Author's Note: It has been a very long time since I wrote anything worth posting. My apologies are extended to you all. I hope you find this story entertaining. I do appreciate reviews and comments concerning the content and future of this story.
Jane Ribiera walked down the taupe hall towards the large brown door at the end. Her heels clicked smartly against the stone floor, pounding out a rather fast tempo. She held a large manila file folder labeled "NMWA" in thick, black ink. She could hear the murmuring of the press on the other side of the door, and her stomach turned slightly in anxiety. She was a scientist, not a media shark. But she was the only one on the team who took a decent picture, and had therefore been offered up to the press as the face of the groundbreaking political movement known only as the NMWA. She reached the door, smoothed down her pleated black skirt with her free hand, and took a deep breath. The door opened, and she was blinded by the flashing bulbs of the cameras going off. Almost before she reached the podium, the questioning began. Her prepared answers slid neatly from the manila folder, and she was ready. She introduced herself, and the dance between the media and the scientist began.
"Please explain the NMWA."
"Well, the Non-Magical Wizard Act is really a protection for Muggles who have, inadvertently or purposefully, uncovered the existence of a magical community either locally, abroad, or globally."
"What do you mean 'protection'? Isn't the M.O. of the wizarding community to modify memories in the event of a breach of security?"
"In the past to be sure, that has been the case. However, to do so is to deny the Muggles' right to information. If they have stumbled upon something that requires them to believe in the existence of forces inexplicable by their science, they may choose to delve further into it. To immediately snatch such information away from them is a disservice to their equality as humans."
"Referring to Muggles and wizards as equals may incense some of your opposition."
"To hinder the progression of a society in order to spare the feelings of a minority group, in this case: purebloods, is the downfall of the community as a whole. We cannot worry about political correctness when we are pioneering our way into a new era of peace between magical and non-magical peoples. It is for this reason that I have called this press conference, ladies and gentlemen. I am now authorized to reveal to you our extension of the olive branch to the Muggle world: the NMWA. In its pages are outlined the new policy between the two groups sharing this island, and hopefully, this world. It defines the 'right to ignorance' and the 'right to information' that all Muggles are endowed with. These two rights, and the means by which they are exercised on the part of non-magical humans, are integral to the NMWA."
"What do you mean, 'right to ignorance'?"
"Muggles, up until this point in time, have been handles at an arm's length by the majority of the wizarding community. If ever they have seen or been exposed to magic, their memories have been altered to reverse the exposure. Some Muggles see peculiar things, often related to magic, and dismiss them as simply 'odd'. In these instances, memory modification is unnecessary because the Muggle involved has exercised their right to ignorance. They choose not to believe, not even to see. The NMWA respects this choice, and would never presume to infringe upon this right. If a Muggle chooses not to know about magic, it is not the right of a wizard, or a group thereof, to force magic upon him, in which case exposure would call for memory modification at the indication of the Muggle through their reaction."
"So, what's this 'right to information' you mentioned then?"
"Ah yes, the right to information…it is the shining glory of the NMWA. The right to information that all Muggles possess refers to their right to be knowledgeable about the wizarding world. The Muggles who would exercise this right would be the ones who stumble upon magic and, instead of dismissing it or running in fear, delve further into it in order to learn. These Muggles will no longer be viewed as a security breach under the NMWA. They will instead be welcomed into the wizarding community as family and friends."
"What would be stopping them from telling other Muggles, less…accepting ones?"
"Thank you for asking. The NMWA outlines a plan for such Muggles as well. They will be required to cut off ties with their former friends and family and live among us as non-magical wizards. They will sign an unbreakable contract imbued with binding magic that will shield them from unaware Muggles. This contract has been developed by our leading spell casters. It has been ensured that these non-magical wizards or NMW's, as we refer to them down at the office, will be protected from antagonistic magical attacks, as well. When they sign the final contract, no curse or hex will be able to affect them. They will even be impervious to the Killing Curse and the other Unforgivables."
"Why would they be given such groundbreaking protection while wizards are dying every day at the hands of…You Know Who?"
"These Muggles have no way to defend themselves against beings with such superior attack tactics and methods, like Death Eaters. In order to…level the playing field a bit, these Muggles have been given an advantage. However, it is at a heavy price. These Muggles give up their families, friends, everything. In the contract, they also surrender the right to ever perform magic, if the technology every advances to the point where they might be able to possess it. To be given immunity to curses and yet still be able to cast them would be too terrible a prospect for magical law enforcement."
"So, in order to gain this protection, a wizard would have to give up his magic?"
"Yes. A spell within the contract strips the signer of all magical capabilities. The effect on a Muggle is nothing more than slight nausea for a moment or two. For a wizard, the effect could be fatal."
"How does the magical community know that the spell which grants the subject immunity to all malicious hexes and curses is secure? What if it were to fall into the hands of…You Know Who, and his followers?"
"The spell itself has been linked into the contract paper only. There were seven casters who created enough contracts for a generation of magic-curious Muggles. The spell was then hidden away, and the casters' memories were modified. Nobody knows, not even me, where the spell was hidden until the next generation needs it. I am under the impression that it was sent away to a volunteer, but that may be the power of suggestion that was used upon me at the time of my memory-modification."
"So the spell itself is safe?"
"Perfectly so."
*****
10-year-old Valentine opened the mailbox at the end of her driveway the following morning. She had to set down her large green bouncy ball to do so. Her eyes opened in wide fascination as a large red envelope fell out of the pile. Her name was scrawled across the front in a spidery handwriting unfamiliar to Valentine. The envelope was postmarked "Great Britain" CONFIDENTIAL. She opened the envelope, read the heading, and was coldly informed that she, Valentine Marie Garcia, was the new Keeper of a rather large secret. She skimmed the rest of the letter. Her only thought as she retrieved her ball was this:
"Wizards do exist!"