Minerva walked into the Wizengamot session with her Uncle Donavon. She was dressed in her finest emerald robes with the Ross crest prominently displayed. Euphemia Potter had insisted on a smaller Potter crest on the other side. Euphemia had explained the Old Families would appreciate it. Minerva had her hair braided elegantly and pinned up with an elaborate comb from the Ross vaults. Her Clan Ross Heir ring was on her ring finger. Minerva's betrothal ring was present as well. She had been horrified when it had appeared on her hand. She relaxed when she noticed Harry's matching one. It was Goblin forged with the Deathly Hallows symbol etched in it. Rare black diamonds and blood red jewels encrusted the band. Minerva thought it was obnoxiously large and attention seeking yet she had no desire to take it off since it connected her to Harry.
"My dear," Fleamont greeted with familiarity. "Lovely to see you again."
Minerva replied politely and then smiled at Harry who was being held by his grandfather. Harry was being introduced to the Wizengamot today as tradition dictated. He had matching emerald robes to Minerva's and the Potter crest was dominant on it. Harry's face lit up with happiness when he noticed her. She smiled and then extended her hand to caress his cheek. A voice whispered to hold her hand out to be kissed instead. Death? she mused but did as requested. Amazingly baby Harry managed to kiss her hand, musings and mutterings errupted especially by the witches at the action. Minerva laughed musically as she told Harry bye and followed her uncle to the Clan Ross seat and gave her full attention to the Wizengamot session.
"Someone managed to get a photograph of it," Fleamont said triumphantly as he showed the front page of the Daily Prophet. A wizarding image of Harry kissing Minerva's extended hand was on the front page! It showed Minerva laugh musically. Their betrothal rings were shown in great detail as well. Potter Heir greets his Soulmate! screamed the headline.
"Why are you so excited about that?" questioned Sirius with a raised eyebrow.
"It shows how Harry responds to Minerva and that this betrothal isn't just a publicity stunt," James clarified with a grin. "I gave the Daily Prophet an interview last night. Must of slipped my mind."
Fleamont glared at his son's mischievous grin. The eldest Potter read the article and chuckled at his son. "Good move on mentioning the Peverell betrothal rings," he told his son. "Adding Harry's constant desire to be around Minerva was nice as well."
"It may have seemed like I was too mischievous to pay attention but I assure you I listened to every lesson you taught me," James offered to his father then grinned. "I just inherited Mother's ability to drive you to insanity." Fleamont chuckled at his only son fondly.
Minerva cleared her throat and held her hand out for the newspaper and calmly read the article. "How did that article upsurp the Wizengamot session?" she asked curiously. There was no mention of the actual session!
"The arrogant pricks don't want actual news," Sirius answered. Euphemia walked by and smacked him on the back of the head. "Oww," he whined.
"Language dear," she responded unapologetically.
James and Minerva tried to hide their mirth at Sirius' situation.
Minerva was about to grab her cup of wine once again during dinner in the Great Hall when Heather the elf appeared and knocked it over. "I's sorry Mistress," the little elf said. "I's so clumsy. Mistress Euphemia requests your presence at once."
Minerva raised an eyebrow at the house elf but felt she needed to heed the warning the elf was trying to convey. "Very well," Minerva said with a sigh. "I shall take my leave now. I will return on Monday for breakfast."
"Please keep us abreast," Albus said calmly as Minerva rushed out of the Great Hall.
Outside the main doors, Heather looked at Minerva frantically. "Your drink was poisoned," she squeaked. "I's must get you to Potter Manor now!"
Minerva stared wide-eyed and started moving towards the gates hastily. "As soon as you are able to get me to Potter Manor, take me. Inform Fleamont and Euphemia what happened immediately," commanded Minerva as she ran as fast as she could to the gates.
Within minutes, Minerva reached the gates and stepped outside of the wards. Heather grabbed her hand and popped her to the family room of Potter Manor. She collapsed to the floor as her body convulsed. "Minerva," Euphemia screamed alarmed.
"Mistress was poisoned," Heather revealed. "I's couldn't pop her away with the wards."
"Cookie," James cried quickly. Once his elf arrived he demanded, "Get our strongest flushing draught on hand and force it into Minerva."
"Flower," Fleamont called. "Please call our healer and request a visit immediately. Also, contact Donavon Ross and ask him to visit."
Minerva was lifted up into James' arms and carried to her bedroom. He laid her on the bed just as Cookie returned. The flushing draught was spelled into Minerva's stomach. Euphemia pushed James from the room and then removed Minerva's clothes down to her underwear.
When the flushing draught started working, Euphemia held her close as her body forced the poison from her body. She begged Minerva to vomit the poison up. The elder witch knew Minerva held the future of her family. There would never be another for Harry.
"The poison did no permanent damage," Healer Smith answered as he walked into the parlor. "Minerva was lucky Heather was there. Another five minutes would have killed her."
Horrified by the notion, Lily asked, "Who would want to hurt our Minerva?"
