Chapter 295 - Dumbledores Man (1/2)

The atmosphere around the table changed perceptibly. Chris looked at Harry sharply and Sirius stood up. Harry met Chris' eyes and gave an almost invisible nod, then stood up as well. Everybody looked from Scrimgeour to Harry. Nobody seemed to find Scrimgeour's pretence that he did not know Harry's name convincing.

”Yeah, all right,” said Harry into the silence.

Sirius opened his mouth angrily but Harry repeated, ”It's fine.”

”Wonderful!” said Scrimgeour.

”Harry —” Sirius began disapprovingly and Aurelia tugged on his hand.

”He is a big boy, Sirius,” she whispered.

Though Sirius still looked angry, Harry didn't wait for him. He went out with Scrimgeour.

”We'll just take a turn around the garden, and Percy and I'll be off. Carry on, everyone!” Scrimgeour said brightly before following Harry out.

”This is ridiculous!” Sirius turned to Aurelia. ”Why did you stop me? Harry shouldn't be talking with that Minister! He is a —”

”He is the Minister,” said Percy coldly. ”You can't say things about him in front of the head assistant of the Minister.”

”Then what the hell the head assistant of the Minister is doing in our house?” Ginny burst out.

”Ginny!” Mrs Weasley looked at her daughter shocked.

”Gin!” Chris tried to stop her.

”Don't Chris,” snapped Ginny. ”We all want to know why he is here — no, let me rephrase it, we all know why he is here, aren't we?”

Ginny and Percy glared at each other.

Chris glanced out of the window and she had an idea.

”You are still a kid, Ginny,” grumbled Percy. ”I don't expect you to understand —”

”We are old enough but we still don't understand Percy,” said Fred cutting him off. ”We just think that you are a Ministry loving idiot.”

”Luna, please stay with Ginny,” Chris whispered to Luna and then turned to her father. ”I will be back in a bit.”

Without waiting Chris slipped out of the kitchen as Percy shouted, ”How dare you?”

After reaching the second floor Chris changed into her Animagus form and while Fred, George, Ginny and Ron shouted at Percy, she went outside unnoticed.

She slid near the place where Harry and Scrimgeour were standing but made sure that her snake form was hidden in shadows. After reaching close enough she heard Scrimgeour talking, ”— And what has Dumbledore told you, Harry?”

”Sorry, but that's between us,” said Harry without looking at him. Chris was impressed with Harry, who kept his voice as pleasant as Scrimgeour, and Scrimgeour's tone, too, became more light and friendly as he said, ”Oh, of course, if it's a question of confidences, I wouldn't want you to divulge . . . no, no . . . and in any case, does it really matter whether you are 'the Chosen One' or not?”

Harry took a few seconds before responding. ”I don't really know what you mean, Minister.”

”Well, of course, to you it will matter enormously,” said Scrimgeour with a laugh. ”But to the Wizarding community at large . . . it's all perception, isn't it? It's what people believe that's important.”

Harry said nothing but Chris understood where they were heading.

”People believe you are 'the Chosen One,' you see,” said Scrimgeour. ”They think you quite the hero — which, of course, you are, Harry, chosen or not! How many times have you faced He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named now? Well, anyway,” he pressed on, without waiting for a reply, ”the point is, you are a symbol of hope for many, Harry. The idea that there is somebody out there who might be able, who might even be destined, to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named — well, naturally, it gives people a lift. And I can't help but feel that, once you realize this, you might consider it, well, almost a duty, to stand alongside the Ministry, and give everyone a boost.”

Chris thought if she was in her human form right now, she would have rolled her eyes on the Minister's face. However, Harry decided to play dumb.

”I don't exactly understand what you want,” said Harry slowly. ”'Stand alongside the Ministry' . . . What does that mean?”

”Oh, well, nothing at all onerous, I assure you,” said Scrimgeour. ”If you were to be seen popping in and out of the Ministry from time to time, for instance, that would give the right impression. And of course, while you were there, you would have ample opportunity to speak to Gawain Robards, my successor as Head of the Auror office. And I've heard that you cherish an ambition to become an Auror. Well, that could be arranged very easily. . . .”

Is he seriously trying to bribe Harry?