sylvanawood (sylvanawood) wrote in storiesfromwood, @ 2008-03-28 14:01:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | a most important element in water |
AMIEW I - 4. The Ministry's Mascot
The usual disclaimers apply
Harry didn't want to make a scene. That's why he let himself be dragged to the dance floor despite being angry and confused. But then Ginny started to explain.
“Harry, do you trust Viktor Krum?”
Harry scowled. “You're not asking for my blessing to go out with Viktor Krum, are you?"
Obviously she didn't take his mood seriously because she grinned. “In a way. You know, Harry, I just can't accept being dumped by you like that ….”
He gaped. “What do you mean? Are you trying to get back at me with all this flirting?”
Her grin changed into a smile. “Of course not. I want to be with you, and I think you know that. I understand that you want to protect me, but I want to be with you nonetheless. I don't need protection. No more than Ron and Hermione, anyway. Everyone knows that they are your best friends.”
Harry closed his eyes and sighed softly. This would be difficult. He’d never really wanted to break up, but he was certain that he had done the right thing. “It's different. I couldn't go on if something happened to you ….”
“Oh, Harry ….” She stared at him with a determined gleam in her eyes and moved a bit closer in his arms, but not too close. “You know, when I was talking to Viktor, I had an idea … but this will only work if you think he is trustworthy.”
“Why? What is this idea?”
“Viktor is constantly being urged by his parents to find a wife, and he is annoyed with all the Quidditch groupies following him around. It would be advantageous for him if it looked like he had a girlfriend … I could be that girlfriend,” Ginny said. “Only as a pretence,” she added quickly, when she saw Harry's eyes narrow. “If everyone thought that I was with Viktor, no one would connect me to you, no one would want to harm me because of you … and we still could be together. You see, it all depends on how much you trust Viktor ….”
Harry stared at her wide-eyed. “Err … I don't know what to say ….” He sighed and squeezed her hand firmly, but still maintained the modest distance while they were dancing, trying to pull himself together. “I am certain that Viktor is on our side. Wouldn't Dumbledore or Minerva have warned Hermione, or her parents, if he weren't? Viktor is still her friend; he' s not afraid to be seen with a Muggle-born witch … he was a Tri-Wizard champion … it wasn't his fault that Karkaroff …. No, Viktor is decent. I think we can trust him. But what will you tell him?
”If he agrees with the deception, he and I can meet in public from time to time. We can write letters and show them around … talk about each other … and if Viktor finds a girl he really likes, we simply break up. The attention will have moved away from you and me by then."
"That could actually work," Harry said.
“Then I will talk to Viktor, Harry.” Ginny's face lit up. “He's been teasing me about the flirting all afternoon; he thinks I want to make you jealous. But he did play along nicely, so I think it will be possible.”
“Do that, Ginny, but try not to look so happy while you dance with me.”
“Look who's talking,” Ginny grinned. “You're not exactly unhappy-looking at the moment, either.” And with those words, she went off to find Viktor Krum.
He watched how she approached Viktor, touched him on the arm and leaned in to him closely. They laughed, and Harry smiled to himself. He would meet Ginny in the Room of Requirement when they were back at school. It would be difficult, but still a lot better than not being with her at all. Much better. Harry smiled again and looked around to find Hermione and Ron. He felt a tap on his shoulder.
Rufus Scrimgeour, the current Minister of Magic, certainly was a shrewd man. Harry suspected that Scrimgeour had noticed Harry's happy and relaxed face and decided now was the perfect opportunity to approach him.
“A word, Harry, if you please.”
“Minister.” Harry's greeting was polite, but without enthusiasm.
“I wonder if you’ve thought about what we discussed the last time we met, Harry. You've had a little time to calm down after Albus' death and think about my offer. What do you say?”
“I can't remember that there was the option of re-negotiation,” Harry grumbled. “Negotiation wasn't mentioned at all, as I recall the conversation.”
“Things have changed, Harry. Dumbledore isn't around any more – as sad as it is.” He added the last part quickly when he saw Harry's angry glare. “You're on your own, the Chosen One or not, and if there is something the Ministry can do for you, I may be able to pull a few strings ….”
“All right,” Harry snarled. “How about Stan Shunpike? Is he still in prison?”
The Minister nodded.
“Release him. He isn't a Death Eater. You know it, and your Aurors know it. He's just a stupid kid who can't keep his mouth shut. He just wanted to feel important. He didn't do anything ….”
