The morning of 25th December 1971 Remus expected to have the room for himself, as Sirius was an annoyingly early riser. Instead, he woke up surrounded by all of his roommates looking down on him.
“Morning Lupin” started the ever-cheerful James “Do you want to open presents first or go to breakfast?”
“What are you doing here?” blurted Remus not yet fully awake.
“They didn’t want to leave us alone, can you believe them?” answered Sirius “They didn’t want to leave all the fun for just us”
“Now Lupin, presents or breakfast? Cause I’m famished”
“You’re always hungry, Pete, but let me get dressed and we’ll go have breakfast” finally answered Remus, removing the covers and finally seeing the packages at the end of his bed. “The presents won’t move”
He had received many more gifts than he had expected. He saw a few with her mother’s tacky Christmas wrapping paper, green with glittery Santas all over, some with plain brown paper or wrapped in newspapers, and a small mountain of multicolored delicate tissue paper gifts with complex bows that he couldn’t guess who had sent - it was probably a mistake that they were at his bed’s foot, they surely were for one of his roommates.
After a sweet and filling breakfast in the almost empty Great Hall - some of the upper-years had stayed, but most the students had gone back to spend the Holidays with their families -, the four boys were back at their room to open their presents. James had insisted that they do it in turns, that way everyone could see what the others had gotten, Remus wasn’t sure of it being a good idea but decided to not say anything.
Sirius went first, claiming priority as he was the oldest. His pile was the smallest by far, which surprised Remus. Sirius first opened a few presents in silver wrapping, all with a worried face as if he expected someone to jump out and kill him, but ended up being a few winter cloacks with the Black Family’s coat of arms emblazoned on it (from his parents), a small book on traditions (from his grandparents) and a new set of black self-inking quills (from his brother). Then went a square-shaped present, wrapped in old Daily Prophet pages, that ended up being two vinyls (The Beatles’ Let It Be and The Hobglobin’s Flying Dragons) from his favourite cousin, Andromeda.
“Her boyfriend is a muggle-born” Sirius told them, “and our family doesn’t know yet, only Cissy, Reggie and I. Aunt Druella and Mother are trying to convince her to stop working so she can find a husband, but unless Grandfather forbids it, she can.” He glanced at the note. “Apparently Ted proposed, they’re getting married in the spring”
“Can you give her my family’s congratulations?” asked James and, with a more sirious voice, added “I haven’t asked my parents, but I’m sure they won’t have any problem helping them if they need it, just tell your cousin to contact them if she needs it, at the very least my cousin Ignotus”
“I’ll tell her”
And with that, the gift opening continued. Sirius had received a few presents from the Potter family, the multicolored tissue paper ones: a clearly hand-made blue jumper with a black dog in the middle, a box of pumpkin pastries, and a Transfiguration book (’The Theory of Transfiguration: A Simple Guide’ by Everard Gamp).
Next went Peter, full of excitement at the sight of so many packages. His parents sent him a new set of Chess pieces, some Chocolate Frogs and a few pairs of bright yellow socks, all wrapped in past editions of the Daily Prophet. Grandma Bonnie had sent two messily wrapped presents in blue paper with hipogriffs on it, inside there was a new winter cloack and a hand-made orange scarf. Peter had also received some gifts from the neigbours and his old tutor, some in red paper with broomsticks and others in old newspapers, it was mostly basic spellbooks and new rolls of parchment, some quills and ink of different colours. And a few things from the Potters: a box of Bertie Bott’s All Flavour Beans, a hand-made deep green jumper with a broom in the middle, and a book called Sites of Historical Sorcery that described differnt places to visit around Magical Europe. Peter didn’t wait a second to put on the jumper and start eating the candies.
“Do you mind if I go next, James?” asked Remus eyeing his roommate’s present pile. “If you go first I may not touch mine until lunch”
“As you wish, dear Remus”
Remus started with the newspaper ones, he knew they were from his father - a leather bound journal and a calendar with 1972’s moon phases (that he quicly hid inside the journal) -, then went the packages in brown paper from Miss Carol, it had a guide of Scotland’s birds, a (badly) hand painted Christmas Card that looked more like a surrealistic painting, and green socks with wands on them. Next went her mom and grandma Lucretia’s, some watercolours, a brown and cream jumper and a few Muggle chocolate bars. He had left the fancy tissue paper ones for last.
“You know you didn’t have to make your parents send us gifts, right James?” asked Lupin unwrapping a cream colored hand-made jumper with white bunnies on it.
“Please! I had to get you guys something, and with Igny being all grown up Yule is boring now, and he loves knitting.”
Apart from the jumper, there were also sugar quills and a few potion books.
“Potions? Really?”
“You suck at it, dear Remus” answered James with a big smile and dramatic gestures, “I’m just trying to keep you from failing”
And as they laughed, James started to tackle his mountain of gifts. Some new Tutshill Tornados posters and a signed photo of Leslie Cason, the star chaser on the team; from Cousin Igny, who had studied with her. Uncle Charlus and Auntie Dorea gave him pumpkin pastries, multicoloured ink and a photograph of a broomstick, a Comet 220, with a message behind: “Waiting for you at home”. A burgundry quilt with golden dragons, a red hand-made jumper with a white toad on it, and a few new sets of Quidditch-themed socks - all of it from Auntie Dory and Uncle Royston, with the help of Cousin Sinclair -, and a very simple card by Cousin Reese. A new green dragon-hide notebook and a Potions books from dad, and a book about Greek Myths - in Greek, of course - from mom. Some Greek puff pastries and new bright blue and silver dress robes from his mom’s brother and his family (Uncle Apollo, Aunt Elysia, and Cousins Azure, Averill and Altais) who all live in Dokós, Greece, where part of the family originated. Auntie Zoelle and Nina, of course, sent Transfiguration books and essays and explanations of new theories. For last was Auntie Minnie and Auntie Poppy (not James’ actual aunts, but his godmother and her wife) with a Quidditch book, licorice wands and an invitation for tea, with the rest of the boys “if he so pleased”.
“Do you guys wanna go have tea with Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey?”
“Why even do they send you gifts?” asked Sirius
“Minnie is my godmother”
“I’m sorry?” exclamed a shocked Remus “What? How?”
“She’s good friends with mom and dad, and worked a bit with mom’s cousin, Auntie Zoelle, Edric Imore’s mother” he answered.
§§§
After lunch and telling Professor McGonagall they accepted her invitation, James took Remus aside, inventing and excuse so the other two didn’t come.
“I forgot a book, on the library. Do you mind helping me, Lupin?” James said “You guys go without us, we’ll catch you later.” And without waiting for an anwer, James took Remus arm and bolted towards the library, stopping a little bit before and getting in a classroom.
“What the fuck, James?” was the first thing Remus said after catching his breath.
