Chapter 318 : School Starts
Hope followed Sirius to the old Black family home at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, where she saw a black-haired boy with glasses. She had already heard his story from Sirius and Phineas.
The Boy Who Lived?
In truth, he was a child who had lost his parents and all close relatives shortly after birth. He had been sent to live with his aunt and had suffered years of neglect and mistreatment. In many ways, he was just like Hope.
So rather than feeling wary around Harry, Hope found herself empathising with him.
It was interesting—perhaps it was Sirius's natural charm or his particular temperament and habits—but he always seemed to get along easily with younger people. As long as the other person was younger and willing to connect, Sirius could build a rapport with them.
That had been true with Phineas, Harry, Hermione, and even Draco.
Today, it was true for Hope as well.
Phineas could tell that Hope still held some bitterness toward Sirius—for abandoning her and their mother for so many years. Yet she didn't shut him out. In fact, she had accepted, however grudgingly, that she had such a cynical and unorthodox father.
Since Harry had an older sister who was graduating and was now entering her seventh year, he no longer needed constant training from Sirius and Phineas. They handed responsibility for his study and practice plan over to Hope.
The two brothers, meanwhile, had more urgent matters to prepare for.
The once-in-a-decade regular meeting of the Council of Elders was approaching.
It was said that this gathering determined the direction of the wizarding world across the Old Continent—Europe, Asia, and Africa—for the next ten years. Major decisions were made there, affecting nearly every aspect of magical society.
The New World was not included in these plans. Originally, it had been treated as a penal colony. Many of the inhabitants were descended from criminals, slaves, or colonists.
Thus, the Council of Elders had never exercised much control over the Americas. And perhaps because of this, the wizards there lacked clarity on the future of magic and how to advance it.
To them, the pinnacle of magic was a great wizard. Only with the emergence of Dumbledore did they realise that there could be wizards even greater than the so-called "Great Wizards." But in America, there was no legend. Nor did they know how to become one.
In short, magical heritage in the Americas was fragmented and incomplete. Its future was uncertain, but it had no immediate impact on Europe. The Council had never felt the need to bring it into the fold.
"What the Elders decide this time will likely be a blow to us," Sirius said thoughtfully.
Phineas nodded. "No doubt. The Black family has been far too active recently. When I destroyed several of the Parkinson branches, I showed no deference to the Elders. True, they were part of the Rich family, but they were members of the Council nonetheless. The Council won't consider personal vendettas or context. They'll see us as slipping out of their control."
Sirius sighed. He understood Phineas hadn't only acted for revenge. He'd done it to reestablish Black's influence over the British wizarding world. Their family had been absent from power for too long.
Still, whether justified or not, the Council of Elders was bound to take notice—and not in a favourable way.
"Even so, we need to improve our standing with them," Sirius said. "They still hold the reins to the magical world, and we don't even know how many legendary wizards sit on the Council."
Phineas nodded again.
"Not to mention there may even be demigods among them. I know what it takes to become a god, but what happens after that remains uncertain. Do they ascend to some divine realm like the ancient gods? Or do they remain in this world?"
Sirius exhaled slowly. "If the worst comes to pass, we'll be up against gods themselves."
"That's why I didn't reveal everything to Elrond and the others," Phineas said. "If they only knew about gods, the path to becoming one, and that the Council is monopolising that path, they'd stand with us. But if they knew the Council might already contain living gods, they'd panic and report us."
Sirius nodded. "You handled it well. But what's the agenda for this Council meeting? Last time, it was Lestrange's succession to the Gaunt family. What about now? Any clues?"
Phineas shook his head. "Nothing definite. But I suspect they'll spend time debating whether to incorporate America into the Council."
"America?" Sirius asked.
"Yes—the so-called New World," Phineas replied. "While it was once a place we exiled criminals to, there are indigenous magical traditions there. Their magic differs from ours, and some of it is quite extraordinary. The Council has long wanted to absorb that heritage."
Sirius frowned. "But that can't be the only reason. If it were just about indigenous magic, they'd have done it ages ago."
Phineas nodded. "True. This also relates to changes in the Muggle world."
"Changes in the Muggle world?" Sirius looked puzzled.
