Chapter 50. Ministry Mayhem

Two days after the turn of the year, Harry woke up later than usual. He lay awake in bed for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling, until he reached for his glasses that lay on the table next to his bed. He glanced over at Ron's bed which was empty, but it had not been made yet. He glanced at his watch, knowing that if Ron was awake before him, he must have slept late. It was eleven in the morning, and he yawned, opening the door, heading out into the hall.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione said, seeing him in the hallway. "Good morning." She said, somewhat flustered.

"Slept late." Harry explained, and Hermione grinned, looking at his messy bed clothes.

"I can see. Cute top by the way."

"What?" Harry asked, confused and he looked down at his t-shirt.

"I never knew you liked Power Rangers." She said, laughing.

"It's not mine, its Dudley's." Harry said, blushing.

"Uh-huh." Hermione said knowingly.

Harry looked at her curiously, and stopped her in the hall. "What's gotten you all happy?"

"I can't be happy?" Hermione asked, but the grin was not wiped off her face.

Harry furrowed his eyebrows, and shrugged. "What's going on?"

Hermione squealed and took his hand, leading him down the stairs. "Oh, it's so wonderful Harry, you'll see."

Harry smiled at her giddiness, trying to ignore the odd feeling that was rising in him as he looked at her hand clasped in his. Hermione led him down the stairs and into the kitchen, where various members of the Order and the Scoobies were sitting. Hermione reached for the Daily Prophet on the table and threw it into Harry's hands, watching him as he read the headline.

Minister of Magic resigns after mounting pressure

Late last night, it was announced that Cornelius Fudge, the minister of Magic, has decided to resign after pressure starting to build on him after the return of You-know-who. Aurors and various members of the ministry felt that Fudge was not doing enough to deal with the amount of attacks that has risen over the past couple of months.

In a statement released yesterday, Fudge had this to say:

"I am very sorry for what I have and have not done, but I feel that it is my duty to step down as Minister and let someone else take my position, who will handle with the return of You-know-who appropriately."

Members of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement will be elected for the position of Minister of Magic, and a vote will be taken tomorrow afternoon among the Wizengamot. Favorites for the position are recently reinstated Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, Albus Dumbledore, and the head of the department and a member of the Wizengamot, Amelia Bones. Candidates will be making public speeches in the Conference Hall in the Ministry of Magic headquarters, in London tomorrow morning before the vote.

Harry finished the article with a wide look of disbelief. Hermione was still watching him as he threw the paper back on the table, and gawped at Hermione. "This is...this is-"

"Brilliant!" Hermione said happily. "I've been waiting for Fudge to step down for ages, and now that it's finally happened-it's brilliant Harry! Now we can finally get a Minister who knows what he is actually talking about, and who will deal with V-Voldemort properly. And the fact that the favourites for Minister are Dumbledore and Amelia Bones-do you remember, the woman who interrogated you for your hearing last year? Well, she's wonderful, Tonks has been telling me how she's getting Aurors organized and everything, and Susan her niece has talked about her too and she thinks she's be a brilliant Minister, even if the opinion is slightly biased-"

"Whoa, Hermione." Harry said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Breathe."

"Finally you stopped her!" Faith groaned. "I thought she was gonna go on forever!"

"She's like a little wind up toy." Buffy said, pretending to wind something up. "You wind it up, let it go and it goes really really fast until it...stops."

"Great comparison B." Faith said dryly.

"Thought it up myself." Buffy shot back.

"So are we going?" Harry asked.

"Going where?"

"To the Ministry of Magic tomorrow morning. The candidates are going to make speeches there." Harry explained.

"I never knew you so into politics." Ron said, raising an eyebrow.

"He's not, but I think it's a good idea." Hermione defended. "We'll have a chance to see who will be running the country; I think we should definitely go."

Buffy glanced at Molly, shrugging. "Well, I'm cool for Harry and Hermione to go, but I'm definitely going with them."

"Can we go too Mum? Please?" Ginny begged, and Molly looked unsurely at her two youngest children.

"I don't know." She said, placing her hands on her hips.

"But Mum, why not?" Ron asked, in a whining tone.

Molly huffed, "because it could be dangerous."

"We'll be in the ministry of Magic, how dangerous can it be?" Ginny asked.

Lupin coughed behind his hand. "May I remind you of the trip you took last year to the Ministry of Magic?"

Ginny sighed and mirrored her mother's gesture; she put her hands on her hips. "There'll be Aurors there, and Buffy will be there-"

"I'll come as well." Willow said quietly. "Keep an eye on you guys."

Molly bit her lip, undecided. "We'll see."

Ginny huffed, and sat sulkily in her chair. "You mean, no."

"I talk to your father about it, and if I hear another word from you Ginevra, you will not be going!" Molly shouted angrily, banging her hand on the table.

