Chapter 320: Consular Council Meeting
Two days later, representatives from the four consular families arrived at the headquarters of the Council of Elders in the Vatican, where the Consular Council was officially convened.
Simultaneously, the sworn families of the Council of Elders also sent representatives to prepare for the Sworn Families Assembly, which traditionally followed the consular meeting. Typically, after the consular meeting, the consular family representatives would report the matters discussed and decisions made with the Elders to the sworn families, while also announcing the responsibilities each family must shoulder.
The consular meeting was scheduled to last for a week, with one or two issues debated each day. Attendees included not only the Council of Elders but also the four consular families and several select sworn families, who participated mostly as observers, casting votes when needed.
Phineas and Sirius entered the modestly sized conference room under the guidance of an attendant.
The room spanned roughly 100 square meters. Facing the entrance were several rows of tiered seats for the Elders. In front of these seats was a long rectangular table, with one chair at the head and five on each side.
Seated at this table were the three chief elders and two representatives from each of the four consular families.
Each seat had a document placed before it, and two candlesticks in the center of the table cast a bright glow over the room.
Of course, the lighting didn't come from the candlesticks themselves, but from the enchantments placed on them. Phineas couldn't identify the spellwork, but he was sure they weren't alchemical artifacts—he'd found no such enchantments in the Council's archives. That made him suspect the enchantments weren't meant for illumination at all, but for powerful combat magic—perhaps even forbidden magic—cleverly disguised by the Council.
Phineas and Sirius took their seats at the table bearing the Black family crest, waiting for the other families to arrive.
They were the first to arrive. Not long after, Corvus Lestrange entered with another representative from his family.
"Phineas! Sirius! Long time no see," Corvus greeted them.
Phineas recognized from Corvus's overly casual tone that his companion was a representative of the Lestrange elders, not a loyalist to Corvus himself. Which meant they couldn't communicate freely during the meeting.
After all, in everyone's eyes, the Black and Lestrange families were still rivals.
Soon, Elrond and Thorim from the Selwyn family entered. Unlike Corvus, they greeted Phineas warmly and took their seats beside the Black family. The Lestrange and Rich families sat on the opposite side of the table.
Thorim was Elrond's younger brother and namesake of Elrond's grandson, though the two belonged to opposing factions. Thorim's group had long aimed to replace Elrond as the Selwyn patriarch.
Yet the Selwyn family maintained a strict internal code: family disputes remained internal. In the presence of outsiders, they always presented a united front—even if it meant compromising their own faction's interests.
The last to arrive were the Rich brothers: Kuzan and Borsalino. Of the four families, the Rich family stood closest to the Blacks in political alignment. All major decisions fell to Kuzan, while Borsalino offered counsel to keep him grounded during emotionally charged moments.
Once all eight delegates were seated, a hidden door opened near the steps at the front of the chamber.
Three elderly men with white hair and long beards entered first.
They wore full-length dark robes with white linings—robes resembling those of priests or knights. This was the official attire of the Council of Elders, alchemically enhanced to calm the mind, focus magic, and provide powerful protection.
Their robes bore their family crests, indicating their lineage. Two of the three were from the Black and Rich families. The third, seated in the center, wore a crest of the Deathly Hallows—marking him as a disciple of the ancient master-apprentice tradition, unaffiliated with any family.
According to legend, the chief elders of the Council were selected by succession of knowledge and power—not by bloodline. Even if a family member inherited the role, he would renounce his family allegiance to uphold the neutrality of the Council.
After all, no true elder would sacrifice his path to godhood for the sake of family politics. Only newly ascended elders sometimes meddled in family affairs—like the Rich elder who had previously clashed with Phineas.
Following the chief elders, the other members of the Council entered, similarly robed but with gray inner linings instead of white.
As the elders took their places, the consular representatives rose in respect. Once seated, the meeting officially began.
As Phineas had expected, only one issue was discussed on the first day: placing wizards from the American continents under the jurisdiction of the Council of Elders.
All families agreed—after all, it was the Elders' proposal. But each had unique concerns to raise.
