The room was silent, everyone too shocked to react. Even Dumbledore was speechless. He could not believe that they would seriously try removing him as the Chief Warlock. He couldn't stop the vote from happening, because the clerk of the Wizengamot was the one in charge of presiding over resolutions to remove a Chief Warlock or Chief Witch. So there was nothing he could do to stop the vote. He just hoped there were not enough people to actually remove him.
He had a feeling that Lord Black was leading this effort. After all, the House of Black is a family, even if they're in the neutral faction. He then got a great idea. If the vote failed, then he would gather the votes necessary to force the House of Black back to the dark faction, where they belonged.
"Lord Potter, please explain why you are bringing this resolution to the Wizengamot," the clerk stated.
Lord Potter stood. "Thank you, Madame Clerk. As you have all seen for the past several months, Albus Dumbledore has been playing politics to try to get his way. The Chief Warlock is supposed to be impartial at all times. You saw this today, with the way he treated Lord Greengrass and Lady McGonagall. He clearly does not agree with Bill 3520, but whether or not he agrees with it, he is supposed to let the floor speeches and debates happen with equal time for everyone. He also has been breaking the rules of the Wizengamot since October, though we called him out on it with a censure vote in January when he started taking it too far. He was warned that if he kept bending the rules, he could face a vote to remove him. Today, he cut down the amount of time someone could speak, and he was dishonest about the amount of time they had left to speak. Furthermore, he got into someone else's business when confronting Lady McGonagall. The Chief Warlock has no right to get into someone's personal or professional business while conducting a meeting of the Wizengamot. For this, he has broken seven rules of the Wizengamot, and he is clearly aware of what he's doing, because even after being warned, he does not stop."
"I…" Dumbledore started, but the clerk banged the gavel.
"Lord Potter still has the floor," she said sternly.
"As I was saying," Lord Potter continued. "Albus Dumbledore must be removed as Chief Warlock. He clearly doesn't have the Wizengamot's best interests in mind. He seems to think that power is more important than law and order. So some of us from all three factions came together today to put a stop to the political games being played by the Chief Warlock. I may not agree with some of my colleagues on a daily basis, but when it comes down to it, we are all here for the same reasons. We are here to represent not only our families, but the entire British Wizarding World. We cannot do our jobs if the Chief Warlock is trying to stop us every time we bring up a motion, resolution, or bill. So I ask that everyone here today please vote to remove this man from his post as the Chief Warlock. Thank you, and I yield back."
"Lord Potter, which co-sponsor do you choose to speak on this resolution?" the clerk asked.
Lord Potter looked at the co-sponsors, and finally made a decision. "Lord Bones."
"Thank you," Lord Bones said. "I am sorry we had to bring this resolution to the attention of this body today. We would rather be debating Bill 3520, but we cannot do our job until we have a Chief Warlock or Chief Witch who will follow the rules of the Wizengamot. So that is why we are asking you to vote to remove the current Chief Warlock and put someone into the position who will follow the rules to the best of their ability. Whether you are from the light, dark, or neutral faction, we need to be united, if not all the time, at least today. Also, the Chief Warlock is the leader of the light faction when he's not supposed to be the leader of anything but the Wizengamot. Rule 2 of the Wizengamot states that the Chief Warlock or Chief Witch shall not lead a faction while Chief Warlock or Chief Witch. Please vote for what you feel is right, not what the leader of your faction may say. Thank you, and I yield back."
"We will now vote on this resolution," the clerk announced. "All in favor, please light your wands." After counting the wands, she continued, "All who oppose, please light your wands." After seeing the numbers, she announced, "The vote is ninety-six to four. The resolution is approved. Albus Dumbledore, you are hereby no longer the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. Please exit through the back door."
Dumbledore looked angry. Without thinking about what he was doing, he strode towards Lord Potter and Lord Black, planning on teaching them both a lesson. He had his wand out, pointing it at them. Of course, they had their wands out as well.
"Aurors, take Mr. Dumbledore out of here! He is endangering two of our members," the clerk ordered, seeing what exactly Dumbledore was about to do. Three aurors stepped forward and escorted Dumbledore out of the room.
"Thank you, Madame Clerk," Lord Potter said kindly.
