HARRY POTTER: THE LOST LEGACY CHAPTER 22: WHEN THE MASK FALL, a harry potter fanfic

CHAPTER 22: WHEN THE MASK FALL

The fourth courtroom of the Ministry of Magic was usually only open to the public one day a month when all members of the Wizengamot gathered to discuss the latest administrative and political affairs of the magical community. However, on this day, November 26, its members were once again summoned by the Minister of Magic for an exceptional meeting, explicitly requesting each Lord of Great Britain to attend and discuss a matter of the utmost importance. At the moment, no one was aware of the nature of this meeting or what Cornelius Fudge would announce during it. No one, except perhaps a Lord who currently sat quietly in his reserved box.

Cygnus, in this case, was leisurely sipping a glass of wine, observing his numerous colleagues and mostly friends settling into the amphitheater below in a devilish cacophony. The latest edition of the Wizarding Gazette dealing with this matter had long been discarded on the small glass table next to his armchair, but it revealed nothing more than what had already been said a few days earlier by the minister himself. A smile kept growing as time passed, thinking that this day could be the climax marking the fall of Dumbledore and his closest collaborators, although he somewhat regretted that it might also affect a child as unpleasant as he might be since the meeting concerned them all. Finally, the true face of the Hogwarts headmaster was going to be revealed to all the prominent figures of the country, and he couldn't help but be impatient for that moment to arrive.

For the occasion, he had brought out his best bottle, or at least one of the finest bottles Marie-Louise had graciously given him, making him promise to toast to this beautiful afternoon in her honor once the verdict was pronounced. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to hold out until the end, and although he wasn't a heavy drinker, his wine bottle was much less full than when he had uncorked it. Luckily, Cygnus resisted the adverse effects of this drink well, but if his wife had been there, he wouldn't bet on his safety.

A small chuckle escaped his mouth when he thought about it, but a curious glance from his companion sitting on the other side of his armchair made him quickly regain his composure, especially when she shook her head in dismay. But rather than take offense at her behavior, Cygnus preferred to focus his attention on the surroundings, and there was much to see in the vast hall used for these meetings.

The Wizengamot was indeed the most important assembly in the country, dictating and voting on laws, dispensing justice, and applying sanctions to the imprudent who dared to defy its directives or crafting the foundations of each department's budget at the Ministry of Magic based on its importance and the investments needed to improve its functioning. As its role was crucial, its creators had the idea of displaying all the wealth possible in a room to justify its function, even if it might shock some.

From floor to ceiling, in each row of seats and even in the smallest details of the woodwork of the various boxes, gold, silver, and the most shining woods in the world were omnipresent... depending on the position one was in. You had to look up gradually to the ceiling to realize it because the lower seats had, in fact, no charm that could arouse any interest for the more curious. Oval in shape, the arrangement of seats followed a very specific order that had changed little for centuries now: Depending on the status, fame, wealth, or seniority of the Lord's chamber being represented, they were placed higher and higher, ending up at the same level as the box reserved for the Minister of Magic facing the entrance.

Individuals near the ground were consequently considered second-tier Lords, grouped in what was familiarly called "the plebe" because they did not have a very important status in the eyes of their better-off colleagues. This part of the Wizengamot brought together the largest number of voters, about a hundred to be exact, and consisted of profiles as interesting as they were varied. Their only commonality was that they did not have enough financial power or useful contacts within the ministry to hope to rise in the levels of the Wizengamot, and their political weight was greatly reduced because their voice only counted for one.

The second group of the Wizengamot, seated between the 5th and 7th rows, concerned long-standing Lords whose families had long proven themselves in the eyes of the ministry. Of a much higher status than the plebe, these Lords had an advantage over them as their longstanding presence in the magical community had allowed them to establish a well-organized and sufficiently extensive network of contacts, ensuring allies even outside the ministry walls. This group was also the most vindictive in its aspirations, and many of them had long been suspected of belonging to the movement created by Voldemort at its peak. With wild fervor, they often demanded particularly radical and controversial laws that fortunately rarely saw the light of day, the latest being the registration of all Muggle-borns entering the magical world. They were also particularly jealous of the rights and privileges granted to the last group of the Wizengamot and did not hesitate to demand advantages when dissent reached its peak. Their political weight was much stronger in the country, and with their votes counting double during votes, it only took all fifty members to agree on a project to have the same number of votes as the entire plebe. What was most surprising was that one could find in this group old French families who wanted to escape the medieval inquisition of the 13th century, which lasted nearly 200 years, such as the Lestranges, Rosiers, or even the Malfoys. The Weasleys were once part of this group, but poor investments coupled with an unfortunate incident of bread poisoning in the 16th century causing the death of several hundred people led to their downfall and disgrace in the eyes of the entire Wizengamot. Their seat was now right next to the entrance door, where everyone forgot about them and hardly cast a glance.

The Longbottoms, Bones, Abbott, Davis, Potter, Smith, McMillan, Corner, Black, and of course, Greengrass made up the last group of the Wizengamot and were often called "the untouchables": Existing since the founding of the Ministry of Magic had its advantages, and having a lifelong seat in this assembly was one of them. Their influence was such that they alone could sway a decision if it did not suit them, and generally, most of their colleagues followed their opinion. These ten chambers had also long been the architects of the country's stability and the first defenders of peace in every conflict their community had encountered over the centuries. Their strong opposition to the multiple wars between wizards and goblins was just one of their achievements, as was their role in every attempt at a truce or peace between the two camps. While most families openly fought for or against dark magic, blood supremacy, and nationalism in their country, debates that had divided magical society for centuries, the untouchables never took sides in such matters, often remaining neutral or aloof. But time had taken its toll on this image until now. The Blacks, in particular, began to approve of the supremacist ideas of the conservative and purist members of the Wizengamot and were quickly assimilated into this movement. Their recent alliances with the Malfoys, Lestranges, and Rosiers, although inferior to them in the political arena, only confirmed this radicalization for some. In contrast, the Potters, Bones, and Longbottoms were only recently considered fervent supporters of the other camp represented by Dumbledore.

