The Greatest Minister for Magic in History Part 10

Cornelius Fudge and Sirius Black were both sitting at a table in the Leaky Cauldron. They could have gone to Rosmerta's in Hogsmeade but the Leaky Cauldron was closer to the Ministry and farther away from Hogwarts – no one was particularly interested in having the Chief Warlock take too much interest, if only to avoid interference.

They all respected the man, but he did tend to butt in where he wasn't strictly needed.

With them sat Ashlee Attaberry, Deputy Director of the Interior for Muggle Affairs. She was just as interested in getting word as soon as possible as to her boss being successful or not in catching Peter Pettigrew.

Instead of a private room, the group was sitting out in the common room of the pub. Different people would come to say hello and the Minister would greet them personably. The normal guards for the Minister were standing back and observing, making certain no one took a chance at the Minister.

As the Minister kept getting distracted, Sirius and Ashlee would talk until Sirius said something too outrageous or forward – and then the Minister would clear his throat or enter a comment or otherwise remind Sirius that he was present.

Sirius would smile sheepishly and back off and Ashlee would roll her eyes at her erstwhile uncle.

Cornelius was actually having a lot of fun playing chaperone.

The tone around the tap room was fairly cheerful. The patrons were actually quite impressed that a Ministry big-wig would willingly sit among the common people and drink with them. They also had a lot of fun watching the playboy, Sirius Black, get knocked down a time or two in his predations on a member of the female persuasion.

Sirius didn't actually feel that put off by Fudge. Whenever a random bloke would make a comment toward his relation, the bloke would receive a rather chilly welcome by the Minister. That Sirius was being allowed to be friendly at all meant that Fudge wasn't truly offended.

The girl, in truth, was a year or two too young for him but that became less and less important as one got older. The rule was half the bloke's age plush seven – and Ms. Attaberry was three years too young for that, him being 30 and her being 19.

But when he was thirty-five, she would be 24 1/2 – he was just putting his charms into the pot for her future consideration.

Ashlee Attaberry actually found the older man amusing – thirty he might be but his mentality was closer to her own age. She looked at him as a project to amuse herself with – she wasn't looking for a serious relationship at the moment; she was just trying to get used to having such an important job in the Ministry for Magic. And yanking her newfound Uncle's chain was fun too. The Minister had been nothing but friendly with her and seemed to have a sense of humour one didn't normally associate with politicians.

At about 7:20, the group saw Kingsley Shacklebolt come in to the pub through the floo. He looked around and spied the Minister and walked over. Quietly he said, "We got him."

Sirius looked at the tall, black Auror. "No problems? He's in custody?"

Kingsley nodded. "Amelia sent me to inform you that Rufus Scrimgeour, the Senior Auror, would begin the interrogation soon under her supervision."

The three stood up. Sirius called out to Tom, "Tom!" The bartender looked over and saw the small bag that was coming toward him and caught it. "The next round or two or whatever that will cover for the house is on me!"

The pub's patrons cheered at the man's generosity even as the group quickly retreated through the floo.

The Minister and the rest arrived to the Interrogation area and were greeted by Amelia Bones. "Minister, Mr. Black, Ms. Attaberry; welcome back. Arthur got the rat to eat the cheese. We're about to supply the antidote and then force the reversal."

The Minister nodded at Amelia and Arthur, who was stoically watching through the charmed wall (much clearer than Muggle one-way glass).

The Aurors inside the room put a dropper of the potion in the rat's mouth. The rat stirred and suddenly got up. It was sitting in an area on the floor of the interrogation room which would be impossible for a rat to escape from – unless they could transform and step out of it.

"Peter Pettigrew. You've got two wands on you. Transform or we'll make you. You've got ten second." The Senior Auror's voice was harsh.

The rat scurried around for a moment and then stopped. Finally, just as the watching guards were about to cast, the rat transformed into a dirty, rat-faced man. "Thank Merlin! I've been scared for my life! Sirius Black is dangerous and tried to kill me. I've been hiding out so that he won't come back if he hears that I'm still alive!"

The second Auror cast a perfectus totalis and the rat-faced man dropped down onto the ground. Scrimgeour replied, "Likely story. Black testified under veritaserum. Search him!" the man said to his second.

The second Auror quickly searched the petrified prisoner. Besides his own wand and a second one (which would later be confirmed as the Dark Lord's) the rat-faced man had quite a bit of spare change that he had gathered over the years when he wasn't being actually watched by one Weasley or another – petty theft was obviously how the man had had ensured he had resources if he ever had to run.

