A/N Thank you all for the reviews. I'm always looking forward to them. Harry Potter is not mine this is a story from a fan.
(BSC 4 C5) C92 the invitation.
Augusta remained standing as she held her eyes on Fudge.
Fudge did everything he could to avoid the stare Augusta was giving him. He knew what she wanted him to say but it would be the last thing he wanted to do. It was the last thing he wanted to happen in his time as minister of magic.
After another five more minutes of staring Augusta took the floor for another time. "The five ancient and noble houses are one, we have made a pact. So, minister, it is up to you, you can either give us the right we deserve or I will call for a vote to elect a new minister of magic. And as I'm the spokeswoman for all five houses I can tell you that 75% will be for another minister".
Fudge took a deep breath and nodded but he still didn't open his mouth. This was his final chance to remain in his seat and it was the seat he wanted to sta in. "M...May I.. I think about it".
Albus Dumbledore who was still sitting in his chair was just shaking his head. He, just like Fudge realized what had happened and he knew that he lost his grip on the ministry. He had worked so hard to get it to where it was. Fudge had been an idiot but he was easy to manipulate and he had made good use of it. Lucius was his go-to guy if he wanted something dark to go through. But this had been a development that totally surprised him. He gazed around the Wizengamot chamber looking for a reason. It was when his gaze fell on Minerva that he knew it. She was a McGonagall and Harry who may look like James. Was a McGonagall by heart. Just like his mother had been. He had tried to get them out of there just to make them his pawns bit that plan had failed. It was in their blood, they would always oppose him like every McGonagall would do, in every way they could. With a final look at Fudge, he stood and left the chamber as his robe swiveled around him. His left hand grabbing the arm of Fudge as he dragged him along.
Augusta who was still waiting as she watched Albus rush off while he was pulling Fudge along behind him. She gave a deep sigh because Fudge had left without explaining the situation they were in now. It was just a little line but it would change a lot. But as long as Fudge didn't say it the Wizengamot would remain in some kind of limbo.
*#*
It was later that night that the entire family gathered around the dinner table at Potter castle. There was a lot of congratulations going around before they all settled down and gathered around for Dinner. It was after the house elves had cleared the table that the conversation went over to the happenings of the day. It was not long after the talks had started that no one understood what the other had tried.
It was Augusta that stopped it all as she laid her robe on the table with the house Crest on the left breast. "So tell me, what were you trying to get done when you did the ritual you all did".
The friends were looking at each other to see who would start when Harry pointed at Neville.
Neville gave him a dirty look before he straightened himself and started to explain. "Well, we heard Amelia telling us yesterday that there was no way that Sirius would come out of this as the head of House Black. But also that you all wanted to scare them. It was Daphne who remembered the ritual that was in that book and we went for it".
Augusta smiled at her grandson as she patted him on the shoulder. "It's clear to me that you'll don't know what you all have done, but you all did more then we the grownups would have ever dared to do".
The friends all blushed as they hung their heads down with a small smile on their faces.
Augusta stepped back to the table and pointed her finger at the crests on her robe. "please come gather around and take a good look at this" and she pointed at the top right. "here you have the family weapon of house Long bottom, Right below it is the family weapon of the Green grass Family. At the top left, we have the Family weapon of the Potter family with below it the weapon of the Bones family".
She gave them all another look and pointed back at her robe. "In the middle of them, we see the smaller weapon of the Black family. It is surrounded by our houses in a protective way. All around the weapons are a lot of dots that are the marks of all the miner houses we have. All of this put together means that we have approximately 75% of the Wizenagemot. Meaning we are in control for as long as we can".
While they were all thinking about it, Minerva asked Mini and Maxi to make some sandwiches and drinks for everyone. Meaning butter beers for the friends and fire whiskey for the adults.
