Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Nope, not me.

A/N: Yay for reviews!

The child is…

…not revealed today.

But - I can promise you this: the identity of Psyche Lupin will be revealed…

…tomorrow!

I know my appointing Lupin as Minister of Magic is a little… unexpected, to say the least - but I do have a good reason. They will, most likely, get explained later in the fic, but it won't hurt the plot for me to explain them now.

Firstly - Remus would be great at it! Especially in Order of the Phoenix, Remus is constantly defusing potentially volatile situations (especially between Sirius and Molly.) That boy should be in the diplomatic corps!

Secondly (and probably more importantly!) - No-one knows who they can trust in the wizarding world at the moment now that Voldemort is back. This is pretty complex political theory, but the appointment of such a controversial Minister of Magic forces people to take a side. It is thus easier to tell who is on whose side… I mean, sure, people could lie and pretend that they have no problems with a lycanthropic Minister, but most of them have already shown their true colours in that respect - ie. The flood of letters to Hogwarts demanding Remus's resignation. It's a quite a harsh line to take - essentially, 'are you with us or against us?' - but it is a case of the end justifying the means… anyways, I will end my political theorising and leave you to read the fic!

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What!? Remus thought. Me - Minister for Magic?

Dumbledore smiled at him. "Mr. Lupin," he said clearly, "please come down to the courtroom floor."

He heard a voice in his mind, and he realised that Dumbledore was using Legilimency to communicate with him. Remus, Dumbledore's mind-voice said, this is for the Order.

It was that reminder that allowed Remus to move from where he sat, frozen in shock, and make his way down the stairs to the courtroom floor. His hands were shaking and he tried desperately to hold them still, but to no avail.

Dumbledore clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Please welcome your new Minister," he said simply.

For a moment, there was silence. Then Aemilia stood in her place and began, slowly to applaud.

It was as if a floodgate had burst open. Like yesterday, when they were vouching for Sirius's innocence, people began rising all over the hall and applauding. He saw Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny cheering wildly and stamping their feet. Sirius hugged Regina so fiercely he lifted her off the ground. Even Severus Snape was on his feet, applauding politely.

But there was only one woman he had eyes for. Aemilia's face was flushed and her dark eyes were sparkling with happiness as she applauded, beaming. She is so beautiful, he thought. Memories of the previous night came into his head - of Aemilia, black hair framing her face, slender hands caressing his face, his chest, as he tumbled her back onto the pillows of his bed.

And he knew what he had to do.

Dumbledore held up his hand and the courtroom fell silent. "Mr. Lupin," he said solemnly, "do you accept this appointment?"

Never, ever, in his wildest dreams, had Remus ever imagined being Minister for Magic. When he was at school, he had entertained hope of James or Lily or even Sirius being given the job and repealing anti-werewolf legislation and finding a way for him to get a job in a field he really loved. But he never believed he would be in a position to do it himself.

I have no political experience, he thought suddenly. I have no clue what I'm supposed to do! I'll be rubbish!

No you won't, came Dumbledore's mind-voice. He had maintained the connection, then. I have seen your diplomatic enterprises in the Order. I have every faith in you, Remus.

It was the thought of the Order that finally prompted him to speak. He took Dumbledore's hand. "I accept," he said, and another round of cheering ensued.

Penelope Clearwater took down an enormous tome and handed it to Dumbledore. The Headmaster opened it to the first page and began to read.

"Do you, Remus Jonathan Lupin, declare that you will adhere to and support all just laws of the wizarding world?"

Remus saw Aemilia smiling at him and smiled back. "I do."

"Do you, Remus Jonathan Lupin, declare that you will treat all beasts, beings and spirits with fairness?"

If he meant nothing else he had ever said, he meant this. "I do."

"Do you, Remus Jonathan Lupin, swear to serve as a fair and just Minister for Magic, wielding power but not abusing it, leading in times of war, leading in times of peace?"

"I do."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at him over the top of his half-moon spectacles. "It is necessary that seven people vouch for you," he said. "Who do you nominate first to vouch for you?"

Remus did not hesitate. "My sister, Regina Lupin."

Dumbledore turned to where Regina stood by Sirius in the gallery. "Regina Elizabeth Lupin," he said ringingly, "will you vouch for this man as a fit and suitable Minister for Magic?"

