True Love Conquers All (sequel to Loving You)

Chapter V {The Minister of Magic}

"Vanessa" a voice comes from the doorway

i look up from reading one of the muggle novels Mr. Weasley had let me borrow "yeah?" i ask

"the Minister of Magic is here. he has requested to see you." Ginny says

"me?" i ask confused

"you, Hermione, Harry and Ron." she says

i furrow my eyebrows but shut my book and place it on my bed before getting up and walking downstairs. 

"to what do we owe the pleasure, Minister?" Harry asks as we all four sit on a very small yellow colored couch

"i think we both know the answer to that, Mr. Potter." Scrimgeor pinches a cloth bag onto the table before us. 

"and that would be...?" Harry asks

"don't be coy, Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley, would you say you were close to your former Headmaster?" Scrimgeor questions

"Dumbledore? and me? i dunno. i reckon i was just another Weasley to him. he was always polite-" Ron says

"what about you, Miss Wilde?" Scrimgeor asks

"i guess. i had never really talked to him before my sixth year though, Minister." i say

"and you, Miss Granger. how would you characterize your relationship?" he asks

"we were friendly, but not close, like Harry, but-" Hermione begins

"what's this all about?" Harry interrupts 

"this. despite the fact that none of your friends appear to have been particularly close to the recently deceased, Headmaster, he saw fit to remember them in his Will. now why would you suppose that would be?" Scrimgeor asks

"no idea." Harry answers honestly

"come now, you don't expect me to believe..." Scrimgeor reaches into his cloak, removes a scroll of parchment "Herein is set forth the Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. first, to Ronald Bilius Weasley, i leave my Deluminator, a device of my own making, in the hope that--when things seem most dark--it will show him the light." Scrimgeor removes a small silver object from the bag

"Dumbledore left this? for me? brilliant. er....what is it?" Ron clicks it and all the light rushes from the lamps into the Deluminator, throwing the room into total darkness. he clicks it again and light flies back to the lamp. "wicked"

"to Miss Hermione Jean Granger and Miss Vanessa Elizabeth Wilde, i leave my copy of The Tales of Beetle and Bard, in the hope that they will find it entertaining and instructive." Scrimgeor reaches into his bag once again and retrieves a small book, its binding stained and peeling in places.

"mum used to read me those! The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump..." Ron says excitedly 

Hermione, Harry and I all look at him like he's gone mad

"oh, c'mon! Beedle's stories are famous! Babbitty Rabbitty? no...?" Ron says

Scrimgeor eyes Ron with mild annoyance "to Harry James Potter, i leave the snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of perseverance and skill." Scrimgeor places the tiny golden orb onto Harry's palm, where it glimmers dully. 

Harry studies it, then looks up "that's it then?"

"not quite. Dumbledore left you a second bequest: the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. unfortunately the Sword of Gryffindor was not Dumbledore's to give away. as an important historical artifact, it belongs-"  Scrimgeor begins

"to Harry! it belongs to Harry! it chose him! it came to him in the Chamber of Secrets when he most needed it!" Hermione interrupted 

"the Sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor, Miss Granger. that does not make it that wizard's property. and in any event the current whereabouts of the Sword are unknown." Scrimgeor says

"excuse me?" Harry asks

"the Sword is missing. i won't pretend to be your friend, Mr. Potter. but i assure you i am not your enemy." Scrimgeor says

"you'll forgive me, Minister. but its a little hard to tell the difference these days." Harry replies

"Dumbledore said something very similar the last time we spoke." Scrimgeor gazes out the window, eyes haunted

"where is your guard, sir?" i ask

"i came alone. i don't really need them anymore.." Scrimgeor says