Marvel's master of cosmic magic

Chapter 494

"I agree. I don’t see a problem with it."

Ludo Bagman, the only department head who hadn’t been taken, stepped forward in Rowan’s support.

Unlike Scrimgeour, he wasn’t thinking about political stability or international optics. And unlike Amy, he wasn’t already aligned with Rowan.

His logic was simple.

Once the World Cup ended, the Department of Magical Games and Sports would go right back to being the least influential department in the Ministry.

And Ludo would go right back to being its most powerless director.

But if Rowan became Minister?

Rowan had just led England to a World Cup victory. He’d come up through Ludo’s team. They had a good relationship.

A Minister Rowan Mercer would absolutely favor Magical Sports.

Which meant Ludo’s life would suddenly get much easier.

"I object!"

Dolores Umbridge shoved her way out of the crowd, pink cardigan blazing like a warning flare.

As Rowan’s direct superior, she’d been suppressing him for months out of jealousy and fear. His talent, his reputation, his popularity—everything about him threatened her position.

If Rowan became Minister, her career would be over.

Worse still, with the senior leadership gone, she and Scrimgeour were the two most senior figures left in the Ministry.

Why should Rowan leapfrog over her?

And as for Voldemort—

If she became Minister, she could simply order Rowan to fight him.

She knew his type. Men like Rowan and Dumbledore would die for "the greater good" without hesitation.

She had nothing to lose by taking power.

"Rowan’s strength isn’t in question," Umbridge said sharply. "But he’s far too young. He has no governing experience. Appointing him Minister right now is reckless."

She paused deliberately.

"This decision should be discussed properly and put to a formal vote."

Delay was all she needed.

Given time, she could buy the right people, trade the right favors, and secure the office.

"I think Director Umbridge makes a very reasonable point."

Lucius Malfoy stepped forward, leaning elegantly on his cane.

Rowan was the only wizard alive who could stand up to Voldemort.

If Rowan became Minister, that was terrible news for Voldemort.

So of course Lucius opposed it.

The Malfoys were one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Their influence inside the Ministry was enormous.

He’d nearly engineered Dumbledore’s removal as Headmaster once before.

The moment he spoke, others began to echo him.

Including several fence-sitting Death Eaters still embedded in the Ministry.

Rowan had expected this.

And he already had an answer prepared.

Far away, his Voldemort double finished depositing Dumbledore and the captured Ministry leaders into a sealed pocket dimension.

Living bodies could be stored there now.

That limitation had disappeared a long time ago.

"Return to Malfoy Manor and wait for me," he told Bellatrix and the others.

Then he Apparated back to the stadium, concealed among the crowd.

Invisible.

And began whispering.

"The Ministry’s leadership are useless. They couldn’t even catch escaped Death Eaters."

"All they care about is gold."

"If they stay in power, we’re finished."

"Since Fudge is gone, we need someone younger. Stronger. Smarter."

"I vote Rowan Mercer. He drove off You-Know-Who. He writes spellbooks. He revolutionized Apparition. He won the World Cup."

"He’s the only one who can protect us."

At first, it was only a few voices.

Then dozens.

Then hundreds.

Then thousands.

"Rowan!"

"Rowan!"

"Rowan!"

The stadium turned into a single roaring organism.

British witches and wizards were the loudest.

They remembered every humiliation the Ministry had put them through.

Every corrupt clerk. Every ignored complaint. Every useless policy.

And they had just watched Rowan stand alone against Voldemort and survive.

The comparison wasn’t subtle.

Even foreign spectators joined in.

Some out of admiration.

Some out of chaos-loving curiosity.

Umbridge went pale.

Malfoy stiffened.

They didn’t dare argue against a hundred thousand people.

Scrimgeour laughed openly.

"You see?" he said coldly. "This is the vote. The people have already decided."

"Disagree if you want. Then we might as well tear the Ministry down and rebuild it from scratch."

Rowan walked slowly up onto the commentator’s platform.

He raised his wand and cast a Sonorus charm.

"Everyone, please—thank you for your support."

His voice carried across the stadium.

"But I truly believe I’m not qualified. My experience is far too shallow."

"Even if I don’t become Minister, I promise you this."

"I will fight Voldemort with everything I have."

"I will protect every witch and wizard I can."

The chanting doubled in volume.

"Minister!"

"Minister!"

"Minister!"

Amy stepped forward, eyes bright.

"Rowan, accept it. We’ll help you run the Ministry. Everyone here supports you."

Around her, hard-working Ministry staff—people Rowan had helped personally—nodded fiercely.

Rowan hesitated.

Then sighed.

"Very well," he said quietly.

"They say that with great power comes great responsibility."

"If this is what you all want... I accept."

"I will become Minister for Magic."

"I will defeat Voldemort."

"And I will bring our people home."

The stadium erupted.

Cheers. Tears. Applause.

Lucius Malfoy watched with thinly veiled regret.

Then his gaze slid to Umbridge, whose face was twisted with humiliation.

Interesting.

She might still be useful.