𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ thirty-two

PREWETT TWINS FOUND DEAD IN DIAGON ALLEY! The headlines read. One day before the Order planned to mobilize to the now 'dead' Regulus Black's intel.

Maddilyn Snape cursed to herself. She apparated to the doorstep of the Greenhouse, walking into the foyer. She noted that many voices could be heard, mingling with each other.

"You said you had contacts in the Death Eaters. Death Eaters who are sympathetic to our cause," Molly Weasley née Prewett said, her eyes filling with tears. "Did you know about this?"

"No. I'm trying to get answers, trust me. My best bet is that Death Eaters went rogue or against the Dark Lord's order. Also, has Dumbledore informed you the Dark Lord's name is Taboo?" Maddie asked.

"I thought that was only a Malfoy family spell," Kingsley Shacklebolt said.

"The main branch of Malfoys are staunch supporters of our favorite Dark Lord. Molly, my people are figuring out what happened as we speak," Maddie reassured.

"What will happen to the House of Black, and their seat on the Wizengamot?" Kingsley asked. "Merlin knows the Light could use another Wizengamot seat in our favor. Especially the House of Black. Though they are few, they are still very powerful."

"Regulus, the former Head of House Black, is dead. Sirius, although he was reinstated as a member of House Black, is no longer eligible to be the Head of House because he was disowned by the former Head, Orion Black. Bellatrix Lestrange, Andromeda Tonks, and Narcissa Malfoy, all blood of the Blacks, are unable to take the role, as they are no longer acknowledged as eligible heirs as they are married witches and loyal to other Houses. Only the will of Regulus Black will decide the fate of the House of Black. My people are searching as we speak," Maddie said.

"There must be a way to put Sirius as the Head of House," Kingsley said. "What about the Interim Act of 1767?"

"Seriously, Kings?" Sirius asked amused. "Of course you would know the most recluse pureblood laws there are."

"He is the Head of House Shacklebolt," James commented. "Part of the almighty Sacred Twenty-Eight. Thank Merlin my ancestors blackmailed Cantankerus Nott to keep the Potters off the stupid book."

"The Potters still have a seat on the Wizengamot without being part of the Twenty-Eight," Molly Weasley pointed out. "Now, the Prewetts have no representation, and the Weasleys have long forfeited their seat."

"Interim Act doesn't do much, merely shows Sirius as the face and names him the Interim Head of House Black. The Act doesn't grant him any legal power, in or out of the Wizengamot. Especially considering the Disinheritance Laws of 1801, which completely rules out the chances of Sirius ever gaining the seat of Head of House Black," Maddie said.

"So that means the Family Tree Act of 1796 can be used?" Kingsley asked, a look of dread on his face.

"Which means the Lestranges could take up the Black seat in the Wizengamot," Maddie said, cursing under her breath.

"It wouldn't grant the Lestranges the House of Black though. Essentially, for any other purpose the Blacks serve would become defunct, in a sort of limbo. You sure no member of House Black can take up the Headship? Preferably sane?" Kingsley asked.

"Sorry to interrupt, but can you explain what the hell we're talking about?" Lily Evans asked. Half of the room was following the conversation perfectly, such as the Dowager Lady Longbottom, James Potter, who would never take on the title of Lord, and Sirius Black, while the other half felt completely lost just like Lily.

"Basically the Wizengamot is comprised of forty-nine seats which make up the court of Law of Wizarding Britain. Right now, in terms of the Black seat, it is in danger because there is no Head of House to fill the role. The Interim Act only grants power over the members of the house, not legal power. Essentially used to keep a House look perfect from the outside and to not show the world that their House is actually in chaos. The Disinheritance Laws prevent Sirius from becoming the Head of House because he was removed from the house as an Heir by the Head of House. He was reinstated as a member of the House, but not reinstated as an Heir. Even though Regulus reinstated him to the House, the Disinheritance Laws prevented him from ever making Sirius an heir again, even if he wanted to. Every other living member of House Black either married into the family or married out of the family, giving up the right to ever have a claim to the Headship. However, the Family Tree Act screws us up. This is a Pureblood law that helps other Houses gain power. The Lestranges could decide to enact it, and because they have Bellatrix, a member and formally eligible Heiress of House Black. The Act enables Bellatrix to become a legal proxy of House Black on the Wizengamot because there are no members of House Black who can fufill that role, but she has the blood of a Black, just not the name. Theoretically speaking, the House of Malfoy could also place Narcissa, but it is unlikely, because if Bellatrix steps forward, she is Narcissa's elder and Wizarding Laws are archaic, patriarchal and ageist," Maddie explained. "To sum it all up, the Lestranges could gain another vote in whatever they want passed."