Cygnus suspected that the influence Dumbledore had on them since their enrollment at Hogwarts must have strongly influenced this sudden loyalty to his cause. Even he was approached by the headmaster, who, knowing he would become the next Lord Greengrass, awkwardly tried to lure him into his nets by promising him the world and wonders and an assurance that everything he wanted to see voted on by the Wizengamot would be thanks to him and his followers. Opposing him, in contrast, meant fierce opposition from him and a rejection of everything he would undertake. But Cygnus did not let himself be intimidated, and even Dumbledore's attempts and rumors to portray him as a Death Eater had not tarnished his name.

Unfortunately for Dumbledore, the war shattered the power he had over the Wizengamot when Frank and Alice Longbottom were tortured by Voldemort's followers to the point of madness. With a seat now occupied by Frank's mother, Augusta Longbottom, Dumbledore lost at the same time a vote counting for five, just as he had lost the support of the Bones a few months earlier when their representative was murdered along with his entire family by the Dark Lord himself. Now he only had the support of the Potter family, as the other members of the inner circle of the untouchables were wary of him and his machinations.

But today, even James's help could not come to his aid because this day would mark a turning point in the opinions of the wizards about him, at least among those who saw in this man the illustrious wizard without any flaws that he let transpire. Others, like Cygnus, would only have confirmation today that Dumbledore and his followers were not without reproach and that the light did not shine from all of his orifices.

A slight "Hmpf" interrupted his thoughts, and turning his head to the source of this noise, a slight smile appeared on his face seeing the dejected and moody expression of the young girl who had kindly accompanied him.

"Are you pensive, my dear?" he asked her as she slightly jumped.

"N-no, Papa..." Daphne mumbled, blushing slightly. "I was... I was thinking about Gabriel..."

"Nice thoughts, I hope?" he teased as his daughter blushed even more. "I would be quite sad if my daughter married a young man she didn't like."

"Oh no, Papa!" she exclaimed immediately, unaware that her father was actually amused by her embarrassment. "It's just that I'm going to see him soon, and... and I haven't had a good idea for a gift for him yet..."

"You still have three weeks for that, Daphne," her father reminded her. "You can just ask his mothers what their son's tastes are and if they could help you find the perfect gift for him."

"You're right," she agreed, smiling widely. "His French mom must surely know what would be good for him at his school!"

"I'm sure."

His daughter smiled at him again, although it disappeared as soon as she looked down at the rows of seats below. Daphne might have agreed to accompany him to this meeting, but she had so far shown no interest in it. Constantly slouched in her chair or on the edge of her father's reserved box, she had spent more time checking her attire or playing with her fan, only paying attention to what was happening around her when necessary. However, as he had no son and no male relative to take up the mantle upon his death or when he deemed it fit to retire, Cygnus had to pass on to his eldest daughter all the responsibilities that would fall on her when she took her seat in the Wizengamot. He had to teach and train her for this weighty role. His heir would become Lady Greengrass, the official representative of the noble and ancient Greengrass house, unless, of course, she refused this title and offered it to her younger sister. The internal politics of the magical community in their country had to be taught to her from a young age to succeed her father when the time came.

But Daphne had apparently not understood this, or at least not yet, unless she had absolutely no interest in politics, which Cygnus could easily understand for a nine-year-old girl who still marveled at the latest porcelain dolls from Pieroti and Motanari rather than the latest laws passed by the members of the Wizengamot. In fact, the mere fact that a girl would soon become the heir of a great family was itself an extremely rare event to be mentioned in a history book. Daphne might be the first woman in two centuries to occupy this position, becoming the only woman legally sitting in the Wizengamot and thanks to the succession game, unless we excluded Amelia Bones, who, due to her position, the vacant seat left by her late brother at the head of their family, and her brilliant intelligence, had also managed to make a place for herself in this male-dominated world, or Augusta Longbottom, who, due to her grandson's young age and the health of his father, had to take on this task for a few years.

The only other woman in the Wizengamot at the moment was Minister Dolores Umbridge's Undersecretary, but this chubby woman resembling a toad had obtained this position only by showing a tendency for excessive flattery to the minister, thus moving from the simple status of a secretary mincing at every meeting with Cornelius Fudge to the one she currently held, a position that many people dreamed of obtaining and did not hesitate to criticize Dolores for her opportunistic and self-interested behavior.

But now that he thought about it, Cygnus was surprised not to have noted yet that the next generation of lords would include many women at the head of houses and eligible to sit in this assembly: the Bones, the Davises, and the Greengrasses among the families considered old and noble, but also among those of lesser lineage like the Browns, the Turpins, or even the Patils who had negotiated their integration into the Wizengamot for a significant amount of money.

In short, the world was evolving, and women, who for centuries had been considered representatives of the inferior sex, were gradually gaining prominence and importance in their community, to the great dismay of the most extremist and resistant individuals wishing to maintain a mode of operation in which men were the only ones able to make decisions and where women confined themselves to the role of followers and objects to be exhibited. Cygnus was far from those ideals, and living with a particularly stubborn, headstrong woman opposed to any form of submission had something to do with it. If Belvina could have taken her place in the Wizengamot, her husband was sure she could easily shake the foundations of their world and make her voice heard to express her way of thinking at the risk of attracting the wrath of many of the radicals currently sitting there. But Cygnus was still looking forward with some impatience and curiosity to seeing all these future ladies prove themselves and the repercussions their presence would have on the laws and decisions proposed to all the lords. There was no doubt that they would break many barriers leading to equality between men and women, and the matter at hand today could very well be of great importance to them...

"Dad, when is it going to start?" Daphne suddenly asked, looking absent-mindedly at the many people taking their seats below, her head resting on her crossed arms on the railing of their box.

"Soon, dear," Cygnus assured her, hoping himself that the wait would not be too long before the festivities began.

A quick glance at the box facing them assured him that this feeling was shared, and Cygnus suppressed the urge to laugh as he noticed that old Lady Augusta Longbottom had exactly the same bored expression on her face as his daughter.

"I wish I were with Tracey," Daphne sighed, also looking to the other side of the Wizengamot at the box where her best friend and her mother were. "She seems to be bored just like me..."

