Making Plans

1935

The Dumbledore Pranks had, Cedrella later decided, unexpected and unfortunate consequences. She had no idea why the Marauders had pranked the man, though she was quite sure Dumbledore had deserved it. Whatever else could be said about the Marauders, they only targeted people who stepped over moral or legal lines.

Previous to those pranks, Dumbledore had been content to wear the usual, fairly sober robes common to the average witch or wizard. Afterwards, in the wake of being forced to shear off most of his hair, both beard and head-hair, his taste in colors changed fairly radically. He took to wearing bright, clashing colors. It was both traumatizing and amusing.

Other than that, fourth year proved to be a quiet one – and Cedrella's last quiet year. While she had begun to develop a more womanly figure prior to that point, the Hogwarts robes concealed it quite nicely. They had rendered her as androgynous as most everyone else under the age of fifteen save for the biggest of the boys and the most curvaceous of the girls. That state of affairs ended over the summer. Actually, it had begun to end in the last months of her fourth year, but it had only just become noticeable by the time they were on the train home.

Actually, from roughly April until November that year was actually a fairly uncomfortable time for Cedrella. It seemed like all her body's systems decided to go into overdrive at roughly the same time. She hit one last (extensive) growth spurt, and the final stages of puberty hit. Worse, aside from the physical discomfort that accompanied those changes, Cedrella had to adjust to the change in boys' attitudes about her. Until then, there'd been Abraxas and his much-unwanted interest, and a few other boys that seemed to take notice of her towards the end of fourth year, but she had otherwise not had to deal with importunate suitors. From the start of Fifth Year onwards, she found herself getting chased by a number of boys with amorous intentions.

From the vast majority of them, the attentions were entirely unwelcome. Worse, they did not seem inclined to take 'no' for an answer. Cedrella started taking a page out of Callidora and Lucretia's books and became a master at the subtle, cutting put-down in remarkably short order. She took especial delight in hitting boys where it hurt the most, but in such a way that it took days – sometimes weeks, for the especially dim – to realize they'd been badly insulted. She absolutely refused to permit any of them to court her. The rare few that attempted to go over her head by appealing to her father, or in Abraxas' case Lord Black, got shot down in flames by those authorities.

Of course, that decision had as much to do with her growing attraction to Septimus as it did her distaste at the fumbling attempts of the other boys. The fact that Septimus paid her absolutely no mind as an eligible single female won him a huge number of points in her books. He treated her like he treated everyone else that wasn't considered an enemy. He was always polite, usually charming, and frequently protective. Oddly enough, Septimus' chivalrous and protective streak didn't annoy the hell out of Cedrella – probably because he applied it equally to everyone he considered to be more vulnerable than himself, and didn't try to make her a special case because she was a girl. She'd seen him get between boys and their attackers repeatedly in the past, as well as defending girls.

Certainly, that protective streak was almost openly welcomed when Abraxas, noticing that Cedrella had 'become a woman', returned to the obnoxious, presumptuous attempts at pursuing her that he had indulged in during her first few years at Hogwarts. The resultant smackdowns delivered by the Marauders amused Cedrella greatly.

Importunate would-be suitors aside, Cedrella's remaining years at Hogwarts were generally quiet. She attained quite high grades, and eventually returned home.

Once there, she went straight to her father. She knew that he had begun negotiating with the Longbottoms for a betrothal between Callidora and Harfang – that duo had stood the test of time at Hogwarts, despite the general outrage of the students at a Gryffindor and a Slytherin courting. It would not be too long before her father started to consider a possible match for her.

She had not changed her mind about Septimus in the least, but she had a plan in mind. Septimus, she knew, was going to be Head of House someday. If he was to have any chance at all at turning the Weasley Family back into a Family the Wizengamot listened to, he was going to need expert assistance.

Unfortunately, as a daughter of the youngest son of the House, Cedrella had not been drilled extensively in political matters. She'd had basic tuition in that field, but nothing like what the future Head of House got, and that was the training she needed in order to be of most use to Septimus. She fully intended to correct this lack before any attempt at a union between the Weasleys and the Blacks was attempted.

She knocked on the door to her father's study, and then slipped through the door when he called for her to enter.

"Good evening, father." She said.

"Cedrella. It is good to have you home again, my girl. What did you wish to speak to me about?" Father asked, knowing full well she would not have disturbed him for no reason.

"I wished to speak to you about the future, father." Cedrella said. "I know there will come a day, quite soon, when you would seek a match for me. By your leave, I would speak to you of the matter, as I think it is a bit more complex than expected."

Father looked intrigued and sat back in his chair. "By all means, Cedrella." He said.

"I have taken time, during my tuition, to observe those pureblood males that I know to not be entered into a betrothal, or negotiations for same." Cedrella said. "There has been one who has consistently drawn my attention. He is … not badly put together, and attained high enough scores to be recruited straight into the Auror Academy out of Hogwarts. He is also in line to be Head of Family."

"You speak of Septimus." Father said.

"I see Callidora and Charis have kept you abreast of events at school." Cedrella said. Though her tone was neutral, she was somewhat amused. Trust her sisters to gossip about something like that.

