The Contract

Chapter 122

March 19th

Rabastan blinked at the sight of his father dressed ready for the day so early. He had his Wizengamot robes folded neatly under his arm. Which was promptly placed at the far end of the table to avoid any staining this late. Not that it mattered really, but he would rather not go with a stain (that he failed to notice) or waste time - when he normally left so he was just on time - cleaning the mess up.

"A meeting? So soon?" Rabastan enquired, gaze following his father's steady gait as he sat at the head of the table. There was only one reason his father would have that plum monstrosity with him.

"This soon," Corvus nodded as he sat, "Do not worry yourself so, Harry knows better than to get himself worked up." At least he hoped so, and from what he heard from Aurelius and Harry himself, he was a little stressed but nothing too bad considering he was facing his largest challenge to date. Trying to keep up with politics and his education.

At the other side of the dining room, honey, wine, bread and fresh meat sat atop an altar, with incense burning merrily. An offering to the Goddess Astarte, for the 19th of March was the beginning of the holiday to celebrate her.

"Perhaps," Rabastan said making a little sound that was neither agreement or disagreement. "Harry said that most of the Muggle-born students remained at Hogwarts." He informed his father, as they began to eat their breakfast.

Surprise flittered over Corvus' face, "I must confess, I didn't think that would happen." Especially since it didn't happen the last few years, the students left Hogwarts in a huff that they wouldn't get to celebrate 'Easter' and stuff their faces with chocolate.

There was only one place that was really losing out in the magical world. Honeydukes, they catered to the Muggle borns by creating easter eggs, which weren't exactly flying off the shelf now that their true religion was once again on the rise.

"They're beginning to come around," Rabastan explained, shrugging his shoulders. "Nobody likes change, not even the Muggle-borns and now hopefully, this will set us on the right path." A gleam of pride and sheer happiness in his gaze. What Dumbledore had done was diabolical, systematically changing the entire magical world to suit the Muggle borns.

Better still, there was no war, no needing to use lethal force to get their point across. Labelled the bad guys for wanting to preserve their world. Quite frankly, the fear of magic fading entirely due to not being properly worshiped was a terrifying, terrifying thing.

"It's about time," Corvus declared, nose twitching at Rabastan's greasy meal, while he ate something healthy. He did add a piece of toast to his breakfast, he was rather famished this morning and he had no idea when there would be a break to get something more later.

"But it's happening," Rabastan pointed out. It was better than the alternative.

Corvus made a noise of agreement, he had been there and saw their world decline into madness. Watched as Yule was removed replaced with Christmas. Watched the solstices went unappreciated and unsung. Everything was different, and his own sons were at Hogwarts. Generations of Lestrange's had attended the school, it was tradition...yet he strongly thought about removing them. Allowing them to attend Durmstrang which still practiced the olde ways and had a spectacular Dark Arts programme.

Instead, he'd let them attend with their friends, and gave them a stellar education and worshiped the appropriate (their) gods and goddesses whilst home. Cautioning on them on who they dared reveal it to, since such practices were outlawed.

"Do you believe it's going to be a long day?" Rabastan asked his father, "Harry and I had plans to meet up in Hogsmeade today." With a good cloak, nobody would pay much attention to him, and he'd already demanded and paid for a private room in the Raywven restaurant. Which was extremely private, very exclusive, and definitely not for school students, although they do allow takeaways on Hogsmeade day, for those who could afford their food. Although, they didn't let them use any of the tables.