Chapter 23
“Ahh, good evening, Cornelius,” Dumbledore greets. Lyra looks a little weird, doubled up the way she is- that is, with what looks like another of herself sharing the same space, working on the same page. He’d quickly hidden away the stacks of filled and unfilled paperwork three minutes ago, when Bonbon had sent him the warning that the Minister of Magic was coming; no matter the actual case, the image of the Headmaster of Hogwarts is not swamped by paperwork. He’d even suggested to Lyra that she disappear as well, and just skip the rest of today’s stack- but she’d refused.
She’d stated that every action has its price- and that it wouldn’t be hard for her to disguise the paperwork, to Fudge’s eyes and those of any other Ministry employees, as something more typical of detention. So, she’s still here, doing paperwork, with one of the most powerful disguise spells he’s ever seen making it look like she’s writing lines instead. He, of course, can see both her and the disguise- making for a very confusing appearance. He’s making it a point not to focus on that.
“Good evening, Dumbledore,” the Minister of Magic greets, before glancing sideways at Lyra. “Ahh, is there a reason she’s here?”
“She’s serving in detention,” Dumbledore answers calmly.
“Really?” Fudge looks at him incredulously.
“Yes,” Dumbledore states. “With how busy my professors are this year, I figured I could handle it myself.” He chuckles. “It’s not like it takes any particular effort, at any rate.”
Fudge peers over Lyra’s shoulder. “Copying lines?” he mutters, then squints closer. “ ‘I will not be a distraction’?” He looks up at Dumbledore. “What did she do?”
Lyra looks up sheepishly. “Oh, uh, I managed to disrupt every class in the building, simultaneously. I guess it was a bit loud.”
Dumbledore chuckles softly. While true, that hadn’t even been considered in setting her punishment- and in his opinion, is nothing next to the offense that had been considered. “So, Cornelius, what did you want to talk about?”
“Well,” Fudge begins. “Word is that you’ve accepted a large number of students into Hogwarts, from a nation we hitherto haven’t known about?”
Dumbledore raises an eyebrow. “You’re only finding out now?” he asks.
Fudge nods. “Ahh, yes. It seems nobody in Diagon Alley thought to inform the Ministry of large numbers of new Hogwarts students.”
“Ahh. Is there a problem?”
“A problem? Oh, no. I’d just like to know where the Book of Admittance managed to find a hundred thousand eleven-year-old wizards!”
“A hundred thousand?”
Nod. “Yeah. And that’s the low end of the estimates I’ve seen.”
“Ahh… that would be inaccurate, then. There are twelve thousand, two hundred ninety-three first-years this year. And frankly, I would like to know where the Book found them as well- aside from what I already know: Some other world.”
“You are aware that’s pretty close to the entire wizarding population of Britain, right?”
Nod. “I am. And, that doesn’t count that a majority of those that were invited… declined.”
“Oh… Uh, you do realize what this suggests for the wizarding population of their world, right?”
Another nod. “My guess is a couple million- though that’s being challenged more and more lately.”
“... Which is more wizards than exist on this entire planet by at least an order of magnitude.”
“We’re going to have fun teaching them,” Dumbledore states, though in a more wearied tone of voice.
Fudge sighs. “Yeah, I don’t see any reason not to, just yet.” He glances at Lyra. “Though we might need a few more instructors.” He looks back at Dumbledore. “And, might I ask, what’s that on your robes?”
Dumbledore raises an eyebrow. “Oh? You mean this?” He taps his mic with one hand.
“Yes.”
“It’s a microphone,” he answers. “As it turns out, the Equestrians have had no qualms about mixing with the muggles and using their various technologies.”
“Doesn’t muggle technology not work at Hogwarts?”
He smiles. “When I asked for an explanation, I got several terms I didn’t know before. Apparently, the thaumic turbulence of Hogwarts’ wards creates intense electromagnetic interference, which in turn completely demolishes the radio signal this device uses to communicate with others of its kind. They managed to bypass that issue by applying a thaumo-electric entanglement spell to the antennae.”
Blink. “You’re right, that is a lot of strange terms. What do they mean?”
“A lot,” Dumbledore sighs. “It took me several hours of research and a conversation with several muggle-born friends to figure them out. And I still don’t know exactly what thaumic turbulence is, or where to even begin on thaumo-electric entanglement. But whatever they are, and however they work, the device does its job: I can use it contact the Equestrian’s, ah, ambassador directly. And instantly.”
“They have an ambassador?”
He shakes his head. “Not exactly, but that’s the closest term I can think of.”
Fudge scowls. “How far away is he?”
“Ah, she is actually one of the students,” he answers. “Shall I call for her?”
“Ah, yes, please.”
He closes his hand on the microphone button. “Bonbon?”
“Yes, Professor Dumbledore?”
Smiling at Fudge’s expression, no doubt either wondering about Bonbon’s name or waiting for her response, Dumbledore presses the button again. “Could you come to my office, please?”
“On my way.”
He lowers his hand, smiling at the clearly confused Minister of Magic in front of him. “She’s on her way,” he informs Fudge. “Lemon drop?”
