Title: Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister of Magic
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: A Katrina ficlet, written for musigneus on 9-6-2005.

Rufus loped through the halls of the Ministry, his robes billowing impressively in his wake. Subordinates, seeing him, moved hastily out of his way. As he passed, each one touched the brim of his or her hat, murmuring a respectful "Minister." Regally, he nodded in return.

It was good to be king. Er, Minister, that is.

The Auror Office was coming up on his right. For the last twelve years, he had turned into this door and into his role as Chief Auror. But he was much more than that now. He swept majestically past the door without even stopping.

The door to the Minister's office was a few yards further on the left hand side. It opened into a receiving room with a formidable secretary sitting behind an equally formidable desk at the far end.

"Cordelia," he said, inclining his head.

"Minister," she replied. "Would you like anything to drink?"

"Tea, Muggle-brewed, with milk, if you please."

"Certainly, sir."

And then onward, through the oak door with a gold plaque with his name inscribed, through to the office larger than the living room of his first flat. There was a desk easily twice as imposing as Cordelia's, and a voluptuously comfortable chair. He fell into it gratefully. Oh, how his leg ached after the long, vigorous trek through the Ministry. But one had to walk quickly so that the robes would billow just right. And certainly no one would forget his first entrance as Minister. Still, he resolved to Apparate into the receiving room in the future.

For now, he could relax. Well, at least until Cordelia brought in his tea and his schedule for the day. He closed his eyes, melted into the obscenely soft chair, and mentally retreated into his favorite fantasy. He was lying by the beach, watching the waves come in. Who would his masseuse be this time? Perhaps that beautiful Hogwarts professor who had been outed as a werewolf a few years back…

"Sir," Cordelia interrupted. Rufus sighed. And he was right at the bit with the coconut oil, too. He put it out of his mind regretfully, opened his eyes, and sat up straight.

"Let me have it," he grinned. He was the Minister of Magic, and right now he was holding the world in the palms of his hands.