“Language, Remus!” admonished James. “I have no idea how to say this, so I’m just gonna say it. I know you are a werewolf.”
“Excuse me?” started Remus, trying to mask his fear with offence “What on Earth makes you say that?”
“Auntie Poppy didn’t tell me, if that’s what you’re worried about, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize that you’re sick every Full Moon”
“And that’s all your proof?” Remus exclaimed “Having poor health doesn’t make me a werewolf, you know?”
“Don’t treat me as if I’m stupid, Remus. If I wanted to out you to everyone we wouldn’t be having this converstion. I want to help you”
“Help me? How the fuck are you going to help me? There’s no cure! There’s no treatment! There’s nothing you can do!” Remus had started to cry in frustration.
“True” James answered with a kind smile, putting a hand in Remus’ shoulder, “but I can do your homework those days, or help you with it if you prefer it, and I can convince Auntie Poppy to give you extra potions for the pain, or I can make or buy some; and I’ve seen how you shiver all the time, I can give you some of my jumpers, I have a lot of them, they won’t be the best fit, but they’re warm; and you’re an awful, awful liar, so I can help you with that, and tach you, Merlin knows you need it; and…”
Remus hugged him, effectively sropping his rant. “Ok, you can help me, but don’t tell the others”
“I think you should tell them. They care about you“ said James, tightening his embrace, sensing that Remus was about to let go. “Peter is the one who pointed out that you’re always sick. And Sirius is smart enough to have already guessed it”
“I don’t know, James…”
“Tell them tonight, I’ll be with you, and if anything happens we’ll tell Auntie Minnie, and she’ll solve it. I’ll take all the blame if something bad happens” James let go, took a step backwards and put his hands in Remus’ cheeks, making him look at his eyes. “I promise. Everything will be okay, I promise”
Later that night, after Peter had been absolutely beaten at Chess by Professor McGonagall, and they had gotten even more food in, Remus told them that he had to tell them something before they went to bed. And while the others put on their pyjamas, Remus was giving himself a pep talk in the bathroom.
“Come on Lupin! Don’t hog the toilet, the rest also have to go”
“One second, Sirius” Remus yelled back and, with a last sigh, opened the door.
James was smiling at him, giving him a thumbs up from his bed. Remus breathed in and out a few times, going to sit next to James, he was self-aware enough to know that he needed the extra support.
“Ok… So…” Remus started ”I… Well… When I was… No… Ahh”
“Come on, Lupin, just say whatever you wanna say” insisted Sirius.
“Yeah… The thing is I don’t know how to”
“The faster you go the sooner it will end” encouraged Sirius
Peter was the first one to speak “That’s… unexpected… but I still wanna be your friend”
“A werewolf, okay, yeah, no, okay, good, no, yeah, okay”
“You alright Black?” asked James
“Yeah, yeah, no, a werewolf, okay, why not? It does make sense, yeah” he kept muttering until he made eye-contact with Remus’ shiveing form and expectant eyes. “Okay, yeah, so… this changes nothing, right? Beacause, we still need a nerd between us, and you are our only option Lupin”
“I think James is much more of a nerd than I, Black” said Remus, and regretted it immediately as he was tackled into cuddling by the boney form of James.
Rhoeslane is a hidden wizarding community in Leeds, Yorkshire. To get to this community, wizards have to enter an old building that is found in a cul-de-sac, the door will only be seen by those with magic, in a similar fashion to the Leaky Cauldron in London. Rhoeslane is home to some of the most important families in the wizarding community, being the ancestral home for the Black and Longbottom families, plus having several smaller cottages and a strong commercial street and industrial district.
Along the riverside there are multiple factories that produce most of the already made potions in the country, pertaining to companies such as Linferell or E.M.L. Potions Co., and clothing factories that prepare our favourite fabrics into work-able materials for the countries clothing-makers.
Black Manor is the seat of the Black family, where only the Head of the Family lived, with those he chose. It’s a big white stone building with a large garden with multiple types of flowers and fruit trees and black raven-themed gates all around it.
Longbottom Manor is the seat of the Longbottom family, traditionally the Head of the Family and the direct descendants live. It’s a red stone building with four floors and two more underground, even though it looks like four houses put one next to the other. There are stables and a lake on the grounds and its enclosed by hedges.
Nightshade Cottage is the house from where the Gamp family experiments and studies and furthers the knowledge of magic, particularly transfiguration. Is a three storey brick house with multiple chimneys; the first floor has a kitchen, a dinning area and 3 bedrooms with multiple beds for the students and workers who decide to spend the night; the second floor has two classrooms, a library, the Director’s office, and the Caretaker’s suite; lastly, the third floor is an open space for experimenting, with multiple tables, chairs and blackboards.
Astrely Garden is a botanical garden and herbology research center.
Evergreen Academy of Wizardry is a small school for those who cannot attend Hogwarts (because of monetary, health, family or other reasons) and live near Rhoeslane. It’s divided in three Houses: Amphipteres, Wyverns and Wryms. Students usually only stay over the weekdays, some having to commute everyday via the Knight Bus.
Sirius Orion Black had always brought trouble to himself during childhood. He was, after all, the heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, the oldest grandson of Arcturus Black, and so had been raised to be seen and not heard, reprimanded each time he decided to have an opinion, double if it was different than his mother’s, and if there’s one thing he had, was opinions different to hers. His shoulders, always hidden, were full of small white scars from the punishments - didn’t matter if what he did was dye his aunt’s clothes bright pink, break a mug (even if that was a lie to cover for his brother), or say that he wanted to visit Muggle London. And the worst was yet to come, Sirius was sure of it ever since that September night in which he had been sorted into Gryffindor, the house of the brave and chivalrous.
And December had come, with minimal interaction with his family, only a few letters from his brother, his beloved Regulus who he had sworn to protect, and one or two monthly howlers from his mother, the rest of the family had gone no-contact. If Walburga’s shouts weren’t enough, Regulus was clear in his letters, it was better to not put a foot in Grimauld Place until Summer.
“You are a disgrace to our family name, Sirius” cousin Narcissa said in the coldest voice a 12 year old could muster. “You are being a selfish child”
Sirius Orion Black, son of Orion and Walburga Black, second in line to the title of Lord Black, raised to be the perfect child, was taught Latin, Ancient Greek and French during childhood, the theory behind every spell and how to identify most poisons and cursed objects, the perfect noble pure-blood gentleman who could play piano and violin, waltz better than any of his many cousins, always well dressed and perfectly groomed, cold eyes and head held high, because he was better than everyone. Sirius Black, who had spent most of his childhood shielding his baby brother from the fury of his mother, taking the blame of everything, making himself the target of Walburga’s fury so little Regulus could become the favourite. A Black in everything that mattered, pale skin and grey eyes, long silky black hair tied with a silver ribbon, an angular face with high cheekbones and thin eyebrows, not that tall but certainly not short; he had inherited his mother’s short temper and his grandfather’s intellect, being able to do his homework without any difficulty but fighting with James over the smallest things (whose turn it was for the shower, Chocalete Frog cards or who was better suited to put itching powder on the Slytherin’s tunics). Sirius, who only wanted to be loved by those around him, who wanted to have fun and be free, who had to be tough for his brother and be Mother’s little pureblood prince, but spent too much time with cousin Andromeda to swallow all that unfounded hate.
