"Rufus, I really don't understand..."
Gawain Robards lowered his head, staring at the teacup in his hands. He seemed deeply conflicted, but he still voiced his doubts. "Why don't you immediately succeed Cornelius Fudge as the new Minister for Magic?"
"Now isn't the right time."
Scrimgeour looked up at Gawain and sighed softly to himself, somewhat disappointed by his old friend's abilities.
If Gawain had not been an old companion he trusted, Scrimgeour would never have let him take over his position.
Well, his former self probably had not been all that clever either, but... after dealing with the clever Anderson, Scrimgeour felt that his mind worked better than it had before.
Gawain looked at his old friend. He did not press further, instead falling silent for a moment.
"Gawain, do you have any way to solve the Ministry of Magic's current troubles?" Scrimgeour set down his cup and suddenly asked.
"How could I?" Gawain shook his head hard. "Right now, the entire British wizarding world is an absolute mess."
"Yes, a complete mess, especially after Amelia Bones died." Scrimgeour sounded quite helpless. "Originally, I had hoped Amelia Bones could handle the current chaos."
"So that's why you had me send Aurors to protect her?"
"More or less. Unfortunately, after Bones died, no one was left to clean up the mess Fudge left behind." Scrimgeour truly regretted it somewhat. If Amelia Bones had not died, he would have had more choices instead of being completely backed into a corner like this.
"I have no idea how to clean up the mess Fudge left behind. If I take over Fudge's position now but cannot offer a solution that satisfies everyone, then all the pressure will fall on me."
"So that's why you're deliberately stalling instead of immediately taking the Minister for