Seeing Roy roughhousing with the Weasley Twins, Mrs Weasley, who had been leaning over the oven baking fresh bread, suddenly looked up. Not seeing Dumbledore anywhere, she asked Roy curiously.
"Where is Professor Dumbledore?"
Roy released Fred and George, whom he had pinned down, and the two immediately vanished in a flash. Roy then shrugged helplessly at Mrs Weasley.
"He went to make a statement at the Wizengamot meeting, declining the position of Minister for Magic in Britain. He was the candidate with the second-highest number of votes. Barty Crouch, who came first, withdrew from the election for some reason, and Dumbledore didn't want the post either, so he hurried over to decline it as well."
Upon hearing Roy's words, Mr Weasley and Mrs Weasley, who were seated at the dining table reading the latest Daily Prophet, exchanged a glance and sighed.
"What a shame for Barty. If his son hadn't been caught red-handed as a Death Eater and then refused to plead guilty in court, the position of Minister for Magic would practically have been his."
Percy had always idolized Barty Crouch. Of course, that did not mean he did not admire Dumbledore, but Dumbledore was too legendary, far beyond a level Percy felt he could ever reach. By comparison, Barty, still within the realm of ordinary men, had naturally become Percy's foremost idol.
At this, Percy let out a deeply regretful sigh. The twins had somehow slipped back into the kitchen, and seeing Percy like this, they began mocking him in perfect tandem.
"Look at our big-headed boy. He's already thinking about becoming Minister for Magic."
"You'd better give up now. If you ever really become Minister for Magic, Fred and I might as well become Death Eaters and get ourselves arrested."
"Fred! George!"
Hearing Fred and George