Unusually for a weekend, the floo entrance of the Ministry of Magic was bustling.
Clerks and staff ran to and fro on errand after errand while Lords and Ladies scattered throughout the corridors, walking where they pleased, talking, plotting, bowing, curtseying, occasionally shouting, and even more occasionally, pulling wands.
Every few seconds, the emerald green fires burning along the entrance hallway flared as another wizard or witch emerged after a roller-coaster ride from somewhere up or down the country.
Lord Malfoy exited the floo with the effortless ease of someone completely at home in such surroundings, brushing off an errant speck of soot that had the temerity to befoul his otherwise immaculate Wizengamot robes.
A few moments later, he was joined in quick succession by Narcissa and Virgo.
He nodded to his wife who nodded back, turned with a swish, and moved off on a mission of her own.
Turning back to Virgo, Lucius did his best to act like a man who was in complete control of his family. “Come, daughter,” he said. “And remember what we discussed.”
Virgo said nothing. That was safer. She instead nodded and followed Lord Malfoy in the direction of the Basilisk hearing, idly playing with a tiny box in her pocket – a box connected by a protean charm to an exact replica she’d already placed in Rita Skeeter’s office, a good few months ago – ready to unleash Harry’s identity the moment he appeared weakened, or else threaten mutual destruction if he tried anything against her life.
— DPaSW: TGS —
Lord Jacob Greengrass stepped out from the ministry floo in a swirl of Greengrass green robes and immediately made a beeline towards some familiar faces. His wife and daughter should be joining him soon, but until then, he planned to get right down to business.
“Smith! Zazo!”
The two lords turned at his advance, Smith decked out in full plate armour under his robes with his customary war hammer over his shoulder, while Zazo was dressed miles better than Jacob could ever recall.
“Jacob!” Zazo answered with a beaming smile. “How many times do I have to tell you, old chap. Call me Russell. Call me friend! For I am now bent in eternal gratitude to your service for as long as I draw breath! And to the service of our inimitable mysterious lord of lords.”
“Shhh,” Smith hissed. “Iks-nay on the Lord of Lords-nay.” But he still had a twinkle in his eyes as he turned back to Jacob.
“All ready for today, old chap? Lots on the docket.”
“About as ready as we can be,” Jacob answered. “We’ll just take it one hearing at a time and see where the chips fall.”
Smith snorted. “On that note. Up for a round of Wizarding Poker after we’re all done here? I know I’m going to need more than a few drinks to unwind.”
Jacob smiled back. “Sure. You in, Russell?”
Zozo grinned. “Do not think that my just-found joy at the delight of débonair discourse will dull my mind in games of chance and bluff! Of course, I’m in.”
Smith’s face turned serious. “Speaking of a Lord of Lords, coming up behind you, Jacob.”
Jacob turned.
It was Albus Dumbledore.
— DPaSW: TGS —
“Why, Luv, did you insist on bringing that box with you?” Bozo asked, extracting a smouldering dog-eared cigarette from his mouth and putting it out on the nearby ‘Thank you for not smoking here’ sign.
YOU ARE READING
DPASW BOOK FOUR:The Gray's Secret
FanficHarry Potter has been banged up for ten years in the hellhole brig of Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit, and his traitorous brother, the not-really-boy-who-lived, has royally messed things up. After meeting Fate and Death, Harry is given a secon...
