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Chapter Fifty-Two – Victorious

The call to the Ministry was expected, late even, but Harry still had butterflies in his belly. He stood quickly from his breakfast and made sure to remember to grab his book bag.

“Wizengamot?” Draco asked, watching him worriedly.

Harry nodded, watching as the worry on Draco’s face faded away.

“You’ll get it passed.” Draco said with confidence. “I believe in you.”

Harry had to smile. “Thanks, Draco. I’m not sure how late I’m going to be, depending on how long they want to drag it out or if they wish to argue every single point of the reform.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“We’ll look after him and make sure he doesn’t worry himself into his grave.” Blaise assured him.

Harry laughed. “Make sure you do, you can’t afford to lose your darling lover.”

Draco scowled and Blaise rolled fond eyes at the ongoing joke, and Harry was still chuckling to himself even as he hurried out of the Great Hall and went back to his rooms on the fourth floor to dump his bag and change from his school uniform to his Wizengamot dress robes. He’d chosen navy blue ones for this very important meeting. A dark colour to convey confidence and blue to convey success. The cut was very flattering to him, despite his recent weight loss, and he felt good while wearing them.

He took a breather once he was dressed and minimally accessorised, getting a glass of water to calm himself a little after his mad dash back up four floors to get ready for the upcoming debate.

Once calm, and breathing more normally, Harry made sure that he had picked up everything he needed to take with him and he apparated to the Ministry, mentally preparing himself for the upcoming debate. The hardest one of his life so far. He took some deep breaths, this time to keep his stomach from roiling, and he headed to the larger of the debate rooms, which was where the Wizengamot and the Council of Magical Law met to debate together outside of a trial. Harry hadn’t been inside this room yet; he’d had no cause to do so, but Lucius had pointed it out to him when he’d first joined the Wizengamot, so Harry knew that this is where he had to go.

Lucius was hovering just inside the door, though he was making it seem as if he were merely engaged in polite small talk. He excused himself and came right to Harry’s side the moment Harry entered the room and Harry could almost feel his anxiety.

“How are you feeling?” Lucius asked. “Have there been any issues?”

A soft smile broke through Harry’s public mask at the care and concern shown for him in public.

“I’m perfectly fine, Father.” Harry assured. “I’m getting nothing but better. I haven’t had so much as a headache since getting back to school.”

Lucius eased a touch. “Your appetite?” He asked quietly.

“I’m definitely regaining the weight I’ve lost. My robes are fitting better, more like how they used to when I was tailored for them, though I still have some more work to do. But, I’m eating well.” He said with a smile.

“That is a great relief to hear.” Lucius said, sighing.

Harry wasn’t surprised when he was quickly ushered into a seat, right next to Xerxes, who had been hovering in his chair, but trying to look like he wasn’t.

“Harry, how are you?”

Harry smirked. “Perfectly fine.”

“That’s wonderful news. You’re looking much more like yourself today.”

Harry’s smirk softened to a smile. “Yeah, I’m feeling so much more like myself, more than I did all of last term, even.”

A hand pressed to his back in support, a wordless gesture of care and pride. Harry loved it as he settled himself in his seat and took a breath, mentally preparing himself for the upcoming debate. He had notes for himself. He had prepared himself as much as he could. He was slightly nervous, his stomach fluttering, but he was also determined to get through this…to get his proposal passed against all the opposition he was going to be facing.

“This is going to be a good debate.” Xerxes commented. “Are you ready, Harry?”

“As I ever will be.” Harry answered calmly, while his heart was still pounding. He took another deep breath, exerting a level of control over himself to try to keep himself calm.

Lucius’ hand on his back helped to steady him.

“Nice, deep breaths, Harry. Remember that we, the Wizengamot, are with you.”

“Your family is with you, also.” Xerxes added. “We won’t let anything happen to you and we will get this proposal passed into law.”

Harry settled more and he exhaled slowly. He was as ready as he possibly could be. He had prepared himself, he had created practice debates, and he had thought up every possible defence for the ‘problematic’ areas of the reform. If he wasn’t ready now, then he never would be.

“Lords and ladies, gentlemen and madams, I will call you all to order.” The bland, emotionless voice of Pius Thicknesse broke through the smattering of conversation. Those few who were still standing quickly broke off their conversations, turned to the table, and headed for free seats; a hush fell over the very large room.

“We are meeting here today to discuss the tabled proposal of Lord Potter-Black.” Runcorn spoke, standing beside the Minister. “We will be deciding on whether to vote this reform into law or not.”

Harry tried not to let any nervousness show when several people turned to look at him as his name was mentioned. He could do this. He could overcome his apprehension and get this proposal passed. He would defend it sufficiently enough that he could convince enough members to vote it into law.

“I will start by mentioning that the Wizengamot voted to bring this reform into law with forty-six members for and only eight against.” Runcorn announced. “The Council of Magical Law has been debating this reform amongst themselves for several days now, so I believe we can go straight to the debate without the need for a summarisation.”

Harry placed one hand over the other on the table, waiting for the outcry that was to come…but no one said anything.

“Councillors, in case you misunderstood, that was your cue to open the debate with Lord Potter-Black, the legislator.” Runcorn prompted.

Harry’s mouth twitched as he suppressed a frown, but that was the only outward indication of his unease as he watched the councillors share looks with one another, looking worried, frightened.

“Can I assume from your unwillingness to open a debate that we should move right to the voting, Councillors?”

Harry tried not to allow the hope to balloon in his chest, but he was holding his breath. He didn’t know if going straight to a vote would work to his benefit or not. He needed a chance to debate his point of view, to sway as many of the councillors to his side as he could with his carefully constructed, clever arguments. If they went straight to a vote, he might lose without getting his chance to defend his proposal and perhaps change the minds of some councillors who were on the fence about siding in favour of his reform.

“No!” One man burst out. “If you are all too cowardly to speak on this, I will!”

“It seems we missed one.” Xerxes muttered, just loudly enough for Harry and Lucius to hear him on one side, and Lord Mark Flint to hear him on the other.

“It will be dealt with.” Lord Mark said seriously.

“You have the floor, Councillor Clouser.” Runcorn said amicably, but Harry saw more than a hint of rage to the stiffness in his face.

Harry straightened his back and, knowing it was coming, he didn’t flinch when Councillor Clouser turned to glare at him. He kept his expression politely bland and slightly disinterested.

“I will gouge out his eyes for you, Harry.” Xerxes told him, as if offering him a sweet.

“No need.” Harry muttered under his breath. “I will make him look brainless and make him wish he’d never opened his mouth.”

“You will begin by naming the section you wish to debate.” Runcorn prompted.

Clouser looked to Runcorn, who had interrupted whatever internal monologue had been going on, before he turned back to stare at Harry. If he was hoping to unnerve him, he was failing miserably. He was coming across as confused and indecisive, which would help Harry.

“Section nineteen.” Councillor Clouser announced.

It was just too obvious. Harry suppressed a nasty smirk. Section nineteen was proposing to allow magical creatures and beings to receive an education…it would remove the ‘ban’ on them entering Hogwarts.

“You oppose children receiving a formal education?” Harry drawled slowly.

“You know exactly what I’m opposing!” Councillor Clouser snapped.

“Why don’t you say it out loud?” Harry insisted. “So the rest of us can hear you.”

“Beasts!” Clouser raged.

“Magical beings and beasts are already allowed to live on the Hogwarts grounds.” Harry said pointedly, purposefully being obtuse.

“No, you want them educated!”

“I believe, Councillor Clouser, that you have misunderstood this section of the reform.” Harry said, trying to keep his tone even and his smirk suppressed. “Section nineteen is to establish the educational rights of children with creature blood. They deserve formal schooling.”

“I agree with Lord Potter-Black.” Madam Amelia Bones immediately spoke up, looking around the room sternly. “All magical children in this country deserve the right to an education.”

“You are putting the normal children at risk!”

“I believe that naming human children as ‘normal’ is exceptionally dangerous and phobic terminology.” Harry pointed out. “There is nothing abnormal about having magical creature blood, and those children deserve to have every opportunity that a human child receives.”

“You are still putting the other children at risk.” Another councillor spoke up, this time with less visible emotion and more ‘correct’ language.

“There are safeguards in place.” Harry pointed out calmly.

“And what if they fail?” This new councillor pressed. “What if they aren’t enough?”

“They have been devised with experts and members of these magical creature communities. Those safeguards will be enough.”

“If they are even implemented!” Clouser snapped.

“That would be on those in charge of making sure they are implemented and followed through.” Harry said. He took a breath. “It would not be on the children involved. They’re children and they are not to be held to the same standards as actual adults. It is on us to protect them, as children, and not for them to do it themselves.”

Harry ignored that he was, technically, still a child as he had yet to graduate from Hogwarts, and the fact that he was still a teenager. It was irrelevant and he could call out anyone who tried to use his age against him. He was a lord and held two seats on the Wizengamot despite his age.

“If everything is implemented as it has been set out in this reform, then there will be no incidents to fret over.” Lucius said pointedly, a forced calm to his tone and expression that clued Harry in that he was actually rather angry underneath the veneer of calm aloofness.

“Children have a fundamental right to education.” Lord Shacklebolt interjected. “We cannot deny a child an education because of their blood status. Protections have been put into place in this legislation and we have the chance to include all children, no matter their blood or background. It is worth the risk.”

“You talk of risk, Lord Shacklebolt, as if it is some small thing, we are speaking of using children as targets, of putting them at risk just to include the dangerous few!”

“No one is saying any such thing.” Harry said, taking a breath to keep his voice even, when he actually wanted to rage. “These children aren’t inherently dangerous and nor are they painting targets onto the backs of other children. They have a right to the same opportunities afforded to human children.”

“You can’t make any assurances that these children won’t attack human kids!” Clouser threw at him, his face pulling into a triumphant snarl as if he had turned the tide of the debate with that one line.

“No, and nor can I make any assurances that the human children won’t attack children with creature blood. It is an impossibility when children are still growing and learning and remain rather impulsive. Children argue, they fight over silly things, some of them are bullies, but to say that all children are just waiting to commit acts of violence, of murder, it’s a false narrative.”

There was a smattering of applause once he’d finished speaking, which then grew. Harry took a breath and settled himself back down. He felt that he’d gotten a little too emotional with his last statement. He needed to be more careful. He couldn’t let his emotions show. He wasn’t allowed to be angry, or upset, or even jubilant if things went his way. He had to be closed off and emotionless. Calm and stable. He took another breath, consciously stopping himself from twisting up his fingers with anxiousness. A grounding touch to his thigh helped as Lucius saw his struggle and reached out to help. That hand pressed and stayed where it was until Harry blew out the breath he’d been holding and relaxed a fraction. There was a final, light pat and then that hand withdrew and Harry felt that he could breathe again.

“Why not give more resources to the schools they go to now?” A woman asked him. “Why not leave them separated and within their own community to negate that risk?”

Harry had anticipated this issue arising. He didn’t look down, not with his head, but his eyes fell to his notes, to the defence he’d written ahead of time to get around this argument.

“Segregation isn’t the answer. These children haven’t done anything wrong, so why should they be treated as if they’re ‘other’, as if they need to be separated? Why take on the expense and the resources needed when these children can be educated just as easily within Hogwarts and the money that is saved can then be put to use elsewhere?”

Harry’s answer garnered enthusiastic applause.

