He had only been home from Hogwarts for four days and he'd already been to the Ministry three times. Once was to answer some questions for DMLE investigators on the events in the graveyard. The second time he'd accompanied Sirius to pick up some papers related to restoring the Black seat on the Wizengamot. Now here he was again only this time it was a hearing on the results of the investigation.
More out of ideal boredom than any true interest, Harry asked, "So why doesn't the Potter family have a Wizengamot seat if it's so old?"
Sirus snorted in amusement. "Because they were too honourable and too stubborn."
"What?"
"Did you cover the formation of the modern British magical government in History of Magic?"
Now it was Harry's turn to snort, but this time in derision. "Were there goblin rebellions in it? Because otherwise, no."
"Binns was always a bit limited," Sirius allowed. "To make it short, the Ministry was formed after William of Normandy invaded and defeated King Harold II. Magical England stayed out of the fight but William brought several of his own magical followers, such as the Malfoys, here and made alliance with several of the prominent native families, including the Blacks. William granted lands, title, and trading concessions to many of his key magical supporters. William's magical council became the Wizengamot.
"Now the Potters were an old and respected family based near the border of England and Wales. Very independent minded - not that that has changed much. They objected to many of the new King's policies towards the separation of the magical world and the suppression of remnants of the old Druidic religion. So they were pushed out.
"About three hundred years later there was an effort to incorporate some of the leading native families that had been frozen out, like the Potters and the Longbottoms. The Longbottoms accepted, but Arthur Potter, the head of the Potter family at the time, called them a pack of self-serving idiots more interested in lining their families' pockets than doing any good for the people of the British Isles - but in much less polite terms. James showed me the quote once. He was very proud of that. Well, he seriously offended the older Wizengamot families and the ones that had just accepted the elevation. But they became really popular with the common magical folk and creatures. It was another 300 years before a Potter would work for the Ministry and none have ever worked outside the DMLE."
Harry chuckled at the story. He had to admit his ancestor was on target with his characterization of the Wizengamot. Even the families of his friends like Padma, Susan, and Neville seemed to spend much of their time defending their privileges and interests. A hereditary legislature was even worse than the House of Commons or the US Congress!
Harry wanted to ask how the Patel's had come to hold a seat but further discussion was interrupted when an uniformed Auror stepped out through a pair of heavy wooden doors.
"Mister Black? Mister Potter? The Wizengamot is ready for you now," he said in a polite tone.
Sirius acknowledged the man and the two wizards stood and followed the Auror back the way he'd come.
"Relax, Harry," Sirius said softly. "We'll be fine." Harry smiled wanly at his godfather. He appreciated the support and could only hope he was right.
....
Harry's first impression of the Wizengamot hearing chamber felt like a large medieval coliseum with the Wizengamot member sitting in four tiered levels in ornate chairs much like Dumbledore's in the Great Hall. Above them were some additional tiers for visitors but they had simple wooden benches. The seats curved for 270 degrees and created the feeling of being completely surrounded. The remaining 90 degrees of the room consisted of the primary seating for visitors. But today those seats were almost empty.
Candles floated at regular intervals to augment the light provided by a trio of gas-light chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The flickering light cast odd shadows on the seated Wizengamot members while the centre area where Harry and Sirius now stood was as bright as noon. A pair of simple chairs occupied the middle of that patch of light.
Overall, the room was designed to unnerve anyone called forth to testify. It was not a place for a friendly conversation. Harry wondered where the doors were to let in the lions.
In the front row of the Wizengamot sat Dumbledore and Fudge. Madam Bones was moving to her seat next to Dumbledore as Harry and Sirius entered the room. Harry didn't really recognize many of the others sitting on the Wizengamot tiers but did note Madam Longbottom and Mr Patil. Lucius Malfoy was noteworthy in his absence.
"Thank you for coming today, Mr Potter," Minister Fudge said from his position in the first row directly in front of the two Marauders' seats. "Mr Black is here in his role as your guardian. The DMLE Department Head, Madam Bones, has completed her presentation of the investigation into the events of the night of 21st day of June 1995. However, some of the Wizengamot members would like to ask some additional questions to clarify a few… er, inconsistencies that seem to have occurred.
"Madam Umbridge, our Senior Undersecretary shall be taking the lead in these questions after consulting with the concerned members. Madam Umbridge, the floor is yours."
The ugly, toad-like witch emerged from the shadows to Harry's left. Her formal black robes were trimmed in pink and she wore a scarf that looked as though one had poured a bottle of Pepto-Bismol all over it.
"Thank you, Minister Fudge," the woman replied in a fawning voice and Harry would have sworn she fluttered her eyelashes at the pudgy man. Unbidden an image of their possible young came to mind and Harry suddenly felt queasy.
.....
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