Disclaimer: The rights of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling and Warner Bros. I am making no financial gain from this story whatsoever.
Chapter 10
The Path is Long
There was a knock on the door. Percy went over to open it, and let the person in.
"Oh, Harry," said Ron. "I didn't know you were going to be here too."
"Hi Ron," said Harry.
"Didn't mean to interrupt anything," said Ron. "Percy told me he wanted to talk to me."
"Well, we both want to talk to you," said Harry.
"Really?" asked Ron, a bit surprised. "That has got to be the... first time that's ever happened."
"Probably is," said Percy. "But enough chat. You're aware that Harry and I were working to get rid of the Minister."
Ron just looked at Percy and then Harry, and then Percy.
"No," he said slowly. "I'm not. This is the first I've heard of this."
"Really?" said Percy, looking at Harry. "I thought you'd have discussed it with Ron and Hermione, at least."
"No," said Harry. "I kept it close to the chest until I made a decision."
"Anyways, Ron," said Percy. "Harry and I were working..."
"Yes, yes, Percy," said Ron waving him off. "I pretty much figured that much. Who is going to run?"
"Harry was going to."
"Seriously?" said Ron. "This isn't some elaborate prank? I had difficulty getting you to do photo-shots, or visit you lately. But running for Minister?"
"When you say it like that," said Harry, "then you're just trying to make me look foolish."
"So what happened?" said Ron.
"Clarkson happened," said Harry.
"I see," said Ron. "So what's plan B?"
"You mean, who is plan B."
"Ok, who?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes, you?"
"Why in the name of Merlin would you think of me?" said Ron.
"Why not?" said Harry. "A decorated soldier in the Voldemort war, a long-term worker in the Ministry, and head of the Auror Office."
"Those are labels," said Ron. "Many people have similar."
"No, not really," said Harry.
"But why me?" said Ron. "I say go get Hermione. She's always been more passionate than either of us."
"No, I don't think she'd work for this," said Harry.
"You've found something you think I would be better for than Hermione?" said Ron. "Stop the press, this is big."
"I know she could be a great Minister," said Harry. "She'd get killed in the campaign, though."
"What? You're saying I'm the other way round?" said Ron, suspiciously.
"No, I'm saying I'd trust you in an election, and the position," said Harry, defensively.
"Fair enough," said Ron.
"So you're in then, right?" said Harry.
"No," said Ron. "I need to think about it first."
"Think about what?" said Harry.
"I just got asked this, y'know," said Ron. "I never actually gave any thought to running for Minister. I need to talk to the kids, and Hermione."
"Usually I need to talk to the family is a play done to make a politician seem more of a family-man/woman," said Percy. "You mean that don't you?"
"Of course," said Ron. "I've seen how insignificant things from the candidate's family is twisted purely for humiliation's sake."
"Ok then," said Percy. "Think about it, tell us when you decide. I'll drop a few hints here and there and see if you're a viable idea."
"Fine," said Ron, getting up and grabbing his coat. "I've got a few people to talk to."
After Ron had left, Percy and Harry stayed back.
"How are you feeling about Ron?" said Harry.
"I don't know," said Percy. "There's a risk we've not considered something that will bite us once we start. Then again, you had risks too."
"I can't wait until a reporter lobs the first question that seriously tests Ron's patient in an interview," said Harry. "There's going to be some humour in all this regardless."
"So, shall we form actual positions?" said Percy. "What do we call you or me?"
"You be campaign manager," said Harry. "I'll be deputy campaign manager."
"Then the first job we need to fill is communications," said Percy.
"Anyone spring to mind?" said Harry.
"A few," said Percy. "But don't worry about it, I'll deal with that."
"What's my first job then?" said Harry.
"Be the person the Ron's kids and Hermione and the other Weasleys need to ask questions of," said Percy. "If they have doubts about Ron running, he'll have doubts."
"How will I alleviate any doubts?" asked Harry.
"Do your thing," said Percy, waving him away. "You know, inspire them or something. You've done it before."
"Sounds manipulative," said Harry.
"You mean it, though," said Percy. "But politics and manipulation, a thin line and all that..."
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Ron Weasley was glad to have left the room. He needed some air. It was somewhat of a shock. He wasn't kidding when he said he genuinely never thought of running for Minister. Sure, he's fantasized about playing for England in the Quidditch World Cup, Head Boy and so on. But never Minister. It just never came up.
