Chapter One: The New Minister
"Are you ready, sir?" asked a small, squat witch as politely and calmly as she thought her voice would allow. She knew that she was not technically involved at all but, all the same, she could not help but feel the excitement and anxiety of the occasion.
"Oh," said a tall, broad shouldered man who simply oozed cool and calm, "I suppose so."
The woman had to stop herself from giggling. She felt like a silly, flustered schoolgirl. She would have to control herself.
"The time is 1:57, Minister, so we'll be live in less than three minutes. I'll give you a ten second countdown, shall I?" she asked, looking at him, hoping she didn't sound too eager.
When he looked down towards her with his big, black eyes she couldn't help it. She giggled and forced herself to look away. Anywhere but at his dark face.
"That would be wonderful, Alice, thank you," he said, not noticing her awkwardness. She breathed a deep sigh of relief.
"When I've counted down, Minister, I'll put the charm on you," she said, doing her utmost to sound professional. She was, after all, the head of the Wizarding Wireless Network. Sounding professional had been her job for twenty years. The very thought of this bolstered her confidence. She was not an insignificant schoolgirl; she was here to perform a task and perform it she would. "I'll do it inaudibly after I've counted down to one. Do remember that the charm will be in effect without you necessarily being aware of it. There is no sensation to having it put on you. Once it's on, Minister, everyone tuned in across the country will be able to hear everything you say as if you were standing right next to them. And Minister, if I do say so myself, I believe every witch and wizard in Britain and Ireland will be listening to you tonight."
"Thank you, Alice. I quite agree. I have done this before when I was head of the Auror Office so you've no reason to be worried on my behalf. Albus Dumbledore taught me a useful Muggle expression 'this ain't my first rodeo'. My understanding is that it means. . ."
"Uh, ten seconds, Minister!" Squealed the short woman, Alice.
"Oh, yes!" Said the Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, steeling himself at once.
"seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." Alice closed her eyes, pointed her wand at the Minister for Magic and thought the incantation. As she reopened her eyes, she supposed that given the Minister would be speaking, it wouldn't be so unusual for her to watch him. A small smile spread across her face as he began to speak in a slow, deep voice.
Good afternoon, witches, wizards, elves, goblins and other magical beings of Britain and Ireland. I am the interim Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. I am sure that every one of you is aware by now of what has transpired over the last two days, however as the interim Minister for Magic I feel it is my duty to provide you with certainty rather than doubt, fact rather than rumour. Two nights ago, on the second of May, the most terrible, most dangerous dark wizard of all time, the one who styled himself as Lord Voldemort, was defeated, once-and-for-all. His death is certain. He shall never return.
Voldemort and his followers, The Death Eaters, attacked Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that night, and were defeated by the combined forces of Harry Potter, the Order of the Phoenix, Hogwarts and staff and students, among many others. At one stage during the Battle, it seemed the Death Eaters had the upper hand. At this point, Voldemort bade his followers retreat and demanded the immediate surrender of Harry Potter. While all, myself included, fighting alongside Harry were prepared to fight to the death to protect him, Harry chose instead to sacrifice himself to Voldemort. Once again, however, Harry survived Voldemort's attempt on his life. As the battle resumed, our forces gained the upper hand and eventually a one-on-one dual between Voldemort and Harry Potter began in which Harry Potter emerged victorious. I have not spoken to Harry; however, it is my understanding that he is taking well-earned rest at present. His friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger have informed me that he is healthy. I know we all wish Harry Potter the very best. He is, without question, our greatest hero.
That night many heroes perished in the defence of Hogwarts. There are too many to name. The Ministry will be holding a memorial for the fallen heroes in Hogsmeade, Scotland, one week from today at 12pm. More information about this, including organising travel arrangements, will be available in the Daily Prophet tomorrow.
Every Death Eater who fought in that Battle is dead. Very few Death Eaters remain at-large, and the capture of those who do is the top priority for the Auror Department under my interim regime. Those gangs that styled themselves "snatchers," will be hunted down and persecuted. My advice to those "snatchers" that are listening is to turn yourselves in to the Ministry at once. Do not attempt to fight when my Aurors come calling. I trained many of them myself. It will not end well for you if you resist.
The reign of terror under my predecessor Pius Thicknesse is now over. Muggle-borns, goblins, squibs, so-called blood traitors and all others labelled undesirable by that evil regime may re-join the magical world without fear of persecution. We are, at last, at peace.
Yesterday, an emergency session of the Wizengamot was held. In this session, I was chosen as Interim Minister for Magic with my term of office set to expire two months from yesterday, the third of July. On that date we will hold an election for a new Minister for Magic.
