Dealing with Fudge

Phoenix Boy

Story Summary:
For the March2007 challenge. Fudge pays an unexpected visit to Hogwarts.

Chapter 01

Posted:
03/22/2007
Hits:
596


"Headmistress!" Nearly Headless Nick exclaimed, head bursting up through the floor. She sighed. It was true that he had much better manners than the Bloody Baron and was kind enough to assist her by running messages between staff but sometimes his entrances were just too much.

"Nick," McGonagall replied, looking up wearily from her desk. The war was over, but that didn't mean an end to politics or indeed paperwork. "Can I help you?"

"Hagrid asked me to inform you that Fudge has just arrived with a team of Aurors. He mentioned something about discussing the lack of suitable candidates for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position."

Fudge, lately Minister of Magic, had taken on the Department of Education. The appointment had been seen largely as a joke to start with since Hogwarts, the only institution in the UK was fiercely independent but he had managed to make her life a misery over the past few months. As for the Dark Arts post, it had been an ongoing joke for years. Remus Lupin had finally managed to break the curse and now he was being called unsuitable. Politicians!

"Again? See if you can delay him, I need to see to this before the Governor's meeting. Try to keep him out of poor Remus's way. The man has enough to deal with this close to NEWTs."

* * * * * * *

"Did you hear?" Dennis Creevey whispered to Euan Abercrombie during Herbology. "Stephen told me that Elise had told him that McGonagall gave Fudge basilisk venom because he dared to enter her office without knocking first."

"
As if Elise is ever right. Do you remember when she had you convinced that Professor Moody was a Death Eater? I heard that it was Snape who poisoned Fudge. Peeves told me that he's been hiding out in the dungeons for years and he wanted to get his revenge on Fudge for trying to put him in Azkaban."

"Suddenly even Snape seems good," Creevey replied gloomily. It was a sad state of affairs if that was the best gossip going.
Fudge was old news. Compared to his earlier schooldays, when Harry Potter had been there, life was dull.

* * * * * * * *

"Sir Nicholas," McGonagall snapped, glaring over the top of her glasses. "Could you please explain the rumours I have heard today? When I asked you to delay Fudge, I
assure you that was not countenancing permanent damage to a Ministry official however much I might dislike the man!"

"I don't believe you could call it serious damage, Headmistress
, let alone permanent. After all, it's a very close approximation to his normal state of mind and the Aurors took him home as soon as Mr Shacklebolt worked out what had happened."

"Explain yourself
this instant!"

"Oh, it wasn't anything dangerous. It was nothing but a bit of harmless fun, gave the students something to laugh at during lunch. The Grey Lady gave Befuddlement Draught to Cornelius Fudge. Still, it might make him think twice about barging in again."