Chapter 461: Fudge’s Concerns
Over the next half hour, the Top Box where they were sitting gradually filled up. Mr. Weasley kept shaking hands with people who were clearly very important wizards, while Percy kept springing up from his seat repeatedly, as though his stool had suddenly sprouted a row of Porcupine quills.
The last person to enter was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, and everyone stood up to greet him. But Fudge did something unexpected. He strode over to the front row as if he'd spotted an old friend and extended his hand warmly from a distance.
Percy looked ecstatic. With the adults on the other side and only a few children around, he felt distinctly important. Bill and Charlie were abroad, the others still attended Hogwarts, and he was the only one working at the Ministry of Magic. Could it be...
Percy's heart began to race wildly, and he bowed, subconsciously extending his hand. He bent over too far, and his glasses slipped, tumbling to the ground.
But in the next moment, Fudge walked right past him, as if Percy were nothing more than a roadside statue or a Telephone Booth, without even sparing him a glance.
"Oh, Kyle! So glad to see you here," Fudge exclaimed. He casually placed a hand on Kyle's shoulder and gave it a firm pat, his tone much warmer than he'd used with others.
"How was your holiday?" he asked kindly.
"Great," Kyle replied, catching his breath. "The Quidditch World Cup was very exciting."
"Yes, I even reserved tickets for you, but Arthur got there first," Fudge chuckled, casting a playful look at Mr. Weasley.