Minister Arthur Weasley had the toughest assignment he had ever handled in his 20 yr old career in the ministry. On the flipside it was also the assignment that any entrant to the ministry always dreams of. But Arthur Weasley was different. He had always kept his dreams small. It was as if he was afraid that lest he let his dreams get bigger, they would harm his happy family life. His family was his most prized possession. He was the type of husband who would always remember his marriage anniversary, the type of father who would always keep his appointment for his sons Quidditch match, the type of brother who would be give his brother a surprise silver jubilee Party and the kind of son who would never forget to call home to keep a check on his old Mum. But amidst all this Arthur Weasley always looked at himself in the mirror and hoped he had led a different life. He knew he had been an under achiever in school, ministry and in life. He cringed every time he was unable to offer his children new robes, new books, new brooms and his wife the beautiful diamond necklace he had caught her admiring in a shop display window. He cringed every time a kid at school threw insults at his sons. Contrary to popular belief he did know what was said behind his back, it was just that he chose to ignore it.
But the assignment he was going to handle this time was going to change it all. On the one hand Dumbledore had offered him a chance to get what he had always deserved and on the other it threw him and his family onto the path of Voldermort the most feared Wizards of all time. On the one hand life offered him the opportunity to become a martyr, a hero, a leader in the most epic fight against the Dark Lord on the other life offered him a back door to live an unacknowledged happy life that he had been living till now. But humans and their urges are strange. They would choose the difficult path over the easy one just because they cannot live with the knowledge of what could have happened if they had taken the particular opportunity. They may remain in a state of inertia, unmoved, unshakeable till the call of a higher duty comes calling right at their doorstep. But once the call comes they cannot refuse.
Arthur Weasley had planned the downfall of Minister Fudge in a most thorough manner. The plan had started the minute Dumbledore had given him the go ahead. He had recruited Rita Skeeter. She had brought in the most remarkable and unexpected information, which had somehow explained all of Fudge's past behavior. As a member of the ministry he knew that the most important thing for a minister is his seat of power and that he would do almost anything to attain and retain his seat of power. He lengths to which Fudge had gone to attain and retain his seat of power had landed him in a trap, a trap assiduously set for a no. of years, a trap in which he was hopelessly caught.
Operation Cyclone: Phase Two had started with a small call to the most highly circulated news papers in the wizarding world. The next call was to the Wizarding Wireless. The Third was to some of the smaller but quick selling tabloids. The benefits of being interested in Muggle culture are intangible, and Arthur Weasley had picked up something from a famous German muggle called Goebbels.
He then waited quietly in a hotel room in a non-descript hotel somewhere in East London. A strong Protecting shield had been created by Dumbledore. The morose looking umbrella in the corner of the Hotel room could suddenly transform itself into a fully armed auror. The garbage can on the street opposite the hotel could do likewise. It was from this hotel room that the next moves of operation cyclone phase Two would be done. They had to wait for a precise 12 hrs to take the next steps. By this time most of the Wizarding world knew of the Attack on Azkaban and the allegations on Minister Fudge. The Tabloids had added expected color to the story in order to take mileage out of the incident. Minister Fudge had suddenly fallen from the heights of reverence to the depths of a common criminal. An interesting story freshly planted read as follows:
Death Eater funding in Minister Fudge's Election campaigns.
Accusations of Death Eater's funding of Minister Fudge's election campaigns have tarnished the highest office in the Wizarding World in Britain. It has been alleged that funding of upto 50000 gaellons had reached Minister Fudge from Death Eaters through direct Transfigurations into his Wizard vault in apparent violation of the Wizarding Laws. The Goblins have agreed to present evidence for the same. It is also clear that this could be the main reason why Minister Fudge prevented the passage of an important legislation to give the aurors the powers to Trap the Death Eaters by use of Veritaserum and long firing sleep stunners an invention of the Magical inventions department at Jadushala- the reputed and exclusive school of Magic.
This fresh information also explains why the minister has always preferred the dementor's kiss or a death sentence to an interrogation by the aurors. A fact which has been confirmed by many reputed aurors. It has also been made clear by the aurors, that the information regarding rise in Death Eater Activity has already been given to Minister Fudge who chose to downplay the threat and gave false statements to the Wizarding press about the attacks.
