Chapter 34
Dumbledore sat in the middle of the room, as rows upon rows of seats circled out from his sides, seats which were filled with the most prominent lords and officials of Britain's Wizarding Society.
It was rare for him to see the Wizengamont filled to the brim, but it was one such day, for no lord would dare miss this historic session. Abraxus and his friends had pushed as hard as they could to sway the votes to their side, but as rich and powerful as he may be, the death of two Aurors and the nature of his son's crimes made it hard for him to sway the votes.
And the tally was in front of him, as the entire Wizengamont waited for him with bated breath, while Albus himself prayed for the future of this world.
"We have the tally," Albus began, as he picked up the hammer, struck the gavel, and announced his decision.
"Regarding the motion submitted today, we have twenty for nays, and twenty for yays," and immediately the entire room grew still, as the implications of the vote dawned on them all.
"The Motion passes. Trial date and time for the Trial shall be set by the DMLE...." and pandemonium broke out, as Abraxus and his friends began to cause a ruckus. It took several minutes for it all to settle down, until they began to walk out in protest, until only Abraxus remained.
"Know this that you shall all suffer for the choices that you have made....!"
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LILY EVANS
Lily did not know how, but her brother had worked his magic on their father somehow, and now the three of them found themselves at the McKinnon family mansion. Petunia was supposed to come with them, yet their sister had caused a massive ruckus at their father's announcement and had left the house in her rage to go and stay with her boyfriend.
Their father had gone after her, yet despite his constant pleas, she had refused to budge. In the end, they left without her as the four of them came to the McKinnons' family mansion for the Summer.
It had always been her dream to see how people from magical families spent their summers, and she was quite enjoying her time. Here, there was no restriction on her about using magic, and the library at Marlene's house was filled with so many books that she could hardly make out their titles.
Though the situation at the Home was nearly as tense as their own home, and the reason for the tension was now an open Secret, as she stared at the headline on the Prophet.
~OGDEN AND McKINNON CARRY THE VOTE! MALFOY TRIAL TO GO AHEAD!~
by Larry Bird
~MALFOY PROMISES RETRIBUTION IN WALK OUT! CALLS THE VOTE A DISGRACE FOR PUR-BLOOD CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS!~
by Jerry West
~ALBUS DUMBLEDORE CALLS FOR LENIENCY! THE HEAMASTER STILL HOPES FOR 'PEACE'!~
by Elisa Farman
The headlines went on and on, and this was amongst the thickest issues of the Prophet she had ever seen, and she had hardly ever realised that Marlene's family held such importance.
"So, they are finally going to put him on trial," she asked, as they lay around in Marlene's room.
"Yes," and Marlene was trying her hand at potions as Lily skimmed through the articles.
"I never knew your family was so important," she asked, turning her head as she showed her the Headline, and her friend simply shrugged.
"My grandfather was the Head of the DMLE for quite a few years during the last war, so he does hold some sway at the Ministry," McKinnon added, though if the article was to be believed, he had been the one to rally the votes against Malfoy's father.
Though that was not the only thing that the article mentioned.
"Do you really think that there is going to be a war?" she asked somewhat worriedly, and until now, she had heard whispers about it, but now Abraxus Malfoy and his friends were openly threatening them with war.
"Nobody knows, really," and Marlene stopped stirring and came to sit beside her, as she began to skim over the paper herself.
"Honestly, nobody knows much about this 'Lord Voldemort' of theirs, and how far he is willing to go," still, if the earlier articles about the crimes he had encouraged against the Muggles were anything to go by, Lily felt that he was willing to go rather far.
"Still, his support is beginning to crumble. Until now, he had been nothing but a whisper, but now with the trial set to start, he can no longer afford to hide," and she frowned.
"Why?" she asked, wanting to understand it all a bit better, for as much as he may try to hide it, yet his nervousness and worry were there for all to see.
"Because at the trial they will surely ask Malfoy and the rest about this Dark Lord of theirs, and as soon as it is established that he was an accomplice during the attack, then he will be a wanted man," and with that, the entire power of the Ministry would be after him.
"Bagnold's already preparing a special force just to tackle this problem," and so there was going to be a war indeed, a war that very well might have been started by her own twin.
Lily looked towards Marlene, as she remembered the day it had all begun, and decided that she was rather done with secrets.
"It was him, wasn't it?" she asked, as Marlene frowned.
"What are you talking about?" Marlene asked, not turning her gaze away from the Paper.
"Alder," she began.
"He was the one who leaked Malfoy's plans, wasn't he?" and Marlene stilled at the accusation, as she finally met her eyes.
"He told you," she asked hesitantly, and she shook her head.
"No, but I had a hunch that it was him," and it was not just her. She knew for a fact that James and his friend had the same hunch, yet none dared to ask him about it.
Because this explained everything. His nervousness. His newfound obsession with wards and the increased vigor of his practice. Even now, Alder was holed up in the McKinnon family's duelling room in the basement, while the rest of their families mingled with one another.
Their mothers had hit it off at once over a love for cooking, and both their fathers had spent quite a few hours debating over the quality of spirits in the two worlds.
