Trial

Regardless of outside speculation, Pius Thicknesse methodically assumed the position of Minister for Magic.

On his first day, he strongly urged Scrimgeour to remain in charge of the Auror Office and made no changes whatsoever to the Wizengamot's members.

A photograph of the Minister for Magic shaking hands with the head of the Auror Office appeared in the newspapers. Scrimgeour looked exactly like a lion with its hackles raised.

On the second day, Thicknesse signed a batch of personnel transfer orders, making minor adjustments to several positions. Eighty percent of those affected were lower- and mid-ranking officials closely tied to Umbridge and likewise facing charges.

On the third day, Thicknesse visited Dumbledore at Hogwarts. It was said that the two spoke for three or four hours straight, in a highly pleasant atmosphere.

Immediately afterward, the energetic Minister made a surprise inspection of Azkaban. That afternoon, he also met with the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation to learn how the International Confederation of Wizards had reacted to his election.

Every day after that, his schedule was suffocatingly packed. FMC reporters were practically welded to his side, and the Streaming Mirror broadcast at least two hours of news about Minister Thicknesse each day—

In the mornings, he chaired meetings with department heads and scrutinized mountains of proposed legal amendments word by word;

In the afternoons, he held nonstop discussions on disputed provisions of the Magical Creatures Management Act, then inspected the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters in the evening.

As soon as the new day began, he met with St. Mungo's Hospital's director to discuss thorny issues of funding and medical resource allocation;

Then he negotiated with the Goblins of Gringotts and even found time to visit the Muggle Prime Minister.

"I never knew the Minister for Magic