"I understand what you're asking, Minister. Don't worry. I know exactly how to handle it."
Half an hour later, Rowan Mercer stood at the door of his shop, smiling politely as Cornelius Fudge adjusted his hat.
"You're impressive, Rowan," Fudge said, clearly pleased. "I truly admire you. Your future at the Ministry is bright."
He'd come prepared for resistance, half-expecting Rowan to be stubborn or naïve. Instead, the conversation had gone smoothly. Too smoothly. Rowan might have been young, but his grasp of politics, timing, and implication rivaled that of seasoned Ministry veterans. He didn't need things spelled out. He read between the lines instinctively.
Fudge meant what he said. A wizard with strength, ability, and flexibility like this would rise quickly even without special favor. Frankly, even without the recent incident, Fudge would have tried to bring Rowan into his circle sooner or later.
Being Minister didn't mean absolute authority. Fudge had never been the obvious choice for the position. Barty Crouch's fall and Dumbledore's support had placed him there, and factions within the Ministry still questioned his legitimacy. The Deputy Minister's camp, in particular, watched for any excuse to push him out.
This scandal, mishandled, could have cost him everything.
"I'll be counting on your guidance in the future, Minister," Rowan replied lightly.
Fudge departed with his Aurors, leaving Knockturn Alley behind.
The request had been simple. Rowan's first day at the Ministry would coincide with the press conference. He would speak as a representative of the Ministry and, ideally, say nothing inconvenient. Better yet, a few well-placed words that reflected positively on the Ministry and its leadership.
Rowan was happy to oblige. It clarified his position early and smoothed the road toward his next objective.
Back inside, he closed the door and returned to his research.
The clone construct spell had been on his list for some time. Until now, there'd been no urgency. Too many other projects, too little time. That was about to change.
Once he started work at the Ministry, uninterrupted research would be difficult. A controlled duplicate, even one that halved his strength, would solve that problem neatly. In this world, even diminished, he had nothing to fear.
Outside, once Fudge was gone, nearby shopkeepers cautiously peeked out. Borgin and others had noticed the Minister's presence immediately. No one dared approach.
Now they understood. Fudge hadn't come to investigate. He'd come to visit Rowan.
That changed everything.
Two years ago, Rowan had been little more than a boy scraping by in Knockturn Alley. Dangerous, yes, but alone. This summer, some had even discussed "teaching him a lesson."
Now?
Connections mattered more than power. And Rowan had both.
Three days later, Rowan arrived at the Ministry.
He wore a tailored suit common among adult wizards, hair neatly styled, a briefcase in hand that was mostly decorative. He Apparated in and stepped into the gilded atrium, fountains gleaming, fireplaces lined in gold, clerks and officials moving briskly through the hall.
This time, he wasn't visiting.
He was reporting for duty.
At the registration desk, a young witch smiled kindly. "Can I help you, dear?"
"I'm Rowan Mercer," he said, handing over his letter. "Here to report to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
She blinked, then smiled again. "Of course. Just fill this out and take the lift to Level Two."
Hogwarts graduates were usually seventeen or eighteen. Rowan was tall for his age, but his face clearly wasn't. She assumed he simply looked young.
Then she saw the form.
Age: Twelve.
Her eyes widened.
By the time Rowan stepped into the lift, the whispers had already begun.
Within the hour, the Ministry was buzzing.
The Minister's secret son.
Dumbledore's hidden grandson.
Amelia Bones' illegitimate heir.
None of it was true.
But twelve years old. Hogwarts graduate. Department of Magical Law Enforcement. One of the most coveted entry positions in the Ministry.
That alone was enough.
Before Rowan had even finished his onboarding, he had already become the name everyone was talking about.