Chapter 898 - 361: The New Minister of Magic

Chapter 898: Chapter 361: The New Minister of Magic

On the morning of March 23rd, Harry was having breakfast in the Great Hall as usual.

But just as he was biting into his sandwich, suddenly, owls came flocking in from outside the Hall.

Hedwig made a dive-bombing maneuver, like a perfect Stuka dive, dropping the package right onto Harry’s plate, scattering the tomato beans everywhere.

Neville was rather unlucky, with a bean stuck to each of his eyes.

"Why is it always me?" he said sadly, putting down his fork.

"Maybe because I’m even more unfortunate," Harry replied, removing his glasses, which were completely stained with tomato juice.

After using to tidy up the table and himself, he opened the package.

Inside was a copy of "Prophet Daily."

Upon opening it, he saw the handsome face of Sirius.

The front page of "Prophet Daily" featured a photo of Sirius.

In the photo, the Godfather was dressed in a formal suit, his beard meticulously groomed, and his hairstyle equally impeccable.

Behind him stood Percy, also dressed in a formal suit.

Below was a large headline.

"Sirius Black has been successfully elected as the British Ministry of Magic, with congratulatory messages from the Muggle Prime Minister and seventeen other countries’ ministries of magic."

Beneath that was a line of small print.

"Former Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has been impeached and stepped down; he is facing twenty-seven charges, and the Wizengamot is preparing to hear his case."

"Harry!"

Hermione came running over, followed by Ron.

"Harry!" she said breathlessly, waving the newspaper, "Have you seen it? Sirius has successfully been elected Minister of Magic!"

"I saw it." Harry said with a smile, holding up "Prophet Daily," "It seems good news really does come in waves, doesn’t it?"

"I received a letter from Percy last night," Ron said cheerfully, "but Percy said Sirius instructed him to keep it a secret from you, to surprise you this morning."

"It really is a surprise." Harry was genuinely unaware of this news and felt sincerely happy for his Godfather.

Just think, only two years ago, his Godfather was still a prisoner in Azkaban.

And now, he has suddenly ascended to the position of Minister of Magic.

"Did you all see it?" Draco said at Slytherin’s long table, "My uncle—Sirius Black—has become Minister of Magic, haha..."

Ron frowned.

"He really is his uncle," Hermione said reluctantly, "After all, his mother Lady Narcissa Malfoy is Sirius’s cousin."

Ron rolled his eyes.

This guy, really...

"By the way," Hermione said again, "Dumbledore is back, and he asked me to notify you to visit the headmaster’s office."

"Is that so?" Harry said leisurely as he continued eating his sandwich. Once he finished, he stood up and said, "I better go see. Who knows what he’s been up to, disappearing for so long..."

"What’s the password?" Halfway there, Harry turned back to ask.

"Uh—" Hermione said, dragging her voice. She was in a hurry and had forgotten the password to the headmaster’s office.

"No problem." Harry waved his hand, saying, "I suppose the statue at the door won’t make things difficult for me."

And indeed it was so; the Dripping Stone Beast did not trouble Harry at all. It didn’t even ask for a password, just jumped aside to let him through.

Harry followed the stairs up and entered the headmaster’s office.

The office maintained its usual decor, with some exquisite silver instruments standing on the slender-legged tables, quietly emitting smoke, spinning.

The portraits of former headmasters and headmistresses were dozing in their frames, some lazily resting their heads on armrest chairs, others leaning against the edges of their portraits.

Harry noticed the curtains were not drawn open, indicating the portraits were oblivious to the current time.

The office was silent, with everything stilled. Only the occasional snore or sniffle from one of the sleeping portraits broke the tranquility.

"Harry?"

A familiar voice sounded, and Harry turned to see Phineas.

"What brings you here so early?" Phineas said, "Other than the lawful headmaster, no one else is permitted to enter this office—did Dumbledore send you?"

"You know, Phineas," Harry said with a grin, "the Dripping Stone Beast at the door doesn’t trouble me at all; I can enter the headmaster’s office without a password."

"Well, you are usually so undisciplined, being a true Gryffindor." Phineas spoke not in anger but with a smile, "Yet you are also my most outstanding student, are you not?"

"Thank you for the compliment, Principal Black." Harry bowed.

"By the way," he spoke again, "I have a little news about my Godfather to share with you."

"What news?" Phineas straightened up, "What has my most outstanding great-grandson been up to lately?"

"Oh, as I said, nothing much." Harry shrugged, "Fudge—the former Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has stepped down, and the new Minister of Magic was elected last night—it is none other than Sirius Black, my dear Godfather."

"Oh, that matter." Phineas yawned, and then suddenly stood up, almost leaning out of the portrait, "You said what? My most outstanding great-grandson is now the Minister of Magic?!"