Author's note: Hello everyone! I said at the beginning of my college semester that I wouldn't be able to post as often this semester, and that was definitely true! I appreciate your patience, and hopefully, you won't have to wait so long for another chapter. Plus, after the semester is over, I will have a lot more time to write. With that being said, it shouldn't be as long of a wait again! I hope you like the chapter!
Chapter 114: The Issue With What Someone Should Be Called
The Wizengamot chamber was full of witches and wizards filing in for the monthly session. Lady Prince arrived after Lord Nott, and she spotted Lady Parkinson. She did not speak to her. There was no reason to speak to someone who would not join Malfoy's ranks. Lady Prince was still angry that Lady Parkinson wouldn't cut ties with the House of Black. To her, political alliances were useless unless it included money.
Lord Bones called the session to order. "The Wizengamot will come to order!" he called out. "Does anyone have any motions, resolutions, or bills to bring forward?"
Lady Parkinson stood. "Chief Warlock Bones, I would like to make a statement to go into the record," she stated.
"Lady Parkinson is recognized to give her statement for the record," Lord Bones replied.
"What do you think she's going to say now?" Lord Crabbe asked.
"I do not know, but it can't be anything good," Lady Prince responded.
"The House of Parkinson will be a member of the neutral faction from this day forward," Lady Parkinson announced. There was a gasp from the dark faction.
"WHAT?!" Lady Prince shrieked.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" Lord Goyle bellowed.
"You cannot be serious!" Lord Malfoy exclaimed.
"No, Sirius is my grandson," Lord Black stated with a straight face. There was laughter from the light and neutral factions, but the dark faction had scowls on their faces, obviously not liking the joke.
"Order! There will be order in this chamber!" Lord Bones said firmly, trying to calm everyone down. "Lady Parkinson, you still have the floor. Please continue."
"Thank you, Chief Warlock Bones," Lady Parkson said politely. "Throughout the history of the House of Parkinson, generation after generation has always been in the dark faction, and we have historically supported traditions that pure-bloods have grown up on. I have been proud to stand with my fellow pure-bloods for all these years, but now, things are changing. The pure-bloods are following a new dark lord, a dark lord who isn't even the patriarch of his family. Since when did we follow an Heir to a family instead of a patriarch? Furthermore, this new dark lord wants to tear apart political alliances. That is insane, and I will tell you all now: I WILL NOT RISK MY FAMILY'S STANDING IN OUR SOCIETY JUST TO FOLLOW A FRAUD DARK LORD!" She paused, allowing for her words to sink in. "A fellow pure-blood, Lady Prince from the House of Prince, worked with Heir Malfoy to try to get me to cut my alliance with the House of Black. They do not care about traditional pure-blood families. Alliances are not broken just because other people want them to be. I am the matriarch of the House of Parkinson, and I, and I alone, can and will decide who my allies are. For these reasons, the House of Parkinson will be a part of the neutral faction. I want the dark faction to know this: if you want the House of Parkinson back in the dark faction someday, you will have to go back to what the dark faction is known for, instead of trying to do what we used to cringe at, tearing apart political alliances. Thank you, and I yield back."
"Is there a representative from the neutral faction who can confirm that the House of Parkinson has joined the faction?" Lord Bones asked.
"I can confirm," Lord Greengrass spoke up. "I received a letter this morning from Lady Parkinson with the declaration of the House of Parkinson's switch to the neutral faction."
"The clerk will record this statement from the House of Parkinson," Lord Bones ordered.
"The statement is recorded," the clerk stated.
Lady Prince was furious. How could Lady Parkinson do this? She even mentioned names. She listened to the rest of the proceedings, but as soon as it was over, she stormed over to Lady Parkinson, ready to teach her a lesson. "Parkinson!" she spat.
Lady Parkinson turned away from her, clearly not wanting to talk to her. Lady Prince saw her talking to Lady Bones.
"Is that so?" Lady Bones asked. "Did he go to the Ministry to do it?" Lady Prince was interested to hear the conversation, so she moved a little closer, but not enough to where they would notice.
"Yes," Lady Parkinson answered. "He was tired of being associated with a corrupt family, so he changed his name."
"Interesting," Lady Bones said with a smile. "Glad he's happy with the Prewetts and the Blacks."
The Prewetts and the Blacks? Lady Prince narrowed her eyes. They couldn't be talking about Severus, could they?
"Yes, his name is now Miaplacidus Saiph Arcturus Prewett, but they call him Milo," Lady Parkinson informed her.
Lady Prince couldn't stay silent any longer. "WHAT?!" she shrieked. "Are you telling me that Severus Snape CHANGED HIS NAME?!"
Lady Parkinson glared at her. "Do you blame him?!" she shot back. "After everything he's been through, and after the way you've treated him recently, do you REALLY expect him to still hold his old name?"
"He doesn't deserve to have the Prince Heirship ring," Lady Prince said furiously. "I will go to Hogwarts myself and take that ring away from him! He has no business being the Heir!"
"Oh, so you think the House of Prince should end with you?" Lady Parkinson snapped.
"It might as well end with me, because he should not be the Heir when he leaves behind his identity!" Lady Prince exclaimed angrily.
"You have no concept of family traditions!" Lady Parkinson stated. "You do NOT just take an Heir's ring away from them just because you disagree with a decision they made!"
Lady Bones stood there, listening to the two women argue. Lady Parkinson and Lady Prince used to be a lot more respectful to one another, but not anymore. "Will the two of you please stop arguing in the middle of the Wizengamot chamber, where everyone can hear you?" Lady Bones asked.
"Fine," they said in unison. Lady Prince turned and started walking away.
"I am on my way to Hogwarts to confront SEVERUS SNAPE about his betrayal," Lady Prince said coolly.
"Call him Milo!" Lady Parkinson called out.
"No, I will call him by his REAL name, not some made-up name," Lady Prince responded coldly. She walked away, leaving Lady Bones and Lady Parkinson stunned into silence.
Finally, Lady Parkinson spoke. "He changed his name LEGALLY!" she exclaimed.
"You know, if she truly doesn't believe that he changed his name legally, I can get some evidence from the Ministry," Lady Bones offered.
"Perfect," Lady Parkinson said with relief. "Lord Black has already returned to Hogwarts, so I'll warn him of what's going on. I'll see you later, Lady Bones."
"Alright, that sounds like a solid plan," Lady Bones agreed. They both headed out of the Wizengamot chamber. Lady Parkinson hoped she could get to Lord Black in time, before Lady Prince could get to Milo.