Unofficial Portkey Archive

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

THE MINISTER OF MAGIC

Saturday morning started as most Saturday mornings do at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, at least the way they start for the boy-who-lived. Harry and the Gryffindor Quidditch team, along with Hermione and now Luna Lovegood, completed their morning run around the Quidditch pitch. It was unseasonably warm this year and no trace of snow had yet to make an appearance. The only inkling that it was winter came from the bare trees and cool, crisp winds that came in short bursts throughout the day.

After showering and throwing on clean robes, the team made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Nearly the entire school was up and about it seemed. The last Hogsmeade visit would be starting after breakfast and the air was filled with excitement of the coming holidays.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in their normal seats at the Gryffindor table when the fluttering of hundreds of wings could be heard over the din of their classmates. Hedwig was among them and dropped a small envelope in front of Harry. He gave his pet a treat and she nipped his finger affectionately before leaving for the owlery. A large tawny barn owl dropped the latest weekend issue of The Daily Prophet to Hermione and Pigwidgeon dropped a rather large envelope in front of Ron.

"I wonder what this is?" Harry said to himself as he opened the envelope.

Harry,
Was wondering if you'd like to have some tea with me this afternoon, bring Ron and Hermione of course.
Hagrid

"Hagrid invited us to tea this afternoon." Harry said brightly. "It's been so busy that we haven't had a chance to visit with him much."

"You two have to read this!" Hermione said with a dumfounded look on her face. She passed her Daily Prophet to Harry and he opened it between him and Ron.

There was a large picture of Cornelius Fudge on the front page shaking the hand of Lucius Malfoy. It was difficult to tell where they were because of all the deep shadows around the two men. As the picture replayed the moment, as all photographs did in the wizarding world, The Minister of Magic accepted a large bag from Malfoy. The caption read:

Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, has been accepting bribes from known Death Eaters for years, apparently. This is the biggest scandal that has ever hit the wizarding world since the Tri-Wizard tournament when young Mr. Harry Potter confirmed the rebirth and return of you-know-who. According to wizarding law, Mr. Fudge has been removed from office and an emergency meeting with the Governors was held Friday night to determine the replacement minister. Many officials of the various departments have been working frantically to find candidates.

Shortly after his apprehension, Mr. Fudge disappeared without a trace. Ministry Aurors are searching for the elusive ex-minister but no reports have been made on his re-capture.

"That's some big news!" Ron was goggling over the paper. "The meeting was held last night! I wonder who was chosen to be the next Minister of Magic."

Right at that moment there was a shriek from further down the table. The three friends turned to look and saw one very excited Ginny Weasley running up to them.

"RON! RON! DAD'S BEEN CHOSEN!" She howled with excitement.

"WHAT?!" Ron looked flabbergasted.

"Ron! Your letter, open it!" Harry and Hermione exclaimed at once.

With shaky, nervous hands, Ron fumbled with the envelope in front of him. On the verge of frustration, he finally slid the heavy parchment from the envelope and began to read.

Dearest Ron,
Your father has been appointed as the new Minister of Magic! It was a landslide of winning votes and the results just came out this morning! Your father has been given two weeks to find a new staff and an additional week to make the transition. To celebrate, we're all going to Romania to visit Charlie! Be ready to go with the other students on Sunday. Give our best to Harry and Hermione!
Love, Mom

There was a long silence as Ron read and re-read the letter in an attempt to absorb what was happening. He looked at Harry and Hermione with the largest smile that either of them had ever seen.

"Dad's Minister of Magic." He said in a high squeak. He handed the letter over to his beaming friends.

"Congratulations guys!" Harry said as he passed the letter to Hermione. "It's about time that your dad got what was coming to him!"

Hermione continued to beam at Ron as she handed the letter back. "That's great news Ron!" She said as she took his hand and gave it a squeeze. "There's someone else who should know about this, and she's on her way now."