As a final step, the man's forearm was checked – and there it was: Grayed out as though it had lost some of its definition was the Dark Mark.

"That pretty much puts paid on any idea that you're an innocent bystander. So let's not waste any more time." Rufus quickly countered the spell as the second Auror put handcuffs on that would suppress Pettigrew's ability to transform. The Auror then forced the man to stand and pushed him into a chair.

Pettigrew tried to transform but wasn't successful. His face took on a frightened look. "I was forced to! The Dark Lord was so strong!"

The interrogation proved what a pathetic man Peter Pettigrew had become. Amelia would push for use of Veritaserum – it was obvious that he was trying to put the blame on anyone other than himself.

In the end, Sirius Black just turned away at the complete waste that his former friend had become. With a quiet word to set an appointment to visit his godson, Sirius Black retreated to go and grieve what could have been.

The Minister listened to his niece as she explained what she had found. It was three days until Halloween. There were several Muggle Samhain celebrations but most were private affairs. According to her research, the people who had these celebrations had private dinners as part of the Samhain observances, where they would feast and leave places for their loved ones who had passed over. They also had bonfires where they would attempt to sacrifice their bad habits for the year.

Some celebrated on Halloween, some celebrated on the nearest full moon, and some celebrated on Novermber 6 as the Midpoint between the two equinoxes.

It happened to be that this year, the nearest full moon was on 2 November.

Traditionally, the celebrations were on All Hallow's Eve. But the Muggles tended to be fairly flexible. Different Muggle "sects" used different dates.

The Minister sat back and considered. He really had waited too long and let too many things distract him – there was no time to arrange a proper Samhain celebration for 1990, or at least not one large enough to make the impact that he wanted.

He also realized his other mistake: He was paying too much attention to Muggle celebrations. Perhaps he should consult with that Goblin healer again … or perhaps some of the more traditional families on the Wizengamot. They would most likely have records as to how celebrations were traditionally celebrated.

His main reason for researching the Muggles was to actually allow the Wizarding world to slide into things that were recognized by Muggles which would allow the Statute of Secrecy to be upheld that much better. He also wanted the credit for bringing back such an important part of Magical history while taking advantage of the information that he had been given by the goblin healer in Gringotts.

Finally, he decided: He would spend the next six months researching the various celebrations privately. He would consult the healer Breakfist so that the goblins knew that he was not ignoring their words – always good to maintain good and profitable relationships.

Suddenly, he had an idea. It didn't provide him with the acclaim that he had hoped for, but those in the know were aware who had helped rekindle Magical traditions throughout Britain.

Daily Prophet, Page 4

Muggles Celebrating Magic– Samhain in the Muggle World.

What followed was the product of Ashlee Attaberry's research – she was named as a contributing source – and comparisons between what the Muggles did and what Magicals had done centuries ago. Except for the removal of any blood or animal sacrifice, it was remarkably similar.

It also explained how Muggle Christians had attempted to subsume these festivals or do away with them so as to promote their own beliefs.

The Minister had commented about what he had learned regarding such traditions, citing the Wizengamot record for the Regulation of Magical Artifacts and its accompanying reference materials as regards the cleansing properties of such rites.

It also expressed a hope that Magical families would see fit to start practicing, once again, their own heritage instead of leaving such things for only a scattered few Muggles to profit from.

The Prophet had a description of a Samhain ritual, including all steps, needed items, and the traditional spells and chants. It also included places where most items could be bought – both in the Magical world as well as the Muggle world.

The idea of Muggle shops to sell "magical" items was surprising to many readers, especially because they didn't violate the Statute of Secrecy. Such shops started seeing an increase in business which most attributed to curiosity. Gringotts made a few more fees on Galleon to Pound transactions – they were happy to get rid of the Pounds they received every year any way they could while still making a profit.

The Minister was so satisfied that he planned on repeating the theme for other Muggle observances for Magical holidays or rites. Some were not really celebrated or known in the Magical world as a whole, being more regional or more peculiar to Muggle pagan sects, but as human interest the Prophet agreed to include descriptions of each one as the year went forward.

Surprising to the Minister and his Undersecretaries who were in the know, Dumbledore did nothing to discourage such observances. His only recorded comment on the subject was to remark how enlightened the Muggles were to remove blood and animal sacrifices from such festivals, thus negating his true disdain for such celebrations in the past.

Perhaps, Cornelius considered, Dumbledore was truly not such a non-traditionalist as he and Augusta had supposed. The Chief Warlock had just done what the Wizarding world as whole had a tendency to do: Rather than change things so as to avoid the likelihood of Dark magic, wizards tended to be reactionary and just remove things which MIGHT be Dark.

