Hi again! I hope that you are all safe and at home. With the world being under lockdown I've had the opportunity to double-down on my writing. I can't guarantee that my updates will be regular but I promise that there will be updates.

I know that many of you must be bored out of your brain (I know that I am) but I hope that this cheers you up a bit, and yes I appropriated the title from Rita Skeeter's book! :)

Again, don't forget to follow, favourite and review. I love hearing what you have to say about my work and eagerly await your responses! - S.G.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I am merely a Potterhead trying not to do my head in whilst being isolated at home.

The Truths and Lies of Cornelius Fudge

I stumbled out of one of the Ministry's fireplaces with a whoosh of green smoke, running a hasty hand through my hair as I dusted soot off my coat.

I shuddered before I looked up to the ceiling: I was quite sure that I'd never quite get used to travelling by toilet. It had been at least a month since I'd last been back in London.

If only I was back for a better reason, I mused to myself as I pulled out my loose ponytail. My hair was quite a bit shorter than I'd previously had it: while before I had grown it out past my shoulder, now it brushed at the beginning of my collarbone instead. I sighed, running the tip of my wand through it as though curling its strands by magic as I made my way through the bustle of witches and wizards who filled the Ministry's Atrium. I continued walking, pausing only to glance at a passing newspaper stand:

DUMBLEDORE DEMOTED FROM CHIEF WARLOCK IN THE WIZENGAMOT

I shook my head, scowling at the headlines before I flicked my wand and kept walking. Behind me, all the papers began to whirl in the air as if caught up in a miniature tornado and I smiled. Sure, as a part of the Order, Dumbledore had warned me not to do anything reckless but surely a little bit of fun couldn't hurt …

I stepped out of the elevator at the top floor a few moments later, my boots echoing against the dark marble floors as I made my way down the winding corridor in the direction of Cornelius Fudge's office with a copy of the Daily Prophet still clutched in hand when another wizard shoved into me, sending his papers flying.

"I say! You should really watch where you're going!" Percy exclaimed, not even bothering to look at whom he had run into as he immediately fell to his knees to pick up the various folders that he'd dropped.

"I'm so sorry, are you alright? Here, allow me," I replied, apologising as I tucked the newspaper under my arm and collected his papers with a hasty flick of my wand.

"Yes, well saying sorry doesn't …" he trailed off, eyes widening when he finally looked up at me. "W-what are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you," I said, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you worked for the Department of International Magical Cooperation."

"Didn't you hear? I got promoted. I'm now the Junior Assistant to Cornelius Fudge himself, meaning that anybody who wants to see the Minister of Magic first must go through me." Percy puffed out his chest rather proudly. "Now what are you doing here?"

"You're Fudge's Junior Assistant aren't you? Shouldn't you already know?"

"I … um …" Percy's ears went slightly crimson as he coughed into his fist, "Why, yes, of course, I already know …"
"Then you'd know that I've already booked a meeting with Mr Fudge today," I added pleasantly.

"I see," the Weasley inclined his head, "Well, I'm afraid the Minister is incredibly busy today …"

"Is that so?" I hummed, handing him the rest of his papers before I picked myself up and continued walking. I could already hear voices coming from the golden doors that led to the Minister's office.

"Wait a minute!" Percy hesitated as if mentally deliberating whether he should go after me before he finally resorted to grabbing me by the sleeve of my jacket.

"Percy. Please let go of my jacket."

"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to go any further …"

Oh for Merlin's sake.

I could hear the Minister's voice rather clearly now, barking some sort of orders to what seemed to be a reporter from the Daily Prophet.

I rolled my eyes, glancing back only to shake Percy off before I marched forward and barged my way through the innate gold doors.

"M-Madam Cursebreaker!" Fudge dabbed his forehead, leaping out of his chair with a surprised yelp as he ushered the reporter out of his office. "Didn't you receive my owl? Your meeting had been rescheduled for tomorrow …"

"Yes, but after reading a certain newspaper article I thought it would be best to move it up a bit," I replied smoothly.

"My apologies Minister," Percy bowed his head, "I told her that you were busy …"

"Yeah, busy using your title to smear Dumbledore's reputation," I drawled.
Fudge's cheeks seemed to flush crimson as he twirled his green bowler hat.

"T-that … that … I see," he glanced warily the wand in my hand before he cleared his throat, "You can leave now, Weasley."

Percy nodded, bowing so low that his glasses nearly slid off his nose before he disappeared back down the corridor. I waited until the door had been shut before I folded my hands over my chest and frowned.

"Now I've never been much of a person for politics, but fabricating misinformation … really?" I raised my wand, pulling out a copy of the Daily Prophet that read the headlines BOY WHO LIVED WHO LIES?

I levitated the newspaper in front of the Minister's face before it burst into flames, dissolving in a puff of smoke.

Cornelius Fudge gulped. "Yes … well, the boy's disturbed … strange in the head … and Dumbledore … well, I'm afraid the man's lost his touch … a terrible thing that happens with old age …"

"Oh, that's codswallop, and you know it!"

Mr Fudge's face turned a bright purple, "Why, I'm the Minister for Magic! You have no right to speak to me like that! No right at all!"

"And as the Minister for Magic, it's your job to protect your people, not hide behind your papers!" I retorted.

"Why that's enough! You don't have any idea what you're talking about!" snapped the Minister, eyes nearly popping out from his skull as he roared. "There is nothing wrong – the only thing that I have had to protect my people from are delusional mad-men like Dumbledore …"

He slammed his hands against his mahogany desk, his voice booming across the office as if it had been magically amplified. He trailed off, nostrils flaring like an Erumpent as beads of sweat dripped down his beet-red face.

"Mad-men huh?" I raised an eyebrow as the Minister panted. "That's not what you said two years ago …"

Fudge gulped as he sat down, steam practically exuding from being as he dabbed his forehead, "Yes … well, times change."

"You can certainly say that again," I agreed, arms still crossed as I regarded the Minister coldly. "Instead of having a Minister who looks out for people, we have a coward who refuses to acknowledge what's happening right under his nose."

Mr Fudge spluttered, thick veins pulsating on his forehead as he tugged at the lavish collar of his robes. "Now listen here, if you aren't working with me, then you're working against me …"

"Am I? I suppose we'll have to wait and see."

"Why you … Weasley!" Fudge was fully shaking with rage as he gritted his teeth when Percy appeared almost immediately at the door, waiting attentively not unlike some loyal sort of lap dog. That was what he was now, I supposed – a lap dog. Percy straightened his horn-rimmed glasses, sweeping passed me as if I did not exist.
"Escort this riff-raff out of my sight," he grunted.

"Of course, sir," Percy raised his wand and I glared at him, considering my choices for a moment before I reluctantly pocketed mine with a sigh.

"That's right, Madam Cursebreaker," he twirled his green bowler hat on his index finger, "Times are changing. You and your friends would best remember that."

"Mr Fudge has ordered you to leave," Percy hissed seemingly about to reach out to grab me by the shoulder but he stopped mid-motion when I shot him an icy glare.

"Go ahead then, be a coward," I replied, fists clenched as I stared the Minister down. "Just know that you can only deny the truth for so long."

And with that said, I turned on my heels and left.

What did you think? A bit shorter than I would have liked but as I said before there is more coming so stay tuned!

Yours truly,

Sword Gold