章 15: Ch15. Wizarding Britain in chaos 1
Bones Manor.
Amelia Bones was returning home from her office, utterly tired. Today she had to yet again deal with the Minister of Magic himself, the esteemed Fudge. And what a god-awful name that was! Almost as foul and dumb as the man himself! Amelia didn't know how long she would last under his rule. Her prospects certainly weren't bright! The idiot cut the budget of her department as if he was playing house instead of managing a state!
She shook her head in sadness.
'The public chooses. What can I do.' She sighed and just as she was about to open the door, she spotted Gringotts mail on the porch.
'Susan.' Amelia clicked her tongue in annoyance. 'How many times do I have to tell the girl to pick the damn mail?'
She picked up the letters as she sluggishly closed the door with her foot, depositing her handbag on a table in the hall.
'Home sweet home.' Amelia took a deep breath. 'Cheer up, girl! It wouldn't do to act depressed in front of your niece!'
She plastered the biggest smile she could muster and shouted.
"Susan, I am home!"
Suddenly a pitter-patter came from the stairs as a red missile ran at Amelia, engulfing her in a hug. Amelia's world instantly brightened as she saw her niece's sweet smile.
'Yes, this is why my work is still worth it.' She returned the smile in kind.
"Aunt, how was your day?" Susan asked meekly.
"Good, little lady. And yours? I saw you were busy!" Amelia put her hands on her hips. "The mail certainly thinks so."
Susan's ears reddened in embarrassment and she pouted, her eyes darting from place to place.
"I was reading about potions."
"Of course you were. Are you sure you didn't look at these fashion magazines you hide under your bed?" Amelia quipped, knowing the answer.
"No!" Susan's face became even redder than her hair, making Amelia ponder if the girl is not a hidden metamorphmagus.
"Are you sure?" Amelia teased her.
"Yes!" Susan barked out quickly, making Amelia grin.
"Eh? Not even those you hide in your table?" Amelia's grin widened.
The little redhead refused to meet her aunt's gaze with a cute pout.
"Ah, ah. I am sorry, Sue." Amelia said with utmost sincerity but then her eyes gained devilish gleam. "I know you were actually browsing through the magazine of half-naked Quidditch players I hide under my bed." She threw her little niece a winning smile.
Susan gasped in surprise but then scowled as she crossed her hands on her chest in protest. The steam rising from her head though was confession enough for Amelia.
"Okay, Princess, let me just go through the mail and we will see about putting together some food, okay?" Amelia waved the stack of letters in front of Susan.
Susan eagerly nodded and followed her aunt into the kitchen.
Amelia sat down behind the kitchen table and gave her attention to the mail. She picked up a Gringotts notice and started to read.
---
Head of the Most Ancient And Noble House Bones,
We, Gringotts, regretfully inform you of the dismissal of a betrothal contract owed by the Most Ancient And Noble House Bones to the Founder House Slytherin. As the contract was canceled by Lord Slytherin himself, no further recompense is needed and the debt owed by your esteemed House is considered forgiven.
Signed Sharpfang, account manager of the Founder House Slytherin.
---
Amelia froze as her hand holding the letter trembled.
The House Slytherin was back.
'Who could be Lord Slytherin though? Is it… Voldemort!?' Amelia abruptly stood up in a frenzy, sending her chair flying. She grasped her trembling hand, forcefully calming it.
'No. That sick madman would never just let us scot-free if we owed anything to him. Lord Slytherin is someone else.' She calmed down a little.
'Deep breaths, Amelia. Deep breaths. Keep calm. You are better than this!' She admonished herself.
Susan seeing her aunt's reaction got really worried and looked at her with her wide lovely eyes curiously.
Amelia felt her nieces gaze and gave her a broken smile.
"Merlin smiled at us, Susan." Amelia gave her the letter. "In cases like this, the responsibility falls onto the youngest or the most important female family member not yet married, in this case, you. Only God knows why Slytherin decided to dismiss it, but thank whatever deity responsible!"
