Chapter Seven

A cacophony of thunderous booms rent the early morning air as the Ministerial party arrived en masse. Cornelius Oswald Fudge looked around at the towering trunks of the Blackwoods with a sense of unease, he had never visited the lands of the Legendary Denevan Blackwood, but it was common knowledge that the ancient Lord held little care for the authority of the Ministry or its laws.

If the man had not been Lord of a noble family or the wielder of Magics of such storied power then he would have been brought to heel long ago, as it was not even the vaunted might of the Ministry could do nothing more than stand aside as the House of Blackwood did as it wished.

Casting his gaze to the skies above he felt a sickening sense of dread fill him as he watched the churning black mass of a horde of Dementors, despite the protective aura of several Patronus charms that his Auror guard had conjured he could still feel their terrible presence. That dread only continued to grow as he watched more and more joining the swarm that hovered at the edge of the forest; it had only been a handful of days since the attack upon Hogwarts and the apparent return of the Dark Lord and the following escape of Sirius Black had thrown the Ministry into chaos. He had been unable to hide the fact that He-who-must-not-be-named had returned, too many had been at the school to hide that horrifying truth. However, his office had for once managed to keep the truth of Black's escape from the public, but it was only a matter of time before the news broke out. To add to his growing headache of problems, Amelia Bones had been in a snit ever since they had learned that one of her Aurors had been caught without his wand by several of the Dementors and had been breathing down his neck to let her department handle Black's capture.

The woman had assigned herself to his party today, and his eyes flitted to the cold mask of barely restrained fury that seemed to have been permanently etched into her face. She wore the traditional heavy brown overcoat of the Aurors and he had hardly seen her without it recently, he could not blame her in truth. The enchantments that were imbued into the things made most minor spells slide right off, and if the stories coming out of the Auror's office were to be believed it could even stand up to the rending teeth of a Cerberus.

He found her unfriendly face staring hard at him and he noted she still wore that ridiculous monocle, he did not doubt that she had the damn thing enchanted to within an inch of its life.

He felt a vindictive ember blaze to life in his breast as he looked at the woman, he knew that many were already calling for stronger leadership, and with the return of the Dark Lord he would welcome the chance for another to have the target of the Minister of Magic hung about their necks. If Bones was to be elected then he had no sympathy for the woman. Being the leader of Magical Britain during peacetime was one thing, but to be the fool everyone looked to for guidance in the coming days was not something he was looking forward to.

He was already working on ways to expedite his departure, he had a lovely little holiday home just outside Barcelona and it was calling to him like never before.

He would tell the public that he would step aside for stronger heads to lead them through these trying times, in truth he could care little about what happened; he just wanted to escape the slaughter that he knew was coming. Auror's had been killed already, and mass murderers were on the loose and he would not place his own neck on the chopping block for anyone.

He had enjoyed the fruits of his position for long enough, he had amassed a small fortune for those he had made donations to his office and was going to ensure that he remained alive to spend it.

He nearly jumped out of his skin as someone suddenly appeared a few short feet in front of him with a near-silent pop, and he quickly moved away as he stared into the grim eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

"Cornelius." The man said in way of greeting, and he could do little more than stammer out a greeting of his own, as he stared into the stern face of a man that no longer looked grandfatherly and serene. The events of the past few days had chipped away at that veneer, and the true face of Albus Dumbledore was revealed.

This Wizard looked powerful, and everyone had been left stumbling in his wake. Despite stepping down from his position as Chief Warlock and ensuring Lord Mayweather was capable of assuming the post, he still held enormous sway within the Ministry and beyond. Word had already spread through all the departments of the Ministry of the fight that had taken place on the grounds of Hogwarts and it had only amplified the man's legend.

He watched as Dumbledore's gaze flicked upwards, before he gave a small flick of his wand and a large, silvery Phoenix Patronus joined those hovering about them. It had been done with such ease that many in his group could only stare in awe before Cornelius gave a shake of his head as he demanded a question from the man.

"Why had we appeared so far from the Castle? I understand why they would have the Wards divert us, but not to the very borders of this Forest."

Albus looked around and Cornelius knew he was seeing more than what the rest of them were, he cursed the fact that he had never developed the ability to see flows of Magic that other more skilled Wizards could.

"Lord Blackwood had done more than just divert the Apparition point, Cornelius. He has enacted a powerful cleansing spell of some kind fortified and re-woven half the Ward nets about the forest, it is bound tighter than a Miser's pocket and would make a Goblin green with envy they're that secure."

