Those being both for Rufus and for you, oh mysterious writer of awesome. :D Thank you, thank you, and thank you, and holy damn, YES. Very, very much adoring your Rufus, here.
So, um, yes, some of the random lines that made me go "!!!," stop reading for a moment, jot (um... jot-type?) couple of things down, then run back to reading because YAY. But yes. From notes whilst reading, slightly edited to... add things, I guess?
"practised silencing the voice that cries for mercy" <-- I don't know why, exactly, but very much liked that line. Was kind of, bam, stopped by it, since mercy's one of those sneaky issues and all, and the fact that it was, snap, negated... and that he knew what it was and that it wouldn't be coming, suppose that set a certain jilt to the tone, and just... you know, says something abut a character who can reject that. Which is a very incoherent and failed way of trying to explain why it caught me as it did, but at any rate? Well played, sai, well played.
Also, acknowledging and achieving the useful act. That sense of acting as far is as possible without being so damned foolish as to overdo it, to present a self-constructed front, instead... Hell yes. And does seem so very Rufus, just given the bloody job and all, and yes. Yes.
"Which gutter did they sweep you from?" :D!!! Seriously, this was a bustin' out the confetti and having a mini-party. Kickass. And the remark to Thicknesse. Okay, so his remarks in general? The snarling humor? So many hearts. And so many hearts that he keeps that up even while going through the recollections; gave a nice image of the inner/outer that he's been working at, and all.
Also, Rufus and these women with the Dumbledore connections. Very interesting, that. Nice choice, and all. Oh-hhh, and the drive behind pushing for Fudge to get the fuck outta town. Also nicely played. O_o
"He may look imposing, but without self-will, a man is nothing. Nothing." A-frickin'-men. :D And the "For a man who shaped his own destiny..." paragraph? Um, yeah. Yeah. I cannot TELL you how many win cookies you get for that but it's maybe close to a million and oh, oh man, yes. :D
"And will he, who has resented Dumbledore's hold on the world that should have been his to direct, finally put his trust there?" Again with the well put. Very well put. Does seem a good explanation of the aggravation with Dumbledore... And, actually, like the way that you worked power into it, period. The way it came through with the women, say, taking them as they served his plan but then not forgetting in full. Again being all vague and apologize and saying things that probably don't need to be said but for serious. This has made brain happy.
And the end. ALAS yes but at the same time mmm, uplifting in its way, or bracing, just the sense that he may be dying, but he for damned sure isn't dense, and it isn't entirely out of his hands, and just... He's there. He's got personality. And the flaws, the weaknesses, yes, but in the end it's that strength that's gotten him through life the way he wants and ahhhhhhhhhhh YES, love for your Rufus. And for whatever it's worth, god yes, so much of that works with what brain thinks of the Rufus, and just... the care you've given him is all kinds of awesome. Just... Yeah. Thanks, yo, and kickass job. :D