For the Hogwarts Forum
Writing Club, "I Know Him" (Cornelius Fudge)
Roald Dahl Event: Emperor's New Cloves (Cornelius Fudge)
Word Count: 484
"Come to gloat, Albus?" Cornelius asks bitterly when the headmaster steps into his office.
Well, at least it will be his office for another half hour. Tomorrow, Rufus will be sitting behind that desk. Tomorrow, Cornelius will be just a disgraced former Minister avoiding the public eye.
"Do you really not know me better than that, old friend?" Albus asks.
Friend. After everything Cornelius has put the old man through, Albus still manages to think of him as a friend. The Minister smiles to himself. "Why are you here?" he asks.
He folds his arms over his chest, waiting grudgingly. "Friend" or not, he doesn't think he can stand to sit through one of Albus' lectures on morality or his unwanted sage advice.
"I'm here with a reminder," Albus says, his lips pulled into a smile as his blue eyes twinkle.
Cornelius rolls his eyes. Albus has always had a flare for the dramatic. He doesn't understand why the old man can't just finish the thought, why he has to leave such a great pause behind the sentence. Cornelius clears his throat, hoping to signal Albus to continue, but the headmaster simply smiles. Cornelius groans. "Remind me of what, Albus?" he asks.
"You were a brilliant Minister overall; you simply failed in the end," Albus says brightly; Cornelius balls his hands into fists. "You made mistakes. That doesn't make you a bad person."
Cornelius snorts. Mistakes. He'd put all of Great Britain at risk by refusing to believe the monster had returned. How can Albus refer to that as something so small as a mistake?
"There is still hope for you, if you know where to look. I'm sure you could even redeem yourself, even if it's not in the public eye."
He raises his brows. There have been whispers- all unconfirmed- that Albus leads some sort of group that opposes the Death Eaters. He wonders if that's what Albus is implying now.
The thought is terrifying. While Cornelius has always been a talented wizard, he's not much of a fighter. His dueling skills are more for bragging rights than for actual use. And yet…
And yet this could be his chance. Even if no one else knows of the things he does, he could at least ease his own conscience. Cornelius leans against his desk, head tilted to the side in thought for several moments. Finally, he nods. "As a disgraced man, I would enjoy any chance of redeeming my name."
Albus nods and turns away. "I'll be in touch, Cornelius," he says, exiting the office and closing the door behind him.
Cornelius stares at the spot his old friend had been only moments before. He wonders what he's gotten himself into. Part of him hates Albus for striding in here and making vague offers with a promise of redemption.
Most of all, however, he hates himself for how eagerly he had agreed.