Hey everyone,
You know who we haven't covered in a while and who only played a minor role in the last chapter;
Fudge and Mickey,
Venquine1990
Chapter 17
A Meeting Of Leaders
24th of June 1995
Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts
Mickey's POV
The Third Task sure ended a lot better than I could've expected. And I get the feeling that even the Powers That Be didn't expect any of this when they decided to let Chirithy send us to this new world in order to let us help them.
Most of my friends decided to take a nap about an hour after the reading was over. Yet, perhaps thanks to the last few years, they decided to sleep in small groups.
Sora and Kairi took the first nap, followed by Riku, Axel and Roxas, followed by Naminé and Xion. And finally Aqua, Ventus and Terra took a nap before Donald, Goofy and I made use of the tent they had set up for us.
When Professor McGonagall spotted our tent, she told us that she would arrange several rooms for us to sleep in. I had sat down with her and we had agreed on who would share with who;
Terra, Aqua and Ven would be offered their own set of rooms.
I would share with Donald and Goofy, for the first time in years.
Sora and Riku as well as Axel and Roxas would be offered couple chambers.
Kairi, Xion and Naminé would get a set of rooms to share between the three girls.
And Lea would get his own rooms, with an extra bedroom for either Harry or Cedric.
And naturally Sirius and Remus would get a set of rooms, with a bedroom for Harry.
Yet now I feel sure that the latter set will have to be changed as I'm sure that the Potters will want to share bed chambers with their new partner.
Cedric startles me and shocks a few others as he suddenly shouts that this newest development brings a beautiful end to the Tournament and that there should be a party in the Great Hall.
Yet while the majority of the student body reacts to this with cheers and cries of loud agreement, I suddenly notice that Fudge is walking away from the Potters and over to me.
And the thoughtful look on his face has me intrigued. The man bows in front of me and instantly I realize that this is a leader talking to a fellow leader.
"Your Majesty, a thought occurred to me. Could I discuss my thought with you? I require some info that only you might be able to provide me."
The man might have made a horrible impression on me through his book-self, yet both his tone, the way he looks at me and what he just did proves two things;
This man knows how to treat his peers with respect and he is desperate to prove that he is better than his book-self.
I nod at him and the Minister nods when Donald asks if he can join in on our conversation. I quickly ask Goofy to stand guard and inform anyone who might want to meet with us.
We head for a different changing room from the one that the Champions – and later James and Sirius – used. And while Goofy stays standing near the door, the Minister guides us in.
He also pulls his wand once inside and explains that he wants to cast spells that will be able to assure our privacy.
Donald and I nod in understanding and acceptance and the man makes sure to articulate his casting as he waves his wand in certain patterns.
After this we all sit down and I ask him what he wants to talk to me about. The man has a genuine smile on his face as he says:
"Amelia has admitted to young Daughter Granger – heh, interesting – ahem and others that it will probably take her a few days to capture Skeeter, even now that she knows her secret. The woman's tiny form, you know?"
I wonder what the man finds interesting about how he mentions Hermione, yet I decide to ask him – or someone else – about this later. I simply nod, silently inviting him to continue.
"Well, because of this, because there are still a few students in Hogwarts who – aren't too fond of young Heir Potter and who still support Skeeter, it's highly likely that she will soon learn about what is going on here.
And I worry, if not fear, that she will blame young Heir Potter for Amelia now being able to actually put a stop to her – way of reporting. And considering the article that was mentioned in the book we just read, you can understand my concerns, yes?"
Again I nod, while Donald's beak twists itself somewhat weirdly as he tries to restrain his infamous temper. The fact that my best friend can get this angry about what was written about the boy proves that Harry has already nestled himself in Donald's heart, a fact that pleases me greatly.
"Right, so I think that what the Potters just did – and what young Heir Diggory proposed earlier – might be our solution to this problem.
You see, there will definitely be people who will go and be like I'm the biggest fan of the Boy-Who-Lived. I should be with him, not some alien from another world.
