Yeah, yeah, I know you're sick of hearing about how I don't own Harry Potter and all that. So complain to the lawyers about it, meanwhile read the next chapter.
Harry and Ron apparated to the Ministry of Magic building in London at exactly six thirty that evening. They both wore their best robes and a determined expression as they took the lift down to the seventh floor which was the floor that contained most of the government offices. "Remember that you must formally accept your role as proxy before you'll be allowed to vote, and you must always speak in the third person while at the table." Harry was saying as they walked down the corridor. Normally Ron would have cut off the ramblings but he was very nervous about this so he barely heard a word of it. Not that it mattered as he and Harry had been over this many times since dinner that evening. They entered the meeting chamber of the Table of Wizards to find only Aberforth Dumbledore had arrived.
"Harry, glad to see that my brother's habits did rub off on you" Aberforth said walking over and extending his hand. "Mr. Dumbledore" Harry said shaking his hand, "Albus was a great man and friend as well as the best teacher I have ever known. Please accept my condolences for his passing."
"Thank you Harry," Aberforth answered, "Albus enjoyed his time with you more than any other person. He considered you the son he never had. And as to his passing, we all knew it was coming. At least he died quickly; he suffered enough last year with that burned hand that Severus really did him a favor ending his life quickly. "He what!" asked an astonished Ron. "Ah, Mr. Weasley" Aberforth said surveying Ron over the tops of his glasses, "Albus' hand pained him greatly until the end of his life. He described its feeling like his hand was constantly burning and a poison was flowing in his veins. The injury would have killed him sooner except Albus was a very gifted wizard who had an aptitude for potions that Severus always envied. Albus took painkilling potions three times a day for the last year of his life, he often said he wished that he could just let go and die but that he knew he was needed too much for that." Aberforth smiled at them, "Now I'm not saying that Severus is innocent or the model wizard, but perhaps he is not as evil as you perceive."
Ron and Harry looked at each other astonished at the news that Aberforth had just revealed to them. "Mr. Dumbledore, where exactly do I sit and how does this work?" Ron asked in a timid voice. Aberforth placed a hand on Ron's shoulder, "Easy lad, this in nothing more than a meeting of everyday wizards to discuss the laws of the wizarding world. As a proxy you have to be a little more formal than the rest of us, but your opinion is valued just like ours. You sit there" he motioned to a chair covered in a black cloth embroidered with the Black family coat of arms. "Don't remove the cloth until you have been named and accepted, after that just speak for the House of Black and do what you think is best for that house." He smiled as Ron nodded beginning to sweat slightly. "Oh, and after you are seated there is a handprint carved into the underside of the table. Place your hand in it and think of your favorite drink and a never emptying goblet will appear full of it." Ron and Harry both nodded as the rest of the Table of Wizards began to arrive.
Harry quickly found his family's coat of arms engraved into the back of a chair that was made of some metal he couldn't place. He looked at Ron who nodded as the rest of the members were seated. Ron and Harry remained standing behind their respective black draped chairs. Aberforth sat at his chair and banged a gavel on the table; the meeting came to order instantly.
"I Aberforth Dumbledore hereby call upon the Table of Wizards to meet and discuss the laws of the land" Aberforth said regally. "We the members of the Table of Wizards herby answer the call of the house of Dumbledore." The other members said as one. Aberforth smiled, "We have come to discuss the leadership of our world, but before we do I am pleased to see that Harry Potter has come to claim the seat belonging to the House of Potter. Are there any objections to his right to hold the seat?" No one said anything. "Very well, Mr. Potter the Table of Wizards welcomes you as the voice of your family." Aberforth said indicating that Harry should be seated. Harry sat down and placed his hand in the carved handprint under the table summoning a large goblet of pumpkin juice. "Also we have been informed that Mr. Potter was made the head of the House of Black according to the will of the last head Sirius Black, is this true Mr. Potter?" Aberforth continued while Harry settled himself.
