"The Chief Warlock is expecting you. He said you may wait in his office." Her disapproval was obvious in her voice. The Marauders exchanged a glance and moved to the door. Sirius later commented the woman scared him more than Madam Pince.
No one that had seen Dumbledore's Hogwart's office would have expected the Chief Warlock's office. Where the Headmaster's office was cluttered, eccentric, and personable, this office was grand and formal in its decoration and the furniture. Two large windows dominated the wall behind the formal desk showing a scene of Muggle London as though from high atop a skyscraper. Harry thought of pictures he'd seen in primary school of the Oval Office in the US White House. This was definitely in the same family.
The older two wizards sat down on one of two couches facing each other with a simple ornate wooden coffee table between them. A padded wooden chair sat at the end of the table between the two couches. Harry had no doubt that was Dumbledore's chair. Harry started drifting around the room looking at various artefacts and paintings of famous events in Wizarding history.
Harry was looking at one painting that showed a Roman legion fighting Celtic tribesmen while spells flew from both sides although the Romans seemed to have many more wizards in their ranks.
"Ah, the Battle of Londium," Professor Dumbledore commented as he stepped up next to Harry. "The natives attacked the Roman camp that stood near our modern London. It was a disaster for them as most of their Druid magic-users were slain or captured by the Romans. A minor battle from a Muggle point of view but critical in Wizarding history for the triumph of wand magic over the old magik of the Druids and their ilk."
"We never covered that in History of Magic," Harry commented.
Dumbledore sighed in an uncomfortable manner. "They say history is written by the winners. While I believe that is true, we still often edit that history to feel better about our ancestors' actions. Many of our prominent magical families trace their roots back to people on both sides of this particular battle and no one is truly proud of the Roman treatment of their captive Druids so of course we completely ignore it ever happened."
Harry could only nod as he considered the older wizard's words. He'd seen that behaviour himself with his family's story. The story of the Boy-Who-Lived focused on an infant Harry miraculously surviving an survivable curse. It completely ignored the sacrifices of his blood-traitor father and Muggleborn mother. They kept the story they wanted and ignored the uncomfortable truths. It was also why so many still saw him as the Boy-Who-Lived and ignored Harry.
"I can see that," Harry said. Dumbledore simply nodded and gestured to where Sirius and Remus were waiting on the couches.
Over the next ten minutes, Remus told the elder wizard of the conversation w in Diagon Alley and the werewolves' gathering. Harry also provided his concerns about the upcoming Wizengamot session. Dumbledore never lost his genial, eye-twinkling demeanour but Harry caught signs of concern, dismay, and - oddly enough - approval.
Only once they finished did Dumbledore speak. "First let me say I am humbled that you have brought this to me. I know I failed in ensuring your wellbeing after placing you with your Aunt and Uncle. I see this as the second greatest failure of my life.
"But now to the matter at hand, I believe that Mr Potter is correct in what our opponents plan for the Wizengamot session tomorrow. That is in fact why I am in this office today;" Dumbledore said. "May I cast a spell on you, Harry?"
At Harry's agreement Dumbledore drew his wand and cast. " Lychanus " A soft blue glow surrounded Harry. Then he cancelled the spell and cast again. " Pecus comissor !" Now a soft green glow formed around Harry.
"Fascinating," Dumbledore mumbled as he cancelled the spell. I've started reading Ms Granger and Ms Patil's studies but to see it for myself is most fascinating." Harry was tempted to ask if the Headmaster had pointed ears after that comment.
"As fascinating as this is from a magical perspective, I fear I have no way of truly blocking this from coming out somehow in the Wizengamot. Their strategy is to divert the focus from Tom's return to the identity of the Beast. However, not everything is bleak.
"As you know the Nott family is no longer in existence. This has left their seat empty until a new family can be named and approved by the Wizengamot. This removes one vote from the Dark block at least for now. In a remarkable coincidence, three other Dark-leaning families lost their Family Heads that same night."
"Pure coincidence, I am sure," Sirius added sarcastically.
"Indeed," Dumbledore agreed. "Now all three of those families have Heirs but they cannot take their seats until the next regular session. In fact, I already received their petitions to be included in the agenda."
"Were the Malfoys one of the families?" Harry asked with a smile. Dumbledore gave him a disappointed look.
"No, Lucius Malfoy appears to have survived that night. I would assume he was wounded as he has not made an appearance in the Ministry today."
"So what do you suggest?" Remus asked.
"I find that the best thing to do it to tell the truth - or at least as much of it as required to prevent their strategy from working. If we provide the whole memory of that night and simply say Harry has achieved a type of animagus transition than much of their strategy will be thwarted before it can truly begin," Dumbledore answered.
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