Corvus spoke first.
"We, the Lestrange family, don't oppose including American wizards under the Council's governance. But how do we go about it?"
Elrond added,
"Our Selwyn family formed an alliance with an American wizarding family not long ago. From that alliance, we learned how difficult life is for their wizards."
Phineas nodded.
"From what I've learned, American wizards are forced into hiding and rarely use magic openly. Obscurials have even begun appearing."
Kuzan agreed.
"We've heard the same. The Obscurial who once accompanied Grindelwald—Dumbledore's tragic case—was found in America. Many children there become Obscurials, and most of them don't survive childhood."
Corvus continued,
"That's why it will be difficult to assert control. Their wizarding communities are disconnected from the Muggle world. Many live under Muggle law and may not even know the Council exists, let alone be willing to join."
Phineas, Elrond, and Kuzan all nodded—an unusually unanimous agreement among the four consular families.
This revelation sparked murmurs among the elders. They, too, seemed unaware of the American wizarding world's true condition. Their primary concern was that as the Muggle nations in America rose in influence, their magical counterparts might drift outside the Council's reach—just like the mysterious and isolated magic culture in the East.
They feared another region falling beyond their control, especially if powerful entities or magic emerged there.
Bangbang.
A sharp knocking sound broke the murmurs. It was the chief elder, rapping the table with a bony finger. He cleared his throat and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"We understand your concerns. Our decisions are as follows. First, we shall designate a fifth consular family to oversee and represent American wizards. You will discuss and recommend candidates. We will make the final selection."
"Second, the native magic of American wizards is of great interest. Their spells may work differently. More importantly, there are many unsealed entities and artifacts we've never dealt with."
Phineas's eyes widened.
He had overlooked one of the Council's most important duties—sealing.
Like Herpo the Foul, whose numerous Horcruxes made him too dangerous to destroy and thus sealed in the depths of the Atlantic. Or the secret beneath Hogwarts—an artifact powerful enough to upend the world, sealed away by the Council.
And yet, in America, no such seals existed. If such threats had gone unsealed for centuries and the world remained intact… it suggested something terrifying.
Perhaps the Council sealed not what threatened the world—but what threatened them.
Could they be suppressing demigods who might interfere with their ascension?
Was that what happened to Slytherin?
According to Hufflepuff, Slytherin still lived. But no trace of him existed in the modern world. Had he been sealed by the Elders?
Suddenly, it all made sense.
Perhaps the Council's true motive wasn't global governance—but neutralizing a new threat to their path to godhood rising from America.
After making the announcements, the chief elder closed his eyes and dozed off.
The families began discussing who should become the fifth consular family.
"Elrond spoke first.
"The Abbott family is capable."
The Abbotts, a Selwyn offshoot, had preserved their pure bloodline for generations, even practicing close-relative marriages like the Blacks and Riches. They were renowned for their life magic. Abbott-run taverns existed in most of Europe.
Kuzan sneered.
"By that logic, the Nott family is even more qualified. They created the Pure-Blood Registry and are shrouded in mystery. No one knows how many ancient secrets they hold."
Phineas nodded.
"The Notts are said to descend from the Goddess of Night. Sakaski Rich once used them in a failed attempt at apotheosis."
Kuzan's expression darkened. The Sakaski incident had been widely known due to its ties to Hogwarts and Phineas, and had loosened the Notts' allegiance to the Rich family.
Corvus interjected with a smile,
"I think the Brian family is a solid choice."
Elrond chuckled.
"You mean relatives of the Bryants? The same Bryants who tried to kill the Black family heir and were annihilated for it? You're either overestimating their loyalty to you, or underestimating the Black family's resolve."
Sirius leaned forward, arms on the table.
"If the Brians become consulars, the Blacks will go to war."
Phineas nodded in agreement.
"If you're still undecided, I'll suggest the Potter family. Harry Potter is their only direct descendant—but that's a strength, not a weakness. There's no internal strife. And their bloodline is as pure as any. They're descended from the Peverell brothers—the third, to be precise. I see no reason they can't serve."