§§§
“Reading isn’t resting, Mr Lupin” reminded Madam Pomfrey to her young patient. “Your Professors are aware that you are to be in bed until Sunday, homework can wait”
“C’mon Madam Pomfrey, it’s not even a school book! I’m getting bored” complained Remus.
“You need to rest, Mr Lupin, we already talked about this”
With a defeated sigh Remus put away the book, at least until he stopped being in the healer’s line of sight. Sure, he was glad he could attend Hogwarts, and grateful for Madam Pomfrey’s care, it had been one of the easiest mornings after a full moon he had ever had, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t painful. Remus’ whole body ached, his knees where throbbing and no matter how he positioned himself he was uncomfortable, reading was his only scape, a way to forget his pains, or at least feel them less.
This would be the first year he would spend Christmas away from his family. The next full moon was set for the 31st of December, he’d spend the New Year in pain and only accompanied by Madam Pomfrey, who surely wouldn’t leave him out of her sight. After little over three months at Hogwarts, Remus had learned at least one thing: Madam Pomfrey was strict but cared deeply about her patients. He wasn’t sure how to feel about being away from his family for the Holidays, it was only his mom - Hope Howell, a muggle - and grandma Lucretia Howell - another muggle -, sometimes accompanied by his father - Lyall Lupin, a pureblood wizard - and his favorite tutor, Miss Carol Feathers - a muggle-born witch -, in the small house just outside of Cardiff where he lived with his mother, there always was music and small chocolates for him, he was gifted practical things, like books, pencils or clothes and he answered with handmade cards. Everything in Hogwarts was big and bright, so he assumed Christmas - or Yule, as most British purebloods referred to it - was also going to be like that, all bright lights and a snowy landscape from the window.
At least he wouldn’t be completely alone, his roommate Sirius Black was also going to stay. While trying to do the opposite, in those first few months he had unintentionally gained at least three friends, but James Potter and Sirius black were an unstoppable duo and by sheer stubbornness had made Remus and their other roommate, Peter Pettigrew, spend time together forming a camaderie of sorts; they spent most of their downtime playing chess or gobstones together, helping each other do their homework, and playing small pranks on other students.
Remus had yet to be caught during one of their pranks, but James and Sirius spent a lot of their time in detention, and yet managed to do all ofr their work on time. Truthfully, Remus was quite jealous of them, in his eyes they had everything: good grades, a stable family, wealth, and enough charm to get away with most stuff (Professor McGonagall seemed to be the only exception); while his parents had separated a few years ago, he had been homeschooled ever since the bite and could only afford second-hand items, no matter if it was books or clothes, and while he had been able to perform magic since the crib his father didn’t allow him to dream of going to Hogwarts.
Remus John Lupin, the boy who wasn’t allowed to dream. He had been only five when Greyback bit him, so he barely had any memories from before. He grew up a werewolf, knowing that once a month he had to hide and suffer through a horrible transformation all alone, most of his body was now covered in thin scars, and the older he got the deeper the wounds were. Remus Lupin, lanky with overgrown light brown hair, ill-fitting clothes and tattered books that he had to carry in his arms - his satchel having decided to break and resist all charms -, always looking a little bit too pale or too tired. Lupin the stubborn and studious, reading until late, until James took the book from his hands and forced him to lay down in his bed, sleeping in and barely managing to make it on time for breakfast, often eating on the way to class something Peter kept for him, learning spells by himself so he could carry everything in the tunic’s pockets because he didn’t want Sirius to carry his more delicate items. Remus, who didn’t know how to act around people his own age and somehow managed to get three boys to care about him.
§§§
Dear son,
Your mom and I want to know if you are coming back for the Yule festivities so we can ready your room and separate some coins so you can buy a present to grandma Bonnie. We would love to hear about your new friends.
Professor McGonagall has sent us your first grades, good job on that Charms Exceeds Expectations, we hope next term you don’t get any detentions.
Love,
Your parents, F&N Pettigrew
The short letter wasn’t a surprise for Peter, he didn’t really talk with his parents. They may have lived under the same roof for 11 years, but it was as they didn’t know each other, always leaving him in the care of others to get to work. He saw the well-dressed children stroll around with their carers, knowing that most of the time he didn’t have anyone to go to if he tripped and got hurt or if the older boys in the street took his toy wand.
Peter Pancratius Pettigrew was a pureblood wizard of unimportant lineage, and he detested it. His father, Fletcher Pettigrew, worked at Diagon Alley’s grocery shop (Tut’s Nuts) and his mother, Nicola Pettigrew, helped out at Tangle & Noils Wigmakers & Perruquiers, also in Diagon Alley, as a part-time hairdresser; that’s where he grew up, in the heart of the English Wizarding Community, never visiting the muggle parts of the country, playing with the other children in the street, learning letters and numbers with one of the neighbours, Mrs. Yasmin Kader. His parents made enough to not live paycheck to paycheck, but he had learned early the meaning of the word “no”, he had never had the latest model of any toy, the latest issue of his favourite comic, or daily Chocolate Frogs. Peter Pettigrew, the only son of two working wizards, who grew up in a small flat in London’s Magical Shopping District, the least brilliant of his roommates, the least focused, the one who needed more help, the one who received less correspondence. Pettigrew, who knew most of the people at Hogwarts, at least those of Wizarding families, who had played with most of them on the streets, who had been babysat by some of the older students; he was well-liked by everyone, so much that he knew more gossip than anyone in the lower years, so much that not even the Slytherins went after him. Peter, with his mousy hair, full cheeks and roundier body, always a few steps behind the stars of the show, following James Potter and Sirius Black to wherever they asked, not because of their last names but because they showed they cared, always willing to help him complete his homework, never forgetting to wake him up in the morning, sharing their class notes, helping him understand, including him in their pranks but protecting him from most detentions.
§§§
Ever since the train ride to Hogwarts James knew his life was complete. He had met three boys who had ended up being his roommates and friends, Peter the social butterfly that loved to read adventure books and hated schoolwork, the shy and sarcastic Remus who always looked tired and didn’t know when to stop studying, and his platonic soulmate Sirius, a deeply hurt child in need of love, in need of fun. And his rival, the girl who managed to one up him in every class, Lily Evans, probably the most brilliant witch of the generation, and her loyal follower, the greasy git Severus Snape (or Snivellus as James had taken to call him in his mind) who had fast adopted under Lucius Malfoy’s wing, one of the worst Slytherins from one of the more extremist pureblood families.
