Part 1
The Middle Years
Chapter 1
The New Minister
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny walked into the kitchen on the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley was rushing around setting the table.
"The tests weren't too hard," Hermione said sitting down at the table. "I hope I get good marks in Arithmancy and Muggle Studies."
"Potions was the hard one," Ron argued sitting across from her. "Then it was Defense Against the Dark Arts. At least we knew most of the spells."
"Ron, we spent the entire year fighting the Dark Arts!"
"Okay, so it wasn't that hard."
Harry didn't care one way or the other. He was just glad to be here, finished with school, and not dead. Would he become an Auror now that Voldemort was dead? He probably would, because there were other dark wizards out there.
That night at dinner, they could finally talk freely about everything. Mr. Weasley hadn't been there; he and the Aurors were busy rounding up Death Eaters and dementors. The Death Eaters refused to stop doing Voldemort's work, even though their Dark Lord was dead. The dementors hadn't been called off, so they were scaring Muggles out of their minds.
The next morning, Harry walked down to breakfast just as an owl swooped in with the Daily Prophet.
"Good morning, Harry," Hermione said as she paid the owl and opened the paper.
Harry sat down as Hermione looked at the paper.
"Listen to this!" she said excitedly. She read:
People Get A Knew Minister
Arthur Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office, was named Minister of Magic early this morning. We don't have much information on this matter, yet. More tomorrow.
"You're joking!" Ron said in disbelief.
Hermione skimmed through the rest of the paper. As she got to the end, she rolled her eyes and said, "Rita Skeeter is going to like this. Tomorrow, she's writing about it, too."
Mrs. Weasley walked in at that moment, and they fell silent almost agreeing without words to let Mr. Weasley tell her. She glanced at the clock that the previous summer had nine hands; it now had eleven. Each hand had a picture of someone at the end of it. Fleur had replaced Fred. Harry and Hermione now had their own. Mr. Weasley's hand was pointed at traveling.
"He's coming," Mrs. Weasley said to no one in particular.
Mr. Weasley stepped out of the fireplace and said, "Molly, I am the Minister of Magic!"
"What?" Mrs. Weasley said in astonishment.
"I am the Minister of Magic." Mr. Weasley repeated
"Arthur, that's wonderful! You need a good breakfast after all this mayhem." She began to run around the kitchen pointing her wand in every direction, and the objects came to life.
Ten minutes later, Percy walked into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley started to tell him but decided Mr. Weasley should. Instead, she gave him a glass of orange juice.
"Percy," Mr. Weasley said casually, as Percy sipped his orange juice, "the new Minister of Magic has offered you the job of Senior Undersecretary.
Percy inhaled some of the orange juice and coughed loudly.
"What?" he asked after regaining control of his breathing. "Who is it?"
Mr. Weasley shrugged and said, "I don't know. All I really know is that the Minister wants to meet with you at six this evening."