old desk having been moved back to the rear of the chamber, Dumbledore moved to offer his assistance to the Queen, only be waved off. He noticed that the younger of the two guards was placing the cushion in front of the queen. The older one offered the Queen the sword. She did not take it yet.
"Gathered members of the Wizengamot, witches and wizards. We come here to this chamber, not just to swear in new members and announce their new titles. We come here today also to give an honor for a member of this chamber, not just among wizards, but among all of those in this kindgom. We come here to knight a member of this chamber, whose selfless duty, whose personal determination, whose dedication to the fight against the darkness brought him to not only the attention of you, his fellow members of our magical kingdom, but also to that of my Prime Minister, the honorable John Major.
"This member's actions alerted our kingdom to its peril. This member has defended our realm from the so called Dark Lord Tom Marvolo Riddle not just once, not just twice, but three times since he has entered school. It is with great pride in having such a subject that I call Harry James Potter, serving our kingdom from Surrey, to kneel before me."
Dumbledore had his eyes on Harry. He watched the dawning realization that the Queen was talking about him appear on the young man's face. He couldn't call Harry a boy anymore. Harry had faced more than men twice his age, and then some. It took a nudge from Augusta Longbottom before he started moving forward. Harry bowed before the Queen, before taking his place on the cushion.
Only then did the queen draw the sword from where her guard offered it. She tapped him on the shoulder as she said, "We knight thee, Sir Harry James Potter of Surrey." Then sheaving the sword, she continued. "Rise, Sir Harry. May you always be there to stand in defense of our realm."
Only once Harry had returned to his seat and the applause died down, did the Queen take Dumbledore's hand to assist her up the steep stairs to her throne in the chamber. Only then did everyone take their seat.
"Members of the Wizengamot," the Queen said from her throne. "Yesterday afternoon, We accepted the resignation of Cornelius Fudge as Minister of Magic. It was long overdue, to the point that We feel that several reminders about the position need to be made to those who may replace him. The first of these is that the Minister, though nominated by this body, serves at our pleasure. Not at the pleasure of our Prime Minister, though nominally part of the government, and expected to keep the Prime Minister informed, but our pleasure. It is expected that we receive regular updates on our magical realm from the new minister. Do not make us summon you.
"Second, this is full time job that we expect shall be engaged fully and completely. Corruption will not be tolerated, nor will service in that of dark lords. It is to be remembered that the Royal Family, though our Wizards Royal, have long taken personal offense at Dark Lords. You may recall that Prince Frederick, made Duke of Hogsmeade by George III, defeated the Dark Lord Loxias, who wielded the infamous deathstick. Our own uncle, Prince John, died fighting the Dark Lord Grindelwald. Our own sister was so well known as the bane of dark lords, Snowdon, that there was no other choice when it came time to entitle her.
"Finally, we have had the honor of working with people of true honor and determination as head of our governments. We shall be holding your new Minister of Magic to the standards of Winston Churchill, Millicent Bagnold, and Margaret Thatcher. Chose wisely. Chief Warlock, the gavel is yours."
Dumbledore stuck the gavel twice. "The floor is now open for nominations for Minister of Magic. Members are reminded that they may not nominate themselves nor anyone who is not a member of this body or a head of a ministry department. Should a head of a ministry department be nominated, nominations will be immediately placed in abeyance and a vote for membership taken. A two-thirds majority is required to offer membership. This membership offer is not contingent on being elected, and such new members may take their oath beginning during the next day's session. If you are nominated, you may withdraw your name before nominations are closed with a simple cry of 'withdrawn.'" Dumbledore brought down the gavel once.
Dumbledore looked out at the members of the Wizengamot, each seated behind their desks, waiting for someone to stand. Following tradition, the first to do so the elderly yet surprisingly spry, despite the seventy-six years he had on Dumbledore, Edwin Marchbanks, whose wife had administered most of the OWLs of those in the chamber. "The member from Aberdeen."
Edwin Marchbanks stroked his long beard, dyed black for the last century, as he said, "Aberdeen wishes to place Amelia Bones, Head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement and Member from Kent into nomination." He sat down.
Dumbledore watched Madame Bones rise. As she had been nominated, he quickly said, "The member from Kent." He expected her to immediately withdraw her name
Madame Bones opened her mouth, then closed it, her eyes focused behind Dumbledore. He glanced backwards at the Queen. The Queen's expression was very stern, and following her eyes, Dumbledore could tell they were focused on Madame Bones. Madame Bones lowered her gaze, then suddenly getting an expression of determination and a bit of rebellion, she finally spoke. "Kent places in nomination, the Snowdon, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and member from Gwynedd." Then Madame Bones shot an glance of triumph over at the Countess.
It was only then that Dumbledore remembered that as a young girl, not yet out of Hogwarts, Amelia Bones had been the witch companion for the young princess during her visit to South Africa in 1947, when the Snowdon had defeated the African Dark Wizard Oogabuga. Then as a Auror in 1955 had been a member of the Princess Margaret's detail in her 1955 Carribean trip, when the Dark Lady Agostinha Assuncao. Dumbledore wondered if Madame Bones had been one of the Snowdon's owlets. None of them were really known, even after it had got out that Princess Margaret was the Snowdon in 1979.