After twenty minutes of mingling, they stepped back to the table and took their place. Minerva took the head of the table and as the acting head of Potter, she also took the lead. She was glad to see that the whole family was here. Even Remus and Tonks were able to make it. With a smile at Emma and Dan Granger, she started to carry on.
Minerva tapped her knife on the table to get all of their attention. Her gaze went over to Sirius as she gave a deep sigh. "I do have to admit that I'm happy that Sirius is officially a free man. My heart, however, is wondering if the wizarding world wouldn't have been better off whit him in a place where we could keep an eye on him. Now we all know what you set out to do, but the thing I want to know is, what did you all think would happen in the Wizengamot". Minerva did give them a stern look but her small smile made it less strict then it normally was.
As Minerva looked at Harry for an explanation, he looked at Bella and Daphne. Both girls saw him looking but none of them wanted to say it, so they both turned to Susan as she had been the one who fully understood what could have happened.
Susan looked up and nodded at Daphne as she stood next to her chair. "Well, it is like Neville had said. The only thing we wanted to do was scare them a bit. Now we knew that Sirius could never go back to Azkaban, but with a toad like Umbridge, you never know. So when My aunty told us what could happen, I immediately knew what it was they would try to do. House Black would be the lam that would be carried to the slaughter. And Umbitch would be the best executioner to do it".
Languages young lady" Amelia said whit a pointed look.
Susan blushed but wasn't really sorry. "My aunty always told me how the Wizengamot had been divided into three groups with light and dark being the two larges section. The light had the Potter house and the dark had the Blackhouse. They were the biggest houses. So by putting our houses behind the house of Black, we would pull it to the gray like Harry had done when he brought us all together. So I told this to my friends and the only question we had left was how to do it".
Susan stepped behind Daphne and laid her hands on her shoulders. "The how was answered by Daphne here. The knowledge she has about books is only second to Hermione. Only this was a book she knew and that book had the ritual we needed".
Most of the adults nodded and Susan went on. "Last night we made the preparations and knew that the best moment to bring fear into the Wizengamot, was when they would start to vote. Now the main problem we had were the smaller houses. Yes, they were and still are under the protection of our houses but as it came to the voting in the Wizengamot, they always had the freedom of their own choices. So by uniting the houses, we had to pray that the smaller houses would stand by us. But then again we only knew that we could connect the houses but not how you would see it in the Wizengamot".
Amelia looked over at her niece. "But why did you all do, it if you weren't sure if it would work".
The friends lowered their heads and Susan went on. "Well, we just hoped it would work and if not we hoped it would scare Fudge enough to just clear the name of Sirius out of fear".
Amelia started to stutter.
Sirius fell from his chair while he laughed his ass off.
Isabella didn't understand anything anymore just like Minerva.
Emma and Dan Granger only looked questioningly because they had lost it after the first words of Susan.
After a couple of minutes, August stood up. "I raise my glass to the youngest under us for the manipulation they did without even knowing it. One thing I'm still not sure about. How did you all get Lord Black to help you, and who is it".
Sirius who had calm down enough to sit back on his chair fell down as he lost it all over. He was pointing his finger at himself but it took him another ten minutes to make any sound. "I.. It's me… I'm Lord Black".
"What, how," Augusta asked.
Sirius was just able to not burst out laughing again as he sat up straight. "I'm Lord Black, I became Lord Black the day Harry found out he was Lord Hogwarts. I'm still wondering why we all forgot about that. You know Harry now that you are".
"Stay on track" Amelia snapped as she smacked him on the back of the head.
Sirius nodded sheepishly. "Well on that day I stayed behind to handle my own business. So I had a meeting with Bogrod and found out that the contract between me and Harry is still legit so to say. That contract is an adoption contract I made with Lily and James. I did a godfatherly adoption of Blood. It would make sure I could not betray them and It would give me an heir if I never got kids. James would have done the same if I ever had a kid".
Amelia hid her blush but could not keep her eyes off Sirius.