"Yes. The wizarding world doesn't exist in a vacuum. It coexists with, and even depends on, the Muggle world. Economic shifts among Muggles impact our world too. Grindelwald was the first to truly understand this."
"The first Dark Lord?"
Phineas nodded. "Yes. Grindelwald possessed the power of foresight, and in this regard, he was unmatched. He accurately predicted the end of the Second World War in the Muggle world and witnessed firsthand their horrific weapons—tools of devastation capable of destroying the world. It was then that he realized Muggles were no longer the pitiful beings we once dismissed. Instead, we had no choice but to face them as equals… or conquer them before they fully harnessed their power of annihilation."
"Yet, he was thwarted by his closest friend—his former roommate, Dumbledore. As a result, the Muggles continued unchecked, perfecting their terrible weapons and leaving scars upon the world for nearly fifty years before the Second War finally came to an end."
Sirius drank a few sips of black tea to calm down.
"But this doesn't mean that the Council of Elders will include America, right?"
Phineas nodded and continued,
"I told you this just to explain that Muggles are capable of terrifying things. I think you've heard of the Red Kingdom(I think it's Soviet union but I am not sure) that disintegrated before. There, wizards and Muggles coexisted peacefully. Wizards even sacrificed their lives for Muggles, and the existence of wizards was no longer a secret."
"And that country in America was the first to master that weapon during World War II, gaining the power to oppose the Red Country. This created a certain balance between the New World and the Old World. That's why the Council of Elders didn't take the New World seriously before."
Sirius suddenly understood.
"But that country collapsed, and after its disintegration, they had no way to resist the American nation."
"This has led to America's status and power in the Muggle world rising to unprecedented heights—reaching a level that our wizarding world can no longer ignore."
"Yes. Technological development there will inevitably expose wizards. There's no longer a proper magical society in America. Their wizards hide in the shadows. Their Magical Congress is stricter than our Ministry of magic—wizards are even discouraged from using magic."
"What?" Sirius exclaimed. "Wizards are meant to be superior to Muggles!"
Phineas sighed. "In America, the wizarding community is in decline. It's like the witch-hunts of old Europe. Persecution is rampant. Obscurials are even possible."
After hearing that, Sirius and Phineas fell into silence and went to rest.
---
Half a month later, Hogwarts reopened.
"When you get there, write if anything comes up—or tell a professor to contact us," Sirius said to Hope as she boarded the Hogwarts Express for her first term in Britain.
Phineas said goodbye to Leah.
"Don't look so down. You know I don't need Hogwarts anymore—not for study or protection."
"I know," she mumbled, eyes downcast, "but I'll miss you."
Phineas smiled and gently patted her head. She leaned into his hand as though savouring the comfort.
Then he turned to Lucius and Draco.
Because of Phineas's earlier intervention, the Malfoys had been safe during Voldemort's return. Lucius now stood respectfully nearby, waiting for a word.
"You've heard the Council of Elders is convening?" Phineas asked.
Lucius nodded quickly. "Yes. There are records of the Council in our family archives."
"I'll propose the Malfoys return to the Council," Phineas said. "And I'll push for the proposal to pass."
Lucius bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord Black—"
"Lucius," Phineas interrupted, frowning. "I told you—just call me Phineas. You're my brother-in-law."
Lucius smiled. "Of course—thank you, Phineas. I'm grateful."
"Still," Phineas added, "you'll need to act. Sirius and I believe the Council will focus on bringing America into their fold. If not immediately, then soon. The magical world there is still sizable. Malfoy should begin expanding its Muggle influence into America."
Lucius looked unsure but nodded. "I'll give the order today."
"The environment there is difficult for wizards," Phineas warned. "Your people must be prepared. Black will also expand into America—and we'll need Malfoy's help."
"Understood."
Lucius left hurriedly to carry out the plan.
Phineas wasn't without power in America. Damon had once run his operations there.
But that was Phineas's private power, not Black family resources. If he blurred the line now, it could alert the other families—or worse, the Council.
Unlike in Europe, the Council had no knowledge of his influence in America.
It was his greatest hidden asset—and he would not expose it lightly.