SWNOVELXO Chapter 239: Anonymity
*Narrator pov*
Morpheus stepped into the halls of the ministry briskly walking to his destination. The Wizengamot hall resided on the level below he entered the lift and waited patiently for the ding.
Stepping out Morpheus made his way across the long hall toward the Wizengamot chambers. Rarely anyone was inside the hall and Morpheus liked it better that way.
He entered the chamber and moved to take his seat his robes moving about as he sat, "Been traveling Lord Everglade?" Lord Rosier asked
Morpheus turned and offered a thin almost tired smile, "Indeed I have been spending some time abroad. What gave me away?" he asked jokingly
Lord Rosier snorted, "Your smell Lord Everglade it was simply your smell."
Morpheus frowned, "Do I stink?" he asked in mock anger
Roseir shook his head, "Merlin no I apologize. You smell like traditional Italian cuisine, my family would visit Italy every year I don't think I can ever forget the scent."
Morpheus hid his cringe at the mention of Merlin's name, "I see; Italy was nice I was thinking about buying a summer home there." he mentioned opening the conversation for what he knew Lord Rosier really wanted to say
As expected Lord Rosier lit up, "Splendid, I can suggest many locations and connect you with some of the best real estate agents in Italy. Perhaps over brunch?"
Morpheus smiled, "That sounds wonderful, I could use the help. Send a letter and I will be there."
"I will see to it personally." Lord Rosier replied
Morpheus shifted in his seat getting comfortable as he waited for the session to begin. He could feel the eyes on him, most coming from across the room the dark faction didn't seem to enjoy him talking pleasantly with Lord Rosier.
Morpheus looked around the room then frowned when he didn't see Albus present already. But, just as that thought entered his mind, Albus and the Minister entered together both taking their respective places.
"I'm glad you all could make it today, I will not delay the matters we must discuss today with pleasantries. First I will open with the good news, our Auror and Hit Wizard teams have been successfully preventing seventy percent of the terrorist attacks perpetrated by the group known as death eaters. With our vote to allow lethal force that number has risen sharply. Though that thirty percent is still daunting, as are losing many lives."
He paused before continuing, "Today we have several speakers slotted, let us hope we can make progress toward raising our numbers and defeating these terrorist dubbed as death eaters."
"First on the floor is Lord Lestrange."
Lord Lestrange rose with a slimy smile spread across his lips, "Thank you, minister. I have allotted this time so I can bring to your attention a pressing issue I and many others think will only continue to grow and potentially leave many noble houses barren." the tension in the room rose with his words
"Masks." he uttered with a snarl, "Allowing Aurors and Hit wizards to wear masks while carrying out their duties is both dangerous and foolish. They can be picking off members of rival houses and no one would know who the culprit was. We have seen the numbers, two sons of house Duskthorn were caught in the crossfire of an Auror raid outside of Knockturn Alley, they had nothing to do with these terrorist and their family will never know their children's killer! Same with house quill their daughter found dead after the attack at Diagon Alley when she was shopping! And once again, the reports say she was killed accidentally during the attack but no names will be given because if these masks! Are these families supposed to mourn their dead with no solution!?"
"Outrageous!" Lord Longbottom yelled standing, "Where is the proof an Auror killed these people? The masks are there to protect the Aurors and their families taking them away is the same as endangering whole families!"
Lord Lestrange turned sharply toward Lord Longbottom, his snarl curling into a thin, disdainful smile. "Proof?" he repeated, his voice dripping with condescension. "Ah, yes, the favored shield of the Ministry. 'Where is the proof?' you ask. Conveniently hidden behind masks and unmarked reports. The proof, Lord Longbottom, lies buried alongside the innocent—innocent children of noble houses whose names are now reduced to statistics in Ministry files. Shall we demand their ghosts rise from the grave to provide you with the evidence you so casually dismiss?"
He stepped forward, the room falling silent under the weight of his words. "You speak of protecting Aurors and their families. Tell me, what protection was afforded to the Duskthorn brothers? To Lady Quill? Their blood stains the cobblestones of our streets, and you dare to lecture us on the necessity of secrecy? These masks are not shields of valor—they are veils of impunity! They grant the Ministry's enforcers the power to act without accountability, without justice."
