Chapter 21
LYRA TWISTED THE HEAD OF HOUSE BLACK RING on her right-hand ring finger. It felt so strange to be wearing this, especially when her grandfather and father were still alive. Especially when she knew that she was never going to be Lady Black.
But here she was, sitting in the Black seat at the Wizengamot while her grandfather was currently having a romantic getaway with her grandmother, and mentally counting down the seconds after which she would have to present her bill.
Surely enough, her time came.
Albus Dumbledore announced the bill number and name, smiled encouragingly at Lyra -although it was a bit stiff around the corners- and told her that she had the stage.
"Thank you, Chief Warlock," Lyra said, standing up in front of her seat and commanding the attention of the room with expert grace. "Precisely twenty-five years ago, a judgement was made by this very body that led to the removal of a subject that was previously taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and in short, with this bill, I hope to revive it." Lyra paused, taking in the expressions of her audience. "Now, I know a lot of you may be wondering why I haven't filed a complaint to the school board because the subject of a school certainly doesn't look like a concern for the mighty Wizengamot but," She paused again, this time for effect. "I'm here to tell you why this particular one is."
Lyra kept eye contact with a few members of the light faction, just so her point could be made loud and clear. "A school isn't just a place where we go to gain knowledge, learn the beauty of different magical fields or kiss the ones we fancy while expertly evading the prefects." A small pause for the snorts and barks of laughter to die down. "A school is a temple where we grow as the children of Lady Hecate. A school," She said, "is where the lines of right and wrong are blurred. A school is where we create our individuality, where we are shaped to become the very best versions of ourselves." She paused, a disappointed frown adorning her face. "And so, I am truly sad to say that at the moment, a school is also where we are stripped off of our culture, our heritage and traditions."
"Because twenty-five years ago," Lyra's voice rang over the sounds of protests against her statement, overlapping their opinions with hers, "the Wizengamot -this very esteemed body- chose to -for some absurd reason that I fail to understand- remove Wizard Studies classes as a compulsory elective from years one to five." She smiled. "And today, with this body, I hope to correct this injustice that had been done to all of us twenty-five years ago." She paused, looking to the Chief Warlock with an innocent smile. "And if I remember correctly, Chief Warlock Dumbledore, this subject was removed from the Hogwarts School curriculum fourteen days after you gained your position precisely."
Albus Dumbledore's smile stiffened completely at her silent accusation and he banged the gravel, calling the attention of the Wizengamot onto him.
"Heiress Black will be debating for the bill, of course, and as for against," His baby blue eyes wandered over his supporters, resting on Gladen Douglas for only a second before moving along when the half-blood lawyer firmly shook his head, the humiliation of his debate on the last year's bill against Lyra Black fresh in his mind. "Mr Johnson," Dumbledore called out to one of the only other half-bloods in the room, "will debate against. Please, both of you, come up to the podiums and good luck."
Mr Alexander Johnson smiled kindly at Lyra who returned it as they walked over to the centre of the Wizangamot and took their respective places behind the podiums.
"Heiress Black, Mr Johnson, the two of you may begin." Albus Dumbledore said with a smile.
"First of all, I would like to educate the members of this esteemed body on what exactly was taught in these wizard classes," Lyra began, facing the members of the Wizengamot boldly. "It was quite simple, really. For only four years, from the ages of eleven and fourteen, the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry attended an hour-long class that took place only a week." She stated. "In these classes, the students would be taught basic Latin to make it easier for them to understand the spells they cast, background knowledge in some of the laws passed by the Wizengamot, wizard etiquette, traditions, customs, a few easy rituals in praise of Lady Magik and about the symbolism of things -the why's and how's that we had all learnt when we were younger." She paused, allowing them to absorb the information they had been enlightened with. "That is it. I cannot imagine why it had been taken out."
"I can answer that," Mr Johnson said cutting in, as he caught the eyes of the body. "Members of the Wizengamot, I would like to educate you all on why exactly this class was taken out of the curriculum for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He gave a pause for effect. "I had attended two years of this Wizard Studies class before it got removed, so I remember clearly what and all we had learnt there and I must say, that it was completely useless."
Lyra scoffed loudly.
Mr Johnson turned to her. "Is there a problem, Heiress Black?"
"Too many, Mr Johnson, but for starters, we have an elective called muggle studies in our curriculum." She said. "Muggle studies. How is that useful?"
"It is very important to learn about the muggles-"
"-And why is that?" Lyra interrupted, head tilted. "You see, Mr Johnson, only one out of fifty wizards returned to the muggle world after completing their education. Only one." She emphasised. "None of us goes to the muggle world, and I am willing to bet my entire inheritance that not even one person in this room right now who doesn't have muggle ancestry can name five things that the muggles use." She looked at the members, raising a pointed eyebrow. "Can they?"