Cygnus thought that it was probably an understatement, as it was clearly evident that mother and daughter would undoubtedly have preferred to be on the other side of the world rather than attending this meeting, which was, however, very important. But with her husband currently in Azkaban, Isabelle Davis had to fulfill her role by occupying the seat reserved for her family and trying not to pay attention to the hateful glances of some members of the Wizengamot who openly labeled her as a "Death Eater's wife" when they did not go further in their insults. Cygnus had for a few years had to fight to assure everyone that his family had never been fervent supporters of Voldemort, and the fact that the Greengrasses had been considered since the creation of this assembly as a neutral family never taking sides sufficed for that. But Isabelle was far from being a strong woman like Belvina, and her shyness and lack of self-confidence prevented her from defending herself against criticism of her own house. The result was that her silence was perceived as a form of admission, and few people now dared to be seen with her to avoid the risk of being also affiliated with her prisoner husband and his master.

At this moment, Isabelle seemed particularly vulnerable, her gaze constantly turning toward the main entrance of the Wizengamot as if she hoped to quickly escape, and Cygnus regretted not having the possibility of owning a box right next to hers to reassure her during these dark times. No, instead, he could only helplessly watch this poor woman be once again wrongly criticized by less important members of this assembly.

One in particular never missed an opportunity to humiliate her, but today Lucius Malfoy seemed too busy to give any importance to the wife of one of his former associates. Engaged in an animated conversation with Lords Parkinson and Goyle, he did not spare a single glance in her direction, not even a small mocking look. Yet, Lord Malfoy had long been eyeing the Davis box, and although he had never openly expressed it, seeing this family disappear to take his place and benefit from the five votes granted to the most eminent families of the Wizengamot was clearly in his goals.

For now, Lucius contented himself with verbally berating Isabelle constantly, and given Lady Davis's current state, every seemingly innocuous word could hurt her more than a well-sharpened knife.

"I can assure you won't be bored for long, Daphne," Cygnus reassured her, picking up their conversation. "Believe me, you will see for yourself that sometimes a country's justice can do things properly."

Daphne raised an eyebrow at these words, but her father subsequently fell silent, once again focusing on the contents of his glass. In fact, he was the only one, and as she noticed by glancing down, the dense crowd gathering in the hall was so noisy that she struggled to hear Cygnus's murmurs about the few people he recognized.

"Fortunately, it won't last all the time," she grumbled quietly, scratching the gold leaf covering the railing of their box. "Merlin, how boring..."

However, that was the only time she complained about the unbearable wait she was experiencing. Perhaps it was impatience that made her bitter today, or maybe she had inherited her mother's character when an event she wished to happen quickly was delayed?

In any case, she found it difficult to hide her emotions, and if she no longer expressed her boredom out loud, her father could easily see it in her nervously fidgeting. The purpose of this meeting could also be a significant factor, and Daphne, knowing it as well and understanding its importance, might genuinely be concerned about the outcome of the case that was brought up and concerned her fiancé. It was not every day that one could witness the downfall of a venerable wizard, but today was probably the day when Dumbledore might see his beautiful little world crumble before his eyes.

A simple letter was responsible for all this, a several-page letter written by Remus Lupin to the minister that would shake many preconceptions about the Hogwarts Headmaster and the people he associated with, starting with James Potter. In this letter, Remus recounted everything about the ordeal that Lily, Rosie, and his godson Harry had experienced, not hesitating to add sordid details about that painful time when the respectable Lord Potter had abused his authority to dominate part of his family, using rather radical methods. Bullying, restrictions, manipulations, abuse, and brutality... Everything was laid out. Some facts were also reported by Cygnus himself when, a few weeks earlier, he was rather stunned and shocked by James's audacity to use a decoy to deceive all wizards: Meeting a laughing and joyful Lily Potter clinging to her husband's arm on Diagon Alley was certainly the most astonishing scene he had ever seen in his life, especially knowing that she now harbored a deep and irreparable hatred for him.

Lily herself had been surprised by the audacity of her former husband when she learned about it, and after seeking Marie-Louise's help to support her in seeking assistance from the goblin nation, of which the latter was very close, she took pleasure in destroying the marriage certificate that bound her to James Potter after cleverly using her now former name to seize all the files related to her and her ex-husband. Lily Potter no longer existed and had given way to Lise Evane, a name sounding French enough for her not to worry about the unsavory individuals she left behind in Great Britain. The French themselves had, in any case, seen nothing amiss, and as none of them knew her true identity, there was little risk that they could ever link the former Lily to the new one. Lily also kept for later the opportunity to announce to the magical community of Great Britain that she had divorced, not only to hide from everyone this act very contested by a vast majority of the population but also to ensure a certain advantage over James and Dumbledore if, in the future, it appeared that she had to face them.

But getting back to the letter, it could very well have seemed surreal to the minister and certainly horrible for him to think of manipulation or even a joke, which Cygnus could easily understand when he imagined himself in his place, and he also expected never to receive his summons for this emergency meeting despite Remus's abundance of details. Surprisingly, however, Cornelius Fudge had immediately believed it, and in less than a week, all the summonses had been sent. Moreover, he did not even bother to demand from his interlocutor his identity, nor did he ask him to indicate the address where Lily and her two children lived, perhaps preserving them from possible danger and for which they were very grateful. The fact that he also did not specify the nature of this meeting could also be explained by a desire not to make public the knowledge he had of this file and to prevent Dumbledore from preparing a suitable but false defense.

"An opponent taken by surprise will be unable to react and think correctly in the face of the unknown," Marie-Louise had told him a few days earlier when he was surprised by the minister's lack of information about the upcoming topic of discussion at this emergency meeting.

And it was true that even with his intelligence and his gift for getting out of the most delicate situations, Dumbledore would be incapable of quickly thinking of a convincing excuse to explain Lily's disappearance, and today would bring the proof: Everything was about to be played out in a few minutes, but now only the main actors of the play that would unfold before the highest authorities of the country were missing.

A sudden commotion warned him that, indeed, the first people to play their part were entering the stage, and when the Potter family finally made their appearance, a small, predatory smile appeared on his face. Accompanied, of course, by Dumbledore, who was seizing an opportunity once again to show himself alongside the family responsible for Voldemort's downfall, James, Matthew, and a quite exuberant Lily Potter were trying to make their way through the crowd that was already gathering around them, heading toward the stairs leading to their own box, which, to Cygnus's utter misfortune, was right next to his. They had no idea that a trap was closing in on them.

"Papa, did you see?" Daphne asked, also watching the little family gradually approaching their position. "They used another fake Mrs. Potter to deceive people."

