Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

“Evan, why don’t you take a stroll with me around the yard? Let’s talk about the medal. Don’t mind me, Arthur, Molly, I don’t want to butt in, especially since I heard from Percy that he hasn’t been back in a long time. You can catch up with him,” Scrimgeour continued, “Oh, and if possible, I’d also like to learn more about the current situation at Hogwarts. As you know, my predecessor made many confused decisions last year, including sending a High Inquisitor to Hogwarts, which made the school a mess. The Ministry and I are very concerned about this matter. The quality of education at Hogwarts is related to the future of the Wizarding World… Ah, I see that young man’s finished eating, too. Do you mind walking with us in the garden and talking about this?”

Following his gaze, everyone looked at Harry.

Nobody seemed to find Scrimgeour’s pretense that he did not know Harry’s name convincing, or find it natural that he should be chosen to accompany the Minister and Evan around the garden when Hermione, Ginny, and Elaine also had clean plates. It was obvious that Scrimgeour’s real purpose was to talk to Evan and Harry, which was why he came to the Burrow.

Everything he had said before — being in the area on work, Percy wanting to visit his family, planning to award Evan the Order of Merlin, First Class, and discussing the current state of Hogwarts — were all just excuses.

“Yeah, all right,” said Harry into the silence.

“That’s fine with me, too, Mr. Minister,” said Evan, and when he saw Mr. Weasley had half risen from his chair, about to say something to Scrimgeour, he added, “Don’t worry, it’s fine!”

“Wonderful!” Scrimgeour stood back to let Evan and Harry pass through the door ahead of him, and said to the hesitant Weasley couple, “The three of us will just take a turn around the garden for about five or ten minutes, and Percy and I’ll be off. Carry on, everyone!”

Taking advantage of the moment when the door of the Burrow blocked their view, Harry lowered his voice and asked Evan, “What do you think he wants?”

“Probably something like asking us to cooperate with the Ministry,” said Evan.

He felt that Scrimgeour genuinely wanted to take action, but Voldemort was simply too powerful.

As for cooperation, Evan also wanted to cooperate, but he couldn’t see what there was to cooperate with.

In the upcoming war, the Ministry no longer had control or the power to make decisions.

Evan and Harry walked across the yard toward the Weasleys’ overgrown, snow-covered garden, Scrimgeour limping slightly beside them, continuing to talk about the Order of Merlin and Evan’s chances of winning it, glancing from time to time at the snowy lawn and the indistinguishable plants.

Harry was also secretly looking at Scrimgeour, observing the Minister carefully. He didn’t know as much as Evan, but he knew that the battle-scarred, tough-looking wizard in front of him had been Head of the Auror Office, and was very different from portly Fudge in his bowler hat.

“Charming. This garden is well maintained,” said Scrimgeour, stopping at the garden fence. “Alright, Evan, I think I fully understand the situation now. I will do my best to secure you the Order of Merlin, First Class. After all, with the involvement of those Egyptian wizards this time, you have a great chance of getting the medal. Those old stubborn fools won’t have much to argue about.”

“Thank you, Mr. Minister,” said Evan.

“You deserve it. Anyone who contributes to the peace of the Wizarding World should be rewarded,” said Scrimgeour, patting Evan kindly on the shoulder. Then he turned to Harry, who seemed a little tense. “Relax, Harry. There’s no need to be nervous. You can think of me as an elder, just like Evan does, rather than the high-ranking Minister for Magic. Technically speaking, this is our first meeting, but in reality, I already know a great deal about you. I learned quite a bit from Sirius.”

Harry said nothing. He could tell that Scrimgeour was watching him.

“Oh, if I remember correctly, Sirius is your godfather?” Scrimgeour continued.

“Yeah!” Harry nodded, a little confused, not understanding what Scrimgeour was getting at.

Evan didn’t interrupt. He looked at the little gnome prints all around the flowerbeds, and the scuffed-up patch that marked the spot where Fred had caught the gnome now wearing the tutu at the top of the Christmas tree. A gnome had just poked its head out from underneath a frozen rhododendron, completely oblivious to the three people standing nearby. Gnomes were really stupid creatures. They didn’t improve after so many lessons.

“I have a good relationship with Sirius. He was once my most capable subordinate,” said Scrimgeour. “As you both know, I used to be Head of the Auror Office and worked with him for a time. I have always believed that Sirius was innocent.”

“I’ve heard about you from Sirius, too,” said Harry.

After Sirius proved his innocence, Fudge invited him to return to the Ministry to become an Auror.

It didn’t last very long, and because of the Ministry’s refusal to accept Voldemort’s return, he was quickly squeezed out.

However, he had a high opinion of Scrimgeour, believing him to be as much of a true Auror as Mad-Eye Moody.

Of course, Sirius had also considered him a tragic figure; someone whose fate, if things went wrong, could be quite grim.

Thinking of this, Evan felt that it was appropriate to tell the truth … or a bit of it.

“Ah, that’s great. Don’t treat me as an outsider. If either of you ever has any trouble, you can always come to me,” said Scrimgeour. “In fact, Evan, Harry, I’ve wanted to meet you for a very long time, but Dumbledore has been very protective of you. Natural, of course, natural, after everything that has happened. … Especially what happened at the Ministry …”

He paused for a moment, as if waiting for Evan or Harry to say something.

Evan thought for a moment and said, “Mr. Minister, I think we can be more direct. After all, our goal is the same, which is to defeat Voldemort. Let’s get this straight, what do you want to know from us?”

“Oh, yes, more direct. This is exactly the attitude we need,” Scrimgeour seemed surprised for a brief moment before regaining his composure. “There are many things I want to discuss with you, such as that legendary prophecy… the one about the ‘Chosen One.’”

Sure enough, it was that prophecy again. The landmark event of Voldemort’s return this time was his appearance in the Ministry of Magic. And the reason he was there was because of the prophecy, which had both his and Harry’s names on it.

Although Dumbledore had taken the prophecy orb away, prior records had still revealed some information.

The subject was now getting closer to Scrimgeour’s real purpose, and Harry hesitated, wondering whether he ought to lie or not.

He certainly didn’t want to say that only one of them, either he or Voldemort, could live, that he was fated to be Voldemort’s opponent.

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