“It is also a matter of giving them a proper, recognised education.” Amelia Bones spoke up the moment the din eased. “Whatever qualifications these schools give out are automatically disregarded by the Ministry, so those who have graduated from these schools are not considered educated and cannot apply for Ministry jobs, excluding them further from our society.”

That had been one of Harry’s written points. He was glad that Madam Bones had spoken on it. He had allies here, people who truly did think and feel the same way as he did. People who would vote for his reform because they believed in it, like he did, and not merely because they had been ordered, or threatened, into doing so. It reassured him that this was a battle he was willing to fight. He wasn’t alone in his thoughts for equality.

The silence stretched on. No one else seemed to want to say anything…or perhaps having all of the points countered so far had made them lose their nerve.

“We will move on.” Thicknesse told them blandly, sounding bored and looking twice so, his curse-glazed eyes almost distant as he stared without seeing. “Does anyone have a new line of debate?”

“Section two, subsection eight.” A councilman said firmly, angrily.

“Here we go.” Xerxes muttered under his breath, staring at the councillor hard.

“We knew this would happen.” Lucius consoled.

Harry checked the subsection, though section two as a whole dealt with granting protection, under law, from all forms of abuse. He almost scoffed when he saw what subsection eight was…a complete ban on hunting and killing magical creatures for potion or wand ingredients. He was assuming, from Xerxes and Lucius’ whispered conversation, that this councilman had some sort of connection to either a wandmaker or a company that made potions.

“You want to oppose the section that would give magical creatures and beasts protection, under law, from all forms of abuse?” Harry asked, pitching his voice to emphasise his incredulity. “Specifically, those that are used in potions and wandmaking when it is not necessary to trap or kill them to do so?”

“It is safer and…”

“Safer for who?” Harry interrupted brutally.

The councilman glared at him, then at the Minister and Runcorn for allowing Harry to interrupt him mid-sentence when it wouldn’t have been allowed the other way around. His furious gaze went back to Harry. “It is safer for those collecting the ingredients if the animal is killed first. More of the animal can be used in this case, including blood and the organs, particularly the heart!”

“The same can be done when the magical creature has died of natural causes.” Harry insisted. “The brutal slaughter of magical creatures has seen their populations dwindle to their lowest numbers on record. Over the past four decades, this country has gone from more than eighty unicorn herds to just twelve. Thestral numbers have fallen, phoenixes are all but extinct as muggles encroach upon their mountain homes, and graphorn numbers have fallen too! There is no need to kill these creatures to obtain anything and I want them all to be protected under law, as dragons currently are.”

“The laws for protecting dragons can be increased and expanded on.” Charlie immediately jumped in.

“I agree.” Harry said. “The reform also adds increased protections for dragons, but, on this specific point, where magical creatures are used for potion and wand ingredients, dragons are already protected and adult dragons cannot be slaughtered for this specific reason.”

“There are loopholes to get around that flimsy law.” Charlie told them. “For example, if the reserve has too many bull dragons, they will cull the unwanted dragons, despite them being in perfect health, and then sell the carcasses to wandmakers and potioneers.”

Harry had heard whispers of this happening when he’d been writing his reform. He had written in protections for just that situation happening and any reserve found to be culling healthy dragons would be brought up on charges and the one responsible would face a prison sentence. Had Charlie still not read the full reform? Had he not even checked on the sections that dealt with the protections for dragons?

“Lord Prewett, this is extensively covered in section twenty-nine, particularly subsection two.” Harry pointed out.

“It isn’t enough!” Charlie said angrily.

There was muttering and several lords looked as if they were going to start arguing, but Harry got there first.

“Then, please feel free to write your own reforms that expand upon those laws I am trying to pass, Lord Prewett.” He said calmly. Underneath the table, he was pinching his own leg to control his anger, and breathing deeply to keep himself calm. He was on display and he couldn’t afford to lose control of himself.

Two hands pressed to his sides in silent support and Harry allowed himself to settle a touch. He wasn’t alone here, not today. He had support and he had family behind him all the way.

“We got off topic!” The councilman snapped, looking unhappy that he had been interrupted if the glare he sent Charlie’s way was an indication.

“Then, remind us of the topic you wished to discuss, Councillor Plimtun.” Runcorn drawled in a bored tone.

“This ridiculous law will push up the prices of potions and wands!” Councillor Plimtun exploded. “There is already a crisis with wand ingredients…”

“And why is that, councilman?” Lord Sarpedon Carrow asked, looking almost gleeful. “Is it because, as Lord Potter-Black has rightfully pointed out, that these magical creatures are in severe decline because they are being slaughtered for parts?”

“It is irresponsible to keep killing these magical creatures needlessly for ingredients when their numbers have become so low. What are potion and wand prices going to be in another few decades, when these creatures have become extinct in our country and no one can extract any more ingredients from them?” Harry added. “Are we going to have to exhume graves to take the wands of dead witches and wizards so that we can strip them back for their cores to reuse them?”

Councillor Plimtun mouthed wordlessly, unable to counter Harry, and Sarpedon’s, cool, logical argument.

“Surely…” Harry added. “…it is better to put these protections into place now, to protect the magical creatures we have living in this country and deal with whatever price hikes it creates, rather than face the extinction of these creatures altogether, which will add exorbitant import fees onto whatever ingredients are needed from other countries. What will the price of potions and wands be then, Councillor?”

He got another round of applause and several ‘hear, hears’ from around the table. He kept his mouth a neutral line, keeping his hands still on the table top.

“You’re doing very well.” Lucius praised in the ruckus.

Harry slightly inclined his head, but nothing that could be called out as nodding.

“These magical creatures need a system of laws that protects them from being hunted excessively into extinction.” Lord Dawson Shacklebolt said, adding more weight to their side of the argument. “They need to be allowed to regain their populations to safeguard the future, for them and for our own future generations. This is the right thing to do.”

Silence fell again. Harry watched the table closely, looked back to Councillor Plimtun to see if he would argue further, but no one said anything.

“If we are done with this line of debate, I will ask if anyone has anything else to raise today.” Runcorn called out, all but daring someone to speak up. They weren’t that lucky, of course.

“I would like to debate section eight.” A snobbish man sneered. Harry knew, just from looking at that haughty expression, that the man was a pureblood, though one who didn’t have a seat on the Wizengamot.

“Councillor Burnette, maintain your respect towards members of the Wizengamot.” Runcorn almost hissed in rage.

Harry was ready for this fight. Section eight dealt with specific protections for house elves. He would argue this point until he died if he had to.

Councillor Burnette looked as if he’d just swallowed a lemon as he pursed his lips in disgust at the thought of treating Harry, or the Wizengamot as a whole, with respect.

“Surely I am not the only one who felt surprised and raised an eyebrow over this addition!” Councillor Burnette insisted, starting what was clearly a heavily rehearsed spiel. “I was shocked to read the transcripts of the Wizengamot’s debate of this reform to find that not a single member brought it up; perhaps it was merely missed in such a large mess of proposed legislation?”

Harry had to fight to keep his lips from twitching into a smile, but it was difficult.

“I think it says more about your comprehension skills.” Giovanni interrupted rudely. “English is not even my first language, nor have I sat the Wizengamot for very long, yet I read and understood everything that Lord Potter-Black’s reform contained. I assure you, we missed nothing.”

Harry chuckled to himself, unable to prevent it and he cleared his throat quickly to cover the noise, settling himself back down before he earned a lecture from Lucius for his behaviour.

Councilman Burnette glared at Giovanni, then at Runcorn and Thicknesse.

“Minister, I must insist upon not being interrupted when I am speaking! Chief Warlock, you should have better command of the Wizengamot members; they should not need reminding.”

Xerxes chuckled darkly beside him. “He truly does think he’s a lord.” The older man commented amusedly.

“You had finished your sentence when Lord Rowle started speaking.” Runcorn replied ruthlessly. “You were not interrupted, Councillor. Now, do you actually have a question about this section of the reform for Lord Potter-Black, or shall we move on?”

Harry parodied waiting patiently as he kept a bland smile on his face, staring at Councillor Burnette, who was glaring right back at him.

“What right do you have to try to take our servants from us?” Councillor Burnette demanded of him.

“I think, Councillor, that you’ve misunderstood the intention of my reform. It’s not to help you extort as much as you possibly can from other living beings. It’s not about my right or your right to them. It’s about their rights. It’s to protect them from people like you.” Harry replied calmly. Coldly.

Lucius patted his leg in what Harry understood was a non-verbal warning that he was toeing a line that his father believed he was dangerously close to crossing. Harry was getting better at keeping to that line and crossing it just enough to get his point across without causing a complete scandal.

“You want to throw law-abiding witches and wizards into prison for the state of their household’s house elves!” The Councillor continued.

“They won’t be law-abiding people if my reform passes.” Harry pointed out with a smirk.

“The entire reform should be thrown out just on this one section, let alone any other!” Councillor Burnette insisted loudly, looking to his peers, as if for support. Several people avoided eye contact. Bribed or threatened to hold their tongues, but it was seemingly working, as no one spoke up to support Burnette.

“Is this body so spineless, so corrupt, that…!”

“The integrity of the Ministry is not to be questioned.” Thicknesse said so severely that Harry wasn’t the only one who was startled and looked at him in shock or surprise.

“But, Minister, it is clear that…”

“No more will be said on this matter.” Thicknesse interrupted sternly, his expression making his face look as if it were carved from stone. “You are free to debate the current reform on the table, but any inference that the Ministry is somehow corrupt or allowing corruption in the highest bodies of our society is a lie.”

Harry scrutinised Thicknesse, looking for what had changed. He was under the Imperius curse and was, usually, so bland it bordered on complete disinterest. Who, or what, had caused this change in him?

“Lords and ladies, gentlemen and madams, I believe it would do us all some good to take a recess here for lunch.” Runcorn said, also side-eyeing Thicknesse. “We will continue the debate at one PM sharp.”

Harry allowed Xerxes to stand first, before getting up as well. The room had exploded into a cacophony of noise the moment they were dismissed. Harry kept close to Lucius and Xerxes as several people in the meeting room were glaring daggers at him.

Lucius noticed and immediately put his hand on Harry’s shoulder. That drew the attention of several of Harry’s allies, who looked around the room to see what Lucius had, and then Harry was quickly hurried from the meeting room, all but tucked under Lucius’ arm. Xerxes, Sarpedon, and Mark Flint were all close to him. It truly was as if they believed he would be imminently attacked.

Harry was escorted down to the Atrium, where they split off from their tight group a little, and headed for the floo banks.

“Harry, go through first, please.”

Harry didn’t argue. He took a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the flames, turning them green. He stepped through and called for Malfoy Manor.

He didn’t wait for Lucius to arrive. He, instead, went straight for the parlour, knowing that Rabastan would be there waiting for him.

“Harry.” His fiancé greeted, standing up and smiling at him as he entered.

Harry went right for Rabastan and all but threw himself into his arms.

“I’ve missed you.” Harry said.

“I’ve missed you as well. How is the debate going?”

Harry laughed.

“Oh, that well?” Rabastan asked with a teasing lilt.

“Mother, it’s lovely to see you.” Harry said, breaking away from Rabastan briefly to go and kiss her cheek, before rounding the coffee table to sit next to Rabastan.

“You seem to be in very good spirits and in good health.” Narcissa said.

“Yes to both.” Harry said with a cheeky grin reminiscent of his younger self. “I feel great and the debate is going very well.”

“You’re not getting much opposition?” Rodolphus asked, looking pleased.

