COVEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN –

The next day the Oracle came out amongst mixed reviews. The sales were better than expected but the credibility of the paper was uncertain. The one thing that helped the Oracle gain credibility is when the Daily Prophet came out on the following day citing that the Oracle was an illegal politically motivated propaganda paper and called for the Ministry to step up and arrest the editor and staff.

The following day the Oracle came out with it's lead article where Lord Potter and Minister Bones herself were interviewed in it. Both stated that the Prophet had lied as there was no laws against others printing a paper and that everything the Oracle had printed so far was the truth.

Harry went on to cite several inaccuracies that the Daily Prophet had allowed and where the former Minister Fudge had used it as his own political mouthpiece to tell his lies and propaganda. Harry went on to state perhaps the ministry should look into the political motivations of the Daily Profit as he had hard evidence of the constant lies they told all of the time."

Lord Rowlfe stormed into the Daily Profit to discuss with Lord Portman the recent events. "Lord Portman what are we going to do about this paper, the Oracle?"

Lord Portman scowled "Well as soon as we find the editor and any staff we are going to kill them. Unfortunately our plan to discredit them backfired because of the Minister and Lord Potter. The Oracle circulation almost tripled when they endorsed them and then Lord Potter halved our readers when he gave specific evidence of what we and Fudge had done in the past."

Lord Rowlfe scowled "Potter is becoming a greater thorn in our side. We are getting to the point where something must be done about him. If this continues we will be ruined."

Lord Portman snorted at him "Don't be a fool! If you attempt to touch Lord Potter either he or the backlash would kill us. The general populace would come after us with a vengeance as he would become a martyr." Lord Portman said softly I don't know how much more information he has on us or the Department of Mystery?"

Lord Portman fingered his pocket watch in concern "He utterly destroyed Lestrange in the most brutal and vicious manner possible in chambers. He did this to send a message out and I for one received it loud and clear." Portman turned to him "Are you prepared to defend yourself against him? Do we have someone that can fight him?"

Lord Rowlfe looked shocked before he turned to look out the main window "We can't sit around doing nothing. Did you see what he was hinting at this morning?"

Lord Portman picked up the paper and saw the second page article about Secret organizations within the ministry. Lord Portman replied "Oh, my! The Oracle is indirectly talking about us and the DOM." Lord Portman turned around to face Lord Rowlfe "If we say anything in defense of this secret organization we out ourselves and that is very clever."

Rowlfe stated quickly "Be amazed and impressed some other time as Potter is picking us apart and we have no one that can stand up to him."

Portman snorted in contempt "I think we went too far with repatriating those purebloods who fought against Potter at the battle of Hogwarts." Lord Portman stated "It was bound to get out eventually and I told you arrogant asses this many months ago. As I see it you, Lestrange and Goyle triggered what is happening."

An owl flew into the window and had a letter for Lord Portman. He opened it and his face went pale before he handed it to Lord Rowlfe.

Lord Rowlfe read it

To the B-RAT – PACK–

First, if you touch one hair on the editor's head to harm them I will hunt you and all one hundred and forty-three of its' current employees of the DOM until you are dead.

Second, you will make me the enforcer for the DOM review Board with full authority to bring to justice, in any manner, any person they deem a criminal.

Third, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle will have their money and property seized and then I will apprehend them for trial for lying under oath, extortion, and blackmail of an Ancient and Noble House.

Forth, If I have not received the documents within thirty minutes at forty minutes you and Lord Rowlfe will be found in your office dead.

Lord Harry James Potter,

Lord Rowlfe sneered "One of the definitive draw backs of being a secret organization is we cannot seek help. we are under attack and we need to respond."

Lord Portman chuckled "Do you honestly believe the Director of the DMLE will help us?"

Rowlfe looked at him before Portman continued "Also please note the current DOM has 143 employees now. Lestrange was removed from it upon his death. Lord Potter has found our department and he knows exactly who is in it." Portman tossed the note on his desk. Lord Portman shook his head no "We cannot because to do so, to do anything, is to confirm what the Oracle says is true."

Rowlfe screamed "Lord Portman Harry Potter is coming for us and he has a majority of the Wizengmont on his side. We don't know his allegiances and we don't have him in our pocket. He is too powerful and ruthless to leave alone and hope for the best."

Lord Portman chuckled "We do know his allegiance, he is very definitely against us and he has the tenacity and the skills to take us out."

Lord Portman frowned "I know all of this and even see the conclusion of it but at the moment, there is nothing we can do until we figure out a way out of this mess." Lord Rowlfe stormed back out of the office. Lord Portman looked out over the streets of Diagon Alley thinking of what they could do. The War had left their ranks devastated as the Death Eaters were the front line of defense and they had nothing between them and Lord Potter, the oracle, and themselves. Lord Potter was a very skilled fighter of that he had no doubt and his resolve against the purebloods was kill the wanker's and be done with it. Lord Portman chuckled to himself "That position left very little room for his desired negotiation tactics."

At the next session, Harry and his wives came to the Wizengmont. Harry watched in the hall before the chambers and saw fifteen members who had been identified as belonging to the Department of Mystery through the Elves and Fey spy network. Harry noted it also happened to be all of those who tried to censor him at the last session.

As the Session was called to order Harry and his wives watched the members proceed to sit themselves. Madam Longbottom banged the gavel "This Session of the Wizengmont is now in session. We have a tentative agenda in place and we will go with this first before we allow new business to come before this body.

It was an hour later and five votes on the new budgetary issues were concluded before they moved on. "I proclaim the prior agenda exhausted and now open this session for new business. A member of the DOM stood "I move that we close this session with no new business."

Hermione stood up "Objection to this motion!"

