A/N: I was
overwhelmed by your response. This may seem DULL but it definitely is a new ear
in the fic. This chapter is dedicated to Snowlily, alk328@yahoo.com . I was just about to
delete the fic since some people told me that it was
a disgrace to the name Harry Potter and that it was the worst fic on the net. But she changed my mind. So if any of you
want someone to thank for this chapter, thank her. But no
insults or offending letters please. She's a good friend of mine.
Harry felt as if he had just swallowed a vomit
flavored bean. He did not feel butterflies flying around in his stomach. He
felt as if Buckbeak, the hippogriff was flying around
in his stomach. He was not going to be introduced to the audience beyond the
door as Harry Potter, The boy who lived as he usually was. But he was going to
be introduced as the temporary British Minister of Magic. A title bestowed upon
him an only a few hours ago. A title that he had no time to
get use to. One of the most politically important titles in
But
that step seemed to be what he required. Suddenly a chain of reactions swept
over Harry. Fear and panic were replaced by calmness and an impressively steady
pulse. Harry felt a wave or warmth wash over him as if he had just stepped into
a bath tub full of hot water in a cold winter day. Each step he took from there
after towards the door seemed to further increase his confidence. He had no
idea what was at work here but he definitely liked the feeling of this. By the
time he came face to face with professor Dumbledore who was at the door, he was
exceedingly confident about what he had to once he stepped through this door.
He felt another part of him take over him. He thought it was the Imperius curse for a second but what was controlling him
was not a voice in his mind. It was something deep. Something
from the very depths of his soul. Something he knew existed but never
knew where it was.
As
Harry arrived at the door, Dumbledore stepped aside creating way for Harry to
enter the new
*~*~*
As
Professor Dumbledore stepped out of the door's way, a black robed man entered
the room. He paused for a second at the entrance still blocked from view by
Professor Dumbledore. Only the black robed were visible. He could sense his
fellow workers tense up as they were about to meet the new Minister of Magic.
Obviously Fudge had stepped down with the ever mounting pressure. Even he
himself was rather curious to whom this new man be.
There wasn't many in the line except for Professor Dumbledore, but he had
clearly declined the offer saying that a much more suitable person was
available and to trust his skills. But he had also warned them not to decide
his skills upon his appearance but his leadership and revolutionary qualities.
All these had aroused an overwhelming amount of curiosity. But Arthur didn't
have to wait any longer since the new Minister stepped out into the room.
Several
gasps went throughout the room while others just stood rooted to the floor. Some
were awestruck while others were horrified. Arthur himself found himself frozen
with his jaw hanging open. It was the last person he expected. It was Harry
Potter, the boy stepped out wearing his black Hogwarts School Robes. Ron, his son's best friend. The friendly,
innocent boy who regularly stayed the summer with them. A Boy who still hadn't started his fifth year in school.
*~*~*
The
initial reaction to Harry's entrance wasn't what one might call extravagant.
His arrival was followed by a series of gasps and the whole crowed freezing
with awestruck and horrified expressions on their faces. Only Professor Dumbledore
was smiling. Even though they were acting as they were for different reasons,
he was use to people acting differently around him. He'd give them a while to
settle down.
He
looked around. The room which was earlier there had changed dramatically. The
partitioned was somehow moved creating a massive hall filled with chairs and
next to Harry was a podium facing the audience. By the time Harry had looked
around the audience was buzzing. But there were still several who were staring
at him like some kind of monster. Suddenly the door closed and Albus Dumbledore walked on top of the podium and cleared
his throat. Instantly the buzzing stopped and everyone snapped their heads
towards Professor Dumbledore. He cleared his throat once again and muttered a
voice amplification charm which Harry had learned in his third term.
"Ahem! I know Minister Potter wasn't what you
expected but I assure you that he's the man for the job. My reasons for his
appointment, to which the former minister of Magic agreed was his amazing
display of leadership qualities, Bravery and most importantly skill in handling
almost any situation that comes across his path. I think I'll allow the
Minister himself to address you" he said stepping down from the podium and gave
Harry once again a reassuring smile.
But none was required. Mysteriously he already
knew what he had to do. Harry slowly stepped onto the podium and turned towards
the dazzled audience with his face down. Slowly he raised it. By the time it
was up right, he could make out several faces he recognized. He saw Mr. Weasley, Percy, Mr. Diaggory and Ludo Bagman. He also recognized some other faces, most from
Last year's Quidditch world cup. Harry cleared his
throat making sure he had everyone's attention.
"Good evening everybody" he said and
a handful who had gotten over the initial shock mumbled their greetings.
"Well, Minister Fudge has apparently
appointed me as your temporary minister of magic. This has come as a result of
a regeneration of the Dark Lord Voldemort."
Most
of the people gasped at the mention of the name. He assumed the ministry
workers already knew about the rebirth of Voldemort.
Otherwise all hell would have been let loose. Harry was thankful for that.