"Well, this adoption created a bond, not as strong as the bond Minerva has with her cub. But strong enough to make him my heir, or Lord Black if needed. We did this to make his claim stronger then he would have with only the blood of his grandmother. It also gave us the opportunity to do another ritual by making A member of a house temporary Lord Black. I will not tell you about the ritual because it is a secret of the Goblins. So on the day of the trial, I went to Gringotts".
"It was more like you forced us," Isabella said from behind her hand.
Sirius gave her a dirty look but went on. "It was there that I made Griphook, Lord Black for a day. All thanks to Bogrod" and Sirius gave a little bow to Bogrod who sat at the other end of the table next to his wife and son.
What followed was another moment of silents and everyone was waiting for Augusta who had to tell the friends what they did, even if it was by accident. She pulled her robe towards her and let out a little ladylike giggle. "Now, it is clear that you don't really know the impact you all have done. But what you did could not have been better. Because fair is fair, you sat out to scare Fudge and the Wizengamot and you all did. Not only did you scare Fudge and the members but also Delores and Dumbledore".
And Augusta gave them a friendly smile. "Now by combining our houses for the time being I imagine" and all the friends nodded just like Lily did from out of her painting on the wall.
By doing this you not only connected the natural and light side of the Wizengamot, but also a part of the Dark side. Namely, the family's of Malfoy, Nott and the Parkinson. Those three houses together with another house are miner houses of house Black. Zo by bringing house Black and all other houses in one firm pack. You all gave us almost 75% of the Wizengamot. Zo When Fudge says the words the Wizengamot will become gray or Neutral. That gives us almost all the power of making decisions for the magical part of England. We can make new rules and laws and even manipulate the members in some way".
"NO, I WILL NOT HAVE IT" Harry screamed all of a sudden.
Everyone looked over at Harry with a shocked expression on their faces, The first they noticed was the fear that was clearly written in his eyes. None of them knew what he was thinking about but Daphne and Bella had a clear idea of it.
"I don't want it, I have learned that house Greengrass, house Bones, and House Longbottom. That those houses became big and well respected by working together, By being open with their smaller houses. But not by bullying or manipulation. So our 75% will not be used for those things we are not Fudge or Dumbledore" Harry ranted on.
Most of the adults were thinking of what he could mean. Only Minerva rushed from her chair as she went over to her cub where she hugged him close to her. She knew what he was thinking and what he remembered. Albus had been the one who had used her, his mother and him by manipulating everything around himself for his own wellbeing.
Bella made her way over to Harry and wriggled her own way into the hug. "Harry I don't know much about Politics, but I know that it is always a way of manipulation. Like promising things you never intend to do. We did the same thing last year when we had that Party with Bogrod, remember".
Harry frowned at the words of Bella.
"Think about it, Harry. We held it at Potter castle where everyone had to be at their best. Every wrong step they did would be bad for their reputation. It was also the first time we showed them that the houses stood together as we were walking around. Finally, you were the one who danced with Harriet and showed them that Goblins and Magic users could work together. Even Lucius could not contradict you on that".
Harry started to nod but Bella could still see that he didn't get what she was telling him. "Harry I know you can say that it was nothing more than an example and that everyone could do it. However, the manipulation part was Potter castle. People could not contradict the Lord of the house, You, the boy who lived".
"So I did what we had to do but did it in a place where they could not object".
"Yes, and that is also one of the ways you can manipulate a situation" Bella finished.
Harry sat back down as he let out a deep sigh. "I still don't like it, but you can manipulate in a good way to".
Bella shook her head. In a way he was right but it was not exactly what she meant. His time at the Dursley had him thinking one way, but then again by him thinking that Manipulation could be used in a good way was a start. "well, it is a start. But you have to know that what we did was a little bit of a good thing. The Manipulation Lucius, Albus and Umbitch".
"Language," Hermione said.
