To say the time since the last debate had been stressful was... something of an understatement. Still, Aldous Crouch stood as poised and polished as always as he moved to address the crowd.

"How would you organize and work with multiple departments in the case of an emergency?"

"The Ministry of Magic is a train," the wizard begin, after a soft clearing of his throat. "To most, it simply works, does what it was designed to do with little to no effort from its passengers. Its department heads, however, are each a trained engineer, one who understands how the different parts of the whole work together in order to propel it forward. No one can reach this level within the Ministry of Magic who does not understand and appreciate that. The Department of International Magical Co-Operation is one in particular that must work in tandem with its compatriotes. International legal matters, sport, innovation—all are aided, to degree, by this department. I do not believe myself qualified to organize and work with multiple departments, I have proven myself to be; it is a skill I possess already, not one I must develop if elected."

"What should the consequences be for those found to violate our import laws, and how would you handle working with foreign magical governments when their citizens are discovered to have committed a crime in Britain?"

This, like the one before it, was an easy question for Aldous to answer: stiffer enforcement of existing policies and reference to the fact that he already worked closely with foreign entities; these talking points rolled so easily off his tongue he scarcely paid attention to the precise verbiage.

"What adjustments, if any, would you make to our policy on the import and export of magical creatures, including dragons?"

"If elec—no," Aldous corrected himself. "Regardless of who is elected to succeed Minister Ross, immigration and importation are both in need of overhaul. I would encourage our Wizengamot to develop talent in and implement a customs programme with more teeth and a broader reach, not just for the rare occasions of tragedy but for the every day—cursed items brought from the Orient, unlicenced "pets" from Africa or the West Indies, all are risks to our populace."

"Why should magical Britain listen to you in a disaster?"

"It is in times of disaster, I think, that we see who we really are—each and every one of us," Aldous began. "During the events of 14th September, we all were forced to discover who we were in a crisis, and many of my fellow candidates performed quite admirably," the wizard continued with a polite nod to the other candidates. Certainly not all, mind you; Miss Whitledge's foolish invitation still rather stood out. "Both publicly and privately, I carried out my own responsibilities during the incident to the letter, regardless of any personal hesitations I might have felt. After all, it is either a foolish man or a dutiful one who heads towards danger in times of trouble," he allowed a small chuckle, "and I do not think I have ever been called a fool. Mine is and has been a weighty responsibility, one that I have proven equal to. I intend to do just the same if given the confidence of the Wizarding community to serve as Minister of Magic."