Ron turned and saw his girlfriend making her way to his seat. In one fluid motion he was out of his seat, across the floor, and spinning her around in a big hug, laughing all the while. Everyone heard the excited chatter coming from Ron and Luna squealed before giving him another big hug.

"Things have just turned around for the wizarding world." Harry said with a smile. He looked at his girlfriend with a smile and kissed her lightly as he pulled her into a big hug.

"Harry!" She hissed with a laugh and a twinkle in her eyes.

"Sorry, Hermione, just a lot of pent up happiness and I had to direct it somewhere, you know?" He smiled at her roguishly and ran his hand through his unruly hair.

Despite herself, Hermione blushed and smiled back. "There are more appropriate places for that." She said sheepishly.

They both looked up at Ginny, suddenly aware that she was still standing there but found that she was smiling at her brother and his girlfriend. She turned to the couple at the table. "I can't believe this has happened!" She said with a laugh. "Oh, we've got to get packed!"

Ginny ran over to her brother and after a few moments of animated conversation and a hug between Luna and Ginny, the two red-headed siblings rushed from the Great Hall to Gryffindor tower. Luna returned to the Ravenclaw table after a smile and a wave to Harry and Hermione.

"Wait a minute. Harry, this means that you'll be here by yourself for Christmas." Hermione looked at him with a sad expression on her face.

"That's ok." Harry said as he gave her a reassuring squeeze. "It's not like I can go to the Dursleys' and Ron's family will be preoccupied. I'll be fine." He smiled at his worried girlfriend. "Why don't we go and get ready for the Hogsmeade trip?"

She smiled and reluctantly followed him out of the hall. "Harry? I-I've got to run a quick errand, can I meet you in the courtyard when I get back?"

"Sure thing, I'll see you in the courtyard." He smiled and the couple hugged briefly before Hermione ran off down the hall.

Harry was sitting out in the courtyard wearing his wool cloak. Even though there wasn't any snow, there was still a bit of a bite in the air and he really didn't want a repeat of his first trip to Hogsmeade.

With no permission slip to turn in, he was forced to sneak out of the school using the Marauder's Map. It was a wonderful piece of parchment bewitched by his father, Sirius, Lupin, and their friend Peter. Peter turned out to be a follower of Voldemort and was also the secret keeper of his family's hiding place in Godric's Hollow. After Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban Wizard Prison it was determined that Pettigrew was hiding in his animagus form: A rat. That rat fell into the hands of Percy Weasley at one point and eventually found his way to Ron. The shock and disgust on Ron's face when he found out that the disgusting man had been sleeping in his bed all those years broke Harry's heart.

Harry looked up as a screech from a dappled brown and white barn owl echoed overhead. He shook his head out of his reverie and started a slow walk around the courtyard.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Harry!" Hermione breathed heavily as she ran up to him. "Ran into Ron and Ginny, Ron and Luna can't make it with us because he's packing for the trip."

Harry smiled. "Well, at least I can spend some time with my favorite girl, eh?" He gave her a quick hug and kissed the top of her head. "Shall we head into town then? We can get some sweets for Ron and Ginny on our way back."

"Sounds like a plan." She said with a smile.

Harry offered her his hand and she took it happily. The young couple left with the rest of the departing students across the school grounds and through the magnificent gates. The trip was uneventful aside from Neville falling every few minutes on the road to the wizarding village. Students from all four houses were laughing and enjoying what time outdoors they could.

Walking along the main road, Harry looked up at the Shrieking Shack and smiled, remembering when he had found out that Sirius was his godfather and his invitation to live with him instead of the Dursleys. That had been one of the happiest times of his life. If he had only captured Pettigrew that night and kept him from getting away, he would have been able to keep Voldemort from rising again and to clear his godfather's name. Sirius was imprisoned because the wizarding world thought he killed thirteen people: twelve muggles and a wizard, one Peter Pettigrew. But that was all a façade that Pettigrew had perpetrated.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Her sweet voice flowed over him like a warm breeze. He looked at his girlfriend of just a few short months and saw the look of concern on her face.

