Chapter Five: The Heart Has Its Reasons

'The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.' -Edmund Burke

'You are barking mad.' Clark calmly informed her the next morning as he handed her a cup of hot tea and the Daily Prophet.

Hailey ignored the headline ("MALFOY TROUNCES ALLGOOD IN LATEST POLLS") and focused on the wizard before her. 'Perhaps,' she allowed.

Clark sat down heavily in the chair facing her desk. For the very first time in her acquaintance with the man, he seemed at a loss for words.

The self-doubt that had been plaguing her ever since she had made her decision rose like a wave; she took a sip of her tea (scalding her tongue) to conceal her frown. 'Is it so hard to imagine me as Minister, Clark?'

'On the contrary, it is entirely too easy.'

She blinked in surprise. 'Then, why...?'

'With You-Know-Who having returned, do you truly think it is the safest course of action to run for Minister?' He managed a pained smile. 'I have grown rather fond of you, Miss Ahlgrim; I should hate for you to come to harm.'

'This isn't about me, Lucius Malfoy, or even Cornelius Fudge. We are on the cusp of something far greater than ourselves and I have been given the chance to do so much more.'

'Look at what you have already done! You single-handedly negotiated the China-Britain trade agreement! You're building a sanctuary for werewolves, not to mention the-'

Hailey set her teacup down and began to pace agitatedly for a minute as she tried to collect her thoughts before laying her palms flat on her desk and leaning forward to look her assistant in the eye. 'Clark, you remember even better than I do what it was like during the War. And that is not the world I want to live in! A world where the content of one's blood is more important than the content of their character, where one's life is at stake merely because he fell in love with a Muggle or gave birth to a Squib... I won't sit by and do nothing, not if I can help it!' Hailey crossed her arms. 'Well, Clark are you with me on this?'

'Of course, Miss Ahlgrim, you know I would follow you down a dragon's throat.'

She could not help but smile. 'Remind me to give you an extra-large bonus this Christmas.'

He nodded. 'I shall be sure to make note of it.' He sat down at his desk with his quill poised. It was his classic stance when he was about to "get down to business." 'You are going to need some people with experience in political strategy and public relations to assist you. I know of a witch who is exactly who we need.'

'Perfect.' Grabbing her briefcase, Hailey made her way to the door. 'I am going to see Albus, I'm hoping he will be able to give me some evidence of You-Know-Who's return.'

When she received no response, she glanced over her shoulder. Clark was at his desk, scribbling away with his quill.

'Here's your stop, Miss,' Ernie Prang announced, slamming on the brakes.

It took a second for the driver's words to register, as Hailey, along with the other passengers, was busy picking herself off the floor and righting her chair. Hailey made her way to the front of the triple-decker, pausing to hand a wizard his Lunascope that had rolled into the aisle.

'Thanks, Ernie,' she said, tossing a Sickle to the driver and another to the conductor (who promptly dropped it.)

She stepped off the bus, glad to be on firm ground at last. With an ear-splitting BANG, the Knight Bus disappeared, leaving her alone outside Hogwarts's gates.

It was a curious feeling, to finally find herself here after all these years; she couldn't help feeling a strange sort of nostalgia for something she never had. Hogwarts was where her parents had met and fallen in love; her father had proposed to her mother on the Astronomy Tower. It was the place where her brother had spent the final months of his life, only just embarking on his magical education. Ever since she was a little girl she had eagerly awaited the day she would go to Hogwarts, and walk the same corridors as her parents, maybe even be in the same House as her mother or brother (her father said he couldn't see her as a Hufflepuff like him); after her mother and Charles had passed, the desire had only grown. She had felt betrayed when her father had informed her he was sending her to Beauxbatons; it was the worst row they had ever had.

But now, here she was. Only twenty-one years late.

Hailey put her hand on the wrought iron gate and to her surprise, it swung open as if it had been expecting her all along.

Draped over the crest of the hill, Hogwarts Castle was a magnificent sight. To her left was the Forbidden Forest, which in the bright sunlight appeared far from the dangerous woodland her father had sneaked into on a dare. The grounds were subdued by the heavy summer air with the lethargic humming of insects accompanied by the stray call of birds. The standards hung limply against the flagpoles above the Quidditch stadium like a wet cloak.

It was a long walk up the meandering path to the front doors, but Hailey did not mind. She often took walks to clear her mind- on the family grounds, about Diagon Alley and even in the halls of the Ministry long after everyone else was gone. And with everything that had happened in the past couple of weeks she certainly had much on her mind.

Once she was inside she was able to find Albus's office quickly, thanks to a helpful, if 'nearly headless' ghost. He told her the password was always some type of confection; after trying "Pumpkin Pastries," and "Sherbert Lemons" (she knew Albus had a fondness for that particular sweet), she struck gold with "Fudge Flies" and the gargoyle sprang to the side, allowing her to step onto the revolving staircase.

At the door, she raised her hand to knock but stopped when she heard raised voices.

'...be reasonable! What will it take for you to admit you were wrong? I know better than any what we are up against!' the wizard shouted, 'Are you willing to risk-'

'Silence!' This from Albus- 'It is not that I doubt your ability-'

'It is that you do not trust me.' It was an accusation, and the ensuing silence seemed to confirm it. 'Very well. Perhaps you could hire Lockhart again,' the man snarled, 'as he was such a capable professor; or Crouch- except that he was a servant of the Dark Lord and now lacks a soul, surely one of those must rule him out.'

Albus muttered something she could not hear.

The door was wrenched open and Hailey had just enough time to flatten herself against the stairwell before a man in black robes stormed passed. He glanced over his shoulder and Hailey caught a glimpse of dark eyes, an aquiline nose and harsh features that were not at all softened by the man's Vandyck before he turned and vanished down the spiral staircase.