Lestrange's voice rose, sharp and accusatory. "And what precedent does this set, my lord? Shall we all don masks? Shall the noble houses begin wearing disguises as they conduct their affairs, so none may trace their deeds? Would you then dismiss such chaos with the same justification you use now? Or is it only the Ministry that is entitled to operate above reproach?"
He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "You claim these masks are for safety. I tell you, they are a license for slaughter. And if the Ministry continues to hide its crimes behind them, it will not be only us mourning their dead."
Lady Selene Fawley of House Fawley, a renowned voice of reason among the Light-aligned houses, rose gracefully, her presence commanding attention without force. Her pale gold robes shimmered softly in the dim light of the chamber as she addressed Lord Lestrange.
"Lord Lestrange," she began, her tone firm yet calm, "your passion is evident, and your grief is not without cause. The loss of innocent life—be they Duskthorn, Quill, or any other—is a tragedy that no one in this chamber dismisses. But your accusations, flung with such reckless fervor, do little to advance justice and much to sow division."
She turned slightly, her gaze sweeping across the room. "You speak of masks as if they are the root of all evil, yet conveniently ignore the reasons for their existence. Aurors and hit wizards are tasked with fighting a war against shadowy foes who use every means to strike not just at their enemies, but at their families. Removing their anonymity is not an act of fairness—it is an invitation for reprisal, for terror to reach into their homes."
Pausing, she fixed Lestrange with a piercing look. "You call for justice, yet where is your evidence? You speak of accountability, yet where is your acknowledgment of the chaos that would follow if our defenders were stripped of their safeguards? Would you have the Aurors abandon their posts entirely, lest their identities be used as weapons against them? Or perhaps you would prefer no one stand between us and those who would see our world burn?"
Her voice softened, but her words cut sharply. "Do not mistake me. If there is fault in the Ministry, it must be uncovered and rectified. But demanding the unmasking of Aurors will not bring back the Duskthorn brothers or Lady Quill. It will not solve the problem of misplaced blame, nor will it deter the true criminals. Instead, it risks crippling our ability to defend ourselves against the darkness that still looms. And that, Lord Lestrange, is a price no family—Light or Dark—should be asked to pay."
She sat down, her poise unbroken, leaving the chamber buzzing with murmurs of agreement and dissent.
The minister banged his gavel silencing both parties, "I see both of your points. So before I take this matter to I vote I am willing to change the wording. Lord Lestrange what are your feelings on only usings masks during sieges of confirmed terrorist zones."
Lord Lestrange looked at his fellows and saw them nod he sighed, "It would be agreeable." although it wasn't perfect his and his masters goals would be met if the vote went through
"Very well, we will vote on the matter of masks only to be worn by Aurors during official sieges if death eater territory."
Wands lit and the vote passed by exactly two votes. Two grey families allied to the victims voted for the dark.
"Alright moving on to the next speaker."
****
Once the session was over the lords and ladies began to file from the Wizengamot chambers, as Morpheus stepped outside he felt danger and smiled.
He foresaw this after all.
Morpheus sidestepped the killing curse that aimed for his torso tilting slightly his. Weirdly he didn't look afraid of the curse but instead gazed at the sickly green spell with fondness and deep sadness.
Chaos ensued.
The Lords and Ladies immediately backed away their eyes widening in alarm the more experienced ones drew their wands.
Morpheus didn't hesitate his wand slid into his hand five attackers unmasked sent to the slaughter.
There wasn't a battle Morpheus sprung forward dodging two more spells as he waved his wand transfiguring the ground beneath them into mud before he twisted his grip and make spears jut out skewering his attackers.
Blood splattered to the floor screams and gasps were let loose.
"LORD MORPHEUS EVERGLADE I LORD RALIS ACCUSE YOU OF MURDERING A MEMBER OF MY NOBLE HOUSE!" a loud voice boomed
Deep breaths were sucked in and the chaos stopped, everyone looked at the scene Morpheus standing before five very dead men and Lord Ralis to the side of him accusing him of murder.
"Does self defense not exist anymore?" Morpheus asked the room
"Self-defense! My son reached for his wand to help subdue the attackers! Just like many of us did!" Lord Ralis bellowed while looking around
He was right many had their wands drawn.
Morpheus laughed, "Very well then." his did not look weary but instead exhilarated