“It’s not that.” Harry said, twisting slightly to face Rodolphus. “It’s just that the quality of the debate from the opposition is nothing that I can’t handle easily. It got so bad that even Thicknesse started snapping at the members of the CML.” Harry said, giggling.

Rabastan and Rodolphus shared an alarmed look and Harry’s smile dipped a little. His instincts had been right. Thicknesse should not have been able to show that much emotion over anything, but who was at fault? The one who was holding the Imperius curse over Thicknesse or was Thicknesse himself, somehow, fighting the hold of the curse on him, despite how long he’d been held under it.

“What exactly did he say or do?” Rodolphus asked carefully.

Harry didn’t have a chance to answer as Lucius and Xerxes entered the parlour.

“What happened to Thicknesse?” Rodolphus asked the moment the two men had greeted Narcissa. “Is he compromised?”

“No. The undersecretary got a little emotional and that bled into our dear Minister.” Xerxes explained. “He isn’t compromised and everyone will be a little calmer once we re-enter the meeting room.”

The room settled, particularly Rabastan and Rodolphus, and Harry accepted his cup of tea with grateful hands, drinking deeply.

“Why was everyone getting overly emotional?” Narcissa asked once everyone had been served.

“Harry is ruling the meeting, naturally.” Xerxes praised. “But there are those who are not showing the proper respect to him.”

“I can handle it.” Harry assured them all, though he heard Rodolphus snarling. “Dolphus, I’m running rings around them; I don’t need you to do anything. I can handle it.”

Rodolphus’ hand went to his hair and ruffled it roughly over his head, making Harry snort out a laugh.

“Let me know if anyone takes it too far and I’ll snap open their ribcage and rip out their heart for you.”

“Duly noted.” Harry said before taking a sip of tea.

“I will have lunch served shortly. How long do you have?” Narcissa asked, aiming the question at Lucius.

“A little over an hour, dear. We reconvene at one.”

“I am proud that you’re winning.” Rabastan told him quietly, just for them.

Harry hummed in pleasure. “This has become one of my favourite things to do. Who knew that I had such a talent for debating. Then, I always did have to question everything I was told and argue over everything.”

“The art of debate is not simple argument, Harry. It’s not the same.” Rabastan insisted.

“No, you purebloods have to have levels to everything, even arguing.” Harry teased.

Rabastan let out an exasperated sigh. He pressed a gentle kiss to Harry’s temple. “Debating and arguing are different and you have the art of debate, Harry. It’s why you’re so good at sitting the Wizengamot.”

Harry chuckled and rested himself on Rabastan. He was good at debating. He was good within the Wizengamot. He had found his calling and, clearly, his fiancé was proud of him too. It felt good.

“So, how is the debate going, darling?” Narcissa asked him.

“The councillors have called me up on three sections so far, Mother. Section nineteen, which would admit children with magical creature blood to Hogwarts. Section eight, which gives specific protections to all house elves, and section two, which gives all magical creatures and beasts protections under the law.”

“My favourite debate of this session.” Xerxes said, smiling in a very satisfied way. “I was so proud of you for controlling your temper. I could tell that he was getting to you.”

Harry didn’t deny it. “They all are.” He insisted. “All of their arguments are for personal gain and greed. I assume Plimtun has something to do with either wandmaking or potion making?” He asked.

“He has connections to both.” Lucius informed him. “He owns a clinic that produces potions where his oldest son works as a potioneer and his younger son is an apprentice wandmaker.”

Harry snorted and shook his head. He took a sip of tea. “Of course he doesn’t care about living creatures, or people, when he’s more concerned with his profit margins.”

“You should bring that up in debate, if you can.” Xerxes insisted.

Harry nodded and let the conversation move to the others as he relaxed onto Rabastan.

“What have you been doing today, my love?” Harry asked, still cradling his cup, but tipping his head back to smile up at Rabastan.

“I’ve been finalising our wedding preparations.” Rabastan told him, reaching up a hand to run through Harry’s hair. “Just some last-minute touches, but your mother insisted, and I want to make sure that everything will be perfect for us.”

“We did exercises this morning.” Rodolphus chipped in.

“That’s good. How are you both feeling?”

“Better.” Rodolphus replied brusquely.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Harry said sincerely, reaching out to pat Dolphus’ arm. “Basti?”

“I never thought I’d get to this stage.” His fiancé said with a handsome smile. “I feel better than I have in decades, Harry.”

He smiled and pressed a soft kiss to Rabastan’s mouth, reminding himself, rather unhappily, that he had an audience and he couldn’t get too carried away.

“I have started re-learning how to play the piano as well.” Rabastan confessed, as if it were the same thing in his eyes as murder.

“I didn’t know you could play the piano.”

Rabastan almost blushed, his cheeks pinking up a little and he avoided eye contact.

“I had a lot of pursuits before Azkaban.” Rabastan told him. “My mother used to play piano, so I chose to learn as a way to feel closer to her. Now that I can control my body better, and my hands don’t tremble as they used to, I’m able to start re-learning.”

Harry smiled and wrapped his free arm around Rabastan. “That’s wonderful, Rabastan.”

“Well, with you constantly encouraging Dolphus to get some hobbies, I thought I would explore the ones I used to have, to see if I still enjoy them.” Rabastan said, chuckling.

“I will always be an advocate for the both of you to get a few more hobbies.” Harry said, grinning. “Can you play any instrument, Dolphus?”

Rodolphus scoffed in derision. “Not unless you count the screams of my victims.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “This…” Harry said firmly. “…is why you need real hobbies! Why not take up knitting for your soon-to-be nieces and nephews?”

Rodolphus gave him a glare and Harry reciprocated with a cheeky grin.

“I’d rather jam the needles into your eyes.”

“Dolphus!” Rabastan snapped.

“I’m joking, Basti.” Rodolphus waved off, completely unconcerned at his brother’s anger…or that he’d threatened to blind Harry as a joke.

Pimsey interrupted them to announce that lunch was ready, and Harry stood up from Rabastan’s lap and stretched. It wouldn’t be long before he was back to debating with the CML, and doing so on a full stomach would help his concentration. By the end of the day, he would know whether his reform had passed or if he would have to appeal. He wouldn’t let the CML drag the debate on into another day, or even longer. He couldn’t afford to miss that many lessons just several weeks away from his final exams.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X

Harry was already in his chosen seat, going through his stack of notes to prepare himself for the next part of this debate. There were mostly members of the Wizengamot in the room with him, the purebloods being forever punctual.

“Lord Potter-Black.”

Harry looked up as he was disturbed, but it was only Lord Sarpedon. Harry nodded in greeting.

“I just wanted to say that you are doing wonderfully well.”

“I’d like to thank you for your support earlier.” Harry replied.

Sarpedon gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

“Think nothing of it. I am here to support you.”

Harry nodded his thanks and Sarpedon moved off to take his own seat, leaving an empty chair between himself and Xerxes, though the two men started talking to one another regardless. Harry went back to his notes, reading up on things he’d written, the laws he’d based some of his more radical reforms off of, and his perfectly constructed defences of the more problematic areas of the reform. He was waiting for someone to get brave enough to bring up the free movement clause. It was coming, he knew, especially if, as he suspected, Dumbledore had had a hand in cultivating some of the arguments of the more vocal councillors. The Death Eaters weren’t the only ones who had been threatening, bribing, or cajoling to get their preferred outcome, after all. The Order would have been doing just the same, in their own way.

Closer to one in the afternoon, the room was getting noisier and there were more people milling around or taking up chairs at the large, almost circular table.

Mark Flint had given Harry a friendly greeting and a pat to the shoulder as he took his seat between Xerxes and Sarpedon. As was his right as a future member of their family, with the betrothal contract already signed before any baby had even been born.

Giovanni had slipped back into his claimed chair on the other side of Lucius to also show his support via proximity.

Harry was engrossed in his notes, making sure that he had covered everything that needed to be covered, but he had formulated an argument for every single section of his reform, though there was no way he could predict everything the councillors might say or bring up.

At exactly one in the afternoon, the meeting was called back to order, and Harry sat straight and gave Runcorn and Minister Thicknesse his full attention, or at least the illusion of it.

“Lords and ladies, gentlemen and madams, this meeting is once again in session.” Thicknesse called out and he was, once again, utterly bland and emotionless. There was no indication that he had lost control before they’d been dismissed for an early lunch.

“We will carry on where we left off, with more composure this time.” Runcorn added. “I will open the debate to the councilmembers; does anyone wish to open a debate with Lord Potter-Black over his proposed reform?”

Things were again silent, awkwardly so. Harry assumed that some members of the Wizengamot had used their lunch break to terrorise some more members of the council instead of eating.

“I would like to debate section twenty-four, subsection eight.” Someone finally braved to speak up.

Harry was ready. He had known this particular argument was coming. Section twenty-four was the free movement clause, and subsection eight was the specific law that abolished the need for a blood test before people were allowed to travel.

He said nothing, he just continued to stare at the councillor.

“Well?” The man finally demanded of him.

“Councillor Cummings, you will speak to members of the Wizengamot with respect.” Runcorn exploded, just barely managing to refrain from shouting.

“Well, what, Councillor?” Harry demanded back. “You haven’t asked any questions.” He pointed out.

“My question is the entire clause!” Councillor Cummings told him.

“Councillor, you will phrase your argument as either prose debate or a question.” Minister Thicknesse commented plainly, not even turning his head to look at the person he was speaking to.

“I would like to cut in on this issue, to give my peer a chance to calm himself.” Another councillor said.

“Please do so, Councillor Hines.” Runcorn said, in a play at graciousness, but his eyes were like chips of ice. He was very displeased that this councillor had spoken up.

Councillor Hines stared at Harry and Harry had the urge to sit straighter. He felt like a naughty child who had been caught being mischievous. He didn’t like the feeling and he wondered why this particular man was making him feel this way. He reached out, carefully, subtly, to touch Xerxes on one side of him and Lucius on the other, to indicate that he was uncomfortable.

“Is Councillor Hines going to speak or is he going to continue to stare at Lord Potter-Black and keep us here all night?” Xerxes spoke suddenly, breaking the tension.

The moment gone, Harry eased himself a little. He took a moment to look at his notes, shuffling the parchment to find the section that held the arguments for the upcoming debate. The lack of eye contact helped him to breathe and when he looked back up, he was in control of himself.

“I would like to ask why Lord Potter-Black felt it necessary to add this particular section to his reform when it is a matter of international security, as well as domestic. Can you answer me that?” Councillor Hines asked, his tone overly polite, but the way he’d worded it made it clear that he thought Harry was a stupid little kid.

“It is a matter of domestic and international security in your opinion. Not by law.” Harry said pointedly. “There is nothing in international law that so much as mentions any restrictions on people with magical creature blood being restricted from travelling. In fact, did this Ministry not allow full-blooded veela and leprechauns to travel to England for the last Quidditch World Cup? Why was that, if it was, in fact, illegal for them to travel here?”

Lucius and Xerxes both touched his sides to convey their pride and Harry shuffled closer to the table, sitting straighter.

“Certain allowances were made to allow the participating country’s mascots to…”

“No.” Harry cut across Councilman Cummings, who had regained his voice. “I’ve looked into this example extensively, Councillor. There were no allowances made because there are no laws prohibiting it. People with magical creature blood can, and always have been, allowed to travel at their will. These blood tests, and the discrimination they are based on purely from physical appearance, are abhorrent and biased and, as the laws are written, illegal.”