James Charlus Potter of the Peverell, Potter and Fleamont Houses carried a heavy destiny, he couldn't afford to be mediocre, couldn't afford to not stand out. He had been raised in a strict morality, taught since young that he was to represent all that was good in magic, be a moral compass to his peers, be everything that was good and right in the world. Heir Peverell was a name that carried more power than quite a few Lords. He had been taught by many tutors along with other children, most of them older than him, he learnt Latin and French, Greek for his mother's family and English, basic Mathematics that helped him in Potions, a subject that he never paid as much attention as his father would have wanted, learnt about Herbology and Magical Creatures, and had lengthy History lessons, both muggle and magical. He knew what the wizarding society expected him to be and how to act.
James Potter was a child of love, he had his mother's tan skin, slightly hooked nose and a smile that could light up an entire room, but also his father's messy black hair, warm brown eyes and, unfortunately, his bad sight, clear by the thick framed round glasses. He grew up knowing that no matter what he did his parents would always love him, and yet was taught to always be kind and always give out a helping hand, it was something he constantly saw his parents, his aunts and uncles, his cousins, doing, everyone is worthy of help and love. Potter was a rascal that wanted to have fun and annoy his godmother, Professor McGonagall. He enjoyed to play pranks on people with his friends, even if after he had to clean the Trophy Room by hand. James was a child that took a look to his new friends and decided to adopt them as brothers, he saw boys in need of love, and that was one of the things James had loads of.
Seeing his friends face every time they looked at the calendar hurt him, none of them smiled, none seemed excited for presents, none seemed to want the Holidays to come. It was then when he made the decision, he'd stay over for Yule and bring cheer and love to his friends. He quickly wrote to his parents, asking them if they could “please, please, please” send some presents to his friends too with a small description of what he thought they would like.
Autumn had arrived fast, and by mid-October almost all trees from the castle grounds had lost their leaves. The students barely spent time outside the castle, all prefering the warmth of their common rooms. While nobody looked forward to the Herbology classes, the greenhouses were very poorly insulated, if you asked the Gryffindors most would say that the worst class was Potions, by the simple reason that they had to share with Slytherin, even if it was warmer.
The last week of October started with some students reciving green-sealed envelopes, most were children from the Noble Houses but with some surprinsing exceptions.
“What’s that?” asked Peter between bites, he had been the only one from his room to not recieve one of the mysterious letters that morning. “Come on, open it!”
“It’s an invitation, from Professor Slughorn” answered Sirius with a sour expression.
“Dad told me about this” James thought out loud, “apparently Slughorn tries to have ties to everyone’s business, it’s his way of maintaining his lifestyle. Doesn’t matter their social-standing as long as he sees talent on them”
“That’s so many degrees of creepy” said Remus. “I’ll pass on going, it’s for Halloween and the Prewetts said the feast was amazing”
A few seats over a voice called “Potter! Did you also get an invite?”
“Yeah! You going, Shackelbolt?”
“Are you kidding? I want to see what Hagrid does with those big pumpkins of his!”
§§§
Lily Evans had every intention of integrating in the new society she had been thrown into. The last two months in the castle had been full of ups and downs; part of the school seemed to look at her - and anyone else of muggle origin - like if she was diseased, and the worst part of that was that most of them were either Severus’ new friends or house-mates, the Slytherins, and nothing her oldest friend said seemed to calm her. “They are just trying to maintain their culture” “They feel threatened, muggles have never been kind to us” “Progress looks different here, Lily” Severus had said, ignoring her protests. On the upside, her dorm-mates had been kind and they had quickly grown fond of each other, spending most of their down-time together; a lot of the teachers complimented her achievements in class, Charms being her favourite as much as she looked forward to work with Severus in Potions.
That’s why, when presented with the opportunity to go to a seemingly exclusive party on Halloween, Lily didn’t even think of saying no. Only two other 1st year girls had been invited, Isolde Crickerly - from her dorm - and Linda Moon, so Lily took it as a compliment and rapidly made Isolde help her find something to wear.
§§§
“Are you sure you should go Lily?” asked Severus what felt like the hundredth time. “There won't be anyone you know, they're older or pureblood. Just go to the feast like the rest!” he continued whinning.
“That's not true! Both Isolde and Linda are going. Besides, it is a good place to get to know people, don't you think? They judge me because they don’t know me, so I’ll make them know me and they’ll see that we are not that different, Sev.”
“Merlin! That’s such a Gryffindor thing to say!”
Lily had started to reply when her dorm-mates catched up with them.
“Lils! Here you are!” yelled Isolde. A short and bony girl with tanned arms and a flushed face, ashy brown hair in plaits, always moving and talking loudly. Isolde Crickerly was one of the oldest children of a Noble family, potential successor to others, but her manners would have indicated otherwise with the way she didn’t stop running and talking and stuffing her mouth with all types of sweets sent from home. “We’ve been looking for you all around! Auntie Helena sent magazines so we can decide what to wear to the party, Alice is waiting for us”, she took Lily by the arm and directed her towards the Gryffindor common room, without giving her time to say goodbye to Severus.
§§§
Halloween arrived with high expectations. The Great Hall had been decorated with a dozen giant orange pumpkins and quite a few smaller white ones with carvings of fantastical creatures, all illuminated from the inside with the floating candles. Shadows of bats had been enchanted to roam the corridors giving a spooky atmosphere to the whole castle. Most classes had been shortly interrupted by Peeves throwing spider-shaped candies to the students.
Lily and Isolde’s dorm seemed to have absolutley transformed to a beauty salon that afternoon. Even though Professor Slughorn didn’t really care about the houses, not many Gryffindors were ever invited to his soirées, even less if they were muggle-born. So, most of the girls had decided to help the younger students represent Gryffindor House.
“Isolde! Stay still or I won’t be able to tame that damned bird’s nest!” yelled Martha McKinnon, a 4th year, who was helping her sister Marlene in getting Isolde into nice clothes.
“Now, Lily, try to stay as close to me or to any of the other Gryffindors as you can” instructed Alice Eymor while helping Linda tie her hair back.
“Aren’t parties supposed to be to socialize, Eymor?” countered a 3rd year, Nadja Dietrich.
“Meeting new people is ok, as long as they aren’t Slytherins stuck in the past” said Alice back.
“So… No Slytherins and stay close to the Gryffindors, got it” said Lily to make the others quiet down.