The idea of actually changing the rituals as possible to reflect the changing mores of Magical society likely hadn't occurred to magicals in the past – thus the festivals falling by the wayside. The Muggle answer, it seemed, had been much more rational and reasoned.

Magicals were not good with change. Or logic. They also tended to be 'Purists.' A pity in this case.

So, Cornelius mused, with a little nudge perhaps the Wizarding world could return some of its traditional elements.

Little did Cornelius know at that moment that his efforts would be aided from a completely unexpected quarter.

-Malfoy Interlude

Narcissa Malfoy read the article in the Daily Prophet with some interest. Narcissa was a member of the Wizarding World elite – her birth family was as old or older than most others (even her husband's family could not claim such a long lineage) and she had married into another wealthy magical family.

For a woman of her intelligence and acumen, she at times felt her life wasted as a socialite, regardless of how playing such a part helped her husband maintain their social standing.

The rites and rituals that the Prophet reported sounded … right … to her.

It helped that recently Malfoy Manor had been equipped with a ward to hold all Dark objects that the Malfoy family owned. While they were displayed in a room set aside for such things, their effect on the rest of the home had been dissipated.

Since that time, her mind had become … less distracted. Her son, after having been subject to a cleansing ritual had suddenly lost much of his "Malfoyness" that he had been growing toward and he was much closer to the innocent boy she given birth to and raised.

The ritual had been so successful that she had availed herself of it as well. Her mental dexterity had received a huge boost. She felt cleaner than she ever had – even as a child, she had been surrounded by many Dark objects and it obviously had effects that she hadn't expected.

She had taken to trying to convince her husband to also take part in such a ritual. He was reluctant, but seemed less and less disagreeable about it the longer his surroundings were no longer affected by the magics that the ward contained.

She had even started taking care of a small garden of her own as a pastime, rather than having the elves maintain the Manor's grounds and surrounds. A small garden at the rear of the house now contained some flowers, herbs, and other plants that she enjoyed.

Her husband had been slightly disdainful but had allowed her her private pursuits. Her son had been confused but occasionally, when she prompted him, assisted her if there was nothing else to do for the moment.

Children hated being bored more than getting their hands dirty it seemed.

Reading the paper once more, Narcissa came to a decision. She got up and went to find her husband. He was in his study, making notes in a book.

"Lucius?" she said from the door.

He looked up. "Yes, 'Cissa?" His shortening of her name in private was one of the few informalities the man allowed himself, a small break from the image of a 'powerful Pureblood Wizard.'

She came in and sat down across from him. "Have you read the Prophet today?"

Lucius nodded. "Yes. Earlier. What of it?"

"Did you read the article on traditional rituals?"

Lucius got a slightly disagreeable look. "Yes. Muggles." He scoffed. "How Muggles expect to achieve the benefits of true magical rituals is beyond me. It seems silly."

Narcissa's face became less animated and Lucius almost instinctively knew he had blundered. "I find it quite fascinating that Muggles celebrate our traditional holidays and festivals and that we have largely abandoned them. I think that it's a tragedy that needs to be put to rights."

Lucius sat back. "Perhaps showing these Muggles their …" he didn't finish the sentence as his wife's face became more stormy. "No – it's not like it affects us. What do you thing we should do?"

"I think that we should investigate. And perhaps we should gather or purchase the items needed to perform our own Samhain ritual. I think our time of bowing the Muggles' Christian religion should come to an end. Halloween was celebrated by witches and wizards far before Muggles got their hands on it. And if the source of such things happen to be Muggles who have researched the past and brought these back? So be it."

Lucius sighed. His wife had made up her mind. Regardless of the claimed superiority of the Wizard in most magical marriages, Lucius had learned long ago something that most Muggles had a saying for: Happy wife: Happy life.

Its obverse was also true: Unhappy wife: Unhappy life. Narcissa had grown up a Black, and Blacks were experts at making those that upset them truly regret it. He plastered on his best smile. "That would be fine, 'Cissa. Do you need Muggle money to visit one of these shops listed in the article?"

Narcissa took on a sweet smile. "No, you get the money and bring it. You and Draco are coming with me."

Lucius almost groaned – but he wasn't suicidal. "Yes, dear."

Lucius Malfoy followed his wife and son down the Muggle road which contained the shop they were planning on visiting. Each of them was dressed in Muggle clothes provided by Madam Malkin. Lucius was observant enough to notice that the Muggles around them weren't quite dressed the same, but it was close enough not to comment.

