The October session of the Wizengamot began with Lord Bones banging the gavel, getting everyone's attention. After getting house-keeping items out of the way, Lord Bones asked, "Does anyone have a motion, resolution, or bill they would like to bring forth?" Lady Prince lit her wand. "Lady Prince, you have the floor."
"Thank you, Chief Warlock," Lady Prince began. "I would like to bring forth a bill that would ban Muggle-borns from attending any magical school in Britain."
There was an uproar. It was known that Lady Prince was married to a Muggle, and her dislike for anything Muggle had grown since then, due to the way her husband treated people.
Lord Bones banged the gavel to bring order back to the Wizengamot.
"Lady Prince, please continue," Lord Bones said calmly.
"As I was saying," Lady Prince continued. "Muggle-borns don't know anything about our world. They are raised to believe that magic doesn't exist. Then suddenly, they're thrown into our world, and they act as if magic is from a storybook, not real. If they are going to act like that, then maybe they shouldn't be allowed in our world. After all, pure-bloods are superior to Muggle-borns, and even some half-bloods are better than Muggle-borns. But Muggle-borns shouldn't be allowed to have a magical education. They can just live as Muggles, and they can have a Muggle education. If this bill is passed, then Muggle-borns will be banned from any magical school in Britain. Let them stay in the Muggle World, where they belong. I urge everyone to vote for this bill. It will show that we will not tolerate outsiders invading our world. Thank you, and I yield back."
Lord Bones then asked if anyone opposed the bill. Immediately, two wands lit at the exact same time, Lord Black and Lady McGonagall. It did not happen often. Usually, someone always lit their wand before another person did. Usually, Lord Bones would have to pick one person to speak first, then the other person could speak. But before he could say anything, Lady McGonagall stepped forward.
"Chief Warlock, if Lord Black and I can both have the floor as a joint opposition to this bill, this would be greatly appreciated," she stated.
Lord Bones was surprised. Joint oppositions were unusual, but not unheard of. Rule seventy-one of the Wizengamot allowed for a Lord or Lady to request to be allowed to give a joint support or opposition, and if the Chief Warlock or Chief Witch granted permission, then they would be allowed to speak on the support or opposition for ten minutes. Lord Bones had always wondered why people didn't use rule seventy-one more often, but he understood why Lady McGonagall was requesting it. After all, it only made sense for the headmaster and deputy headmistress of a school to want to speak on the same points.
"Permission granted," Lord Bones agreed. "Lord Black, Lady McGonagall, you have the floor."
"Thank you, Chief Warlock," Lord Black started. "The bill brought forward today should be a concern for everyone, regardless of which faction you are in. This bill is nothing but political racism. Muggle-borns are no less magical than a pure-blood or half-blood. To rip a Muggle-born of their magical education is like ripping a pure-blood of their magical education."
"Agreed," Lady McGonagall continued. "And while we can only speak for Hogwarts when we say that Muggle-borns are welcome and treated equally to everyone else, we believe that the other schools in Britain would feel the same."
"Matters regarding how each of the magical schools are run should stay with the Board of Governors and headmaster or headmistress of that particular school," Lord Black continued. "Politics have no place in children's academic education. There are people in charge of these schools, and they're the ones who should be discussing who gets to go and who doesn't. The Wizengamot has more pressing matters to focus on, like having trials for criminals, bills and resolutions to assist in the war we are currently in, and the economy, just to name a few."
"If you are so set on excluding Muggle-borns from their magical education, then you should move to another country where they already exclude Muggle-borns," Lady McGonagall said angrily. "Such political racism and unfairness has no place in Britain."
They continued to speak for a few minutes, making it clear that schools like Hogwarts viewed equality as essential, and how this bill, if passed, would cause the public to lose confidence in the Wizengamot. Finally, with only one minute remaining, they ended their speech. For everyone present, it was a clear message that while Lord Black was in the neutral faction and Lady McGonagall was in the light faction, they worked very well together, which only reinforced their point. When it came to children's education, politics stayed out of the conversation.
Lady Prince was not happy. She knew that after that long joint opposition, there was no way her bill would pass. Lady McGonagall was popular among the light faction, and the majority of the neutral faction always voted the way Lord Black voted. She realized that in this case, she may only get the dark faction behind her.
After an hour of debate, it was finally time for the vote. Almost everyone from the dark faction voted for the bill. The entire light and neutral factions voted against the bill. There was one vote that shocked everyone. Lady Parkinson voted against the bill. The Parkinson family was in the dark faction, so her vote was a big blow to the dark faction.
There was only one person who was not surprised by Lady Parkinson's vote. Lord Black knew why she voted the way she did.
Flashback
Lady Parkinson joined the Lords and Ladies who were huddled in a corner, talking about the removal of Dumbledore as Chief Warlock. She was surprised that they wanted her to join their conversation.
Before anyone could say anything, she said, "I want to be a co-sponsor of this resolution."
Lord Black nodded. "We want at least one person from the dark faction to be included, and we were originally going to ask you who may be willing, but it seems you would like to be a co-sponsor yourself."
"Yes, make me a co-sponsor," Lady Parkinson demanded.
Lord Black smiled, the smile that meant he had a plan. "Lady Parkinson, you can be a co-sponsor, but on one condition."
Lady Parkinson realized that whatever the condition was, it was going to be a political condition. After all, Lord Black was known for being able to use politics to get support. "And that is?" she asked, now nervous.
"The Parkinson family will align with the Black family," Lord Black declared. Everyone in the group gasped. This meant, if Lady Parkinson agreed to this condition, the Parkinsons and Blacks would be political allies, and Lord Black would be the one giving her rules to follow in order to ensure that the alliance held. No one knew for sure what the rules would be, but they would find out with time.
Lady Parkinson hesitated before nodding. "Very well, Lord Black. House Parkinson will align with House Black."
End flashback
One of the rules was coming out clear as day now. Lady Parkinson, as a political ally to the Black family, voted the way Lord Black voted.
"The vote is nineteen to eighty-one," Lord Bones called out. "The bill is rejected."
As the meeting ended, Lord Black approached Lady Prince. "Lady Prince, I have a matter to discuss with you," he stated. "Would you please meet with me at Hogwarts tomorrow evening at 1900?"
Lady Prince knew of only one reason why Lord Black would want to speak with her. After all, they were not allies. "Is this about Severus?" she asked, eyes narrowed.
"Indeed," Lord Black answered. "There was a recent discovery that I would like to speak with you about." By the tone he was using, Lady Prince couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Very well," she agreed. "I will meet you at Hogwarts tomorrow evening at 1900."
Lord Black nodded before walking away.
Lady Prince approached Lady Parkinson. "Lady Parkinson, why did you vote against the bill?" she asked.
"The Parkinson family and the Black family have a political alliance," Lady Parkinson confessed.
Lady Prince gasped. "So you have to vote the way Lord Black does?" she asked.
"Yes," Lady Parkinson confirmed.
Lady Prince knew why Lord Black was playing this game. The Blacks were known for doing anything and everything to gain political allies.
She didn't like this. After all, the dark faction needed someone who would support the beliefs of pure-blood being superior to anyone else. But for now, she had something else to worry about. What could Lord Black want to speak with her about Severus? She had made it clear when she allowed Lucretia Prewett to become Severus' guardian that she was not going to be involved anymore. Well, she would find out that next evening.