The Wizengamot in Session; Part 1
"Things like this are really getting so annoying," Wanda said as she walked through the Ministry corridors. Her horse moved at her pace, almost as if it were imitating her irritation. She was wearing her Wizengamot attire; if it weren't because she wanted to take good care of the seat that would one day belong to her son, she would have already resigned from this place filled with far too many things better left unmentioned.
On one side walked Pandora, wearing the same robes. Selene had left her the position while she was at Hogwarts. How she had convinced her, considering Pandora had never been interested in being part of any of this, was a mystery only she and Selene knew. Though Wanda could guess; knowing them, it wasn't hard to imagine where that story went.
On Wanda's other side walked Narcissa, as always with the cold and serious aura that characterized her. She glanced to the side before speaking.
"So; why are you here?" she asked, looking at Sirius, who was observing the surroundings with a nearly interested expression. The last time he had been there was during his trial years ago. Maybe that was also why he didn't like the idea of belonging to the same institution full of idiots who hadn't even given him a proper trial and then had freed him almost by accident; if it weren't for Wanda's help, he would probably still be locked up.
"That is a strange question, dear cousin; after all, I am the head of the House of Black and I've come to take my seat in the Wizengamot," Sirius said with an almost amused smile.
The three women looked at him at the same time.
"Usually it's Tonks who comes; you tend to run away from your duties. Isn't it also Lupin who handles all the companies under your name?" Wanda asked, raising an eyebrow.
But her words didn't change Sirius's expression.
"Tonks ran away. Andromeda doesn't want to come. And her husband would prefer attending a meeting full of Dementors rather than coming near the blood purists. So I had to come," Sirius said with a hint of annoyance. Apparently Tonks was learning far too well from him; he hadn't been able to find her anywhere.
He had even contacted the retired Mad-Eye Moody; and even he couldn't track her. She really knew how to hide now. Ever since Peter had escaped from Azkaban, Tonks had been attending those stupid meetings all the time; she practically seemed like the minister, killing time so everyone believed she was working nonstop. But it was all just a facade, a convenient hiding place. When she met with the other Wizengamot members, only the neutral ones weren't a bunch of pretentious idiots. Well… maybe they were too, but since she came representing Sirius and was always with Wanda, Narcissa and Selene, they didn't bother her. Still, even someone like her had limits.
"So… does anyone know what this magnificent trial is about?" Sirius asked with boredom, seeing nothing interesting in the corridors.
"You didn't even read the schedule?" Narcissa asked, lifting an eyebrow with clear annoyance.
"What? I'm not the only one. Surely…" he said, pointing toward Pandora.
She lifted her head as if she had just realized they were talking, with a slight expression of confusion and a soft smile.
Narcissa could only sigh.
"I'm sure the kids must have sent you some information. But basically it's a semi-trial for what happened with Hagrid, the hippogriff and the Carrow boy," Narcissa said.
"Oh, that…" Sirius muttered, making an annoyed grimace just from hearing the surname Carrow.
As they walked, two figures suddenly caught the group's attention.
It was the Minister, and next to him a clearly foreign man. He had bright blond hair combed back; although he was older, his skin looked well cared for, with barely visible wrinkles around his eyes. He carried a friendly smile… one of those fake smiles only politicians mastered. He was dressed neatly, in a tailored blue suit; truly dressed like a modern politician, without that particularly magical fashion that, for example, Fudge had with his grayish robe, the shirt and tie visible underneath, and his characteristic bowler hat.
Fudge, unlike the other man, was shorter and somewhat chubby; with a face aged by the years, although he really wasn't that old. The two contrasted like completely different creatures and yet held the same political rank.
Yes; the man beside him was also a minister. To be exact, the French Minister of Magic: Pierre Marceau, the minister who had won his office with an overwhelming landslide of votes. An almost exaggerated amount, which demonstrated the enormous support he had in France, also thanks to his contacts across Europe.
Both ministers spoke with those cordial smiles that never reached their eyes as they shook hands. Fudge looked almost excited by whatever Pierre had just told him.