Susan read it and showed a complicated expression.
"Who is Lord Slytherin though?" Susan asked due to never hearing about anyone like that. At most, she heard about house Slytherin at Hogwarts.
"That doesn't matter. What really matters is, you don't have to marry him." Amelia rebuked a little too harshly.
Susan flinched in fear at her aunt's harsh tone and cold eyes, making Amelia regret her reaction.
"Oh, come here Princess." Amelia spread her arms wide, hugging Susan tightly. "I would never give you to some pedo-snake!"
Both girls relished their hug, completely forgetting the remaining mail, happy the obligation their family owed was settled without any repercussions for them. They were well-aware they dodged proverbial Avada Kedavra there!
The witches of House Bones, the former house of the most feared necromancers Britain ever knew, didn't yet know the real nightmare is only waiting for them. Unopened at the bottom of the forgotten pile of mail. For certain Most Ancient And Noble House Black wanted their debts to be repaid in full. And repay they will.
After all, their priceless family tomes on the darkest arts of necromancy would be quite appreciated in the Black library, wouldn't they?
…
Professor McGonagall, the last McGonagall, sat in her rocking chair enjoying her summer vacation, sipping her evening tea, and relishing the nature in front of her house when a Gringotts owl dropped a letter right into her lap.
The old witch raised her eyebrows at the owl and grumbling about stupid goblins, she opened the letter.
---
Head of the Ancient And Noble House McGonagall,
We, Gringotts, regretfully inform you of the dismissal of a betrothal contract owed by the Ancient And Noble House McGonagall to the Founder House Slytherin. As the contract was canceled by Lord Slytherin himself, no further recompense is needed and the debt owed by your esteemed House is considered forgiven.
Signed Sharpfang, account manager of the Founder House Slytherin.
---
The witch that braved through the battlefield, wands blazing, against the latest and some of the worst Dark Lords in history fainted sooner than she could finish the letter.
…
Loud rage-filled screams reverberated through the Greengrass Manor as Lord Greengrass gave his study a quick make-over. Most of the furniture blasted to smithereens by Bombarda curse, cut to pieces by Diffindo or reduced to rumble by Reducto.
Greengrass, the fervent follower of the old ways whose members always end up in Slytherin! No! He, Asmodeus Greengrass, is Lord Greengrass and he won't accept it!
Lord Greengrass proceeded to utterly demolish his study room, destroying everything bar a single letter with Gringotts insignia. The letter that will bring complete shame to the Greengrass household and many more houses among the Dark Side for days to come.
…
Inside the Burrow was chaos.
Molly Weasley hollered at the Gringotts owl profanity after profanity for her house being called a vassal of Slytherin while the poor bird just gave her a head-tilt.
Ginerva Weasley loudly wept on the floor, muttering how she will marry Harry Potter, not some Slytherin. Oh, if only she knew.
Ron Weasley was muttering something about filthy snakes wanting to screw his sister and steal from his house. Nobody will ever know where the lad learned such a complicated word nor what gave the little rat courage to proclaim his house has anything of value to be stolen.
Percy Weasley was over and over stating that rules should be followed and therefore the debt should be paid, even if it means Ginny's marriage to Lord Slytherin, silently hoping it would earn him a brownie point with the Lord. Unknowingly only earning numerous stink eyes and possible future silent treatment from his family.
Fred and Gorge grinned like madmen exclaiming about masterful pranks and the possibility of getting tutelage from Lord Slytherin. Gaining them a chase around the Burrow with a very crazed and very mad Molly Weasley with a bewitched belt by her side.
Small garden rat missing a toe watched the happenings in quiet wonder, thinking if its master had gone bonkers, forgiving the debts owed to his house. Maybe it was time to show itself? Maybe his punishment won't even hurt so much? Maybe…
When Arthur Weasley later came home after an especially tiring day at work, he quickly understood why work is a home away from home for so many men. He certainly had no energy putting his half-demolished house back together.
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