Chapter 50
The next Wizengamot session was on a Monday, and James was nowhere to be seen. Sirius had been preparing his ‘addled’ persona, but quickly pulled himself together instead. He smiled and chatted and made small talk with other members, until Madam Bones called for people to begin taking their seats.
James burst in barely a minute before the doors were due to be sealed, eyes darting around the room before landing on Sirius.
Sirius thought frantically as James approached, but kept his face in a neutral smile. ‘Hi Jamie. Made it just in time.’ He wasn’t sure yet how to play this situation, so for now he’d have to keep a low profile.
He caught Lucius’ eye on the other side after a little while, and Lucius took a pointed sip of water, raising a brow at Sirius.
‘Pass me a drink would you, Jamie?’ Sirius murmured, and James reached for the water jug at the end of the row and poured Sirius a glass. He poured one for himself as well, and for a moment Sirius was worried before he brushed it off. People would believe what they wanted to believe. Sirius’ acting skills were more important here – people would just assume James was skilled at sleight of hand.
He took a big gulp, then frowned slightly, glancing down at the glass. Several eyes around the room were watching him. He placed the half filled glass in front of him, and turned back to listen.
He let the minutes stretch before he began to fidget. At first it was subtle, but it became more pronounced as time went on, until his legs were bouncing and his fingers were tapping and his teeth were chomping together in a little pattern. From right beside him, James was casting him dirty looks. He finally leaned over to hiss in his ear, ‘sit still, Siri!’, and Sirius abruptly stopped, ducking his head and dropping his hands to his lap.
‘Sorry, Jamie.’ He mumbled. He sat dead still for the rest of the session, then jolted as if he’d been in a trance when James nudged him after Madam Bones’ dismissal. ‘Sorry.’ He said again, and several people turned to look.
‘You have to pay attention in here, Siri. If you’re not going to pay attention, you might as well not come.’ James hissed.
That drew a reaction from the assembled group. James wasn’t exactly sure the cause of the sudden tension in the room, but he definitely noticed it. His eyes darted around suspiciously, before landing on Sirius. ‘We’d better get you home, mate.’ He said quietly, but was stopped from exiting by Lucius Malfoy.
James sneered contemptuously at the man, who regarded him back in much the same manner.
‘Madam Bones, a moment of your time?’ Lucius called, still blocking James and Sirius’ exit.
Madam Bones was there quickly, sharp eyes taking in all the details – Lucius’ body blocking the door, James’ fury toward Lucius and tension at the situation, Sirius’ vacant gaze, the surrounding crowd frowning at James. ‘What is going on here?’
‘Lord Black’s behaviour has been rather strange si-‘
‘He’s fine!’ snarled James. ‘Keep your slimy self away from him!’
Lucius clicked his tongue reprovingly at James’ outburst. ‘Since Lord Potter has joined the Wizengamot.’ He continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted.
Madam Bones turned her sharp eyes on Sirius, who was gazing into the distance, apparently oblivious. ‘Lord Black.’ She said sharply. Sirius didn’t so much as twitch, until James elbowed him.
‘Sorry Jamie.’ He mumbled again. ‘Didn’t mean to.’
Murmurs ran through the crowd, as James gave him an irritated look. ‘Pay attention, Sirius!’ he hissed.
Sirius blinked slowly and looked around. ‘Are you Millie Bones? Always knew you’d do something good. Good Puff.’ His speech wasn’t quite slurred, but it was definitely slower and more careful than usual. Sirius’ glazed eyes turned to Lucius. ‘Hi Lucy. You married my cousin. You’re my cousin too, you know? Cousin Lucy.’
Lucius’ eye twitched, but he held his stern expression.
Madam Bones was frowning deeply. ‘Come with me, Lord Black.’ She reached for his elbow, but James darted a hand out and stopped her.
‘He’s alright, Millie, really. Just needs some rest. I’ll take him home-‘
‘You’ll take him nowhere. And you will address me as Madam Bones.’ She snapped, and James winced.
‘Sorry, Mi-Madam Bones, no disrespect meant. Just, Siri called you Millie and I didn’t think…’
‘Clearly Lord Black is not in his right mind at this moment.’ Madam Bones replied. Murmurs of agreement echoed her statement.
‘Well obviously – he’s been in Azkaban for years! He’s just a little addled, he’ll be better after a rest.’
‘I’ve not ever seen him like this, and he’s been attending sessions for several weeks. It’s only been since you arrived that he has been like this!’ accused Lady Montague.
