The Marauders: Year Four

Minchum for Minister

Minchum for Minister

Alastor Moody refused to sit behind the desk of the Headmaster's office. Instead, he had turned the two seats before it, where the students usually sat in Dumbledore's presence, so they they faced one another. Harold Minchum, a high ranking ministry official, sat in the chair opposite him, looking about the room at Dumbledore's abandoned belongings, which Alastor Moody had also refused to touch. "Quite the collector of oddments, Dumbledore," Mr. Minchum commented, looking about.

Without turning his head at all, so that his regular eye stayed trained on his guest, Moody's magical eye swiveled in the socket, taking in all the things that lined the shelves and tables about. "Quite the oddment himself, really," he said lowly. Then, "I know you didn't come all this way to marvel at the trinkets Dumbledore possesses, Harold. So let's get to it. You know I for one am a man of little procrastination."

Harold Minchum nodded and reached up to adjust the bowtie at his throat, uncrossing-the-recrossing his legs over one another. "Alastor, you have long been the best auror in the department, and for that I respect you very highly --"

"I'm a man of little tolerance for kiss-ass pleasantries as well, Minchum," Moody growled.

"Very well." Harold Minchum nodded, then, hard-lined the purpose of his being there, "I intend to be Minister for Magic."

Alastor Moody leaned back in his seat and drummed his fingertips against the velvet arm rests for a moment. "Do you?"

"And I intend to do it now. I intend to force Eugenia Jenkins out." He stared at Moody with a straight face. "I don't intend to kill her," he clarified, seeing the muscles in Moody's cheeks twitch. "Nothing morbid like that. I'm not an assassin, nor do I intend to hire one. I simply don't believe that Miss. Jenkins is qualified for the job, given the current political situation. She's too soft. She's too timid. I intend to end this ridiculous reign of terror that Voldemort currently holds over this country. I intend to actually act, instead of stand behind a podium, banging my fist, and making empty threats."

Moody rubbed his chin thoughtfully, imagining a world in which Harold Minchum was in charge. It wasn't a horrible thing - certainly something that he could be persuaded to get behind, should it come to pass. He eyed Mr. Minchum. "Many are calling for Jenkins to resign already. But the polls are saying Albus Dumbledore would be forerunner to be assigned the position. Many are pointing out the results of his duel with Grindelwald, picturing Voldemort behind bars in similar fashion."

"Well. Those in the know of why the duel against Grindelwald went so well in Albus Dumbledore's favor are... less inclined to believe Dumbledore is the right man for the job," Harold Minchum said. He looked at Moody steadily, expecting a flicker of a question to appear in the man's eye, but being disappointed by none. "Voldemort has no such past... feelings... for Dumbledore and therefore would not stay his wand from the killing curse as Grindelwald did, should it come to a duel. Dumbledore was simply lucky that his own reluctance to strike Grindelwald down didn't kill him."

"Albus Dumbledore is the only wizard which Voldemort has ever feared," Alastor Moody replied. "I've seen him in battle before. Seen the way Voldemort flees before Albus Dumbledore. Runs away, like the cockroach he is."

Harold Minchum smiled, "He has yet to face me."

"Bold words coming from somebody wearing a bowtie," muttered Moody.

Harold Minchum chuckled, "Well, in politics -- got to look sharp to be taken seriously. I could have shown up in something far more comfortable than this suit." He ran his hands over the dark grey material of his slacks and chuckled, "I thought you might see me as more Ministerial if I wore something nice. I'll remember to wear rags next time."