Albus Dumbledore sat in his throne-like chair in the Wizengamot Chamber as the members filed in. Cornelius Fudge had called another session three days after the article in the Daily Prophet came out. Although Albus had been against the measure to issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Twist, he was curious to see what information had been gathered. If the aurors returned with Mr. Twist in tow, so much the better.
"Well Cornelius, get on with it," snapped Augusta Longbottom impatiently. "Two emergency sessions in a week is a bit extreme, even for you. So what has your knickers in a twist this time?"
A few nervous titters could be heard. Cornelius looked pained as he stood at the podium. Picking up a parchment scroll, he read:
"By royal decree the warrant for the arrest of Oliver Twist is declared null and void."
Several gasps and murmurs came from the seated members.
"The body known hereafter as the Wizengamot is not invested with the authority to call for the arrest of one of Our citizens for treason. Facts, as presented to Us, show no acts of treason but rather questions from a teenage minor concerning the rights of Our citizens.
Let it therefore be known..."
A low growl rumbled through the chamber as Cornelius paused. The scroll in his hands shook visibly. He licked his lips nervously as he glanced around. Never had he been so thankful for the protection charms on the chamber that prohibited spell casting by its members or spectators. In the past, several members had died due to hexing by irate constituents. After the last episode, the chamber had been spelled to quell all magics cast by anyone save the aurors.
He gulped a quick sip of water and then continued: "Let it be known that We, Elizabeth the Second, Queen of the United Kingdom, House of Windsor are greatly displeased with the governing body of the Wizarding World.
"Equality, under the law, is granted to all subjects of Our Realm, not to a select few. That this body so promotes such prejudices as to deny Our citizens, fettered or free, legal rights under Our laws due to blood status, or heritage, is against the laws of Our Commonwealth, and the treaties signed by your forefathers. It shall cease forthwith lest you earn Our further displeasure.
The bodies of the Wizengamot and position of Minister of Magic are hereby apprised that if this situation is not corrected by the end of the year, then We will have no choice but to declare the magical portion of the Magna Carta, along with several other treaties, in abeyance. Should this become necessary, then the governing of the Wizarding World will be returned to Our proper rule and all Wizarding governing bodies will be disbanded.
Cornelius Fudge cringed as he read the royal signature. A deadly calm filled the chamber.
"Just who is this upstart muggle? What rights does she have over us?" shouted Lucius Malfoy as he and several other purebloods stood in anger while others began to speak.
"By what right does she dictate to us?" shouted another.
"Are you mad?" shouted Madam Longbottom over the pandemonium. When the noise died enough, she went on to say, "Did not your tutors teach you about English government? She is no mere muggle. She has been our Sovereign since 1952. You would do well to remember this."
"The royal family is from a long line of squibs!" sputtered Madam Marchbanks. "Every now and then, one of them has enough magic to get a letter from Hogwarts."
"But there are no royals at Hogwarts now?"
"No," Albus interjected. "None of the current royal family have shown any signs of active magic."
YOU ARE READING
Poison Pen
FanfictionHarry has had enough of seeing his reputation shredded in the Daily Prophet and decides to do something about it. Only he decides to embrace his Slytherin side to rectify matters.