Nobody replied.
She turned back to face him. "The point is, Mr Johnson, we have a whole subject where we can learn about muggles -those who we rarely make contact with and whose world we hardly ever visit- but the one subject we had about us, wizards, was removed. The subject that only took place for four years, once a week and for only one hour, and I would like to know why. The real reason, that is."
Mr Johnson's lips pursed into a thin line as he turned back to face the Wizengamot, seemingly ignoring her. "And as I was saying earlier, I haven't been able to put any of the knowledge that had been drilled into my head in those wizard classes to be put to use until now-"
"-and that's a choice." Lyra interrupted once again. "You had so many occasions, Mr Johnson, you just chose not to put that knowledge to use."
"I didn't, Heiress Black."
"Then how is it that I along with all my friends and family put that very knowledge to use every day of our lives? How is it that that knowledge shadows everything that we do?" Lyra asked rhetorically. "We don't live in such different worlds, Mr Johnson, and as I said earlier, you had a choice. It was not confinement, so I ask you to please stop making it seem like you did."
A vein popped from Mr Johnson's forehead as he cleared his throat loudly, calling all attention to him. "I would like it if I had no interruptions, Heiress Black, for you are not allowing me to make my point."
"My sincere apologies," Lyra said monotonously. "Please, by all means, make your point. But I only ask that after you've made them, you allow me to do the same."
Mr Johnson nodded and for the next ten minutes and forty-three seconds -and yes, she counted- Lyra was subjected to the droning voice of Mr Johnson as he brought up statistics of students who had made excuses to not attend the class, had a complaint about its impracticality and had even failed the end of the year examination held for the subject. He finished his speech in a way that conveyed that if reinstated, the class would be doomed to failure anyway since it was extremely hard for the muggle-born and students of those with muggle ancestry and gave the overall impression that it was useless to learn.
Lyra had to bite the inside of her cheeks to stop herself from laughing at the mournful tone he had used and the hilarity of the whole speech, actually.
"It's all yours, Heiress Black." Mr Johnson told her with a hint of mockery in his voice.
Nevertheless, Lyra smiled pleasantly at him before facing the Wizengamot. "Ladies and gentleman, while I do agree that it is hard for muggle-born students and those with muggle ancestry, I ask you, what isn't? They are thrust into a world of magic -everything that they thought was fiction, they now learn is real- and so, of course, it is going to be hard for them to learn the arts. They didn't grow up with magic as you and I did, and so, I agree that it will be hard for them. But, it won't just be Wizard Study classes, but the lessons of every subject as a whole."
She paused. "And besides, if we are going to talk about how hard Wizard Studies is going to be for muggle-borns, is it not fair to also talk about how hard Muggle Studies is for purebloods? To learn about people they have never met and will most likely, never meet? And for what purpose that too? At least, with Wizard Studies, you have opportunities to put that knowledge into practise. With Muggle Studies, you have none." She paused, allowing them to absorb her words. "Unless, of course, you wish to break the Statute of Secrecy and test the wrath of the ICW on us. Then, by all means, let us go and put our muggle studies knowledge to use."
Lord Longbottom had to disguise his chuckles into coughs while Lord Malfoy wasn't even trying, eyes shining with pride as he watched the girl his son was so incredibly in love with.
"We need to make the muggle-born students comfortable in our world, Heiress Black." Mr Johnson said pointedly. "And if they are not comfortable with Wizard Studies, we shouldn't force them to attend."
Lyra turned to face him, smiling sweetly. "Have you ever been to South Korea, Mr Johnson?"
Mr Johnson blinked. "Pardon?"
"South Korea, it's a lovely country. Beautiful scenery and very blessed citizens, in terms of behaviours and genetics." Lyra continued. "Have you?"
"Um, yes. Once." Mr Johnson answered, confused at her point.
"I have as well," Lyra said. "Tell me, did they all speak to you in English?"
"Um, no?" Mr Johnson replied, still unsure.
"Then how did you communicate?"
"I hired someone who knows both languages who played as a translator between me and them." Mr Johnson said.
Lyra hummed thoughtfully. "So just to clarify, they didn't speak the language you are familiar with -comfortable with- just to make you feel more welcomed into their country?"
Realising that he had been trapped but could do nothing about it, he reluctantly nodded slowly.
Lyra faced the Wizengamot. "After all, why should they? Why should they speak in a language that they are not familiar with, give up their culture and their heritage just to make a foreigner who is entering their country more comfortable?"