Of the almost seven hundred Gryffindor students, close to a hundred had received Slughorn’s invitation, and only eight had agreed to go. The 3 boys were all pure or half-blood upper years that wanted to specialize in Potions or Healing after Hogwarts, they were dressed in some of their nicest robes and sleeked back hair. Of the 5 girls, only Lily wasn’t pure-blood, and there was only an upper-year, Lara Osbert, very talented in both Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures; they also dressed in nice dress-robes, all in bright colors with enchanted embroidery, and their hair pulled up.
The get together was held in Slughorn’s office, in the lower floor, as close to the dungeons as possible without being underground. It had been magically modified to fit the many guests - students and ex-students - that had come to the party, and decorated with green and orange garlands on the ceiling, lamps with fairies illuminating the tables with so much finger-food, and almost no place to sit.
Lily was amazed by every corner of the room, there was a buzzing around, an energy, that she could only describe as magic, so much magic gathered in one place, all in action, like a warm blanket on the brain. She did as told and didn’t get close to the Slytherins, except for Professor Slughorn, who welcomed them and started interrogating them about their lifes as subtly as he could.
“Miss Crickerly! Miss Eymor! I’m so glad you could come, how are your parents? It’s been so long since I last saw them”
“They are waiting for your order, Professor. The greenhouses are thriving lately” said Alice taking the lead of the conversation, “mom says it will be a good year for potioneers”.
“That’s great, Miss Eymor, I’ll be sure to write them as soon as I can. They always have an amazing quality.” Then he moved his eyes to Lily, who was trying to make herself small next to the upper-years. “Miss Evans! So great you could come!” Professor Slughorn greeted effusively “You’ve been such a gem these months in class, I had to ask the other Professors how you were doing. We all agree you’ll become a very successful witch, or at least I hope so” he laughed.
2nd September 1971 was a Thursday, but 1st years didn’t have any classes. According to Professor McGonagall, who had given the schedules to the new Gryffindor students, it was to give them time to organise their belongings and walk around to find their classes. Most of them went back to the tower directly, by the path the prefects had shown them the night before, but Remus changed directions.
That Sunday was to be a full-moon, and when the Headmaster came offering a place in the school, he had also told him that he was to report directly to the nurse; his father, Lyall, agreed fast to all the conditions Professor Dumbledore put to ensure his son’s safety, as well as the rest of the students. The castle was massive, and Remus had already got lost that morning trying to get down for breakfast; to many corridors ended up in rooms full of objects that the boy had never seen or heard about. It was nearly mid-morning when he reached the Hospital Wing and could knock on the Nurse’s office door.
“Mr. Lupin, I presume?” asked a short chubby woman with burgundy robes and a white apron and cap. Remus only nodded, looking up to her slightly wrinkled stern face. “Good, come in. I’m Madam Pomfrey, the school’s nurse. I was expecting you to come earlier, but better late than never.”
“Sorry, Madam, I got lost.”
“Well, let’s hope you don’t get lost again, and much less coming here. You are to come here the morning of day before and the day of the full moon, better before breakfast, and an hour before the moon-rise in the day of the full moon. I will accompany you through a passageway to a highly protected house off-grounds you will spend the night there and I will come get you in the morning, then you will probably spend most of the day here recovering. Understood?”
“Yes Madam” nodded the boy and, unsure, asked “, is there a map of the castle?”
“Unfortunately not, the castle changes too much for that” was her response before saying their greetings and letting the boy get back to his dorm.
§§§
The Gryffindor first year girls were divided in three rooms on the same floor, each door had their names written in a gold nameplate. The inside was the same for all bedrooms: two big windows, big four-posted beds made of birch wood with blood red curtains and thick plaid blankets, a nightstand, a folding writing-desk and a set of shelves and drawers for each student, and a door leading to a private bathroom for each room. The night before, after dinner, all the students had found that their trunks had been put on the feet of their beds.
Having had a full night’s sleep and a free day, the eleven new 11-year-old girls in Gryffindor tower sat in one of the bedrooms of their floor. Some were on the beds and some on the floor, chatting about how their families were like. Lily Evans was glad to know she wouldn’t be alone as a muggle-born witch, seeing as almost half of them were. That calmed her down, and made her feel less alone; Lily wouldn’t be the only one freaked out by talking portraits, or ghosts with warm smiles but ice-cold touch, or confused as to why they had to write with those gigantic quills instead of the more practical pens and pencils.
§§§
Breakfast had been uneventful, to Sirius’ surprise. He hadn’t written to his family, fearing what his mother was to say about his House placement, but he was sure cousin Narcissa had, so he had woken up prepared to receive a Howler. But his only post that morning had been a short letter from cousin Andromeda asking how he was, what house he was in, words of support if he had been sorted into Slytherin, and a bunch of pictures of Nymphadora, Andromeda’s almost 3 years old daughter.
But his fears resurfaced after breakfast, back in Gryffindor tower, when he saw the long-eared owl outside his bedroom’s window, his mother’s private owl, Ceryx, with a bright red envelope in his beak. Sirius took the envelope, took a deep breath, and opened it.
“SIRIUS ORION BLACK THE THIRD” Walburga’s Black voice boomed “HOW DARE YOU BE SORTED INTO GRYFFINDOR? YOU SHAME THE HOUSE OF BLACK! HOW DO YOU CALL THIS DISRESPECT? BE PREPARED CHILD OR YOU WILL END UP LIKE ANDROMEDA! THE MOMENT YOU PUT A FEET ON THIS HOUSE AGAIN, YOU WILL FEEL AS MUCH SHAME AS YOU MADE US FEEL WITH YOUR SORTING!”
James had entered the dorm room just after Sirius and had watched the whole affair go down. He had already had a rough night helping Sirius calm down, assuring him he would help him if his family turned their back on him - just as his parents had raised him, always help who needs it.
Just as the first hiccup left Sirius’ body, James run to hug and rock him. He didn’t know what to say, what could a child like him tell another when the adults that were supposed to care for him failed him, an almost-stranger at that. No, James had no idea what to do, but deep down he knew that he had to help Sirius, that he’d never forgive himself if he didn’t.
§§§
On Friday, they only had classes until lunch. Double Defence Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw was the first, taught by Professor Weasley, a tall red-headed middle-aged man with a few scars on his face and arms from having worked with dragons in a Scottish reserve (as he said when asked by a Ravenclaw), who briefly explained what they were going to see that year and immediately started going in depth into the basics of duelling.
Next was Astronomy, the only class shared by the entire year, no matter the House. While the practical portion was taught in the top of the tallest tower of the castle, the theorical classes were in a much more conveniently placed classroom next to the others. The professor was a short and tanned old man with a trimmed curly grey beard and hair covered in a white scarf held by a thick black rope, his wrinkled face that clearly showed how much he had laughed in the past carried a severity that made the entire classroom fall into a silence that wasn’t disturbed at any point. Professor Najm Shafiq didn’t care that it was the first day when he sent homework.
