So Much for No Strings Attached

Chapter 56 A Shift in the Balance

 

The doors were already open and people were entering. To the left of where they had entered was where those who were Dark-aligned sat. The Light sat at the other side of the room. Then those who didn’t align with either or fell somewhere in the middle sat in the middle directly opposite the door.

 

Tom took the seat to Lucius’ right in the front of the Dark Party seats. The seating position was very telling as Lucius was the current leader of the Dark Party and had been for the last five years. Harry and Draco, on the other hand, were right at the back of the Dark Party seats with the other Dark Heirs and Heiresses who had come with their parents to watch.

 

They were not to say anything or interfere in the court processes. If they did cause trouble not only would their parents and Houses be shamed but they would not be allowed back until they were on the Wizengamot. It was why not all Heirs and Heiresses were invited and not all at the same age. From what Harry knew of his godfather’s childhood Orion Black had never deemed Sirius worthy of attending.

 

As it was there were nine other Dark Heirs and Heiresses between the ages of eleven and seventeen present. Harry recognised several of them from the Club and knew that most of them had at least one Death Eater parent. That was likely why they were looking at Harry with a mixture of fear and awe; even the younger ones who hadn’t been trusted enough to be told of Harry’s switch in allegiances. Thankfully, Draco resolved the situation by quickly introducing the others to him.

 

 ‘And, of course, you know Heir Nott,’ Draco finished.

 

‘Theo,’ smiled Harry. ‘How is the Warding going?’

 

‘Good,’ Theo replied. ‘Still wish it was an elective at Hogwarts.’

 

‘Why isn’t it?’ asked Heiress Una Dromore.

 

Draco snorted, ‘Dumbledore.’

 

Harry nodded, ‘when Dumbledore became Headmaster he began to phase out a lot of the electives and some core classes. Oh, he didn’t sack anyone without cause but nor did he replace them when they retired. He said he would replace them but claimed he could not find teachers to fill the post and eventually people stopped asking.

 

‘Additionally, for all the core classes that used to have two teachers they already have one even Dumbledore had McGonagall. Why do you think the Heads of House have no time for us? Before Dumbledore the Heads of House were expected to take time with each of the years to make sure that we were happy and settled. But they just don’t have time between lesson plans, marking, actual lessons and patrolling the corridors at night,’ Harry said. ‘I’m actually surprised they’re able to get everything done and sleep without the use of Time Turners.’