"I accepted this title only due to
the current state of alertness and because both Professor Dumbledore and
Minister fudge seem to have their total trust in me. I would appreciate if you
place that trust in me and help me get us out of the mess we are going to be
in. Since I was appointed to this new title rather hastily and has no idea
about the facts regarding the current situation and doesn't even know what I'm
suppose to do. But I am willing to learn as much as I have to and I would
appreciate if you would teach me all I should know. Please do come to me with
anything that might concern me or this title. I once again request your
support. Thank you." Harry finished. The whole speech had come to him as if it
was forming it's self in his mind. All he had to do was as if to read it off
his mind. He had no idea how good it was or how convincing it was except that
he had to do it. He hoped it was good.
He
looked up to wards the crowd to see how they'd react but the whole group stood
frozen. There was complete silence until some one started clapping, very slowly.
Harry turned to find Percy standing there among the crowd clapping. It was the
lasting he expected from him. But he was soon joined by Mr. Weasley.
In a matter of few seconds the whole giant room was filled with applause as
nearly every member in the room started to clap. Some were whistling while some
were throwing their pointed wizarding hats into the
air. And some others were even shouting out catchphrases. Some of them caught
Harry's attention more than the others.
"Look at him. For me it's like looking
at James himself!"
"He'll be an exact image of James if
he keeps it up any longer"
"No Doubts in that he was born for
this job!"
What
were they talking about? They were talking about something that his mind hadn't
ever crossed. What were his parents like? He'd never known them to appreciate
for who they were. He only knew what others had told him. He himself didn't
know the truth about himself until Hagrid had come
that day and about his Father and his close friends until he got to know
Sirius. This was just another occasion. The people in front of him seemed to
know several times over about his father and most probably about his mother too
just by associating them. But he? He was their Son?
What did he know about them? He also had a feeling that he himself would most
probably find a lot of things about himself if he browsed the library, which
Harry was sure Hermione no doubt already had. So Hermione knew more than he did
about him self. And these people in front of him, they knew more things about his
family than he most probably ever will. What could he do? He couldn't even talk
to them? Harry all of a sudden felt very left out, lonely and depressed.
Harry
was suddenly jerked off his thought by a sudden warmth
compared to the utter coldness he was feeling deep inside him. He looked up
startled to find professor Dumbledore looking back at him intently. Dumbledore
always seem to be able to give him that sudden warmth he needed in times like
these. Dumbledore's piercing eyes seemed to read his thoughts off his mind and
they suddenly turned into ones of deep concern.
Once
more Harry felt a wave of depression sweep over him. Except this time it was
several times stronger. The depression wave that was sweeping over him now was
even more powerful than when he encountered nearly a dozen demetors
in the last part of third year in an effort to save Sirius from his doom. Demetors had a powerful effect on him, but this was
different. The demetors effected him on the surface
but now he was feeling emotions surfacing them self from the very core of his
heart. He knew he was going to crack anytime now. He couldn't allow Dumbledore
to see him in such a state. Especially now that he has so
much to look up to. With so much in his hands.
He had to get away.
Harry
with one sweeping move surveyed the entire packed room for an escape. The main
entrance he had come in to the temporary ministry was now completely blocked.
His gaze suddenly stopped on a small door that didn't seem to be covered as
much as the others. He didn't have the nerve to look back at Dumbledore so he
continued to stare at the feet and turned as swiftly as he could and headed
towards the small exit door at such strides that he himself was amazed. But
there wasn't any room for emotions such as amazement. He already could feel
himself crumpling up against that sudden emotion of utter loneliness.
Automatically his pace increased. His Strides were now so swift that he was
starting to feel that slight tingle of excitement that occurred only when he
was flying carefree on his amazing firebolt. But now
was not the time for excitement. In almost no time at all he was at the door
and his hand turned the doorknob so fast that he didn't even remember his hand
getting there. He must have turned it rather roughly because the door swung,
nearly like the door in the greathall and slammed
into the wall next to it. He didn't look back. He couldn't. He was on the verge
of cracking up. He took one giant stride to step out of the room as soon as
possible but bumped head first into someone.
Harry
snapped his head up and nearly kicked himself when he saw who was in front of
him. It was into Snape that he had bumped into. And a
short way away from him was the rest of the group. Alostor Moody and the rest of the
four aurors. How could he forget about his 'bodyguards'. But at least he had managed to get away from
them for a few hours. Harry could feel tears swelling up in his eyes. He had to
get away. But how? His bodyguards are sure to follow
him. He had to get away.
Suddenly he heard a familiar voice
in his head spoke out.
'Insenticato'
Without
thinking Harry repeated the word he heard and with a slight tingle, instantly
the world went black.
A/N: How did you all like it? I was
surprised that the reviews were steady even without me posting a chapter for so
long. Very sorry but I had lots of problems to deal with. Got any flame for me
being late? Then e-mail it to Viresh, harinviresh@yahoo.com.
He's my best friend. But suddenly he decided not to be. You all know how that
feels. Very depressing. Any how the next chapter will
be within the next 24hrs. You all would like it now wouldn't you? No, I'm not
kidding. It'll be posted within another 24hrs. And I LOVE big reviews. Do send
them will ya? And it seems we have a load of new
readers. Daily hits have risen from 500 to around 1000. But I still lack
reviews. I want to make this one of the top fan fics
in the web. Do tell people about it will ya. And read
those lovely fics out there (other than mine).