"I saw, dear," her father replied, suppressing the urge to smile.

His grin quickly vanished, however, when he noticed the fifth person in this small group: Severus Snape. Years had passed without him having the opportunity to speak to his former friend, let alone approach him. The last time was probably on Rosalyn Potter's baptism day, but Cygnus wasn't sure of the date. Staying mostly confined to Hogwarts had meant that Severus had completely cut himself off from the world and his few friends. Some rumors even said that he never left his dungeons, but the gossip of many students who didn't like their teacher had only the words of those who spread them as their basis—no substance. Nevertheless, it was true that the Professor of Potions at Hogwarts stood out for his absences and his ability to follow Albus Dumbledore like a shadow in all his movements. The only time he was seen alone, according to witnesses, was during the international potionist competition, which he easily won despite the pressure on him. It was also the only time he shone with his talent, and, judging by how journalists frantically tried to sketch pictures of the Potters on their parchment, his feat had long been forgotten.

As a twist of fate, it was one of his sworn enemies who brought up the rear: Sirius Black. He completely ignored the Potions professor, preferring, like his best friend, to shake the many hands of the surrounding Lords to have the honor of being seen in the company of Matthew Potter. His disownment by his own parents had long since destroyed any chance of claiming a seat on the Wizengamot for the Blacks, but apparently, serving as a foil for his best friend seemed enough for him to persist in accompanying him everywhere. As for the fake Lily... Cygnus preferred to look away rather than see that pale imitation of his future son-in-law's mother flaunting her obvious lack of restraint to the most important figures in the country.

This whole group took an incredibly long time to reach the stairs leading to James's box, and in the midst of all the hubbub, Daphne was surprised to see that Dumbledore was still managing to make himself understood by others and guide them through the crowd.

"They're coming!" Daphne suddenly alarmed, looking at the corridor that she could see from the door of their box.

"Are you afraid?" her father asked as he could sense James and the others approaching.

"No, but I just don't want to see them," she replied, frowning. "Mum once told me that if I saw Mr. Potter near me, I had the right to cast a spell on him because bad people must be punished, so I'd prefer this door to be closed, otherwise I might hurt him very badly after what he did to Gabriel and his family..."

Cygnus chuckled heartily at his daughter's threats and agreed to close their door with a flick of his wand. Not that he feared for James's life, but when his daughter was angry, it was better for the person who had put her in that state to disappear before finding themselves with a real lioness on their hands. And when it came to her fiancé, Daphne could become very mean, especially since she had significantly expanded her range of spells thanks to her French stepmother.

In any case, the incident was avoided, and the footsteps that had been approaching until then continued on their way to the next box. Their animated conversations enlivened the corridor, as if they cared little about being heard by the few Lords who were in their path. However, the thickness of the walls and numerous spells made them impossible to understand, even for the most discerning ears. A few seconds later, they were seen taking their seats on the balcony of their box, and if Cygnus cast a glance in their direction to analyze their behavior, they didn't even bother to turn their heads toward them: A cannonball could have hit them, and they wouldn't have flinched.

Finally, and after a time that seemed very long for the members of the Wizengamot, the Minister of Magic finally made his appearance by directly entering the box reserved for him via a small private path that allowed access. Accompanied by Dolores Umbridge, Amelia Bones, and his court clerk, the man was easily recognizable by his slightly battered tricorn hat that unraveled as the minister manipulated it. Some even said that he slept with it or that he sometimes washed without taking it off, but these rumors were generally spread by his detractors. Umbridge, as usual, wore a dress so eye-catching in its pink color that it was almost impossible to look at it for more than two seconds without feeling assaulted by what served as her clothing. Her carefully combed hairstyle, she could easily have passed for a charming and affable woman to Cygnus and the others if she were not known for her refractory positions against certain individuals and her annoying tendency to constantly cough when she desired to speak, regardless of the person she interrupted in their monologue.

Amelia, on the other hand, remained the most approachable person in this quartet, although the monocle she wore on her ear might shock purists resistant to any political and societal progress. This woman, nonetheless, had a lot of bravery and courage to face a world that was hostile to her, and even the few intimidations against her had never made her falter to the point of pushing her to leave her position. Deep down, Cygnus hoped that perhaps Amelia could be a source of inspiration for his daughter and encourage her to take a greater interest in the political aspect of her future life. However, a quick glance at her reminded him that Daphne was only nine years old when he noticed that she was now happily swinging her legs without even glancing towards the ministerial box. The silence that settled over time didn't even seem to make her flinch, and it was only when she was intrigued by the shiny gleam of light hitting Amelia's monocle that she bothered to turn her head in her direction.

"The session is open!" exclaimed the minister, tapping on a wooden base with a small mallet. "New meeting of the Wizengamot on November 28, 1800! Representative of the state in the Wizengamot: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, assisted by the Undersecretary of State Dolores Jane Umbridge. President of the Wizengamot: Albus Perceval Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Representative of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement: Amelia Susan Bones..."

A few chuckles could be heard at the mention of the head of the said department, but Amelia didn't seem to be bothered, certainly accustomed since taking office to the jeers from the male population.

"Court Clerk: Oswald Perrington. Well, now we can begin, unless someone has a recommendation or an opinion to share?"

Once again, snippets of conversations could be heard here and there in the hall, but no one took the floor as the minister had kindly requested. He wasn't bothered by this, and after a wide look over the entire assembly, he spoke again:

"Well, then, let's get started. Agenda: Convocation of the Minister of Magic to establish the truth about certain facts recently brought against me, facts that, as you will soon realize, require clarification."

The desired effect by Cornelius was immediately achieved, and the titillated curiosity of the members of the Wizengamot quickly became the main source of discussions reverberating through the walls of the room. Even Dumbledore seemed intrigued by the announcement, unaware that he would soon be one of the main actors in this trial-like meeting against him.

"I must inform the assembly of news that surprised me myself, and it is my duty to announce it to you so that we can together take the necessary measures. I would ask you, therefore, to reflect according to your conscience and the elements that will be brought to this matter in order to determine the steps to be taken against the persons implicated."

The Wizengamot was completely silent, and even the journalists had suddenly stopped flooding their parchment with ink at the announcement of this revelation. Everyone held their breath because, for the Minister himself to want to gather all the members of the Wizengamot to keep them informed of information he held, it must be of crucial importance to him. The former Death Eaters made themselves particularly discreet, wrongly believing that a new fact would land more than one of them in Azkaban.