Harry nodded. "I was just remembering when we finally met Sirius. I can't help but wonder what we could have stopped if we had gotten a hold of Wormtail before he ran off." He ran his fingers through his unruly hair. "We could have stopped the rise of Voldemort and cleared Sirius' name ... If we weren't under those stupid time travel rules!"

"I know, Harry, I wish we could have done something about it too." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "There's nothing we can do about it now, just be prepared for the future."

Harry sighed and nodded. "I agree with you, but I still can't help but wonder. I mean, I could be away from the Dursleys and I could have been living at Grimmauld Place with him all this time. As it stands now, everyone still thinks he's a criminal and most people that knew him think he's dead now." He wiped a tear from his cheek. "I mean, we need to save him from the astral plane! Then we can work on clearing his name."

"It'll happen, Harry. I'm sure that Professor Dumbledore and the order will find some way that's safer." She consoled him by wrapping her arm around his waist.

They stopped right outside the Three Broomsticks. Harry had lost count of the number of times that he, Ron, and Hermione had shared a butterbeer here. The pub was usually very busy and not many people could resist the warm atmosphere of the place.

Harry opened the door for Hermione and a few other girls before entering himself. Replying with a small smile and a "You're welcome." Each time one of them said thank you.

"Butterbeer, Hermione?" He called.

"That's fine. I'll get us a table." She waved in reply.

Harry went to the bar and smiled at the woman who was busy serving drinks from behind it.

"Good morning, Harry!" Madam Rosmerta said with a smile. "Just you and Hermione today? Two butterbeers then? "

Harry nodded and paid for the steaming mugs. He walked gingerly to the table Hermione had procured and set the drinks down.

"I've been hearing news that a new bookstore has opened by Scrivenshafts!" Hermione said excitedly as Harry took his seat. "Do you mind if we go?"

Harry looked at her pleading eyes and knew instantly that he couldn't say no to her. "I don't see why not." He said with a smile. He had a hard time saying no to anything she asked for. The next thing he knew he was blinded by bushy brown hair and smothered in a hug.

"Thank you!" She said after a quick kiss.

Harry laughed. "How could I keep you out of a bookstore anyway? It'd be like you trying to pull me from Quality Quidditch Supplies!"

Hermione fell into a fit of giggles. "I guess you're right on that account!"

Harry took a long drink from his mug of warm butterbeer as he looked over the woman in front of him. He still couldn't get enough of her and every time he looked at her he seemed to want to etch her every feature into his brain.

"Harry? Can, can I ask you a question?" She said tentatively after a drink from her own mug.

"Anything, Hermione, what's on your mind?" He sat up straighter in his chair so he could better focus on his girlfriend.

"How-how would you like to spend Christmas with my family? I-I mean, we're going to America and the trip is expensive and you've never really left the country before." She was starting to ramble. "I know that you're fine with staying at Hogwarts by yourself, but I am really worried that you'll be lonely and I don't want to leave you alone -"

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"You're rambling." Harry smiled.

Hermione blushed slightly. "Well, I guess I was. But if you don't want to go with us, I can certainly understand -"

"Hermione?" Harry was still smiling.

"Y-yes?"

"You started rambling again. And I'd like to go with you, if your parents say that it's ok." Harry replied.

Hermione's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Her cheeks took on that adorable pink tinge that Harry loved so much and her eyes began to sparkle far more than they usually did.

"You-you would?" She asked breathlessly. Harry nodded with a smile. "Oh, Harry! You're just going to love my mum and dad! And wait till you meet my little sister! She's just adorable!"

"I didn't know you had a little sister." Harry said with a laugh. "You've never told me."

"Well, you never asked and my family never really came up in conversation." She retorted with a grin. "All I have to do is wait for my mum's reply. I owled her earlier today."