"It is true" Harry said in an authoritative voice, "However as I can not hold two seats at this honored table and have not yet had the time to speak to the male members of the House of Black I appoint Ron Weasley as proxy for the House of Black at this meeting."
"Very well, are there any objections to the proxy at this time?" Aberforth asked to group. Again there was silence, although the head of the Parkinson house seemed like he wanted to say something. Hearing no objections Aberforth went on, "Then if the proxy understands the responsibilities and limitations of the office he is afforded I move that we as the Table of Wizards welcome Ron Weasley to occupy the seat of the House of Black until a permanent representative is named by the head of house." He looked expectantly at Ron.
"I Ronald Billius Weasley accept the honor of representing the House of Black by the leave of head of the family Harry Potter until he removes me and names another to hold this seat. I accept that my decisions at this table may have far reaching consequences and swear to act in the best interest of the House of Black regardless of my personal views" Ron said in an official tone. Aberforth looked around the table waiting for a second to the motion.
"I Xenophelius Lovegood second the motion of the House of Dumbledore and herby ask for a vote at this time" said a small eccentric looking wizard to Harry's left. The vote was cast and only one member voted against the motion.
"Very well, Mr. Weasley the Table of Wizards recognizes you as proxy for the House of Black, please take your seat" Aberforth said gesturing to the black draped chair. Ron removed the drape, folded it carefully and set it on the table in front of his chair before sitting down. The rest of the table seemed pleased that Ron chose to leave the drape signifying that the seat was not held by a family member visible to the meeting. "Very good," Aberforth continued, "Shall we get started then?" Everyone nodded. "Right, first order of business the declaration of attendance." They went around the room each representative stating their name and their right to hold their seat, after they had all stated their claim Aberforth spoke again, "The table recognizes the unclaimed seats of the Houses of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin," He pointed to four golden draped chairs to his right, "and Malfoy" he pointed directly across from him to a black draped stone chair. There was a general murmur of agreement from the rest of the group. This was done at every meeting because everything at these meetings was magically recorded. By having everyone state their claim on their seat there could be no argument that the laws proposed by the Table were proposed by someone who did not have the right to do so. Also naming those unclaimed seats kept a record for the ministry so that if a male heir to one of these families were to appear the Ministry could notify them of the seat. "Now then, second order of business is grievances against the Ministry." Aberforth stated, "Any to report?" The room was relatively quiet as the members began pulling files from their robes to make their presentations to the Table of Wizards. Mr. Lovegood was the first to stand. Aberforth looked up and said, "Xenophelius Lovegood of the House of Lovegood what grievance do you bring to this table?"
"I wish it to be known that the Daily Prophet has been reporting only that which Minister Scrimgour approves thereby leaving the bulk of the wizarding world ignorant concerning the current state of our world. Minister Scrimgour has overstepped his office in this and I believe that this body is required to at least make a formal protest in this matter" Mr. Lovegood stated surprising Harry and Ron who had thought he was quite insane when they met him.
"Very well Xenophelius" Aberforth said looking for the next grievance. Harry stood quietly. "Harry Potter of the House of Potter what grievance do you bring to this table?" asked Aberforth.
"My grievance is also with the Minister," Harry said, "although it concerns the minister's unwillingness to grant a fair trial to suspected criminals and Death Eaters." Many eyebrows were raised but no one questioned Harry, that would come later. Surprisingly all the other wizards who had begun to stand to present a grievance sat down.
"May we assume then that the bulk of this body disapproves of the minister's leadership?" asked Aberforth in an amused voice. Everyone nodded. "Are there any other grievances to present?" An elderly man to Ron's right stood and motioned to Aberforth. "Randolph Zabini of the House of Zabini, what grievance do you bring to this table?"
"My grandson Blaise Zabini tells me that the balance of his account at Gringott's was charged a ministry tax of twenty galleons without his knowledge. We have investigated the claim and found it to be true, what we do not know is why the tax was applied. Blaise is still in school at Hogwarts and therefore not responsible for taxes to the ministry."