"A betrothal between our Families would definitely be … tricky to negotiate." Father agreed. "And would take more than a little time. You are sure he is your choice?"

"Very much so, father. He has … impressed me, over the last few years. He may have Sorted Gryffindor, but there is a buried streak of Slytherin in him." Cedrella said, then smiled just slightly. "And it must be said, a not inconsiderable streak of Hufflepuff. And while I agree that getting the Weasleys to agree to a betrothal will take considerable time, that is not the sole reason I brought this up now."

"Go on." Father told her.

"He will be Head of Family in time." Cedrella reiterated. "And I honestly believe that given the right tools to work with, he could turn that Family's fortunes around. But he will need able assistance, especially in the political field. Gryffindors historically do poorly there, and while he has some small bit of Slytherin in him, I do not believe it will be enough on its own to allow him to prosper in the Wizengamot."

Father added two and two and got four. "You wish for additional tuition in the political field, in order to be able to guide him more effectively." He said. He thought about it for a few moments and then nodded. "It has been said that behind every great man is a great woman. Far be it from me to prevent you from becoming such a one. I will speak with Sirius first thing in the morning."

Cedrella nodded. "Thank you for your indulgence, father." She said, and took her leave.

Sirius, their Head of Family, was apparently somewhat surprised to discover what Cedrella was wanting, but after due consideration, was willing to grant her request. She was to join him and his family for a time, in order to allow for the tutelage she had requested.

Sirius spent the summer drilling her on the appropriate protocols involved in being a member of the visitor's gallery of the Wizengamot. From there, she would be able to observe the events of each meeting, permitting her to become familiar with how things were done in that august body. He further began drilling her on the current Heads and Lords in the Wizengamot, their political leanings, strengths and weaknesses.

Eventually, it was September, and the Wizengamot began a new session. Cedrella made her way through the Ministry Atrium early that morning, intending to get to the courtroom early enough to obtain a seat ideal for observation of as many people as possible.

She was partway across the Atrium when a triad of Aurors came off the elevator. Having not seen any of them in two years, it took Cedrella a moment to recognize the three. It was Septimus, Harfang, and Charlus.

Their appearance took Cedrella somewhat aback for a moment. They had all three still been boys the last time she'd seen them, still growing into gawky, ungainly limbs. That had changed markedly. All three of them seemed to have caught up to themselves, sporting broad-shouldered, muscular bodies that were enough so to be discernable even under robes.

The lion's share of her attention – pun fully intended – was on Septimus, however. He'd been something of a heartbreaker his last two years in Hogwarts. Good looking and with a likeable personality, he'd had a number of girls trailing after him, to whom he had paid no particular attention, much to their dismay. Insofar as Cedrella knew (and she had been in a position to know more than most) he had not courted anyone in school. Why that was, she did not know.

An additional two year's maturing physically had turned him from merely 'good looking' to 'positively stunning'. His hair had darkened several shades from the normal 'Weasley red', though it retained a few lighter-red streaks that framed his face. He'd also grown a small, neat beard and mustache. Both only just escaped the designation of 'scruff' enough to lend him a roguish air without looking unkempt. There was an intensity and predatory air to his movements and the way he observed his surroundings that he had not possessed in school – doubtlessly something that had been trained into him at the Academy.

If Cedrella had been less extensively drilled in acceptable behavior, she'd have been drooling. As it was, she had to catch herself up smartly before her stare became noticeable. Sweet Merlin but he'd become *quite* handsome since she'd seen him last!

Both amused and dismayed by her reaction to him, she gave herself a sharp mental swat and marched towards the elevators. While that goal took her very close to the triad, she didn't think they would greet her, despite having worked with her in Hogwarts to deal with the undesirables in Slytherin.

She was wrong. None other than Septimus intercepted her.

"Milady Black." He said, dipping his head in a restrained greeting. Despite that, Cedrella was not imagining it when she fancied that the expression in his eyes was far more welcoming. "It has been too long since we saw each other last."

"Milord Weasley." Cedrella greeted, deeply grateful to a lifetime of training for allowing her to appear totally unaffected, despite the fact she was still somewhat discomfited by her reaction to him. "I trust the Academy has treated you well? Have you graduated yet?"

"Just last month." He told her. "All three of us. We've not all that much to do at the moment, thanks be. If I might inquire as to your purpose here today?"

"I intend to observe today's Wizengamot session." Cedrella said. "I confess to an interest in politics and political intrigue. Lord Black saw fit to entertain my interest, and has agreed to instruct me in the matter."

Septimus' mouth quirked in amusement. "Better you than me, Milady. I will end up bouncing heads together in there when my time comes, if half what my own father says is true of that lot."

And that sort of thing was exactly why Cedrella was embarking on this extensive education. Septimus had less of the Gryffindor tendency to act without thinking than most, but he still had it. Which would prove disastrous to whatever ambitions he might have for his Family, when he became Head.

"I shan't keep you any longer, Milady, as we both have other places to be." Septimus said, giving her another restrained nod. She nodded in return, and they parted ways.

Oh my, but was she going to have things to tell her sisters later tonight!