author's note: just to let my readers know. I posted another chapter on Jan 27th, I don't think that the site sent proper notices out. If this chapter is a bit confusing to you, there is a reason. I apologize for any inconvenience. Enjoy!

Chapter 31

After a lovely lunch with Harry Ron and Hermione, Charlie escorted me to the visitors gallery of the main assembly hall of the Wizengamot. I was left to the guidance of a maroon robed wizard, acting as an usher. "This way please, Madame," he instructed politely as he led me to my seat.

The Wizengamot visitor gallery reminded me of a university lecture hall, with stadium style seating and retractable writing surfaces for note taking. I was seated fairly close to the front in back of a blond woman, and a small boy who was obviously her son. As I sat down I noticed a pair of luminous gray eyes staring at me, intently. The little guy had turned around. He was about four or five, with white blond hair and very angular features, he reminded me of an elf child, or a baby ferret.

I smiled at the boy and said, "hi there."

"Don't bother the lady," his mother admonished.

"That's ok," I assured her. "My name is Glinda," I introduced myself.

"I'm Asteria Malfoy," the mother said, "and this is Scorpious."

"Nice to meet you," I said.

"Likewise," she said.

"You don't sound like us," Scorpious pointed out, rather boldly. "Are you from America?"

"Yes," I answered, "I am."

"We're here to watch Daddy speak today," Scorpious went on to explain. "Are you pro or con?" he asked.

"Most definitely pro, American house elves have had full citizenship rights since 1970."

"I think that's brilliant, Daddy says that all sentient creatures deserve to have a hand in their own destiny."

"Wow," I remarked. "Those are big words for a little guy, I'm impressed."

"His father has been practicing that speech for more than a month," Asteria explained.

"Ah," I said. Our conversation was cut short by the first speaker.

I'm quite proud of the fact that I hadn't fallen asleep during the debates. The first speaker spent forty minutes telling us that Wizarding Britain would collapse financially if the house elves given wages and allowed to vote. He used a lot of senseless statistics and nonsense jargon to make his point.

The second speaker spent a lot of time pushing the status quo, insisting that house elves were happy with their lot, and that it was in their nature,as lesser creatures to serve. Scorpious had grown so bored he was asleep in his chair by the time the first speaker finished. When the mediator announced the third speakers name, Asteria whispered to me. "That's Lucius, my father-in-law." I could hear some derision in her voice. "Rumor has it, he wasn't even going to speak till he heard that Draco was speaking in favor. He went round the twist. He hates the 'progressives', that's what they're calling us in the press, now. I rather like the sound of it. Merlin's beard, he looks awful."

The man on the podium did not look at all well, he looked about ten years older than I guessed his actual age to be, with long, thinning dull white hair, and cold, cold eyes. It was a face that rarely smiled. There was a lot of anger in his expression. "I am here today," he started his speech, his voice raspy and wheezing slightly. "To speak out against an abomination. Humans have been the masters of the Wizarding world for thousands of years. Through strength and will we have mastered the lesser creatures, there is no reason for us to give up our status and position..." I found myself tuning the man out quite quickly. He called for wizards and witches to take pride in their higher status, and to take a stand against the blood traitors who wished to create anarchy and unrest within the community. I wasn't impressed with his claptrap.

Charlie was the first speaker for the "progressives" as Asteria had informed me those in favor of the act were now called. I could see him sweating nervously at the podium as the mediator announced him. "Speaking first in favor of the House Elf Citizenship Act, is temporary head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Charles Weasley."

"Hello Ladies and Gentlemen," Charlie started, reluctantly. "I must apologize first off. I'm not accustomed to public speech, so I'll make this as brief as possible." He smiled as a quiet chuckle went through the crowd. "I'm here to explain the position of my department. To put it succinctly, we support the House Elf Emancipation Act. As things stand, house elves in Great Britain can be subject to what ever abuse or deprivation that their wizard masters care to inflict on them. A house elf can be beaten, or starved, turned out, or even killed by his or her master. This act would outlaw this abuse.

House elves have lived and worked besides humans for millennia, they have proved their loyalty time and again. Although, it's correct that most families with house elves treat them with respect and courtesy, there is enough statistical evidence that too many of these noble beings are still being mistreated. Passage of the House Elf Emancipation act would help prevent further shameful abuse."

There was polite applause as Charlie said, "thank you."

"Well," Asteria commented. "Thank Merlin for brevity."

The mediator took the podium again, "speaking next, in favor, is Deputy Head of Magical Law Enforcement: Hermione Granger-Weasley." Hermione spent thirty minutes explaining the legal aspects of the proposed law, and how little it would affect the average wizard or witch, and how certain aspects would benefit the wizarding community as a whole. All in all, it was a rather technical but excellent speech.

"Our last speaker before the question/answer session will be Barrister and Rights advocate: Draco Malfoy." Asteria gently woke Scorpious to hear him speak. He sat up, bright eyed watching his father.

"All Sentient beings deserve a hand in their own destiny," the handsome blond man began his speech. I could see Lucius Malfoy at his seat near the podium, looking as if he was about to have a stroke.