“They are valid laws.” Councilman Hines insisted, patting his own stack of notes in front of him. “I have also researched this matter, Lord Potter.”

Harry inhaled angrily at the disrespect shown to him by the cut off of his own inherited title. The Black lordship was the older, and more valuable, of his two lordships, which granted him Ancient status. The disrespect was clear. Harry was betting that those notes, and the research attached to them, were via Dumbledore. The sooner that man was removed from his life, the better.

“Members of the council will address members of the Wizengamot properly, by their full title.” Runcorn snapped.

“My debate stands.” Councilman Hines said arrogantly.

“I believe, Councilman, that the so-called laws you have uncovered are the same ones I did.” Harry replied, trying not to clench his teeth together as his frustration grew. He had to work to keep his composure. To keep his rapidly growing temper in check. “They are, in fact, regulations added onto existing laws during wartime panic and overzealousness. I was not of an age to remember this war, so I will not judge what was done during this time to combat the opposition, but I will wholeheartedly speak out about them now, and just why they have been left in place seventeen years on from the ending of said war. What purpose do they hold now except to marginalise an already discriminated minority? Are we going to uphold such blatantly double-sided ideals as to prevent our own citizens from travelling while welcoming the magical creatures from other countries for Quidditch matches?”

Harry’s argument was accepted with applause and Councilman Cummings tried to argue over the noise, but exactly what he said couldn’t be heard, not by Harry at least, while Councilman Hines went back to his notes, which Harry was almost sure had been written for him by Dumbledore, as he tried to find something else to help prop up his side of the debate and argue this section of the reform. The section that Dumbledore did not want to be passed the most, as he knew, as Harry did, that it was a farce. A ploy to cover loopholes and free movement for dark-affiliated magical creatures working for Voldemort.

Harry tried not to think about those sorts of things and, instead, he put his mind to the more positive aspects. Families being able to go on holiday or visit relatives in different countries without prejudice or restriction. Children being welcomed into Hogwarts to receive a fully certified education. The good had to outweigh the bad and, in his opinion, it did. He could live with that.

“Regardless of why these additions were writ into law, they stand.” Councillor Hines said once the noise had died down.

“Which is why, Councillor, I have included them in my reform to be repealed.” Harry said snootily.

Beside him, Xerxes smothered a laugh.

“They are needed for the security of our country.” Councillor Hines said calmly, patiently, but Harry could see the tick going in his jaw.

“In your opinion.” Harry said pointedly. “In my opinion, they are well overdue for being written out of law because they are discriminatory and unneeded. This needs to be addressed and put right. Those additions were used to protect our country during wartime seventeen years ago. Are we at war?”

“Yes!” Councillor Hines finally snapped, and Harry smirked.

“With those people with magical creature blood?” Harry asked innocently.

“No, with You-Know-Who!”

There was something exceptionally humorous about a grown man, an old man, using the moniker like a frightened child.

“And, is Voldemort in the room with us right now?” Harry asked sarcastically, ignoring that several people jumped or flinched, and one woman let out a gasp that was almost a scream as Harry casually said the name out loud.

“Yes, he’s sitting right there!”

Harry had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing when Councillor Hines pointed at the oblivious Minister Thicknesse.

“Councillor, I believe you are not feeling well.” Runcorn quickly intervened. “Perhaps you should leave until you are feeling better?”

“This is abuse!” Councillor Cummings shouted out. “You are evicting everyone who is against him!” Here, he jabbed a finger at Harry, who was quickly shielded by Lucius’ arm.

“No, I am concerned.” Runcorn insisted with such conviction that Harry almost believed him. “Clearly, this man isn’t well. He is seeing men long dead and accusing our own Minister of being said dead man! Mental aptitude has to be called into question in this case.”

Harry had to pick up his glass of water to take a sip when he couldn’t control, nor suppress, his smirk. By calling Councillor Hines’ mental health into question, Runcorn was undermining his entire debate, which naturally worked in Harry’s favour, as Councilman Hines had been giving him a good argument.

“My mental aptitude is not in question here.” Councillor Hines tried to insist, but his comments, his actions, had already laid the groundwork, and Runcorn had completed the damage by using his words to undermine the councilman.

“We will move on.” Thicknesse commented, seemingly randomly, interrupting the proceedings.

“Minister, this is most unusual.” Councillor Cummings burst out.

“Unusual or not, we are moving on.” Thicknesse said with more emotion, more authority. The person who was pulling his strings was clearly losing a touch of control again. Their emotions were bleeding into the Minister, and Harry was watching when Runcorn aimed a covet glare at Thicknesse’s senior undersecretary, who was sitting at the Minister’s side, taking notes on the meeting.

“Is there another avenue of debate that someone wishes to raise?” Runcorn asked, taking control of the meeting once more.

“I would like to raise a debate on section thirty-two.”

Harry smiled at Lord Eugene Abbott, who was once again raising the clause that would expand on the current laws for magical land, particularly, granting ownership of the land these creatures currently lived on to the actual creatures.

It was, of course, damaging to him, and his reform, to have a lord of the Wizengamot, who had already debated this proposal and voted in its favour, bringing it up again. Harry understood that, but he had control here. He had, almost, the entire Wizengamot behind him, and key members of the CML also.

“Lord Abbott, I am surprised that you’re bringing this up yet again, after it was revealed that your argument on this section is based solely on greed and personal gain.” Harry pointed out, perhaps a touch smugly.

Lucius quickly reminded him to rein himself back in with a touch to his thigh and Harry inhaled deeply, resettling himself.

“Perhaps I am more aware of this section because of my personal interest in it.” Lord Abbott said, launching into what was clearly a practised, well-rehearsed argument against Harry’s stance, which called Lord Abbott’s impartiality into question. “But all that means is that I have studied this section extensively and have come to realise exactly how ill-thought-out it is.”

“Do you have any examples of that other than your personal loss of land that you allegedly don’t even own?” Harry inquired sweetly.

Xerxes made a strange noise beside him, an aborted laugh if Harry had to guess. Xerxes had terrible composure in these meetings.

“Yes!” Lord Abbott snapped at him, and Harry had to suppress a smile at the clear loss of emotion and control in such a professional setting. It would reflect badly on Lord Abbott, which would work in Harry’s favour.

Harry waited patiently. He kept his hands folded on the table, his fingers still, as he waited for Lord Abbott to regain himself and start debating.

“You are free to start giving these examples, Lord Abbott.” Runcorn said sarcastically.

“Has anyone thought of what this law would do to our esteemed school?” Lord Abbott asked the room at large, and Harry tried not to frown at the line of debate that had been chosen. He didn’t understand what section thirty-two had to do with Hogwarts, but he kept himself motionless and his face expressionless, not showing his confusion to anyone else.

“Hogwarts school has such a concentrated level of magic, which has created an expansive area of magical land which many magical creatures have made their home. Are we going to diminish the school in favour of this law?”

There was grumbling, as clearly those who hadn’t thought of this agreed with Lord Abbott that they shouldn’t be whittling down the size of the school, but now that he knew the argument, Harry could debate it.

“Lord Abbott, the Hogwarts grounds are owned by the Ministry.” Harry pointed out. “Subsection one of my reform stipulates, clearly, that private land that is already owned is ineligible.”

“Until the Minister agrees to give up that ground in favour of the creatures that live on them!”

“You are angry and confused, Eugene.” Lucius cut in smoothly, drawing attention to Lord Abbott’s reddening face and his elevated breathing, and putting his argument into doubt with just a few words. “It was agreed upon decades ago that those creatures living in the dark forest would have the run of that land. It is why the students are forbidden from entering it, so that they can live and breed there as they please in aid of creature conservation. The Ministry still owns the grounds of Hogwarts, but the dark forest, and the lake also, have been restricted areas since before even I was a student at the school.”

Harry calmed and settled. He didn’t have to face this battle alone. He had allies, and plenty of them too.

“It was the same when even I was a student.” Councillor Ernest Hawthorne, one of those from Runcorn’s dinner party, spoke up. “Those magical creatures have always been on the school grounds, and the dark forest and the lake have always been restricted to allow those creatures private access to magical land for their conservation and breeding needs.”

“This reform is not going to diminish the school or the grounds.” Harry said firmly. “The magical creatures that live on the magical land already have what they need. The forest and the lake are already under protected status, and students are forbidden from entering so that those creatures may have their privacy and safety.”

There was applause once he’d finished speaking and Eugene Abbott looked pissed right off as he glared around the table and then went back to his own sparse stack of notes to find something else to try to change more people’s minds.

Harry was calm and waiting for the next round of debate. He was sure that he could talk his way through this, as he knew that Lord Abbott was arguing for selfish reasons and that would work in Harry’s favour.

“What if those bowtruckles move into the trees on my land?!” Lord Abbott demanded, looking furious. “Will I be expected to give up my entire garden? What if they want to move into my house? Should I just bloody let them?!”

It was almost too perfect. Lord Abbott was definitely too angry to hold onto his composure now and it was showing him at his worst…and worse, it was showing him to be selfish and irrational.

“Lord Abbott, subsection one has an exclusion clause for privately owned land.” Harry pointed out. “This came up in debate during the Wizengamot session, and I assured you then that this section of the reform would not take privately owned land.”

“It is a ridiculous law! This entire proposal is ridiculous and ill-thought-out!”

“I disagree.” Councillor Priscilla Rowe spoke up. “I believe that what is ill-thought-out here, Lord Abbott, is your argument.”

“I agree with the councilwoman.” Lord Lawson said quickly. “Is this a debate, Eugene, or an insight into your private rantings?”

Harry made a soft noise of amusement and then made another suppressed noise while trying to swallow a laugh back. Next to him, Xerxes let out a very loud, fake cough to cover his own laughter.

“You are a poor influence.” Lucius muttered under his breath to Xerxes.

The debate had fallen into an actual argument, so Harry took a moment to drink some water and look over his notes. Not that he thought that Lord Abbott would win any votes with his lacklustre debate that was clearly centred on personal greed and gain. Why would anyone change their mind, and their vote, based solely on the personal gain of an already wealthy lord of the Wizengamot? This wasn’t the section, or argument, that he needed to focus wholly upon, though it was imperative that he maintained his calm and his composure, so that he didn’t show himself off poorly or undermine his own proposal. As Lord Abbott was currently doing as he shouted, red-faced, at those arguing against him.

“If Lord Abbott is done making a complete fool out of himself, I want to discuss section five, Minister!” A councilwoman called out impatiently.

Harry looked to Runcorn, who was simultaneously battling the urge to chastise the woman for cutting into a debate between lords, while also wanting to underline the previous debate and move on.

“Councillor Mosse, you will not cut in nor interrupt the proceedings.” Runcorn said sternly, unable to allow a member of the Council of Magical Law get away with such disrespect to the Wizengamot. “But, we will move on.”

“I am not done speaking!” Lord Abbott exploded.

“Yes, you are.” Runcorn said dangerously. “You have had plenty of time from this meeting already, Lord Abbott, and you have been unable to debate with Lord Potter-Black adequately enough to interest the rest of us in your personal affairs or your subsequent loss of gold. We will move on. Councillor Mosse, you will phrase your debate as a question to Lord Potter-Black.”

Harry was ready. Section five gave magical creatures parental rights over their own children and he was willing to fight this cause all day if he had to. They all ignored the furious muttering of Lord Abbott in the background as he angrily banged his stack of notes around and called them all corrupt.

