“Mom is the minister?” Harry asked. He nearly swallowed the mandrake leaves as he took a gulp of water. He rubbed his eyes and pinched his fingers, but the paper’s contents never changed. The Daily Prophet was anything but a reliable news source, but this? There was no way it was fake.

We believe the most outrageous and absurd things because they are too absurd to be a lie. He heard Magnus comment.

“When do you suppose the paper will answer?” He heard Snape ask.

Harry tossed it aside. “A coup? With mom as the leader?” He asked, pressing his hand to his scar.

“You should read the paper again if you find it unclear.” Snape chided.

Harry shook his head. “Is there any way to confirm this?” Doubt lingered in his voice like water after rain.

“It has been, Harry. Your mother has not wasted any time as minister. She has announced that the dark lord has returned, and declared war on him and his followers. Wizards are being drafted into a new army for the war effort, and every potioneer that can brew has been put to work. Hogwarts has been put under lockdown, and defense against the dark arts is now half of our schedule.” Snape explained. The way he spoke, he could have been talking about the options for dinner.

“What? When?” Harry gasped.

“Just now, the ministry has passed an order. If I were to guess this will be the last you hear from your mother in a while now.” Snape said, handing him an owl letter.

Harry scrambled to open it.

Dear Harry,

Mommy is minister of magic now, and I will be fighting a war against You-know-who. I wish that I could visit, or protect you from this, but I cannot. You are the boy who lived, and you must train to one day defeat the one who killed your father. Dumbledore’s presence at Hogwarts should keep you safe from death eaters, but he is neither immortal or invincible, so please take care. I do not know when we can see each other again. Hopefully, this war will end. But I’m afraid it will not. Professor Snape will receive the ingredient you need to make the potion. Consider it my part of your birthday present. If all is well, maybe we can celebrate your next one together.

Love, Lily

So soon? I thought he would wait. He heard Magnus mutter. “What will happen to her?” Harry asked.

“Your mother can take care of herself, Harry. She had defied the dark lord before and will continue to do so. If you must worry, do so about yourself.” Snape said.

How do you know so much? Harry asked. No response came. He grit his teeth. “Why can’t I ever do anything?”

He heard Snape laugh. “You are a child, Harry. Bright enough to put those a decade your elder to shame, yes. But a child. Wait and learn, you have time.”

“But my mother doesn’t.” He said.

Snape sighed. “None of us do, Harry. Spend a few more years and you will be like your mother, constantly being dragged one way or the other by a thousand different duties. As minister your mother will feel the pull of too many things. I suspect as you age you will feel the same.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.” Harry grumbled. “What if something happens?”

“Do not presume you can do anything if it does. We all make decisions, but they never mean anything. Not unless you have power. Power like Dumbledore, the Dark Lord. Power like your mother has now. You are just another powerless child.” He said. Harry flinched as he felt Magnus giving a nod of approval.

“How do I even get power?” Harry heard a chuckle from Magnus as he spoke.

“Knowledge, magical strength, followers. There are too many ways, Harry, don’t ask me.”

Ask me, I could tell you. Magnus’ words were ringed with something that resembled eagerness.

Harry shook him off. He was always like this, thirsting after power like a man half dead in the desert. He couldn’t say he was an expert in reading people, but something told him Magnus would not teach him anything good. No, his mother should be fine. She did have the entire ministry behind him.

Fool, naive fool. Magnus hissed.

“Do you think she can win?” Harry asked.

“Against the dark lord?” Snape’s eyes seemed to glaze over. “It will depend on how he reacts, but from what I see and know, she cannot.”