Three years ago, when Lord Voldemort's return to power was witnessed by Harry Potter and evidence for this was provided by Albus Dumbledore, the Ministry of Magic under the leadership of Cornelius Fudge refused to accept it. Voldemort was able to regain power by stealth while your Ministry plotted against Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore and spent its considerable resources searching for an innocent man in Sirius Black. This was the Ministry's most shameful hour. It must not be repeated.
My predecessor as Minister for Magic, Pius Thicknesse was placed under the Imperius Curse by the Death Eater, Corban Yaxley. For the last year, the Ministry has been no more than a puppet organisation of the Death Eaters. For the last year, our magical society has been one in which Muggle-borns have been discriminated against, killed, or sent into exile. Muggle-killing and Muggle-torture has been commonplace.
I do not wish to speak to you today with nothing but empty words and admonishments of those who have done wrong. I wish to speak to you, instead, with solutions and ideas for progress We will ensure that these travesties do not occur again by reshaping our Ministry. The Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and I have put into place the following strategies. The post of Minister for Magic will be a position elected by the magical populations of Britain and Ireland. The post will be entirely independent of the Wizengamot. The Wizengamot will be entirely self-governed. The Minister for Magic will have no authority to interfere with the membership of the Wizengamot.
The Wizengamot is a robust institution which has existed for many centuries. I, myself, am a member and will continue to be so. However, there has never been a Muggle-born member. There has never been a squib member. Too often, members of the Wizengamot are selected for their blood-status, familial connections, or wealth. We need diversity in our Wizengamot if it is to be truly representative of our magical community. However, the Wizengamot retains its complete independence from the Ministry and it will be free to choose its members as it sees fit. A consequence of this is that the Wizengamot is not and may never be ideally placed to defend the rights of the vulnerable in our magical community. That is why a new authority will be instituted. On the third of July, the same date as the election for the Minister for Magic, Muggle-born witches and wizards and those descended from them will be able to elect what we are calling the Muggle-born Tribune. The occupant of this position, the Tribune, will have the authority to veto any magical legislation proposed by the Wizengamot and propose legislation him or herself.
From the fourth of July, all Ministry legislation will require approval from the Minister for Magic in his or her role as representative of the magical community, from the Wizengamot in its role as a council of the wise and the experienced, and from the new Tribune, in his or her role as defender of the vulnerable. The act of threatening or harming the Tribune in any way will be a most grievous crime.
We cannot ever again allow our Ministry to fall into a state of corruption and incompetence like we saw under Minister Fudge. We cannot ever again allow our Ministry to capitulate to Dark Forces as it did under Minister Thicknesse. It is my hope, and that of the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, that this new position, the Muggle-born Tribune, will be a safeguard against the tyranny and bigotry displayed by some pureblood members of our community.
As many of you will be aware, I am myself a pureblood, descended from a famous pureblood family, the Shacklebolt Family. My message to my fellow purebloods is this: we are by no means more important, more valuable or more magical than our half-blood or Muggle-born friends. As magical people, our lives have no more inherent value than that of a Muggle. The magical community that I intend to build will reflect this. I suggest you accept it now.
Thank you for listening. Good afternoon to you all.
Kingsley Shacklebolt gave Alice a thumbs-up to indicate that he was done. The short witch mutely repeated her incantation and the charm was broken.
"What did you think?" the Minister asked her so casually he might've been asking for her opinion on the new Celestina Warbeck song.
"That was . . ." Alice could not immediately think of high enough praise, "really good," she finished lamely.
"I'm glad you think so," Kingsley responded earnestly. "I'm not so sure the Wizengamot will agree with you, however."
Alice pondered this comment for a moment.
"I'm afraid I don't know much about politics, Minister. Our network mainly plays music, after all."
Kingsley shrugged and gestured that the matter was of no import. He had a vacant expression, rather like he was deep in thought.
"Ah, politics, my dear," said Kingsley mournfully.
Alice tried her best to avoid reddening at being addressed this way. She wasn't sure she was successful.
"It's not the game I ever imagined myself playing. I trained as an Auror to fight Dark Wizards, not to legislate against them. And yet here we are," said the Minister sounding downright spiteful. "My career shall now be politics and sitting behind a desk while I send others to do the fighting in my stead." Fury shone in those dark eyes now. Alice could feel the tension radiating from him. She felt awed, and also slightly frightened. But just like that, it vanished. His shoulders seem to relax, his face looked less strained. He was calm again. "Ah, but I've taken up enough of your time for one afternoon, Alice. You have been very generous with your time and your resources. I thank you."
"It is no problem at all, Minister," said Alice graciously. "Before you go, I have a question, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all, my dear, not at all," he said gesturing for her to speak. "What is it?"
She looked at him enquiringly and said, "what exactly is a rodeo?"