“Why do you hate children so much, Lord Potter-Black?” Councillor Mosse asked calmly, almost coldly.

Harry blinked and was momentarily surprised by the immediate backlash of noise from those sitting closest to him. The loudest among them was Xerxes and Lucius.

“Calm yourselves!” Runcorn called out. “Councillor Mosse, if you use this debate as a way to personally attack members of the Wizengamot, you will be excluded, do I make myself clear?!”

“I was merely wondering.” The councilwoman said with a wry smile. “Our dear young lord has written into his proposal an incredibly dangerous piece of legislation that will put children at risk of injury and death, so I feel that my question is a legitimate one. Why do you hate children, Lord Potter-Black?” She reiterated more pointedly, staring at him through cold, blue eyes.

Harry took a breath. He had to tread excessively carefully through this. One wrong word would have a lot of people turning against him. He couldn’t even hint that he hated children, which he didn’t, but one wrong word, or misunderstood opinion, and he would be painted as a child-hating monster, which would damage his reputation for life.

“Why would you think that, Councillor?” Harry asked softly, carefully. “My legislation has been carefully written so as to protect children. What part of section five have you perceived as my supposed hate for children?”

A hand to either side of him, from Lucius and Xerxes, conveyed silent pride and support. He had done well to answer the question without implication, to turn it around and back onto the councillor.

“Section five, if passed into law, would allow magical creatures like werewolves and vampires to keep custody of children!” The councillor said, a little less calmly now. “That would put children in danger.”

Harry said nothing for a moment. He gathered his thoughts and prepared, quickly, what he wanted to say.

“Giving parents protections on their right to retain custody of their own children, regardless of their creature blood, is not going to put children in danger.” He said firmly.

“Oh, of course it is!” Councillor Mosse said, a touch of impatience to her tone, as her words implied that Harry was stupid. “These creatures can’t control themselves at the best of times, and they will hurt these poor children that you would force to remain in such a dangerous living situation!”

Harry exhaled slowly so that he could control his voice when he spoke, so that he didn’t unintentionally raise his voice and come across as overly emotional or argumentative.

“How many people with magical creature blood have you actually met, Councillor?” He asked. “Actually spoke to? Spent any time with?”

“What does that have to do with protecting innocent children?” She demanded.

“You will answer questions posed to you by a lord of the Wizengamot.” Runcorn cut in.

Councillor Mosse couldn’t control her facial expression as she clenched her teeth together. She visibly took a deep breath.

“No, I haven’t spent any time with them!” She admitted angrily.

“So you are not aware that they are, in fact, just normal people?”

“How can they be?” A man burst out, and Harry moved his attention to him, not overly surprised to see Councillor Laurent Mercier had finally had enough and had found his tongue.

“Every person is different.” Harry said, as if speaking to a child. “But they are still people. They love their children and desire nothing more than to protect them.”

“You are a deluded little fool!”

“Out!” Runcorn said, sounding oddly choked as if his rage was so great that he could hardly speak. “You will not disrespect a lord of the Wizengamot in such a manner! Get out of this room.”

“Consider your seat on the council revoked.” Minister Thicknesse told Mercier, who looked shocked.

“That is a gross overreach, Minister!” Mercier tried.

“I have been given reports of your bias from your peers, and now, right in front of me, you have disrespected a lord of the Wizengamot. I find that I am inclined to agree with Chief Warlock Runcorn. You no longer have a seat on the Council of Magical Law and no longer need to be in this room. Leave.”

“We will have a comfort break while Mister Mercier vacates the room.” Runcorn said, stressing the loss of status.

The noise in the room concluding this statement was reminiscent of a swarm of angry bees, as people immediately started shifting and moving and, in some cases, jumping up and walking quickly for the door, and the toilets just down the corridor. Harry happily threw his arms up and stretched.

Lucius, ever watchful and caring, took a bar of Honeydukes chocolate from his robes and slid it over to Harry. Harry was grateful for the sweet snack and very happy when Xerxes took the water jug and poured Harry a fresh glass. He was very pleased, and a little embarrassed to, that he was being cared for so well, in such a way, but he did like it.

“You are doing so well.” Xerxes told him. “I will sort out all of these disrespectful plebs for you.”

“No need. I’ll do it myself.” Harry insisted. “I can hold my own in these meetings now and I’ll make them regret going up against me.”

Xerxes gave him a look and Harry just knew that the ‘sorting out’ that Xerxes meant was killing them. He sighed. How had he gotten caught up in such a murderous family again? Oh right, it was Lucius’ fault.

Harry finished the chocolate bar and took a deep drink. He took this break to go through his notes on section five, but he was quietly confident that he could argue this point all day and come out on top. He just had to be careful; he could not insinuate that he hated children, or otherwise didn’t care about them or their well-being. He had to be exceptionally careful with his words. The mental gymnastics were exhausting, but he had to get his reform passed. He took some deep breaths as he read. He knew that he had to stay calm and disciplined. He didn’t have the luxury of displaying his real thoughts or feelings. He didn’t have the luxury of emotions in this room. He was used to this by now. He knew that he could do this. He would do this.

After fifteen minutes, once Mercier had been removed from the room, they were called back to order and those last few members who were coming back from the toilets quickly retook their seats.

“We will continue calmly.” Runcorn stressed, almost glaring around the table at everyone. “Respect will be shown to members of the Wizengamot and to the author of this proposal, Lord Potter-Black.”

“I believe we were in the middle of a debate with you, Councillor Mosse.” Thicknesse said blandly. “Do you have anything more to add?”

“Plenty, Minister.” Councillor Mosse said, seemingly finding a second wind during the comfort break. She looked ready for a fight and Harry was happy to give it to her.

There were a few grumbles, but everyone settled nicely and Harry straightened his back and tipped his head back just slightly.

“Whenever you’re ready, Councillor.” Runcorn drawled.

“How many dead children would it take for you to admit that you’re wrong?” Councillor Mosse asked him directly. “Because in my mind, one is too many!” She said sharply, decisively, and she got applause, which gave her a little lift if the way she settled her shoulders was an indication.

“No children have been killed by their magical creature parents.” Harry said calmly. Confidently. “Not one. So I’m not sure what you’re actually alluding to, Councillor.”

“Because they are taken away from those dangerous beasts!” Councillor Mosse told him.

Harry could feel his rage being stoked, so he took a breath.

“And what is your evidence for that? Because I can offer you plenty of evidence of those children who are perfectly safe and happy in a household with a human and a magical creature parent.” He asked. “These children are ripped away from loving parents, often on the back of grief, just because their surviving parent is a magical creature. How is that what is best for the child in question?”

“They would be safe!”

“They don’t need protection from their own parents.” Harry said sternly, emotionlessly. “Compounding a child’s grief by taking away the only remaining parent they have, taking away their home, their safety and security, it’s diabolical!”

Harry’s round of applause was louder, and lasted for longer too.

“There is zero basis in taking a child away from their only remaining parent and not a single one has ever been killed. The real crime here is splitting a grieving child from the only remaining parent they have. It is unbearably cruel!”

“You are putting them at risk!” Councillor Mosse insisted heatedly. “One accident, one emotional outburst, one moment of anger, and you have an injured or dead child!”

“That’s the same for every household. Every family!” Cilla Rowe said snappishly. “Anyone could have a bad day, a moment of anger, and take it out on their children. That isn’t a quality reserved solely for magical creatures!”

Harry swallowed and took a breath. “It was in my experience.” He said quietly. “I would have been better placed with my parents’ last remaining friend than where I was, but he was not even given a chance to take me in, as he is a werewolf.”

The room got very quiet. Lucius touched him first, offering him comfort and support. Xerxes was not far behind.

“You do not have to speak of this.” Lucius told him, quietly, but he wasn’t whispering. He was letting everyone else in that room know that this wasn’t needed.

Harry shook his head. “My own relatives were human.” He said, trying to regain control of his wavering voice. “Are you saying, Councillor, that you are so focused on denying the parental rights of magical creatures that you would have left me where I was, unnoticed, because those abusing me were human and the man who would have loved and cared for me was a werewolf?”

No one said anything. Councillor Mosse had gone pale, clearly not expecting him to use his own abuse against her in a debate.

“There should be no distinction between human or magical creature.” He said, hating that he’d lost control of his voice and it was wavering and heading towards a higher pitch than he’d like. “Abusers are abusers, no matter what species they happen to be, and they should be punished accordingly! Magical creatures should not be punished merely for existing, and their children shouldn’t be ripped from loving parents and safe homes when I was left in an abusive house because no one cared enough to look into my human guardians! You’d have all rathered I’d died than admit that I could have been happy and safe living with a werewolf.”

He was breathing heavily, only just realising the things he was saying, and he blushed, feeling embarrassed. He put his hands under the table and squeezed them into tight fists, allowing his nails to bite into his skin. He swallowed and he had to blink away tears. He’d thought he was over all of this, but apparently he wasn’t. Maybe it was time for him to sort it once and for all. His way, and not the Lestrange way. He needed justice; it was finally time, and this semi-public meltdown was the push he needed. It was time.

“This…this is just proving my point.” Councillor Mosse tried, but she was immediately drowned out by jeers and heckling.

“We will move on.” Runcorn said firmly, though he gave Harry a small, concerned look.

Harry picked up the glass of water and drank, taking a moment. He needed to calm down and re-centre himself. He needed to claw back some control and get out of his own head and focus back on his reform. He could cry into his pillow later…or perhaps on Rabastan’s shoulder.

It was starting to get late and they were not even close to wrapping up this debate. He needed to pull himself together for long enough to see this meeting out, and his reform passed. No one was going to beat him or drag him down. Not even his memories or the Dursleys. They were out of his life and they had no idea what was coming for them. He had decided that he wanted justice. Justice for everything he had ever suffered through, and he was going to claim it from everyone who had ever hurt him. He had the best support he could have ever asked for now. He had a real family, and he already knew that they were going to be behind him the whole way, through the entire journey of seeking justice and the healing that would come afterwards. It was time.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X

His body had gone numb. He had been sitting down for hours and the urge to move, to shift his weight, or just stand up and have a nice long stretch was taking over his mind. Surely they were due another comfort break soon?

It was getting late. He wasn’t anxious enough to get his pocket watch out to actually check the time, but his body, his stomach, and the almost continuous urge to yawn were telling him that it was well past dinner time.

The Wizengamot were arguing desperately to shift several stalwart members of the Council of Magical Law from their positions against his reform, but Harry had the feeling that nothing anyone said or did would do so, and that the longer they argued, the more supporters he would lose. He couldn’t allow that to happen. It was time to light a fire under everyone’s arses.

“Minister. Chief Warlock.” He called out, gaining everyone’s attention, including that of Lucius and Xerxes to either side of him.

“We recognise Lord Potter-Black and will hear him.” Runcorn called out immediately, then shushed and glared at one councilman who had tried to speak in the silence he had created for Harry.

“I feel that this back-and-forth wordplay is unproductive. I have not even been asked any questions in some time. I have answered all questions and scenarios posed by the Council and, as a result, they have decided to exclude me from my own reform debate. I would ask that either the Council engage me personally as the author of this reform, or we move to voting.” Harry said sternly.

“Take it to a vote!” Lord Sarpedon Carrow said firmly, his chin tipped up with arrogance.

“We are not done debating!” Councillor Vea shouted out. “If Lord Potter-Black is tired, perhaps he should be taken to bed!”

