Chapter 11

July 6

Harry was at Grimmauld Place getting ready for the Wizengamot assembly. His proxies had arrived earlier so they could go over the agenda and how he expected he would vote on each of the items. Harry had decided not to tell his proxies how to vote but he was fairly sure they would vote the way he did on most issues. Ron had not been happy with the addition of Draco to their group and he had threatened to resign. Draco had actually helped calm Ron, by assuring him that he would vote in his new Lords interest. In the end Ron said. "Dumbledore had Snape. I guess if the Order could tolerate him, I can tolerate you." Harry had decided that since there would be no way to avoid the madness in the Ministry atrium they should arrive together. So the four wizards and two witches flooed to the Ministry.

Harry stepped out of the floo to find Rita Skeeter directly in his path. "Lord Potter do you care to give an interview?"

"You will address me as Your Majesty, Miss Skeeter. I have arrived a little early so certainly I will speak with you privately. Please follow me to my office."

"Yes, My apologies Your Majesty." Rita had a sly grin.

Harry made a quick enough pace to the elevators that Rita had to run to keep up. In the elevator Rita pulled out her pad and started to ask a question.

"You will refrain from speaking to his Majesty until you are in his office" Percy said sternly. Until they arrived in Harry's office there was an uncomfortable silence.

"Alison I will be speaking with Miss Skeeter for a moment, then we can get started. Bring the staff in as soon as you see her leaving." Harry opened the door and motioned for Rita to enter.

Harry closed the door behind him. "As I recall, you do not mind my use of a quick quotes quill…."

Harry grabbed the annoying quill out of the air and snapped it in half. "I most certainly do mind Miss Skeeter." He sat behind his desk and Rita pulled a standard quill out of her bag and sat in the chair in front of the desk. "I did not invite you to sit Rita. You are only in my office so that I can remind you that Lord Potter owns the majority share of the tabloid rag the Prophet has become. I ask that when you return to your office you remind Baranabas of that fact. I nor anyone associated with me will freely give any information to my paper until I can stomach reading it again. Until then I will get my serious news and information from the Quibbler. Additionally if you are not a registered Animagus by the end of the day, an order for your arrest will be issued. If I find you in any of my private spaces in your bug form I will smash you. YOU ARE DISMISSED!" Rita who had jumped up from the chair like it had stung her when Harry started speaking bolted to the door and out of the office.

Alison entered the office followed by Winky, Hizzie, and Squidgy. "Come in we have some things to talk about."

A few minutes later Harry dismissed his staff then placed the helm and crown on his head and strapped on the scabbard and sword. He then walked across the hall to the Ministers office. Percy was sitting at his desk in his Cyan robes with the Nott family crest on it. "The Minister is expecting you, Your Majesty."

"Come in Your Majesty. You should probably head down to the chamber Percy." Kingsley called from the office.

"On my way Minister." Percy called back.

Harry entered Kingsley's office. "Another busy day ahead Minister! Sometimes I wonder if I will ever have some time to rest again. The start of the school year will seem like a break."

"Harry, my friend, I suggest you try to have some fun this school year and take one last chance at some of your childhood."

"I gave up on having a childhood, long before Dumbledore did, Kingsley. I am merely hoping for a year without Trolls, Acromantulas, Basilisks, Tri-Wizard cups, prophesies, evil professors, Horcrux, or long stays in the hospital wing. "

"Being you are Harry Potter that may be impossible, my friend." Kingsley laughed and slapped Harry on the shoulder. "Just a warning Lord Travers has been trying to intimidate some of the commons representatives to prevent a Quorum. By my count we have nothing to worry about. It is about time to go. Are you ready, sire?"

"Sure am! Let's go." They walked down the staircase and entered a chaotic Wizengamot chamber. Lords Rosier and Travers were blocking the entrance trying to prevent anyone else from entering. Travers had erected a shield charm and spells and curses were bouncing off of it. Harry noticed that his proxies were seated and acting as if nothing unusual was happening. Harry smiled at that then he touched his throat with the tip of his wand and cast a sonorous charm. "I WILL HAVE SILENCE IN THIS CHAMBER!" The walls shook with Harry's voice. The spell casting stopped and in a few second everyone in the chamber had quieted. The two Lords were still blocking the doorway and Travers shield was still up. Harry flicked his wand and the shield dropped and two wands flew to Harry's waiting left hand. He flicked it again and thick ropes appeared and bound the lords together they then levitated to the floor of the chamber. The two men struggled and complained. Harry ignored them. "We will give the representatives still outside the chamber time to enter and take their seats. After a couple of minutes everyone had found a seat to stand in front of. "The Aurors will seal the door." There was a loud thump as the door closed. "This Assembly of the Wizengamot is now in session. Minister call the roll."