Hermione grinned shyly at Harry, both thinking that they did not want to get in the middle of a Weasley family squabble. Hermione edged closer to him and whispered in his ear:

"As much as I think you look adorable in your Power Ranger pajamas, I think you should go change." She said, her breath blowing his already messy hair out of place. Harry grinned and ducked out of the kitchen but before he left, he glanced back at Hermione and felt the odd feeling once again rising inside of him.

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After a heated discussion the following evening between Molly and Arthur Weasley, Ginny and Ron finally had permission to hear the speeches. However, Molly requested that Buffy, Faith, and other adults go with the children. By mid morning, Buffy, Arthur, Lupin, Willow and Tonks were lining up to accompany the younger ones to the conference.

"I don't see why we need so many people coming with us." Ginny complained.

"It's to keep you safe. Besides, we all wanna come too." Buffy explained.

"We're not babies." Ginny said, pouting.

"Then stop acting like one." Charlie snapped, annoyed by Ginny's complaining.

"Shall we go?" Arthur interrupted loudly, before another fight could start. "I will go first." He announced, and turned into the fire. He threw a pinch of floo powder on it, turning it green and stepped into the fire, saying loudly and clearly "The Ministry of Magic in London!" With a whoosh, Arthur disappeared.

One by one, the witches and wizards left, but Buffy stayed behind as she was the last one to go. She wanted to say good bye to Sirius, who was staying behind.

"Are you sure you're ok with this?" She asked, her arms around his neck.

"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. But it's alright, honestly." He said, kissing her softly.

"I wish you could come, I feel so guilty." She mumbled against his lips.

"It's only for a day, its not going to harm me." Sirius said, burying his face in her hair.

"I'm sorry."

He laughed and pushed her towards the fireplace. "Honestly Buffy, its fine. Now go. Go." He repeated when she didn't do anything.

Buffy sighed and threw her floo powder on the fire, turning it green. "I love you." She said, turning back to Sirius. "The Ministry of Magic, London!" She shouted clearly a grin on her face at the shocked and happy look on Sirius' face.

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Harry glanced around the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. Everywhere witches and wizards were arriving from the fireplaces, and crowding around the large golden gates and the security stand. Harry was pleased to see the fountain had been fixed, as the last time he had been here, last June, the fountain had broken. He peered past the fountain, remembering where Voldemort had possessed him, had asked Dumbledore to kill him and Harry. The pain in his scar had been terrible, it was a pain worse than death, and Harry wondered if he could ever face Voldemort without feeling pain from his scar.

"Everyone's come to see it." Arthur commented, coming to stand next to Harry.

"The speeches?"

"Yes."

"Will it be Dumbledore?"

"I doubt it." Arthur said, gesturing for the others to follow him. They joined the long queue to the security stand. "Even if he was voted Minister, he would not accept it. He loves his position at Hogwarts too much, nothing could persuade him to give it up. His support lies with Madam Bones. I predict she will be the next Minister for Magic."

Harry nodded as he listened, and Harry hoped that Madam Bones would not be like Fudge and do nothing about Voldemort. But he had a large suspicion that she would not act like Fudge, and the attacks would lessen. As Arthur turned to talk to Lupin, Ron, Ginny and Hermione joined Harry as they processed down the queue. They all gave their wands to their security guard, but he did not ask too many questions when Willow said she did not have one.

They headed into the lifts which were filled with people. Harry found himself squashed in between Hermione and a tall man with purple hair hidden by a blue wizard cap. Buffy and Ginny were lost in the middle of several tall men and women, and Harry could see Buffy roll her eyes in annoyance through the gaps of people.

Only a small number of people got off on the different levels, but at each level, more got on so the lift was becoming even more squashed. Harry's face was now inches away from Hermione's, and a large empty wire cage was digging into his upper back.

"This is comfortable." Hermione whispered.

Harry grinned. "I'm sorry about this."

"It's alright." She said quietly, glancing back at him. "I don't mind."

The lift stopped once again, and several people sighed in relief. Harry pushed his way out of the lift and waited patiently for the rest of his group. Ron gasped his face red. "It was bloody boiling in there."

"I know." Hermione said quietly.

"Shall we go?" Buffy asked, and Arthur led them to it, crowds piling into the large conference hall.

It was air conditioned, thankfully, and the ceiling was a sparkling white, with large wooden beams across it. There were large windows which showed a fake view of London, and long blue curtains. At the end of the hall were two doors, and in between it was a large stage, with dozens of chairs on it. Witches and wizards were milling around the hall, chairs, beanbags and mats placed in random areas of the hall. Ginny and Buffy immediately headed for an area with beanbags and sat down in them, the rest of the group following momentarily. They settled themselves in quite comfortably, and when Arthur announced that the conference would not start for another twenty minutes, Harry started to talk to Hermione and Ron.