"Yes, it was him," and to think that he had gotten involved in something so big.
"Was it because of Narcissa?" she asked, and Lily did not dislike the Slytherin girl, but still had her reservations about her dating Alder. Narcissa was quiet and simple enough, yet it was her sister and her family that worried her.
Sirius had regaled her with enough tales about his family that she did not have a favorable view of the Blacks, and that all was reinforced by her rather limited interaction with Narcissa's eldest sibling, Bellatrix.
According to the rumors, she was one of the staunchest supporters of this dark lord, and Sirius had mentioned how she was rather unhinged. Lily worried that perhaps for the first time in his life, Alder might have bitten off more than he could chew.
"He says no, but I really doubt that it did not play a part. Though they did have their own little rivalry," and yet she agreed with Marlene's assessment.
"Is that why you invited our entire family to your home?" she asked, and again she was right.
"Are we in danger?" she asked further, and Marlene sighed.
"Hopefully no," she answered, and that was not as encouraging as Marlene thought.
"Still, we know very little about this enemy, and I thought it wise if your family was here with us during the Summer or at least until the trial was over," and for the first time in her life, Lily doubted her brother's actions.
"But what about your family? Won't us being here put you in danger?" she asked, and McKinnon scoffed.
"Our manor is old and ancient. It has very intricate wards all around it, and with the political climate being as it is, I doubt that your presence here would make any difference at all," and she doubted it was all as simple as she made it out to be.
"But..."
"No buts," Marlene cut in.
"I am tired of all this talk of politics and war. Why don't we go and visit Alice and see how the wedding preparations are going?" Marlene suggested, and Lily agreed to the idea.
"Sure," she said.
"We will ask permission during dinner tonight, but first let me write to her..." and with that, Marlene jumped up and pulled out some paper and a quill, as Lily sat there and stared at the paper once more, as her eyes refused to leave the word written in bold.
"WAR!"
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LORD VOLDEMORT
His support was fraying. The defeat at the Wizengamont had made his supporters doubt him, and many were fleeing from his side, and he could see the doubt and anger in the gazes of the rest that still remained.
The loss at the Wizengamont had been a great blow to his reputation, and now he had no choice but to act.
It was a shame, though, for the preparations were not yet complete, and such a day was years away if things were to go according to his plans. Yet his hand had been forced, and now he had to show the world the consequences of going against him.
"I know that you doubt me," he began as he walked through the rows upon rows of Death Eaters assembled in his Hall.
"We don't, my lord," Bellatrix was quick to add, and he shook her head.
"I know that you don't, my dear Bella. But there are many here who now question my power, who even regret their service," he spoke softly, as his eyes glanced towards Abraxus and his group, and the old man did not deny his accusations.
"It pains me to see the doubt in your eyes," he began, and the pain from his latest ritual still lingered all over his body, yet he could wait no more.
He had to answer lest he lose what little support he still had.
"But no matter. Tonight, I shall show you the true might of the Dark Lord," and that unsettled the room.
"The Ministry thinks that it can put us on trial without any consequences. They are wrong, and now they shall suffer for betraying their own pure blood kin, all at the behest of some mindless muggles," and though the incident had pushed his hand, it had also deepened the rift between the political factions of Wizarding World, and now with the threat of Azkaban hanging over their heads, the purists had little choice but to follow his lead.
"Tonight, we strike at the man responsible for this great disaster. The very person who leaked our plans to the traitors at the Ministry so that they could capture our companions," and now the room was abuzz with rage, and he smiled as he felt their anger and lust for revenge.
"Who was it!" Abraxus asked as he stepped forward.
"Tell us the name of that bastard!" Lestrange joined him as Voldemort nodded.
"He is none other than Alder Evans," and many frowned as they failed to recognise the name, but Abraxus recognised it, and so did Lestrange, for this was not the first time they had come across it.
"Yes, indeed. It is the very boy who had the esteemed heir to the Lestrange family expelled. A Mudblood with no heritage of his, intent on ruining the good name of old and ancient families like yours," and now the mood was set.
"I WILL KILL HIM!"
"I WILL MURDER HIS ENTIRE FAMILY!"
"Silence," and his whisper drowned out the noise in an instant.
"Indeed, the mudblood has made an outreach, but what else should we have expected out of an animal and a thief. Yet the sad part is that this thief now enjoys the protection and hospitality of one of our own," and now the room gasped at his words.
"Indeed, our fear has made him abandon his little home, and he has fled to the mansion of the McKinnons in fear of my wrath," and that dulled the enthusiasm, for it was the McKinnons who were an old family. Their mansion would be surrounded by wards and protections older than many men here.
"The traitor shall suffer, yet I ask this of you. What should be the fate of the blood traitor McKinnons, who have not only betrayed their own kin, but are also protecting a mudblood and thief?"
"DEATH! DEATH!"
They all chorused together as Voldemort.
"I agree," he answered their noise.
"And that is what we shall grant them tonight," he began, as he rose into the air and unleashed his magic.
"Tonight, the world shall learn to fear the name Voldemort...."
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