Chapter 4: Breaking news

Herein follows extracts from several documents dated the 12th of August 1996, or dealing with events of that date

Potter for President?

Earlier this morning sorcerers nationwide were shocked by news that Harry Potter A.K.A. "The Boy who lived" is running for Minister for Magic. Under Potter's jurisdiction several changes will be made to "The current out-dated and cumbersome system of government". Amongst them are a simplification of the office of Minister and a change to the Ministry fundamental system itself.

At present the entire government is run from one building, split into several departments. Mr Potter wishes for these departments to become separate agencies, each under the authority of a so-called "director", who would work within the present ministry building, along with the president and other directors.

Who is the president? The president is Mr. Potter's proposed new title for the Minister for Magic. Why? Let's let him answer:

"At first I was going to run against Fudge so that I could lead the fight against Voldemor…Er, the Dark Lord sic…Properly. But now I see a great chance for reform. With this model each agency or department as it stands will be able to employ more staff and there will be far less work put on any one individual. As for the title changes, Director was chosen because it is more appropriate, what with these new management structures than saying the Head of the Agency for Magical Law and Order. Director of Magical law and Order is much better. And with regards to the Minister's change in title, it is to show that the magical governance is independent and does not answer to any other group of people. The Ministry itself will be keeping the same name and will consist of myself The President and the union, the directors in other words."

Rita Skeeter

Front page

The Quibbler Special Edition

The following is an extract from the radio transcripts chapter in Hermione Grangers book "A brief History of Harry Potter's power":

This is a transcript from a radio interview Harry did during his campaign. Observe how the reform is seen as merely unorthodox:

Host: …and on that note, we begin our interview with the Minister-elect. Uh, Mr. Potter, this was an awfully sudden decision. And to run with a highly controversial reform bill as your major selling point, surely this announcement was too close to the election itself to really give you a chance?

Harry Potter: Not at all. I daresay every wizard and witch in the country right now is aware of my campaign and my reformation plans. It was in every major publication, most minor publications and on all the Wizard's Wireless stations.

Host: So you think that you can win with this media blitz?

HP: Yes.

Host: Won't being Minister for magic, or President of…

HP: Magical affairs.

Host: Yes. Won't it interfere with your studies?

HP: I have taken measures to ensure that I am available as often as possible for the Union, and if something urgent arises myself and the others involved with my office will be able to reach the guild in an instant.

Host: So who else is involved in your campaign?

HP: Deputy-Minister-elect Ginevra Weasley, Head-elect of department for magical law enforcement Ronald Weasley, Senior Undersecretary-elect to the Minister Kathleen Bell Junior and Junior Undersecretary-elect to the Minister Hermione Granger.

Host: Those titles are awfully cumbersome.

HP: Once we get rid of elect they will we be fine, even if I am changing the lot almost as soon as I get in.

Host: You seem convinced that you'll win.

HP: You seem to think there's a chance I won't.

Host: What is making you so sure of you're chances?

HP: Fudge. He is such a poor minister I think it would be embarrassing to the wizarding world if he got back in. Why, don't you?

Host: Personally?

HP: Yes.

Host: I think there is no one better to lead our nation's sorcerers than you.

HP: Why thank you. Sorry, I must be going; this is a busy day for me.

Host: Very well Minister-elect, I'll see you soon…

Extract ends.

Important details regarding the election process

After today's excitement, it is time to reveal the new election system. Tomorrow all wizards and witches of or over the age of 14 will receive, via owl, a ballot card. On that card all you must do is tick the candidate you wish to vote for, then, when you have finished, send via the floo network to "The Department of Mysteries, office of governmental elections".

An issue has been raised by several senior ministry workers regarding the lower minimum voting age, but were silenced when Minister-elect Potter said, "…let's not pretend that there is much more than a slim chance of the vast majority of currently of-age sorcerers will survive the war…"

Roy Tremolly

Side-bar page one

The Evening Prophet

Memo from Senior Undersecretary to the Minister Percival Weasley to Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge 17:28:

Minister, it appears as if Potter has gained an alarming amount of popularity in a very short space of time. No matter how I look at it, I can't see how we can possibly win this election. What do you advise as our course of action?

