(part V)
The Scrimgeour-Black Coup took place in February of 1939. Despite its bloodless nature, it was one of the swiftest and most ruthless acts of rebellion in British political history. Scrimgeour, by virtue of making an appointment to see Orion Black, was well-placed to step into the Minister's office as soon as his colleagues acted at the Wizengamot - and act they did.
The takeover of the Wizengamot was accomplished on February 3, 1939. The session opened normally, and business was conducted as usual until exactly 9.15, at which time the conspirators knew that Scrimgeour and Orion Black would be inside the Ministry and meeting with Smith-Pinkersley. At that point, Tiberius Malfoy rose to ask for the floor, interrupting a debate on whether or not to allow the use of Boggarts in the interrogation of suspected criminals. Ordinarily, even Tiberius Malfoy would not have been recognized, much less allowed to speak, as he was not a member of the Wizengamot; however on 3 February, Kevin Potter had the chair and he signaled to Malfoy that he had the floor.
As he rose to speak(1), every eye was upon him. The men who had gathered at Malfoy Manor only a few months earlier were not the only ones who were worried by the stance taken by their government. Many of the members of the Wizengamot would have contributed to the conspiracy had they known of its existence. (2)
"Ladies(3) and Gentlemen," Tiberius Malfoy said, "Allow me to offer both my apologies for the interruption and my thanks for permitting it. Rest assured that I would not venture such an impertinence if the issue on which I must speak were not the most urgent we have faced in generations. As I am sure you are all aware, the Muggles in Germany have begun a process that must inevitably end in war. What you may not be aware of is the fact that German wizards are planning to march beside them." He paused to wait out the unhappy and startled murmurs from his audience, but ended in having to raise one hand for silence.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please," he said, his voice cutting through the babble of the crowd, "allow me to continue."
"Has anyone contacted the German Ministry?" Alister Lestrange demanded.
"Of course not," Tiberius Malfoy sneered. It was a masterful bit of political theatre, as the ordinary course of action would of course have been to contact the German Ministry. That such a practised statesman as Tiberius was heaping scorn on the idea went a long way to convincing the Wizengamot of the severity of the crisis(3).
"Might I inquire as to why?" Lestrange asked, the ultra-polite tone of his voice an insult in itself.
"Of course," Malfoy answered. He, too, was poisonously courteous. "We have not contacted the German Ministry because Hansel Grindelwald is still in a position of influence within its ranks. Before anyone makes the objections that I am sure are just waiting on the tips of your tongue, let me add that Grindelwald has been spotted in a Muggle uniform and at the side of the Muggle leader by no less than five Ministry agents over the past two years. Thanks to the dangerously irresponsible behavior of the current government, it is possible that the Germans believe us to be as unprepared as we seem. I am hardly about to throw away one of the few advantages that we have."
"What do you propose we do?" Kevin Potter asked. As he had the chair, he should have been the only one to question Malfoy. The strategy had been very carefully worked out.
"I am proposing nothing," Malfoy said. "As I speak, Smith-Pinkersley is being removed from office at wandpoint, and Marcus Scrimgeour is resuming his position as Minister of Magic. The Wizengamot is hereby dissolved. Elections will be held three weeks from today. Anyone who wishes to cooperate with the new government is welcome to run for re-election; however, be assured that we will be using Veritaserum and other methods to test all candidates for ties, legal and illegal, to the German government and economy."
"This is outrageous!" Robert McGillis sputtered.
"This is the way it is going to be," Malfoy said flatly. "This government will continue until the war's end. If you do not wish to be a part of it, you are of course welcome to resign your position. Active opposition will be considered treason, and will be treated as such. Make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen. By the end of the year, we will be at war -- and we will be prepared."
(1) It is worth noting that Lord Tiberius Malfoy is the only non-member of the Wizengamot ever to speak to that august society without being shouted down and/or pelted with hastily conjured vegetables. Some historians believe that this was due to his extraordinary presence. Those who were present that day, however, are nearly unanimous in stating that the Wizengamot's tolerance was based largely on the fact that they were already concerned by Germany's aggressive behavior. (For further reading on this topic, see Milroy Parkinson's Tiberius Malfoy: Statesman and Slytherin, Alister Lestrange's Battle and Diplomacy: My Twelve Years in the Wizengamot, and Kevin Potter's Inner Workings of the Wizengamot, Vol. 1 (1929-1949) )
(2) Kevin Potter: Inner Workings of the Wizengamot, Vol. 1 (1929-1949), pg. 322; publ. 1978
(3) There were at this time only three women seated on the Wizengamot. Most speakers did not bother to add 'and Ladies'; however, Lord Malfoy never turned down the chance to make a potential ally.
(4) Alister Lestrange: Battle and Diplomacy: My Twelve Years in the Wizengamot, pg. 152; publ. 1956