Fudge & Umbridge Politicking
darthcourt10
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Harry Leferts
"The answer, Minister, is still no."
Wide eyed, Fudge looked at the man at the other side of his desk. The Egyptian diplomat to the British Ministry normally had a face as if it was carved from the stone. Very, very few saw his jovial side. Albus Dumbledore was one, Arthur Weasley, despite their disagreements on his eldest son's career path was another. Perhaps Amelia Bones could maybe be counted among them as well. But Cornelius Fudge? He was most certainly not one of those.
What made it worse was the fact that the normally calm diplomat looked enraged. Blustering a bit, Fudge shook his head. "You must understand, my friend that-"
His eyes narrowed, the man growled. "I am no friend of yours."
But Cornelius continued without pause. "The goblins, they are getting rather... angry with things. After what happened down in Egypt they are out for blood and making quite the amount of noise regarding this. They want something done about these sunshipgirls and done soon. Especially as they have been finally found and are no longer in hiding! Surely you can spare some Auror's to help bring them to justice! Why, they have even been breaking the Statute if reports are to be believed!"
There was silence as the man softly whispered. "Justice, you say..."
Figuring that the Egyptian was finally looking at it the same way he did, Cornelius smiled not sensing the danger. "Yes, yes. Quite horrible the amounts of death that happened. A number of good wizards and witches lost their lives to them after all, as did some goblins. And Gringotts wants justice for what happened, which is understandable considering what had happened to them. Why, if they do not soon then we may be looking at another rebellion! Something that we all can ill afford at this time due to how shaky the Statute currently is. Especially after all their help in Egypt with your economy-"
It was then that Fudge noticed the look on the Diplomat's face had by now passed enraged entirely right before he hissed. "Help you say... is that what one calls what they have done, Cornelius? What one calls them raiding our nation of our treasures?! Of our very heritage?! All to fuel their GREED?! Raiding our tombs of our ancestors for their gold and gems?! Destroying history simply because they want the wealth!? Is that what you call help, Minister!?"
Fudge, if he knew the muggle saying, would have stated he had stepped on a landmine and was now trying to back off it before it detonated on him. "Y-yes, well, I can understand your emotions regarding such matters and-"
However, the Diplomat roared back at him. "UNDERSTAND?!" Growling, he got up and smashed his palms onto the desk which made Fudge lean back some. "Justice! You speak those words without knowing what they mean! To you are they are simply empty words! Good wizards and witches? Is that what you call those grave robbers! And that is exactly what they are! No more and no less! When the Abyssals attacked, where were they, Cornelius?! When the Abyssals came up the waterways of the Delta seeking to kill and slaughter those before them, where were they?!"
Unable to help himself, Fudge began to stutter. "I-I-I.... do not know. I am certain that they were around..."
Sneering the Diplomat stared down at him. "Do you wish to know where they were? I can tell you right now. In the desert, continuing their plundering of the tombs of my ancestors. It was not their duty, we were told after we requested their help. It was not the job of Gringotts to help us! We lost many, many good wizards and witches that day, Minister! Far better ones then the grave robbers of Gringotts! They died alongside our non-magical brothers and sisters!"
Quickly swallowing, Cornelius nodded some. "Yes, yes, they were quite good. Magnificent really, but-"
Raising a finger, the Diplomat continued. "When the Battle of Aswan Dam occurred, where were they? When the Abyssals sent their bombers to attack the dam, to destroy it. And in so doing, kill untold numbers of my countrymen, magical and otherwise, where were they? We were told that it was none of Gringotts business and it was not their duty to sacrifice themselves. Three, that was it that showed up that day. Three brave souls! And so many of my country's Aurors died that day. My son was one of those who gave their lives. He flew his carpet into a group of falling bombs and used a shield spell to set them off and defect the explosion away from the dam as much as he could! All so the dam would be protected!" Shaking, the Egyptian had tears in his eyes. "I have never been so proud of my son in all my years. Or my daughters, who died at the Battle of the Delta. Something that the Muggles will never know due to the Statute you want me to protect. I have but one child left, one! And she is already joining up to protect Egypt as so many of her siblings already have."
As he grimaced at the reminder, Fudge took a deep breath. "I said it before, a true tragedy for your country and yourself. And my deepest condolences for your losses, but still. You need to understand what is at stake here!"
