The Wizenmagot part one
August eighth had been a day that nearly all of the wizarding world had been anxiously waiting. Expecting a large crowd, Madam Bones had risen at five am to station Aurors at the perimeter of the Ministry of Magic to keep back the heavy crowds.
She had been correct to do so. The news reporters began to arrive at six precisely, led by none other than Rita Skeeter. Her lime green suit and garish glasses were an eyesore in the bright morning day.
Following the reporters came the gaggle of witches and wizards, of which only a few of them would be allowed inside. Madam Bones had tried to curb the more enthusiastic people from getting too excited, gently pushing them towards the back of the crowd.
Glancing at her watch, she was pleased to see it was nearly eight. This fiasco would be over soon, she hoped.
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Andromeda stepped out of the private floo, Aster and Jack in tow. Jack had been forced to leave behind his staff, as there was no proper tool to weigh such an item. Jack had been fine until it came time to wear the shoes-Andromeda had to spell them on to him. Jack had grumbled when he realized that only Andromeda would be able to take them off. Aster was faring no better-the suit and button down was something he absolutely hated wearing. The shoes were damnable too.
Aster was not ashamed of his human form, he liked it from time to time, but the circumstances surrounding his change now made it disputable. He certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Jackie in that suit again.
The three quickly made their way to the elevator. A house elf stood by ready to press the correct floor.
“I thought North had weird looking elves,” Jack whispered.
“Aye,” Aster agreed.
Andromeda ignored the two and told the elf to take them to the third floor.
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Sirius stood with Molly and Arthur, his lawyer had already gone inside to prepare the case. Marco Worthington was worth every knut at this point, Sirius thought. The man had been expensive but was one of the best, second only to Lucius Malfoy. Sirius had figured this Worthington fellow had to be good to be on par with Malfoy.
The man practically came with a pedigree and he had never lost a case yet. The man had sworn that Sirius would have Harry Potter by the end of it all. Sirius could only hope it was true.
He’d bought a house in the wizarding section of London, a little ways away from Diagonally. The house was simple, a two floor cottage charmed to be much bigger on the inside. The cottage sat on a large acre complete with its own quidditch pitch. Sirius had already bought Harry the latest broom-the firebolt. He was already dreaming of teaching Harry the finer points of flying, picking up girls, and his Lordships.
He’d make James proud.
Sirius was so wrapped up his thoughts that he almost missed his cousin, Andromeda walking by with her charges.
“Andy?! You’re working with-with-“
“Sirius Orion Black, do not speak another word to my client before I ring your neck! Stand aside, you dolt!”
Andromeda whisked her wand out, and without a word, pushed Sirius aside and marched right through the doors of the courtroom. Molly and Arthur stood still, far too much in shock to say anything.
Andromeda Tonks was the defense attorney?! Worthington would be lucky if he lived.
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Lucius Malfoy parted the crowd with little more than a piercing gaze. The man stood tall, despite his heavy use of his cane. He would not allow anyone to see his weakness. Narcisssa walked beside him, presenting the world with a united front. Harry Bunnymund walked between them, head held high. Nott Sr. walked behind them, sharp eyes scanning the crowd for any rioters.
Rita Skeeter made her move, sneaking under an Auror’s arm but found herself blasted several feet back into the crowd. She crashed into her camera man and neither of them got up.
The quartet were quickly ushered inside without another word.
Harry wished this was over-he had not wanted to see Sirius Black, didn’t want to go in front of the Wizenmagot. All he had ever wanted was a peaceful life with his Da. Away from the Dursleys, away from the starvation, away from the abuse and the cupboard under the stairs. Harry wanted away from all the dark nights and the frying pans and the endless chores. He wanted a way out of the screaming and the utter lies.
Harry wanted peace and if being a Bunnymund guaranteed him that, then he’d forsake the Potter name over and over again.
All he wanted was a peaceful life with his Da, Dam and Severus. He wanted his friends and that was final. He wanted the guardians.
He didn’t want this Sirius Black fellow. The man was too loud, too terrifying and too controlling.
“We’re here, Heir Bunnymund.” Nott Sr. spoke calmly, hand resting on Harry’s shoulder. The act shook Harry out of his reverie and he nodded in acceptance.
Nott Sr. Saw the slight confusion on his young ward’s face and stopped suddenly, feeling it was better to explain now rather than later.
“Aster is the last of his line, correct? By adopting you into the clan, you are now his heir. In wizarding culture, it is respectful to address others either by Heir, Lord or Lady depending on the standing of the house. For example, Theo is my Heir and as such, he is referred to as Heir Nott. Do you understand?”
Harry nodded quickly and the two resumed their walk into the courtroom.
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Once the large doors were magically sealed, all noise ceased within the room. Both Harry and Aster had been made aware of this but it was still jarring. Aster depended on his hearing as did Harry. It took them a few moments to adjust to the near silence.
Once they were adjusted as well as could be, Harry took the opportunity to look around. They were standing in a large circular room, almost like a gladiator arena. The seats were stadium style, some with extra room for their writing and files. The reporters which had been given access were clustered together in the center area, near the ground floor. It gave them the best view for anything that could be said or done.
In the very center of the room, stood three impossibly tall podiums, atop of which sat the high judges of the Wizenmagot- Madam Amelia Bones, the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge and the undersecretary of the Minister of Magic, Dolores Umbridge.
