"I need you to focus, Harry. We have important work to do and we don't have the time for you to pursue this investigation into what Malfoy is doing. As much as I hate to admit it we have nothing on him, and we haven't even found any indication that there is anything to find. We just don't have those kind of resources." Harry stood abruptly, his red Auror robes swirling around him, and Kingsley sighed. "We have so much to do as it is, Harry, three more murders in the last week alone. I'm closing the Malfoy investigation, officially."
"Is it because you don't think we'll find anything or is it because there is so much pressure being exerted from your financial backers?" Harry asked bitterly. Kingsley sighed.
"A government needs money to run, and a Minister needs campaign funds to get re-elected. Do you really want to see someone else in this seat? Someone who doesn't understand what our society needs? What you need? I allow you free reign because you're effective, Harry, and because I believe in a strong Auror department. There is an increasing amount of concern that you go too far sometimes, but I keep those things away from you."
"Maybe I should campaign myself then, at least I would have the courage to make the hard choices to get our world back on track. Sometimes Shackelbolt, I think you are losing your nerve."
"Better my nerve than my mind, like you Potter," Kingsley said matter-of-factly. "You're going over the falls in a very flimsy barrel yet you refuse all help." Harry snorted.
"I am perfectly sane, just fed up," he said coldly. "Why should I protect weak minded, malleable sheep? I shouldn't need to bother with that sort of thing, not anymore. There is more important work to be done."
"About that… I have a special treat for you. Mundungus Fletcher. He has quite the story to tell, so he says. Find out what it is and how much of it is true, will you? It may lead us to the rest of the holdouts eventually. Don't be too careful if you don't want." Harry smiled.
"Regardless of this assignment I am not about to forget about the rest, Kingsley," he warned. "You can cancel the official investigation, but I can certainly use my own time and money to continue it. We will see who is right in the long run, eh?"