The thought that suddenly emerged in his mind Fudge straighten his posture. He looked at the solemn-faced Arthur Weasley sitting rigidly across from him, and a flicker of amusement passed through his calculating eyes.
"If I haven't misunderstood your purpose in coming here today, Arthur—"
Fudge's tone suddenly transformed, becoming warm and friendly, soaked with false pleasantness like honey from a poisoned comb.
"You're hoping your son can be assigned to a more crucial position, is that right? A fresh start, as it were? A chance to prove himself?"
Within this short span of time, Fudge's shift in attitude made Mr. Weasley grow immediately wary, his decades of Ministry experience was setting off alarm bells in his mind.
His eyebrow crumpled subtly. Something about this sudden warmth felt wrong.
"I'm not here seeking power for my son, Minister. Let me be absolutely clear about that."
Arthur's voice was firm, refusing to be drawn into whatever game Fudge was playing.
"It's just that he's not yet twenty years old—he has his entire career ahead of him. He should be in a more challenging position, somewhere he can actually learn and grow and contribute. The Ministry can't justifiably let a young man with unlimited potential languish uselessly in the Centaur Liaison Office, wasting away like some pensioner put out to pasture. It's not right, and it's not good for the Ministry either."
"Indeed, indeed, you're absolutely right about that—"
Fudge nodded with apparent sincerity, his chin wobbling slightly with the motion. His demeanor looking so understanding, so sympathetic filled Percy's eyes with infinite, desperate hope. Excitement and exhilaration made his entire body tense with anticipation, made his voice tremble when he spoke.
"I'm willing to do anything for the Ministry—"
Percy leaned forward eagerly. "As long as... as long as there's something to do! Something that matters! I just want the chance to prove myself!"
Mr. Weasley shot Percy a sharp warning glance from the corner of his eye, his expression clearly indicating that he himself would handle the negotiations with the Minister, that Percy should remain quiet.
But Percy was already completely intoxicated by the opportunity seemingly about to fall into his hands like a boon from heaven. He didn't notice his father's urgent hint at all, he was too focused on Fudge's face, searching for signs of approval.
"Oh, a most gratifying attitude, Percy—exactly what I like to hear in young Ministry employees—"
Fudge smiled at Percy with satisfaction, like a fisherman watching a fish swim eagerly toward his baited hook.
"Exactly, I think so too. Young people should absolutely be given the chance to make mistakes and correct them, that's how we learn, isn't it?"
Swoosh!
Percy stood up from the sofa in one explosive motion, his body straight, nearly vibrating with nervousness and determination. His face flushed bright red with emotion, he opened his mouth and prepared to express his gratitude and determination again in even more emphatic terms.
But Fudge waved him down with a paternal gesture, indicating he should sit.
"That's right, I remember now—"
Fudge rustled back in his chair and said warmly.
"When Barty was still working in the Ministry, he mentioned to me that the assistant the Ministry had sent him was filled with remarkable enthusiasm for his work."
Fudge paused, letting this praise sink in, watching Percy's face light up.
"Oh, having you stay in the Centaur Liaison Office is indeed something of a terrible waste of talent, isn't it? But you must understand, Percy—"
His tone lifted slightly, became more serious, and more regretful.
"You did make a mistake after all. And the Ministry needs to give the wizarding world an explanation, needs to be seen taking accountability seriously. Public perception matters tremendously in these uncertain times."
"Regarding Barty's matter, I've already stated my view quite clearly, Minister."
Mr. Weasley said cautiously. But Fudge paid no attention to Arthur's interjection, didn't even glance in his direction. His focus remained locked on Percy with interest, gazing into the ambitious, hungry eyes of the young man sitting before him.
"Placing you in the Centaur Liaison Office was intended as a punishment, Percy."
Fudge spoke slowly.
"Now the punishment has run its course, certainly enough time has passed. But if you want a more crucial position in the Ministry—oh, for instance, I happen to be currently lacking an assistant, someone sharp and dedicated—you'll need to produce some concrete results first. I mean, make a real, tangible contribution to the Ministry that demonstrates your capabilities and loyalty beyond any doubt."
'Minister's assistant?!'