"Just three days ago, I received from a mysterious raven some information that was rather astonishing and that concerned the actions of a prominent figure in our community. I must confess to you that I was initially perplexed by the nature of this letter, and I initially thought it was, in truth, a dubious joke meant only to drag one of our own through the mud with nameless calumnies. However, I was surprised to find, at the end of my reading, that there were some verisimilarities in the words of this unknown person and the current situation of our colleague. You see, this letter will have raised more questions than it brought me answers, but these questions also demand truths that I would like to hear."

"Minister, intervened Dumbledore, rising from his seat to speak. All this is fine, but why don't you simply get to the point by giving us the identity of this person?"

"I was getting to that, Albus," Cornelius replied, flashing a predatory smile. "You see, in truth, you are very close to this person, and your name also appears in this strange affair! You will be, therefore, so kind as to clarify our lanterns and dispel the doubts concerning you and Lord Potter."

Dumbledore's wrinkled face seemed even more creased than usual in response to this accusation. As all eyes turned to him, the old man sat back down obediently in his seat, seemingly stunned by the minister. James, sitting right next to him, also looked at him suspiciously, unaware, like his former headmaster, that he too was involved in the ongoing affair.

"In this letter," the minister continued, "it appears that for several months now, Lord Potter has been blatantly lying to us, with your complicity, Albus."

The announcement fell like a guillotine for both of them, and while Dumbledore kept perfectly calm, looking impassively at the minister making accusations against him, James had already stood up from his seat. He almost knocked down his wife in the process as he shouted loudly to proclaim his innocence and once again pour out his venom against anyone daring to oppose him:

"How dare you!?" he exclaimed, to the incredulous eyes of his colleagues. "How dare you tarnish the name of the Potter family by accusing it of lying in the eyes of the highest authority in the country! We would never mock the Wizengamot to such an extent! Our family has always been very respectful of its laws, and..."

"Silence, Lord Potter," Amelia firmly instructed him, glaring at him. "If you are respectful of the rules of this assembly, as you just said, you should know that it is forbidden to interrupt the minister when he speaks and has not invited you to speak. The same goes for you, Albus," she added, reminding him of his previous interruption.

"Thank you, Amelia," Cornelius continued, nodding slightly to her. "As I was saying before Lord Potter cut me off, it appears that for months now, his wife Lily Potter and his two children, Harry and Rosalyn, have simply disappeared from our country..."

"It's absurd," affirmed Dumbledore, already forgetting the warning from the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. "Lady Potter is right here with us at this very moment! How could she be missing if she is present in the same box as me!?"

Some heads nodded in agreement with his words through some nods, but Cygnus already suspected the minister's countermove to sweep aside Dumbledore's argument.

"It's true, it's true," mumbled Cornelius, thoughtfully scratching his chin. "However, and I suppose that many of the people present here will agree with me when I say I have noticed a slight change in Lady Potter's behavior in recent months and the unfortunately noticed absence of two of her children. Who here could say when was the last time they saw young Rosalyn Potter or even her older brother?"

Dumbledore seemed to have aged another ten years at that moment. He himself had noticed that despite the spells used and the numerous potions employed by James and Sirius, the copies of Lily had absolutely nothing to do with the real Lily Potter. If the original was of a calm, kind, and discreet nature, the prostitutes who had taken on her role for months now were exuberant, noisy, and at times vulgar. The deception had finally run its course, and the blame fell on James. As for the members of the Wizengamot, a certain discomfort settled in them when they realized they had never really paid attention to the absence of the couple's two children. Some even realized that they didn't even know that James Potter had another son older than Matthew, and a certain guilt arose when they thought that this little boy might be dead now without their knowledge.

"M-my wife hasn't been feeling very well lately," James assured them, ignoring the suspicious looks turned towards him now. "That could explain her sometimes deviant behavior, but I can assure you she is absolutely fine! As for my two children, they are currently at home under the supervision of our house-elves. Poor things caught a cold! Can you believe it? At the same time!"

"What an idiot..." Cygnus muttered as he saw James try to wriggle out of this matter in a very bad way. "Daphne, promise me that you'll make sure your future fiancé doesn't become as foolish when he tries to come up with excuses for every problem you encounter."

"Promise, Dad," his daughter assured him as James continued to protest against the minister. "Anyway, now that he's no longer the son of the Lord Potter, he won't risk becoming like him..."

"Exactly, but it's better to discuss this in a more secluded place. You never know—someone might hear us, and that's precisely what we don't want."

Cygnus had just finished his sentence when Cornelius suddenly began tapping with his gavel to demand calm. The situation was slowly starting to escalate, and while some Lords remained perfectly calm, observing the proceedings with an almost detached air, many others were already raising their voices to tell James that he must now tell the truth and cease his pathetic attempts to exonerate himself from the charges against him.

"Silence!" the minister thundered, raising his voice. "The Wizengamot is not a marketplace, and I ask for some decorum! This also goes for you, Lord Potter!" he added, noticing James's smug smile. "Now, can we get back to our business? I would like this case to be dealt with as quickly as possible, and your participation is strongly encouraged, Lord Potter."

With a nod, Cornelius invited Amelia to proceed with the rest of the interview, beginning the interrogation of James. She didn't need to be asked twice, and after another glance in James's direction, she began to meticulously analyze the files she now held in her hands.

"You say that your wife has suffered from an illness in recent months that has had consequences on her personality, correct? Was she attended to by a Healer during her recovery?"

"No," James replied. "Her condition was not critical enough, according to us, to seek the help of the country's medical authorities."

"However, St Mungo's offers its patients a psychological service for those suffering from behavioral and psychological problems. Do you think that by letting your wife act as she has for months, her problems would get better?"

"Dumbledore was there to ensure her health," he said with the utmost seriousness. "He himself can certify that he treated my wife based on his medical knowledge, and as you can see today, Lily is doing splendidly! Isn't that right, dear?"

"Yes, yes, of course!" his wife immediately affirmed, looking at him blissfully. "Professor Dumbledore and my little Jamesy never stopped for a moment!"