"This is disturbing news Randolph," Aberforth stated gravely, "Have the goblins been able to shed any light on the mystery tax?" he asked.
"No they have not" replied Randolph Zabini, "however; Blaise tells me that his own investigation showed that any account that was believed to be available to the Death Eaters has been being taxed heavily over the past few months. Unfortunately, the only evidence we have is hearsay. And the testimony of a bunch of teenage witches and wizards which will convince few in the Wizangamut."
"Indeed it will not," Aberforth stated sorrowfully. "Very well, if there are no other grievances," he looked around but no one else stood, "then at this time we will move on to proposed changes." Ron stood shaking in anger. "Ronald Weasley, proxy for the House of Black, what changes do you propose?" Aberforth asked.
"The House of Black calls for a vote of impeachment of Minister Scrimgour in response to the grievances presented by the houses of Potter, Lovegood, and Zabini." Ron said fire dancing in his eyes. The room erupted into yells of support and shock.
"There is no proof that any of the grievances you cited are valid," shouted Randolf Nott, "What right do you, a proxy, have to call for such a vote." Harry quickly stood and the room fell silent as Aberforth raised his hand.
"There is proof that the Potter grievance is valid Mr. Nott," Harry said pulling the minister's letter from his pocket. "I captured the Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange on my seventeenth birthday," he said enlarging the letter so that it could easily be read by the group, "with the permission of the head of the Aurors, she was detained in my basement so that I could question her. Also Sirius Black, who was imprisoned without a trial, has returned to this country and is also at my home. I wrote the minister this morning offering to relinquish both suspects to him if I could testify at their trials. This is the response I got." He finished waving his wand and causing the enlarged letter to float and revolve in the middle of the table.
"If Sirius Black is alive and well, why is he not here fulfilling his duty to his family? Why are you, Mr. Potter, acting as the head of the Black family?" asked an irate Randolph Nott.
Harry smiled an evil smile, "Because reports were sent out by very credible sources that he was dead, therefore in accordance with his wishes the goblins of Gringott's executed his will which made me head of the House of Black. You, of course, understand that once the will is executed it cannot be un-executed. All transfers of money and power or title are final." Harry paused to look Nott square in the eye, "And as you well know as a suspected murderer he would not be allowed into the Ministry or this chamber" he said raising and eyebrow at Mr. Nott.
"I also would like to present that Harry Potter was attacked at his aunt and uncles home in Surrey both last summer and this summer and not a word has been printed about it, and yet the Prophet has printed every discrediting story they can get their hands on about him for the last three years. I printed Rita Skeeter's interview with Harry Potter year before last because she told me and I quote, 'the Minister will never allow a story showing Harry to be sane to be printed'" Xenophelius stated also levitating a copy of the interview to the middle of the table. "The Table of Wizards should also know that two days after the interview ran, the Minister sent Magical Law Enforcement agents to my shop to confiscate the manuscript and all copies of the issue containing the interview."
"But that occurred under minister Fudge did it not?" yelled Randolph Nott.
"Indeed it did, yet the fact remains that Scrimgour has not corrected the problem and is still raiding the offices of the prophet and my shop on a weekly basis to censor what is printed concerning Harry Potter. If you will direct your attention to the bottom of the document I presented you will see the M.L.E. symbol next to the statement saying that the article is now classified and the date of last Tuesday" Xenophelius said triumphantly.
Ron stood again, "The House of Black recognizes that we can not prove that the Minister has anything to do with the unfair taxes of students at Hogwarts, however, I would like to point out that the Ministry of Magic is required to state the reason for assessing a tax. The only official that the goblins would allow to access the vaults without a signed statement from the Minister of Magic, is the Minister of Magic."
"How do you know this?" Nott shouted.
Ron smiled at him, "Because my brother Bill Weasley is a curse breaker for Gingott's and is very familiar with their policies concerning the wizards Ministry of Magic." Harry had to smile, he knew that Ron had always been in his shadow, but here was Ron going toe to toe with a highly respected wizard and thoroughly wining the debate.
