Chapter 4:

Politics

Ahh Harry, good to see you! If you hadn't come to me, I'd have called on you soon. Let's see, we have much to do. Gringotts has requested a meeting with you, two actually. You'll need to stop apparating till you get your license; the regulatory squad has been hounding me since the battle about you! I know you can do magic now, but please.. The apparition notices I've gotten are driving me crazy! What else what else.. We can do your apparition first, I'll contact Gringotts as your doing that, then we need to discuss a few things, go over your future, the funerals, your statement ect ect.. Off you go now; I have things other than yourself to deal with! Ask my Secretary Glenda to escort you. See you in a little bit!" Kingsley seemed to say all in one breath.

"But Minister.."

"Ah ah ah! After your license, then maybe these notices will stop!" As he finished his sentence, another notice appeared out of thin air, this one a deep blood red. Harry left the office quickly to avoid the screeching envelope.

"Glenda?"

"Hmm oh yes, right this way Mr. Potter!"

Glenda lead him through the ministry to a large sign that read "Apparation Testing Here" with a large arrow pointing to a red X on the floor.

"Wha.."

"You need to apparate there. It's your first test, see the photo? Good, apparate there."

Harry nodded and did as she asked, waving goodbye as he apparated semi-blind. He appeared directly above a green X on the floor in a room he didn't recognize, in front of a counter, with a very old wizard looking at him expectantly.

"Look through these Mr. Potter, pick one with one location you haven't been to before.

Locations Page One:

Honeydukes

Muggle London: Leaky Cauldron

Spinner's End

The Hog's Head

Locations Page Two:

Weasley's Wizarding Wheazes

Gladrags Wizardwear

The Shrieking Shack

Godric's Hallow

Locations Page Three:

Hogsmeade Post Office

Quality Quidditch Supplies

Ottery St. Catchpole

Wiltshire

"Sir, I've technically been to all these places."

"Huh? Well then, are any of the buildings there very unfamiliar to you?"

"Well, the Post Office in Hogsmeade isn't familiar; I don't think I've ever been inside."

"Good good.. Take that list and apparate to each location. You'll stand on the green X and apparate to the first on the list, then back here. At each location, tell whoever is working that you're taking your apparition test. They'll give you something to bring back. For Wiltshire, you'll side-along apparate me.

Harry stood on the green X and tried to picture the Post Office he'd never been too. Turning on his heel, he quickly closed his eyes. When he felt the world stop moving, he peeked through his eyelids at his surroundings, smiling in triumph. He walked to a young witch and told her he was taking his apparition test, a part from lots of giggles coming from the girl, she wordlessly handed him a shiny ministry coin. Apparating back, he handed the coin over to the old wizard, going to his next location. He looked around the shop for a few minutes waiting for the line to cease, picking up a flyer for the new Lightning Bolt broom, set to release in stores in October. The line had finally cleared, taking his time to look around he moseyed up to the counter to get his ministry coin, apparating back, flyer in hand. He made his last quickly, coming to and fro in an instant. He held out his hand to the old wizard wordlessly, waiting. The wizard took his offered hand and they were off and back in a flash. The old wizard smiled at Harry, handing over his apparition license, withdrawing his wand and aiming it at Harry. "Don't worry kid, this will just let you apparate to Kingsley's office." Harry nodded his head, watching as the wizard verbally casted. He felt warm for a moment, then nodded to the wizard and apparated back to Kingsley.

"That quick Mr. Potter, okay I've set up an appointment with Bokluk, the head Goblin at Gringotts to discuss your ugh..break-in, they are quite upset over it. They also requested an appointment concerning your personal accounts, but I explained that you will make that appointment yourself, as it doesn't pertain to me. Bokluk will be here in about an hour, until then, how about we write out your statement?

"Where should we start?"

"The beginning is usually best."

"Well.. When I was a ba…"

"Not that beginning Harry, how about you start at the wedding?"

