The Spark {Book 5 in the Star of Gryffindor Series}

Chapter 38 - Demise

The Daily Prophet
Issue No. 102,215
12 June, 2022

A Recent Poll Says Ministry Approval Ratings at an All Time Low

A recent poll conducted by the Daily Prophet says that approval ratings for the Ministry are at an all-time low. Does this spell disaster for the bureaucrats in the beginning of a war? It's hard to tell, but if something doesn't change within the public view soon, something may have to change within the Ministry...

~~~~

"Do you think Marcus knows?" Albus asked asked as we left Diagon Alley, through the wall at the Leaky Cauldron.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure. I can't decide if he'd be more of a prat or less of one if he did."

"I sort of hope he does," Albus said slowly. "Easier to hate him if I'm not feeling sorry for him, you know?"

"I doubt he would know," Wren said. "My uncle isn't very big on recruiting families."

"Unless it's his own?"

"Colette, shut up." She rolled her eyes at me, then marched into the Leaky Cauldron.

The group of men that Magnus Caldwell had been with was gone when we got back to the Leaky Cauldron. Colette was brave enough to actually go up and ask the bartender about them, but unfortunately he didn't have much to say. "They left about ten minutes ago," she told us. "Walked out the door. They could've apparated anywhere."

"Would they really apparate in the middle of the street?" Albus asked quietly. "What if a muggle saw?"

"I assume they'd have the sense to go to an alley," Colette said, rolling her eyes. "They might not have even apparated. There's a way to get into the Ministry from the street, isn't there?"

We all paused at that. I mean, sure, they had to be in London for some reason, but I hadn't let myself think they were going to the Ministry. We weren't walking into something horribly dangerous. It couldn't be possible.

"Wherever they went, we've got to hurry," Wren said, passing the Floo powder around.

When I stumbled out of the fireplace, I almost stumbled into a witch. Albus grabbed my arm and pulled me safely to the side. We'd come in through the only fireplace in the large hall that seemed to be for incoming traffic; the rest had lines ten people long, all waiting to leave. It was going to be five o'clock soon, I realized. Anyone here with a complaint or hearing or business would be starting to leave now.

We had all been here before, and slipped through the crowd without bothering to gape at the fireplaces, the fountain, the people. There were very few people waiting for the elevators at this time of day. No one paid attention to us, and I wondered if regular people showing up here was a normal occurrence.

We got the elevator to ourselves. Wren knew which floor the Minister's office was on, as well as the auror office. Colette and Albus hurried off to find Mr. Macmillan, leaving Wren and I alone as the doors slid closed again.

"This is actually going to work," I said, suddenly feeling a little relieved. We'd made it here, and if Wren could just get in to see Carrow, we wouldn't have anything else to worry about.

Wren shot me a small smile. "Were you worried?"

"I mean..." I shrugged. "Things I'm involved in don't tend to turn out well a lot of the time?"

"I guess that's true." She tapped her fingers on the handrail absentmindedly. "We've been gone a long time..."

"James is fine," I assured her, guessing what she was thinking. "We'll be back in an hour, I promise." Wren smiled again as the doors slid open.