The words hit Percy like a stunning spell. He felt physically dizzy, the room was seeming to tilt and spin around him. His heart was struck by enormous, overwhelming happiness, by the magnitude of the opportunity being dangled in front of him.
He hadn't dared hope, hadn't even dreamed that the Minister himself would truly be willing to give him such a chance and moreover, such an incredibly important position!
The Minister's assistant! Working directly with the most powerful wizard in Britain's government! The prestige, the influence!
"What do I need to do, Minister?!"
Percy's voice suddenly became hoarse with emotion.
"The Ministry is currently facing a significant difficulty, you see."
Fudge leaned forward.
"It troubles me greatly, keeps me up at night with worry. Senior Undersecretary Umbridge and I are at our wits' end, quite frankly—we've exhausted all our usual channels and resources. If you can... if you can somehow push this matter forward successfully, then the Ministry won't face any gossip or criticism about my exceptional promotion of you to such a high position."
"Forgive my presumption, Minister, but..."
An ominous, sinking premonition arose in Mr. Weasley's heart, spreading through his chest like ice water. His voice took on a careful, tactful tone as he tried to head off the disaster.
"If something troubles both you personally and Undersecretary Umbridge then Percy probably... well, as I just said, he still lacks significant work experience. He's barely been in the Ministry a year."
But Fudge continued ignoring Arthur, as if he weren't even in the room. Instead, he gazed at Percy with burning, intense eyes that seemed to bore right through the young man, measuring his ambition, his desperation.
"So then, are you willing to try, Percy?"
"I am willing, Minister! Absolutely willing!"
Percy immediately straightened his chest even further, standing so rigidly he looked like a soldier at attention. He didn't even bother to ask what specific matter had the powerful Minister of Magic and the Senior Undersecretary in such evident distress.
But the experienced Mr. Weasley, whose instincts had been honed by decades steering Ministry politics, had already caught the scent of conspiracy and manipulation in Fudge's words. So, he tried again tactfully.
"Percy is just a young man fresh out of Hogwarts, Minister. He's probably unable to overcome a problem that troubles both you and Miss Umbridge."
"Oh, but this has absolutely nothing to do with work experience, you see."
Fudge smiled.
"It's actually not complicated at all. You just graduated from Hogwarts recently, Percy, so you should know that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position at that school faces frequent replacement."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Currently Dumbledore can't even find a suitable candidate willing to fill this vital teaching position. It's been vacant for months now, which is completely unacceptable.
But we can't let this situation continue indefinitely, can we? Defense Against the Dark Arts specifically teaches young wizards how to resist dangerous Dark Magic and defend themselves against Dark creatures—its importance for the safety of our children is absolutely beyond question."
"You can't possibly want Percy to take the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts himself, Minister?"
Mr. Weasley said in genuine amazement, his voice rising slightly. He couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. The idea was absurd on its face.
"Oh no, no, no—you misunderstood, Arthur!"
Fudge interrupted, chuckling as if Arthur had made an amusing joke.
"The Ministry of Magic is indeed preparing to recommend someone to Hogwarts to take on this critically important teaching position... but the candidate has already been decided. That's not the issue. The predicament we currently face is—"
He paused, his expression becoming more serious, and troubled.
"Based on some terrible prejudice and mistrust, Hogwarts... I mean, Dumbledore and Watson specifically, are reluctant to see a qualified professional appointed by the Ministry of Magic enter Hogwarts to teach."
Fudge opened his mouth and laughed exaggeratedly.
"I suppose Dumbledore and Watson have probably mistakenly assumed that the Ministry of Magic is trying to seize their power, trying to control Hogwarts."
"So... so you want me to go talk to Professor Dumbledore and Professor Watson?"
Percy asked, his eyes wide but was already planning. His voice trembled with excitement at the prospect.
"To persuade them personally... to agree to accept the professor designated by the Ministry of Magic for the students?"
This didn't seem like an insurmountable obstacle at all—in fact, it seemed entirely achievable! Professor Dumbledore and Professor Watson were both wizards who were very willing to communicate with others, to listen to reasonable arguments, to humbly accept well-presented suggestions.
Percy had seen this himself during his years as a student. This test—he was completely capable of accomplishing it!
"May I ask boldly, Minister—"
Mr. Weasley had to stand up from the sofa, his body was almost moving instinctually as alarm flooded through him.
