Hogwarts: Me? Fight Voldemort?

The witch put on her thick glasses and examined it carefully before delivering her verdict on Scabbers, "If you want something that lives a long time, perhaps you can choose one from here..."

"Is Scabbers going to die?" Ron carelessly picked up Scabbers. Although Percy didn't want this fat rat, he had always cherished it.

“Ordinary rats and garden rats live for a maximum of three years,” the witch said, pulling a bottle of red potion from under the counter. “Or you could try this rat tonic.”

Just then, a ginger-yellow fur ball from the highest cage behind the counter hit Ron on the head. With a meow, several red marks appeared on the back of Ron's hand.

With a terrified scream, Banban broke free from Ron's grip, who was in pain, and darted to the ground before disappearing into the store.

The witch screamed and grabbed the large, menacing yellow cat on the table. "No! Crookshanks, no!"

Chapter 192 Percy's Ambition

"Squeak!!!"

Just as Banban was about to escape from the store, Jimmy's magic headband caught him, and he fell to the ground in front of the door, unable to move.

Ron squeezed out and stuffed Banban back into his arms, ignoring the bloodstains on his own hands.

The noise in the store gradually subsided. When George and Fred saw the bloodstains on Ron's hands, instead of helping, they burst into hearty laughter.

The witch at the Magical Animals Shop locked the large ginger cat in a cage and hurriedly took out some White Dried Tomato Essence to treat Ron. "I apologize for Crookshanks, he doesn't usually act like this!"

Everyone was focused on Ron, but Hermione's eyes lit up as she looked at the large ginger cat in the cage; its fluffy fur resembled her own hair.

Crookshanks had a somewhat clever appearance, with a persimmon-shaped face, bowlegs, a white and yellow tail, and calm, watery eyes. After being locked in the cage, it quietly stared at Scabbers, who had returned to Ron's arms.

"Do you like it?" Jimmy whispered in Hermione's ear.

Hermione was completely captivated by Crookshanks and answered without hesitation, "It's so beautiful!"

Jimmy said nonchalantly, "How about we buy it?"

This large ginger cat has cat-like blood and can sense people with ill intentions. There's no harm in keeping it around, and it has magic, so taking care of small animals is very easy.

"Buy?" Hermione was very tempted. Now that she was receiving a Round Table salary, she could afford to buy even a cat and an owl. "Okay!"

After the witch from the Magical Beasts Shop returned, he made his request to her.

The witch exclaimed with delight, "You want to buy Crook Mountain? No problem! It's only 35 Galleons. It has the blood of a cat-raccoon, so the price is definitely not high."

"I also need an owl to deliver messages. Can you help me choose one?" Hermione, who had earned a lot of money, took out her money from her pocket. Her eyes were only on Crookshanks, and she had no room for an owl. She didn't even try to bargain.

Ron, protecting Scabbers, walked back to the counter to get the rat tonic. When he heard Hermione say she actually wanted to buy Crookshanks, he gaped. "You're going to take this monster with you?"

Hermione, gazing at Crook Mountain, once again commented, "It's so beautiful!"

Looking at Crookshank's gloomy, persimmon-like face, Harry silently sighed to himself, "Everyone has their own perspective."

"Ron, do you want to buy some tonics? Let me do it! I happen to know how to brew tonics."

When Jimmy saw that Ron was actually going to spend money to buy rat tonic, how could he, as Ron's best friend, not try to save Ron some money?!

He wanted to develop a potion that would make people more resistant to spells, but he was missing a test subject.

"Really? That's great, I believe you." Ron, who had already taken out his money, put it back in his pocket upon hearing this.

He was afraid of being poor and didn't want to spend extra money, and Jimmy's potions were definitely better than those in the Fantastic Beasts shop!

When Ron saw Hermione open the cage holding Crookshanks and take the cat out, he immediately backed away as if he had seen Malfoy, warning, "Keep that monster away from Scabbers; it needs to rest and relax."