Kingsley banged his gavel and Harry took his seat. After the roll was taken Harry stood. "Minister the King request to be recognized."

"Your Majesty is recognized."

"Minister how many absences are there in this body?"

"Three Lords, four Commons, and zero Ministry."

"A Quorum is met then. It appears that the first order of business placed before us is high treason. The two Lords on our floor have willfully with their body and their magic, witnessed by a Quorum of the Wizengamot, attempted to impede representatives of this lawful government in the conduct of their duties. Lord Travers and Lord Rosier, how do you answer these charges?"

The ropes disappeared and the two men stood up. Rosier straightened his robes and spoke. "We do not recognize the legitimacy of this body. The current Minister stole his position in a coup d'état by the criminal organization known as The Order of the Phoenix. The so called King makes his claim with stolen titles. We recognize Pius Thickneese as the legitimate minister and only answer to his government. We are not guilty of anything but defending the will if the magical community."

"Oh! Thank goodness it is nothing as severe as treason. This should be easy to clear up. I request the secretary of the Wizengamot retrieve the minutes of the assembly in which Minister Thickneese was elected." Harry said.

The Secretary stood and said. "That is not possible Your Highness."

"Why not? Were they destroyed by accident or malicious act?"

"Neither, Highness. They never existed."

"How then did Mr. Thickneese come by the position of Minister?"

"He was appointed by Tom Riddle after the murder of the minister elected by the Wizengamot, Minister Scrimgour. The last Minister elected by the people in elections was Minister Fudge. There were no recorded Assemblies of the Wizengamot from the May 1997 Assembly in which Minister Scrimgour was elected and the emergency session of May 1998 in which Minister Shacklebolt was elected." The secretary finished.

"It would appear gentlemen that you have been misinformed about the legitimacy of Minister Thickneese. As for my legitimacy, I wear six family rings. I was led to believe that the magic contained in a family ring would prevent me from wearing them if they were not rightfully mine to wear. The braided crown of the Kingdom of Magical Great Britain allows itself to be handled and worn by me. It is your right to challenge me in honorable combat for my titles, but you would risk your titles and those of the families that serve you. Do either of you challenge me?"

The two men looked very worried. Lord Travers spoke first. "I have no wish to challenge you my Lord, um I mean Your Majesty."

Lord Rosier gave Travers a hard look then slumped his shoulders. "I do not challenge you, Majesty."

"It appears that this is just a case of poorly informed Lords behaving like children. I withdraw the charge of high treason and ask the Lords to take their seats so that we may conduct the business we were assembled for. I would suggest the two Lords hire an advisor more versed in the laws and operation of this government than they are, to prevent them making fools of themselves in this body again."

The rest of the session went as planned with only two no votes on every item. The awards to the heroes of the Battle of Hogwarts were approved. Budgets for the award ceremony and election were approved. Minister Shacklebolt, Lord Rosier, and commons representative Pontius Blishford announced their candidacy. Harry informed the Wizengamot that he would award 54 knighthoods at the ceremony. The Assembly was ended by scheduling another in a month's time.

Harry called Winky. She popped next to him. "Inform the two childish Lords that they may retrieve their wands from my office. Then join me and the others there." Harry exited the chamber through the Ministers office. Kingsley was already there. "I am meeting with my Proxies and staff to go over that assembly. Would you care to join us, Minister?"

"I was about to do the same with my staff, sire."

"Have them join us too."

"A marvelous idea." They left his office. The Ministry representatives were waiting outside. "We will be meeting in the Kings office please follow me."

The two wayward Lords were waiting nervously for their wands. Harry pulled them out of his robes and handed them point first to their owners as he walked by. Harry had another idea. As everyone else filed into his office he hung back. He turned to his two new adversaries. "We are going to go over the assembly. A good portion will be about you two. I invite you to join us."

The two looked at each other Lord Rosier shrugged. "Why not."

Harry entered his office followed by the Lords. He removed the crown and placed it in its box. He then removed the helm and sword. He moved another chair beside his, behind the desk and sat down. "Minister please sit with me. Everyone else may find or conjure something to sit on. I know that some of what we will be discussing is about people I have invited to listen in. We have no ill intent towards them and have nothing to hide from them please do not alter your reports because of their presence here. Winky could you start us off."

"Yes sir. You asked me to observe the Lords that aligned with the Half-blood Tom Riddle. Though you have absorbed most of their seats. Lord Rosier, Lord Travers and Lady Flint are the only open supporters with active seats. I observed Lord Greengrass closely watching all those Lords but there was no hesitation when he voted contrary to Lords Rosier and Travers, the only dissenting votes today. Lady Flint appeared conflicted and did not vote at all. Lords Rosier and Travers unsuccessfully attempted to create a failure to hold a quorum. If they had taken time to count before they attempted to block the door they would have known a quorum was already present in the chamber. I detected the presence of three disillusioned elves the only one I recognized was Miss Sissy's elf. There was one witch under an invisibility cloak. I was not close enough to her to give a description. "

"Thank you Winky. Does anyone have anything to add on this subject?"

