"So a Muggle walks into the pub. And he walks into the pub. And he walks into the pub." 'What are you doing?', asks the barkeeper, hearing the thumps. 'Can't you use the door like a normal person when you want a drink?' He replies, 'I can't see the door. In fact, I can't see the pub."
A coworker hooted with laughter. "That's a good one. I can just picture a Muggle mindlessly walking into a brick wall over and over just because he can't see it. They're so stupid."
The two men huddled by a golden spout in the wall. You waved your wand over it and a cup of free gillywater appeared in your hand. It was the equivalent of the proverbial, Muggle water cooler right down to the mean jokes and gossip.
"They are not stupid," Minerva said, the slow and careful way she spoke belying the pure fury inside. "If anyone lacks intelligence, it's you two for telling and laughing at such an abysmal joke."
"Sheesh," said the first, "you'd think you were a Muggle. It was just a bit of fun."
"It wasn't a bit of fun. It was not funny in the least. It's a stereotype and because most wizards and witches will never get to know Muggles, you perpetuate it. And you know something? Pretty soon you might even start to believe they're all idiots yourself and beneath you."
"You're overreacting. I don't see the big deal."
"The big deal is that stereotypes lead to prejudice and prejudice leads to one group causing harm to the other based on fiction. Wars have been fought over stereotypes."
"I guess so," he said though he didn't look as if he agreed at all.
"Furthermore, some of the finest people I know are Muggles." She thought of her father and Dougal. A person couldn't find finer men if you were to search the whole Wizard population over. "On the other hand, I know quite a few idiotic Wizards." She didn't say who they were but the pointed way she looked at them left them no room to doubt that she meant them.
It soured her day though it was a commonplace occurrence around the Ministry. She slammed the door to the office.
"Bad morning?" Ephinstone asked rather than fuss at her for her unprofessionalism.
"I'm tired of the ill-bred, ugly jokes about Muggles that passes as humor around here."
"I know, but what can you do about it? Most people know the jokes are in poor taste. You just have to let it roll off of you like water off a duck's back."
"Forgive me," she said. "You might be right. They certainly won't see reason." Ephinstone was so patient with people. He'd never give in to such an ugly display of temper as she'd just given. She had tried to draw him into arguments sometimes for the joy of a good debate, but he wasn't the arguing kind.
She sighed. Dougal had been. On their long walks, they'd argued about politics, religion, life. The arguments had always ended up making her love him just a little more afterwards. He had contained mysterious depths that she could have spent a lifetime exploring.
Elphinstone caught his tie in his desk drawer, bringing her to the present. He freed himself and then fumbled to tie it back, struggling without having a mirror handy. She chuckled. This man was not mysterious. He was what he was, an incredibly nice man if a little clumsy.
She went over and helped him tie it. He turned a little red in response.
"Th-thank you, Minerva. I have good news."
She opened one of the filing drawers. "I could use some."
"You're going to be offered a promotion, the Junior Advisor to the Minster for Magic. What do you think of that?"
Minerva wasn't sure what to think except that the thought of a promotion didn't set well with her.
Ephinstone didn't notice her lack of enthusiasm. "You earned it. I've gotten used to having you around after almost two years. You're gifted and most efficient. I don't quite know how I'll get on without you, you've been such a boon around here, but I'll manage. I'm excited for you."
"Are you?"
"Yes. You're going places. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see you become the Minister of Magic one day."
"When do they need an answer?"
He blinked, a little owl-like. "They'd probably give you a week to accept it. Maybe two. Why wouldn't you accept it? It means more money and more prestige."
"I know it does, but money and prestige are not everything. I need time to think about it."