And while I don't like to admit it, there are things in this world – such as spells and potions – that can give them a chance to prove this, so to say.
However, most of these people would be more – hesitant and reluctant to do this – if they knew that there was a Betrothal contract between the three boys.
You see, through a Contract, Lord Potter, Lord Diggory and you yourself as young Lea's representative, can set certain rules, boundaries and obligations for the three of them to live by. And it will, on paper, prove that everyone who truly benefits of this union wants this union.
By creating this Contract, not only will it give certainty and stability to the young lads, it will prove to the world that they – and their families and you yourself – are willing to put effort into making this match work.
It will regain young Harry the respect that Skeeter's articles took from him and that respect will make more people less inclined to go against his wishes."
I feel deeply intrigued to learn all this, yet I wonder why Fudge thinks he should discuss this with me. And while I mutter I see, Donald proves that we're on the same wavelength of thought:
"I'm sorry, but why are you telling the king and not Lord Potter about this?"
Fudge smiles and says: "Because there is still one catch in the whole system that would make it difficult, perhaps even impossible for the Contract to even be written;
Lea doesn't have a Title, a name, a House – anything.
And the first line of the Contract would be like this:
I, Harry James Potter, Heir of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, hereby sign this Betrothal contract to tie my line, my house and my future to the line, house and future of both Cedric Diggory, Heir of the Noble and Ancient House of Diggory and …
And that's where Lea would have to be put down, but without a House, the magic of the contract wouldn't be able to be set. It's why these contracts never work when one of the bonded parties is of Muggleborn Heritage."
At this Donald and I share a worried look as that sounds like a real problem. But then suddenly I get an idea and ask:
"Minister, would we be able to claim that titles from our world are of some kind of equal rank as titles in this world?"
The man's smile widens slightly and he says: "I was hoping you would ask something like that. That's exactly what I was thinking. I figured we could mention what kind of titles each of our worlds have and compare their rank.
Then I could head to the Ministry, file the correct paperwork and take it back here to have you and your comrades sign it."
Instantly, even though I feel as if I have more than enough titles as both King, Guardian of Light and Keyblade Master, I tell the man that I am on board.
Donald mentions the two titles that the Minister mentioned in his explanation and asks what other titles there are. The man explains:
"Houses, once they have enough generations, start with the title of Noble. This is followed by Ancient, then Noble and Ancient, Most Noble and Ancient, Most Noble and Most Ancient and finally Legendary.
Though so far, only the Founders have attained that final title and it will probably stay that way."
Donald and I nod and the two of us hum and mumble to ourselves as we ponder about all this.
"Let's see, in our world there's Keyblade Wielder, Keyblade Master and Guardian of Light." Donald mutters to himself. I nod and reply:
"That's true, though while Wielder is the lowest rank, someone can still have been a Keyblade Wielder much longer than others have been a Master. So that still counts for something and should be taken into account."
Donald nods and after a few more minutes of contemplative silence, he turns from Fudge to me and says: "I think I got a good system in mind.
Your Majesty, I think your three ranks – Keyblade Master, King and Guardian of Light – should make you eligible for the highest rank, the Most Noble and Most Ancient."
I rub the back of my head, while Fudge nods. And because I know my friends well enough to know that they too will agree, I just simply accept this.
"Then I think that Terra, Aqua and Ventus deserve the rank below that. They've been both Wielders and Masters for longer than anyone else, outside of you yourself."
I definitely agree with this.
"Then I think we should offer the rank of Noble and Ancient to Sora, Riku, Roxas and Xion. Both Sora and Riku have earned the ranks and, if you look at it from this world's POV, Roxas and Xion are basically Sora's siblings."
The Minister seems confused about this latest statement and Donald simply tells him long story. The man nods and I nod as well, though that's more in agreement with all Donald has suggested so far.