In light of the above evidences it remains a matter of time before the ministry impeaches the Minister and replaces him with a more able and morally upright man. The name of Wiz. Arthur Weasley has been circulating within ministry circles for quite some time. The auror community led by Super Auror Mad-Eye Moody has come out with open & full support for his candidature. Hogwart Headmaster Albus Dumbledore has expressed his full support to the candidature of Arthur Weasley.
The Ministry shall hold an emergency session on Monday on this issue at the Hall of Merlin in London.
The real job started now. The whole Order of Phoenix had swung into action and hectic lobbying and campaigning was in full swing. The newspaper reports had swung the public perception in Mr. Weasley's favor but it were the ministry officials who were to be wooed. Many old debts were repaid that night and many new ones were created.
The ultimate result was to be had only in the Hall of Merlin.
The Hall Of Merlin was established in the early seventeenth century. It was the council of the elected wizard representatives. At the gates stood a huge statute of Merlin carved by the great sculptor Michelangelo. It had taken a lot of time travel to construct this historic piece of art. A great Stone structure loomed large in the center of the huge grounds. The Hall of Merlin. Beautifully sculpted across its Walls was the whole wizarding history and mythology. The Hall of Merlin filled one's senses and only one over bearing emotion of beauty remained in the hearts of the most commonest of Wizards who were fortunate enough to set their eye's on it.
The entrance was illuminated by magical torches and a solid golden gate lead to the main hall. Inside on one side was the throne for the Minister of Magic. And in front of this throne sat the Minstry in a three lined semicircle. The elected wizards sat facing the Minster in seats suspended in Mid Air. In a token that the will of the people is higher than the post of the minster.
It was in this magnificient surroundings that Arthur Weasley found himself. It was to be his battlefield and the battle was about to begin. The minister who had summoned the session rose up to speak. It was Minsiter Willowwand.
"Members of this great hall, we have gathered here in the most disturbing circumstances to have arisen before the wizarding world in the last few decades. The lord of the death eaters, has arisen again and we have failed to safeguard Azkaban. His followers are at large again and ready to wreak havoc. It my motion in this hall that keeping in view the failed leadership, a new Minister of Magic be elected to lead this war against the Dark Lord."
The expression on Fudge's face was one of pure hatred and contempt. He suddenly rose up to speak. " Failed leadership! It was under my leadership that the wizarding world has had the most peaceful times in its entire history. A single incident of death eater activity in Two decades and you say the leadership has failed. I ask the members of this hall, to name a single incident in which my leadership has failed the wizarding community. Prove it and an impeachment will not be necessary, I will resign immediately in this very assembly."
This was exactly what the ministers supporting the order had been waiting for. Mr. Diggory stood up, " I wish to present before the house a report on the involvement of death eaters in Minister Fudge's election campaigns and his subsequent active and passive support to the dark lord. This report shall be immediately circulated among the members of the hall and I would request a recess of 1 hr for the members to go through the report."
The whole hall was now a buzz with murmurings as copies of the report magically appeared on each table. After one hour of deliberations and hectic lobbying the members gathered in the hall. An ashen faced Minister Fudge slowly made his way to the throne. The report had clear evidence of how the Minsiters accounts had been credited with huge amounts of funds from unexplained sources, a fact corroborated by the Goblins. The real coup however was the audio recording of the conversation that Fudge had with a death eater codenamed Trojan. His repeated denials of death eater activity, his support to the dementors and the lax security at azkaban despite of intelligence reports all pointed to his guilt.
Minster Fudge resigned from his post and Arthur Weasley's candidature was put forth by Minister Willowwand. The Hall voted and Arthur Weasley was elected the new Minister of Magic with a majority vote of 70%. The only other candidature of Goyle, which did not find an y enthusiastic response from anyone.
Operation Cyclone: Phase Two complete.
The meeting of the order of Phoenix was a lot more jovial than usual. There was a round of mutual congratulations and jokes. Even the perpetually surly Snape seemed to be in a lighter mood.
Then Dumbledore stood up. " Thanks to the efforts of all of you. We have won the first battle in this war. Arthur Weasley has been elected Minister of Magic and we can now expect some cooperation from the Ministry. However Operation Cyclone is not over. From the information I have received From Jadushala, Harry should be returning soon to Hogwarts. Phase three will commence as soon as he returns. For her efforts the Order has decided to offer an honourary award to Ms. Rita Skeeter for risking her life in the line of duty."
A polite round of applause followed as a beaming Rita Skeeter accepted the medallion of Honour.