"Heather managed to get a sample of the poison," Healer Smith informed. "This poison cannot be purchase in a store front. It must be brewed by a specialist due to the controlled ingredients and is only meant as an end of life option for the suffering. It's fast acting so she had to receive it at Hogwarts during dinner. My guess would be a staff member was responsible for its existence. Slughorn would be able to brew it but he would be more likely to collect her for his Slug Club. I would say Albus Dumbledore is responsible or he knows who is but that is purely speculation on my part."
"Why would you speculate that?" Fleamont asked curiously. Kerry Smith was a well known healer. He was notoriously neutral in the war. While Healer Smith didn't believe in the pureblood nonsense other purebloods believed, the wizard was smart enough to stay out of the conversation altogether. It was suprising he commented at all.
Healer Smith sat down and sighed. "Albus Dumbledore has been the guiding force in our world since his defeat of Grindelwald. I noticed his expression at Minerva's first Wizengamot session. I have heard rumors that the students think he is out of touch and unapproachable while everyone seems to go to Minerva for an answer. Her new appearance allows the students to relate to her more. Her new place in Magical Britain threatens him and his perceived position."
"All the students know Minerva runs the school," Lily offered. "Albus is only seen in the Great Hall for meals and while in his office when severe punishments are required. He is gone a lot more than he should. I personally don't see how he managed to keep the position with his others."
"Maybe he shouldn't be allowed to," James commented thoughtfully. Minerva had nearly died because of the jealousy of others. It was time to come out fighting it seemed. "Maybe we should invite the Board of Governors to brunch soon."
Fleamont eyed his son's determination. "I'm sure Euphemia would love to plan a lovely bunch for friends. You will need to reach out to Ida Ross as well. She can convince the darker leaning families."
"Let me know a place and time," Ida Ross said as she entered the room. "How's Minerva?"
"She will make a full recovery," Euphemia said friendly. "The Board of Governors will need to meet soon. Minerva will not be safe at the school with Albus there."
"He won't be there for a while," Donavon Ross answered smugly as he stood next to his mother. "I may have paid off the Romanians to cause a minor incident so the ICW is forced to deal with it."
"Did you really?" James asked suprised at the wizard.
"The Supreme Mugwump has been a thorn in the side of many countries," Donavon answered snidely. "He has been stripping countries of their cultures by attempting to ban the Old Ways. Some of the countries are so wrapped up in his vision that they have outlawed old practices in their countries and lost such important magic. Magic that they will be hard pressed to regain. He has to be stopped. Once I mentioned ousting Albus from the school, the price dropped dramatically."
"Why do I have a feeling you done more than that," Fleamont stated as he looked at his friend.
Donavon chuckled before admitting, "Because I did. I saw an opportunity towards your main goal. Lord Black was present at the meeting. He was merely curious of my intentions. I explained that Albus Dumbledore had to leave Hogwarts so that Minerva could bring back some of the Old Ways."
"How can you be sure she will," Lily asked. Minerva didn't seem to uphold traditions like the older families.
Donavon smiled at her before answering, "She still practices them herself and is aware of their importance. She wards her valuables with blood wards. Albus discontinued the classes that explained the Old Ways to students when he became Headmaster. He is responsible for the friction between old families and muggleborns. I personally never cared of a person's blood status but I do care about the Old Ways. More of the old families are like me than you realize. If you give those families another option in this war than it might be the turning point."
"Back to Lord Black," Sirius redirected curiously.
"Orion is ashamed of how he allowed your mother to treat you," Donavon admitted. "He never officially disowned you. Your brother was listed heir before you but with his suspected death, you are the heir to House Black. Orion has been searching for a way to reach out to you."
"He has," Sirius asked suprised.
"He has," Donavon revealed. "Orion does not carry the Dark Mark, I made sure of it. I explained he had to bring his family back together under neutral ground before he could gain you back. He is in talks with Andromeda now. She still practices the Old Ways so he is planning to bring her back in the family along with her daughter. He is quite taken with the young metamorphosis. He is meeting with every family member tomorrow to question their practices and look at their forearms. Orion made the comment that those with Dark Marks are committed to a self proclaimed Dark Lord so they can't be committed to House Black."
"Maybe Andy will take her family dog to the meeting," Sirius said mischievously as he looked at James.
"Go ahead and show them," James encouraged.
Sirius quickly changed into Padfoot and jumped up on Fleamont who looked amazed. "You're an animagus?"
"We both are," James answered. "We secretly learned at Hogwarts. It is suprisingly easy to find that information at Hogwarts."
"Minerva knew of your attempts," Euphemia answered smugly. "She knew how reckless you boys were and reasoned silently helping you would be better than forbidding you from attempting it. She was there for every one of your attempts. She wrote me when you first managed to transform. She thought it was rather amusing when you learned how to stand up in your form."
James looked at his mother in mild suprise. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"You boys needed an escape," she reasoned with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Never to escape you," James said lovingly as he transformed into Prongs and nuzzled his mother who laughed happily. He knew she was burdened by his pending death and always sought to make her smile when possible. He figured the memories would be special to her long after he and Lily were gone.