Bella ignored her and went on. "Well, what those three did and are doing is more a form of intimidation. That is also what they did to you all those years. But we are a way to young to understand the way of the politics that will be played, so that is where the adults come in and will be sitting in the seats for us until we are old enough to do it ourselves".
Harry looked deep into the eyes of Bella. He nodded slowly as he started to understand what it was Bella was telling him. It would take him a while to get to terms with it. "But I still don't like it".
"We understand Harry" and Bella took him in another hug as they were accompanied by Daphne and Minerva.
That night Harry would remain quiet for the most part as the others were making plans on what they could do with the new power they had. Mostly about the good things they could do for others. Especially now that Sirius had more power over some families. But with their miner houses keeping their own right to vote as they themselves see fit. It would not all go as easy as they want all the time".
As the evening came to an end it was clear to a; of them that the hard times were still to come. The day Voldemort would come back it could all go down and it could go down fast.
When most of the family had left, Snot appeared next to Harry.
"Hi Snot how is Bellatrix tonight".
"Mistress Bellatrix is eating the packets and is loving it. She is also asking Snot for a bath. She wants to have one tonight. I will take it when the guards are away and she is alone with foul demon thingies".
Harry only listened but heard Daphne whispering in his ear. "Well, Well Potter. Your lady is making herself pretty for you, Does it mean I have to be jealous or should I come along" she said with a giggle.
Harry poked her in the side, but could not keep the grin off his face.
*#*
The day after the heavy evening, Harry and Bella got up early and were on their way to Azkaban to visit Bellatrix. It had been something he had promised his future wife and knew that it could be the last time he could visit her. But if he had known what would happen that day he would have stayed home.
Not an hour after Bella and Harry left with Tonks, three figures were making their way down the path, in front of Potter castle. Three figures that were the last three they wanted to see.
"Mistress Potter, Mister Fumble, Mr. Long beard and Mister slime are waiting at the front door". Mini told Minerva.
Minerva saw the questioning looks both Isabella and Augusta sent her. She hid her smile as she turned to them. "Well, Fudge is Bumble but you already knew that. Longbeard is Albus, something that is self-explainable. And slime well, that is the name Narcissa uses for Lucius when she is here".
"Minerva," Sirius said sharply. "I don't like it, I would prefer you send them away until Harry and Bella are back. But I think we also have to wait until we get David and Amelia here to".
"No, Sirius. I'm acting Lord Potter and I can handle that fossil myself. If they start something I have You, Augusta Isabella and the house elves. But also a power none of us have". And she pointed her thumb over her shoulder.
The three of them turned to the corner where they all saw Zanita standing with a brought smile on her face.
^Grandmother you are getting lots of love from Bellatrix^ Harry told her in his mind.
^Tell her thanks and give her a kiss from me. We have a little situation here. Bumble, Longbeard, and Slime are at the front door. I'm not sure what they want but we have Zanita here so we are okay for now. So stay there and have fun". As she heard that Harry was okay with it she turned her attention to the front door and walked into the hallway.
As she walked into the hallway she gave a look to the top of the stairs. It was there that she saw Daphne, Susan, and Hermione looking down. She was sure that Astoria and Ginny weren't far behind them. She gave them a smile and walked the last couple of meters further down the hallway.
Snot opened the door as the three of them came in sight. Albus was standing in the middle, Lucius to his right and Fudge to his left and a little behind Albus like a little boy that was hiding behind the leg of his father. Just before she could laugh at the way Fudge was hiding himself, she got an image of a young boy locked up in a cupboard under the stairs. A boy who never had the chance to hide behind the leg of his father. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT" she snapped loudly.
"Please Minerva" Albus started. "We are here with only good intentions".
"Something tells me that is hard to believe. Especially when it is with house Potter" she snapped again.
Albus was smart enough to not reply to her as he looked at the ground and took some deep breaths.
The head of Minerva snapped from Albus to Lucius. "And what in Merlin's name are you doing here Mr, Malfoy".