Memo from Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge to Senior Undersecretary to the Minister Percival Weasley 17:47:

Ordinarily I would recommend that we snub Potter with our own media blitz, but I doubt if it would make much difference. The election is tomorrow, so we won't have much chance of changing anyone's minds then. Curse that idiot Potter.

Memo from Senior Undersecretary to the Minister Percival Weasley to Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge 17:58:

What of our careers if we lose? What will we do?

Memo from Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge to Senior Undersecretary to the Minister Percival Weasley 18:01:

You might get a paper-pushing job in a low ranking department, provided Potter doesn't hate you too much. I'll be forced to leave entirely.

Memo from Senior Undersecretary to the Minister Percival Weasley to Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge 18:09:

If you'll have me sir, I'd like to become your personal assistant. There is no way I am working for Potter.

Memo from Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge to Senior Undersecretary to the Minister Percival Weasley 18:13:

I'd like that. Perhaps I'll become an author. Write a memoir, or an expose. Maybe even a novel.

Memo from Senior Undersecretary to the Minister Percival Weasley to Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge 18:19:

Excellent sir. I'll draft my resignation now and file it just as soon as Potter gets in.

The following extract is dated August the 13th

Election '96: The results are in!

Well ladies and gentlemen, the votes have been tallied and it's a landslide victory for Harry Potter, who received 72.5 of all votes cast. Second was Madam Amelia Bones with 17.5. The remaining 10 voted for Cornelius Fudge. The president has already begun the reform of the government, but was able to issue this brief statement:

"Thank you ladies and gentlemen, you have made the right choice. I will strive to lead you well both in this time of crisis and in the succeeding peacetime."

President Potter will be available at a press conference in just over a week's time and you can rest assured that we will be grilling him for all that he's worth.

Senior Undersecretary to the minister, or as is now the case, Senior Presidential Delegate Kathleen Bell Junior had this to say:

"I am confident in my boyfriend's ability to run this country and this war well."

When pushed about her "boyfriend" comment, she merely stated, "The President and I are an item", before being called away from the stage on "Presidential business".

Amelia Bones was not available to comment as she was called away to her sister's house where her niece was suffering a minor illness. We are told that her niece is now fine and that Madam Bones will return to work tomorrow as Director of Magical Law and Order Ron Weasley's assistant.

But what of the "gallant" loser, The Rt. Hon. Cornelius Fudge, F.M.M.? He flooed out of his office at the Ministry with his personal effects, and new personal assistant Percival Weasley (Previously his Senior Undersecretary) to begin a career as a writer. But don't worry folks, he's not after my job, he wants to write books!

Rita Skeeter

Front Page

Evening Prophet

The following is an extract from the diary of one Ginevra Weasley, dated August 13th 1996

We won! It's so brilliant. Harry's already started reforming the ministry, all the agencies found premises awfully quickly, and the departments are all moving out tomorrow. All except the Department of Mysteries, but I guess Harry has his reasons.

On a more personal note, the strange things I've noticed still haven't stopped. I'm still after as much ketchup as possible, my skin is still getting paler and my hair has…started to turn black…I hope it's nothing serious.

A/N:

Sorry to spring an intermission on you, but this is meant to be a random collecionof thoughts that will help you with some of the mysteries. Kudos to the first person to guess what's happening to Ginny.

Review responses:

butterflyblonde: Thankyou.

Maud'Dib the master: Yes, Harry hates the ministry, but he isfrustrated by a lack of power. In this chapter you will have seen his remidy for his hatred of the ministry. And Hermione will have far more important things to do than you think.

Pyromytprincess: Yes I couldn't resist a nod to Lion King. And I enjoy slipping in JK's stuff (hence, alternative tale). Did you also notice a bit of product placement around the Mitchells' house?

demonwoman: Thankyou, I try. Harry is going to get through a lot in terms of girls, and Katie is a mostly uneplored, but deceptively attractive character.