Wiltshire, on the outskirts of Chippenham.
Murphy and Lucius Malfoy stood beside a lake, looking at the nearly completed new Malfoy Manor in the distance.
On the other side, Narcissa Malfoy and the House-elf Betchy were carefully helping Draco Malfoy onto a broomstick.
"Poor old Rufus. He really ought to learn from you when it comes to winning people over," Lucius Malfoy said. "When Draco Malfoy saw that Cleansweep Six, I swear he forgot all about you burning down his house."
"I've always been good at fulfilling other people's wishes," Murphy said.
"The Ministry is considering who will replace Scrimgeour. Who do you think it will be?" Malfoy asked.
"How could I guess? I have fewer friends in the Ministry than you do. You tell me."
"Under normal circumstances, it should be Gawain Robards. Candidates for Head of the Auror Office usually serve for a time as secretary to the Muggle Prime Minister. On the one hand, it helps them understand Muggle-related affairs. On the other, it lets them establish ties with the Prime Minister, making it easier to handle cases involving the Muggle world."
Murphy nodded. In fact, he already knew about this. Ever since Umbrella Corporation had been summoned, Murphy had kept a close eye on the Prime Minister's secretary.
And that Mr. Gawain was clearly a man obsessed with official rank. The moment he heard that Scrimgeour might resign to take responsibility, he immediately applied to be transferred back to Auror Headquarters. At present, he was eagerly eyeing the position of Head of the Auror Office.
Thanks to his hasty departure, MI5 had not continued pressuring Umbrella Corporation either. After Patrick pulled strings in various ways, the investigation into the so-called "threat to national security" quickly fizzled out.
"From the sound of it, it may not be