"Is that what your errand was?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Hermione admitted with another blush creeping up her cheeks. "I hope you don't mind that I asked them before I really knew if you wanted to spend the holiday with us."

Harry laughed. "It's ok. I'm glad that you asked them first instead of having me show up with you on the Express and asking them then."

"I guess it wouldn't have gone over well at that point." She said with a grin. "My father would have been furious with me."

A few moments later, a dappled brown and white barn owl landed on the table in front of Hermione and offered its leg to her. There was a letter attached. Hermione looked at Harry with a smile and bright twinkling eyes and untied the letter.

"Here's hoping!" She said a moment later after the owl had left. She opened the letter and scanned the contents. Her smile spread wider and wider as she read and a tear escaped and fled down her cheek as she looked up. "They said that you could come! Harry, this is going to be one of the best Christmas Holidays ever!"

Harry smiled as he drained the rest of his mug. "How about we hit that new bookstore to celebrate?"

She looked up and nodded vigorously before she carefully folded the paper and put it in her bag. "We should stop by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and pick up something for Ron after we stop by Honeydukes."

Harry got to his feet and pulled out Hermione's chair as she stood. He put her cloak around her and grabbed his own. "Shall we go, Miss Granger?" He asked playfully as he offered her his arm.

She took it happily and the couple left the pub into the chilly air outside.

They stopped by the new bookstore, a branch of Flourish & Blotts, and Harry bought her a new charms book that had just been released, Charms of Legend and Myth, for an early Christmas present. He neglected to tell her that he'd already gotten her a few other presents, but that could wait until Christmas day.

After an hour or two of browsing the selection of books, Hermione found Harry on the floor in the magazine section reading the latest Quidditch Illustrated, which he bought two copies of, and they left for Ron's brothers' store.

"Harry, Hermione! Fancy meeting you here!" George bellowed from behind the counter. There were at least a dozen third years clamoring to make their purchases.

"Hey, George!" Harry and Hermione replied. Harry had picked up a few skiving lunchboxes and a package of canary creams on their way to the front.

"Did you hear the good news?" Fred was coming from the back with a fresh supply of ton-tongue toffee.

"Yeah! Congratulations to you and your family!" Harry said with a big smile. "Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy!"

"You got that right!" George said with a smile. "We're going to meet everyone in Romania, then head back to our Diagon Alley store before things get too out of hand!"

"It looks like business is doing well." Hermione said as she surveyed the number customers that were coming and going at a breakneck pace.

"It sure is." Harry agreed as he finally got to the counter.

"Hey, no need to pay for that stuff. Our silent partner is on good credit with us." Fred whispered to Harry as he slipped his purchases into a bag.

Harry smiled. "Well, it was well worth it." He said as he took the bag from his friend. "Oh, is Percy going to be spending the holidays with you? Or is he still in his own world?"

Fred and George shared a look. "No, Perce still can't come down from his high horse. I wonder what he's going to do when dad kicks him off the Minister's staff." The twins shared an identical, evil grin. "That'll put him in his place!"

"Ah, sorry that things are still strained." Hermione said with a frown. "I wish he'd wake up and see that he's wrong."

"Oh, Perce will never do that. If he does it'll be too late." George said as he shook his head. "He's got a thick skull, that one."

"Well, we need to hit Honeydukes before we head back to the school." Harry said after a moment. "Have a good holiday and say hi to Charlie for us."

"Will do, Harry. Oh, and this is a new treat we're starting this Christmas season. They're selling like there's no tomorrow!" Fred grinned as he handed Harry another bag. "There are assorted flavors."

"What is it?" Harry asked with more than a little curiosity.

"We got the idea from a muggle advert." George said with a smile not unlike that of the Cheshire Cat. "Each toffee transfigures your head with a representation of the flavor! We call them Transfig-Toffees. Try one. The transformation only lasts for a few minutes."