This was worse than he'd thought. Much worse.
He placed his palm firmly on Percy's shoulder, trying to anchor his son, to make him pay attention and think.
"The professional you just mentioned, the candidate the Ministry has selected for this position... might I ask who specifically...?"
"Precisely the Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic, Dolores Umbridge—"
Fudge said, his tone revealing genuine resentment and frustration now.
"Dolores is a highly skilled witch who has fought against evil throughout her distinguished career. She's completely qualified for this teaching position! But neither Dumbledore nor Watson agrees to accept her."
'Oh!'
Mr. Weasley's face immediately showed displeasure. He understood at once, that Fudge's dispatch of Umbridge to Hogwarts wasn't at all out of genuine concern that young wizards lacked a proper Defense Against the Dark Arts professor—he was sending her specifically to spy, to cause trouble for Albus and Bryan, to assert Ministry control over the school!
This was politics at its worst, using children's education as a weapon in a power struggle. And Fudge wanted Percy to be his tool!
"No problem, Minister! I can absolutely do this!"
Percy called out with tremendous excitement, practically bouncing on his feet. His face was flushed with determination and ambition. The concerns his father was trying to communicate might as well have been invisible. The position of Minister's assistant was already within reach—he could practically feel it, taste it!
"I can go find Professor Watson... I'm sure he must have some misunderstanding about the Ministry's intentions. It's just a communication problem, that's all! I can explain the situation properly. I can persuade him to change his mind!"
"Percy!"
Mr. Weasley's face turned serious as he shouted angrily.
"You simply don't understand—this isn't something you can resolve!"
"Why not, Dad?!" Percy's eyebrows shot up as he said defiantly.
"Because—"
Mr. Weasley's voice got caught in his throat. He quickly glanced at Fudge, whose cold, sinister look made Arthur's heart tremble uncontrollably in his chest.
Taking a deep breath that did nothing to calm his racing pulse, Mr. Weasley looked at Percy's face, which was full of resistance. His mind raced desperately, searching for words that would penetrate his son's ambition-clouded judgment.
"Because you've already heard the Minister himself say that neither he nor Miss Umbridge—the two highest-ranking officials in our government could persuade Albus and Bryan to accept this arrangement!
Do you honestly think you can prove yourself more outstanding, more persuasive than the Minister of Magic himself and the Senior Undersecretary?
Percy was struck momentarily speechless, his mouth began opening and closing without sound. He certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to say directly in front of the Minister of Magic that he was more capable than the Ministry's highest-ranking officials—that would be professional suicide even if he got the job.
But the position of Minister's assistant was right there, dangling before him like salvation! Right there within his grasp if he could just reach out and take it!
"Don't say that, Arthur, you're being too harsh on the boy—"
Fudge interjected smoothly, his voice dripping with false reasonableness.
"As I said before, there is some unfortunate prejudice between Dolores and myself on one side, and Dumbledore and Watson on the other, such that they cannot properly regard the Ministry of Magic's goodwill with clear eyes. But Percy..."
He paused deliberately, letting hope build in the young man's chest.
"Oh, Percy is different. He's a valued former student of both Watson and Dumbledore, isn't he? Someone they know personally, someone they taught and mentored.
I believe he has the unique potential to change their mistaken views, to reach them in ways that official Ministry channels cannot. It's precisely because he's not part of the Ministry hierarchy that he might succeed where we've failed."
Under Mr. Weasley's increasingly ashen-faced gaze, Fudge's calculating eyes fell on the already eager, already hooked Percy.
"But I must make it absolutely clear in advance, Percy, so there are no misunderstandings between us about the terms of this arrangement."
Fudge's voice became more businesslike.
"If you can complete this task excellently and persuade Dumbledore and Watson to set aside their prejudices and allow Dolores to enter Hogwarts to teach then I can and will consider you fully capable of serving as my personal assistant."
He let that promise hang in the air for a moment, watching Percy's face light up with hope.
"But if you cannot complete this task—"
Fudge's tone changed, became regretful, almost sympathetic.
"Well, that would indicate you still need more experience. And I'm afraid... you'll have to stay in the Centaur Liaison Office a while longer. Perhaps quite a bit longer. Until another opportunity presents itself."