Only stating at Fudge, the Diplomat scoffed. "I will not send my last child to her death for nonsense and to protect grave robbers, Cornelius Fudge. For something that is in the end a fool's errand and nothing less then that. And that is what to fight the Sunshipgirls would be. Especially when we barely have enough to handle the collapse of Libya and the magical repercussions of that and other things, especially in the desert. There are reports of actual Efreet being sighted on the Sinai Peninsula while on the move, something that frightens everyone. We will not risk angering that which we have no need to and opening an issue that we do not have the capability to handle. Not now, Cornelius. This is the last, final statement from my nation on this. If Gringotts attempts to try and protest it, my government's position is thus... it is not our job to protect Gringotts interests as it was not theirs to protect ours. They will find no aid from us as they gave us none. Not in lives, and not in healers. If they try for their justice, they will do so on their own dime and blood. The sword will fall upon their heads alone for challenging such ancient powers. Ones that they have scoffed at up to this time." Turning, he walked out. "A good day, Cornelius."
Once the door was closed, Cornelius slumped in his chair. Slowly shaking his had, he held his face in his hands. "This is a disaster..."
Suddenly, the only other person in the room spoke up. "Hem, hem." When Fudge turned to Umbridge, she frowned and looked like she had bit into a lemon. "As much as I would hate to agree with the Wog, he does have a rather good point. Gringotts should listen to us, and not the other way around. After all, they are nothing more then grubby goblins."
Rubbing the side of his head, Fudge tried to fight off the headache. "Delores, whether or not he has a point is beside the matter. So far Egypt is no longer listening to us, and Gringotts is threatening a rebellion if we do not solve this. And I certainly do not have enough Aurors for such issues. Not with what is happening in Ireland which is what we need to be concentrating on before it blows up in all our faces."
Simply huffing a bit, Umbridge shook her head. "And I keep telling you, Bones is dragging her feet. She should just grab one of those we already know to be responsible and just throw them in Azkaban! An Ministry Branch office in Ireland! Destroyed! No one was killed, but still! The Irish need to be taught a lesson, especially the muggleborns who are at the core of the problem. They seem to think that we are as weak as the muggle government and will give up Ireland! Allow them to rule themselves when they are obviously not capable of doing such with how much trouble they cause."
Yet again, Fudge had to remind himself that he had signed on for this. "We both know that Madam Bones will not do such a thing, Delores. And with good reason as even Lucius supports her in this. No, no, we cannot simply arrest without cause. Not now."
Beady little eyes staring at him, Delores frowned a bit. "Perhaps... there is another way. To punish these terrorists. Just give me the word, Cornelius. I can have some proper hit wizards and witches trained. Ones who will be able to put down these... separatists. And not afraid to do so either unlike some of Bones' people." Fudge blinked and rolled the idea around in his head. Pros and cons were put against each other. It was tempting, oh so very much so. "They can't be Aurors though, no, they need to be outside the Ministry and not influenced by Bones."
Almost five minutes passed as the Minister thought it over rather hard. But finally, he sighed and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not, Delores. It would be ill advised at this moment and there is no need of such actions. We'll keep up what we have been doing and the Irish will settle down soon enough. They always have before after all. Doing what you suggest has far too high a chance of backfiring on us. In fact, they might well cause the situation to explode into a war like we are trying to avoid if we get caught at it."
Briefly scowling, Delores still nodded while she simpered. "Of course, Cornelius. Now, I have some business to attend to."
Just waving her off, Cornelius nodded some. "Yes, yes, I suppose that you would. Hopefully the day will turn out better. Best be off then." Once she was out the door, he sighed and wondered again about his Undersecretary. Spending a few moments, Cornelius shook his head pulled out a drawer in his desk. A bottle of very strong, very expensive alcohol was placed on the desk followed by a tumbler. Pouring a measure, he knocked it back.
Then after some thought, knocked back at least another shot... or two... or three. Being a Minister of Magic was very stressful after all. And with how things had gone, he needed some comfort did he not?
Meanwhile, Delores stormed through the hallways. Internally, she was growling, but showed none of that on her face. No, Umbridge had come to her own decision. While Cornelius had given her his answer, she knew what she had to do. It would not be the first time she defended the Ministry from those who would harm it. No, she was able and willing to do what was necessary, unlike others.
