Wishing you all a welcome back and fond hellos everyone!
As usual, thanks for all the lovely comments, feedback, and critiques. They are eternally useful and welcome to me. I encourage you to keep sending me feedback and advice whenever you feel necessary. Don't be afraid to question things; I'm not a writer who will be offended.
This chapter is directly a result of the wonderful and very helpful advice of duj on . As a person who lived in the 70's they pointed out how Simone's open mindedness about the double standards of sexual harassment might be unusual and even unlikely for most people to have as a viewpoint in that era, no matter how nice it is that she is progressive. Keep in mind in the 70's we still weren't really laying out fine lines on sexual harassment against women (and spousal rape wasn't even considered a thing to most courts of law), so people being aware of the wrongness of men being assaulted in such a manner wasn't even a subject on the table.
So this chapter is to explain why Simone developed such a fire for this hot button issue during an era where it wasn't really addressed. And I worked into it my dislike of a very dubious subject from the HP universe, Love Potions.
If Someone Cared Enough
Chapter Thirty-Seven: What Shouldn't be Okay
It was a sleepy morning in mid-November that an uproarious clatter filled two adjoining third floor hallways, shattering the peaceful quiet.
Severus had just returned from an early morning appointment with Marcus for his regular counseling and now meeting with Lily for some studying. They were on their way to the library when they heard the commotion.
"What on earth do you suppose all that's about?" Lily question Severus as several students sped past them to join the growing crowd.
"I'm not sure," Severus replied, narrowing his eyes as more students rushed by to gather up ahead of them. He had hoped to spend some more time pouring over the clues about the diadem and the cryptic message he received, but the jeering crowd blocked their path.
Judging by the shouts and cries, some students had started a brawl.
"Let's go see what's going on," Lily said, her prefect responsibilities nagging at her, "Whatever it is should be broken up right away."
Severus sighed, "We might as well. We can't get to the library if we can't get past the crowd, anyway."
They fell into step with the converging students and became one with the group. All the while, the voices at the center of the crowd were getting louder, clearer.
"That voice sounds familiar," Lily observed.
Severus frowned, "Too familiar."
Finally, after much polite 'excuse me's from Lily and precise elbow jabbing from Severus they managed to work their way to the front of the crowd.
The students in the hall had formed a circle around the fight, all shouting encouragements and insults, egging the fight on with joyous glee. A few first years near the front were shying away from the fight, peering out between their fingers.
Among the rabble-rousers stood Potter and Black, yelling boisterously and unbridled enthusiasm.
"Put some effort into it!" Potter shouted.
"Yeah," joined Black, "Swing back!"
In the center, Simone released a tall blonde haired boy from a headlock, using her foot to kick him in the stomach and send him crashing to the floor. Sporting a mussed braid, a split lip and a torn uniform, she looked far better than Jason Hornroad, with his black eye, bloody nose and four fine nail marks streaking across his face.
Simone advanced on Jason menacingly, only for a disheveled Davis to pull her back.
"Easy Simone," Davis soothed, though his eyes burned with hate for the boy on the floor, "He's not worth it."
"Like hell he isn't," Simone growled, struggling to free herself from her friend's grip, "Let me at the bastard, I'll bloody tear him in two!"
Davis fought to maintain his hold around Simone, "Thea, a little help here!"
Thea came forward from her place by a rather meek and reserved looking Nesme. Placing a hand on Simone's cheek, Thea forced Simone to look at her.
"That's enough, Sim," she said gently, rubbing her thumb across Simone's cheek, "You've done enough."
Slowly, the tension left Simone's body, like a balloon drained of air. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths with through her nose.
"I'm okay," she said after a minute, "I'm better now."
Hesitantly, Davis released Simone, though he watched her warily.
"But that thing," Simone pointed at Jason, "Has another thing coming if he thinks this is over."
"Can't say I blame you," Davis mumbled having gotten in his fair shares of punches initially.
"A Ravenclaw," Simone spat at Jason, "Rowena would be rolling in her grave at your actions."
"What's all this nonsense?" Slughorn boomed as he waddled into view, the crowd parting for their professor.
"I'll tell you what's going on," Simone snarled, "This thing," she pointed a finger at Jason, "Tried to give Nesme candies laced with love potion!"
An excited murmur rang out across the crowd as Nesme shifted uncomfortably under everyone's scrutiny.
"I recognized the scent," Simone went on, brandishing the smashed box of chocolates in Slughorn's face, "bitter almond with a hint of citrus. It's supposed to mask itself as a simple nut crème filling, but anyone with the know-how can recognize the signs."
"I didn't mean any harm by it," Jason protested feebly, shrinking under Simone's harsh glare.
Slughorn took the box Simone waved in front of his face and looked it over carefully. Lifting one chocolate to his nose, he sniffed it.
"Well you're suspicions are correct, Miss Serapuem," he said, tucking the chocolate back into its packaging, "But it's a low quality potion at best compared to the stronger ones out on the market. Why, it pales in comparison to Amortentia. This would only produce a few hours of infatuation at most. It's harmless."