Arthur then spoke. "As the head of MDLE I promise the two Lords that my department will not pursue any indictments for today's disturbance, but I would like to know what they hoped to gain and if they had any co-conspirators in their planning. If they don't mind?"

Rosier spoke up first. "If I am not under oath then I do not see that it is in our interest to say anything."

"Speak for yourself Brady, you do not speak for me."

"You'll shut it if you know what's good fer ya Kirk."

"You shut it, the old families have lost their power. Lady Flint was our advisor. We desire to regain our former hold on our lawmaking and judicial branch to defend the interest of the old blood and families. We think King Pendragon intends to destroy the old ways. We think he seeks revenge by destroying the pure blood families that chose or were forced to serve the half-blood Riddle. I for one am finally done with this war. I submit to my king, accept the fate decided for the pure bloods in atonement for our crimes and beg mercy. "

Harry decided to speak." Lords I do intend to destroy the old ways. They have not served the Wizard community as a whole for a very long time. The pure bloods have enjoyed all the advantages of their status without accepting any of the large responsibility that should come with it. They reap all the rewards from the toil of those that they have come to think of less than worthy. We are all Wizards and Witches. We should be guiding those new to our community. I would wager that many of the muggle borns that should have a place in our world go back to the muggles because they have been ostracized by the so called pure-bloods. I intend to preserve the old families and new alike. I intend to strengthen the whole community. The pure-bloods can participate or perish. You two can pass that message to the others. Now Alison what did you see in there?"

"The commons representatives seem to be split into two main groups. A conservative group that sides with the old pure-blood families and a smaller progressive group that is seeking change. There are a couple of smaller groups that seem to have special causes. They were aligning with the progressive group today.

The conservatives were either abstaining or grudgingly voting with the majority today. They appear to be led by the Wales and London representatives.

The progressives seem eager to work with you for now. Their leader appears to be the Edinburgh representative.

I will need to look into the smaller groups to give any report on their aims and leadership.

I suggest you meet with these leaders and get better acquainted with them, Your Majesty." Alison finished.

Harry thought about the report for a minute. "I am pressed for time until school starts. Please schedule appointments for me with them at Hogwarts on Saturdays or during Christmas break. Does anyone have anything to add about the commons representatives?"

Hermione raised her hand. "I think that your proxies should make appointments with all the commons representatives before you meet with the leaders to convey what you hope to accomplish in the next couple of years. We could also identify possible allies and opposition and work with both to find a way to implement changes with as much support from those that are suspicious of our aims as we can get."

"It would be to your benefit to use the knowledge and experience of the representatives that are willing to give it, Your Majesty." Kingsley pointed out to Harry.

"Mr. Black what is your standing with the pure-blood families since the end of the war?" Harry asked.

"It is not what you might think it is. Having been adopted into the black family with disgraced status. The other pure-blood heads will refuse to deal with me directly. I would have to deal through intermediaries."

"Why do you believe you have disgraced status? Lord Black has given that status to your mother. I do not recall him including you. You wear the family crest and represent the Black family in the Wizengamot, correct?" Harry acting as the monarch had to use the third person when referring to one of his lesser titles.

"That changes things quite a bit then. The families most loyal to the half-blood Riddle will be reluctant, but will at least hear me out. They will not harm me as your envoy, out of fear of you."

"Mr. Black you will visit and talk with the heads of the pure-blood houses titled and minor that aligned with Riddle. I think I would like Neville Longbottom to talk with the neutral and Order aligned families if he is willing. He was sitting on the Wizengamot today wearing black robes. I assume Lady Longbottom is now the Dowager Lady Longbottom and Neville has taken on the duties of Lord Longbottom. I will speak with him about it when I see him in a little over a fortnight. Alison I will be in my office for the rest of the week so that we can get my Wizengamot agenda for the next two years in a written form so that Lord Longbottom and Mr. Black will have something to present the family heads.

Minister is there any business you would like to address while we are all here?"

"Yes, your Majesty. If you do not have any objections could you forward a copy of that agenda to myself and ministry department heads. I would like to give everyone a chance to go over it and report to me on any difficulties they foresee and how their department might facilitate implementing your agenda. I would like my staff to follow me to my office after this meeting is concluded."

"Excellent idea Minister. I would like present company included in that report. Could we schedule that for August 18th?" Harry said.

"I will have my new personal secretary clear the schedule for that, Your Highness. Percy you are now senior secretary to the Minister. Your Highness could I pay a visit after I am done with my staff if you are still here?" Percy looked like a cat that just swallowed a canary.