"And finally, I think that Kairi and Lea, because they've only been Keyblade Wielders for a few months, but also because they're also Guardians of Light, deserve the rank of Ancient.
And because the same rules apply to Naminé for Kairi and to Axel for Lea as for Roxas and Sora, they would automatically get the same ranks, right?"
Donald looks at us both at the end and the Minister replies: "I'm still a little confused as to how these youngsters can all be siblings, yet not, but if their bond is indeed as equal to that of a sibling bond, then yes.
If they are in anyway shape or form related to each other, then Roxas, Xion, Naminé and Axel would automatically get the same rank appointed to them as Sora, Kairi and Lea as they would be of the same house/family."
I keep rubbing the back of my head as I have yet to remove my hand from there and say: "Let's just say that there is quite the backstory to how Roxas, Xion, Naminé and Axel came to exist. They weren't born the regular way, but they are as human as you can get, I assure you."
The Minister nods and says that that's good enough for him. At this Donald breaths a sigh of relief and I don't blame him. Thanks to what we read, I know that the both of us are worried how the people of this world will react – once they hear the truth.
I'm quite sure my friend and I both worry and fear the same thing: "Has Voldemort scarred this world too much for the people living here to accept that Light can be born from Darkness?"
I know that, sooner or later, the backstories of me and my friends will be revealed and I simply decide, yet again, that we will cross that bridge when we get there.
And in the time that I contemplated this, Fudge seems to have discovered another problem as his hands are in front of his face, the palms against each other and his lips somewhat wrapped around his index fingers as he says:
"Onto another problem, though I think this is one you and your friends will easily be able to solve. You see, because these titles are granted to magical families, they require a last name. Do you know Lea's last name?"
At this I rub the back of my head yet again, something that I always do when I'm nervous or feeling somewhat awkward or uncomfortable about something and say:
"To be honest, Minister, Donald, Goofy and I are the only ones with last names. It's just not as much of a thing in our world as it is in this world."
The man seems genuinely shocked, yet Donald speaks up and says: "But I'm sure the others will be able to come up with last names no problem."
Fudge nods and smiles, which is something he stopped doing when his hands were in front of his face, and he says:
"Excellent. If you can get them to think of those and report them to me tomorrow morning, I'll be able to get all the necessary paperwork gathered and written in the meantime.
Then we'll meet back in the Great Hall tomorrow morning and sign all the required paperwork and you and your friends will be officially recognized as ranked Houses in our world."
Donald and I nod, I exclaim that that's wonderful, and Donald thanks the man. Fudge nods and then suggests that we go head for the Great Hall and enjoy the celebrations.
Donald quickly goes to alert Goofy and while the Duck explains everything to his friend and closest companion, the four of us head back to the castle.
And while I know that we've never had to integrate ourselves into a new world to this extend before in our efforts to help the people of said world, I can't help but think:
"We've never formed such deep and long-lasting bonds with people from other worlds before either. One day, perhaps even one day soon, Lea will be part of a family that has lived in this world for centuries. It's only natural that we join him into this process of integration.
For his sake and the sake of this world in general."
And while I wonder if I might have to use my role as king more often in this world or if I can just rely on my role as a Keyblade Master, I follow Fudge into the Entrance Hall and into the Great Hall, which is already alight with music and a pleasant atmosphere.
Then suddenly Donald and I are both pleasantly surprised when two female voices shout Mickey and Donald respectively.
We both turn and the next minute both of us have our ladies – Minnie and Daisy – wrapped around us. Axel, who I hadn't even noticed was behind us, walks past and grins: "You're welcome." At which Goofy tries to hide his snickering behind his hand.
I send the Nobody a truly grateful smile and happily, lovingly, embrace my queen, who I haven't seen, let alone been able to hold, in way too long.
Good for you, Mickey,
And would you look at that. The bond between Lea, Harry and Cedric came with some unexpected consequences – and potential benefits – for Lea's group of friends.
Very interesting,
Venquine1990
