Chapter 36: The Minister Of Magic
We went to bed at the usual time, waited until Neville, Dean, and Seamus had stopped discussing the Chamber of Secrets and finally fallen asleep, then got up, dressed again, and threw the cloak over ourselves.
I wanted to go by and check on Hermione, to see how she was doing. However, even though Harry wanted to come too, he kept our mission on the front of our minds. I would just have to see her the next day.
The journey through the dark and deserted castle corridors wasn't enjoyable. Usually the halls were empty, but because of everything that was happening, teachers and ghost were lurking everywhere, and the Invisibility Cloak didn't stop us from making any noise. It was with relief that we reached the oak front doors and eased them open.
It was a clear, starry night. We hurried toward the lit windows of Hagrid's house and pulled off the cloak only when we were right outside his front door.
Seconds after we had knocked, Hagrid flung it open. We found ourselves face-to-face with him aiming a crossbow at us. I was too scared to move.
"Oh," he said, lowering the weapon and staring at us. "What're you two doin'here?"
"What's that for?" said Harry, pointing at the crossbow as we stepped inside.
"Nothin'- nothin'-" Hagrid muttered. "I've bin expectin'- doesn'matter - Sit down - I'll make tea."
He seemed overly clumsy as he nearly extinguished the fire, spilling water from the kettle on it, and then smashed the teapot with a nervous jerk of his massive hand.
"Are you okay, Hagrid?" said Harry. "Did you hear about Hermione?"
"Oh, I heard, all right'," said Hagrid, a slight break in his voice. "Sorry."
He kept glancing nervously at the windows. He poured us both large mugs of boiling water (he had forgotten to add tea bags) and was just putting a slab of fruitcake on a plate when there was a loud knock on the door.
Hagrid dropped the fruitcake. Harry and I exchanged panicstricken looks, then threw the Invisibility Cloak back over ourselves and backed into a corner. Hagrid seized his crossbow and flung open his door once more.
"Good evening, Hagrid."said Dumbledore, not looking his usual cheerful self. He stepped into Hagrid's hut, followed by a second, very odd-looking man.
The stranger had gray hair and an anxious expression, and was wearing a pinstriped suit, a red tie, a long black cloak, and purple boots. Under his arm he carried a lime-green bowler hat. I recognized the tosser immediately.
"That's Dad's boss!" I breathed. "Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic!"
Harry elbowed me hard to get me to shut up.
"Bad business, Hagrid." said Fudge, grimly. "Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks on Muggleborns. Things have gone far enough. Ministry's got to act."
"I never!" said Hagrid, looking anxiously at Dumbledore. "You know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir!"
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence," said Dumbledore, frowning at Fudge.
"Look, Albus." said Fudge, uncomfortably. "Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry's got to do something. The school governors have been in touch."
"Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest." said Dumbledore, a pissed expression was on his face that Harry and I had never seen before.
"Look at it from my point of view." said Fudge. "I'm under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to take him. Got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty."
"Take me?" said Hagrid, shaking. "Take me where?"
"For a short stretch only," said Fudge. "Not a punishment, Hagrid, more a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology."
"Not Azkaban?" croaked Hagrid.
Before Fudge could answer, there was another knock on the door.
Dumbledore answered it. Harry gasped and I elbowed him quickly, shutting him up.
Lucius Malfoy strode into Hagrid's hut, wearing an expensive and long black cloak, smiling a chilling and satisfied smile. Fang growled at him.
"Already here, Fudge," he said approvingly. "Good, good."
"What're you doin'here?" said Hagrid, with hatred in his voice. "Get outta my house!"
"My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your - er - do you call this a house?" said Mr. Malfoy, sneering as he looked around the small cabin. "I simply called at the school and was told that the headmaster was here."
"And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?" said Dumbledore. He spoke politely, but his anger level had intensified.
"Dreadful thing, Dumbledore." said Mr. Malfoy, taking out a long roll of parchment. "But the governors feel it's time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension. You'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we feel you're losing your touch. How many attacks have there been now? Two more this afternoon, wasn't it? At this rate, there'll be no Muggleborns left at Hogwarts, and we all know what an awful loss that would be to the school."
"Oh, now, see here, Lucius," said Fudge, looking alarmed, "Dumbledore suspended? No-no, last thing we want just now."
"The appointment, or suspension, of the headmaster is a matter for the governors, Fudge." said Mr. Malfoy. "And as Dumbledore has failed to stop these attacks..."
"See here, Malfoy, if Dumbledore can't stop them, I mean to say, who can?"
"That remains to be seen" said Mr. Malfoy with a nasty smile. "But as all twelve of us have voted."
An'how many did yeh have ter threaten an'blackmail before they agreed, Malfoy, eh?" roared Hagrid.
"Dear, dear, you know, that temper of yours will lead you into trouble one of these days, Hagrid." said Mr. Malfoy. "I would advise you not to shout at the Azkaban guards like that. They won't like it at all."
"Yeh can't take Dumbledore!" yelled Hagrid. "Take him away, an'the Muggleborns won't stand a chance! There'll be killin' next!"
"Calm yourself, Hagrid," said Dumbledore. He looked at Mr. Malfoy.
"If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside-"
"But -" stuttered Fudge.
"No!" growled Hagrid.
"However," said Dumbledore, speaking very slowly and clearly so that none of them could miss a word, "you will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me... Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."
Dumbledore's eyes flickered toward us, as if he were speaking to us as well. He knew we were there, I could feel it.
"Admirable sentiments," said Malfoy, bowing. "We shall all miss your - er - highly individual way of running things, Albus, and only hope your successor will manage to prevent any - ah - killins."
He strode to the cabin door, opened it, and bowed Dumbledore out. Fudge waited for Hagrid to go ahead of him, but Hagrid stood his ground, took a deep breath, and said carefully, "If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead em right. That's all I'm sayin'."
Fudge looked at Hagrid, confused by his words.
"All right, I'm comin', said Hagrid. "An'someone'll need ter feed Fang while I'm away."
The door banged shut and I pulled off the Invisibility Cloak.
"We're in trouble now," I said hoarsely. "No Dumbledore. They might as well close the school tonight. There'll be an attack a day with him gone."
Fang started howling, scratching at the closed door.