Chapter Eight: The New Minister

Harry woke up next morning, went down to see what the Wheasleys were doing. They were all sitting on a table looking at the daily prophet. Harry moved closer to the paper there were three big pictures one of Rita Skeeter, the other of Harry Potter and the third pictures was of Delores Umbridge. Harry came close to the paper and started reading.

RITA WRITES, MINISTER SPEAKS: THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

We are sorry to inform our readers that our very able minister, Rufus Scrimgeour is dead. Or should we say was brutually killed last night in a trap set by the notorious group called ‘The Order of The Phoenix’. His place has been taken by the former senior under-secretary to the minister, Delores Jane Umbridge, a very able woman who showed her excellence two years ago by making some very good changes at Hogwarts. It was a pity though that those rules were changed by Dumbledore when she resigned to take control of the ministry again and help the new minister settle down.
However, this new meeting with our new minister has been realy informative as she reveals the truth about Dumbledore and The Order of The Phoenix. Here is the full interview that I took after she was made Minister.
‘So, minister, what was the reason for the death of our former minister?’
‘Well, it was the same Order of the Phoenix again. They had set-up a trap. They somehow informed Rufus that there is going to be some kind of a war between them and You-Know-Who. But naturally, Rufus thought that he ought to help. He was a really nice man, I say. He went with an army there and left me in charge. But he never retuned. When the left over people came back, they said that the order was trying to do something weird like changing the minds of children through magic. Rufus tried to stop them and they battled. And the order won. If only, we were prepared. I think they want to take over the ministry. Don’t forget, Dumbledore tried to do that with a bunch of students two years ago.
‘But how can anyone think of power when You-Know-Who is at large again? How can it be true?’
‘Well, to tell you the truth Rita, I don’t think you know who is back. It might be all made up by those filthy criminals to increase fear and take over the ministry. In fact, I feel that all the murders that have happened in the last few years were done by them. First they made that weird mass murderer Black escape, then called were-wolf and half giants in their army. Tried to misguide students. They even have an army of centaurs and even a giant. They attacked me last time I was in Hogwarts. I think it’s all them behind all this business.
‘And do you think Harry has been misguided too, minister?’
‘Harry Potter is a notorious wicked liar. He is filth, good for nothing. A few weeks ago Rufus had sent me too him to help him hide. And he jinxed me. I was in St Mungo’s for a week. The first thing on my list is to send him to Azkaban.
‘I couldn’t agree with you more, minister. And what do you think about Dumbledore?’
‘Well, another big fat liar he was. All that he pretended to the world was a lie. He was in the midst of an extremely evil act when Severus caught him and killed him. Oh! He must be rewarded. In fact, I am thinking of making him the Headmaster of Hogwarts. But I think he is on a holiday these days. After all, stopping someone like Dumbledore from making a Horcrux is a tiring job.
‘What? A Horcrux?’
‘Yes, a Horcrux. He was about to kill that Malfoy boy to make a horcrux when Snape stopped him.’

Well at this informative news, we leave the minister do her work. She has announced that anyone who gives information about the Order will be rewarded.

At this Harry’s heart was boiling. He wanted to shout. But before he could say anything, Mr. Wheasley spoke, ‘Harry, we are in hiding now, this house is under the Fidilius Charm. I am secret keeper. All of us are safe at the moment. I can’t believe that woman actually said this.’

‘she might not have,’ said Mrs Wheasley, ‘that skeeter woman might just have made it all up.’

‘no’, said Harry. ‘I know her. She must have said it.’

‘But they can’t catch us. We are all safe. All our houses have been put under the Fidilius charm and other protections are also there.’ Said Mr. Wheasley.

‘But she is working with the death eaters. Most of the people who died in the fight were ministry officials,’ said Charlie. ‘I think it was a plan.’

‘No, a coincidence,’ said Mr. Wheasley. ‘when she saw that the ministry has fallen she joined the death eaters. They surely must have accepted her so that they can get a license to kill people without coming into the open.’

There was a moment’s pause. Then Harry said, ‘Ron, Hermione, I think it is time we leave for the work Dumbledore gave us.