The last class of the day was double Potions with the Slytherins, something that only Lily Evans was excited about, because it was the class where it was easier to break House unity, as students had to work in pairs or groups. Professor Slughorn walked around the class and scanned the students while starting to explain how to do a Cure for Boils.
§§§
“Oi! Lupin! You coming or what?” shouted James from the stairs.
“Sorry, no, I’m not feeling well. I think I’m going to see Madam Pomfrey” he answered shakily. “Don’t worry if I don’t come back tonight”
“Do you want us to accompany you there?” asked Peter.
Revising the exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration
12th November 1971 | Lady Zoelle Gamp, Mrs Florence Lane, and Mr Tobias Roberts.
Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration states, fundamentally, that something cannot be created from nothing. Its five exceptions are also widely known: food, money, body parts, potion ingredients and wands. Even so, you can certainly conjure certain objects from what is called “thin-air” without having to summon it from else-where.
After thorough investigation in every wizarding library that could be found, here and in the continent, our attention was turned towards muggle ‘science’. While reading their findings we found a concept that may be familiar to those who have dabbed onto alchemy: atoms and elements. Muggles believe that atoms make up all matter, air being also matter, so truly when you are conjunring you actually are transforming the atoms into a new shape.
That became a new question, why can’t you conjure anything? While this needs a proper magical explanation and further research, according to muggle science atoms are arranged in molecules of differents degrees of complexity, which could explain why we can cojure water with an Aguamenti spell, but not food.
As any other Noble family, the Potters arrived to Platform 9¾ via Floo travel. A room with seven fireplaces was placed next to the general entrance through the muggle station.
The Platform was bustling with families seeing off their children for a new year of schooling at Hogwarts. The Potters walked to one of the middle compartments on the train, helping the young James to put the trunk inside.
Not much later, another Noble family was seen levitating three other trunks into the train. The Black cousins, Narcissa and Sirius were accompanied by their grandfather Arcturus and the siblings Walburga and Cygnus, the parents of the children.
The Hogwarts Express started moving at 11 o’clock sharp, and once it turned away from the Platform the Black’s changed compartments. Narcissa went to where the Slytherin 2nd years were. Sirius was left alone, but he changed clothes and quickly left to find a more amicable place, which landed him on a compartment with two other boys that were swapping Chocolate Frog Cards.
One of them was lanky and had light brown hair, his face and hands had small scars, and his skin was sickly pale. The other one was quite short and thin, had slightly tanned skin and a smile from ear to ear, his hair was an absolute mess, Sirius shivered just thinking on what his mother would do if his hair was ever slightly out of place, and his eyes were warm and dark like a hot chocolate mug; Sirius knew this boy, he had been warned to stay away from him by all the adults in his family, James Potter was to not be befriended under any circumstance, and maybe that was the reason why Sirius decided to ask if he could sit with them.
A while later the door to the compartment opened twice. The first time was a short, pale, freckled girl with long auburn hair that was clearly crying; without saying a single word, she sat next to the window. The next time was a short and fat young boy with brownish hair and small eyes, who immediately sat between Lily and James.
Snape was hurrying along the corridor of the Hogwarts Express as it clattered through the countryside, already changed into his school robes. At last he stopped, outside a compartment in which a group of rowdy boys were talking. Hunched in a corner seat beside the window was Lily, her face pressed against the windowpane.
Snape slid open the compartment door and sat down opposite Lily. She glanced at him and then looked back out of the window. She had been crying.
“I don’t want to talk to you,” she said in a constricted voice.
“Why not?”
“Tuney h-hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore.”
“So what?”
She threw him a look of deep dislike. “So she’s my sister!”
“She’s only a –” He caught himself quickly; Lily, too busy trying to wipe her eyes without being noticed, did not hear him.
“But we’re going!” he said, unable to suppress the exhilaration in his voice. “This is it! We’re off to Hogwarts!”
She nodded, mopping her eyes, but in spite of herself, she half smiled.
“You’d better be in Slytherin,” said Snape, encouraged that she had brightened a little.
“Slytherin?”
One of the boys sharing the compartment, who had shown no interest at all in Lily or Snape until that point, looked around at the word.
“Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I’d leave, wouldn’t you?” James asked the boy lounging on the seats opposite him, and with a jolt, Harry realized that it was Sirius.
Sirius did not smile. “My whole family have been in Slytherin,” he said.
“Blimey,” said James, “and I thought you seemed all right!”
Sirius grinned. “Maybe I’ll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you’ve got the choice?”
James lifted an invisible sword. “‘Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!’ Like my dad.”
Snape made a small, disparaging noise. James turned on him. “Got a problem with that?”
“No,” said Snape, though his slight sneer said otherwise. “If you’d rather be brawny than brainy –”
“Where’re you hoping to go, seeing as you’re neither?” interjected Sirius.
James roared with laughter. Lily sat up, rather flushed, and looked from James to Sirius in dislike.
“Come on, Severus, let’s find another compartment.”
“Oooooo…”
James and Sirius imitated her lofty voice; James tried to trip Snape as he passed.
“See ya, Snivellus!” a voice called, as the compartment door slammed.
§§§
It was already dark when the train stopped. The older students were guided towards the street that connected Hogwarts with the town next to it, Hogsmeade, where some carriages were to take them to the school. The first years were called over by a tall and wide man with black curly hair and beard that covered most of his face.
“First years! First years, over here!” the gigantic man called.
Once all the new students were gathered around him, he made them get on boats and row to the school. James and Sirius got on the same boat, with the other two boys that had joined them on the train; Lily and Severus also went together, with a curly haired brunette called Marlene McKinnon and a platinum blonde wide-eyed girl called Pandora Llewellyn. Hogwarts was a magnificent castle that got astounded sounds from all of the students when they first saw it.
§§§
After spending a short while in a small chamber, Professor McGonagall took them to the Great Hall. The Sorting Hat sang of unity and myth before the Professor started calling names. The first one was an Abbot, followed by an Avery and a..
“Black, Sirius” was called to the front.
The boy let his cool expression down a second, showing and uncharacteristic nervousness for a Black. While sitting he looked at his cousins, who nodded reassuringly. The hat blocked his sight and hearing, the mumbling of the Great Hall substituted by a rough voice talking directly into his head.
“A Black? Interesting…” said the voice, “a heart full of pain and a bright mind, you’ve suffered and overcome a big deal. Mmm… Difficult… You should be...”
“Gryffindor” was heart all over the Hall, stunning everyone into silence.
Sirius got up from the stool with trembling knees and a horrified expression, his cousin Narcissa sent him a hateful glare. It wasn’t until he was halfway towards the Gryffindor table that some claps started to be heard, firstly from James Potter with the first years, followed by some of the older students and a few of the 2nd and 3rd years from Noble families close to the Potters.
