Chapter Two

"The press briefing is at two, Minister, you have a floo call with the French Minister at 3:15, the budget reports will be submitted by 5, and the Hogsmeade dinner at seven. Your suit should be ready by then, and your hat is already on the back of the main door. I have your notes here for the compensation of the hidden lunch meeting here." Percy handed over a thick manila folder.

"Thank you, Percy," said Cornelius Fudge without looking up.

Percy fiddled with the papers left in his hands. Fudge looked up, Percy never fiddled.

"Question?"

Percy moved his hands behind his back and coughed. "How are the Creevys? You met with them yesterday and presented the brother with a new wand. How are they?"

Percy often discussed those that had disappeared with Fudge. Together they had co-ordinated the search and assistance the wizards and witches needed to be reintegrated into society. Fudge currently headed up the department that had been thrown together after the defeat of Lord Voldemort. These people that had hidden themselves in the Muggle world while war tore apart the wizarding one had to be convinced to come back. Many Muggle-borns who had training and schooling outside had simply refused. Slowly they were finding and reintroducing more though. And not all had hidden themselves.

Percy hoped Fudge would soon be looking for his replacement though. He was running a campaign for a return to an office he had been in before. Minister. And this time there would be no mistakes. Percy would make sure of that.

The campaign left little down time but they were winning. Not that Percy really cared about winning much any more. He was doing what he wanted with who he wanted. He hadn't done this in years.

"They are in fine form, Percy. Very grateful to me for some reason though I would hardly say I put much work into finding them. Why do you ask?"

"They were one of the first that disappeared. It's been a while since they have been in the country, in our community. I wondered if they were not happier outside."

"They were glad to come home." Fudge looked at Percy and Percy plastered an unconvincing expression of innocence on his face. "Any other family you would like to enquire after?"

Percy opened his mouth ready with a reply but Fudge held up his hand. "Let me ask you a question, Percy. Why do you believe in me?"

"Because of what you stand for, Minister. Your policies and past record show for themselves. As does your conduct during and after the war where you..."

Fudge interrupted Percy mid speech. "Yes, I do believe you wrote that part of my manifesto yourself however I was asking on a more personal level. You could have gone and won with anyone else. You, after all, do know where all the bodies are buried. Or at least, it appears, where all the wizards are hidden."

Percy ignored the comment. "Everyone deserves a second chance Minister."

"But why are you helping me. I'm not responsible for half of the nonsense that's written in the Daily Prophet about me. You stood by the previous Minister during the war why not stand by Kingsley. Why not assist him with the finding of the disappeared. Why stay in the Ministry at all?"

Percy didn't offer a reply. He figured most of the questions had been rhetorical anyway.

"There are search requests and data warrants with my signature on it to get into Mungos or Gringotts that I've never seen before. These people seem awfully happy to be found when it appears they have hidden themselves."

Percy was shocked. "Walls have ears you know."

"Hmm," said Fudge, unconvinced. "I don't suppose the previous Ministers were half as concerned about the wall's ears as they should have been about yours."

Percy was unsure of the complement so refrained from smiling.

Fudge sighed and picked up the envelope stuffed with notes. "Well, how do I look?"

"Like a Minister, Mr Fudge."

"Well time to press the flesh and do a little politicking I suppose. And Percy?"

"Sir?"

"Stop forging my signature."

"Have a good day sir."