The entire Wizengamot burst into laughter at the endearment Lily used for her husband, and even Amelia had to suppress the urge to giggle. James himself turned as red as a tomato, while Matthew had already hidden behind the balustrade to avoid looking at the many mocking faces directed at them.

"Very well," mumbled Amelia, quickly scribbling on her parchment. "Therefore, the accusation written in this letter, which claims that the woman sitting next to you is, in fact, someone transformed using Polyjuice Potion, would be false? And we wouldn't find any Polyjuice Potion on you or your associates right now?"

"E-exactly," swore James, ignoring the growing discomfort in his box.

Dumbledore did absolutely nothing to dissuade him from lying once again. To be truthful, he himself was unable to understand how the minister's informant could be so informed about the plans he had set in motion in recent months. Several names flashed through his mind to identify this person, but for now, he couldn't trace back to him, and the lack of clues was not in his favor. His silence was not encouraging, and despite James's many pleading looks, the Hogwarts headmaster continued to maintain a significant silence for those who noticed.

"Can you now tell us when your family was last seen altogether?"

"Uh... a few weeks ago, I'd say," he said evasively. "As I told you, Rosalyn and her brother can't handle temperature changes and easily fall ill."

"However, according to some close to your family, their disappearance dates back much further, especially for your eldest. Would you swear on your honor and right now that if we were to go to your home immediately, we would find your two children in their respective rooms?"

If James was red as a beetroot a few minutes earlier, his complexion now turned as white as snow. The tone used by the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement left him little doubt about the skepticism she had towards his words, and lying would be very dangerous for the subsequent events. Especially, Harry didn't even have a room anymore, and Rosie's bed had been empty for months, with a thin layer of dust likely starting to appear on the furniture. An investigation at his home would only confirm the suspicions against him in no time. But even with this reasoning, James still managed to believe that his luck would once again save him, and it was with a perfectly assured tone that he responded to Amelia.

"Absolutely, and I am a man of my word!" he affirmed solemnly.

"Wonderful, because we just sent a team of Aurors a few minutes before the start of this meeting to investigate directly at your home," she informed him, suppressing a smile when she saw James gasp. "We have, of course, allowed ourselves to remove the magical protections provided to you by the Ministry to facilitate our investigation. We now only need to await the results of this search."

"You have no right!" he exclaimed furiously. "This is a violation of privacy!"

"We had already prepared a warrant, rest assured, and as this order was directly given by the minister himself, even you cannot contest a decision coming from the highest authority in the country, isn't that right, Albus?"

"That is correct," Dumbledore acquiesced somberly, his voice devoid of any sympathy.

At that moment, the door to the minister's box opened, revealing a man dressed in the characteristic blue robes of the Aurors. He stayed only a few moments, just long enough to hand Cornelius a parchment sheet securely tied with a ribbon.

"Here are the initial results of the investigation," announced the minister, unrolling the parchment. "Hm... Apart from the presence of several house-elves, it appears that no other forms of life have been encountered, not even in the bedrooms, according to the investigators. Do you make your children sleep in your cellar, Lord Potter?"

James didn't bother to answer, but it didn't matter to Cornelius. His lie had now been discovered, and his credibility reduced to nothing.

"It also seems that no signs of life from your two children have been seen during this time. No toys, clothes, paintings, or even any note attesting to their existence within the four walls of your manor. Your eldest's room hasn't even been found despite the searches, and the wardrobe in your daughter's room seems to have been ransacked as if... she left in a hurry. Would you have something to confess now, Lord Potter, before your case worsens?"

"I won't say anything more," he replied.

"In that case, you won't mind if the search of your home continues, and we find more evidence supporting the idea that you are hiding a lot of things, Lord Potter. This story seems very strange, I must admit, and I hope it will end in the best possible way. It would be regrettable, after all, if we concluded the investigation with two innocent lives shattered..."

Many Lords approved the minister's words, and most wore a dark expression, thinking only that it was possible that James had eliminated two of his children. Cygnus smiled slightly at the unfolding of this affair, and he swore to himself to give Lily her memories as soon as he returned to France to give her the opportunity to see how her ex-husband received the comeuppance he deserved.

"Given your latest lie, Lord Potter, you will understand that we now have some doubts about your words and that this calls into question everything you have told us since the beginning of this meeting," Cornelius said, turning his attention back to him. "Therefore, Auror, please search the suspects," he ordered one of the two men guarding the entrance to the Wizengamot. "If the accusations are confirmed, then we should most likely find a vial containing Polyjuice Potion in Lord Potter's and his alleged wife's belongings..."

He nodded curtly and then advanced in a heavy silence towards the private staircase leading to the boxes where James and Dumbledore were. All eyes were focused on the small group above, and some Lords couldn't help but smile maliciously, thinking that in a few minutes, the supposedly perfect little family could be seriously challenged by accusations that turned out to be well-founded.

"I protest!" James exclaimed, turning to the minister as Sirius watched the Auror advance from the corridor with a grim expression, hand on his wand holster. "As a Lord and a permanent member of the Wizengamot, I wish to assert my right and refuse this outrageously scandalous search!"

"Unfortunately for you, Mr. Potter, the minister is perfectly within his rights to want to shed light on this matter, and your status within the Wizengamot, unfortunately, does not allow you to contest the authority of your government," Amelia reminded him coldly. "According to Article 143-5 of the Ministry's Code of Conduct, it is also specified that any member of the institution is obliged to submit to the will of the minister in charge of the government if serious accusations are brought against him. And the identity theft, although not officially falling into this domain, would further cast doubt on the trust we place in you. Not to mention that questions about the current situation of your wife would lead us to open a more thorough investigation into what may have happened to her and your children."

The argument hit home, and from that point on, James allowed himself to be searched by the Auror sent by Cornelius. The search was long and very painful for him, and the feeling of being nothing more than a criminal observed by a horde of Lords reveling in his misfortune made him inwardly boil with anger. Being humiliated in front of an entire assembly was certainly not what he had imagined that morning for himself and his son. Nor would he have thought that one of his little schemes would be exposed much sooner than he had anticipated. Sirius was also searched, given the close link to his best friend, and the experience was even more humiliating for him as the Aurors found curious Muggle utensils in his pockets, supposed to bring pleasure to users during lovemaking. Matthew didn't even flinch when he saw them, accustomed by now to seeing his godfather walking around with such objects in his pockets. Daphne, on the other hand, like most of the children present in the room, suddenly had her vision obscured by her father's hand; she was still a bit too young to see such things.