'Come in, come in!' Despite the argument that had just occurred, the Headmaster appeared to be his usual, genial self. He offered her a seat. 'Well, Hailey this is certainly unexpected. What can I do for you?'

Hailey glanced at the numerous portraits lining the wall who all looked back with varying degrees of interest; she hadn't meant to have this conversation with an audience.

'Not to worry, my dear,' he assured her with a smile, 'there's nothing they haven't heard.'

Hailey settled into the large, squishy armchair in front of his desk, a smile working its way onto her face despite herself. She was nervous about entering the race for Minister, and she was full of many doubts, but she did not doubt that she was doing the right thing and was eager to share the news with the man who had been her father's friend, then hers, for so many years.

His eyes twinkled behind his spectacles. 'So you're entering the race, hmm? I was wondering when Radulph would get around to asking you.'

'As omniscient as always, Albus. Yes, I'll be making the announcement tonight.'

'Omniscience has nothing to do with it,' he said with a smile. 'I knew that if given the chance you would not pass up such an opportunity. Now how can I help you?'

She took a deep breath. 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned, that is a truth I am not about to deny, but I need evidence if I am to convince anyone else. I hope to establish myself as a viable candidate before I share my belief in His resurrection and ...unnerve the public.'

The Headmaster let her gross underestimation slide. 'I am afraid I'm not the person you need to see.'

'Who could it be if not you?'

'Harry Potter; he will be able to tell you what you need to know. The boy saw everything.'

'He saw? You mean- oh Merlin.' Hailey passed her hand through her hair before her fingers got caught in her chignon. With a huff of frustration, she pulled out the pins and shook her hair loose and after a few futile attempts to redo her hair, kept it down. 'I hate to put the boy through anything else, but you know I need to speak with him.'

Albus leaned forward. 'I am going to allow you speak to Harry, but only because I know he is strong enough to face reliving it again.'

The phoenix perched by the window fluttered onto the Headmaster's shoulder. Albus stroke the bird's scarlet plumage and the bird issued a soft kweh in response.

'Thank you. If I can just have his address-'

He held up a hand. 'That I cannot do. I will have a professor escort you.'

He didn't have to say why. Hailey understood the need for security and did not object, though she thought it it unusual that a Hogwarts professor would be assigned to the task.

Albus took some Floo Powder from a garish vase on the mantle and threw it into the fire. 'Severus, a word, please.' The fire flared green and a wizard, the same one as before, stepped out of the flames.

She had the sudden feeling that her interview with Mr Potter would not be entered into her annuls of "Most Enjoyable Occasions."

'Headmaster.' He too seemed to have forgotten the argument that had just occurred, though when he spotted her, he scowled darkly.

'Severus, I would like you to meet Hailey Ahlgrim, Supreme Mugwump in the International Confederation of Wizards and Elder on the Wizengamot. Hailey, Professor Snape, our Potions Master and Head the Slytherin.'

She stuck out her hand and smiled gamely. 'How do you do?'

The Professor's arms remained crossed.

'As I am not the ambassador of any country or an accused on trial,' he drawled, 'I don't see why you summoned me.'

Albus shot the wizard a reproving look over his spectacles, but it was ignored.

Hailey had met with many less-than-pleasant characters, both immoral criminals and unctuous politicians, and easily remained unfazed by his derisive attitude. 'I need to speak with Mr Potter, on a matter of some import, and Albus kindly volunteered you to accompany me,' she said, tacking on an extra sweet smile for effect.

The man's glare was undeniably impressive. His eyes flicked over to Albus, who dipped his head in agreement.

Still, he would not so much as acknowledge her, so Hailey decided to give him a reason to. Crossing her arms, she said simply, 'I am running for Minister for Magic.'

That got his attention. He raised a thick eyebrow. 'Is that so?'

She nodded.

A beat of silence, then, 'What is your position on the Bill of Goblin Rights?' Though it was a question, he made it sound more like a demand.

Hailey was surprised, and while the question was not germane to the matter at hand, answered nonetheless. 'I believe we are rarely in error when we extend rights to other beings.'

Professor Snape fired off another question, then another, asking for her stance on everything from foreign relations to the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct. She answered all his questions, though she was unable to determine whether her responses pleased him, for his face remained stoic throughout.

'Meet me at the castle gates at twelve o'clock tomorrow,' he ordered brusquely.

She would have to shuffle several appointments to make it work but agreed nonetheless.

Glancing at the clock squeezed between two portraits, Hailey decided she should head back to her office. She was about to turn and take her leave when she came to the sad realisation that neither of them had made any small talk. He hadn't inquired after her father and she had not shared any of the entertaining anecdotes common to anyone who has worked in a government bureaucracy. She shared a melancholy smile with Albus who, of course, understood.

'Goodbye Albus,' she nodded at the dark wizard, 'Professor Snape.'

She exited and closed the door behind her, leaning back on its smooth surface with a sigh.

'Well, Severus,' she heard Albus ask, 'what do you think?'

Feeling slightly guilty, she pressed her ear against the door to hear the man's answer.

Albus prompted him again. 'Well?'

'She will do.'

Hailey was exceptionally pleased to have proven herself to the acerbic professor and barely managed to smother a triumphant ha! As an utter stranger, his opinion shouldn't have mattered and yet, somehow it did. She wasn't a halfwit, if Albus asked Professor Snape to accompany her to ensure her safety, and Mr Potter's, it was likely that this man was more than a Hogwarts Professor. She may have just met a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

Curious if the professor had anything else to add about her, she remained where she was. But Albus merely enquired after a gentleman by the name of Tom.

Hailey hurried down the stairs. It was time to head back to her office. She had a speech to write.