Regina's eyes were sparkling, but whether with tears or sheer joy Remus could not tell. "I will."

"Mr. Lupin," Dumbledore asked him, "who do you nominate second to vouch for you?"

"My best friend," Remus answered, "Sirius Black."

"Sirius Canis Black, will you vouch for this man as a fit and suitable Minister for Magic?"

Sirius was beaming. He had his arm around Regina. "I will."

"Who do you nominate third to vouch for you?"

"The best student I ever taught Defence Against the Dark Arts to," Remus said, looking to where Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat in the gallery. "Harry Potter."

"Harry James Potter, will you vouch for this man as a fit and suitable Minister for Magic?"

He had never seen an expression of such happiness on Harry's face. "I will."

"Who do you nominate fourth to vouch for you?"

"My old mentor," Remus answered. "Minerva McGonagall."

"Minerva Cordatia McGonagall, will you vouch for this man as a fit and suitable Minister for Magic?"

"I will." The Transfiguration teacher looked like she was about to burst into tears.

"Who do you nominate fifth to vouch for you?"

Remus scanned the galleries - and fixed on a face. It was a risk… but he knew it would strengthen him. "My old colleague," he said. "Severus Snape."

Well done, Remus, Dumbledore said in his mind.

"Severus Janus Snape, will you vouch for this man as a fit and suitable Minister for Magic?"

Severus's cold eyes swept down on the courtroom, and for an awful moment Remus thought he would refuse. "I will," he answered, without smiling.

"Who do you nominate sixth to vouch for you?"

"You, Professor," Remus answered, "as the man who has provided me with the opportunity for education and employment."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, will vouch for you as a fit and suitable Minister for Magic."

"Thankyou, Professor," Remus answered.

"Now," Dumbledore said, "who do you nominate finally to vouch for you?"

There was no question in Remus's mind. "I nominate Aemilia Fudge," he said.

Aemilia was openly crying now, tears pouring down her face. "Aemilia Nasica Fudge," Dumbledore said, "will you vouch for this man as a fit and suitable Minister for Magic?"

Aemilia's shoulders shook with the force of her sobs. "I will," she choked.

"Seven people have vouched for this man's integrity," Dumbledore said ringingly.

The courtroom fell silent. Penelope Clearwater handed Dumbledore a long box, which Dumbledore opened. Inside was a wand, but it was not made of wood. It was made of crystal, and it caught the light, refracting champagne rainbows.

Dumbledore took the wand out of the box. "This is the wand of office," he announced. "By accepting this wand, you take upon your shoulders all the responsibilities of the office of Minister for Magic. Do you accept this?"

"I do."

"In times of peace, it is the duty of the Minister to lead the people. Do you accept this?"

"I do."

"And in times of war, it is equally the Minister's duty to lead the people. Do you accept this?"

Three times is magic, Remus thought.

"I do," he said, and took the wand.

"I hearby invest you, Remus Jonathan Lupin, with the office of Minister for Magic," Dumbledore said simply. He turned to the galleries. "Please welcome, once more, your new Minister."

If anything, the applause was even more raucous than before. Ron Weasley had turned pink with excitement. Harry had picked up Ginny and was swinging her round in circles. Hermione's hair was springing out of its ponytail as she jumped up and down. Regina had her face buried in Sirius's shirt as she wept for pure joy. Moody stamped furiously, his wooden leg making an odd clomping sound. Tonks's hair was rapidly changing colour. Minerva McGonagall was drying her eyes on the sleeve of her robes. Sirius's eyes met Remus's as he grinned fiercely. Dumbledore clapped him on the shoulder.

And then he saw Aemilia, and he knew, finally, that it was time.

He held up his hand as Dumbledore had before and the courtroom fell silent. "Miss Clearwater?" he said sharply.

"Yes, Minister Lupin?"

"I would you like you to note this as the first event of my career as Minister for Magic," he told her.

She nodded her head in acquiescence. "Certainly, Minister."

His eyes met Aemilia's and he crossed the floor to her. The entire courtroom was silent, as if they were all holding their breath.

Remus dropped to one knee. "Aemilia Nasica Fudge," he said simply, "will you marry me?

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