And right now, Delores Umbridge had some people to talk to...
"The answer, Minister, is still no."
Wide eyed, Fudge looked at the man at the other side of his desk. The Egyptian diplomat to the British Ministry normally had a face as if it was carved from the stone. Very, very few saw his jovial side. Albus Dumbledore was one, Arthur Weasley, despite their disagreements on his eldest son's career path was another. Perhaps Amelia Bones could maybe be counted among them as well. But Cornelius Fudge? He was most certainly not one of those.
What made it worse was the fact that the normally calm diplomat looked enraged. Blustering a bit, Fudge shook his head. "You must understand, my friend that-"
His eyes narrowed, the man growled. "I am no friend of yours."
But Cornelius continued without pause. "The goblins, they are getting rather... angry with things. After what happened down in Egypt they are out for blood and making quite the amount of noise regarding this. They want something done about these sunshipgirls and done soon. Especially as they have been finally found and are no longer in hiding! Surely you can spare some Auror's to help bring them to justice! Why, they have even been breaking the Statute if reports are to be believed!"
There was silence as the man softly whispered. "Justice, you say..."
Figuring that the Egyptian was finally looking at it the same way he did, Cornelius smiled not sensing the danger. "Yes, yes. Quite horrible the amounts of death that happened. A number of good wizards and witches lost their lives to them after all, as did some goblins. And Gringotts wants justice for what happened, which is understandable considering what had happened to them. Why, if they do not soon then we may be looking at another rebellion! Something that we all can ill afford at this time due to how shaky the Statute currently is. Especially after all their help in Egypt with your economy-"
It was then that Fudge noticed the look on the Diplomat's face had by now passed enraged entirely right before he hissed. "Help you say... is that what one calls what they have done, Cornelius? What one calls them raiding our nation of our treasures?! Of our very heritage?! All to fuel their GREED?! Raiding our tombs of our ancestors for their gold and gems?! Destroying history simply because they want the wealth!? Is that what you call help, Minister!?"
Fudge, if he knew the muggle saying, would have stated he had stepped on a landmine and was now trying to back off it before it detonated on him. "Y-yes, well, I can understand your emotions regarding such matters and-"
However, the Diplomat roared back at him. "UNDERSTAND?!" Growling, he got up and smashed his palms onto the desk which made Fudge lean back some. "Justice! You speak those words without knowing what they mean! To you are they are simply empty words! Good wizards and witches? Is that what you call those grave robbers! And that is exactly what they are! No more and no less! When the Abyssals attacked, where were they, Cornelius?! When the Abyssals came up the waterways of the Delta seeking to kill and slaughter those before them, where were they?!"
Unable to help himself, Fudge began to stutter. "I-I-I.... do not know. I am certain that they were around..."
Sneering the Diplomat stared down at him. "Do you wish to know where they were? I can tell you right now. In the desert, continuing their plundering of the tombs of my ancestors. It was not their duty, we were told after we requested their help. It was not the job of Gringotts to help us! We lost many, many good wizards and witches that day, Minister! Far better ones then the grave robbers of Gringotts! They died alongside our non-magical brothers and sisters!"
Quickly swallowing, Cornelius nodded some. "Yes, yes, they were quite good. Magnificent really, but-"
Raising a finger, the Diplomat continued. "When the Battle of Aswan Dam occurred, where were they? When the Abyssals sent their bombers to attack the dam, to destroy it. And in so doing, kill untold numbers of my countrymen, magical and otherwise, where were they? We were told that it was none of Gringotts business and it was not their duty to sacrifice themselves. Three, that was it that showed up that day. Three brave souls! And so many of my country's Aurors died that day. My son was one of those who gave their lives. He flew his carpet into a group of falling bombs and used a shield spell to set them off and defect the explosion away from the dam as much as he could! All so the dam would be protected!" Shaking, the Egyptian had tears in his eyes. "I have never been so proud of my son in all my years. Or my daughters, who died at the Battle of the Delta. Something that the Muggles will never know due to the Statute you want me to protect. I have but one child left, one! And she is already joining up to protect Egypt as so many of her siblings already have."
As he grimaced at the reminder, Fudge took a deep breath. "I said it before, a true tragedy for your country and yourself. And my deepest condolences for your losses, but still. You need to understand what is at stake here!"