In the end, it was on James that a small flask containing a potion with a perfectly recognizable smell was found, and another was also discovered in the small handbag brought by James's alleged wife. As for her identity, the Auror took only a second to know it:

"Polyjuice Potion..." could be heard from his mouth when he brought the small bottle to his nose.

This statement drew many gasps from the Lords, while the Auror further specified that the potion had apparently been recently used, judging by the remaining level at the bottom of the bottle. The other one was still full, but there was little doubt that, by bringing it with him, Sirius assumed it would probably be used later in the day if the first one wasn't enough. All eyes then turned to James, who, until now, had vehemently denied these accusations. Now, faced with the relentless truth that had just fallen on him, he was much less arrogant and kept his gaze constantly lowered to the tips of his shoes. To make matters worse, Sirius immediately claimed in his defense that these two potions were actually for him, but given his lack of explanations justifying a possible use on his part, his plea was quickly forgotten.

"This tends to prove the allegations of this mysterious unknown person," Cornelius said, signaling to his clerk to continue his report.

"What bothers me, Minister, is the hidden identity of this person you seem to be so interested in," Dumbledore said, trying to shift the conversation to a less risky subject for him. "I have no doubt about your good faith, but I find it strange that you give so much credit to a complete stranger. Reason would dictate that we open an investigation into this informant before delving into what he says..."

"Unfortunately, this person did not deign to give their identity," the minister admitted without appearing disheartened. "But given the information provided, there is no doubt about their connection with you, Albus. This person was evidently close enough to you and Lord Potter to know all your little secrets, and I am convinced that he has not told us everything in his letter. Now, gentlemen," he added, turning this time to the entire assembly, "we will wait as long as necessary to determine whether this woman is indeed Lily Potter. If that is the case, then we will demand explanations from those concerned. Otherwise, the Potter family and Albus Dumbledore will have the apologies of the Ministry of Magic and a financial compensation for the slanderous remarks made here."

"Minister," Lucius Malfoy intervened, rising from his seat. "If I may, I would like the questioning of James Potter's presence within this assembly and his exclusion for a duration you deem satisfactory to be considered among the possible sanctions against this man."

"I approve of Lord Malfoy's proposal," Dolores Umbridge said, speaking for the first time. "Exclusion from the Wizengamot for a member who lies so shamelessly to the authorities of this country seems entirely proportional to the magnitude this affair could take."

This time, Cygnus was speechless. Seeing two people for whom he felt an unprecedented aversion join forces against a common enemy was not surprising. These two had, in many respects, similar ideals. However, seeing them united against one of his opponents was not expected until now. Now all three were opposed to James, and Cygnus never would have thought that this situation would arise. Of course, while he hoped to bring justice to his stepson's family and deal a blow to Dumbledore's reputation, Lucius and Dolores had very different objectives that certainly concerned the country's political life. Without James's decision-making power and the weight of his vote, Dumbledore's supporters found themselves in great difficulty. The director himself was at risk of seeing his influence over the Wizengamot greatly diminished—a catastrophe for him and his camp that favored, on the contrary, his opponents. In a way, the situation was becoming dangerous, and Cygnus wondered about the possible repercussions this affair could have on future political decisions. He hoped that James's expulsion would be worthwhile.

"We will take note of that," Amelia confirmed, nodding her head toward Lucius. "There are still many shadows surrounding our case, and one of them would be to know who is hiding under the guise of Lady Potter. If the assembly agrees to wait a few moments for the effects of the Polyjuice Potion to dissipate, we will eventually know if the mysterious unknown's statements turn out to be accurate, and if we need to question your word and good faith, Lord Potter. The wait could be long, so I invite those with other matters to attend to kindly leave this room immediately not to disturb the course of this meeting later."

But no one made a move to get up and leave, and, on the contrary, impatience predominated in many respects among most of them. Like vultures, they were now waiting to find out the next humiliation that James would likely face when his appearance began to change. In the end, they were just half-listening to the questions about the two missing children of the couple and the mysterious illness that had kept them bedridden for months without James ever contacting St. Mungo's to alert the medical staff about Harry and Rosie's health. Few were those who followed the debates with attention, and only Daphne paid full and undivided attention to Dumbledore's words.

And finally, just as some members were starting to find the time dragging and thinking that this whole affair was a huge farce, changes began to appear on James's wife. Her otherwise perfect skin began to ripple and swell absolutely everywhere, giving her the appearance of an overripe raspberry. Her hair began to slowly shorten as it gradually took on a much lighter shade, approaching a straw blond. The fake Lily even began to shrink, and soon the dress she was wearing became much too big for her. Other signs that set her even further apart from the real former Lady Potter emerged, such as her slightly flattened nose or her square jaw, making her look upset. But the worst was observed at the end of the transformation when the young lady presenting herself to them regained her original appearance: It turned out that she was...

"A young girl!" Amelia exclaimed, losing her composure. "She doesn't even seem to be more than sixteen!"

"I-I can explain everything!" James immediately stammered, looking completely panicked now. "She... My wife is actually seriously ill, and to avoid alarming wizards about her health, I thought of this little stratagem to dispel possible suspicions on us!"

"Lord Potter, immediately cease your lies, or it will also be held against you in the proceeding opening against you!" the minister ordered him firmly, glaring at him.

Rarely did the minister lose his calm to such an extent, but it must be admitted that James's behavior from the start would have thrown anyone off balance. So, faced with Cornelius's anger, James suddenly became very silent, like a child caught in the act. Frowning and with clenched fists, he resettled more harshly than he would have liked into his seat, crossing his arms.

"We will now continue by subjecting you to an interrogation under Veritaserum," Amelia began before being interrupted by Dumbledore.

"I'm afraid that is impossible," he said politely. "You see, if my memory serves me right, permanent members of this assembly, including Lord Potter, can refuse to drink this potion, even by force. Some will see this as an unfair favoritism towards the rest of this assembly, but the Potter family's seniority and its predominant position within the Wizengamot grant them this right."

"You are correct, Albus," she agreed, nodding slightly. "However, the young girl with you is not, until further notice, a member of the Potter family. Therefore, your refusal is not justified for her. Auror, take this young lady away."

