"You're late."

Calamity looked up from the Daily Prophet at the stern tone to see a pompous looking young red head looking down at her. The family resemblance was always uncanny with Weasleys. It wasn't just their red hair, but also their stature and face- you could tell one from a mile away. Of course, this Weasley seemed much more strict looking than any of his siblings or parents. Maybe Molly, mused Calamity to herself as she stood and shook his hand.

"Percy," he said. He seemed about to add on his last name, but thought better. "Junior Assistant to the Minister."

"Clara Erza-Mahoney." She looked at her own watch. She was only a minute late, but she smiled apologetically any way. "The lift I got into stopped at just about every floor from the Department of Mysteries all the way to Exploding Bonbons Disposal Unit. I hope the Minister wasn't waiting too long."

"Simply not a good way to start your first day," scolded Percy moving forward and pulling a quill from his cloak to jot something on a parchment that had suddenly appeared.

As they walked, they passed portraits of older, mostly male, wizards each with varying degrees of sternness. Percy began pointing to each as they passed.

"Damocles Rowle purposed Azkaban, Eldritch Diggory was the Minister of Magic from 1733-1747. He was a popular Minister who first established an Auror recruitment programme, Albert Boot was likeable, but resigned after a mismanaged goblin rebellion,Hesphaestus Gore was one of the earliest Aurors. Successfully put down a number of revolts by magical beings, although historians feel his refusal to contemplate rehabilitation programmes for werewolves ultimately led to more attacks. Renovated and reinforced the prison of Azkaban."

The tone Percy used would have made you think every minister had invented a cure to all the diseases that ever existed.

"You might like this one, Maximilian Crowdy was minister in 1775 when the Ministry of Magic had to decide whether they were to intervene and help in the war between the muggles. In 1777, the then President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, Elizabeth McGilliguddy asked what they had decided to do. The Minister replied with a simple four word letter stating that they were "sitting this one out". McGilliguddy replied with an even shorter letter stating "mind you do." Cementing a sometimes tense, but always present alliance between the two wizarding governments."

Percy looked at her very pleased and Calamity smiled as if she found this as interesting as she ought to.

"And what about you," she asked before he could introduce the next group of Ministers. You had to wonder how long the hall way was to accommodate so many portraits.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. How did you get to Junior Assistant to the Minister?"

Percy looked, for just a brief moment, uncomfortable. But, he straightened his robes importantly and reset his face in a flash. "I was working under Mr. Crouch until fairly recently. He was taken ill and so I suddenly was running most of the department. I suppose the Minister saw my abilities and moved me up accordingly."

"Impressive," said Calamity.

They stopped as they reached a door with a portrait of Fudge on it, reading with glasses on. At their approach, the portrait put down his book hurriedly and beamed.

"Weasley! Erza-Mahoney! Come in!"

The door opened and Percy entered first.

"Minister," Percy began, but the Minister turned beaming at them.

"Thanks you, Mr. Weasley, that will do for now. Please excuse us."

For a moment Percy looked disappointed, but he turned and hurried out, closing the door behind him.

"Good lad. Unfortunate about his family, but it just goes to show that you can break the mold of a bad reputation. Of course, you know how that can be. Tea?"

Calamity was so taken aback by the straightforwardness of Fudge's declaration that for a moment she missed his question. Once it sunk in, she nodded.

"Now, let's speak openly about the issue at hand. There are forces at work to undermine the ministry. Have you been keeping up with news on your vacation?"

"Not entirely, sir. I find the best way to relax in nature is to avoid all communications. However, I have managed to read some Prophets since my return. You seem very calm for someone with such chaos brewing around them."

Fudge visibly puffed up his chest at the compliment.

"It's tough business indeed to have such a well known powerful wizards like Dumbledore & Harry Potter working against you, but we all must do our part to stand firm in the face of troublemakers. What would happen if the ministry seemed weak at times like this? We simply cannot afford to appease such forces."

"I agree," Calamity said nodding.

"I heard you had your own difficulties with Dumbledore."

"In a sense, yes. Certainly nothing to the scale that you have had to deal with."

"No, of course, but then it is always difficult to see such a great man losing his senses with age."

"Yes, it seems our falling out was fortunate. The Prophets excellent journalism is recording his decline very vividly."

Fudge seemed extremely satisfied with this answer because his eyes were dancing. He clapped his hands together.

"Then it's set! You'll begin straight away. I will need you to begin by taking a meeting on my behalf."

"A meeting," Calamity asked.

"Yes, the Americans have always been our allies in the muggle & wizarding world- like distant family. With Dumbledore's long reach & influence I would like you to go and ensure that our ties are still as strong as they have been in the past," Fudge explained. He looked through a schedule on his desk. "They're expecting you at the end of the month. I'll arrange the transportation. Just schmooze a little, see where there is loyalty and neutrality. I'd almost prefer that they are uninterested in Dumbledore's affairs, but can always use more allies."

"Yes, sir," Calamity said.

"Have you been to the Congress in New York?"

"Yes, sir," Calamity replied.

"Excellent!"

There was a knock on the door & Percy stuck his head back in.

"Ah! Weasley, perfect timing. Show Ms. Erza-Mahoney how our office runs & her duties. I must run to a meeting!"