Only stating at Fudge, the Diplomat scoffed. "I will not send my last child to her death for nonsense and to protect grave robbers, Cornelius Fudge. For something that is in the end a fool's errand and nothing less then that. And that is what to fight the Sunshipgirls would be. Especially when we barely have enough to handle the collapse of Libya and the magical repercussions of that and other things, especially in the desert. There are reports of actual Efreet being sighted on the Sinai Peninsula while on the move, something that frightens everyone. We will not risk angering that which we have no need to and opening an issue that we do not have the capability to handle. Not now, Cornelius. This is the last, final statement from my nation on this. If Gringotts attempts to try and protest it, my government's position is thus... it is not our job to protect Gringotts interests as it was not theirs to protect ours. They will find no aid from us as they gave us none. Not in lives, and not in healers. If they try for their justice, they will do so on their own dime and blood. The sword will fall upon their heads alone for challenging such ancient powers. Ones that they have scoffed at up to this time." Turning, he walked out. "A good day, Cornelius."
Once the door was closed, Cornelius slumped in his chair. Slowly shaking his had, he held his face in his hands. "This is a disaster..."
Suddenly, the only other person in the room spoke up. "Hem, hem." When Fudge turned to Umbridge, she frowned and looked like she had bit into a lemon. "As much as I would hate to agree with the Wog, he does have a rather good point. Gringotts should listen to us, and not the other way around. After all, they are nothing more then grubby goblins."
Rubbing the side of his head, Fudge tried to fight off the headache. "Delores, whether or not he has a point is beside the matter. So far Egypt is no longer listening to us, and Gringotts is threatening a rebellion if we do not solve this. And I certainly do not have enough Aurors for such issues. Not with what is happening in Ireland which is what we need to be concentrating on before it blows up in all our faces."
Simply huffing a bit, Umbridge shook her head. "And I keep telling you, Bones is dragging her feet. She should just grab one of those we already know to be responsible and just throw them in Azkaban! An Ministry Branch office in Ireland! Destroyed! No one was killed, but still! The Irish need to be taught a lesson, especially the muggleborns who are at the core of the problem. They seem to think that we are as weak as the muggle government and will give up Ireland! Allow them to rule themselves when they are obviously not capable of doing such with how much trouble they cause."
Yet again, Fudge had to remind himself that he had signed on for this. "We both know that Madam Bones will not do such a thing, Delores. And with good reason as even Lucius supports her in this. No, no, we cannot simply arrest without cause. Not now."
Beady little eyes staring at him, Delores frowned a bit. "Perhaps... there is another way. To punish these terrorists. Just give me the word, Cornelius. I can have some proper hit wizards and witches trained. Ones who will be able to put down these... separatists. And not afraid to do so either unlike some of Bones' people." Fudge blinked and rolled the idea around in his head. Pros and cons were put against each other. It was tempting, oh so very much so. "They can't be Aurors though, no, they need to be outside the Ministry and not influenced by Bones."
Almost five minutes passed as the Minister thought it over rather hard. But finally, he sighed and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not, Delores. It would be ill advised at this moment and there is no need of such actions. We'll keep up what we have been doing and the Irish will settle down soon enough. They always have before after all. Doing what you suggest has far too high a chance of backfiring on us. In fact, they might well cause the situation to explode into a war like we are trying to avoid if we get caught at it."
Briefly scowling, Delores still nodded while she simpered. "Of course, Cornelius. Now, I have some business to attend to."
Just waving her off, Cornelius nodded some. "Yes, yes, I suppose that you would. Hopefully the day will turn out better. Best be off then." Once she was out the door, he sighed and wondered again about his Undersecretary. Spending a few moments, Cornelius shook his head pulled out a drawer in his desk. A bottle of very strong, very expensive alcohol was placed on the desk followed by a tumbler. Pouring a measure, he knocked it back.
Then after some thought, knocked back at least another shot... or two... or three. Being a Minister of Magic was very stressful after all. And with how things had gone, he needed some comfort did he not?
Meanwhile, Delores stormed through the hallways. Internally, she was growling, but showed none of that on her face. No, Umbridge had come to her own decision. While Cornelius had given her his answer, she knew what she had to do. It would not be the first time she defended the Ministry from those who would harm it. No, she was able and willing to do what was necessary, unlike others.
And right now, Delores Umbridge had some people to talk to...