"A lot of damage can be done in just an hour, professor," Simone bit out, anger seared across her face, "You can take plenty away from a person in just fifteen minutes. Do you honestly expect me to believe his intentions were pure when even he didn't intend to need Nesme under his spell for more than an afternoon?!"
"I just wanted to spend some time with her," Jason explained futilely, "I wasn't going to do anything to her."
"That's a load of shit and you know it!" Simone snarled, "Everyone knows how nice she is. You'd only have to ask her to hang out with you and she'd be more than willing to get to know a person. You hardly need any enchantment to get the time of day from her. What you wanted was for her to want you, and we can all bloody guess what you would have done with that at your advantage."
"I'm aware by now how you feel about such enchantments," Slughorn said in a placating manner, drawing Simone's attention back to her professor, "But it's a mild potion. It doesn't cause real love and it is rarely permanent."
"It's rape," Simone said simply, her words echoing hollowly in the hall and silencing every other voice.
Simone turned to glare at Jason, before looking over the gathered crowd, "A love potion forces a person to experience feelings and thoughts against their will. It makes them unwillingly compliant to the potion-giver's will and command. They could charm you into giving them your money, your life, your everything. Things you wouldn't normally do; you'll do it because the potion makes you think you want to, makes you want to in order to please the one you were made to be infatuated with."
Simone turned to Nesme, concern in her eyes, "You don't even need to do much for a love potion to be a truly terribly thing. You can take something very precious from a person: their consent. You strip away their ability to say no and remove the rights they should inherently have over their own body and whom they share it with. Tell me, how is that any different than being under the imperio?"
"Now, surely you aren't comparing a love potion to an unforgivable, Miss Serapeum?" Slughorn rebuffed, "That's going a tad too far…"
"Is it?" Simone challenged, "A strong enough love potion could make a person desire someone so strongly they would hurl themselves from a cliff if asked to, or kill off their friends and family if requested; so deep has the obsession seized them. And they'll think they wanted to. How does it differ from the effects of being imperioed, where the victim cannot question their orders and even may believe it was their own choice?"
She sought out Lily's face in the crowd, her eyes stormy.
Lily nodded, both of their thoughts going to Mary.
Slughorn looked sympathetically down on Simone, "You've brought this concern to the staff many times, my dear, and I've told you it is a matter for the board of governors to decide."
"You don't need their say when it comes to banning Zonkos products," Simone pointed out, "Which are far more harmless by comparison."
"Depends on if you're the one pranking or being pranked," Severus muttered sourly.
"Yes, but joke items are very different," Slughorn stated, "They're listed as toys, considered distractions under the school regulations. All potions fall under a different set of guidelines and banning one can open the door to banning others for all manner of reasons," He chuckled, "Why, we could be forced to stop using certain potions in the hospital wing because a parent doesn't like that there's doxy droppings as a key ingredient."
"That's a fallacy and I can't believe you of all people would be spouting it," Simone said angrily.
"I'm only following regulations, my dear," Slughorn said with a shrug.
"Well then those regulations should be changed and you could start making leeway in it. Professor, I'm asking you to consider this carefully," Simone pleaded, "Love potions should be banned from schools, not laughed off like a childish prank of youth. They put us all in danger. Any boy or girl could become a victim of one and have their lives altered irreparably in only a matter of minutes."
"Would a night of fun really be so bad for bloke?" Sirius joked quietly to James.
Simone rounded on him, "I heard that, Black. No surprise you aren't bothered by this. A 'lady's man' like you must be willing to resort to all sorts of tricks to get someone into bed with you."
"Hey! The girls I bring to my bed—not saying that I do," he added to Slughorn hastily, "But if I did, they'd ALL be willing. I don't force anyone. I do understand consent, you know."
"And yet stripping a classmate naked in front of all his peers is all well and dandy?" Simone sneered.
In the crowd, Severus groaned. He should have known Simone would still be championing for him.
Sirius scowled, "That's different. Snape's a bloke. It isn't like I'm flipping some girl's skirt or something."
"So something happening to a person against their will is only wrong if the victim is a woman?" Simone challenged.
Sirius scowled, "I wasn't saying that. Look, Snape aside, we're talking about sex here. A shag is a different matter for boys entirely. Girls are vulnerable and uptight; of course they'd have hang ups over who they do it with. They want it to be 'special' or something flowery like that. Boys are different; getting some action is part of what makes you a man," Sirius finished proudly, his chin held high, "As if a guy would be opposed to some girl wanting to shag him. Even if she's ugly, a shag's a shag and it don't matter once the lights are off. Can't call me unwilling."
Several boys in the crowd nodded or voiced their agreement.
"Of all the sexist crap…" Lily muttered under her breath.
Nesme shrunk down in embarrassment; she couldn't help think the ugly comment was in regards to girls like her and she was already aware people would be questioning why Jason would even want to ensnare someone like her with a love potion.
Davis wrap a comforting arm around Nesme's shoulder, glaring daggers at Black.