Princess Margaret did not rise when Madame Bones sat down. Instead, still seated, in a stage whisper, she responded, "Amelia Bones, you are so going down." A chuckle echoed throughout the chamber, and Dumbledore was sure that the Queen had joined it, softly and barely evident.
With that Dumbledore had a choice for who to recognize next. Sterling, Haddington, or Somerset. "The member from Sterling."
Dolores Umbridge took a deep breath and with unnecessary volume announced, "Sterling places in nomination, the member from Staffordshire, Pius Thickness."
Dumbledore looked to Thickness, who shook his head, before he recognized the next member, "The member from Haddington."
Elphias Doge nodded in acknowledgment before he said, "Haddington places in nomination the member from Somerset, Lord Montgomery Riverwald."
"The member from Somerset," Dumbledore said, acknowledging the last of those currently standing. As he did so, he noticed that Harry Potter had summoned one of his pages and was handing her a set of notes.
Montgomery Riverwald was a tall man who in his youth had actually served in the Royal Navy. He wore the honors he'd won in the Battle of Jutland on his robe. "Somerset places in nomination the member from Haddington, Elphias Doge."
Dumbledore nodded. They had done the exchange every single time. The Surrey page, Miss Ophelia Campbell, a Hufflepuff second year, was now going among the desks. She dropped a note on the Dunbretane desk that Dumbledore was sure wasn't on Potter parchment. Other notes were dropped on Wiltshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire desks. All four them rose to get attention. Dumbledore decided, "the member from Dunbretane."
Sapphire Eagleton smile widely as she put down the paper. "Dunbretane places in nomination Percy Weasley, acting head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation."
"Objection, objection, Mr. Weatherby is not the head of that department," Dolores Umbridge yelled.
Dumbledore banged the gavel, as the chamber broke out in grumbles. "Sterling, you are out of order."
Then as the chamber quieted, the Queen spoke up. "Chief Warlock."
"Your Majesty," Dumbledore acknowledged turning towards the queen.
"Mister Percy Weasley was restored to the post he was deprived of without remuneration on our orders this past Saturday," the Queen announced. "Furthermore, we have so ordered back pay be immediately deposited and any fees caused by insufficient funds due to the former Minister's highly questionable withdrawal of remuneration earned while under suspension be paid by the Treasury. It is our understanding that Mister Weasley may not wish to return to the Ministry due to his contract with our favored Puddlemore United quidditch team, but as of this time he is the Acting Head of that department, Chief Warlock."
With a double rap of the gavel, Dumbledore announced, "with the nomination of Percy Weasley of the Department of International Magical Cooperation placed, nominations are tabled pending the vote on his membership in this body. We will take a fifteen minute recess to allow consulting with staff and fellow members." Dumbledore rapped the gavel twice again.
As the chamber broke up into groups, various members seeking out others, Dumbledore looked back at the Queen. "Your Majesty, do you require anything?" he asked.
"Not at this time. Edward has everything well in hand, though we may need to discuss my grandson attending your school, should the issue with the current dark lord be resolved by this time next year," the Queen said. Somehow a cup of tea now resided on a table next to the Queen.
Dumbledore nodded in acknowledgment, and looked down to the floor of the chamber. He'd expected that Madame Longbottom would be busy talking to Harry, young Malfoy, and the Campbell proxy, Eagleton. They were not. Augusta was talking with Madam Bones and Emmeline Vance, with Diggle listening in. Young Malfoy was talking with some of his father's old allies, Kerr, Borthwick, Menzies, Yaxley, and Thickness. Harry seemed to be floating around, having somehow managed to acquire the Princess Margaret in tow.
Dumbledore had never really seen Harry socializing much, which built the habits necessary to discuss subjects during these brief recesses on the floor of the Wizengamot. It seemed that the subject was enough to get him going. Dumbledore knew that when Harry Potter really got interested in something, and really believed in it, he could become quite persuasive. Dumbledore was pretty sure now that Harry had been the one to suggest Percy Weasley's membership.
Dumbledore watched as Harry and young Malfoy move among the desks. Assuming that they were working against one another, and Dumbledore could not see young Malfoy supporting the former head boy, Percy's chances to get on the Wizengamot were not good. Two thirds was thirty-six votes, given the addition of Snowdon, and the lack of replacements for Goyle and Macnair.
Dumbledore looked down at the hour glass before him. It was time. He bang the gavel twice. "Order. The recess is ended." It took surprisingly little time for everyone to find their seat. "Is there any member who wished to make a statement before we proceed on to the vote?" Dumbledore scanned the chamber. "Then with no objection, we shall proceed to vote. Please place your voting tokens on your desk to indicate your choice."
Each desk was provided with a pair of marbles, white for yea, and black for nay, that when dropped in the voting hole would trigger the name of the seat to be written under the appropriate header on the parchment on his desk. Different marbles would be given when they voted for the minister. As Dumbledore watched, most names were written under yea, but he was focusing on the nays. Nineteen would prevent Percy Weasley from taking a seat.