“Respect will be shown to all lords of the Wizengamot!” Runcorn exploded.

“He is a child!” Councillor Vea continued harshly.

“This is highly embarrassing for you and our esteemed body.” Councillor Safwan Khalid said pointedly.

“Councillor, if you don’t want to be excluded yourself, you will sit back in your seat, calm yourself down, and show the proper respect for members of the esteemed Wizengamot.” Minister Thicknesse said emotionlessly, his hard eyes staring blankly at the councilman. To Harry, he seemed to be staring right through the Councilman, but that gaze must have been unnerving enough to cow him, because he averted his eyes first and he deflated back into his chair.

“Lord Potter-Black is correct in his observation. The debate has moved away from engaging him, as the author of the proposal, and has become a circular conversation rehashing the same arguments over and over.” Runcorn said, and he looked pleased to have an excuse to finally end the debating and move to the vote. “Minister, if you agree, we should move to the vote.”

There was uproar from those who had been circling the debate around the same points for the last few hours. They wanted more time. They wanted to take the debate to another day, insisting firmly that they be allowed to debate for as long as was needed.

Thicknesse startled as if he’d been prodded. “We will vote now. Lord Potter-Black has answered all questions posed to him adequately enough that we can all form an opinion based on his answers.”

“This is highly irregular!”

“We have debated all the sections to death.” Xerxes cut in snappishly. He’d been getting increasingly ill-tempered and impatient as the councillors, and certain lords of the Wizengamot, entered new sections to debate, pointed out more areas they thought were issues or loopholes, and it had been unrelenting all day. More than a few of them were tired and grumpy as a result, but Harry was the one under closer scrutiny than most and he was very aware of it.

“We need more time. If Lord Potter-Black is tired, then we should end here and reconvene tomorrow.”

“I am not tired, Councillor.” Harry said, a touch of his own anger showing at the continued digs to him. “I am in as good health as I possibly can be, given the circumstances. I can stay here all night if need be, but what I won’t do is allow myself to be taken for a fool. There are those among you who have been talking around in circles and filibustering for hours now, and not one of the arguments raised has advanced the debate further.”

“In your opinion.” Someone snapped at him.

“Fact is fact.” Lord Mark interjected cuttingly. “Nothing debated since Lord Potter-Black was rudely excluded from his own debate has advanced any argument further. It is just a waste of all of our time! We should vote now.”

“Take it to a vote.” Lord Dawson Shacklebolt agreed, adding his weight to the decision.

There was a cacophony of noise filling the room, the most prevalent of which was numerous voices calling for a vote, and a few dissenters screaming over the top of them to delay the vote in favour of further debate.

“No, we have deliberated long enough.” Runcorn said, from a standing position, his hands held out as if he were calming a pack of wild animals. “Minister Thicknesse has called for a vote and I agree that we have covered all bases of argument in this room today. You have had your time, Councillors. Now, it is time to put this reform to the vote.”

“You will all remain silent!” Thicknesse demanded, as several people went to open their mouths to argue. “The debate is over and the decision has been made. The vote will be held imminently.”

Grown men trembled with suppressed rage, but Harry had to work hard to hide his smile. He was worried, nervous, of course he was, but he felt that he had done enough. He’d done everything that he possibly could have today, so if it still failed to pass now, he would amend and resubmit it as quickly as possible. These people would not beat him. He was prepared to work on this, and wear them down for as long as it took to get his reform to pass. He would be disappointed, of course, if it failed today, but it would not derail him or his plans. He’d just try again. And again. And again. As many times as it took to get this proposal passed.

“Are we all calm?” Runcorn asked, sweeping his narrowed eyes around them all, all but glaring at them.

“Then, we will conclude this meeting.” Thicknesse said. “All those in favour of passing Lord Potter-Black’s reform into law, raise your wands.”

Harry’s hand was shaking, he realised, as he went to get his wand from the special pocket in his robes. Was he that tired? Or was he that nervous? He couldn’t tell. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

He held his wand in the air and he had to exert serious control over himself as he saw that he had the clear majority. It wasn’t official yet, but he’d won. He’d actually done it.

“All those opposed, raise your wands.” Thicknesse said, just as blandly.

It wasn’t enough. People were already grumbling and accusing the meeting of being hijacked. The vote not valid as it had been cut short before they had finished debating, but it was the duty of the Wizengamot, and the Minister, to investigate such offences if accused. A glaring loophole, given that it was mostly the Wizengamot who got their way in these situations, especially if they had the Minister on side, which they near enough always did.

“Lord Potter-Black’s reform has passed into law with eighty-four members for and twenty-nine against.” Runcorn announced, his tone pleased and proud. “Congratulations, Lord Potter-Black, for becoming the youngest lawmaker in our history and successfully debating your reform into law.”

It didn’t feel real. It wasn’t sinking in, even as both Lucius and Xerxes placed hands on his shoulder, patting him with pride at his victory. He felt a little wobbly, his head was blank, empty. Had he really just gotten his reform passed with the first attempt?

More people came forward to congratulate him: Lord Mark, Lord Sarpedon, Lord Giovanni Rowle, and even Lord Dawson.

It was slowly starting to register in his brain. He’d won. He gave a little chuckle to himself and then he couldn’t hold it in any more. He beamed widely at everyone around him. He wouldn’t have to amend his reform. He wouldn’t have to waste any time on resubmitting it and debating it all over again so close to his exams. It was done.

Harry shook hands with everyone and he couldn’t stop smiling like an idiot. People were striding out of the meeting room with angry sneers on their faces. His victory would be all over the Daily Prophet in the morning. He was getting used to it now, but he still couldn’t believe that he’d won.

His heart was pounding with excitement. He hadn’t had this much energy in months. He couldn’t wait to go home to tell Rabastan. He couldn’t wait to tell his mother of his victory. He hoped that they’d be proud of him too.

It took half an hour to escape the meeting room, and only then because Lucius interceded and insisted that he got Harry home, that he was back in his lessons tomorrow morning and it was getting to be very late.

Lucius kept Harry very close to him, a hand always on him as they walked through the nearly deserted Ministry. It must be very late for it to be this empty. It brought to his mind when he had come here at night to break into the Department of Mysteries. He didn’t want those thoughts in his head.

“What time is it?” He asked Lucius curiously.

“Almost ten PM.” Lucius answered. “Your mother will be beside herself that you have been kept in work for more than twelve hours.”

It wasn’t any wonder that Harry was feeling so bad. They had only had one true break today, for lunch, and that was almost ten hours ago. They had been given a few fifteen minute comfort breaks throughout the second half of the session, but it hadn’t been enough. Harry was famished and he was tired, and he ached, but not even that could detract from his buoyed mood.

“You should have died from that poison!”

Harry was startled and looked around at the sudden, loud shout, but Lucius had already reacted and cast a shielding charm, which was the only thing that prevented the curse that had been aimed at him from hitting him.

“How dare you!” Lucius snarled.

There were still plenty of people to witness the attack. Those queueing up for the floo banks, those who had been behind him and Lucius, and they were all dumbfounded.

Harry had a moment to recognise Councillor Cummings, the man he had argued with over the free movement clause.

There was a lot of noise, several lords of the Wizengamot had their wands out and Harry very quickly found himself behind Lucius, shielded with his father’s body, but it wasn’t needed now. Xerxes was almost frothing at the mouth with rage as he physically manhandled Councillor Cummings to the floor to incapacitate him.

“Did I see things correctly?” Albert demanded in a rage-shaky voice. “Did this man just attack Lord Potter-Black?”

“He tried to, Chief Warlock!” A councilwoman said quickly, her eyes wide with shock. “He was speaking to me, and he kept trying to engage me in conversation, despite that I had said four times I wished to leave, but I see now that he was using me as an excuse to loiter!”

“Minister, this cannot be allowed to go unpunished.” Lucius said, sounding so cold and angry that Harry hardly recognised him.

“Call the Law Enforcers.” Minister Thicknesse said blandly, prompted, no doubt, by the senior undersecretary still beside him.

“You should have died!” Councillor Cummings was still screaming. “It would have been better than letting that reform pass! That poison should have killed you, you deserve it!”

That was too much for Xerxes, who bounced the councillor’s face off the dark, hardwood floor with an echoing crack of bone breaking, leaving behind a sizable smear of blood.

“Is he admitting to being one of those involved in the poisoning of Lord Potter-Black?” Madam Amelia Bones asked the Atrium at large, staring at the councillor as if she’d never seen him before.

“Questioning will see to that, Madam Bones.” Runcorn insisted.

“Was I poisoned because of my law reform?” Harry asked, even knowing that it wasn’t true. He’d been poisoned to try and stop his marriage to Rabastan, so that he didn’t join the Lestrange family and ‘taint’ their pure bloodline.

“I will be sure to find out.” Lucius said furiously.

“Leave this to the Law Enforcers, Lord Malfoy.” Amelia said sternly.

“My son was just attacked in the Ministry Atrium! I want answers for this, Madam Bones.” Lucius said stridently. “He should be free to walk as he pleases, without fear of being attacked for his opinions in debates!”

“I agree.” Xerxes said darkly. “That anyone could think to attack a lord of the Wizengamot because the outcome of a debate or a vote hadn’t gone in their favour…is this to become the precedent set for future debates and votes? Should we just look the other way and allow this to happen again?”

“No one is saying that.” Madam Bones insisted quickly. “This matter will be dealt with, swiftly and harshly. We will set our own precedent that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.”

“I am glad to hear it.” Lucius said, still holding onto Harry, an arm wrapped protectively around Harry’s middle. “Harry, I want you to go home and leave this to me.”

Harry nodded, not willing to argue with his father in front of so many people.

A pathway to the floo banks cleared for him and Lucius sent him through first, as he always did, and Harry landed, a little less gracefully than he usually did, given that he was exhausted, and he hurried straight to the parlour.

“Harry, darling, I was beginning to worry.” His mother greeted, coming to fuss around him.

“Did it pass?” Rodolphus demanded.

“It was a very long day, Mother.” Harry said, ignoring Rodolphus. “I can’t decide if I am hungrier or more tired.”

“Sit down, darling. You have only recently recovered from your ordeal. I cannot believe you were kept so late at night.”

Harry went to Rabastan and he shared a cheeky kiss with his fiancé, who had been reading when Harry had entered. The book had been abandoned in his favour and Rabastan happily held him as Harry snuggled in.

“Did it pass?” Rodolphus growled angrily, impatiently as Harry continually ignored him.

Harry sighed. “Of course it did, Dolphus. Was there ever a question of it not passing?”

“Oh, well done, darling!” Narcissa praised, clapping her hands together once and looking so pleased with him.

“I am so proud of you.” Rabastan told him.

Harry smiled tiredly. He was so happy, so pleased, that he didn’t even mind when Rodolphus’ massive hand landed on his head and ruffled his hair all over the place. He was overjoyed.

“Was there much opposition to you?”

“It passed eighty-four to twenty-nine.” Harry told them. “With Laurent Mercier being thrown off the council and losing his position on the CML for bias and disrespect.”

“A landslide victory.” Rabastan said happily.

“I’m sure it will be called that numerous times in the paper tomorrow.” Harry agreed.

“Well, are you going to give us any details of the meeting?” Rodolphus asked him.