An observer would classify the family as dressing 'traditionally' – they looked about thirty years out of style but nothing that was unfamiliar to the average Londoner. The men's shirts had a few more flourishes than was strictly common. Narcissa actually wore a robe that appeared to be nearly a Muggle dress.

Lucius found it somewhat fetching, surprisingly.

Draco, his son, was trying to maintain his public demeanour but was obviously fascinated by the people and things seen in the shop windows.

The family had been dropped off by the Knight Bus – the area being unfamiliar. Lucius was on the lookout for an apparition location that was conveniently close. Luckily, London – especially this area – had many nooks and crannies that were commonly unobserved. He would ward one of them before they left with notice-me-not and muggle-repellant charms.

Finally, they arrived at the shop mentioned in the Prophet and they entered. Lucius looked around. To his surprise, it reminded him of some of the more common shops in Diagon Alley – it didn't have a Muggle feel to it. Even more surprising, several customers and the staff wore robes. They were Muggle in manufacture but he honestly found that most wouldn't be worth a second glance in a magical district.

The approach of an older woman was almost unnoticed until she spoke.

The Wiccan Priestess looked at the family who had entered the shop. Very few times had her Goddess spoken to her in her heart such that she could almost hear the words, but something about these had moved something within her: She was walking forward before she even stopped and considered.

She first addressed the woman. "Good afternoon. You come from a family long steeped in magick. Your countenance sings of your connection to the Earth Goddess. Indeed, you appear to be the very epitome of the Goddess in her Mother form. You do well to come here today."

She ignored the startled looks upon their faces as she turned to address the man. Her eyes became harder. "You, however … you have been too steeped in magicks best avoided, although it seems … you have been distancing yourself from them. You must continue on this path."

She noticed the resigned look upon the man's face. She addressed the woman again. "You shall join my coven where I am High Priestess. Return tomorrow and I will make you my acolyte. For a year and a day you shall learn the rites and rituals of the Earth Goddess and her consort, the Horned God of the Earth. And at the end, you shall become High Priestess of your own coven. In a year and two days, you shall lead your own Sanhaim rites for your own people."

She addressed the couple together. "While fairly open about sex and sexuality as most Wiccans tend to be, the witches of my coven are fairly monogamous. So you will need your husband to help you as you learn."

She addressed the man. "You will go and today or tonight or tomorrow morning, you shall take the cleansing that your wife and son have so recently availed themselves of. Without this, you would not be a worthy vessel for the Earth God during rites. You shall then return with her tomorrow night. She will begin by learning how to perform the rites of Sanhaim, which she will assist me with two nights hence. You shall also be there."

She then turned to the young boy. "You are young yet. Yet your whole being sings of your connection to the snake." She noted absently the boy's look turn to one of satisfaction – surprising in such a young boy. She retreated and brought back a silver necklace. It was shaped in the traditional winged rod with two snakes intertwined. This one seemed more appropriate than the Rod of Asclepius – he seemed more a future merchant than future healer. Perhaps he would become a priest of Hermes?

She said to the father – because she knew he would be holding the purse – "This will be thirty pounds." Surprisingly, the entire family seemed to take her observations as a positive thing. The man withdrew a new looking wallet and pulled out three ten-pound notes and handed them over.

She passed these to an assistant who rang the purchase up even as she gave the necklace to the woman to put on her son. As the woman did so, she addressed the boy. "The Winged Staff is called a caduceus. The god or divine force of magic, Mercury to the Romans and Hermes to the Greeks, carried such a staff. Besides being the god of magic and the messenger of the gods, he also was the god of herdsmen, thieves, oratory, poetry, sports, invention, trade, commerce, merchants, roads, boundaries, and travelers. He also was the intercessor between the mortals and the gods and was the conductor of souls to the afterlife. You would do well, young man, as you grow older, to cleave to the lessons of your mother and to pray to Magick for guidance throughout your life."

She looked at the boy. He appeared to be quite happy with what she was saying to him. His father also looked quite proudly at his son. The man's darkish nature made this surprising, but the man looked willing to eschew the shackles of the past.

She heard the man murmur, "Nos solus arcum ad Magia."

She gave the man a piercing look and nodded. In reply she murmured back, "We only bow to Magick."

The man gave a curt but respectful nod at her accurate translation even as the son stood taller with pride. The woman was giving her son a loving look, full of approval, as her assistant provided the receipt for the necklace the boy now wore.

The man nodded his head in farewell and said, "High Priestess." The man then led his family out.