"Certainly Minister. Lords Travers and Rosier you will get a copy of that agenda and I would like you to attend the meeting in August. This meeting is adjourned."

Everyone filed out of Harry's office. "Alison owl Zenophilious Lovegood and tell him I would like to give his paper an interview Friday."

An hour later Pukka announced the arrival of the minister. "Come in Minister. I am glad you wanted to talk. I've been meaning to ask about progress on the Hagrid issue?"

"What? Oh yes. The issue is resolved. I have a deceleration of innocence and an official apology for false conviction of a crime. I will have it owled to him this evening."

"Could you send it to me? I have a surprise planed for him on Saturday."

"I will send it over when we are done here. I just wanted to say that you played those two Lords brilliantly from the moment you stepped into the chamber. Being completely open about what you want to do with the government and them will leave them with no leverage against you. Any objections they have will likely sound childish or bigoted. This government will do everything possible to advance your agenda. I am looking forward to seeing it."

"I am also concerned about our cloaked guest today. Have the Aurors work out a way of detecting whoever it is by the next assembly. Oh and if Rita Skeeter has not registered as an Animagus by the end of the day, please issue an arrest order."

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July 11

Harry and Mrs. Creevey arrived at Hogwarts several hours early but were still greeted at the gate by Stan. "How is the new job going Stan?"

"Jolly Good, Harry. Argus as been downright agreeable of late. Seems a letter from tha King as him in high spirits." Stan winked at Harry. "I'd walk up ta tha castle with ya but the head as me waitin fer several other guests today. She'll be in the great hall."

As they walked to the castle he noticed Hagrid working in his garden with Fang and Fluffy playing nearby. "The first time I was here was just two months ago and it was mostly a ruin after the battle. Then for the memorial service just a week later. Even with Colin and Dennis showing us what they could, and their stories of the great Harry Potter, it constantly amazes me what magic can do."

"Mrs. Creevey if the wizards born in this world ever bother to look at what the muggles can do without magic they will be just as amazed. Our clothing is not the only part of our world stuck in the Victorian age." Harry indicated the green and silver robes he was wearing. "Many Hogwarts students have never been to a movie or seen a television." They had reached the castle and were entering the great hall.

Minerva and the staff in the castle, including the house elves, were having their lunch. Harry noticed several of the elves wearing the Slytherin family livery the rest were wearing an eye watering display of colors. Minerva had decided on a livery that incorporated all of the house colors that reminded Harry a little of a picture of a Vatican Swiss Guard he had seen in one of his primary school books. There were vertical stripes of red, gold, green, silver, blue, bronze, yellow and black.

Headmistress McGonagall stood. "Welcome to Hogwarts Lord Slytherin and Mrs. Creevey. Please join us." She indicated two empty seats at the head table. Harry sat between the head and Madame Jones the new flying instructor, Quiddich referee, and retired captain of the Hollyhead Harpies.

"Lard Slytherin I wood be thankin ya fer tha generous dunation of tha nu brrooms, their replacement wuz lung oferdue!" Madame Jones said.

"Thank you Madame, but I would appreciate if the students didn't associate those brooms with Harry Potter. As good as they are for what they are designed to do, I think your more experienced students will not appreciate them."

"Aye tay arr sumut limited."

As they were finishing lunch Lady Greengrass and Mrs. Bulstrode arrived.

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July 12

The Quibbler

King Pendragon announces plans to improve Wizard community

In an exclusive interview with Quibbler reporter Marietta Edgecombe, His Highness reveals his exciting two year plan for sweeping changes. See full interview on page 5.

Pendragon Agenda

Charter of rights for Magical equals (Centaurs, Goblins, House Elves, Veela, Sirens, Merpeople, leprechauns, Giants ect…, and mixed wizard hybrids).

Guaranties of equal treatment under wizard law.

Property rights or establishment of unplotable Preserves.

Right to own wands.

Voting seats on Wizengamot.

Repeal of discriminatory laws against wizards with incurable magical maladies (werewolves, and vampires). Funding for treatment and cure research.

Establishment of Magical Kingdom Citizen Guard. To prevent future rise of dark lords.

Minister of Magic – Civilian commander in chief.

Knight Commander– Military commander in chief.

Mandatory two years of service for all wizards 18 years of age or upon completion of higher education.

Elective military instruction in early education.

Revisit educational standards and establishment of collegiate level wizarding education standards and schools.

Work closely and with approval of Hogwarts Headmaster, Faculty, and Board of Governors.

Enlist pure-blood families to participate in community improvement committees, charity organizations, and small business investment groups.

Daily Prophet

Prophet reporter Rita Skeeter registers as Animagus.

Rita Skeeter has completed the difficult process of Animagus transfiguration, and registerd her beetle form with the Ministry of Magic.

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