The sorting continued with a Coleman, John, a Cook, Robin, the twins Crickerly, Elyan and Crickerly, Isolde, a Daniels, Louise, a Dialli, Johann, a Diter, Donald, a Donovan, Vincent and a Douglas, Cassandra, until Professor McGonagall said, “Evans, Lily!”
The young girl walked forward on trembling legs and sat down upon the rickety stool. Professor McGonagall dropped the Sorting Hat onto her head, and barely a second after it had touched her hair, the hat cried, “Gryffindor!”
Snape let out a tiny groan. Lily took off the hat, handed it back to Professor McGonagall, then hurried toward the cheering Gryffindors, but as she went she glanced back at Snape, and there was a sad little smile on her face.
Sirius moved up the bench to make room for her. She took one look at him, seemed to recognize him from the train, folded her arms, and firmly turned her back on him.
The roll call continued, Evermonde, Anne, an Eyre, those whose last names started with an F, a G and H, and then “Imore-Gamp, Edric” was called to the front.
The Hat didn’t even think before shouting “Slytherin!”.
After him Professor McGonagall kept calling the names from the scroll. The muggle-borns Jones, Mercy and Julian, Paul went both to Hufflepuff, while the second-child of the Knachtbull family, Kelda, went to Ravenclaw. Those with an initial L in their surname were spread out, with Lupin, Remus being the last of them, and a fast Gryffindor - intensely clapped by all professors. A few more names were called, and Pettigrew, Peter spent a good two minutes whisper-fighting with the hat before being deemed a Gryffindor; the next one was Potter, James and another fight occured, but when the hat shouted a very exhasperated Gryffindor and the boy’s grin grew, it was clear who had won the fight.
When only a dozen students remained to be sorted, Professor McGonagall called Snape.
“Slytherin!” cried the Sorting Hat.
And Severus Snape moved off to the other side of the Hall, away from Lily, to where the Slytherins were cheering him, to where Lucius Malfoy, a prefect badge gleaming upon his chest, patted Snape on the back as he sat down beside him, Narcissa Black on his other side.
Potter Manor, in Stinchcombe, was boiling with activity that morning. The whole Potter family had come spend the week to prepare for one of the most signaled events of the year, the introduction to society of the new Heirs and Heiresses to the Wizengamot seats. Celebrated in a decorated Chamber of the Wizengamot yearly every third friday of april, it was a dinner and dance ideal to make future connections and let the children make friends before joining Hogwarts.
This year it was little James Potter's turn to make his first appearence. And 1967 was going to be full with introductions, many families had had children around that time, and even if they weren't the next member in line they had to go and accompany their families. That was the reason why Ignotus Potter, now 15, had to leave Hogwarts for a week in his OWL's year.
"James! Don't play with your food" scolded Euphemia, watching her son play with the breakfast.
Euphemia Potter, the third daughter of a secondary branch of the Mitry family, was a tall and beautiful woman even in the relatively advanced age of 59, had half-grey half-dark-brown hair neatly put in a low bun and honey eyes that still sparked with mischief every now and then, was pale as an statue and only laughed to her husband's bad jokes.
"Are you nervous about tonight, Jamie?" asked his father.
"No. Frankie will be there, and Nina, and Igny, and the Prewett twins and Molly" the child explained animatedly. "And I will make more friends!"
"Is that so? Well, maybe I shouldn't go then if you have so much friends already" teased his cousin.
"Ignotous..." warned Aunt Dorea.
"No! I want you to come, Igny! Everything is more fun with you!" affirmed James as an absolute, like seven year olds tend to do.
"Well, now, you two have to finish breakfast and go bath. Didy and Dixy are waiting."
"Yes, mom" ; "Yes, Aunt Euphemia".
§§§
It was early evening, barely past six, when all six members of the Potter family got into the fireplace and Floo-ed to the Ministry of Magic.
The fireplace aisle was getting full of families in their best clothes. Purple, golden, turquoise and any other color on the wheel could be seen on sparkling and shimmering robes worn by the Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot.
The Chamber of the Wizengamot was almost unrecognizable. The enlarged citizen's gallery and the chairs on an enlarged Wizengamot stands had been substitued by tables and chairs for dinner, and the center floor had been cleared to have enough space for dancing - a small chamber orchestra sat on the side, waiting.
"Lady Peverell, how good to see you" a woman said when she got to the group.
"Zoelle! How many times do I have to tell tou to call me by my name?" laughed Euphemia "We're cousins, let's act like it"
"Whatever you want, mylady" joked her cousin. "Now, let's see how pretty is dear Jamie today" she said crouching down to the child's level and pinching his cheek "Cute as ever! You look so much like your father when he was your age." Then she added in a badly hidden whisper "Nina and the Prewetts are already on a table, go see if you can find them."
James took running towards the stands, trying to find his friends, followed by his concerned teen cousin. Leaving the adults to catch up.
“Fleamont, you’ve been ignoring my letters” Lady Gamp’s voice, Zoelle’s voice, suddenly changed to a serious only-business tone.
“Must we do this now? This is a party, Zoelle” was his response.
“Seeing as you do not try to do it at all, yes. This conversation must be had, would you rather I talk to Lord Nott or Lord Black instead? Lord Greengrass agrees with me in that we need to find more powerful allies, and you are on the top, Fleamont.”
“That’s very Slytherin, for a Ravenclaw”
“So are your answers. I wasn’t aware that Gryffindors ran away of challenges” she pointed out. “Also, it’s been years since we graduated, we both know that houses aren’t that big of a deal in the big world.”
“Come over to the Manor tomorrow for lunch, tell Lord Greengrass to also come. And bring everything you have.”
§§§
“Now, Sirius, do not run, do not mess your clothes, and I better not hear your voice if no one talks to you first” a very pale and imposing witch with silky dark-hair in a knot wearing an elegant bottle green robe instructed in a very cold voice.
“Yes, mother” answered an also pale and dark-haired child, dressed in an also bottle green suit, his long wavy hair held by a silver bow.
“Stay next to your brother and your cousins at all times. If you or Regulus need anything, tell Andromeda first. And use full names, child.”
Lord Arcturus Black of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black had been called late at night by one of his closest allies, Lord Stephen Burke. The Floo-call lasted well over half an hour, but the news required it: the Minister of Magic had died suddenly.
Wilhelmina Tuft had been a good Minister after Grindelwald's war, helping the magical community to rebuild the hurting economy and introducing nation-wide festivals, to celebrate the new era of peace. She had known how to keep the old families happy while pushing forward some more progressive and tolerant reforms. It certainly was a grave loss.