Before Madam Bones could answer the older man from the last session asked "Who are you to object?"

Hermione smiled "I am Lady Potter and as designated by Lord Potter as his representative. I now represent his block of votes in every session of the Wizengmont."

"A MUDBLOOD?" called out Amberton Rowlfe

Harry apparated over to his voting block and slapped him before raising his wand "I, Lord Harry James Potter-Black, call blood fued on House Rowlfe for the slight on Lady Potter in my presence."

Lord Rowlfe stood up with his hands raised "I do not acknowledge this blood feud with house Potter and ask what compensation I may make in lieu of fighting?"

Harry looked at him with a smile "Lord Rowlfe does your house proclaim itself to be an ancient house and you its' Lord?"

Lord Rowlfe looked around for support "I do, Lord Potter."

Harry smirked at him "Then for compensation I want your seat in this body and all the seats you control and your house ancient status stripped from you."

Rowlfe looked aghast as did many in the chamber. He beseeched the Chief Witch "Madam Longbottom how can what he ask for be considered just compensation for a mere slight of words?"

Daphne stood up "Madam I might remind this body that Lord Potter and Lady Potter hold Most Ancient and Most Noble status and only three such current houses hold this title. Also I wish to remind this body that Lord Potter did not inherit this title but won it not more than two years ago by his own actions and is the only house with this status recognized and heralded by the current Queen of England."

Daphne paused "This mere slight, that Lord Rowlfe threw so casually out was to the most prestigious noble house in all of magical England and therefore requires an unusually high price to make amends for any slight against it."

Madam Longbottom thought for a minute "Lord Rowlfe based on this logic and the fact that you used a word this very body has banned from use I agree with Lord Potter's assertion. You may either make compensation or you may duel."

Lord Rowlfe looked shocked and seeing no one else coming to his aid turned to Harry "So this is how you plan to overthrow the government?"

Harry smirked and then waved his finger at him "No, no , no Lord Rowlfe you are not the government. You are among a few in this government that did not learn your lesson two years ago. You are what remain of Lord Voldemort's base of support that fueled his Dark Path." Many within the chamber gasped upon hearing this.

Harry then stated loudly "I thought I finished the job and that enough good people would take care of the political wing of his organization and this is how I intend to overthrow your little gang of Pure blood elitist I have rooted out, your Pack of Rats that attack from the shadows. I am the exterminator and your time is up sir!"

Amberton Rowlfe's face sneered as he quickly pulled a dagger from his sleeve and launched himself at Harry. Harry had been ready for something like that but suddenly Amberton stopped mere inches from his target and felt a sharp piercing pain in his chest. He looked down and found the sword of Gryffindor had entered his chest through the heart and then he felt nothing more as his hands fell down to his sides in death.

Harry launched him to the chamber floor and levitated his dagger as he made his way to the floor. "Madam Bones you will find this Dagger was laced with a deadly poison, a highly illegal poison that was banned from use in Britain by the Wizengmont."

The Elderly man stood up from before "Lord Potter…"

Harry looked up at him as he held up a finger "Hold that thought sir before you are once again embarrassed." Harry looked to the Black seats "Daphne do you have the evidence for the three families?"

Daphne stood up "House Black asserts that House Rowlfe, House McNair, and House Goyle have been asserting an ancient house or a most Ancient house title they have not maintained, was stripped from them, or did not earn. We plead for this body to strip these illegal titles and remove them from this body for breaking the law as proscribed."

Daphne then waved her hand and the Ministry Office of records copies flew to each member. Harry let everyone read it. "Lord Goyle was stripped because he failed to pay enough in taxes for the last three decades to maintain this status. Lord McNair's house had that status stripped from the family in the seventeen hundreds and was never issued or requested their status changed after the proscribed 3rd generation. The McNair's heir after Mulciber's would have been eligible but not before."

Lord Rowlfe came to this country sixty years ago and no member has ever done anything worthy of obtaining Noble status, nor would it have mattered because his house was not of most Ancient status to obtain noble status anyway. Since he lost his seats through conquest today I have taken care of this problem and I will maintain the four seats gained today.

Madam Longbottom reviewed the evidence and then banged her gavel "Does Lord McNair or Lord Goyle have anything to say for their house in defense?"

Both looked at each other and then turned to the podium saying nothing. Lady Longbottom banged her gavel "Is there any member here that does not vote for their removal from this body." Five families raised their wands.

"Then Citizens McNair and Goyle the Aurors will remove you from this chamber and this building and you are hereby banned from working within any ministry department for two generations. Your seats…" She checked her notes "All five will be given to Lord Potter."

All members watched them go before Harry turned to the elderly member "Now sir you have my undivided attention. The elderly man shook his head "Lord Potter this body thanks you for your service and wonders how long it will be before you have pulled the very hereditary seats from us?"

Harry chuckled "Why good sir "I will do whatever it takes to make this a noble body once again. Of course I am a very big fan of the American system of government. If people who depend on our wise counsel are not represented or are not all represented then perhaps it is time for us to entertain a change in the system to make it more fair."

Gasps could be heard in the chamber as Harry looked around "I am telling you that corruption in government is at an end. Buying and selling your votes for your own petty gain will be rooted out of this body. I was remiss and naïve two years ago but I have ladies who have shown me the right path. If I catch you, any of you being corrupt I will bring that house down and wipe it from the Wizengmont rolls."

Harry then smiled before looking at Lord Portman "I already have one quarter of a department rooted out and have much more evidence to show this body. If you were RATS in this body, this ministry… my advice is for you to run now!"

Harry stepped in to his voting booth "You can choose to go as Lestrange and Rowlfe did or you can leave on your own no questions asked but I will be watching."