I do NOT need harring eeds!!!
Today was November 25th. Today Draco, like all other ministry employees,
would be attending the annual Christmas planning staff meeting. Of course the usual would happen- tasks would be assigned to different departments, and the events would be arranged. Draco, the youngest member of the Wizengamot in a century, secretly loved the holiday season. He actually looked forward to this meeting. Ever since Pansy had broken off their engagement when she had found a richer eligible pureblood bachelor to dig her vicious claws into (richer than me? Draco scoffed as he though of his ex-fiancé's decision), Draco had poured his energies into his position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and his place on the Wizengamot. He had been secretly looking forward to this meeting for months. As usual, he would pretend to be indifferent, and allow himself to be cajoled into taking on a large portion of the preparatory work.
The meeting was at eleven. Looking around meeting room 113, which was packed, Draco saw Blaise Zabini- an old pal, now in the Department of Foreign Relations- other acquaintances enemies- and Granger. She actually looks quite nice, he thought surprisedly. She was decked out in holiday apparel, her face shining with holiday anticipation.
Refreshments were passed around, and everyone mingled for a quarter of an hour.
Percy Weasley- the youngest minister of magic since the dark ages- climbed up on the podium, and cleared his throat authoritatively. Draco snorted into his punch.
"It is my duty, as Minister of Magic," he paused here, allowing the statement to sink in, "to inform you all that the war, which we were victorious in just over a year ago- has taken a great toll on our funds. The ministry has seen fit therefore, to cut expenditures drastically. Also, more and more problems are arising as the mayhem caused by the war is sorted through. We need all our departments on-task at all times. For this reason, our financial advisees, with my approval, have decided to cut out the ministry's annual Christmas frivolities; there will be no Christmas Extravaganza, Gala, or Market this year."
Percy stepped down from the platform, bowing his head in a would-be majestic manner, had a paper cup not just been thrown at his head by an angry bystander. Shouts quickly started up.
"WE WANT CHRISTMAS! WE WANT CHRISTMAS!" The present members of the Department of Post-war Morale-Upping chorused.
Guards quickly formed around Percy, and he disappeared from view. Percy's second-in-command took the Podium.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" He thundered. "It is not my place to agree or disagree with this decision—which, I will note, has been made for the good of the magical community—but instead to encourage you all to work hard to get us out of this economic decline, so that this state of affairs does not become permanent. Please support our minister and show the public a united front, and hope and pray for an extravaganza next year." A sparkling tear dripped down his ebony cheek, but he quickly wiped it away. "think of how lucky we all are to still be here- for clearly none of those present have been killed in the war- please, cope with this decision, and be grateful for what you have, not what you do not have! Any questions? Yes Mr. Malfoy?" The former Auror seemed to have noticed Malfoy's readily reading face and shaking countenance.
"WHAT??" Draco Malfoy seemed to have finally recovered from his state of shock. "WHAT! This is propsterous! Ridiculous! As an upstanding ex-deatheater and member of the wizarding community at large I DEMAND that you reinstate the Christmas celebration!!"
"I'm sorry sir," Kingsley said respectfully, but with finality, "the decision has been made. And no preparations as to what needs to be done have been made. Usually preparations begin in August. I'm afraid your dreams of a Christmas Extravaganza will never become a reality this year."
"WHAT? WHAT?!? WHAT?!?!?" Draco shouted again. This is preposterous! He thought.
"Mr. Malfoy!" a voiced piped up from the side of the room where the Aurors and unspeakables were seated. "Do you need a hearing aid? Mr. Shacklebolt has been very clear and concise in his elaboration of the Ministry's decision!" Draco Malfoy glowered. The statement had come from none other than Hermione Granger.
"I do NOT need a harring eed!" said Draco, mispronouncing the Muggle device. "and what in sweet Circe's name is a harring aid anyway?"
"I'll take that question!" Arthur Weasley, now head of the Department of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, piped up enthusiastically, skipping to the podium and pushing Shacklebolt aside. "It's actually a Muggle device, used to enhance hearing of the elderly or hearing-impaired, pronounced HEE-RING AID!"