Lucius swallowed as he mumbled something that was barely audible for the others to hear.
"Lucius you may as well thank the god of magic that Harry had stepped out this morning. I don't think he appreciates you being in his house. So tell me why you are here and then get the hell out".
"I'm here on the invitation from the Minister of Magic," Lucius told her as he smiled smugly.
"Snot, Mini, Maxi" Minerva called out as three house elves appeared next to her. "I want the three of you to make sure that Mr. Malfoy here is being escorted away from Potter castle. Don't bother with niceness, everything goes as long as you do not kill him".
Fudge spluttered and Albus wanted to open his mouth as Minerva turned her eyes back to them.
"This is still Potter castle and not Fudge pig stile. So it is not for him to invite whoever he wants to come here. And do I make my self-clear when I say that Fudge will have to explain himself to Lord Potter when he gets back"?
"Hold on" sounded the voice of Augusta from behind Minerva.
"Don't intervene you old hag" Lucius hissed.
With speed, someone of her age shouldn't have. Augusta rushed forward as she pushed the tip of her wand under the nose of Lucius. "I would watch myself, Lucius. You have been there Yesterday and I'm still temporary head of house Black. Something I hope you didn't forget. So if you do not shut your mouth I will personally kick you out of the family. Meaning I will claim your son as my ward and sell him to the Goblins to work in their mines. I even think they could use a good led like you. So it would also be an option to sent you there. I can even cancel the marriage contract between you and Narcissa. But I understand that Lord Potter already has her under her protection, and for you being in his house is reason enough for him to make her his slave. So I have to agree with the children on this one. As Lord Malfoy, I would advise you to think about your next words. We the five houses are one family and mess with one you will mess with all of us. So I will discuss what we will do with house Malfoy when I see Lord Black a little later on".
Lucius wanted to say something but went pale by the next words Augusta said.
"Snot, Mini, Maxi do your task".
Before Lucius could open his mouth he was blasted through the open door, down the pathway and straight at the still shut gate of Potter Castle.
"Snot," Minerva asked as she watched the smug look on the face of the house elf.
"Mister Slime went to fast and Snot was talking to Mini about opening the gate or not. Mini told me to open it but I was too late".
Minerva smiled before she turned her eyes hard and back to Fudge. "Well minister, as you see we don't take it kindly when people think they can use Potter castle as their own little playhouse. And especially when they use it in ways to manipulate the situation" Minerva had just said the words or she realized what Harry and Bella meant. The game of manipulation was fast and easily played. And it could go wrong just as easily.
Minerva was deep in thought, something that went unnoticed by the others in the hallway. But she made the decision to talk to the adults later that night. If they were going to do this then they had to do it right and fair. Her grandson had been right but then again he had a life that had been nothing more than one big string of manipulations one after the other.
She gave a big sigh "I would like to know why you are here and well, NOW".
Fudge stepped a little further behind Albus as he only glanced up at her. "I the minister of Magic am here to invite all of the Lords and Lady's, as my guests to the final of the world championship Quidditch match between Bulgaria and Irland." he almost whispered.
Minerva was a little taken back by the question. She had suspected that there would have been something stupid and that they had to show them that it was still Potter castle, but this was the last thing and she had to look at Augusta for help.
Augusta only gave her a nod and that was all she needed.
"Minister I can't give you an answer at this moment. First of all, not everyone is here and we have to make that decision as one. The second reason is that we are still waiting for an answer that you still have to give. This means that until you give us that answer we as a family will not see you as our Minister of Magic. That is also the other thing we have to discuss the one about if you will remain our minister or not".
Her eyes went over to Augusta and saw how she gave her a little smile. The last part had been nothing more than a big lie. But the smile Augusta gave her was enough for her to go on.
"We are thinking of replacing you because of the way you are behaving towards us, let's say that it was not worthy enough for someone in your position. So if you want to remain the minister I would advise you to give us an answer before the end of the day or we will start to look at everything in the ministry" Minerva told him pointedly.