Harry sighed. “The CML were determined to take the debate to another day, probably as many days as they could get away with, but we were all determined to have that vote today, to end it today. They tried to debate and argue every single section. I knew it was coming, and I am very glad that I prepared ahead of time because I needed everything I had to argue them back.”

“Darling, where is your father?” Narcissa asked worriedly. “Was he not right behind you?”

He couldn’t hide it anymore. He licked his lips nervously.

“What happened?” Rabastan asked him in concern, seeing something on his face or in his behaviour that worried him.

“I was attacked after the meeting ended.”

“Do you need a healer?” Was Narcissa’s paramount concern. She even stood up in alarm.

Harry shook his head. “Father protected me. I think he stayed behind to wait for the Law Enforcers. No one was hurt.”

“Who dared?” Rodolphus growled.

“Councillor Cummings. He was angry during the meeting too, because his debate was cut short when he still had things to say, clearly. He told me I should have died from being poisoned. So he’s actually put himself in the frame for my assassination, which might complicate things with blaming Dumbledore. He’ll try to use any discrepancy to worm his way out of his just desserts.”

“We won’t let him. We know this councillor didn’t do it, so an investigation will clear him of involvement and we can deal with both of them.” Rodolphus said savagely.

Harry knew exactly what he was alluding to. Rodolphus wanted both Councillor Cummings and Dumbledore to die and he wanted to be the one to do it. Harry could see just how eager Dolphus was to do it too. He shook his head and settled further into Rabastan’s arms. He was still going to blame Lucius for his involvement with this crazy family.

It didn’t take much longer for Lucius and Xerxes to join them in the parlour and Xerxes was still wearing a beaming smile, despite what had almost happened in the Atrium…or perhaps because of it. He had gotten to smash someone’s face into a wooden floor and break their nose in public. Xerxes and Rodolphus were very, very alike, after all.

Narcissa stood to greet her husband with a kiss.

“I will have dinner served shortly; you must all be famished.”

“It was a very long second session, but we were determined not to leave that meeting room without holding a vote.” Xerxes said, sitting gratefully into a proffered chair.

“The council were just as determined to debate in circles until we all perished.” Lucius agreed.

“How are you feeling, Harry?” Narcissa asked him worriedly. “Truly?”

Harry considered it, as his mother had stressed wanting a real answer. “I’m tired and hungry, but other than that, my body is aching. Not intolerably.” He assured everyone quickly. “But I was sitting in one place for far too long. I’ll feel better after I’ve slept, I’m sure.”

“Did they not even let you have comfort breaks?” Rabastan asked concernedly.

“Four of them. One every two hours.” Harry assured him. “It just wasn’t nearly enough to counteract how long we were stuck in that meeting room, going around in circles.”

Rabastan’s hands were gentle as they caressed his body and Harry was almost lulled to sleep. He jerked when Pimsey came into the parlour to announce dinner.

“Were you drifting, my love?” Rabastan asked.

Harry chuckled sleepily. “I was.”

“As soon as you have eaten, Harry, I want you to wash up and go to bed.” Narcissa told him.

Harry nodded his agreement. “I will, Mother. I am too tired to do otherwise.”

He planned to keep Rabastan with him too. He smirked to himself as they all headed leisurely to the dining room. He was in the mood to rile his fiancé up before he headed back to Hogwarts tomorrow; a little gift to himself, in light of his massive victory in the Ministry today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X

Draco was awake at six in the morning, on the dot, as was usual for him, ever since he’d been a child. He rarely slept in, unless he was ill or injured, of course.

Harry had not come back to the castle before curfew, so he had reasoned that his brother was staying at home overnight, and he tried not to worry.

He hoped that Harry would come back to the school today, and that he didn’t have to have a second day of debates, because Draco was very worried about him and his precarious health.

He hurried to shower and dress himself, eager to get to the Great Hall. If Harry wasn’t already there, then at least the newspaper should give him some clue as to what was going on, as the debate for Harry’s reform was a hot topic of discussion and gossip, even among the general public.

Draco was happy to see Astoria, dressed and waiting for him in the common room. He kissed her cheek and moved a piece of hair off of her face.

“You look beautiful this morning.” He told her.

“Thank you.” She said, smiling radiantly. “Have you had any word on Harry?” She asked, knowing that it would be bothering him.

“No, not yet. I am hoping that the meeting went on late and he spent the night at home.”

“Let’s go and see if he’s come already. If not, we can see if the paper will give us a clue.”

That had been Draco’s plan, and he was grateful that Astoria was on the same page as he was. He formally held out an arm for her and, with a giggle, she took it and held on to him as he escorted her to the hall for breakfast.

Very few people were awake this early, and most of those who were awake this early were Slytherins and Ravenclaws. Luna, who was one of those Ravenclaws already up, hurried over.

“Did Harry come back to school?” She asked, in her typical dreamy voice.

“No. Not unless he came back after curfew.” Draco told her. “But if it was that late already, then I expect our parents would have kept him home for the night.”

The three of them started eating breakfast. It was a waiting game now, for news or for Harry to turn up. He was usually awake at six too. He would have breakfast at home, but Draco knew he would spend as long as he could with Rabastan, which would delay his return. Draco couldn’t begrudge him that; these little visits were all Harry could see of his fiancé during the school term. But it was frustrating too, when he was desperate for news.

Blaise joined them, then Theo did, giving a kiss to Luna as he sat beside her. Pansy waddled over to them, a hand over her large bump and already eyeing a jar of blackcurrant jam as if it were her heart’s only desire.

The post owls arrived before Harry did, so Draco quickly took one of the newspapers and he couldn’t stop the grin as he saw a picture of a determined, sharply-dressed Harry on the front page, which was cawing at his landslide victory, as he became the youngest lawmaker in history.

“He did it!” He said excitedly, slamming the paper down for everyone to see the front page.

Draco quickly scanned the text, picking out key information, noting that the reform had passed with only twenty-nine members in opposition. It was a very proud day for him, for his family, and for Harry too.

“It’s on the front page of The World News too.” Blaise told him, showing him the newspaper he had, which showed a very flattering picture of Harry dressed in navy blue dress robes and, to Draco, he looked very much like a man. Like the politician he became in the Wizengamot. It was a side to Harry that he had rarely seen. He saw Harry as…just Harry, his brother. He saw Harry laughing, he’d seen him at his most vulnerable, and he’d even seen him cry. But this, in the picture Harry looked cold, clinical, and utterly capable. It wasn’t any wonder that Harry had everyone eating out of his hand if this is the face card he pulled out during meetings. Draco hardly recognised him.

“Managing to get a landslide victory like this at seventeen…” Theo shook his head in awe. “I’m almost afraid of the things he’ll do in several years’ time.”

“He’s going to be phenomenal.” Draco said proudly.

“I can’t wait for him to arrive back.” Astoria said. “He needs to be congratulated.”

“Should we have a party for him?” Luna asked. “A small one, in his rooms?” She clarified.

“That is a good idea.” Theo said. “Nothing too exciting, Draco, but he needs to feel as if his efforts were worth it and that we’re all proud of his successes.”

“I’m sure getting that proposal passed is the only reward he needs, but I am not one to deny my brother his due. We’ll see what we can do and hold it tonight.”

“You might want to hold off on that for a bit.” Blaise said seriously, sounding worried. “The World News is reporting that Harry was attacked after the meeting concluded.”

“What?” Draco demanded, reaching out to grapple the paper from Blaise’s hands.

 “Careful, you’ll tear it!” Blaise chastised, before pushing the paper down to the table and pointing to the section.

Draco read the words quickly, and then went back over them more carefully, as he read the very vague words that ‘Lord Potter-Black had been attacked by another member of the meeting’ and that was it. No other information, and Draco thought his heart would burst from not knowing.

Harry had been through hell recently. He had only recently started recovering from his collapse, from the poison that had almost killed him, and now he’d been attacked in a Ministry meeting!

Draco hoped that he was okay; he needed Harry to be okay, and he looked up at the door to the Great Hall, hoping that Harry would walk through it and tell him that the attack had been nothing. That he was fine, but it was almost half past seven now and there was still no sign of Harry. His brother would know that he was worrying. Draco hoped that meant he would come sooner rather than later, if he could. He swallowed and turned away from the doors. He couldn’t torture himself with such thoughts. Either Harry would come and tell them all what had happened, or his father would come to explain everything that had happened. He would just have to be patient, and as calm as he could be, until then.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X

Harry woke up a little later than usual, but he was content to stay right where he was, with Rabastan’s arm wrapped around him and holding him tightly. It was comforting, it was becoming familiar, and Harry was overjoyed that it was, too. They were another day closer to their wedding in August. Fourteen weeks and two days.

Harry squirmed and, showing that he was awake, Rabastan pressed a kiss to the back of his head.

“Are you awake, my love?”

“Yes.” Harry answered sleepily. “What time is it, Basti?”

“Almost half past seven.”

Harry groaned, knowing that he would have to eat his breakfast and then head back to Hogwarts for his lessons today. It was a Thursday, so he had double Transfiguration first, and if he wasn’t awake and engaged, Professor McGonagall had no qualms about giving him extra homework.

He yawned and stretched with a happy moan. Rabastan pulled him into a tight hug and Harry wanted to go back to sleep, but he had things to do. He had to go back to school. He didn’t move from Rabastan’s arms.

At exactly half past seven, a small noise preceded Pimsey’s appearance at the foot of the bed.

“Young master, Mistress is saying that you has to get up now.”

Harry’s moan this time was an unhappy one. “Okay, I’m awake.” He insisted. He still made no move to get up, and he yawned widely, tucking his head closer to Rabastan’s neck.

Rabastan laughed, jostling him, and then he sat up and Harry gave a wordless protest.

“No, we have to get up.” Rabastan insisted. “Your mother has shown great trust in allowing us to spend the night in bed together; we shouldn’t push our luck.”

“You’re scared of her, aren’t you?” Harry teased.

“I am rightfully terrified.” Rabastan chuckled. “You shouldn’t come between a mother and her child. I am sure it will be the same between you and our own children, once we have them.”

Harry thought of it and realised that Rabastan was correct. He would not have even considered allowing this if the one involved was his child. He laughed.

“I suppose I’ll enforce the adage of do as I say, not as I do.” Harry said with a cheeky grin.

Rabastan cupped his cheek and led him into a soft kiss. “We’ll do that, then.” His fiancé said.

“I’ll be very protective of our children.” Harry said musingly, thinking seriously about it. “They won’t be able to pull any of this shit with me.”

Rabastan snorted and then got out of the bed. Harry scowled, as it meant that this little bubble of happiness had well and truly burst. He groaned and rolled out of the warm bed himself.

“It won’t be long now and I will never willingly let you leave my arms or our bed.”

Harry hummed. “That sounds like a promise, love. I will hold you to it when we’re married.”

“I would have you nowhere else.” Rabastan insisted.

Harry smiled and moved around the bed to hug Rabastan.

“Go and get yourself washed up and dressed.” Rabastan chided. “Both of your parents will have my hide if you’re late back to school.”

“I have an excuse.” Harry said. “I’ve gotten my reform passed into law, Basti!”

“Oh? Has it finally sunk in?” Rabastan teased.

Harry grinned widely. “It’s sunk in. I won!”

Rabastan chuckled and then bent to kiss him. “You did. This will be the first of many, Harry. You are extraordinary.”

Harry beamed happily. He was beginning to believe it and with this first hurdle behind him, his very first proposal passed on the first time of trying, he was beginning to believe that he could do anything he put his mind to.