He actually thought Hermione was going to try to run after Kingsley stepped down, considering she worked closely under him to dismantle the pureblood and other discriminating laws. She would've been young, but soon after the fall of Voldemort the only person who could stop Hermione would've been Harry. But she never mentioned any interest then.
Over the years in the marriage, Ron got the impression it was a possibility down the line. It just never came up, but there was and is still lots of time. As for Harry running, Ron never really thought Harry would be interested unless really pushed to it. That sort of job never really seemed to interest Harry, reminding Ron of Dumbledore who was rumoured to have declined the job multiple times.
However, he was the least of the trio who he'd (or he suspected, anyone) would've anticipated running. It actually came out of nowhere. He couldn't deny he was flattered by the offer of the job, but did he really want to be Minister?
He knew what the job entailed. It was a highly demanding job where pressure was a constant companion. After the War, news media outlets exploded as there was a wholesale changes in the role of the press of society. Gone were the days where the Prophet would be used as an outlet for the Minister to paint foes as soft or dangerous (as Harry personally experienced with Fudge and the return of Voldemort). The media was a vibrant industry with a large number of companies and newspapers competing with one another to provide detailed and fast-paced news. Considering the fact the population of Wizarding Britain wasn't so large, a large number of news outlets were actually expansions of muggle conglomerates into the magical world. It was a very complicated process, considering secrecy of the wizarding world was still highly desired. However, using muggles with magical relatives heading the magical news division's and wizards and witches running the day-to-day affairs, it has up to this point worked with a few bumps here and there.
Also having to deal with the Muggle parliament and organisations. After the War, the muggles got wind that Kingsley was undergoing massive changes in the Ministry, the muggles mentioned some issues they had. Chiefly was that they were fed up of the occasional drip-drip of information that the Minister for Magic provided very infrequently, and usually only when disaster had occurred. That had to change. Kingsley, having had experience providing security to the Muggle Prime Minister after Voldemort returned, agreed fully. Liaison offices between the muggle and magical ministers were formed in the departments where there was some overlap. Ron, as Head of the Auror Office, had to constantly deal with Scotland Yard's liaison officer, who was currently a squib (and an incredibly sharp mind in detective-work, not to mention rather good with a gun).
Another thing was the fact that the muggle world and the wizarding world became far more intertwined, enough to make Voldemort turn in his grave. Supplies of goods from the muggles, usage of muggle technology, living within muggle areas, using muggle entertainment establishments amongst others were now a common thing in the wizarding world. The fact that the wizarding world existed being secret was still of paramount importance.
Then there was the politics of it. The media was ruthless and determined, the other members in the Ministry very interested in saving their backsides and burning others'. Ron's life would be in a harsh spotlight the moment he announced his interest in running. He wasn't naive enough not to know that. Everything in his life would go under a microscope. His activities during the Voldemort War, his divorce from Hermione, his friendship with Harry, Ginny... Nothing would be out of bounds.
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Hermione's jaw dropped. Rose whistled in approval. Hugo was silent.
Ron didn't say anything, he wanted to gauge first reactions.
"You're kidding me?" said Rose after a while where nobody offered anything to say.
"Nope, just finished talking to Harry and Percy," said Ron.
"Wow," said Rose. "Minister Weasley, have we ever had one of those?"
"Steady there, dear," said Hermione. "Your father hasn't actually said that he had decided. Forget about there being no guarantee of him winning."
"Decided what? Of course he's going to do it, and win," said Rose. "Isn't that right, Dad?"
"I have to consider everything before deciding," said Ron.
"Like what?" said Hugo.
"Like, do I want to be Minister," said Ron. "Do I want to subject you three to the speculation and spotlight, which is sure to happen?"
"Dad, Hugo and I are grown up," said Rose. "We can handle this."
"Doesn't make a difference," said Ron. "It's you two and your mother. Everything in my life will be gone over and analysed, if not criticised. Every negative thing that happened will be magnified. And if you think anything is so obscure nobody could find it, you don't know how interested everyone in your past is in talking to the media the moment you are part of the spotlight."
"Dad, I don't care," said Rose. "Anything that comes up, comes up. If this is what you want, I'm with you."
"Hugo?" asked Ron.
"What Rose said," he said. "If you want to do this, I'm with you."