Fudge swallowed again but didn't look at Albus for any help. "Alright, Alright" he huffed. "I Cornelius Fudge Minister of Magic will declare the Wizengamot as of yesterday five a clock to be gray meaning that the neutral side of the Wizengamot will have the right to lead the sessions. So it is written so it will be".
A soft light went from Albus to Minerva and Augusta. In Gringotts, the same light appeared around the body of Bogrod and David who was sitting at his table. Still without a cup of tea.
As Minerva stepped back, Augusta stepped over to Fudge. "on behave of all the houses I will except your inventions to the World cup final in two weeks. Are the kids also invited"?
Fudge nodded very fast, but his eyes were full of fear.
"Then I will let you know by the end of tomorrow with how many people we will be accompanying you".
Fudge thanked Augusta but became pail as he heard the words of Minerva. "Snot do your job and escort our esteemed minister away from Potter castle. He has invited Lucius without our consent and like I said, this is not Fudge pig stile". As Fudge disappeared, she turned her eyes to Albus.
^Grandmother, please be careful with Albus. I have finally got an answer to something I had been wondering and it tells me that Albus has done more than the things we know now. I will tell it all tonight but I can tell you that Bella and I don't like it at all^.
Nobody around Minerva knew what to think when they saw the eyes turn from demanding to worry back to pure hatred.
"Say what you have to say and get the hell out of here before I curse you into oblivion".
Both Isabella and Augusta raised their eyebrows but didn't say a thing when they heard Minerva snap like that. Something was bugging her and the only thing they could think of was Harry. He had said something in their mind and it really got her rattled.
"Minerva" Albus started slowly.
"Yes, say it already" Minerva snapped again and a little harsher then she did before.
"Minerva" Albus started again in the grandfatherly way he often did. "I wanted to ask if you also wanted to go to the World Championship final in the name of Hogwarts. You don't know it yet but yesterday I made the final decisions to another tournament we will be having at Hogwarts this year. I and Fudge".
"Fudge and I, you old fossil" Daphne murmured, making the others around her snigger.
"just finished the final preparations," Albus told her as he stepped back from the look in her eye.
Everyone in the hallway knew immediately that Albus was talking about the Triwizard tournament. And it was again that everyone had to do as if they were surprised about the announcement, knowing damn well that Harry was going to be a part of it.
"What tenement are you talking about and why do I have to go," Minerva told him very fast.
"Ah, that is something I cannot tell you, What I can tell you is that it will be between three schools. Like I said it will be held at Hogwarts. The other schools will be from France and Bulgaria. The ministries of those countries will be joining us or at least some representatives of their ministries. They will also be at the world cup and if you are there than you can also be there in the name of Hogwarts. While I can do some preparations at Hogwarts" Albus told her again in his grandfatherly way.
Minerva pursed her lips and wanted to reply but a hand on her shoulder made her stop. She didn't look up or around because the fear in the eyes of Albus told her exactly who it was that was standing next to her.
Zanita had stepped away from the shadow she had been hiding in and stepped next to Minerva the moment Albus said he could make some preparations at Hogwarts. "If there have to be some preparations made at Hogwarts, Then I will be the one doing them". Zanita told him in a way that it was her decision and he could do nothing about it. "As you well know, I and King Hogwarts have placed the castle on lockdown so that the house elves could make some repairs and have the rest they deserve. While the castle is closed, it is closed to everyone and especially for you".
Albus opened his mouth again but Minerva had none of it end cut him off. "Well, I will see if I'm going. If I am then I will write it to you". She took a deep breath. "Snot get rid of him please, and please open the gate. I don't want him here any longer than he has to be".
It was after those words she turned around and the only sound she heard was the sound of the closing front door and a screaming Albus that faded in the distans.
A/N This was it again for this week. See you all in two weeks.
Gr Winmau.