Harry regaled the story of how Ron, Hermione and himself were on the run, searching for "items that needed to be destroyed in order to destroy Tom Riddle." He plead for Narcissa and Draco's pardons, but did not ask for Lucius's. His mind fogged as he spoke of Snape, making sure to leave out the person details. He requested a burial for Snape in Godric's Hallow, next to his parents – specifically his Mother. Snape deserved that, and he prayed his Mother or Father wouldn't mind that his body rest next to theirs. As his tale came to a close, the Minister had been preparing the statement, omitting whatever Harry had requested. Harry hadn't once mentioned "Lord Voldemort" or "He-who-must-not-be-named", or even "The Dark Lord", Harry simply said, "Tom Riddle." When Kingsley asked why, Harry replied, "Tom Riddle was just a man, a very cruel, evil man – but just a man. I'd also like to request that we not give the body a burial, but that we light it on fire, place the ashes in an urn, and throw it through the Veil. A burial ground will just give him more power, a shrine for others to worship."

"A most excellent idea Harry, and I agree completely. May that go in to the statement?"

"Yes, of course."

"One last thing before Bokluk gets here Harry, you're statue – do you have an requests? It will be placed at The Final Battle site."

"Come again?"

"You're a hero Harry! You're going to have a statue, whether you want it or not."

"Can I choose what it looks like?"

"Within reason."

"I would like the statue to be of Dumbledore's Army, with the Order of Phoenix standing behind us, both the living D.A and Order members and the dead. Beneath us I would like a large plaque with the names of all of The Fallen, including wizards, witches, muggles, and creatures. I would like Dobby and Kreacher to stand on either side of the D.A."

"You really are something, Harry Potter. I offer you a statue, and you turn it into shrine for The Fallen."

"Thank you, Minister."

Bokluk chose that moment to be escorted in by Glenda. Bokluk strode in, looking rather angry. "Mr. Potter. Here is the file for damages. The list is extensive, including us requiring a replacement dragon. The total comes to a rounded four million galleons. Harry opened his mouth to speak, but the minister waived him off.

"Bokluk, as the Minister of Magic, I can cover some of the damages, the rest may be covered by the donations made to Harry Potter throughout the war that you have set aside. I'm sure that should cover the damages, now Harry, what would you like done with the rest of the donations made towards you?"

"How much was donated?"

"The last known amount was over Twenty-three million galleons."

"The wizarding world donated that money?"

"Yes." Replied both Bokluk and the Minister.

"Then I would like 10% to go to the repair of Hogwarts, if any shop within Wizarding Britain needs to be repaired, they can submit how much they need, and Gringotts can release it to them. I'd also like 100,000 galleons added to the accounts of all those who aided me in the war, including the living D.A members, Order of Phoenix, each professor of Hogwarts, Ollivander, Narcissa Malfoy, Andromeda Tonks, Abeforth Dumbledore, and Xenophilius Lovegood. That's all I can think of at the moment, thank you for telling me about it. Bokluk, is there anything else you need, apart from my personal finances?"

"No, that will be all from me Mr. Potter, please let me know when you wish to make your personal appointment."

"Thank you, Bokluk." Harry bowed deeply to the goblin, under a raised eyebrow by Kingsley.

"Mr. Potter, you are a very odd wizard." Bokluk said as he returned the bow.

"So I've been told, I'll make an appointment with you sometime next week Bokluk, thank you again."

Kingsley watched Harry in mild amusement, not only had this young wizard thanked a goblin, he actually bowed. Even Kingsley, or the Minister before him did not bow to goblins. He wondered if Harry knew just how surprised the goblin had been, and even how welcome the goblin had been to reciprocate. Kingsley took the silence as Harry not being ready to talk yet; he took the moment to take out the folder he'd prepared for Harry, pulling out the first piece of paper. A few minutes had past, and Kingsley was just about to bring Harry back to the present when he says,

"Sorry Ginny, my mind was on Kingsley."