“I’ve told you already, I'm not so sure about his innocence. Youth isn't a deterrent for Death Eaters, just think about Barty Crouch … they recruit everyone who is willing … and some who are unwilling ….”
“Not Stan, no way. He's just a silly kid. Release him, and we can talk … you just want a scapegoat. Why don't you go after the ones who are really guilty?”
Scrimgeour studied the dance floor as if he had never seen people dance before. “You're asking me to release a potential Death Eater, Harry. Quite frankly, I can't see how I could justify taking that risk ….” He paused when Harry snorted. “Dumbledore was wrong about Snape; what makes you think he was right about Shunpike?”
“My goodness, Minister. Surely you have taken the Knight Bus at some time or other? You know Stan Shunpike – everyone does, don't they? I don't know how anyone could take Stan for a Death Eater … or compare him to Snape, for that matter.”
“But that's exactly the problem, Harry, isn't it? You can't tell from their behaviour or looks. People are always surprised when someone in their midst turns out to be a bad apple. Just ask Alastor Moody; he has seen it happen more than once.”
“Have it your way, then.” Harry sighed in frustration and turned to walk away.
“Wait,” Scrimgeour put a hand on Harry's arm. Harry shuddered and shook it off. “There may be the option to release him on probation. He can prove what he's worth – one way, or the other … if I can manage it, he will be freed.”
“Okay.” Harry pursed his lips and glanced at Scrimgeour from the side. “That seems fair enough. Now, on to the next part on the agenda .…”
“My patience isn't endless, Harry,” Scrimgeour said sternly.
“These things mean a lot to me,” Harry replied with a wry smile. “If they aren't resolved, I cannot cooperate.”
“I will not be coerced.”
“I'm not trying to coerce you, Minister. I'm offering you a deal. I have something you want, and you have something I want. If we can agree on the price, we can do business, and you don't need to pretend that you’re doing me a favour.”
“Is that what they’re teaching you at Hogwarts these days?”
“No, this is called common sense. And haggling out a deal … well, I hate to say it, but I learned that from my Uncle Vernon ….”
“Get on with it, Harry. What else do you want?”
“I want to use some of the Ministry's resources when I'm there playing mascot. I want to talk to Aurors, visit the library or the archives … and this brings me directly to my third – and final – condition.”
“Go on, I'm listening,” Scrimgeour said angrily.
“I don't want to see Dolores Umbridge, either at Hogwarts or anywhere near me. She should be removed from any position of power, but knowing the Ministry ….” He paused for a moment. “There’s no hope of that. So keep her out of my sight or the deal is off. Get Percy Weasley out of my sight, too. I will not cooperate with the Ministry if I have to deal with that self–righteous, bumbling idiot. So, do we have a deal?”
“We haven't negotiated your contribution yet, Harry.”
“What would that be, having my photograph taken in front of the Ministry building?”
“Yes, something like that. And that’s not a bad idea. A public appearance every once in a while. Let's say once a month. But that's not enough, not with all those demands. I want a real cooperation, not just a pretence. You will talk to me and answer my questions.”
“There are some questions that I will never answer, Minister. So if you’re thinking of forcing me … think again.”
“They will be general questions, Harry. I may even ask you for advice, sometimes. You know He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named on a personal level; you may know some things the Ministry does not, and we could use this to our advantage when helping people to protect themselves. You, on the other hand, can get some insight into how the Ministry is working. You may even come to understand that the only place where things can be moved is the place where the power is.”
“I think I know enough of how the Ministry works not to be interested. But I can accept your conditions,” Harry said. “There are a few things I think the Ministry should do, and if you actually want to hear it, so much the better. "
“Things like what?” Scrimgeour asked, a hopeful gleam in his golden eyes.
“Things I will mention once I have proof of Stan's release.” Harry grinned evilly.
“All right then, Harry, we will keep in contact by owl post, for the time being.” He spun on his heel and walked away.
Harry stared at the Minister's back, not quite certain if he hadn’t just made a huge mistake. When Scrimgeour was trying to be reasonable, he was almost likeable. There was nothing of the demanding, would-be intimidation of last Christmas. The Minister must need him desperately for his propaganda campaign if he was willing to give in to the demands of a mere schoolboy. Now where were Hermione and Ron? He couldn't wait to tell them about all this. He looked around and saw them on the dance floor. He waved to them, and when they joined him, he told them about Ginny and the Minister.