It was then that he heard a voice call his name and Ron's, and the two boys turned around, seeing Neville hurry up to them

"You alright Harry, Ron?" Neville asked, his face shining brightly. "Oh, hello Hermione, did you have a nice Christmas?"

Hermione smiled and stood up, and Ginny soon joined the four of them.

"Are you here to see the speeches?" Ron asked, and Neville nodded.

"My gran wants to see them. She said Fudge was an idiot and she's rooting for Madam Bones. What about you?"

"We want Madam Bones as well." Ginny said enthusiastically, and to Harry and Ron's surprise, Neville blushed at Ginny's attention.

"Where is your grandmother?" Hermione asked, and Neville turned from them and pointed to a woman in green robes and a hat with a large vulture on it.

"She's talking to somebody about something. I didn't want to interrupt them." Neville admitted.

"Luna's here?" Ginny asked interestedly.

"Hello." Hermione let out a shriek of fright and Harry and Ron both jumped as Luna appeared next to Neville, a bored look on her face.

"Hi, Luna." Ginny said, trying to catch her breath after Luna's sudden appearance.

"Nice day today isn't it?" She said dazedly.

"It's raining outside Luna." Ron said, trying to stop laughing at the sight of her earrings-butterbeer corks.

"Hello Ronald, how was your Christmas?" Luna asked pointedly.

"F-fine." Ron said nervously. "Yours?"

"It was wonderful. My father and I went looking for-"

But what Luna had gone looking for, Harry never found out, because in the next moment, Luna and Neville had been rudely pushed aside by two men and a short blonde haired woman, dressed in shockingly bright magenta robes and wearing jeweled spectacles.

Harry groaned. "What do you want?"

Rita Skeeter smiled and quickly took out a Quick Quotes Quill and a wad of parchment that floated in the air. "Harry Potter, here with friends? How is your Christmas going? Work at school tying you down? Are you worried about the return of You-know-who, the wizard who killed your parents?"

Harry blinked, not used to having been asked so many questions in such a short space of time.

"He has no time for questions." Hermione said angrily, stepping in front of Harry.

"You." Rita said coldly, and Hermione smiled.

"Yes, me. And I'm telling you he has no time for questions."

"And how has your relationship with Harry progressed over the years? Are you still friends, or is there that burning desire for more?"

Hermione grounded her teeth, and placed her hands on her hips. "Even if I did have feelings for Harry, it would not be your business."

"Ah, so you do not deny you have feelings for your best friend. Tell me the details girl, is he a good kisser?"

"I do not have feelings for Harry!" Hermione said loudly.

"So, Harry. How do you feel now that You-know-who is back?" Rita asked, the Quick Quotes Quill writing at astonishing speed.

"How do you think I feel?" He asked coldly.

"I don't know Harry, you tell me." She said persistently, her eyelashes fluttering. When Harry did not answer, Rita tried another question. "Harry, I heard that you were in this very building last June, fighting alone with You-know-who and his Death Eaters. How did that feel?"

"He wasn't alone!" Ron burst in loudly, something akin to jealousy on his face.

Rita glanced at him uninterestedly. "And you are?"

"R-Ron Weasley." Ron stammered, wishing that he had not said anything. Next to Rita, the photographers took pictures, and because of all the noise, people were starting stare at them.

"So, Russ, how does it feel to be the famous Harry Potter's best friend?"

"Um, fine." Ron said quietly.

"His name is Ronald." Luna butted in angrily, but Rita ignored her. The photographer took more pictures, and Harry was being blinded by the flash.

"Do you ever feel overshadowed by your best friend?"

"Uh, sometimes." He stammered, his face turning red.

"When? Was it during the Triwizard Tournament?" Rita asked interested.

"That's enough." Hermione said loudly, stopping Ron from going any further. "Can you please-"

Rita smiled at Hermione like a crocodile, "whose friendship do you value most, Harry's or Russ'?"

"I like them both the same, and his name is Ron, not Russ." Hermione said angrily.

"Are these boys the dominant males in your life? Who do you feel you will become romantically involved with, Harry or Ron?" Rita shot back. Around them, people were pointing and whispering.

"Harry an-"

"So you are saying you have feelings for Harry?" Rita said, her quill working double the normal speed.

"No, I-"Hermione said flustered.

"Would you rather have both of them, at the same time?"

"What is going on here?" Buffy said, stepping in front of Hermione, looking up at Rita.

"Who are you?" Rita asked coldly, looking down at Buffy.

"The tooth fairy." Buffy said, glancing at the parchment and the Quill writing. "You're Rita Skeeter."

"You've heard of me." Rita said proudly, beaming.