Staffordshire, Stirling, Linlithgow, Gaernafon, and Suffolk ... five votes nay. Dumbledore had to check. Surely there were more objections. Wiltshire was under yea? The young lord Malfoy had voted for a Gryffindor candidate? Only a third of the dark aligned members had objected. That was a big surprise to Dumbledore.
"With just five objections, the invitation for membership passes," Dumbledore announced. "The secretary shall dispatch the invitation. The floor is once again open for nominations for Minister of Magic. Wiltshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire were all standing to be acknowledged. The member from Wiltshire is reconized."
Draco Malfoy stood, and with a big grin faced towards Harry. "Wiltshire places in nomination the member from Surrey, Sir Harry James Potter of Surrey." Dumbledore had rarely seen such a mischievous grin directed at anyone in the Wizengamot.
"The member from Surrey," Dumbledore said, his own eyes beginning to twinkle.
Harry stood, looking right at Draco Malfoy. "Withdrawn. I must take this moment to note that a certain witch in my class predicted someone would be stupid enough to nominate me before I finished school. That being said, one good turn deserves another, Baron Amesbury. Surrey places in nomination the member from Wiltshire, Draco Malfoy, the Baron Amesbury."
"The member from Wiltshire."
"Withdrawn, Potter, and I want the name of that witch," Draco replied, to be answered only by a smirk.
Dumbledore almost laughed and had to pause to prevent his amusement from escaping. Only then did he call for the next standing member. "The member from Lincolnshire."
Augusta Longbottom stood and with her usual droll tone said, "Lincolnshire places in nomination, the acting head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Head of the Goblin Liaison Office, Dirk Cresswell."
With a double rap of the gavel, Dumbledore announced, "with the nomination of Dirk Cresswell, acting head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Head of the Goblin Liaison Office placed, nominations are tabled pending the vote on his membership in this body. We will take a fifteen minute recess to allow consulting with staff and fellow members." Dumbledore rapped the gavel twice again.
Once again Dumbledore noticed that Harry and Draco Malfoy appeared to be going around the chamber. Dumbledore hadn't quite noticed it last time, but it looked like they were actually working as a team. Neither of them went to the same people. One of the Surrey pages was among the members as well, delivering some notes, and talking to a few. He hadn't noticed that the first time. Dumbledore looked closer. It was Ophelia Campbell, the minor holder of the Dunbretane seat. Neville Longbottom was also making an appearance on the floor this time, at Harry's side instead of the Princess Margaret.
Dumbledore looked down at the hour glass before him. He bang the gavel twice. "Order. The recess is ended." It took longer for everyone to find their seat this time.. "Is there any member who wished to make a statement before we proceed on to the vote?" Dumbledore scanned the chamber. "Then with no objection, we shall proceed to vote. Please place your voting tokens on your desk to indicate your choice."
Dumbledore figured this one would be tougher. Cresswell would be the first muggleborn to be given membership in three centuries. Inverness, Stirling, Linlithglow, Caredigion, Drefaidwyn,
Meirionnydd, Gaernarfon, Devon, Norfolk, Kent, Essex, Suffolk, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire. Dumbledore let out a breath that he had not been aware that he was holding.
"With eighteen objections, the invitation for membership passes," Dumbledore announced. "The secretary shall dispatch the invitation. The floor is once again open for nominations for Minister of Magic. The member from Lancashire."
Nicanor Abbot stood, and after adjusting the collar of his robes, said, "Lancashire places in nomination the member from Inverness, Chief Auror Rufus Scrimgeor."
Dumbledore looked around for another member looking for attention. He bang the gavel once, announcing, "Any more nominations from the floor?" With great slowness, another member started to rise. "The member from Staffordshire."
Pius Thickness spoke with a very dry tone. "Staffordshire places in nomination the member from Stirling, Dolores Umbridge." Umbridge remained seated.
Bang. "Any more nominations from the floor?"
Bang. "Any more nominations from the floor?"
Bang. "Any more nominations from the floor?"
Bang. "Nominations are now closed."
Dumbledore looked down at the list of names. Nine choices meant a longer recess than normal. "We stand in recess for forty-five minutes to allow consulting with staff and fellow members, as well as confirm that Misters Percy Weasley and Dirk Cresswell are willing to serve." He banged the gavel.
Author's Note:
Yes, the ending point is deliberate. In fact, as of this posting, which of the the nominees will become Minister has not actually been defined. I'm currently writing scene 8-1 which will reveal that. The part was getting too long, in fact it nearly ended up being split, but the first two scenes were too short to do that.
There have been some concerns about my delay a day for pure "Post More Soon" reviews. Be aware that it is a method that makes my work turn out better, and other authors who have adopted it over the years, publicly or privately, have said likewise. Don't rush the writer. Any further concerns may be addressed via PM.
As usual, Compliments, Complaints, Comments, Corrections, and Critique accepted.