The clerk cleared her throat. "I shall now take nominations for Chief Warlock or Chief Witch." Lord Malfoy lit his wand.
"I am nominating myself," he drawled.
Lord Black lit his wand. "I would like to nominate Lord Bones for Chief Warlock," he declared.
Some had thought that Lord Black would be like Lord Malfoy and nominate himself, but they were wrong. They realized that Lord Black already had enough power how it was, and it was his way of saying he didn't want to be like Dumbledore and have too much power.
"We shall now vote on these nominations," the clerk announced. "Please light your wand if you would like Lord Malfoy as Chief Warlock." There were some wands lit, but not many. Then she continued, "Please light your wand if you would like Lord Bones as Chief Warlock." There were many wands lit this time. "Twelve votes for Lord Malfoy, and eighty-eight votes for Lord Bones," she stated. "Congratulations, Lord Bones, you are now Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot." There was applause from the Lords and Ladies. Lord Malfoy looked angry, if his red face was anything to go by.
Lord Bones smiled at the clerk and took the oath of office before being handed the gavel. He banged the gavel.
"This meeting of the Wizengamot will come to order," he declared. "Firstly, thank you for putting your trust in me to lead this body in a fair, honest manner. I am honored to take this responsibility, and I promise to treat everyone equally, regardless of which faction you are in. Before we return to debating Bill 3520, I must first fill the Bones seat. I appoint Lady Bones to replace me in the Bones seat." Lady Bones stepped into the room and walked over to the Bones seat.
"Thank you, Chief Warlock," she thanked him.
"Now, back to the debate of Bill 3520," Lord Bones announced. "Lord Greengrass, you have the floor for two minutes." Lord Greengrass smiled. At least he would get his full five minutes in.
After Lord Greengrass finished his floor speech, Lord Bones asked if anyone opposed the bill. Of course, Lord Crabbe, Lord Malfoy, and Lord Goyle opposed the bill. It took much of the afternoon, hearing from both sides of the debate, but everyone was recognized, and for the same amount of time.
Finally, they entered the amendment stage, where anyone could offer up amendments that could be voted on to add to the bill. Lord Malfoy, Lord Nott, and Lord Goyle all came up with amendments that failed, mostly having to do with weakening the bill.
Lord Black was keeping quiet for the most part, wanting to see what exactly this bill would do before he made any opinions on it. As Headmaster of Hogwarts, he wanted to make sure that he did what was best for the school. The nice thing about being neutral is that people didn't expect you to speak on every single issue. However, people were giving him questioning glances every now and then. He knew why. They wanted to know if the headmaster of Hogwarts had any opinions on the bill.
Finally, after several amendments failed, Lord Black offered his own. The amendment would add to the bill that the Latin class would be mandatory for the student's first year at whichever school they went to.
"This would ensure that students would at least have the basic understanding of Latin, and whether they decide to continue the class in future years or not, they will at least have the basic understanding," Lord Black explained.
Many of the Lords and Ladies from all factions voted for the amendment, which passed seventy-two to twenty-eight.
Finally, the final vote came. "We will now vote on this bill," Lord Bones declared. "All in favor, please light your wand." There were seventy-five wands lit. "All who oppose, please light your wand," he continued. There were twenty-five wands lit. "Madame Clerk, please read the results."
"Chief Warlock, the vote is seventy-five to twenty-five," the clerk responded.
"This bill has passed. The Latin Education Act is now law," Lord Bones declared.
Once other small matters were dealt with, the meeting finally adjourned. After such a long afternoon, most of the Lords and Ladies left, not in the mood to stand around and chat.
Arcturus and McGonagall were some of the first ones to leave. They flooed back to Hogwarts. McGonagall sighed in relief.
"Finally," she said. "That man no longer has power!"
Arcturus chuckled. "Agreed," he said. "But now, we need to find a brand new professor for a brand new class." McGonagall nodded.
"Yes, we do," she agreed. "But the law doesn't take effect until September, so at least we have a little time to find someone." Arcturus agreed with her on that. They went their separate ways, McGonagall to grade Transfiguration essays, and Arcturus to check up on Regulus, who had been doing homework all afternoon.