And yet, this would be a relatively normal year, with a slightly different schedule in a school that just happened to be in a different country that I was technically not allowed to be in. It was no big deal until the last person I expected to see appeared in full regalia, which I know she hates. How do I know this? Because the Ambassador that just caused a scene in the great hall of Hogwarts is none other than my younger yet older cousin, the curse of being fallen or, well technically, a versipellis cursed by the fates.
Before continuing that train of thought, my long-time friend and roommate interrupted my thoughts. " Zaria, qu'est-ce qui se passe et pourquoi n'es-tu pas déconcertée par le fait que cette... Cet être est là ?" Fleur seemed on edge as she asked this, which makes sense because, as the heir to the Delacour clan, she was responsible for those of the flock selected as representatives. I fell into this as an honorary member thanks to a deal that my cousin struck with the last matriarch when we were young. I look over to her before looking down choosing my words carefully, "Fleur, je ne suis pas aussi déconcerté parce que je m'attendais un peu à ce que cela se produise à un moment donné. Depuis l'incident de la Coupe du monde, le bavardage de l'underground s'est presque tu. laissant entendre que quelque chose était en train d'être planifié." As I informed her of this, the tension at the front of the hall increased as suddenly, members of the shadow guard appeared to apprehend various Brits, and the Ambassador aimed a revolver at the British headmaster. " Je sais peut-être aussi qui ils sont. selon qu'ils décident ou non de changer d'armure, ce serait mon cousin." watching her face change I knew she remembered the first and only time she encountered my cousin. They had met when I was touring the school while Callen was meandering around the first floor since the rest of the sprawling structure wasn't exactly wheelchair accessible. Let's say that since that encounter, any time I met up with my cousin, she politely avoided the Delacours for an unknown reason. Fluer's face seemed to reflect a series of emotions before she composed herself. "C'est inattendu, je n'ai qu'une seule question à poser. Le troupeau est-il menacé par la présence de vos cousins?" The resigned tone in her voice made me pause, switching to English as the rest of the commotion continued. Lowering my voice, I looked into her eyes, "The day my cousin becomes a threat to the flock is when you and I are no longer friends, Delacour. That was the deal she made: as long as I am a member of the flock, whatever agreement your matriarch and the Ambassador made will last. Since the only way you're getting rid of me means death, don't worry." At this, our eyes flashed the colors of our hidden sides in a more profound understanding before we refocused on the current situation.
…..
The Ambassador turned fully to face Madame Bones with a resolved air about them as if they were about to speak before a shout rang out. "Fawkes Now!" Dumbledore demanded, calling his phoenix familiar to free him from this outrageous situation, for he, the leader of the light, supreme mugwump of the ICW, Chief warlock of the Wizengamot, headmaster of Hogwarts, was being detained. Within the next few seconds, several things happened at once: a mighty creature of lore appeared in a flame of glory, wings sprouted from the back of the Ambassador as they launched into the air to catch the bird, and Dumbledore was nearly mummified as the shadow guard tackled him to the ground conjuring as straight jacket and a gag to prevent him from another escape attempt. Catching the phoenix and slowly returning to the ground, the Ambassador gently released the bird on the podium, seeming to communicate with them. "Fawkes, please do not help him escape responsibility for his actions. We both know he has strayed from the path, and I fear for the boy if I haven't stepped in today." After speaking telepathically to the immortal bird, they waited for a bated breath. "I won't help him escape if he calls for me again, but please find answers. Something has gone wrong through the years, and he is not the young man I once knew hatchling." Fawkes sang sorrowfully before jumping from the podium and flying to perch on the Ambassador's shoulder, nudging her head before soaring out of the hall, leaving a tail feather in her hand.
…..
Pocketing the phoenix feather and shaking my head I spoke once more "Ombres, s'il vous plaît, détenez-les dans les cellules de détention et n'oubliez pas les menottes résistantes à la magie." As they disappeared with the detainees, I felt my feathers ruffle in agnation, remembering that my wings had sprouted from my back. Flexing them momentarily, I sighed, drawing them close to my back as I felt the feathers transition from a metallic structure back to their regular mixed coloring. Finally turning to look briefly at Madam Bones, I answered the deputy head's original question. "Professor McGonagall, I would be the person most capable of answering your questions since the recent discoveries were of mine. Recent events have led to a cascading effect that led to the unraveling of several hidden truths that have been brought forth." watching her stand up, I couldn't help but remember those stern eyes staring me down in detention, much like now with no recollection of who I indeed was to her. The revered Scots moved with a grace of her animagus form as she rounded the staff table to stand before me. "This is an institution of learning, not somewhere you can act on your every whim without consequence. Now call your men back and release the headmaster before I do what is necessary to protect this school." feeling that she had won this proverbial volley, she clasped her hands, staring over her spectacles like I was an unruly first year. Feeling my primal rise at the challenge, I couldn't help but think about what would happen next.
….
What occurred next stunned the entire room as the Ambassador seemed to consider their next move before responding with a voice dripping in disdain. "An institution of learning indeed? And yet we reflect upon the last three years alone events that would speak to the contrary of your care for these students.