It was reluctantly that he broke away from Rabastan and went to get a very quick shower before going down for breakfast. He was back in his school uniform and he felt so energetic and motivated. He snorted to himself as he realised that he was eager to go back to school. There was definitely something wrong with him.

“Good morning, darling. How are you feeling? Did you rest well?” Narcissa asked him.

“Yes, Mother. I’m feeling much better today.” He said with a smile, sitting at the table. “Thank you.” He said to Pimsey as she placed a plate of food in front of him.

No one even reacted as he did this. Not a word, not even a grimace, they were too used to it. Rabastan merely reached over to the teapot and poured Harry a cup, added some milk for him, and then made himself some tea.

“Thank you.” Harry said, smiling as he picked up the cup and drank.

Rabastan reached over to kiss his cheek and Harry accepted it happily, feeling very loved and contented.

“The papers are all very adoring of you.” Lucius told him, handing over a stack.

Harry ate with one hand while he shook out the top paper to read the articles. He was front page news, of course.

“I do love how photogenic you are, darling.” Narcissa teased.

Harry snorted a laugh. “I looked better before I was poisoned.”

“You are getting healthier.” Rabastan said quickly. “You are always beautiful, Harry.”

“I still looked better before I was poisoned.” Harry said stubbornly.

“Give yourself some more time to recover.” Narcissa cut in firmly. “You are regaining the weight you lost and the healers are all very pleased. Don’t forget that you have an appointment with Healer Munrow on the second.”

“My last one, if all things go well.” Harry said with a smile. “I also have an appointment with Healer Vasey on the second.”

Harry had scheduled them both on the same day to save time, one in the morning and one in late afternoon. His hospital appointment shouldn’t take longer than two hours from the moment he left Hogwarts to when he arrived back, which would give him a chance to do some homework and get something to eat before he went to see Healer Vasey.

“You didn’t mention that you were seeing your mind healer on the second as well, darling.”

Harry blinked. “Oh, I’m sorry, Mother. I booked it after my last appointment.”

“As long as you’re keeping up with it.” Narcissa said gracefully.

“I am. I’ve found that it is really helping me.”

“I am proud of you.” Lucius said.

That made Harry smile, even as he tried not to squirm with embarrassed pride. He loved hearing that people were proud of him.

“And we are all exceptionally proud of your achievements.” Xerxes added. “We never doubted that you could manage it, of course, but there is still something special about having it officially confirmed.”

Harry blushed and he moaned with embarrassment, hiding his face.

“Though, The World News was very dramatic in their article about you.” Lucius added, distracting him from his embarrassment.

“The World News reported on it?” He asked.

“Naturally.”

“It’s not like their reporters to be overly dramatic about anything.” He said, a touch worriedly, as he dug out The World News from the stack and read the article they had on him.

“They reported that you’d been attacked during the meeting.” Lucius told him.

“But, that was nothing.” Harry said, reaching the part in the article and reading it in disbelief, as they made it seem a lot worse than it had been.

“I wouldn’t call it nothing, darling.” Narcissa said sternly. “You were attacked.”

“But, Father protected me.”

“As he should have.” Narcissa insisted primly. “But you were attacked.”

“Mother, they’re making it out to be worse than it actually was!”

“That will work in your favour.” Xerxes said.

Harry shook his head as the only thought in his head seemed to be something everyone else had overlooked. “I need to go.”

“Where?” Rabastan asked him with furrowed brows.

“Hogwarts!” He said. “This article will be driving Draco mad.”

“Finish your breakfast first.”

“No, Mother, I need him to know I’m alright.”

“Well, I’m glad that you’re so concerned for your brother, Harry, but you need to put your health first and finish your meal. Draco can wait ten more minutes.”

Harry breathed out heavily and he nodded, sitting back down and going back to his breakfast. He wouldn’t get to leave this house until he’d eaten properly, but his thoughts were consumed with what Draco might be thinking at that moment.

“You look so concerned, but I assure you, Draco will cope until you manage to reach him and put him at ease.” Lucius told him.

“I don’t want him to worry so much, or for so long, thinking I was hurt when I wasn’t.”

“I understand, but he remained in school when you were poisoned, so he will be able to cope with this too.” Lucius assured him.

Harry nodded and he ate his breakfast and finished his tea. He was torn. He wanted to stay with Rabastan for a while, but he also wanted to go and see Draco too.

“Go and see your brother.” Rabastan told him. “I will see you again soon, but you need Draco right now.”

Harry had never loved Rabastan more than in that moment and he hugged him tight and pressed their mouths together, before jumping up and going to kiss Narcissa’s cheek and, not thinking about it, he did the same to Lucius before running for the receiving room and the floo.

He went via Professor McGonagall’s office, as he was almost certain that no one would be there at this time.

He’d been right and the office was empty. Harry left quickly and went right to the Great Hall. He noticed that he was getting more stares than usual. More whispers and points in his direction. He was over it already.

He got into the Great Hall, heading right for the Slytherin table and he could see Draco’s platinum blonde head already. He watched as Blaise looked up and noticed him, then nudged Draco and clearly told him that Harry was there, as Draco sprang up as if his arse had been burned.

“Sit down.” Harry said as he reached the part of the table that his friends were sitting at, and he was, thankfully, on the opposite side of the table to Draco.

“Are you alright?!” Draco demanded, going so far as to reach across the table to touch him. Harry knew, if he had been on the same side of the table as Draco, then he would have been pulled into a tight hug.

“I know you read the same article as I did this morning.” Harry said calmly. “I am going to tell you that it was an exaggeration.”

“The World News doesn’t exaggerate unless they have the wrong information.” Blaise said, a stalwart defender of the most independent and impartial newspaper.

“It’s less about them getting it wrong and more to do with how clinically they reported it.”

“What happened?!” Draco snapped worriedly.

“I was attacked.” Harry told him. “Or, at least I was the target for an attack, but as if father would let me get hurt, Draco! He was standing right next to me, of course he would protect me.”

“Is father okay?”

“Yes. He put up a shielding charm.” Harry said. “We’re both fine.”

Harry could see Draco pulling himself back together and all but sagging onto the bench.

“So, you are okay? You weren’t hurt?”

“No. The article made it seem like I was hurt, or maybe at death’s door, by omitting that I was actually perfectly fine. I was attacked, but I was also shielded and they either didn’t know that fact to report on it, or they didn’t get all the information, but I am better than fine.”

“You got it passed.” Luna said from beside him, putting her arm through his and giving a gentle squeeze.

“It passed in a landslide!” Harry said excitedly. “Eighty-four voted for it to pass and only twenty-nine against.”

“You must be flying high at the moment.” Theo told him.

Harry nodded. “I can’t believe it still. A year’s worth of work and I got it passed on the first time of trying.”

“Was it only a year? It seems longer than that.” Blaise said, chuckling.

“Just over a year.” Harry nodded. “I started writing it in March last year, just before Easter.”

“And now you are a lawmaker.” Astoria said.

Harry beamed happily. “I’m so damn happy.”

“It’s noticeable.” Draco said, smiling at him. “But who attacked you?”

“A member of the council, Gerald Cummings.” Harry said, waving a hand carelessly. “He got so pissed off, excuse my language, ladies, that he told me I should have died from the poisoning and then, he aimed a curse at my back.”

“Merlin! It all happens in those meeting halls, doesn’t it?” Blaise said wide-eyed.

“You’d expect the members of the Wizengamot and the Council of Magical Law to have more composure.” Pansy said seriously. “Then, my father sits the Wizengamot and I know all too well just how short his temper can be at times.”

“My father is the same.” Theo commiserated.

“I hope that councillor was arrested!” Draco said viciously.

“He was. I was sent home, but Xerxes had already incapacitated him and they were waiting on the Law Enforcers.”

“Why wasn’t any of that reported in the article?” Astoria asked curiously.

“It’s now a criminal case and the details have to be protected for the trial.” Harry explained. “Not that he can hide behind any sort of defence because he attacked me in front of a dozen members of the Wizengamot, some of his council peers, Runcorn, and Minister Thicknesse too. They all saw that the attack was unprovoked.”

“I hope you didn’t take those words to heart.” Draco said seriously.

Harry laughed. “What, that I should have died from being poisoned? No, of course not. Though, I do think my in-laws will take it personally.”

Draco actually looked pleased that the councilman was likely going to end up dead, which was odd for him, as he was rather quite squeamish.

“Did you rest well, Harry?” Luna asked him.

Harry smiled at her. “I did. I slept really well last night and I’ve woken up with so much energy and motivation.” He laughed. “I actually can’t wait to get to lessons, it’s that bad.”

“We have double Transfiguration first, so you’ll get your bloody wish.” Blaise told him.

Harry chuckled. “Do you all want to come to my rooms after dinner? I need to catch up on everything I missed yesterday, as well as doing today’s work and studying on top, and I can give you a blow-by-blow account of the meeting, if you’d like.”

“Of course we do!” Blaise said, grinning. “Your exploits in the Ministry is the best option for conversation we’ve had outside of Daphne’s fall from grace, no offence intended, Astoria.”

“None taken.” Astoria said. “I used to love her, until she hurt me by taking my own betrothed to her bed.”

Draco winced. “I’m sorry.”

Astoria shook her head, her expression stony. “You didn’t love me then. We were practically strangers forced to interact via a contract that was written up when we were babies. Daphne is my sister! She knew that I liked you and that I was looking forward to being your wife one day. That was why she wanted you. Probably not the only reason, knowing her behaviour, but it was one of the reasons and, for that, I can’t forgive her. You were my betrothed, my husband-to-be, and she chose to sleep with you anyway. She didn’t care; there was no loyalty to me as her sister, no thought for how much that would hurt me. No, Daphne has made her bed, and now I will watch her sleep in it!”

“I feel like I’ve missed something.” Harry said carefully. “Has something happened?” He asked, looking between all of them.

Astoria actually snorted inelegantly, sounding angry.

“Daphne tried to coerce Draco back into her bed yesterday.”

Harry narrowed his eyes on Draco, who held up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t comply, clearly.” He said. “That she tried, though, brought up old wounds. Daphne collapsed and cried herself sick in the middle of the common room. We had to call Professor Snape to deal with her.”

“She doesn’t want to be married to Selwyn. I understand her desperation to get out of it.” Astoria said before her pretty face twisted with a sneer that was so unlike her. “But to once again try to take my betrothed. She has crossed a line and I will not forgive her. I will be pleased to call myself Missus Malfoy and never have to recognise her as a sister ever again.”

Draco turned to comfort her and Harry was bewildered by what had apparently happened yesterday. Did Daphne truly think so little of her sister that she was willing to destroy her betrothal just to save herself? Apparently yes. Harry couldn’t abide such disloyalty and selfish behaviours.

He knew what Daphne was like. He knew she would be desperate to get out of her own upcoming marriage to Lucan Selwyn, but there were other options than her own sister’s betrothed. Blaise, for example, was not betrothed and was completely free and single. He wouldn’t shoot himself in the foot in such a way, but he was clearly a better choice to try for than Draco. Harry sighed and he was actually a little relieved to escape the conversation when the bell for first period rang. They had just eight weeks left until they graduated. Harry needed to double down on his revision work and, with his law reform passed and now off his plate, all he needed to focus on now was studying and passing his exams with top marks. He would take everything one thing at a time and the next thing on his plate was his revision work and exams. He wouldn’t put any energy into anything else until his exams were done and over.

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