"So basically, you want to give people the impression that we work for the Ministry of Magic?" asked Harry.
At this point in the conversation, he finally understood Scrimgeour's true intentions.
The other party wanted him and Elwyn to speak for the Ministry of Magic and change the wizards' impression of the Ministry of Magic, as if they were mascots that could bring good luck.
"If you two are more involved, everyone will be encouraged." It seemed that he was very pleased that Elwyn and Harry understood his words so quickly. "Star of Salvation, successor of Dumbledore, you understand... is to give people hope, to make people feel that something exciting is happening..."
"There's one more thing I don't quite understand." Elwyn said, "If this is the content of the cooperation, what's the use of doing this except to make people have confidence in the Ministry of Magic? What I mean is, how do you plan to fight against Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters? "
"Right now, what's most important is confidence and hope. Elwyn, the Auror will definitely capture that demon and the Death Eaters." "What we need to do now is to make people believe that we can defeat the demon whose name cannot be mentioned …" Scrimgeour said with a slight frown. "What we need to do now is to make people believe that we can defeat the demon whose name cannot even be mentioned …"
To put it bluntly, there was no other way. Faith and hope alone could not defeat Lord Voldemort.
Elwyn shook his head. If the Ministry of Magic continued to act according to the current practice, the hope that had just risen would soon be exhausted.
By then, his and Harry's reputation would be as bad as that of the Ministry of Magic.
Looking at Scrimgeour, Elwyn stood by his previous judgment. He suddenly felt that this once famous Auror had become the Minister of the Ministry of Magic, his identity had become that of a politician. Even if he really wanted to defeat Lord Voldemort, before that, he had to consider how to save his precarious position as Minister.
In order to improve his impression, Scrimgeour needed to do something that would win people's support but would be practically useless. It was a typical politician's way of thinking.
That was why he had invited Elwyn and Harry to work for the Ministry of Magic instead of seeking a solution to the problem.
It made sense. Scrimgeour probably wouldn't believe that Elwyn and Harry would have any good ideas to solve the problem.
"If Iven and I do as you say, won't people think that we agree with the ministry's method?" Harry said, trying to maintain a friendly tone, but he was very dissatisfied with Scrimgeour's request and answer.
"Uh, of course." "I understand what you're worried about, but please believe that the Ministry of Magic's current approach is absolutely effective. We will eventually defeat the devil whose name cannot even be mentioned. Since 15 years ago …"
The failure of Lord Voldemort fifteen years ago seemed to have nothing to do with the Ministry of Magic.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Minister. I still don't know what Elwyn is thinking, but I can't." Harry interrupted Scrimgeour and made up his mind to appear as polite as possible. "I won't accept your request because I don't like some of the things the Ministry of Magic is doing at the moment, such as imprisoning Stan Sampack."
Scrimgeour didn't speak for a while, but his face immediately darkened.
"I don't expect you to understand about this," Scrimgeour said patiently, but his words still inadvertently revealed a hint of anger. "But as I said before, I hope you understand, Harry, that the situation is dangerous now and some measures are necessary."
"So you imprisoned Stan Sampack in Azkaban as a scapegoat and treated us as God of Fortune?!"
Scrimgeour didn't speak. He and Harry stared at each other for a long time, as if he could see the determination in Harry's eyes.
"Okay, okay," he gave in and turned to look at Elwyn. "Elwyn, what do you think?"
"Harry's answer is my answer," said Elwyn. "But I'm still willing to cooperate with the Ministry of Magic."
"How?" Scrimgeour frowned.
"I have some suggestions here. For example, we should release Stan Sampack immediately. This is meaningless except for making people despair more about the Ministry of Magic. Also, we should amend the bill on magical creatures such as werewolves, vampires, giants, centaurs, and house-elf as soon as possible. They are our potential allies, but what we're doing now is pushing them toward Lord Voldemort." Elwyn said, "Also, I suggest that we intensify the clean-up and rectification of the underground world of Knockout Alley. Well, if …"
Elwyn said a dozen suggestions in a row, and Scrimgeour's face grew paler and paler.
Many of these suggestions were what Dumbledore had told him before, but he rejected them. He didn't know if he could defeat Lord Voldemort by following these suggestions, but it would definitely plunge the Ministry of Magic into a huge controversy in a short period of time. Even during the last war, the Ministry of Magic didn't do this.
"Finally, Mr. Minister, I suggest you have a sincere talk with Dumbledore," said Elwyn.
"Okay, if this is your suggestion, I'll consider it," Scrimgeour said perfunctorily. "About the cooperation?"
"What I just said is the content of the cooperation," said Elwyn. "It's also the premise for us to serve the Ministry of Magic."
"Is that so?" Scrimgeour said, but his tone wasn't as friendly as before. "I can see that the two of you really want to be like your hero, Dumbledore, and leave the Ministry of Magic?"
"I don't want to leave the Ministry of Magic, but I don't want to be used either," said Harry.
"Some people will say that it's your duty to serve the Ministry of Magic!"
"Yes, some people will say that it's your duty to find out if someone is a Death Eater before putting them in prison." Harry said, his anger rising. "But you didn't do it. In my opinion, what you're doing now is the same as Barty Crouch. You've never done anything right. It's either Foggy, who was killed in front of his eyes and pretended to be at peace, or you, who locked up innocent people and asked Elwyn and me to work for you, pretending to be the savior of the world … "
"Aren't you?" Scrimgeour asked in astonishment.
"Didn't you say it wasn't important?" Harry said, laughing sarcastically. "At least not to you."
"I shouldn't have said that," Scrimgeour said immediately. "Poor choice of words …"
"No, it's honest." Harry said quickly. "I think that's one of the few truths you've said since you met us. You don't care about Elwyn and my life at all, and you don't want to take Elwyn's advice. What you need is for us to help you convince everyone that you're in the Lord Voldemort, so that your position is more secure, because … "
"Enough, Harry!" Elwyn said, stopping the furious Harry. "I'm sorry, Mr. Minister, we can't agree to your request for cooperation. To be honest, I'd like to do my duty to serve the Ministry of Magic, but I don't want to do useless work."
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