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Written for;
The Months of the Year Competition. July. A Leader. Extra Prompts - Sentimentality, Red, Calender, Ministry of Magic, Initiative, Guide, Holiday.
Well Deserved Rest
His office was bare, his desk packed up, and his speech made. He was done. Kingsley looked around the office, a small smile on his lips. When he'd been appointed the interim Minister, he'd had no idea that he'd be in office for twenty four years following that. Of course, for the first few years, he'd half wished it hadn't been him.
Cleaning up after Voldemort's mess was... a nightmare. So many times, he'd wanted to hand the reigns over to someone else, to give it up as a bad job and let someone else do the hard work. But then... that wasn't who he was.
He'd led the initiative for change, and with Harry alongside, they'd managed. He'd led the Wizarding world into this new era of peace, and for that he was proud. He'd wanted to guide his fellows into a more tolerant age, and he thought he'd done that as well.
Looking around again, Kingsley sighed. Damn him for his sentimentality, but he was going to miss this office. He'd spent more time here than his actual home. Some of his best memories were in this office.
Memories of friendship and camaraderie. Memories of success and hard won victories. A knock on the door broke his musings, and he called out his permission to enter.
"Minister," came a familiar voice, and he smiled.
"I should be calling you that, shouldn't I?" he asked.
Harry chuckled. "That's gonna take some getting used to, you know."
"You'll do great. After all, I did all the hard work for you," Kingsley joked.
"Yeah, yeah. When are you off on your holiday, old man?"
"Next week. When are you getting the decorators in?"
Harry shrugged. "I kinda like it the way it is, honestly. Ron was talking about painting it something garish like red and gold for Gryffindor, but... eh."
Kingsley laughed. "I can only imagine what it would be like in here if you left the interior design to Ron."
He picked up the calender on the desk, the only thing left there. "I'll leave you this. It has everything on it for the next month, it'll keep you at least somewhat organised."
Harry nodded. "Thanks. You'll... well. I mean, you'll still be around won't you? After you get back from the beach?"
"Of course I will. I should go now, though. I... You're going to be a great Minister, Harry."
Swallowing hard, Harry nodded. "If I'm half the Minister you were, I'll be happy."
Patting Harry on the shoulder, Kingsley nodded then left the office. He walked through the corridors of the Ministry of Magic, savouring his last moment as Minister, and looking forward to a well deserved rest.