"That's not a good thing." Buffy said coolly. "That yours?" She asked, nodding to the parchment. Rita nodded. Buffy grinned and snatched the parchment from out of the air, reading it with a grin on her face. "Interesting. Very interesting." She looked up to Rita, and much to the reporter's horror, ripped up the parchment into halves, quarters then eights. Behind her, Hermione and Ginny giggled at the growing look of horror on Rita's face.

"You-you." Rita spluttered, her face turning red.

"You don't have to thank me." Buffy said coolly. "Now leave us alone." She said glaring at the reporter.

Rita's mouth opened one or two times, but no words came out. Finally, she huffed, glared at the ripped up pieces of parchment in Buffy's hands and left the group, her men following her.

"Thanks Buffy." Harry said, and Buffy shrugged.

"Here, a late Christmas present." She said, giving the parchment to Harry and returning to Willow.

"I never should have lifted the ban on her writing." Hermione said angrily, glaring at Rita Skeeter as she harassed an Auror. The crowd that had grown around them was starting to disperse and Harry sighed and turned his back on those who were staring and pointing at his scar.

"Too late now." Harry said.

At that moment, a woman with a large vulture on her hat strode up to the group, and Neville winced. "Hello Mr. Potter." She said, extending her long fingered for him to shake. "Ah yes, the Weasley's, I have met you before. Miss Granger, hello, and you I do not know." Mrs. Longbottom said very haughtily, turning to Luna.

"Her name's Luna Lovegood, gran." Neville said quietly, and Mrs. Longbottom nodded and extended her hand for Luna to shake. Luna did, looking thoroughly bored by all the greetings.

"Are you all staying till the afternoon?" Mrs. Longbottom asked. "Neville and I are, I must say I am rather glad that Fudge has quit. He was an idiot." She said, tipping the side of her large hat. Luna could not stop staring at the large vulture on it, and Harry had a sinking feeling that she was going to say something inappropriate.

"I have a hat like that." Luna said, and Mrs. Longbottom glanced at her curiously. "Except, it's got a lion on it and it roars sometimes. I got it for the Gryffindor matches when Ronald joined the team." Luna said dazedly.

"Yes, that's very nice dear." Mrs. Longbottom said briskly, dismissing Luna and turning to the rest of them. "Well, I see Arthur. I shall go and talk to him, behave yourself Neville." She warned and walked through the group towards Arthur and Remus.

Harry and his friends settled themselves on the beanbags, talking casually about their holiday with Neville and Luna. However, after a few minutes, the conference started and all talk was stopped. There were five candidates altogether, and each one gave a speech. As Arthur had predicted, Dumbledore expressed his support for Madam Bones and his wish to stay in Hogwarts.

After half an hour, Harry got bored and looked over to see that the others, save Hermione were feeling the same way. They started to read magazines and eat chocolate as the speeches went on and questions were asked by the press and Wizengamot. Hermione was still paying attention, and Harry idly wondered how she could be so interested in it. Yes, he was interested in who the Minister for Magic could be, but as long as it was not someone who would spread rumors and deny the return of Voldemort and actually do something about it, Harry was not particularly bothered.

By mid afternoon, the speeches had stopped and the Wizengamot were discussing and voting who would be the new Minister for Magic. Harry could see Rita reading over her notes that she had made while the speeches had been made, and he saw Buffy looking almost as bored as he was. She smiled at him, but before he could make his way over to her, the Wizengamot filed into the room and a member of the Wizengamot who was not a candidate of Minister of Magic stepped onto the platform, a piece of parchment in his hands. He cleared his throat, and silence descended in the hall.

"We are pleased to announce that the new Minister for Magic will be Amelia Susan Bones."

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elementair: I'm so glad you like it! 2 hours?! Wow, thanks. As for Harry getting a girlfriend-I'm not sure to be honest. There are clues to what he's feeling to a certain girl from around now to the end of the story, but I doubt I'll expand on it. But if there is time for some romance on Harry's part, I will definitely find time to fit a kiss or two in ;)

elsawriter: Hm, weekend come and gone and still no update! Lol. A new fic you say?! Oo, can't wait to read that, lol. Just update and I'll be happy. DON'T abandon the story, otherwise I'll scream. Lol. Yeah, I love Christmas stuff. Christmas is normally very fluffy so I was keeping a fluffly Christmas. But unfortunately, that was it, because now, as we're getting to the end of the story, things get harder and darker and the chapters get longer.

Anyway, thanks for the reviews, as usual. I do appreciate them, so do send your comments through a review or email if you have anything to say!

So yeah, long chapter, hence the long wait. Next couple of chapters are long as well, around 15 pages, so look forward to that! Oh yeah, and its getting darker and more angsty and generally the opposite of fluff, so look forward to that too! :)

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the long chapter, and if so, review! And if not, tell me why!