George and Fred each returned carrying an owl cage containing two owls, one large and one small.

Jimmy was surprised to find raccoons for sale in the shop, so he bought a sturdy female raccoon with smooth and shiny fur from the witch, because he remembered that Rocket, who had been abandoned in the raccoon alchemy workshop for a long time, was still without a wife.

The witch held up a finger and said obsequiously, "Ten Galleons. It was only after a raccoon alchemy workshop opened at 333 Diagon Alley that this animal became popular."

She clearly didn't recognize Jimmy, after all, Jimmy's appearance has changed quite a bit from two and a half years ago.

Raccoons aren't particularly ferocious animals; they just like to burrow and steal food, and they're not difficult to tame.

Jimmy, along with the mother raccoon and a large group of people, arrived at the Raccoon Alchemy Workshop to drink tea and play chess. Rocket, who had been single for almost five years, saw the mother raccoon and his animalistic nature was unleashed. He dragged and pulled the mother raccoon to the storage room on the second floor.

Jimmy didn't even dare to imagine what would happen inside afterward.

They played chess at the Raccoon Alchemy Workshop until noon, then went to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch.

When Ron and his friends saw Percy, their expressions were like seeing a mop covered in poop—utterly disgusted.

Percy had been elected student council president by this time, an honor that made him proud. He walked with his chest out and head held high, much like a mayor inspecting the grassroots.

Becoming student council president seemed to have affected Percy's memory as well. He acted as if he didn't recognize Harry and Jimmy, walking over to shake their hands. "Harry, Jimmy, it's nice to see you! How are you both?"

“Very good, thank you—” Harry’s forced smile was almost overflowing.

Percy didn't care at all, because he was completely absorbed in his own world.

"Hello, Mr. Percy Weasley! You look great!" Jimmy began his performance with great enthusiasm, seemingly forgetting about Percy as well.

He looked Percy up and down, wondering if he should also place some people in the Ministry of Magic.

Given Percy's current ambition for power, if given more authority, he would absolutely fawn over him like Umbridge licks Fudge's boots.

Oh! Thinking like this feels a bit unfair to the rest of the Weasley family, but it's the truth.

"Wow! Old friend, it's so wonderful to see you!"

"Absolutely wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!!!"

George and Fred laughed and made a series of exaggerated gestures.

Regardless of what others thought, Percy was quite pleased. He only frowned slightly before relaxing again. "Yes, because I became the student council president, which is something I've always dreamed of."

This is an opportunity. Arthur Weasley has worked at the Ministry of Magic for a long time, and Percy is one of the so-called Holy 28. If we cultivate him into our own people and put him in the Ministry of Magic, at least we will have a way to learn about political trends in advance.

Thinking of this, Jimmy immediately put on a serious expression. "Student council president? You should tone down that smug attitude in front of others; it will cost you power!"

“Loss power?” Percy’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this. “But I am already the student council president appointed by Professor McGonagall!”

From the moment he became class monitor, he began to study how to gain power. He achieved excellent grades in 12 subjects a year, slept only four hours a day, drank the "life-and-death water" stimulant, and put in five times more effort than the average person to become student council president.

After graduation, he will enter the Ministry of Magic and work his way up until he becomes Minister of Magic!

If Boggart were to appear before Percy now, based on the vision generated by Percy's inner fears, it would absolutely be a scene where Professor McGonagall strips him of his position as student council president.

"You don't understand the game of power. You don't gain power by becoming the student council president; you become the student council president only after you gain power!"

Jimmy waved away George Fred, who was trying to cause trouble, grabbed Percy's forearm, and led him to a dark corner.

"How about we have a chat?"

"Your wisdom impresses me, and I'm very interested!" Percy, his expression shifting, pondered Jimmy's previous words. He felt a sudden enlightenment, yet struggled to grasp the thread of thought, and followed the seductive voice to the corner.

Everyone else looked at each other, wondering what Jimmy was up to.

Percy is so stupid, why would he still try to amuse someone?

