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Chapter 351: The Ministerial Candidate
Chapter 351: The Ministerial Candidate
"They want to make you the symbol of this fight against Voldemort, and there's nothing wrong with that."
"Even if the Ministry of Magic doesn't push you to the forefront, Voldemort's primary target will still be to find a way to kill you. Your performance last night can help calm the public's panic, which is beneficial for you."
Dumbledore said, looking at Sherlock.
"Of course, I haven't given them any assurances. No matter how good it looks, it still needs your consent. If you don't want to be in the spotlight, I can negotiate with the Ministry of Magic to suppress the recent public opinion."
Sherlock rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache.
"To be honest, I don't really want to be in the spotlight. But if the Wizarding World needs me to boost public confidence, then it's fine. After all, as you said, it doesn't harm me and even has some benefits."
"However, don't keep using me as a publicity stunt for promotion. I just want to live a low-key life and don't want to become a celebrity."
Dumbledore said softly.
"This leads to the second matter. The Ministry of Magic is considering reabsorbing you into the Auror Office."
"If you have this idea, the Ministry of Magic will certainly promote you again. But if you don't plan to work for the Ministry, they will, after stabilizing the current situation in the Wizarding World, establish a new figure to attract public attention."
Sherlock, after hearing Dumbledore's simple explanation, could guess the general reason.
If he doesn't plan to join the Ministry of Magic, then continuously building him up and establishing public confidence in him would, over time, make British wizards wonder:
Would it mean that the Aurors are incompetent, not even as capable as a professor from Hogwarts? And with Dumbledore always being the headmaster of Hogwarts, the question would arise: Is the true authority of the Wizarding World in the Ministry of Magic or in Hogwarts?
So, this time, the Ministry of Magic extending an olive branch to Sherlock isn't just about recognizing his abilities.
Sherlock waved his hand and said.
"That's fine. I never intended to become the head of the Auror Office at the Ministry of Magic. Being a professor at Hogwarts is just fine for me."
Dumbledore, of course, had anticipated Sherlock's choice.
After all, they had been interacting for so long, and Dumbledore was well aware of Sherlock's character.
Moreover, from Dumbledore's perspective, he actually didn't want Sherlock to enter the Ministry of Magic at this time.
"Although I won't interfere with your choice, I indeed don't want you to join the Ministry of Magic", Dumbledore said without hiding his thoughts.
"Every time a new minister is elected, they invite me to run for the position, but I have never agreed."
"The political atmosphere there is too intense. In normal circumstances, it might be manageable, but with a high-pressure event like Voldemort, which threatens the entire Wizarding World, they handle it poorly."
He shook his head and continued.
"That's why, after discovering this, I founded the Order of the Phoenix. The Wizarding World needs an organization dedicated to fighting Voldemort."
Sherlock stroked his chin and then asked a crucial question.
"What's the situation with Fudge after this incident?"
Dumbledore's expression remained calm.
"Cornelius's position is very precarious. There's a lot of pressure within the Ministry to have him step down. He's currently struggling with this issue, but it's highly likely he'll lose his position as Minister. From the start of the World Cup to now, his decisions have been disastrous."
"Who's the most likely candidate to replace him? Crouch?"
"Without the Barty Jr. incident, the successor would have been Barty", Dumbledore said, his glasses reflecting a white light. "He was the most suitable candidate, but because of his involvement in helping Barty Jr. escape and hiding him, that's no longer an option."
"This is a significant stain on his record. Neither the Ministry of Magic's internal staff nor the public would accept a leader with such a dark history."
"Then who is it?"
Dumbledore's expression grew serious.
"Rufus Scrimgeour."
Last night, when Dumbledore and Scrimgeour arrived, Sherlock had already passed out from exhaustion. He didn't know that the person leading the Aurors was the Head of the Auror Office, but he still had a vague impression of this man, who looked and acted like an old lion.
During the time he spent with Snape in the past, this wizard was already the Head of the Auror Office.
That means he had been in that position for nearly twenty years, making him a seasoned veteran.
From what Sherlock knew about him, Scrimgeour was indeed a fierce opponent of evil, never wavering in his stance against Voldemort, and he was not one to be easily swayed.
However, Dumbledore's expression suggested that he wasn't overly optimistic about Scrimgeour's ascension to the position.
Before Sherlock could ask, Dumbledore explained the reason.
"Rufus's stance is beyond question. Like Barty, he will always stand against Voldemort. However, his character is somewhat too reckless."
Sherlock furrowed his brow.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Take this time, for example, the idea to invite you to join the Ministry of Magic was his. Initially, without my persuasion, he intended to force you into a position."
Dumbledore interlaced his fingers, a gesture he often made when deep in thought.
"Regardless of your response, the Ministry would have publicly announced you as one of their own. Even if you didn't take an active role, you would have some honorary title. This way, they wouldn't need to work hard to find a new pillar to bolster the Ministry's reputation; they could simply leverage your name to achieve their goals."
Sherlock couldn't help but click his tongue.
"That sounds very uncomfortable. He's using me as a tool?"
"Such a comparison is apt", Dumbledore chuckled. "I prevented him from doing so, and because of this, he seems a bit displeased with me, saying I'm too lenient on certain matters."
"It seems that even if Scrimgeour becomes Minister, he won't be easy to deal with."
Sherlock rubbed his face, confirming his suspicion that politicians were never easy to handle.
Dumbledore stood up, indicating that their conversation was coming to an end.
"Regardless, his stance will never change, and that, at the very least, is a good thing."
(End of Chapter)
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