"Harry?"

"I know, I know.. I meant, sorry Kingsley, my mind was on Ginny, I'm a little lost lately."

"You're not the only one Harry, look at me. One second I'm an Auror, working underground with the Order of Phoenix to help you, and the next the war is over and I'm named Acting Minister! I've addressed you today as several times, even though we're both on first name basis. I think we've all been more stressed since this war ended, and it's going to take awhile. You; however, are going to need a lot longer. For you, this war has been everything to you since you've been introduced to our world. I think a certain red head will help you with that. Anyway! What do you want first, the good or the bad?"

"bad"

"If you insist, well this is a list of the funerals I, as the Acting Minister would like you to attend, but I'm not going to require you to do so. If the name has a star next to it, I'm asking that you say a few words. Not a speech Harry, don't look at me like that. And here's the list of The Fallen, with stars next to the D.A and the Order of Phoenix. You'll have to carefully prepare your schedule, since um, everyone died on the same day..a lot of the funerals are on the same day. Many of them are closed funerals, no press. Everyone expects you to bring Ginny, so don't worry about that. Finally, this is the list of medals to be awarded. I haven't set a date yet, I'm expecting it'll be after all the funerals have been held."

Harry looked down the list, noticing many names missing that deserved awards. "No"

"What's wrong, Harry?"

"This list is incomplete, I'll write a list myself and you can submit it to whoever needs to ok the medals. I'll take on this fight, I'm sure even you will be indifferent to a few names I want on this list. I will say this, I won't be attending any awards ceremony unless me and..and.. who decides this crap?"

"The Counsel Board, then it is submitted to the Wizengamot, who has the final approval before it comes to me."

"So, I'm going to have to fight two "boards" to get a house elf, goblin, and werewolf honored?"

"YOU WANT WHAT?"

"Told you that you would be indifferent."

"You are a very odd wizard, Harry."

"I know, now what else is there to talk about? It's been a long day and I'm tired."

"Okay Harry, I hope you know what you're getting yourself in to. The Auror Squad has requested that you be cleared to apply, if you want to still be an Auror that is. Also, about half of the Ministry's departments have put in the same request, at least two-hundred businesses have also requested a meeting with you to see if you'd like to work for them, and of course, I would like to know if you'd be interested in being a Junior Minister for me, if I am named Minister.

"Of course, it'd be great publicity to hire the bloody boy-who-lived. I decline them all. As for your Junior Minister, do you mind if I make a suggestion?"

"Of course not, Harry. I will always take into account what you say."

"Percival Weasley."

"Percy? Why?"

"Can you honestly think of someone who is best suited for the changes to come? Someone who needs the change in their own life as much as the Ministry needs them? He's perfect for the Ministry, and you know it. He may even be worthy of being the Minister when you're done serving."

Kingsley thought about Harry's words, it was true. He'd known Percy for some time now, and Percy would suit well to the changes that he planned to make happen. Harry was right, if Percy could embrace the changes in his own life, he could very well be Minister some day.

"Thank you for the suggestion Harry, it is a very good one, and if you decline all the offers, what will you do for the rest of your life?"

"Nothing, I plan to do nothing. I've spent my childhood fighting an evil wizard, dying, and letting others die for me. I'm going to live my life however I please now, and right now – that includes having no responsibilities. Now.. Is there a bed here somewhere? I don't think I can apparate in my state, and I don't have anywhere to go."

"I understand Harry, and yes, there is." Kingsley turned to the full length mirror in his office and said, "Harry Potter" the mirror grew a doorknob, to which he opened and flicked his wand, lighting several candles inside. "This room was created for you, by the Aurors last year, if you had come to us, we'd have given you a place to stay. There is a floo in there for the morning, you need not come say goodbye."

"Thank you Kingsley." Harry said as he plopped down on the lush bed big enough for three people. Four, or five even. The lights went out in his head, and slipped in to a deep sleep.