Harry gingerly stuck his hand in the bag and pulled out a green and pink striped candy. He unwrapped and sniffed at it experimentally. "It smells like watermelon."

"Go ahead, eat it." George said excitedly and a bit louder than was necessary. "Let's see what your head transfigures into."

Harry had the sneaky suspicion that his red-headed friend was trying to bring attention to him so that the customers in the store could see what was going to happen. He gulped involuntarily and popped the toffee in his mouth. Sure enough, it tasted exactly like watermelon. Harry was suddenly aware that there was a roar of laughter spreading around the room. He looked at the twins who produced a mirror to look into.

"Wow! My head's turned into a watermelon!" Harry said excitedly. "That's pretty clever!"

"Tell that to the advertising agency that came up with that muggle advert." Fred said with a grin. "The effect should wear off in a few -" There was a loud pop and Harry's head was back to normal. "Seconds ... I was going to say."

George started yelling to the crowds. "Come and get them while they're in stock! Transfig-Toffees! You've just seen its effect on the famous Harry Potter!"

Harry's face immediately turned a shade of red that he could have sworn didn't exist until now. "George!" He hissed. I knew there must have been some type of catch!

George grinned at his dark-haired friend. "Sorry, Harry, but sometimes it helps to get celebrity endorsement of a product."

"You're impossible sometimes!" Harry said with a grin. "I've got to split. I'll see you after holiday!"

Harry and Hermione waved to their creative friends and left for Honeydukes.

"Can you believe their audacity?!" Harry said with a huff as they trekked down the road. Hermione could tell he wasn't mad, just embarrassed.

"Well, you know what they're like." She said with a giggle as Harry opened the door to the confection store for her.

"Maybe we should get some for Ginny too." Harry said; changing the subject. The couple spent an hour or so looking over the various sugary treats. Harry settled on a box of chocolate frogs and a box of every flavor beans for Ron and a value pack of sugar quills and fruit flavored ink for Ginny. After purchasing their selections, the young couple made their way back into the throngs of Hogwarts students that were heading back to the school.

A few paces out of the store, Hermione was knocked to the ground by a tall, pretty blonde girl wearing Slytherin robes.

"Oh, sorry." Hermione said as she bent to pick up her bag.

"Would you watch where you're going?" The Slytherin sneered back. She picked up Hermione's book and flipped through the pages before handing it back.

"Thank you." Hermione said after a moment. The blonde girl strode off in the opposite direction leaving them staring in her wake.

"The audacity of her! Me watch where I'm going?" Hermione was starting to get mad.

"It's ok, it's ok, Hermione." Harry tried to calm her down. "Let's just forget about how rude the Slytherins can be and look forward to our holiday."

She looked at him and fell into his piercing, emerald eyes. "You-you're right, Harry. Oh! We should be getting packed! We only have a day to get ready before we leave!"

Taking her boyfriends hand, Hermione started off towards Hogwarts at a frantic pace.

"Hermione, slow down! We've got more than twenty-four hours to get ready." Harry laughed and picked up his pace. Before he knew it, he was walking next to his girlfriend.

"That's it! Only twenty-four hours! What am I going to bring to wear? How cold will it be there this time of the year? I don't know how many books I should bring, and I can't forget about homework!" She seemed to be getting more frantic the closer they got to the castle.

Harry laughed. "Everything will be fine." He whispered into her ear. "You do have more clothes at home, don't you? I mean, you didn't pack your closet into your trunk and brink it all with you?"

Hermione stopped and looked up at him. "Well, I guess you're right. I don't know where the convention is being held either. I guess I'll have to figure that out on Monday then."

"I guess so." Harry said with a smile. "Let's get back to the school. Hagrid's waiting for a bit of tea and we should visit him before it gets too close to dinner time. And I'd like to see Ron before he leaves tomorrow."

With a quick peck on his cheek from Hermione, Harry smiled, took her hand, and set out for Hogwarts. The first Christmas he'd have abroad. What would await them in America?