He nodded, and without further ado, he grabbed the fake Lily's arm without mercy. The young girl was forcibly dragged to the center of the room, where a currently empty seat stood large enough to hold two. People watched her being dragged there without saying anything, while she herself seemed completely overwhelmed by the events. Her bewildered gaze certainly didn't work in her favor and gave her a particularly unflattering idiotic look, which she didn't even shake off when she was seated on the chair and metal chains wound around her arms to hold her securely. The Auror who had searched her bag had no trouble administering the Veritaserum to her as soon as the minister gave him permission, as the young lady was completely lethargic.

"Miss, I will now ask you some questions about the case we are currently dealing with and your ties to the Potter family. Do you understand?" Amelia asked politely, staring intently at her.

"Yes..." she said in a feeble voice before slightly widening her eyes when she realized she had spoken unintentionally. "What..."

"What is your name?" she interrupted her abruptly.

"Mary Dwight... No, wait!"

"How old are you?" Amelia questioned.

"I'll be 16 in January," she replied in the same morose tone as her first answer.

"Could you tell us how you and James Potter met?"

"I was introduced to him through his best friend, Sirius Black. I had just spent the night with him at the Downstreet's Hotel, and he offered me a chance to earn even more money if I agreed to accompany him to see one of his friends. At first, I thought it was mainly to have a good time with him, but then they offered me a deal..."

"What kind of deal?" she inquired with a curious voice.

"I had to take the place of James's wife for an indefinite period. They didn't tell me why or what had happened to this woman, but they promised me a lot of money in exchange for this service, as well as a roof to sleep under and unlimited food. I couldn't refuse given my situation..."

"And then?"

"Then... I... I don't remember," she confessed sincerely. "I couldn't even tell you what I did yesterday; everything is so blurry..."

"Did you have knowledge of the magical world before meeting Mr. Black?"

"Only from books, and I'm not very good at reading, to be honest."

Mary, the young girl, suddenly began to violently shake her head as if to regain her senses. Then, when her attention focused on Amelia again, she blinked stupidly at her with a confused expression, as if she had suddenly appeared in the middle of this room without knowing how.

"What am I doing here?" she said, testing the strength of her chains. "Untie me! I am Lily Potter, and you have no right to treat me like this! James! Come help me! These people are crazy and holding me against my will!"

"When did your meeting with Lord Potter take place?" Cornelius suddenly asked.

"A few months ago... Maybe two, I don't have the exact date..." she affirmed before once again realizing the significance of her words. "Sorcery! You're making me say lies!"

"Miss, you are under the influence of Veritaserum," Amelia informed her. "Everything you say is perfectly true."

"NO!" she roared, pulling even harder on her chains. "IT'S FALSE! I AM LILY POTTER!"

"Miss, look at yourself!" Cornelius protested, raising his voice. "You don't resemble Lady Potter in any way that we know!"

"But... But I have been married to James for years now! Is he not the most handsome man ever seen in decades!?" she suddenly cooed, turning to him. "We love each other deeply and sincerely, and no matter what you say, sir, you will never separate us!"

"Confundus Charm?" Amelia wondered aloud, even though everyone could hear her. "That would explain the delirious state this woman is in... I wonder what could be so important that you would go to such extremes, Albus. I won't presume to say it must not be a pretty sight..."

"I have one last question before we take care of this young lady," Cornelius indicated, looking at Dumbledore. "Miss, during this meeting, was Albus Dumbledore present? And what did he do to you?"

"He was there," she assured in the same chilly voice. "He said I would be perfect for this role, but that in the future, we should no longer change the double and keep me indefinitely under the appearance of Lady Potter. Then he pointed his wand at me, and... And I don't remember what happened next..."

"Very well, well, well!" the minister muttered with a delighted look. "With the latest information gathered, I propose a short break for the assembly to reflect on what we have heard and seen today. Albus, Lord Potter, stay nearby, please: Your case is far from settled. You can take this opportunity to start building a convincing defense against the accusations piling up against you! The session is adjourned!"

And with these words, the minister concluded the first part of his meeting. The numerous seats scraped the floor as over a hundred people stood up, and in an indescribable cacophony, the members of the Wizengamot began to discuss among themselves the latest adventures of the Potter family and the venerable headmaster of Hogwarts. There was no doubt that the case would soon make a big splash, and the journalists who had not left their seats since the beginning were frantically writing on their parchment sheets, their faces dotted with black ink. Mary was led unceremoniously towards the exit, most likely for medical reasons, and despite her calls for help to James, the Auror who had previously invited her to sit in the accused's seat had no trouble dragging her to her next destination, indifferent to the distress of this young lady.

"Wonderful," Cygnus said, getting up from his chair. "I couldn't have dreamed of anything better!"

"What do you mean, Dad?" Daphne asked curiously, looking at him strangely.

Cygnus didn't answer right away, too busy serving himself a small snack that he enjoyed with a smile.

"It seems that your fiancé's family can finally see their little problem find a favorable resolution for them," he said, sitting back down. "Perhaps you won't encounter any problems in your future life as a couple after all..."

"Maybe yes," she replied, approaching him. "But it's not over, if I understood correctly, and Dumbledore could find something to save him and Gabriel's former dad..."

"Indeed. But now people are beginning to realize the true personalities of these two oddballs, and that can only be positive for us... What is it?" he asked, noticing her troubled expression.

"Oddballs... What does that mean?"

"It means someone a bit eccentric, you see, but who stands out in a way that makes them ridiculous in the eyes of others," Cygnus patiently explained. "It's a bit like the method James Potter uses when he uses his son's fame to make a name for himself. Do you understand?"

"Uh huh," she agreed, although she didn't seem entirely convinced. "I like it when you use complicated words, Dad," she added, smiling mischievously. "It reminds me of Gabriel... Sometimes he says things I don't even understand, but I pretend not to so as not to hurt his feelings..."

"Like just now, right?" he argued.

"It could be..." she said innocently before being swept away by Cygnus's arms, who bombarded her with tickling for long seconds.

Father and daughter remained in their lodge for a long time, completely unconcerned about possible glances directed their way as they played together. Consequently, they did not notice that Dumbledore had been spying on them for some time and that the old wizard suddenly found them very interesting. Only time will tell if this could work against them in the future...

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