"Enough" shouted Aberforth, "The fact remains that the House of Black has called for a vote of Impeachment, evidence has been presented to justify the vote, and therefore all that remains is to vote." Everyone got quiet and stared at Aberforth. "As holder of the oldest active seat at the table I call this to be a secret vote. We will all cast our votes now." Everyone waved their wands and two white poker chips appeared on the table while some twenty black ones appeared. "Very well the Table of Wizards has spoken. Minister Scrimgour has been considered by this body and found unfit to lead. He will be impeached by the Wizengamut tomorrow at six p.m." "The time is now ten o'clock and this meeting of the Table of Wizards is now closed." There was a buzz of conversation as the group left, Ron got up carefully replaced the black cloth over his chair and he and Harry walked out of the room together.
Harry and Ron were very busy over the next few days, the Wizengamut had voted unanimously to convict minister Scrimgour of numerous crimes including, slander, levying illegal taxes and obstruction of justice. For these crimes, as well as others he was removed from office and sentenced to two months in Azkaban. Amos Diggory was appointed as the interim Minister on the strength of the recommendations of the Houses of Black, Potter, and Dumbledore. Harry and Ginny had also now taught one class of every student in the school while Ron and Hermione desperately researched the remaining horcruxes.
Saturday morning dawned clear and cold. Harry woke to the sound of owls at the window; this could only be correspondence of investments or the Ministry. Not even Sirius sent letters to his window. Reluctantly Harry got out of bed to let them in. He shivered as he put on his warmest dressing gown, a red and gold Turkish robe given to him by Tonks a few years ago. Harry had, at the time, thought that it was a beautiful garment but didn't expect to use it much as the rooms at Hogwarts were always heated and he figured he'd outgrow it before he graduated. It seems, however, that Tonks was a very thorough witch. The robe grew with Harry and now Harry was mentally worshiping Tonk's thoughtfulness as he enjoyed the warmth and comfort of the robe. He looked back to his bed to find his wife still fast asleep. Ginny and Hermione had had late night detentions ever since the meeting of the Table of Wizards. Harry found out on his return that Crabbe had broken his habit of remaining silent and made some comment about Harry and Ginny's marriage that landed him in the hospital wing overnight. The rest of Gryffindor house had told him that Ginny and Hermione had flown into a truly spectacular rage and cursed Crabbe six ways from Sunday. They had also told him that, while Headmistress McGonagall had set the two the detentions, she did not appear to disapprove of their actions. Noticing that Ginny had curled into a tighter fetal position when Harry had left the bed, Harry picked up a spare quilt the Ginny's mother had made for them as a wedding present and gently laid it over Ginny. He watched amused she smiled in her sleep her hands clutching the quilt. Silently wishing he could have recorded that he turned and took the letters into their sitting room to read. The first several were third quarter financial reports of several companies that he owned stock in. All looked to be doing well, several new products were set to be released that were sure to raise stock prices. These pleased Harry as he read through them quickly, but it was the letter from the new Minister of Magic that captured is interest. It was brief, telling him that Sirius Black's hearing was to be held at two o'clock that day. The minister had previously arranged with Harry to hold Sirius and Bellatrix as no one knew where they were, saying that it was probably safer for the accused there. The minister also apologized for the late announcement but the Wizengamut had squeezed the Black case in. Harry sat down at his desk to write to Sirius and Bellatrix to let them know about the trial as Hedwig landed on his shoulder. "Afraid, I might use a school owl girl?" Harry asked the abnormally intelligent owl. Hedwig ruffled her feathers in an annoyed fashion and stuck out her leg. Harry laughed at her, tied the letter to her leg and gave her an owl treat saying, "Take these home and wait there, Ginny and I will be there later." The owl hooted quietly and took off, Harry watched her go for a moment before picking up the Marauder's map and his invisibility cloak to sneak down to the kitchens to get Ginny her favorite breakfast.