Amelia joined the Headmaster as she too seemed to be studying the air. "If these are just the outlying Wards, I can only imagine what protections they must have upon the Castle itself."

She seemed to stiffen as she leaned forward slightly, "Is that an Argovere's Intent Ward? It's different somehow…He's twined it with something…It's an animation Matrix! He's turned the forest into his first line of defence!"

A grim smile tweaked at Dumbledore's lips as Cornelius watched them both warily.

"Very good, Madam Bones. It is good to see your study of Arithmancy and charms has not gone to waste." The woman just glared at the Headmaster, but he ignored her as he raised his wand. " I believe it best if I sent a message to alert my old Master, I dare not risk the forest unless we want to find ourselves harried every step of the way."

Madam Bones barely acknowledged the Headmaster as he flicked his wand once more, and a ball of silvery light sped off into the distance. Cornelius could only stare at their backs feeling decidedly forgotten before he gave a not-so-subtle clearing of his throat that did little more than cause the woman to spare him a glance before she continued to stare hard at the forest's edge. He could only stare at her back as she began muttering to herself under her breath as she studied the Wards that he could not even see. He hated to be ignored, but neither the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement nor the Headmaster of Hogwarts seemed inclined to pay any heed to him

'Cornelius could do little more than sigh as they were left waiting, it was nearly a quarter of an hour before one of the Aurors escorting them called out to Amelia Bones.

"M'am, I see movement at the forest's edge."

Cornelius looked but could see nothing beyond the boughs blowing in the strong winds the accursed Dementors were causing, no matter where he searched he could not see anything moving. Amelia followed the Aurors pointing arm and gave a nod of her head.

"I see them, Thompson."

Cornelius stared hard at the area that the Auror was pointing to and still could see nothing. "Just what are you looking at?" He demanded, and as if summoned by his words he saw several horse-led carriages break from the tree line and follow a rough-hewn track up the small hill they stood upon.

Within the first carriage, he could see a figure dressed in the grey robes of one of Lord Blackwood's apprentices, and he felt a sense of frustration worm its way into his gut. For years he had been trying to get one of the old wizard's apprentices, both new and old to turn their back upon the ancient Lord but to no avail. He had never known someone to inspire such loyalty as Blackwood had done, he had been willing to offer enough gold for any one of them to buy themselves both land and title but none had taken his money.

"Welcome my Lords and Ladies, I am bid to offer you welcome within my Lord's lands. He has asked me to tell you that his hearth is lit and his table is laden if you would join him in peace and friendship."

Cornelius growled at the ancient custom, it bound both guest and host to courtesy. His grandmother had called it the simple magic, words and custom that did more to garner peace and prosperity than the strongest of spells and enchantments.

"Corny, a kind word and a good deed make mountains into molehills."

He found himself smiling despite himself, he had not thought of his grandmother in years and he felt a sudden sharp pang of loss that only grew stronger as a searing chill suddenly grew about him. He looked up in alarm as he heard several of his staff give cries of alarm, above them the milling horde fractured. He watched as a tattered stream of hooded and cloaked figures descended from the churning horde hovering above them.

They tore across the open air towards the grey-robed figure, before anyone could shout a warning he watched as Blackwood's apprentice raised his hand and several sizzling bolts of blinding light sped forth.

They struck the Dementors with enough force that he watched as several of those at the rear were thrown back in mid-flight by the force of the explosion that lit up the clearing. Cornelius could only cry out in pain as he shielded his eyes against the sudden stinging light, when he could finally see once more he could only stare in bleary-eyed amazement at the greasy half charred corpses that had fallen from the sky.

With his hand still raised, Cornelius watched as the man turned to regard them with eyes that glinted dangerously in the gloom of the Dementors' effect on the weather.

The man's strong Italian accent seemed to fill the clearing with the thunderous boom.

"Control your hounds, Minister. Il Mentore has already burned hundreds of the abominations from his skies, it will be a pleasure to finish the job."

Cornelius could only stare in open-mouthed shock, but it seemed that Amelia was already ordering her Aurors into action.

Several new Patroni shot forth from the Auror guards, herding the remaining few battered and singed Dementors back into the air. Cornelius could only stare at the madness unfolding about him, he had never in his wildest imaginings thought that his morning would have turned out like this.

