— Good day. — The minister glared at me with a look that was anything but friendly. — What did you want to talk to me about?
— Very well. — I agreed because the current fuss promises profits. — As you know, Mr. Minister, for you have witnessed it, Mr. Potter and I have been declared of age and capacity. — I paused and looked into the man's eyes, and he nodded, not hiding a certain incomprehension on his face. Good. — Imagine my surprise when Mr. Potter informed me that Headmaster Dumbledore had refused to acknowledge the Wizengamot's decision and still felt entitled to decide for Mr. Potter. — Fudge frowned sharply, not indicatively; he had indeed been annoyed by the mere fact of my visit, and now that annoyance had found a different, more familiar target.
— Naturally, I was surprised. — I feigned sincere naivety and incomprehension, but I could see in their eyes that they didn't believe me, and rightly so. — Who wouldn't be surprised if it was me, right? But just in case, I decided to get a simple certificate — a confirmation that the relevant department of the Ministry had been notified of the Court's decision and that all necessary procedures had been completed. — The minister nodded, recognizing the logic.
— But it turns out that, despite the Wizengamot's decision, Mr. Potter and I have not actually changed our current status, and this department simply refuses to acknowledge the decision. And the head of that department told me that he has his own instructions, and that the Wizengamot's decision does not apply to his department. It's a strange situation: at the highest level, it's been recognized that our status has changed, and Mr. Potter and I can decide our own fate without interference, but on the other hand, the Ministry refuses to recognize that decision, and in fact, things have gotten worse, because there's really nothing more we can do, and the current wording of the decision is the most effective.— I pause, continuing to look into the Minister's eyes.
— I believe that this is not a mistake, but a direct disregard for the authority and legitimacy of the Court at the level of one of the most influential departments of the Ministry, the very power of Magical Britain. That is why I have decided to address you directly, Mr. Secretary. — No servility or anything, for Fudge, though pure-blooded, is only fourth generation, he has no family or clan behind him, but he has allies and real power. He managed to sneak into this chair, he, without family or the powerful backing of money and authority, so it's not surprising that his ego is higher than Jomolungma's.
— You're right, Mr. Hoshino, this is not a mistake, but a natural malpractice, if it's as you say... — Fudge frowned.
And then came the spectacle for a single audience. The Minister summoned the little man, "Mr." came very quickly, and in the confrontation he tried to twist words, phrases and meanings. I must admit that he did it skillfully, but when the speech, which began with an exculpatory one, turned into an accusatory one, where I was guilty of something, I did not hide my emotions, I even grinned, and Fudge did not like my mood.
I understood what was going on and what they wanted to do, because the scheme was really quite simple: the offending official skillfully twisted the meanings so that in the end, during the trial, the offended person began to feel guilty of something. And after the official is punished by the "good boss" and smiles affectionately at the potential voter, who will then tell everyone around him how it was, no one even needs to make an official "reprimand". But there are also mistakes, because not everyone falls for this performance.
— Mr. Minister, I'm still smiling affectionately. — I don't even think of threatening you in any way — my words literally made them both squirm. — But I hope you realize that this man has insulted not only the entire Wizengamot, but me as well. — Their faces darkened and reddened, and their lips quivered. — I demand full confirmation, documentary and informational, in the newspapers and magazines, of the court's decision, as well as its actual implementation on your part. And I also demand an apology in the form of compensation. .....
— Who do you think you are, puppy? — "Mr." tried to growl, but not everyone can do it, I did not react to the fact that I was interrupted.
— Otherwise I'll let the public know how things really are in this country.
— You're playing with fire, Mr. Hoshino. — Fudge narrowed his eyes angrily.
— Not at all, Mr. Minister, I just don't like the bribery and outright extortion that Mr.... well, this one. — I just nodded at the indignant "Mr.".
— I'm quite sure that a wise man like you, Mr. Minister, would never tarnish his reputation with such... questionable decisions, so I conclude that this issue is to blame. But it's not possible for one man to manipulate the law like this, so he must have accomplices who can't help but get their hands wet with such methods. — I ignore the 'Mr.''s attempts to draw attention to me and look into the minister's eyes, who clearly understands what I am getting at.
— I want these people to be punished. I want the public to know about it, and I want people like him to think about what they might be in danger of doing. — I did not add to what was already clear to everyone, which is that no one will stop, but they will become more inventive.
The minister understood me correctly, and in spite of his obvious dislike, with a certain degree of annoyance, he immediately dismissed this little man's business and said that everything would be in the best possible way. I had to spend another three hours at the ministry until all the business and nuances were done, because even though almost everything was done at the level of the minister's order-order, he has his own instructions, and he can't (for the moment) do whatever he wants.
I even found time to meet with my acquaintance, Louis Crowley, and suggested that he come to work for me, and I also announced that I was going to open a primary school for gifted children, where they would be prepared for Hogwarts, but I specified that the school would be combined with an orphanage, so there would be no misunderstandings. The man thought seriously about it and promised to reply soon.
Louis' job had changed because of the active movements in the Ministry, and his position had lost some of its trivial duties, but he was paid for them, and now he barely had enough salary to provide for his two children.
And in a few years they will be going to Hogwarts, and that is very expensive, and no one wants to go into debt, so Louis accepted my offer and later moved out of London. But back to business as usual.
In the course of the work, the Minister tried to find out what else I wanted in the way of compensation, because the simple punishment of the already guilty bribe-takers was not enough. I organized all this for the sake of this moment, otherwise why should I stir up the already angry wasps? Like I said, I want to set up an orphanage with a preparatory school, but the Ministry doesn't have any procedures for that. No, there are, but the House of Lords has decided that such institutions should only be public, not directly, but indirectly, it was dictated in the documents, and how to organize such a private institution in the magical world — it is not clear.
I thought I would have to leave everything at the level of the Muggle world, and teach the basics of magic semi-underground, and only at the level of an orphanage, without a preparatory school. But kind people gave me such a great chance that in a few hours I left the British Ministry of Magic with the satisfied smile of a happy man, because I have a direct decree from the Minister, with lots of little paper explanations, so that even Fudge himself can't pick on me if he wants.
I can build a second Hogwarts, and everything will be legal, because we've set a precedent with the Minister, and what I do will be considered legal in the future.
At some point I thought: everything was going too well, and that's not the way it happens, because life — it's like a zebra — then a white stripe, then black, then ass....