‘She’s right! Lord Black forgot my name last session, only to return by himself not twenty minutes later and remember it without hesitation!’ added Lord Parkinson.
‘Lord Black remembers my grandchildren’s names better than I do!’ called Lord Pucey.
James looked utterly confused but stubborn as he kept a grip on Sirius’ arm. ‘Madam Bones, something is going on here,’ he said quietly, although everyone heard him easily enough. ‘Sirius is always like this – I don’t know what they’re trying to do, bu-‘
‘Enough. Lord Black, come with me.’ Madam Bones tugged Sirius’ arm from James’ grip and lead him obediently out of the room.
James stared after him, before glancing around nervously and making a hasty retreat.
Sirius sat in the chair Madam Bones directed him to and stared blankly for a few minutes while she spoke quietly with several people. After a while, Sirius began to stir, blinking his eyes hard and looking around in confusion.
‘What- ‘ he started, then paused. ‘Shit! I’m so sorry, Madam Bones – I didn’t mean to miss another session! I don’t know what happened! I was getting ready to come here, and then… I don’t know!’
Madam Bones frowned. ‘You were in the session this afternoon, Lord Black. We are in the anteroom right now.’
Sirius looked around in confusion. ‘Oh. I don’t… Oh.’
Madam Bones contemplated him carefully.
‘Oh shit! Did we vote on anything?’ Sirius asked urgently. ‘Please tell me we didn’t vote! We have to do a recount or something – I don’t think I voted the way I wanted. I don’t remember being there.’ Sirius voice dropped to barely above a whisper. ‘I told Albus I disagreed with his stance on the Dark Creature Bill, but he just smiled and told me we’d have to let the Wizengamot decide – only I don’t remember how I voted!’
Madam Bones’ expression was thunderous, but she pulled herself together admirably. ‘We did not vote today, Lord Black. We heard the Bill and had time for questions.’
Sirius cursed under his breath. ‘I had plenty of questions.’ He muttered angrily. ‘It’s a terrible Bill.’ He sighed again and rubbed a hand over his forehead. ‘At least we didn’t vote.’ He looked up sharply. ‘What if it happens again next week? What if I don’t remember anything? I want to vote no, Madam Bones – Amelia, please – I want to vote no! Don’t let me vote in favour!’ Sirius said urgently.
‘Follow me.’
Madam Bones marched to the door of the Chamber, Sirius hurrying behind her.
‘Let it be known – all voting for all Bills is suspended until further notice. All members of the Wizengamot will submit themselves for examination before leaving the Chambers this evening.’
‘Lord Potter is already gone!’ someone called.
‘I will speak with him when we are done here. Form a line over here.’ Madam Bones directed, getting straight to business.
Sirius went and dropped to a bench seat, slumping against the railing. Most people were watching him, some more subtle than others. Whispers were rampant as each person waited their turn.
Lucius came and sat nearby after his assessment and nodded politely. ‘Is everything alright, Cousin?’
Sirius gave him an odd look. ‘We are cousins, I suppose, aren’t we?’
Lucius gave him his own odd look. ‘You called me Cousin Lucy in front of the whole Wizengamot barely thirty minutes ago, Black.’ He said flatly.
‘I what?!’ squawked Sirius.
A few people nearby snickered behind their hands, then sobered as they realised that Sirius had no apparent recollection.
‘Shall I call you Cousin Siri in return?’ Lucius asked mildly, and Sirius gave him a look between disgruntlement and confusion. ‘Truthfully though, Cousin – are you alright? You seem rather… muddled.’
Sirius looked away. ‘Yeah. Um… I don’t know. Bit foggy. Madam Bones will sort it out, I’m sure.’
Lucius nodded, but kept a careful eye on Sirius until they were all dismissed.
Back at Grimmauld Place, Lucius grinned. ‘That was rather fun!’
Sirius snorted. ‘Perhaps a career in the theatre, if politics doesn’t work out for you.’ he teased.
Lucius waved a dismissive hand. ‘They’re the same thing, only one pays better than the other.’
Sirius barked a laugh. ‘Do you think it’ll be a problem when they don’t find anything – on me or James or anyone else?’
‘I doubt it. Your acting was very good – subtle, not too exaggerated. They’ll just assume it was something quick acting and easy to disguise. Or perhaps a well disguised geas – very difficult to detect, regardless of skill in the mental arts. It will give us time, at least, to get a few things through with Dumbledore and Potter out of the way. Not to mention the damage to their reputations through the rumour mill.’
Both men grinned.