What was more was he could see the Headmaster moving towards the Italian wizard with his arms opened wide and a pleasant smile upon his face.

"Isson, I did not think that the old man would have sent you to collect us."

Albus embraced the grey-robed figure like an old friend and Cornelius could see a roguish grin upon the Italian's face, but it quickly slipped from his handsome face.

The man seemed to be in his early thirties, but for a powerful wizard that could mean the man was nearly double that. "It is good to see you, my friend. The Mentore is waiting within Kar Zurant, we have had trouble at the Castle, the Dark Lord made an attempt upon Callian and the Potter boy."

His words sent panic racing through all those assembled, and Cornelius felt himself breaking out in a cold sweat at the thought of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named having been here already. It was beginning to feel more and more like the last war had never ended, and that the last decade had been nothing more than a mere delusion.

He could only watch as Amelia interposed herself into the two's conversation, her normally stoic face now a mask of cold authority as she spoke with all the might of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

"Why was the Ministry not notified of the attack? Was anyone injured during the attack?" She spoke at the same time as Albus demanded his own questions.

"Are the boys alright? Has there been any sign of the missing students?"

The grey-robed man just waved them both to calm and Cornelius realised with a start that he was being sidelined once again and quickly hurried to join the conversation.

"All will be explained. Lord Blackwood is expecting us, he will explain everything to you. If you take your seat, I will escort you to him."

In short order, they were seated upon the plush leather seats of the carriage and with a wave of the apprentice's hand they set off.

Cornelius could not stop the feeling of trepidation growing within him and as they entered the long shadow cast by the trees of Blackwood Forest that feeling grew stronger by the minute.


The carriage carried them slowly under the foreboding boughs of the forest. He had never felt comfortable in the wilder places of the world, he was a creature used to all the comforts his position could grant him. Even more so after he had been made to give up any enchanted objects he held upon his person, he had not been the only one grumbling at that request but had grudgingly done as he had been bid. They had been warned against casting Magic within the forest, the cleansing spells that Lord Blackwood had cast to purge the castle and its surroundings of all invasive Magic would react badly according to the grey-robed apprentice.

Now he had spent an hour sitting under the gloom cast by the gently swaying branches high overhead made it had left him feeling decidedly unwelcome and out of place, despite himself his hand kept a firm hold on the handle of his wand as his eyes continued to scan the brush to either side. He had seen the amused glances coming from the grey-robed wizard and had even seen a derisive sneer thaw Amelia's normally cold features, he knew that they were taking great pleasure in his discomfort and he was trying his best to adopt the calm aloofness that Albus always seemed to possess. A sharp crack to his right had him flinching badly and whatever mash he had been trying to adopt failed him completely, he barely resisted pulling his wand and could do little more than stare in confusion as a large antlered head lifted from the brush at the side of the track to stare at their passing. He watched it chew away at some shrub as its large dark eyes surveyed them with a wary eye.

He had just settled back into his seat with his face burning in embarrassment when he heard Amelia give a soft curse, he jumped in alarm as he frantically searched the trail ahead of them. "What is it?! What do you see…"

He trailed off as found what it was that had forced a break in the woman's composure. Ahead of them, the gloom of the forest was lit with a pearlescent light, and he could see the bright luminous glow of some spell or enchantment hovering high in the air above them. As they finally broke from the tree line, Cornelius found himself standing as he stared up at the pulsating orb of Magic. Now that he was so close he could feel the faintest echo of the Magic that had gone into the spell, he recalled Albus saying that Lord Blackwood had enacted a powerful cleansing spell not long after they had arrived and he could believe it.

There was a sense of something uncomfortably hot passing through him with every pulse of that orb, he was no scholar of Magic but even he could tell that this spell was nearing its end. There was a fragile strength to its light and yet it was still potent enough to make him wince with every pulse.

He drew his wand and had begun the incantation for a shielding charm in the hopes of avoiding the uncomfortable effect of the spell when he found Albus' hand clamping onto his wrist with surprising strength. His fingers were like bands of iron as they forcefully pushed his arm down.

"I would advise not casting any magic that will hinder the spell, Minister. It will not be a pleasant experience I assure you."

He looked up into the steely blue eyes of the headmaster and gave a reluctant and somewhat embarrassed nod at the older Wizards words.

An amused chuckle came from the man sitting across from him as he noted Cornelius' reddening face.

"Perhaps I should have warned you of disturbing the spell, but I will demonstrate for you and your companions."