“Oh fuck a duck, that toad’s on the stan’?!” Harry whispered harshly, unaware of how loud his whisper carried throughout the room.
“Mister Potter, language!” Fudge exclaimed, rapping his gavel sharply.
“It’s Bunnymund, ya rat bag!”
Nott Sr. but his lip to keep from laughing, meanwhile Andormeda was sharply reprimanding both Aster and Jack for laughing.
“ORDER IN MY COURTROOM! Silencio!”
Harry, Aster, and Jack felt the wave of Magic settle on them, fully silencing them and their rancorous laughter. Several of the press quickly scribbled several lines before the spell was canceled. The sounds of quills scratching paused as all eyes settled on the trial in front of them.
“Sirius Orion Black, you will be the first to state your case against one Edelweiss Aster Bunnymund for the sole custody of one Harry James Potter-“
“BUNNYMUND!”
Nott Sr. shushed the teen, while Narcissa shoot him a withering look which made Harry snap his mouth shut.
“As I was saying, for the sole custody of one Harry James Potter-Black.”
Aster’s eyes widened. Harry-his kit-was Potter-Black? His eyes drifted to Andromeda, who despite her solid exterior was suddenly pale. So she hadn’t known either?
Aster swallowed hard.
If Sirius played his cards right, he wouldn’t need Mother Nature’s influence. A Lord had to be raised with another Lord. He tugged the tie that Andromeda had insisted on, popping the two top buttons as well.
Jack quickly pressed his cool hands to the back of Aster’s neck, letting the frost spread down, relieving him. Without turning, he squeezed Jack’s hand in thanks.
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Harry had been watching his Da and Jack. He’d seen the way Andromeda had paled at the mention of the last name Black. He had no idea what it meant. He knew that Sirius was a Black and that Narcissa had been a Black herself until she married Lucius. Draco by extension was also a Black too. Harry knew that he wasn’t related to Draco, at least he thought he wasn’t. He hadn’t bothered too much with history.
Least of all with Wizarding history.
Ombric had taught him and Katherine kept up the histories of the Guardians themselves. Wasn’t that enough?
He didn’t care that he wasn’t a Potter anymore. They had made their own lives-fought for Dumbledore and the light and died. They’d left Harry to fend for himself and he had. He’d found his home and now these people wanted to decide what was right for him? How could anyone know what was right for him?
His Da knew. His Da knew that Harry liked to sleep in and had a stash of blankets and that he hated peaches. He loved mangoes and carrots and blueberries. He liked spiced tea and hated anything that was overly sugary. He hated being alone. He slept with his googies and Hedwig and he camped outside of the burrow just to sleep with Rocky.
Jack knew. Jack knew that while Harry didn’t like the cold, he loved snow. He made it snow in the Warren a few times so that Harry could enjoy the snow without the biting cold. Jack also knew that Harry loved raspberries and often brought him a basket or two. Jack read the best stories and carved small figurines for him. Jack couldn’t cook worth a damn, but he tried.
Severus was different from anyone Harry had ever met. He’d seen the man in one of the rows, on his side of the arena. He felt warmth and despite his best efforts, he had known he’d blushed. Still, Severus did not sugar coat things-he was direct and cold and brave. Severus was Harry’s everything and he knew that if Sirius won, Harry would lose Severus too.
Nott Sr. had told him that his youth was an advantage to him and his family. Harry would serve as both the central aspect and the neutral party as well. Despite the custody battle being about Harry, Harry would also have his say on things. Whatever Harry said would tip the scales in Aster’s favor while also hurting Sirius’ attempts.
Nott Sr. had also informed Harry that he and Andromeda were doing the best they could to stop Sirius. Andromeda believed in an honest and fair trial and knew that logically the only platform Sirius had to stand on was the word of a dead man and his own appointment of Harry as a Black. Nott Sr. while he did believe in a fair trial, was not above slaughtering his opponent in court and he was fully prepared to do so.
He was a Slytherin after all and he knew that so was Andromeda, but she preferred to wait a while before dealing the killing strike.
She was often known as the Cobra of the Slytherin House. Cold, calculating and precise, the woman was as deadly as she was beautiful.
Nott Sr. was grateful they were on the same side.
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Cornelius Fudge glanced at the room briefly, quickly lifting the silencing spell and pointed his wand at his throat, casting sonorous.
“THE TRIAL WILL NOW COMMENCE LORD SIRIUS ORION BLACK WILL NOW TAKE THE STAND. LET IT BE KNOWN THAT LORD BLACK HAS WILLINGLY VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE VERITASERUM!”
Fudge inclined his head, motioning towards a nearly hidden alcove where Auror Shacklebolt was waiting. The tall dark skinned Auror stepped forward as he pulled a small phial of veritaserum from his inner pocket. Sirius stepped around the table and made his way to the chair in the center of the atrium.
Auror Shacklebolt was directly in front of the man and the other willingly opened his mouth and the seasoned Auror placed two drops into his mouth.
Sirius’ eyes glazed over as his body relaxed, almost melting into the chair before he adjusted himself. He stared directly at Kingsley, waiting.
“State your name for the court,”
“My name is Sirius Orion Black.”
“What is your date of birth?”
“November 3,1959.”
Kingsley stepped back and nodded to Fudge.
The Veritaserum was administered and working perfectly.