Convincing the lords of the counsel to vote for the return of the half breeds was a lot harder then the exiles. The exiles were among their own ranks. Gideon spent weeks working with Amelia and some of his newest allies to help write some new guidelines and laws surrounding the return of half breeds.
"The major arguments before has always been that no one wanted to give them equal rights. "Gideon sighed.
Severus nodded down at the papers. "They won't. They'll have their freedom and almost the same rights but we'll ensure people aren't scared."
Gideon went through them. "Even Remus would agree. Werewolves can go to normal schools as long as they are supplied with adequate security cells for full moons. Werewolves can't be denied work but any days missed for full moons must be made up at other points in the year. They must all agree to the wolfsbane potion."
Severus smiled. "Remus will like the last part where we ensure wolfsbane is provided to all infected without cost. He struggled to afford it for many years."
Gideon felt a pang for his godfather. "Well hopefully when the employment problems are cleared, that will no longer become an issue for them."
There were similar laws worked out to make life easier and put at ease the rest of society, about allowing most other half breeds to return. There were also new laws about the treatment of centaurs, house elves and goblins as well.
Amelia smiled at the one on goblins. "Lord Rangal will know he didn't put his trust in you without reason Gideon. Your family has long supported their kind."
Gideon looked up. "No one ever explained that to me. And which of my families. I mean he calls me Lord Black but the Black family reputation is well...black."
Severus smirked. "James' family, your adoptive family worked for centuries with the goblins to have land and money stolen from them, returned."
"Though I do believe you'd be surprised. There have been a few Blacks who have been the black sheep of their family over the generations."Amelia added.
"Only in my dad's family is common kindness and white magic considered being the black sheep. I guess dad and Sirius couldn't have been the only ones."
"There were a few including Phineas Nigellus, the old headmaster of the school but you have to look pretty closely to find them." Severus admitted.
Gideon sighed. "I guess all of our families have their dark side. I at least am comforted that my daughter has you and her grandfathers to look up to."
"And you, you fool. She will be incredibly blessed to have you as her daddy." Severus said and pulled his husband into a kiss.
Amelia laughed as she watched them. "I think we're done with these. I'd suggest we have copies made and sent out to all members of the counsel."
Gideon looked back at her. "That sounds like a plan. It will give them a week to go over the forms and decide how they might vote on the issue."
"Will the two of you be remaining in London or should I have your correspondence sent off to the manor?" Amelia asked.
Severus beamed. "We'll be home at the manor. Fabian's due date is growing closer and we won't take the chance of missing our daughter's birth."
"Then I will make sure to send the paper work on. I hope she comes before your next meeting or waits. I'd hate for you two to miss it."
Gideon stood up and shook her hand. "I have a silent agreement with my daughter and sister that they are going to stay put until I can be there for this."
Severus nodded when he saw Amelia's face. "He did have that conversation with his father's belly. Something to do with missing the actual conception."
Amelia grinned. "I would stand to agree with you Gideon on that. I don't know how muggles settle for such clinical procedures and surrogate parents."
"Well if I can't carry her I'm glad my dad is but next time I think we'll do it the old fashioned away."
Severus put an arm around him. "Speaking of your fathers and our daughter, they'll be expecting us back at any time now."
Gideon took his own copy of the papers and after shaking Amelia's hand and thanking her for all the support she had given them with the paper work, he headed home through the floo network with his husband. Both of his fathers were waiting when they got home to hear how things were going.
He smiled at his dad. "My husband let me know you and Siri weren't the first black sheep of the family. I'd like to hear more."
Regulus smiled and motioned for Gideon to sit. "Then I'd be happy to tell you more of them. Your daughter should know her heritage as should you."
Fabian smiled as he watched his husband and son sharing stories of their family. The Prewett family stories would be added with some time. As the birth of his daughter grew closer, it seemed Gideon's desire to understand the family he was born into, grew deeper.
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Gideon and his husband made their entrance into the hall. It was the first time that Severus would attend a meeting Wizengamot. They had been busy the past week as numerous lords had called them for tea, meetings and dinners. Today was the vote but he was even less certain of the out come then he had been previously.
As Cornelius called the meeting to order Gideon stood. "I hope you have all had a chance to review the proposed laws and regulations I had delivered to you."
A general murmur went up. Lord Hunt stood. "It seems High Lord you have covered many if not all of our concerns over returning the half breeds here."
Lady Goyle wasn't so sure. "They are still a danger to us. They have a history of siding with the dark lord."
Severus spoke. "Other then vampires and dementors, that is false. A few giants from time to time but half breeds are usually neutral if nothing else."
"And those who have joined the dark side have done so because of the persecution we have shown. If we continue to keep them in exile, they will go to his side." Gideon called out.
"So you propose that we institute these new laws and allow them to come back from exile. How do we know they will join our side?" An older lady spoke.
"We don't. But they will be more likely to be neutral. They will return, most of them, one way or another. Do we want them to return for his side?" Gideon asked.
"What about your propositions on the goblins and the centaurs, even the house elves? They are already here in this country." Another asked.
"Yes but their loyalty is in need for this war. The centaurs have information we can not find. The goblins have wealth we need and elves hold our secrets." Severus spoke.
"I am not asking for us to make them equals or even one of us, I am simply asking that we treat them with enough respect that they will not join the dark side."
Cornelius stood. "It is time for this body to take a vote. With the proposals of new laws presented by the High Lord, we vote on the return of the half breeds and the institution of these new laws."
Gideon felt his heart beating out of his chest as the vote was cast. It was far too close for his comfort but when the votes came to him he let out a sigh of relief, as he added his four votes and brought the total to 30-25.
Gideon stood up. "We have taken the next step to ensuring the future safety and peace of our world. These laws shall be passed within the next 24 hours."
Gideon was just calling the counsel to end when someone rushed in. It was a clerk from Amelia. "I must speak to the High Lord."
Severus ushered the clerk forward. "What news for my husband?'
"Word has come from your manor that you must come immediately. Your father has sent word that the healer has come." The clerk told him.
Gideon turned to his husband. "She's coming and so is my sister. We have to get back home before it is too late."
Lord Hunt came over to him. "Wish your father luck for us and congratulations Lord Black. I believe again Orion would have been proud."
Gideon accepted his congratulations but no others as he fled with his husband up to the office of Amelia so they could floo home to the manor. He just hoped his sister and daughter would wait long enough for him to get there.
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When Gideon and Severus burst into the bedroom where his father was to give birth they had their answer when they heard his father screaming from contractions. Though he hated to see him in pain, he was grateful he had not missed it.
Regulus looked up form his husband. "Thank Merlin you got here in time. The healer has told your father to start pushing."
Gideon bent down and kissed his dad's cheek. "My little daughter and sister only kept their promise by minutes then. The vote was barely over."
Between a contraction Fabian smiled. "Did it go as we hoped?"
Severus squeezed Regulus' shoulder. "Your son's honorary godfather should be back home legally by the time our daughter and yours is a day old."
The healer cut them off and ordered Fabian to continue to push. Gideon, Severus and Regulus watched in amazement as one beautiful little girl came forth and when her lungs were cleared she let out a lusty cry. The healer handed her off to her assistant to be cleaned as she went back to healing.
Gideon looked down at the baby. "She is definitely my little sister. She looks to much like dad to be mine."
Sure enough when Regulus held the baby you could see the resemblance to both Black brothers in the features of the baby. "She is so beautiful." Regulus sighed.
The second baby chose that moment to make her entrance but no cries filled the room and Gideon looked down in horror as he saw his daughter on the blanket, her cord wrapped around her neck and making her turn blue.