Ron pursed his lips and said, "Jimmy's going to be corrupted by Percy."

George shook his head and said, "No, you've got it backwards."

Fred nodded and said, "It's Jimmy who will lead Percy astray."

Chapter 193 Please teach me, sir!

Do you know what the most basic requirement is to become someone in power?

"Is it...an ability?"

Percy had always firmly believed that competence was the most important quality of those in power, but now he hesitated, since Jimmy would never ask the question that even he could think of.

Sure enough, Jimmy shook his head vigorously. "Ability is the least important thing. Even if you put a dog in the Minister of Magic's position, as long as he has enough people under him, the Ministry of Magic will still function without any problems!"

"If it's not ability, then what is it?"

Jimmy stopped being mysterious and immediately revealed the answer, rubbing his hands together with a shrewd grin, "It's money! We need money that can be distributed to everyone!"

"Money? This...this isn't right, is it?"

“Money is the most basic requirement, and also the easiest to obtain!” Jimmy laid out the tea set on the small table in front of him, pointing to the cups and saying, “Each cup represents a faction. Most of the people in the Ministry of Magic are pure-bloods, and they have conflicting interests, making it difficult for them to unite.”

He picked up the teapot and started pouring water, filling one teacup before continuing to pour.

"One portion for this family, one portion for this household, and once everyone is fed, then I will naturally be able to take the position of Minister of Magic."

These seemingly simple answers only confused Percy more, and he kept shaking his head, saying, "Impossible. I've seen the resumes of all the past Ministers of Magic, and they didn't get their positions by money."

“Of course not!” Jimmy exclaimed dramatically, pulling on his accordion. “But what do you want? The Minister of Magic position? Or power?”

Perth stated without hesitation, "Of course, I want both the Minister of Magic and power!"

He never hid his ambition; he felt he was capable enough to be Minister of Magic.

His two older brothers, Bill and Charlie, are both outstanding individuals. He doesn't believe he's inferior to them, or even better. Only by becoming Minister of Magic can he prove his abilities!

"If you want the ministerial position, you need money; if you want power, you need influence. If you don't have your own influence, even if you become the Minister of Magic, you'll just be a figurehead at best. When you want to implement policies that threaten the interests of those pure-bloods, they're unlikely to listen to you."

Jimmy looked at the young Percy and asked in a very strange tone, "Besides, do you really think you're qualified to work at the Ministry of Magic?"

"I'm confident I can get all twelve O's in the advanced wizarding exams!" Percy puffed out his chest, showing a hint of displeasure at Jimmy's doubts.

Jimmy shook his head in disappointment. "Oh, you're so naive, Percy! Good grades don't mean you can actually do well in the Ministry of Magic!"

Percy clearly didn't believe him and said with dissatisfaction, "I can adapt to the job."

“But you can do better! You only have one year left, don’t you?” Jimmy drank the black tea on the table, leaned closer to Percy, and said, “Then let’s test your ability to handle government affairs.”

"I have confidence in myself!"

Percy listened attentively. He had even written his inaugural speech for Minister of Magic. How could he not be ready?

Jimmy must thoroughly thwart Percy's overconfidence and teach him that anything simple in the world becomes complicated once politics is involved!

"Suppose you are the Minister of Magic, and a group of foreign wizards cause trouble at next year's Quidditch World Cup, resulting in a major incident. How would you handle the aftermath?"

Percy thought for a moment, then confidently said, "First, we must sincerely apologize to everyone, provide reasonable compensation to the injured and deceased, then investigate the cause of the accident, and bring the wizard who caused it to trial!"

That's too easy; he felt his answer was flawless.

"Normally, there's nothing wrong with doing this, but...why don't you want to hear my answer?"

Jimmy smiled meaningfully. As an Englishman, Percy hadn't learned any traditional British skills!

"After the incident, I will try to remedy it. If the remedy fails, I will publicly state afterwards that an investigation is underway and this investigation will last at least thirty days!"