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Wizangemot, it is the muggle-borns who are coming into our magical world, not the other way around, and we should never forget that. We should not sacrifice our traditions, our cultures, our heritage, our beliefs, ourselves, simply to accommodate the needs of those who are coming into our world. To make them comfortable," she said in a mocking voice. "I understand helping them, but certainly not bending backwards to fulfil their every desire and wish. They have come into our world and if they have to learn the horror of the transfigurations vanishing space theory, they can surely put up with one-hour classes that take place only once a week."
Lyra paused for effect. "No pureblood has ever complained about these classes, and I am not being biased on that matter. Out of all the statistics Mr Johnson kindly read to us, not one pureblood is mentioned on the list and that is simply because we have been told the importance of our traditions, our beliefs, our identity ever since we were toddlers. But the muggle-borns and those with muggle ancestry-" She shook her head. "No," she said firmly. "We cannot be forced to change our culture, our government, our laws simply because a few individuals do not like the way it works. When they take their Hogwarts letter, they make a choice. A choice to learn about magic and I believe that they need to know every part of that magic- the good and the bad, the light and the dark, the best and the worse. They cannot just learn whatever appeals to their fanciful whims and imaginary dreams of what they think magic is and the history behind it. They need to know all the reasons and symbolism behind every action that has been taken, not just the poetical parts of it."
She paused again, holding eye contact with every single member of the Wizengamot before fixing her grey eyes onto Albus Dumbledore's blue ones. "Whether those students change their minds or point of views after going to the classes or find it useless as Mr Johnson does, is not in the equation. But it is our duty to make them aware."
"If they object to the classes, then they can file a complaint with the School Board while submitting actual, logical reasons for their disagreements with the subject. If they purposefully fail it, make it clear that they will have to repeat that year. If they knowingly do not attend, assign them detention. Take strict actions and hold them accountable for their actions. Make it clear that they won't get away with infantile behaviour, and they will listen. After all, you give disciplinary punishments for every other subject, so why should Wizard Studies be any different?" Lyra asked rhetorically, pausing and giving the Wizengamot a minute of silence to let them process everything she had said. "Ignorance on these matters is not an option that we can afford to explore. While Mr Johnson claims this subject useless, well, he doesn't know what life would have been like for him without it and I am confident that he has used the knowledge throughout his lifetime, instinctively, perhaps not even realising it."
"I can assure you, I didn't, Heiress Black." Mr Johnson said.
"Well, I did say without your knowledge, didn't I?" Lyra countered before facing the Wizengamot once again, all the members showing expressions of deep thought. "After graduation, there will be individuals who would be free in this world of magic to carve their own journey but-" She paused. "The point is- no, the concern is that if we continue to rid the Wizard Studies from the Hogwarts curriculum, the more students we will have who will be completely unaware of our laws and our obligations, all the to-do's and not to-do's. The more we will risk revealing ourselves to muggles. The more we risk breaking the Statute of Secrecy, and we all know clearly the history behind why it had been put up in the first place." She looked at all of them. "And you may be fine with that, but that risk -that chance- is not something I am willing to take, especially considering that it is our reputations, our lives on the line."
Lyra took a breath. "It may not seem important now, this one hour a week class and I know many of you think that I am thinking too much about this, giving it false importance that it doesn't have; and you may be right but-" She paused. "Is that a chance you are willing to take? Is that a stake that you are willing to place? And if so, how confident?" She curtsied, giving them a moment to think. "The Wizengamot was the body which originally removed Wizard Studies from the curriculum of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and it is the Wizengamot only that can override -what I personally feel- is an unfortunate decision." She paused, holding eye contact with them again. "The choice is in your hands, ladies and gentleman, I just hope you make the right one. Thank you."
Lyra walked down the podium and back into her seat, not even waiting to see whether or not Mr Johnson would counter her arguments. And no sooner had she begun walking than the Wizengamot erupted into applause, mummers of agreements and thoughtful discussions. Lord Longbottom flashed her a smile, Lord Potter threw her a wink, Lord Prewett gave her a thumbs-up and even Lord Malfoy blessed her with a proud nod.
And considering that the three of them were some of the major influencers of their respective factions, Lyra already knew she had been victorious in making her bill turn into a law, no matter what protests Mr Johnson tried to voice out.
But it was only after the Wizengamot had actually voted a majority in her support did Lyra let out a barely visible relieved breath. She did not disgrace her family. She did not disappoint them, and to her, more than traditions, money, status, power, and anything really, that was one of the things that mattered to her the most, even above herself.