It takes Bonbon a few minutes to appear, but she eventually does, walking in through the door. She bows her head briefly to Fudge. “Minister, Sir,” she greets, before looking up at Dumbledore. “You called?”
“Yes,” Dumbledore answers simply, gesturing to Fudge.
Fudge turns more fully to her. “We were talking… Wait, why do you have two…” He glances at Dumbledore, before looking back at her. “Ah, microphones?”
Bonbon smiles. “Oh, that’s easy. One to communicate with Professor Dumbledore, and the other to coordinate with the rest of our team.”
“Your team? Wouldn’t it be better to have them all on the same one?”
Bonbon sighs. “You would think,” she states. “But no. There are about four hundred and fifty of us, and we usually speak in code anyways- all the way down to codenames. It would be nothing more than a distraction for the Headmaster. If anything comes up that he ought to know about, I can translate our codes for him.”
“... Ahh. I understand you’re from another world?”
“Yes sir,” Bonbon answers. “We hail from Equestria, of the planet Equus. Our interdimensional gateway is roughly four hundred miles from here.”
“It is?” Dumbledore asks.
She nods. “Unfortunately, without some very powerful spellwork to modify the magical core, it’s deadly for anyone from this side to pass through- so I can’t tell you any more about where it is. Suffice it to say, the gate is both guarded and warded against accidental- or harmful- entry.”
“What kind of powerful spellwork?”
“I am not familiar with the spells involved myself, though I am aware they work by expanding the subject’s magical capability to match that of an Equestrian- thus granting them the same stabilizing aspect in their magic that allows us to pass through the gate without harm.”
“Can you get the matrices to the Ministry?”
“I am afraid I cannot, Sir,” she answers. “The magic involved is far too powerful, far too dangerous, to risk allowing it to fall into the wrong hands. At this time, no written version of the spell exists, and only the original inventor knows any of the details or workings.”
He scowls. “Then can we have this inventor meet our ambassadors to perform it?”
“That would not work, Sir. Each invocation requires a vast amount of setup at the site of the invocation.”
Groan. “Then have the ambassadors come to them to receive it?”
“That is possible, Sir, though may be inadvisable. Known side effects include a full reset of biological age to exactly eleven years.”
“Oh dear,” he mutters, putting his head in his hands. Then he looks back up. “Can you call them up so they can tell us about it?” he asks.
“Yes sir. Anything in particular?”
He waves a hand. “Time it takes, processes, side effects, the whole deal.”
Bonbon turns her head. “Lyra?”
Lyra rises fluidly from her seat, turning sharply to face a surprised Fudge. “The spellwork required to modify a British magical core so as to tolerate travel to Equestria and back, in a process codenamed ‘Papa Tango’, are among the most powerful and dangerous magics ever created, even counting all three Unforgivables. In order to complete successfully, approximately twelve hours of preparation must be completed per invocation; if activation is to occur covertly, that’s thirty-three hours of preparative work.
“At this time, the Papa Tango has only been completed once. Seventy-one hours and forty-five minutes after invocation, the subject physically transformed, with great pain. Transformation was unexpected, but is considered likely for future subjects; transformation may be considered demeaning. Fifteen minutes after that, the subject transformed back, and the process was complete; no repeat transformation is expected. Traces of Equestrian magic began to show immediately upon invocation; conscious control of Equestrian magical capabilities, however, appeared at transformation. Known side effects include the reset of biological age to exactly eleven years, Equestrian magical capabilities, and an irreversible change to hair color and style.” She promptly returns to her seat, and her papers.
Fudge stares.
“Did that answer your questions?” Bonbon asks.
“Uh…” Fudge mutters, and shakes his head. “Who already received it?”
Bonbon shakes her head. “For reasons of personal privacy, we cannot tell you that without the express permission of the subject in question.”
“But- But I’m the Minister of Magic!”
She bows slightly. “That is by Equestrian law, by which we are bound no matter where we go. If Wizarding law differs, Professor Dumbledore is aware of the subject’s identity as well.”
Dumbledore pauses for a couple seconds, before nodding calmly. Fudge turns on Dumbledore, but before he can speak, Dumbledore does. “Wizarding law precludes my revealing anything to anyone without a legitimate need to know, including anyone not in a medical, educational, or law-enforcement profession, without the express permission of-” he glances at Bonbon- “the subject or the guardian of the same.” He gazes at Fudge. “You should know that, as Minister of Magic. Additionally, if I’m not mistaken, I seem to recall you were the one who wrote that law.”
“Of course I know my laws,” Fudge declares. “Problem is, that law only applies to non-British citizens.”
Bonbon looks at Dumbledore before he can respond. “Shall I send for our legal expert?” she asks.
“That won’t be necessary!” Fudge declares, even as Dumbledore nods, wondering how good this expert will be.
So Bonbon’s hand goes up to her radio. “Starshine, hotel three.”
“So there, Dumbledore,” Fudge states. “Who-!” He pauses to look at the door; someone is knocking.
Dumbledore glances at Bonbon and, at her nod, looks up at the door. “Come in,” he calls.
