Disclaimer: Harry Potter universe is owned solely by J.K. Rowling, I only play in it for no profit whatsoever.
/
Warning: extra short, some mention of canon chars, otherwise a soul tea party with Julius Boots.
/
/
/
It was mid October, close to Helloween now, when Julius Boots summoned her to his office again. There was just that little bit of spiteful niggle at the back of her brain that wanted her to say no, but that would be neither productive nor achieve anything. So Zarah buried her adverse feelings towards the wizard and soldiered on.
''Miss Holton, do come in,'' the invitation could be heard right after she stopped knocking.
''What can I do for you, headmaster?'' she took the offered seat but refused the tea.
''I have some good news and some interesting news,'' the old man smiled while making himself a cuppa. ''The good news are, we are approving your proposition for teaching both dark and light matters starting from the fifth year. It will, however, have to start from the next year, as it's not possible to accommodate the change now.''
''Thank you, that is good news. I'm looking forward to it, then.''
''Now, the interesting news, if I can call them that, are that Daniel Stoggart…''
''Wait, Stoggart? Ravenclaw from my year?''
''Correct. Well, mister Stoggart is part of mrs Granger's 'campaign', her current assistant, and he has gotten in touch with the school to request for your presence in an upcoming legislative of Emergency War Damage Commission meeting regarding reducing the sentence against the families that were prosecuted for actively participating in the war on the side of You-Know-Who.''
The witch sat there, frankly, surprised and suddenly very suspicious of why she would be invited to something like that. To what end? She wasn't a decision maker or even from one of the families involved, so, what was the reason for her attending this meeting?
''Does this have something to do with the stupid rumours of Pierson-Loks-Holton alliance?''
''I am sure that information we each of us has is very different,'' well, that was as diplomatic as it came. And she didn't have time for diplomacy.
''My mother has informed me that Ministry is repeatedly harassing her to take the seat in Wizengamot and by the sound of it they are starting to run out of patience. The other two families have also refused, Rosiers barely have any representation left in England after most of their business moved to France. But, I'm guessing, Ministry thinks that our blatant refusal must mean that we are plotting something notorious against the government. So, if they can't get my mother to cooperate, they are trying to get me - to do what? I have no say in anything that is happening!'' how did people not understand that their family did not care for their politics? And that they didn't have any power, whatsoever, to do anything even if they cared? Was it all just because of how old and rich the line was? It could certainly be said about Rosier's, they owned half of British magical infrastructure. And Pierson's, although old pure bloods, had branched out into the muggle world saying it was more sustainable and just a better investment for the future.
''Hmm…'' it was like every conversation they had came to this one point, where Julius would give her a staredown, almost evaluating how much information she deserved against how much he was willing to convey. ''I know you are inexperienced with political dealing, therefore you don't understand the importance of the position fate has landed you in. Call it what you will, but the fact remains that you are on the doing end of an old society. Admittedly, yours is miles apart from what wizarding world is used to see, which is maybe why they don't understand the reluctance. I think, and this is only my opinion, that they - Ministry and society - expects you all to behave the same way the rest of those from the Sacred 28 did when they chose to follow the Dark Lord.''
''Seriously? Again, with the prejudice?''
''You might have grown tired of justifying yourself, I can only imagine, but consider this - the only precedent people had was a bad one. And nothing has changed since the war. Yes, the population was purged, bad seeds removed by their own choices, but… nothing has really changed, miss Holton. Even riveted spirits settle down for comfort of compliance when there is no need for immediate slaying of monsters,'' and somewhere behind those guarded eyes, she felt lie a turmoil of everyday battles the headmaster had to fight to achieve what he was set out to do.
Was he proposing she set a new precedent? Shine a different light unto old matters? Or, rather, leave the past where it belongs and tries to drag everyone into a new day, kicking and screaming?
''When am I expected at the Ministry?'' the sigh, that escaped woman's lips, showed only part of the defeat she felt. It was inkling of her nihilistic views about the outcome of the war. Nothing was going to get her out from under this landslide. The question was - will she survive it?
