[206] What Makes a Minister

Unlike the Slytherins' shock and anger, the other three houses were mostly shocked with admiration, and like Hermione, filled with adoration.

"From an ordinary witch to Minister for Magic..." Hermione's eyes shone brighter as she spoke. This was her dream.

"Hmph!" A senior Slytherin snorted. "A Muggle-born wizard — who knows what methods she used."

Hermione glared like a little lioness. Then she heard more voices from the crowd. "A woman... who knows what she did?" "Exactly! No background, no connections, is the position of Minister for Magic so easy to hold?"

Hermione was truly enraged. "Your guesses are baseless accusations against this lady! You know nothing — what gives you the right to say such things!"

"Hermione, calm down." Hall stepped forward, gently patting her shoulder. Those frightened by her anger dared not continue.

Hall pulled her away.

Hermione was still muttering angrily. "Hall, why won't you let me argue with them! They're clearly wrong! They know nothing yet they're making arbitrary guesses about a lady who should be respected!"

"I didn't say your thoughts were wrong. I support you."

Draco crossed his arms. "Their guesses aren't entirely unreasonable. A woman with no background, no connections, and just some dubious ability becomes Minister for Magic of England? I'm losing faith in the British Ministry of Magic. I'm going to tell my dad — if all else fails, we should move to Germany!"

Hermione glared at him. Draco was startled, then his expression turned to shame and anger. "How dare you! You know I am..."

"What wouldn't I dare!" Hermione suddenly lunged forward. Before Hall could react, her fist connected with Draco's eye socket.

Thump.

Draco's heart leaped — then he realised it didn't hurt.

Just as Hermione was about to throw another punch, Hall quickly stopped her. "Hermione."

"Hmph!" She mimicked Draco's earlier snort. "If your mouth stays this foul, next time it won't be just one punch."

Draco finally realised what happened. "Hall! You sided with a Gryffindor! And that crazy woman hit me!"

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Hall rolled his eyes. "You talk like you were in pain. Don't pretend. I gave you all that gear. I know how effective it is."

"But she hit me!"

"Don't you deserve a beating? If you weren't my friend, I'd probably want to hit you too." Hall gave a thoughtful look. "Anyway, you don't feel much pain, so maybe..."

"No!" Draco screamed and frantically backed away.

Zabini watched the terrified Draco, then the smiling Hall. He rubbed his hands together. "Hall, what good stuff did you give Draco? I want one too. Paid for!"

Draco immediately sprinted back, spreading his arms to block Zabini. "Don't even think about it! No way! I'm Hall's best friend!" He had completely forgotten Hall's earlier threat.

The farce ended with Hall slapping Draco on the head. "That's enough." He led the group to the Hog's Head.

Hall ordered butterbeer for everyone. Harry and Ron obediently held their mugs, eyes still filled with shock — Hall was treating?

"I'm not stingy with you guys," Hall said, rolling his eyes.

Hall glanced at Hermione, who had calmed down and was talking to Ron and Harry, then turned to Draco. Young Master Malfoy had never been to a place like this before. The Hog's Head was hardly pleasant. He cautiously sipped the butterbeer with disgust, looking around as if afraid of being seen.

Then Draco's gaze met Hall's. He paused, then turned away angrily.

Hall chuckled softly. Finally, Draco couldn't resist. "Hall!"

"Hmm."

"You want to talk about what happened earlier?" Hall sighed. "I roughly know what you're thinking. I know what pure-blood wizards are thinking. But Draco — regardless of how this lady rose to power, she is now Minister for Magic of England. Unless you truly intend to leave England, she's in this position just as Cornelius Fudge was. Whether you like her or not, as long as she hasn't done anything wrong, she won't be stepping down."

He turned to Hermione. "I know you're happy for Ms. Lydia, and angry at those who slander her. But you must understand — regardless of Lydia's background, the moment she sat in that position, she became subject to questioning and speculation. Minister for Magic is not a gentle position. Sitting there means facing storms and bloodshed. Ms. Lydia hears these things because she's a woman. If she were a man, she'd hear different accusations."

"If you ever want to reach Ms. Lydia's position, you must accept that people will attack you with the most vicious words, even when you can't see them."

Ron and Draco were stunned. Harry seemed calmest — he already knew.

Zabini glanced at Hermione, thinking of her abilities. With Lydia ahead and Hall's support behind, after Hermione graduates, competing for Minister would be much easier than imagined.

"What's wrong with me?" Hermione tossed her hair, radiating confidence. "I understand what you mean. Ms. Lydia won't care what these people say, just as I won't care what they say in the future. As long as I sit in that position, no matter what they say behind my back — it's just the barking of incompetent people."

Draco was deeply stunned by Hermione's words. He'd never imagined a witch could display such an aggressive side. The women around him were either his mother, or like Pansy and Daphne — women who didn't possess much power themselves, existing through their families. Women like Hermione — he couldn't find a single person to compare.

Hall had no intention of comforting Draco. If Hall knew the turmoil in Draco's mind, he'd tell him — your mother, Narcissa Malfoy, decisively chose to betray Voldemort when he threatened her child. For Narcissa, they could tolerate Voldemort trying to enslave her and control Lucius. But touching Draco? Dream on.