Considering how you have turned a blind eye to the headmaster's actions, I genuinely do not know who had the most significant fall from grace, the great Albus to many names, Dumbledore or yourself." pausing to see the ramifications of my words upon her expression the Ambassador continued, "let's see 91-92 a mountain troll is let into the school which destroys a bathroom nearly killing three first years, a minuscule set of defenses is set up to protect a 'precious stone.' including a three-headed dog, devil's snare, flying keys, a giant chess set dead trolls, flames and a potion riddle involving poison, and a cursed mirror that is known to drive those who stare into it long insane enough. All this was announced to a school of reckless preteens and teenagers on the right side of the forbidden third-floor corridor. Let us not forget the possessed DA professor, who was seen killing and drinking from unicorns. 92-93 A student is possessed by a cursed journal, causing them to unknowingly open the chamber of secrets and unleash a basilisk upon the school, causing several students to be petrified for a majority of the school year, parents to be left unnotified until the absolute last moment, second years solve the mystery. At the same time, the adults sit around on their hands waiting for mandrakes to mature, and a fraud of a DA professor is allowed to roam the halls when it was discovered they had a perchance for the obliviation charm. 93-94 dementors board the train carrying defenseless students and nearly sucks the soul out of a third year if it wasn't for a professor that happened to be sleeping in the last car. More incidents involving dementors nearly harming students and a supposed mass murderer entering the grounds multiple times, which led to two students nearly being kissed when they were involved in an altercation on the grounds after curfew. They only survived because one got lucky enough to cast a patronus at the mob of soul-eaters. All of this went unreported to the BMLE and parents. Should I continue, or have I made my point?" Professor Mcgonagal reeled back at each piece of evidence laid out before her. At the same time, the rest of the staff had similar reactions, seemingly to understand the gravity of what had occurred over the last few years to their regret upon reflection.
As the rest of the hall looked on in horror at what had been revealed, the auror with color-changing hair stepped forward for the first time, daring to place their hand on the Ambassador's shoulder in a sign of support as she sighed before continuing. "The only reason I am not shutting the doors of this school permanently is because I know that the other teachers and yourself have unknowingly let these events occur without knowing the true events that lurked beneath. It is also suspected that there is a possible explanation for the behavior change that has slowly occurred leading up to the current school year. This is why the students and staff will undergo a health screening conducted by the ICW healers and the fallen healers to ensure the safety of all involved." The Ambassador looked towards the auror next to them before retracting their wings and having their helm dissolve into their collar, revealing the identity of the mysterious figure for the first time. As this occurred, several reactions of disbelief and resignation swept through the students and staff respectfully as the person who stood before them was Callen Drake, an alumnus of Slytherin house and a friend of the eldest Weasleys as well as the Hufflepuff who stood beside her. "wotcher Callen, it seems like you've had an eventful summer. Maybe we should give everyone a chance to calm down before continuing this conversation in the morning?" the metamorphmagus asked calmly, looking at their long-time friend who had left before graduation due to the war hidden even from the eyes of the wizarding world. For the first time that night, the shoulders of the Ambassador slumped for a moment as she ran a hand through her hair before speaking once more, the exhaustion clear on her features, "If there weren't evidence that proves what has been found, the court would not have sent investigators nor gone through the trouble of contacting the Morrigan for me even to be here today. As it is getting late, the students should be sent to bed for the night as the healers will not arrive till the morning. The tournament will still occur after reviewing the contracts and evaluating safety measures. The scroll that I handed Madame Maxime is the new proposal for the event, which includes smaller activities that the rest of the schools can participate in, including an inter-school quidditch cup and a dueling tournament. Copies are there for each of the heads. The new interim head for Hogwarts, seeing as the board of governors was informed shortly after my arrival here this evening." as she finished, Madame Maxime passed a copy of the scroll to both Headmaster Karkoff, the remaining ministry official Mr. Bagman, and Professor Flitwick to later give to the pale animagus.
Stepping forward, Madam Bones spoke, "Ambassador Drake represents the throne of Ash and Bone that resides in the Abyss. While also being a daughter of purgatory, the gravity of the situation should be considered if it was enough for the Morrigan to send her. And for the ICW to approve of these actions occurring in the first place, there has to be credible evidence. Everyone, please return to your accommodations for the evening and know that there will be Aurors present on the grounds for the next few days, so please do not be out after curfew." with this statement, the first to rise was the Slytherin students as they turned to exit the hall and return to their dormitory the upper-level students acknowledged their former alumni knowing that little sleep would happen in the snake pit that night as they planned to reinstitute the changes that had been made long ago within their ranks, the younger years looked on speculation wondering what the ripple effect would cause for their remaining years. Slowly, the rest of the Hogwarts students and the foreign representatives left only the staff Aurors and the Ambassador behind.
…
Translations brought to you by Google:
Zaria, qu'est-ce qui se passe et pourquoi n'es-tu pas déconcertée par le fait que cette... Cet être est là ?-Zaria, what's going on and why aren't you baffled by the fact that this... Is this being there?
Fleur, je ne suis pas aussi déconcerté parce que je m'attendais un peu à ce que cela se produise à un moment donné. Depuis l'incident de la Coupe du monde, le bavardage de l'underground s'est presque tu. laissant entendre que quelque chose était en train d'être planifié.-fleur, I'm not as fazed because I somewhat expected this to happen at some point. Since the World Cup incident, the chatter of the underground went almost quiet. hinting that something was being planned.
" Je sais peut-être aussi qui ils sont. selon qu'ils décident ou non de changer d'armure, ce serait mon cousin.-I also might know who they are. depending on whether or not they decided to switch Armour, that would be my cousin.
C'est inattendu, je n'ai qu'une seule question à poser. Le troupeau est-il menacé par la présence de vos cousins?-that is unexpected, I only have one question then. Is the flock at risk with your cousin's presence?
Ombres, s'il vous plaît, détenez-les dans les cellules de détention et n'oubliez pas les menottes résistantes à la magie.-shadows, please detain them in the holding cells and do not forget the magic-resistant cuffs.