Both noticed the group arriving. Fudge frowned slightly upon seeing Sirius; but his fear toward Wanda was far more noticeable, something that seemed to catch Pierre's attention.
"Then Cornelius, I will be delighted to see with my own eyes how a trial is conducted in another country," Pierre said with a smile, giving a slight greeting to those present.
"Of course, of course," Fudge replied with a jovial smile as he gestured toward the entrance, entering after him.
Narcissa spoke first, shaking her head.
"As always, our Ministry kissing the boots of anyone who shows up willing to throw a bit of money at them," she said with clear disdain.
After all, she more than anyone knew how the British Ministry of Magic actually worked. It was no coincidence that Lucius had been spared, just like so many other Death Eaters, from being sent to Azkaban by claiming it was so easy to say they had all been under the Cruciatus Curse. There were plenty of ways to find out if they were telling the truth.
And especially Fudge, who had obtained his position thanks to Dumbledore's support. Although he had long since begun biting off far more than he could chew; he was drifting away from Dumbledore and starting to form connections with blood-purity supporters. Carrow and his group of bastards among them. Fudge, after all, was a man with great aspirations; and with a disloyalty so obvious that he would always end up siding with whoever threw him the biggest bone.
"Let's just get this over with, help the kids and go back; I have many things to do," Wanda said, as if none of that mattered to her. Well… she was the Scarlet Witch; politics and pretentious idiots who believed they had power when she was present were like watching worms crawl. Obviously a nuisance to her.
If this had happened before meeting her son, she didn't even want to think about how this world would look right now. That was why she always tried to do things the right way; meaning, not overusing her powers and solving everything in an instant. Sometimes living like that made the world lose a bit of excitement.
The four entered the courtroom and took their seats; of course, they were among the neutral members of the Wizengamot. The others were already there, seated in expectant silence.
Upon seeing Sirius sit, several members of the dark faction, such as Carrow, Flint and Parkinson, looked at him with surprise before giving him mocking smiles along with several others.
After all, Sirius really was like a rabid dog and a very powerful wizard. But for them, who had controlled the political sphere for as long as they could remember, that place was their stage. If they already despised the "girl" he sent to take his place, they were even less likely to fear Sirius now, when he didn't even seem interested in understanding what was going on.
Another set of eyes landed on Pandora. Many knew her: the wife of Xenophilius Lovegood, belonging to the famous family of lunatics. Some even remembered her from her time at Hogwarts.
Sirius looked at the others with annoyance, while Pandora didn't even acknowledge them. She was far too focused on talking with Wanda, asking excitedly if she had used the portal spell and how well it worked; she was also pulling out a dozen photos Selene had sent her of Luna at Hogwarts.
Wanda smiled as she talked with her, as if nothing else existed.
"The Wizengamot is now in session on this day…" Fudge announced with a grave voice, as if he were personally saving the wizarding world from a new disaster. Then he cleared his throat; a habit of his whenever he wanted everyone's attention on his words.
"Today we will hear the case regarding the dangerous assault committed by Buckbeak, a hippogriff, against young Louis Carrow, son of the distinguished member of this court, Corvin Carrow… as well as the irresponsible behavior of Hogwarts' gamekeeper and new Care of Magical Creatures professor, Rubeus Hagrid, who allowed such an incident to occur."
Murmurs filled the courtroom while Sirius rolled his eyes at the entire performance, already regretting having come.
Before continuing, Fudge lifted his gaze toward a distinguished guest seated in the visitors' section, in a place of honor.
"And we also wish to extend a warm welcome to the honorable French Minister of Magic, Pierre Marceau, who is with us today as an international observer. His presence reflects the mutual effort between magical governments to uphold justice and security in our community."
Fudge smiled broadly, more than necessary. "It is always a pleasure to collaborate with our neighbors across the Channel."
Pierre Marceau nodded with French courtesy, never losing his diplomatic composure. His eyes, however, watched everything with a mixture of curiosity and mild skepticism.
Fudge tapped the gavel lightly again.
"With that said, let us proceed with the initial testimony…"