The door opens, and a girl with fiery red and yellow hair steps in. “Greetings, Chief Warlock Dumbledore of the Wizengamot, Minister for Magic Fudge.” She then glances at Bonbon. “You called?”
Dumbledore raises an eyebrow. If nothing else, this girl clearly knows how to properly greet powerful political entities.
“Yes,” Bonbon answers her. “Minister Fudge would like to know who the Papa Tango was first applied to.”
The new girl nods. “Ahh.” Her hand goes to her radio. “Mike to hotel three.” Then she turns around, opens the door, says something to someone with green hair, and closes it again.
“What in the world are you doing?” Fudge demands of her.
“I understand you requested to know who the first subject of the papa tango was?”
He blinks. “That’s right, yes.”
She nods. “We’re getting that information for you. If we can’t, you’ll know why.”
“And if I require you to?”
“You do not have the authority to do that, Sir. Only a fully convened Wizengamot can, against wizarding law. However, we are also bound by Equestrian law, which does not recognize the Wizengamot.”
He snorts. “And if I require Dumbledore to tell me?”
“Again, Sir, you do not have the authority to do that. He is also in an excellent position to remind you that the Wizengamot is far more likely to side with the subject than with your demands. Even so, the subject in question is under Equestrian protection- and as such, such a demand would incite an international incident.”
“But the law says he has to tell me! How is that an international incident, when we’re his home government!?”
“The Decree for the Privacy of Personally Identifiable Information: In no instance may any Official, including but not limited to Ministry personnel and all Medical, Educational, or Law Enforcement professions, be required to disclose any information on any third party without written consent to any other person, save only if the receiving person is in a Medical, Educational, or Law Enforcement profession and has a legitimate need to know the information in question.
“Originally authored by Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, ratified into law on June thirteenth, nineteen ninety, at four eighteen PM, by the General Assembly of the Wizengamot, on a ninety-seven percent majority.
“And, by the way, the Subject has just denied to provide such consent. We cannot identify the Subject for you, and neither can Chief Warlock Dumbledore, without an order from the Wizengamot.”
Fudge glares at her. “Fine, then! Keep your peace! I’ll ruin you!” He stomps out the door.
The fiery-haired girl watches him go, up until his angry stomps fade into the distance, before turning to Dumbledore. “He doesn’t know who I am,” she states simply.
Dumbledore blinks. “Makes that a rather pointless threat, doesn’t it?”
“Yep. Doesn’t make it any less of an international incident, though, if I bother to tell Celestia about it.” She offers him her hand. “The name’s Sunset Shimmer, and it’s nice to meet you.”
“Wait,” Lyra states, looking back at her. “That law- doesn’t it let him tell if he wants to?”
Sunset nods. “Yep. And there’s no law to stop him, either. But, he can’t be required to tell- and politics is a game of perceptions. Minister Fudge is inexperienced- so all it took was to make it seem like the law stopped whatever he wanted to do, and make a show of knowing the law, and he’s in my pocket.”
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That's one hell of a badly worded law, that's for sure.
Really Fudge, did you honestly think you could coerce Dumbledore into doing something illegal? Highly unlikely that. Though as a minor nitpick, I don't know why Dumbledore needed someone else to tell him about the laws he himself helped ratify. Just another step in winding up Fudge I suppose, with the added bonus that his piqué is now focused on some anonymous eleven-year-old.
Though if Fudge had bothered to be reasonable, they might have told him that there was another working planned and allowed him a few select observers. Ah well, I suppose he'll have to settle for hearing about it second-hand from Dumbledore and Minerva.
I'm not sure why the ponies are always so eager to pick a fight with everyone. I get that they never start anything but that doesn't mean they always have to help escalate things.
9651979
it was written by Fudge/bad faith. neither has intelligence, loyalty, or courage. did you expect something on the level of Homer or Plato?
Looking forward for more Sunset :D
9651979
Hence why I'm not a lawmaker. (No really.)
9652124
9652452
I agree. Unfortunately, thanks to my legal expertise being even more lackluster than Fudge's, I likely won't be able to portray any more of her legal battles "onscreen". But before and after shouldn't be too hard.
9652916
It makes a ton of sense, too. Tornadoes/Twisters cause havoc.
9652916
9653136
Wait, Dissy has a pony form...?
9653201
Yes. Twilight's Kingdom, part 1. Where he meets Tirek in the alley before Tirek convinces Discord to abandon his friends and go rogue.
I still think he did that on purpose to get Twilight's key, though.
9653214
That is distinctly possible.
That was a thing of beauty. Sure, Fudge is a bit of an arse (since this is set in Britain), but well played!
9652464
since sunset is in this how about the dazzlings? they could might be able to teach something I heard of called lyrical magic.....erm don't remember much about it though. if someone else knows about it plz give a definition or explanation of it
9679611
I think.....musa from winx club is what im thinking of or maybe its something else I dunno where I remember hearing where that type of magic was from
9679611
I'm afraid the Dazzlings are being left out. The're plot-driven baddies, and carry no personalities of their own. And, thousands of years of Siren-ing is hard to simply lightswitch-flip...