The man offered Amelia a disarming smile as he held his hand out to her. "Lady Bones, would you be willing to help me for a moment?"

Cornelius bristled silently as he watched Amelia give him a derisive grin, he knew the woman was taking a perverse pleasure in his embarrassment and there was nothing he could do about it.

"I will create a pocket within the spell's enchantment, it will be small but I have a Talent for such things. Lady Bones, I will need you to cast a simple shield spell with that pocket as soon as I give the word."

Amelia just nodded, Cornelius could see the interest evident upon her face as her wand appeared in her hand in the blink of an eye. He listened as the Italian Wizard called out to the carts following theirs, and he could see more than one face peering at them in interest.

Isson, if he remembered correctly, turned towards the brush at the side of the carriage and lifted a hand with his fingers splayed wide.

Nothing happened at first, he felt no great stirring of Magic nor saw any sign of flashy displays other than the one overhead. He studied the forest with interest trying to take note of everything that he could, worried that he would miss a display of the vaunted Spellweaving the Blackwood were so fond of.

As the next pulse of light washed over them he thought he saw something, it was gone in a blink and he had to wait for the next pulse to be sure of what he had seen hovering in the air roughly twenty feet from them. It was small, roughly the size of his balled fist and he thought he may have been imagining it until other keen-eyed members of their party began to note the strange apparition that had appeared.

There was a considerable strain evident upon the man's face as he turned to look at Amelia, "My Lady, if you could cast a small shield charm with the bubble I have made, no bigger than a finger if you can manage it. I will demonstrate the effectiveness of Lord Blackwood's enchantment."

Amelia gave a nod and he watched as she jabbed her wand forward, there was no incantation or excessive wand waving and he felt a flicker of envy at the woman's easy control of her spellwork.

Beside him, he listened as Albus spoke up, "Draw your power back slightly Amelia, I would like to keep my whiskers as they are…"

He had no clue as to what the Headmaster was talking about, he could barely see the flows of his own magic and was nearly blind to those of others.

It was only a few seconds before Albus spoke once more. "That will be sufficient, I believe."

Isson gave a small nod of his head at the headmaster's words and he dropped his hand as the world lit up before them.

The stinging heat washed over him, and he was left desperately blinking the sudden afterglow from his eyes. As soon as the pulse from the sphere had reached them the very air seemed to explode.

Hovering in the air before then he could see a bright fiery mote, the last remnants of Amelia's shield charm. The pearlescent light around it seemed to be drawing the Magic from it until the fiery ember faded away to nothing.

Amelia grunted as her wand bucked in her hand as she felt the backlash of her spells collapse, he could only watch as she flexed her fingers with a grimace.

A cold sweat had broken out all over his body as he realised just how close he had come to dying. The shield Amelia had conjured had been tiny, containing a mere fraction of the power it took to cover the entire body. He could only imagine what would have happened to him if he had done as he had intended and wrapped a layer of protective Magic about himself.

He could see from the look upon Amelia's face that she too was startled by what had just happened, the wary look she sent towards the sphere of pulsating magic overhead spoke volumes.

Silently they all settled back into their seats as the team of horses carried them onwards once more, he envied the beasts for their calm as they had barely reacted to the explosion of light and heat that had washed over them.

He soon found himself lost within his own thoughts as they continued their slow pace through the forest, nothing about the last few days had gone as he had expected and he could only assume that it would continue to get worse still.

With a forlorn sigh, he settled in for the long ride through the forest.


Callian watched as the small convoy of horse-drawn carriages broke from the tree line, he grinned down at them as he realised the path that the carriages had taken took them on a long circuitous route through the forest. It was an old hunter's track that had led from the ruins of a little village that had once served the Castle centuries ago; he knew it well as he often flew the old trail. He had even run it a few times with Adria and Harry, its twisting turns enough to nearly pull you from your broom if you took them faster than sense demanded. He had not realised that his grandfather had decided to make use of it for their guests, although looking at the welcoming party about him his mother's stony face indicated she may have had something to do with it.

At the head of their party, his father and grandfather stood waiting for the Ministry officials by the great gates. He, Harry and Draco stood in line with his mother and behind them, he could sense the presence of the two Unspeakables and the Malfoy's. He had been surprised by how quickly the two Unspeakables had recovered, and while still weak they had enough strength with the help of a few fortifying potions to stand with them for this meeting. Standing nervously in the milling crowd of ministers and officials of his father's court, he could sense the familiar presence of Adria and Hermione.