"Hermione?" said Ron.
His ex-wife shifted in her seat and hesitated to answer. She didn't look comfortable being asked, and she quite frankly wasn't expected to be asked of her opinion.
"It's not my place to decide," said Hermione, after a pause. "When we were married we'd decide this together, but it's now your decision."
"Of course you have a place," said Ron. "Not only because I trust your opinion, but that the fact that we were married is bound to arise. People will come up with rumours, none of them any good."
"Yes, but I think you've already considered that, and I'm with you," said Hermione. "However, did you consider they were going to come up with Ginny and the trio?"
Ron leaned back, rubbed his face and sighed.
"Yes," said Ron. "I don't want that."
"Harry's just started to come out of his shell," said Hermione. "This could just push him all the way back."
"I know, and I would've refused outright," said Ron, "were it not the fact that Harry is one that's asking me to."
"Even then," said Hermione. "Please check with Harry first."
"Will do."
"If he's good with it," said Hermione. "Then you have all my support."
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Ronald Weasley for Minister?
The Daily Prophet, quoting unnamed sources, has heard strong enough rumours to report that Ronald Weasley is considering running for Minister for Magic in the upcoming elections. This is an unexpected and unpredicted scenario from any political analyst, as far as this newspaper can recall.
Mr. Weasley, currently Head of the Auror Office, is a well-known wizard who helped play a pivotal role in the downfall of the dark wizard Voldemort. Along with his, then and current, best friends Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, they acted in secrecy to find and destroy Voldemort's hidden horcruxes to help rid Great Britain from his tight grasp. A student in Hogwarts under the headmastership of Albus Dumbledore, Ronald Weasley never stood out individually, but through his friendship with Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, he was very well known in the school.
The second last out of six children from Arthur and Molly Weasley, Ronald Weasley... (continued on Page 2)
Mr. Weasley's performance in the Ministry... see Page 4
Mr. Weasley's sister and children's horrible tragedy... see Page 12
Ron read parts of the newspaper out loud to Harry in the pub as they waited for their drinks.
"Was this your idea of letting me decide?" he asked. "It was leaked out before I even talked to my kids."
"I'm sorry Ron," said Harry. "Percy said we had so little time to act that he needed to gauge reaction to any possibility of you running."
"Wow," said Ron. "He's getting excited far too quickly."
"It's Percy," said Harry. "He may have left politics, but politics hasn't left him."
"Indeed," said Ron. "Listen, I talked to the kids and Hermione. I just need to talk with you."
"About?" said Harry. "It's your decision, I don't come into it."
"Of course you do, Harry," said Ron. "They're going to comb through our lives."
"They've done so before," said Harry.
"They're going to go through my divorce," said Ron. "And Ginny and the kids."
"Ron," said Harry. "I don't want to talk about it."
"No," said Ron, his hand coming down hard onto the table. "This time you're not blocking it out from a discussion. Don't you get it, they're going to talk about it. See page 12, it's started. If you can't even discuss it with me, can you handle seeing her face in the papers? Albus'? Lily's? James'?"
"I'll have to manage," said Harry.
"No, there'll be no 'managing' alone," said Ron. "Hermione and I agree on this one. If you can't handle that, then take my name out of running. A herd of hippogriffs won't push me to run."
A pause happened, where Harry and Ron stared at one another, waiting to see who'd figuratively blink first. Harry lost.
"Fine, Ron," said Harry. "I don't like it, and I thought about it. But this is important. I'll have to cope."
"I mean it, Harry," said Ron. "I won't discomfort you on my behalf. You have to tell me if it gets too much. If you give me the silent treatment and I feel that it's killing you, so help me I'll drop out of the race and endorse the Minister for re-election."
Harry was quiet.
"Do you understand, Harry?" said Ron, very firmly.
"Yes," said Harry, after a period of silence.
"Good," said Ron, pleased.
The drinks arrived then.
"Which reminds me," said Harry. "You're going to have to meet someone who may wish to donate to the campaign."
"Who is it?" said Ron.
"Can't say," said Harry. "Anonymity reasons. I met him."
"Anyone I know?" said Ron.
"Erm... yes," said Harry. "Which reminds me, make sure that I come along when you meet the person."
"For work reasons?" asked Ron.
"Not exactly," said Harry. "But I wouldn't miss this for the world."