Chapter Four: Fallout

The Daily Prophet offices were very busy the next morning. The day's edition required an extra printing within an hour of release, as everyone wanted their own copy. Rita Skeeter's byline was prominently displayed on the front page, right under a two inch headline which read, "New Minister Reinstates High Treason Laws".

Reactions were mixed. Some talked of how it would set them back two hundred years, to a time when justice meant who could prove innocence the fastest and most convincingly, generally with an exchange of gold. Some talked of how it was about time someone decided to take the hardline on those practicing the Dark Arts. But everyone talked.

Harry stood at his desk, a cup of coffee steaming beside him, looking down on the paper in question. He wasn't talking, but he was certainly questioning his own decision-making. What on earth had he unleashed?

But, inside, he still knew that he had to govern, and his own views on things didn't always correlate well with his role as Minister of Magic. The magical world was in danger, had been repeatedly in danger since the abolishment of these laws. Perhaps the reinstatement of them would serve as discouragement. And for those that were not discouraged, perhaps it would serve as an effective way to keep them from coming back again, and again.

Harry sighed. He knew what he and the other ministers had done yesterday was controversial. And he also knew that, no matter how much agreement and support he had gotten from those ministers, at least in the end, the responsibility for the final outcome would certainly fall squarely on his own shoulders, and his alone. Strangely, he was perfectly okay with that. He had borne worse in his years.

The part that was the worst, the part that had kept him from sleeping last night, the part that made him stay in his study rather than join the rather large and noisy assemblage currently eating breakfast in his dining room, was the thought of what looks he would see on the girl's faces the next time he saw them. Strangely, it wasn't the thought of failing the wizarding world, but the thought of failing his children that bothered him the most.

"Harry?"

He looked up to find Arthur standing in the doorway.

"Arthur, how are you this morning?"

"I'm fine, Harry. I was wondering about you, though."

"I'm fine," Harry said.

"How did you sleep last night?"

"I..." Harry glanced away. "Fine... fine."

"Really?' Arthur said, his blue eyes fixed on the younger man. "I'm surprised. But then, you never cease to surprise me, Harry."

Harry looked up at that.

"You're always so collected, so... without doubt of your own actions. I've never seen someone shoulder as much responsibility as you do, make the decisions you've had to make, and still sleep like a baby."

Harry dropped his gaze again.

"Now, how did you really sleep last night?" Arthur repeated his question.

"Not well," Harry admitted quietly.

"At all?"

"Well..."

"Yes. I thought so. It's not easy, Harry. Leading never is. The fact that you were sleepless last night, after the day you put in yesterday and the changes you made, tells me that I was very, very right in my decision to step down."

"Arthur..."

"Harry, no Minister of Magic ever serves everyone's needs at the same time. Sometimes it will be one faction that agrees with you, sometimes another. Your job is not to please everyone all of the time, but to protect our world and try and govern it in a way that allows the majority of us to live in the way we wish to."

"But..."

"All of us living in constant fear for our families is not the way we wish to live. The steps you've taken since taking office have all been for the best of our people, and based on the people's current concerns. Never question the wisdom of that."

"And what if it all..."

"If it all goes to hell in a handbasket, at least you can say that you did something. Not all of us could say that."

"Arthur, you were one of the best Minister's we've ever had," Harry said.

"No, Harry. I'm not fooling myself. I looked good because I followed Fudge, and Fudge was inept. I didn't make any sweeping changes that changed our world for the good, I just put things right after a group who had made them very, very wrong. I kept our world from self-destructing until you were ready to take over and lead us into the next age. And that is what you are doing, Harry. Every good leader questions their own ability."

"My biggest concern isn't the wizarding world, Arthur. Not like it used to be." Harry admitted quietly.

"I know that, son. And that is as it should be. You're a father now, of course your concerns have changed. But the girls, and the twins, they're part of this world that you're Minister of. Do it for them if they are what motivate you, but do it."

Harry sighed again. Why did it have to be so difficult?

"I just don't want to screw this up."

"You won't, Harry."

"How can you know that?"

"Because," Arthur smiled. "You care. Because you're worried about it. No matter what you do, whatever you do will be more than sufficient, Harry, because you never do half a job."

Harry was silent. Too many people were relying on him. Again.

"Now," Arthur rose and headed to the doorway. "Molly sent me to find you. She said something about kippers and toast, and I wasn't to come back without you. So, make it easy on me, and come along. I'd like some breakfast, and Molly won't allow me any until you're there."

Harry smiled, and followed the older man from the room. He hated kippers, but he loved Molly Weasley.

"Minister! Minister!" Harry made his way through the crowd that had congregated at the main Ministry floo.

"Excuse me, please..." Harry smiled at a short brunette witch who tried to push a recorder in his face.

"Minister, please, if you would just answer a few questions..."

"I'd be more than happy to, but right now, I'm late for a meeting."

"Minister, is it true that..."

"Look," Harry stopped, turning to face the crowd. "The changed made to Wizarding law yesterday were made with the full knowledge and authority of all Ministers.