They could not have been more different that night and day to his mind, while Hermione was full of curiosity that seemed directed at everything about her; it was Adria that drew his attention.

There was an undercurrent of anxiousness about her as well as a keen interest in the event about to play out, he had not informed her that Sirius Black was currently waiting below to surprise the Ministry officials but there was a prevalent sense of anticipation about her. He was not sure what his friend knew, but she was waiting for something to happen.

He quickly cast his gaze back over his shoulder and found Adria staring at him. She offered him a quick uncertain smile, and he made a note to himself to find out just what his friend knew. Behind them, the Passage of Kings created an imposing backdrop that would no doubt remind the arriving party of just whose lands they now walked.

They did not have to wait long as the steady clip-clopping of hoof on stone grew louder, and he was treated by the sight of Isson as the man jumped down from the lead carriage before holding his hand out for a formidable-looking woman who reminded him strongly of one of Adria's friends from Hufflepuff. The woman took them all in with a hard searching look, he found himself meeting her gaze for several heartbeats and it felt as if the woman was getting the measure of him before they had even been introduced.

He had only seen her briefly in passing as she and the Minister had dealt with his Grandfather and the Headmaster after what had happened at the school, and had not got to meet with her personally, but from what he had seen she was not a woman to cross lightly.

He remembered his mother's lessons on the nobility well, and she had spoken highly of House Bones. It was not one of the Great Houses, those ancient Families that had existed within Britain for millennia and were relatively new compared to some. In age, it was on par with the Potters, but House Bones had long had connections with the Ministry and those that had stood for justice within the land.

Its power had only continued to grow, where so many others had dwindled into obscurity. As it stood now Lady Amelia Bones, the woman who had lost nearly her entire family to the Dark Lord and his forces during the war and was regarded as the focal point of those opposed to Voldemort and his supporters.

It made her a very important and powerful figure politically and he knew his mother was courting favour with allies of House Bones, it was rumoured in many back rooms that the woman was Minister in all but name.

A call from behind the woman had him looking over her shoulder to see the Headmaster, who hopped from the carriage with more nimbleness than a man looking his age should have been capable of. He offered a grand bow towards Belor, who laughed at the old Wizard's antics before they embraced like old friends.

Once they separated it was his grandfather's turn, he could see the amused smile on the man's face as he embraced the Headmaster.

"Never change Albus. Yeh may look like an ancient but yeh've got the heart of a man decades younger."

Albus looked affronted at Belor's words before he gave a mischievous grin. "Believe me, my friend, if I lost the beard I would look like a man half my age. Alas, it was you who taught me the only way someone of position to look dignified is to grow a full beard even a Dwarf would envy."

Belor laughed at the Headmaster's jibe, as the man smiled widely. Callian found himself smiling along with them as he saw the easy comradery that flowed between the three. He saw the Headmaster's eye flick towards him, and the man's smile slipped from his face. The twinkle that had begun to return to the Headmaster's eye dimmed once more as he took in both he and Harry.

The multitude of emotions that danced in those eyes sent an unpleasant chill coursing through him, he could not even begin to fathom what the man was thinking, but as if a switch had been thrown he found the man's jovial demeanour returning as he returned to bantering with Belor. It took him far longer than it should have done to realise that another had clambered from the cart, as behind the Headmaster came a portly man with the most ludicrous lime green bowler hat that Callian had ever seen

This must be the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

There was a simple plainness to the man, and he felt utterly unremarkable to his mind. He seemed muted to Callian's senses, to his Arcane sight the man appeared so much lesser than all of them. Even compared to him and Harry, both still young and yet to grow into the full might of their power, the man was lesser in strength. To his mind's eye, it appeared as if he was a candle compared to the raging fires of those around him. He knew he should not think it, but he found the man almost forgettable. Without his distinguishing pinstriped suit and bold and bright bowler, the man would appear as just another face in the crowd.

As he trailed behind the two formidable Magi who had preceded him, Callian watched the man. He seemed like a lost lamb, waiting for someone to show him the way out of the woods. Only these woods had wolves and they could sense easy prey within their borders.

The man bumbled his way through the customary greetings as he twitched a shallow bow towards his father, Belor, for his part grunted out his reply in return with little care for the political manoeuvrings that humans favoured. The Dwarf's rough, calloused hands never strayed far from his worn axe and he had seen the Minister's eyes flick to it more than once.

