Uninvited Guest

Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge was coming to Harry's seventeenth birthday party.

For anyone else, that might have been an immense honor, but Harry clearly did not see it that way. He only found it troublesome.

Rather than deal with Fudge, he would have preferred to spend his seventeenth birthday with his friends.

And Fudge's arrival had forced Remus Lupin to leave The Burrow—he seemed to have some special reason why he could not meet the Minister for Magic.

Lupin moved quickly. The second the Patronus vanished, he hurriedly pulled Tonks to the fence, climbed over it, and disappeared.

At the same time, Mr. Weasley suddenly appeared at the gate, with the thin Cornelius Fudge beside him. Ever since Dumbledore had been killed, he seemed to have slimmed down overnight, looking completely different from his formerly round figure.

Behind them were three people Silvan did not recognize, presumably the three department heads the Patronus had mentioned.

The moment Fudge appeared, he strode across the yard toward the lantern-lit table. No one spoke; everyone silently watched them.

"Oh, Harry, dear—how wonderful it is to see you here!" Fudge forced out a kindly smile, stepped forward, and seized Harry's hand, shaking it vigorously whether Harry wanted him to or not.

Watching from the side, Silvan felt that Harry was deeply uncomfortable with Fudge's enthusiasm. He stood there stiffly, his toes practically digging through the soles of his shoes.

Yet Fudge had no self-awareness at all and still refused to let go of Harry's hand.

"Of age, are you? That's a major event for a wizard. You must be very happy!"

"I-I suppose." Harry yanked his hand free and gave a dry smile.

"Ah, welcome, Minister Fudge. Moody and Kingsley are inside. You can—"

"They cannot represent the Ministry of Magic, Harry! For