The next morning, Lord Black didn't even have breakfast before Floo-ing away from Black Manor to the Ministry for an emergeny Wizengamot session. The house-elves had done their job and neatly set the plum-coloured robes and important files for easier acces while on a rush.
The entrance fireplaces were roaring with green flames as they let in dozens of wizards and witches in formal Wizengamot attire. The mass of people only going in one direction: towards the Chamber of the Wizengamot.
"Lord Black! Lord Black!" a masculine voice in the crowd said. But, it wasn't until the caller reached him that Lord Black noticed it.
"Lord Burke, thank you from calling yesterday" said the old man ", it certainly was helpful information, if not we would have nothing to add to today's session."
"Thanks to you, my Lord, for taking care of it. Shall we enter?"
Lord Arcturus Black had spent the past decade as part of the Wizengamot, since his father had fallen ill, and thirty more years in various ministerial department, but accostumed as he could be to the room, it still took the air from his lungs for a few seconds after entering. The obsidian walls and floor sucked the light from the hundreds of torches that lit the room; next to the door were the stairs to the gallery where the citizens, visitors and journalists could seat and watch the sessions take place, in the middle was a mahogany stand, from where the Chief Warlock conducted the session, and three chairs: one for tehe Chief Warlock, one for the Minister of Magic, and one for the Scribe; on the end of the room there were 75 chairs organized in three levels and forming a half-moon looming over the Chief Warlock's stand and split through the middle for the stairs, on the first level sat those who represented the 21 Most Ancient and Noble Houses, the second level was for those of the 25 Ancient and Noble Houses, and the third level was shared between the 13 Ancient Houses and the 15 elected members.
There was only a chair next to his, just one family was more powerful than the Black's: the Peverell family. Last name long stinguished, it now run on the Potter line, a bunch of muggle-loving barely wizards that had managed to grab hold of two other respectable pure-blood families apart of their own. Arcturus rememberd his father complaining about the late Henry Potter, and how he had managed to woo the last member of the Fleamont line. Now was Arcturus' turn to deal with the Potter siblings.
The oldest of the Potter duo was Fleamont, a tall and slightly tanned man with gray well-groomed hair and wrinkles that showed how much he had laughed in his youth; he had married young and for love, to a woman called Euphemia Mitry, but they hadn't had any luck in conceiving a child. The younger brother was Charlus Potter, a pale and thin man with shoulder-length black curly hair who had managed to look youthfull in his 50 years of age, five less than his brother; he married the scariest most out-spoken witch of his year, a Slytherin called Dorea Black, and had a seven year old boy called Ignotus, soon to be introduced into society.
"Welcome Wizengamot Lords and Ladys to this emergency meeting" Dumbledore's voice, Wizengamot's Chief Warlock and Hogwarts Headmaster, resonated through the spatious room ", I call in 1959's 11th session into order. Today we're discussing our collective response to the death of our Minister of Magic: Wilhelmina Tuft. If you want to talk now its your time."
Lord Fleamont Potter rose from his seat with the wand lit, and started talking when given the turn. "My sincerest condolences to the Tuft family, we feel for your loss, may she be blessed by the skies. Now, to the matter at hand, The Houses of Peverell and Fleamont propose a week of nation-wide mourning while the new elections are being organized".
"All in favour, please raise your wands" indicated Dumbledore. The response was unanimously in favour of Lord Peverell's proposition.
"I, James Charlus Potter, son of Fleamont Linfred Potter and Euphemia Laura Mitry, sole descendant of the Potter, Peverell and Fleamont Houses, reclaim my title as Lord James Potter of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses of Peverell, Potter and Fleamont" his voice was serious and strong, much more mature than anyone had ever heard him before ", and my right to take the corresponding seats in the Chamber of the Wizengamot".
§§§
"Professor! You know it is'nt right! Sirius did NOT do it!" the yells could be heard on the halls beyond the Gryffin satute that protected the Headmaster's office.
"Miss Imore, you can't be sure about what decisions he made, about where he decided to lay his final loyalty" Dumbledore's calm voice did nothing for the young woman in front of him. "Everything points to him, of that we can are sure".
"And that's all you need to send someone to Azkaban without a trial! Truly? I'm sure you can see that's absolutly preposterous!"
§§§
"I, Sirius Orion Black, son of Orion Phineas Black and Walburga Ursula Black, only living male of the Black House, reclaim my title as Lord Sirius Black of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, and my right to take the corresponding seat in the Chamber of the Wizengamot", the whole male trembled while saying it, not even a shade of the confidence he once had.
§§§
"I'm so sorry" Lupin cried, "so sorry, so ashamed. How could I have doubted you, my dear old friend?"
Sirius hugged the other man, making him cry into his shirt. His poor werewolf was devastated to know that he had spent four years in Azkaban, without even having gone trough a trial. Remus had ignored Nina's calls and insistence of Sirius innocence.
§§§
"I, Lord Potter, want to announce the alliance of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses of Peverell, Black, Potter and Fleamont, with the Most Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom, the Most Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy, and the Most Ancient and Noble House of Prewett, and Ancient House of Weasley".
The Chief Warlock spoke to the Chamber "Do any of the mentioned Houses oppose?" After none of the Lords said anything, he announced aswell "The alliance has been formed, may it be blessed by the skies".
The Wizengamot is the legislative organ of the Ministry of Magic, every law has to be approved by a consensus of at least 3/5 of the full Chamber. In cases of extreme urgency, the Wizengamot can process trials.
There are 75 seats. 60 are hereditary and pertain to the Ancient wizarding families, someone can occupy more than one seat if they are the last of the line, if not it has to be divided among the living members of that House. The other 15 seats are elected every seven years through popular vote, anyone who owns a wand and is registered as a citizen of magical Britain can vote. Neither the Chief Warlock nor the Minister of Magic have a vote, they can only oversee the process even though they have to be present in every session.
The Chamber is reunited fully once a month on the last Wednesday of the month, and partially on the second Friday.
Families with hereditary seats in nobility order:
Peverell
Black
Greengrass
Nott
Longbottom
Lestrange
Potter
Macmillan
Gamp
Burke
Ollivander
Diggory
Prewett
Shafiq
Fawley
Crouch
Malfoy
Carrow
Parkinson
Shackelbolt
Fleamont
Yaxley
Selwyn
Rowle
Evermonde
Abbott
Mallet
Yohe
Rosier
Boot
Bagnold
Imore
Avery
Soule
Flint
Travers
Crickerly
Moon
Crowdy
Mitry
Tuft
Bulstrode
Stump
Orpington
Eymor
Diter
Dupont
McLaird
Osbert
Milliphutt
Soavin
Gaunt
Slughorn
Gambol
McPhail
Gore
Knatchbull
Ingersoll
Flack
Weasley
There are three types of Houses: The Most Ancient and Noble, The Ancient and Noble, and the Ancient.
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