Sirius scoffed at that, he wasn't surprised Dumbledore was supporting the amendment, nothing the old goat did anymore shocked him. he didn't know why Dumbledore was so against creatures, but he had a few suspicions.
"Now has anybody got any think to say about this amendment or should we move forward?"
Sirius stood then, surprising people as he had yet to make a stand in any of the previous sessions, he would usually only speak out in support or to argue against others stands.
Albus narrowed his eyes at Sirius. He wasn't surprised to see the Black Lord sitting amongst the dark families and those who had supported Voldemort.
"Lord Black," Albus said as he was forced to acknowledge the man.
"Chief warlock," Sirius said managing to make the title sound mocking.
"The floor is yours Lord Black."
Sirius withheld his anger at the tone Dumbledore used and focused on the situation at hand.
"My fellow lords and ladies, my proposal is to dismiss this bill now, before it is called into a full vote. This 'new' bill is fundamentally the same as the one previously put forward to and rejected by this body, by Madame Umbridge months ago. "The laws this bill is trying to change would make it impossible for those of creature status to remain part of our world, which we know is not something feasible. Magical creatures are a part of our world, from the crumps we buy our children to the ingredients in our potions, to the goblins who manage our money.
"It's an atrocity, it would create tensions not just with other magical races but other magical communities. The proposed law amendments would strain our already tenuous relationships with multiple countries. Most notable our closest ally France, a nation with a large population of veela, who hold significant power in their government. Damaging such relationships wold cause difficulties with our international trade and revenue. "Finally, as you will all know if you read the prophet, research has been done to prove that the number of Dark creature attacks on wizards and muggles increased only after restrictions were put in place. In the times before such restrictions were put in place, and those we classify as creatures had more rights, there were less than ten attacks a year. These were usually performed by rogues and outliers, who were often dealt with by their own laws.
"I find the fact the madam Umbridge is once again trying to pass such laws to be disgraceful. Not only is she relentlessly persecuting people who is some cases were forced into becoming creatures and are victims of tragic circumstances, but she is damaging our international relationships and causing racial tension not just here to worldwide."
With his speech finally finished, Sirius made sure to look around the room and make eye contact with as many people as possible, making sure he looked calm and in control. He saw that his words had caused people to think. He knew that many of the lords and ladies truly didn't care about creature rights, however he hoped his mentioning of international and financial backlash would stir them into action.
~
At the end of the session Sirius watched with glee as the toad like woman scuttled out of the hall, he had won his vote with a clear majority. Dolores had been red faced throughout it all, and her darted looks towards fudge and Dumbledore showed she hadn't expected to be so thoroughly trounced.
"You're brilliant at times," Lucius commented, watching Sirius with curious eyes.
Sirius grinned a shark like grin, "Only sometimes?"
"It's during times like this that I wonder why you were not sorted into Slytherin."
Sirius snorted, "I'm more of a lion than a snake, but recently I've found I can be rather cunning." Lucius hummed, "Yes, I can see that. Still, bringing finances into your argument was inspired. There's nothing that gets most of these old fools motivated quite like the risk of them loosing galleons."
Sirius grinned again, happy that he had won, especially when he caught sight of Dumbledore storming through the crowd towards the floo. The man hadn't been able to hide his anger rom Sirius who had been studying him like a hawk does its prey.
~
May 31st, 1992, Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. ~
Albus sighed as he pulled out a vial of headache potion. He seemed to be living off the things recently, yet they did little to help the pounding going on insid e his skull. He needed to find a way to get rid of Sirius Black. The man was becoming a serious problem. Drinking the vile tasking potion, he noted he would have to get Severus to brew him some more, he was running low.
A loud chime from his floo system drew his attention back to the present.
"Albus... Albus!"
Hearing Molly's screeching voice, Albus held back a groan as his head gave another flash of pain.
"Come in dear," he said, waving his wand to open the connection.
"Albus you must have some idea how to get rid of that mongrel Black!" said the clearly upset red head.
Intrigued as to what had piqued her anger Albus started to investigate, "What has happened my dear?"
"That man!" Molly fumed, "I was in Diagon getting some potions supplies when I overheard people talking about him. Saying how inspirational he is, how he's a good role model for Potter! They think he's a bloody saint, re-entering our world after being in Azkaban!" Albus hummed, it was true, Blacks pubic image was astonishing to him. T he man had regained his previous popularity and then some. Black was now seen as one of the most, if not the most, eligible bachelors in their world, his new-found fame was going to be a problem. Especially his standing in the Wizengamot, it was impeccable. He schmoozed with the other Lords and ladies and curried their favour like he had been doing it all his life, quickly gaining not just fans but more disastrously allies. Albus had hoped that the stigma from him being in Azkaban would hold out, but he had apparently hoped in vain.
Blacks recent success in getting the latest creature law amendments struck down was a blow Albus hadn't expected. He didn't want dark creatures infecting his world with their tainted magic.
"I see, this is troubling." Blacks popularity and fame was making it harder for Albus to get rid of him.
"And what's worse, they were speaking about you as well!"
With that she had Albus's full attention.
"And what overheard?"
exactly
was
it
that
you
"Just whispers, nothing concrete, but I heard talk of how you've… grown old... They- they said that you're- incompetent!" the red head wailed, having had to stop multiple times, almost as if she couldn't bear to repeat the words she had overheard.
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