He seemed to perk up once he realised that Lucius Malfoy was present, it was common knowledge that the Minister was in Lord Malfoy's pocket. As he watched the man almost wilt in relief at seeing the man and silently questioned just how much Lucius had controlled the supposed head of the Ministry.

Once the tense introductions had been issued they were soon following after Belor and his grandfather as the duo led their procession through the gate and into the hold proper. He watched the Minister as he gaped and stared around at the upper city in disbelief, he did not seem to note the derisive looks sent his way by the milling crowds that had come to see the procession. The Dwarves of the British Isles had long lives and even longer memories. Many who now dwelt within Kar Zurant could remember how they had been turned aside when in their darkest moments they had begged aid from the Ministry. When the Goblins had risen up and swarmed over the land attacking Magi, muggle and all free peoples they had done nothing but cower behind their Wards and wait for the fiends to go away.

When their ancient holds had been besieged and innocents put to the Goblin's swords it had been the civilians of Magical Britain that had taken them in and not the Ministry, they had been too concerned about what backlash they would expect from the warmongering Greenskins.

He watched more than one Dwarf turn their backs to the Minister as he passed, and the number was growing as like a wave spreading before them more turned away.

In short order, even the Minister became aware of the sea of turned backs as he stopped in his tracks. "What's going on? Why are they turning their backs on us?"

He looked around at the flock of worried-looking officials that were eyeing the crowds nervously, Callian could even see a few of the Auror guards with their hands on the hilts of the wands as they too scanned the crowd.

Belor grunted as he looked up at the Minister, the man had removed his bowler hat to reveal a balding pate that glistened with a nervous sweat glistening in the glow of the enchanted lights.

He worked the brim of his hand worriedly in his hands as he looked at the wall of turned backs that lined the road.

"It's a custom among my people, Fudge. Yer Ministry abandoned us when we needed yer help time and again, yer folk turned yer backs on us and now the favour is returned in kind. Expect no warm greetings here Minister, my kin do not forget and do not forgive easily either."

With that Belor continued walking with the rest of their party following behind, the Ministry officials were left floundering once more as a steady double beat began.

CLANG-CLANG. CLANG-CLANG.

Soon the Ministry's party was chasing after them like scared rabbits, as more than one angry dwarf in the crowd began to tap whatever they had at hand against the hard stones of the Hold.

To Callian's ears, it sounded like the angry heartbeat of the Horncrags, warning these foreigners into her halls.


Harwyn McKinnon grimaced as the damnably slow lift carried them lower into the bowels of the earth, he had been given the unfortunate task of guarding the Minister and his toadies during their meeting with the Blackwoods and their allies. Whatever he had done to earn this honour he did not know, but he had seen the shit-eating grin on Scrimgeour's face when he had given him the assignment and knew the old bastard was enjoying this. It was often he that got assigned to lead the Minister's guard, he had an unfortunate interest in the goings on that surrounded the politics that surrounded the man and his office. As the Heir apparent of the McKinnon family after the death of his uncle and all his family, only he and his father remained of the once prosperous House. His father had deemed it paramount that he learn all he can of the goings on of the Ministry by standing as the Minister's guard, and had pulled in several favours to get him the post.

Now he wished nothing more than to be away from here, as his fingers twitched towards his belt and the treasure sewn into it. He desperately needed to get away and let his father know what was transpiring, the man had been almost ecstatic when he had learned that the Minister was planning to visit Lord Blackwood. Yet, neither he nor any of the other families within his father's circle could have foreseen this.

The Minister was blind to the goings on around him and just smiled falsely at everyone and everything as he was led along by the pursestrings, Harwyn had to fight to keep the disgust from showing on his face every time he looked at the man.

Cornelius Fudge was a man that cared only for his own glorification and the glint of gold, the man was more used than a Knockturn whore on payday only you just felt dirty without any of the satisfaction.

He turned his mind away from the man and once more looked at the bearded faces of those about them, his family had trade agreements with half a dozen of the Dwarf clans within Britain. He had grown up knowing more than a few Clan symbols and who they represented, but he saw dozens and more than one of them from the oldest Clans that originated long before England was even a united kingdom.

Things were happening and the Houses and all the politicking of the Wizengamot were blind to it, he needed to find out just what was going on but he felt a change was coming to the Magical world.