"Except Nicholas Kilborn!"

Harry turned to see a dark middle aged reporter standing looking at him. "It's common knowledge that he and his family are on vacation in Majorca right now, and this floo was monitored yesterday. Kilborn didn't attend the meeting."

"Nicholas Kilborn," Harry said, "No longer sits as Minister of Muggle Relations," Harry stated. "Marilyn Prewitt took over that position as of yesterday morning."

The noise level escalated. Harry, as politely as possible and with the help of Bill and Ron on either side of him, made a route through the crowd.

"Bloody hell, Harry..." Ron said as they exited the main hall and the crowd congregated there. "Have you even informed Kilborn yet?"

"He was made aware of it as it was done yesterday. He would have received copies of the papers removing him from office," Harry said quietly, continuing on towards his office. As usual, Ramona sat at her desk outside his door.

"Good morning, Ramona."

"Minister," she responded.

Harry looked at her.

"Sorry... Harry," she blushed.

"Now, anything I need to know about?" he asked, picking up a pile of mail from the corner of her desk and sorting through it.

"I believe..." she took a breath, then spoke in an undertone. "Nicholas Kilborn is waiting for you, Harry. He insisted. He was quite..."

"Yes," Harry smiled. Ron cringed again. "I would imagine he is. Inside?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good, good. Ramona, can you send in some coffee and... what were those wonderful pastries you found last week?"

"The bienenstich?" she asked. "There is a German pastry shop not too far from here..."

"A muggle shop?" he asked.

"Well... yes," she said. "I normally walk to work, and I pass it every day."

"You picked those up?"

"Yes."

"They were wonderful," Harry pulled out his wallet and handed her a couple of bills. "Could you send out for some more?"

"I'll go myself, Minister."

"Do you have a car, Ramona?"

"No," she blushed. "I walk."

"Every day?"

"Yes, of course."

"You don't floo?"

"No, sir. My flat doesn't have access to the floo network."

Harry sighed, a concerned look in his eyes. "I'll need you to be around. Do we have someone who runs errands, that sort of thing?"

"I can get someone from the administration department to go,"

"Do that, and thank you."

Entering his office, flanked by Ron and Bill, Harry spied the tall frame of Nicholas Kilborn standing near the window. He turned as they entered the room.

"Good morning, Kilborn." Harry said, dropping his briefcase on the desk. "Ramona told me you insisted on waiting."

"Just what," Kilborn began. "Do you think you're doing passing new laws without my presence?"

"Your presence was denied to us, Nicholas. You made your choice."

"My choice?" the other man spat. "I was on holiday with my family, Potter!"

"Yes, and that was your choice. As I informed the others yesterday morning, we're at war, and I don't care if you're invited to tea by the King, when your presence is required for an emergency meeting, you make it."

"I was in Majorca!"

"Yes?"

"How was I supposed to get back here for a meeting with twenty minutes notice?"

"Apparate?" Harry said. "Floo? Portkey? You did take your emergency portkey with you?"

Each high-level ministry official was given a portkey upon the commencement of their job. For the entire time they served the Ministry, they were required to carry it with them at all times.

Kilborn colored.

"No."

"No?" Harry said, looking closely at the man. "You do realize that that alone gives me grounds to dismiss you?"

"My wife is sick to death of my constantly being called in... I didn't feel it was too much to ask for a week's holiday without an interruption!"

"Well, you'll have to take that issue up with the new Dark Lord, when we manage to nail him down."

"Minister..."

"The fact of the matter is, you were required to be here in your capacity as a ministry official. We required the consensus of all ministers to pass these laws, laws that will protect our people. You refused to join us, thereby telling me that to achieve consensus, I required someone else to stand as Minister of Muggle Relations. I'm sure that Mrs Prewitt will do an exceptional job."

"But..."

"Nicholas, sometimes serving as we do requires that we put our families second. I know how that feels, I know how it tears your guts out. I, of all people, understand that. But you need to understand that I don't call emergency meetings for senseless reasons, and when I do, I mean it. Everyone here needs to understand that. I can't afford to second guess whether or not my Ministers will be available when they're needed. The fact of war is, I can't give you a lot of notice as to when I need you. You were Minister of Muggle Relations and you chose to stay out of the country after an attack that could very well have been fourteen muggles dead..."

"It wasn't! They were bloody halfbloods!"

Harry, Ron and Bill all looked at him, surprised by his choice of words.

"I think you want to rephrase that, Kilborn. Considering that I am a bloody halfblood."

Nicholas Kilborn reddened, then cleared his throat.

"I apologise, Minister. My wife..."

"Is your problem," Harry said. "You were needed here. In taking the position of Minister, you made a commitment to make yourself available when you were needed. You failed to live up to that commitment, and I am very sorry about that. However, I do not give second chances. I've learned that in so doing, one sets themselves up for disappointment. I need to have people who I know I can rely on no matter what. I've appointed Marilyn Prewitt to take over from you and I have every faith in her. If you would like to continue working for the Ministry, I would suggest you go down to Human Resources and have a talk with them about available positions."

"But I was..."

"I think, after this discussion, there is very little likelihood of your ever working in Muggle Relations again, Kilborn. Consider yourself lucky I don't launch an inquiry after that comment."

With an angry look at Harry, and completely ignoring the others, Nicholas Kilborn strode from the office, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Harry..."

"Just a minute, Ron..." Harry picked up the phone on his desk and dialled. "Yes, this is Harry Potter...yes. I believe you're going to be getting a visit from a very angry Nicholas Kilborn in a few moments. Yes. I want him offered a standard package, three months... yes. If he chooses to apply for any other position within the Ministry, I want him subjected to absolutely every test and investigation you can legally require, and I want to see the results of all of it before you even consider offering him a position, I don't care if it's as mail clerk, he doesn't work here without my seeing everything. Right... Thanks."

With that, he hung up the phone, just as Ramona entered the office, a coffee tray in her hands.

"Harry," Ron began again. "You're not going to allow him back in, after that?"

"Hell, no," Harry said. "But I can't require him to answer anything unless he applies for a position, now can I? This way, if he does as I expect him to, and speaks to HR about another job here, I'll be able to find out all kinds of things."

"And what," Bill said, gratefully accepting a cup of coffee from Ramona with a smile. "What do you expect to find out?"

"I don't know, Bill," Harry said. "But I know one thing, if I just refuse to allow him back in, we won't learn anything at all."

As Ramona turned away to head back out, Harry stood and followed her.

"Wait here," he said. "I'll be right back."

Following her out the door, he closed it behind him.

"Minister?" she looked at him curiously. "Was there something else?"

"I need to ask you a question," he said.

"Okay?" she continued to look at him.

"Why don't you floo to work?"

"I don't have a floo in my flat," she said quietly, looking down.

"Why don't you apparate to where you can floo?"

Ramona hesitated.

"Ramona?"

"I can't apparate."

"You can't apparate?"

"I.." she turned bright pink. "I never could. I just... my parents even hired a private tutor... I... can't."

"It happens," Harry said, shrugging. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. However, I have a problem with your walking to work, Ramona."

"Oh, it's very good for me..." she said quickly. "It's good exercise..."

"I know. But you're also the secretary to the Minister of Magic in a time of war, Ramona. You must be careful."

"Yes, sir."

"Are you particularly attached to your flat?" he asked.

"Not really... it was... it was inexpensive, and..."

"London is very expensive, I know. I feel it is important, though, that you live somewhere you can floo from. There may be times I need you at a moments notice. I'll speak to HR, I'm sure that something can be worked out."

"I... thank you, Minister."

"That's Harry, Ramona."

"Yes," she smiled at him. "Of course."

"I'll look into it an get back to you, okay?"

"Thank you. And...Minister?"

"Yes, Ramona?" Harry said in a long-suffering voice. Would the girl never call him by his name?

"I just thought you ought to know..."

"Yes?" Her eyes didn't leave his, and he could see the uncertainty there. "Ramona, what is it?"

"Nicholas Kilborn's wife," she said in a whisper, "Is Lucinda Maddox."

Harry looked at her, his eyes questioning.

"She's the niece of Narcissa Malfoy, and Draco Malfoy's cousin."

Harry took a breath, nodded to his secretary and retreated back into his office. Immediately upon closing the door, he began to pace.

"Merlin!" he said, turning wild eyes to his two most trusted advisors, who were looking at his stunned face with different degrees of surprise.

"Harry?" Ron stood, his hand unconsciously moving to rest on his wand. "What is it?"

"If what I think is going on is going on, then the goddamned Ministry is employing spies, Ron!"

I know, I know... two updates in two days... too much!

However, this chapter just sort of happened. It wasn't planned this way. Another chapter was supposed to go here, but my muse appears to be taking her job a LITTLE more seriously these days. This part of the story just kind of... appeared. I'm not ENTIRELY happy with the way in which it came about, but I admit to being intrigued as to where it might end up.

Shotgunn: I'm intrigued. "Weird conversation about pregnancy"? This I must hear about... as to Ginny, you just never know. Re: Blink 182 – they were in Alberta a while ago... from what I understand, they gave one heck of a show!

Merlindamage: Spy in the ORDER? Hush your mouth, love!

Larna Mandrea: Quidditch pants? LOLOLOL! I think I'm going to have to use that one, sweetie!

Whimsical Firefly: A NEW wizard? My oh my, no!!! No, no no! You're bordering on heresy there, love! As to the ferretboy thing, I think I can manage to read it for James as a reviewer, and even manage to be objective on the quality of the writing, but I also believe that the female population of Hogwarts should be required to swear an oath to not breed with him. Bloody git.

Dkandmax: More chapters coming up! I'm glad you find it believable. This one is harder than Power of Truth...

James Milamber: I admit to some small amount of confusion myself at times. There are just so MANY Weasleys!

CQ