"Then consider this, Black," Simone hissed venomously, "That so called farce of a family that you so hate is hellbent on preserving their bloodline and name. What would really be stopping them from slipping some Amortentia into your morning pumpkin juice on your next holiday visit and saddling you with a bride fitting of their dark lineage?"
Something in Sirius countenance changed drastically, as if a chill had come over him.
Simone advanced closer, her eyes narrow slits, "Hm? Your family has a history of inbreeding that would make the even the Kings of old ill; how would you feel if they had enchanted you to be quite besotted with your dear old cousin Bella instead of marrying her off to Lestrange?"
"Miss Serapeum," Slughorn said hesitantly, "Really, you've made your point…"
Satisfied to see the effect her words had on Sirius, Simone pressed on, "Or what about the imperious curse, hm? Say your family decided to make you live up to their standards and had you commit unspeakable, depraved acts on some poor muggle or muggleborn girl; demean her in every sense of the word? Would you really think it fair that you'd get labeled a rapist when they controlled you? Or would you be able to recognize you were just as much raped as she was?"
"That's quite enough, Miss Serapeum," Slughorn said with a tad bit more authority, "It is clear you feel quite strongly on this matter, but that is no reason to be vulgar."
"That's different," Sirius blurted out at Simone, talking right over Slughorn, "Of course that would be wrong, boy or girl," it was clear from his words though, that he had only just considered such possibilities, "But when it comes to Snivelly, you've got no point to stand on. He repulses me and James."
"That's right," James agreed, glaring at Severus, "nothing we do to him is even remotely for sexual thrill so therefore we can't be harassing him like that, now can we?"
"Sexual assault doesn't have to be about sex, Potter," Simone said with a sneer, "If you ask me, it's really about having power over someone; taking something from them that they can never get back. Think about it, Potter. Do you really believe every victim is some beauty queen?"
James couldn't find an answer to that.
"Face it," Simone went on, walking around the pair of Gyffindors, "Sometimes a victim is chosen solely based on how easy a target their attacker finds them. Perhaps they're alone at night, maybe they're the type who won't fight back or report them…" she looked over her shoulder at James, "Maybe they're just unpopular enough that a jerk is confident no one witnessing it will rat them out. Either way, the attacker gets off more on the power they wield than they do over how attractive or unattractive their victim is."
"Are you actually trying to lump me in with perverts and creeps?!" James asked, outraged.
"If the pointy shoe fits, Potter," Simone said snidely, "You torment Snape to try and impress a girl, one you probably hope to shag, right? So you are using Snape unwillingly as a tool in your own sexual conquest!"
"That's a load of shit!" James shouted, "I don't need Snape to get anyone's attention."
"And yet you attack him whenever you seek it," Simone shot back.
"For a laugh!"
"Who's laughing, Potter?" Simone asked.
"Enough," Slughorn intervened, finally getting a hold of the situation, "Let's all take a deep breath and calm down. Now I do believe the two of you are venturing quite off topic as it is."
"That's right," Sirius piped up, "This is all over a stupid love potion, so leave James out of it. So a girl almost got tricked into making googly eyes at some bloke. You stopped it, so the matters done with, yeah?"
"Hardly," Simone argued, "There's still the matter of what that wretch's punishment shall be." She looked expectantly at Slughorn.
Slughorn fumbled for an answer, rather flummoxed, "Well I suppose a detention should suffice."
"A detention?" Simone balked, "He was going to force himself on her!"
"I was not!" Jason denied.
"He probably was just going to cop of few feels," Sirius butted in, not knowing when to shut up, "Maybe get a snog or two. Seriously, if a love potion was as serious as you make it out to be, it would be outlawed."
"So what if one had been used on me?" came a new voice.
A sullen faced Mary worked her way through the crowd as onlookers watched in shock and astonishment, whispers breaking out anew.
Sirius stared wide eyed as the girl he once thought so infatuated with him came to stand before him, her eyes simultaneously hard and sad.
"He didn't have to imperio me," Mary said, obviously talking about Mulciber, "He could have just as easily forced a love potion down my throat. He wouldn't have had a dead fish on his hands then, but a willing participant, eager to do all he asked of her."
She looked Sirius square in the eyes, "I would have gone along with it in the moment, but how do you think I would have felt after? Don't you think I would have felt wretched and used? That I would have felt dirty and ashamed, to know I remembered every second of it and hated myself for how powerless I had been? To know that I may have sat there while a friend of mine was assaulted and gone along with it because the potion made me want to do whatever Mulciber wanted in order to make him happy?"
Tears welled up in Mary's eyes but she brushed them away, leveling Sirius with her hardest stare.
"I was almost raped," Mary said loudly to the crowd, "I'm not ashamed to say that anymore. The one who should feel ashamed is Mulciber. Had it succeeded in his plans for me it would have been rape. As it is, I was molested; and I hope each and every one of you realizes just how wrong and abhorrent that is. And know this: even if he had used a loved potion on me, it would still be molestation and rape because I didn't want it!"
Exhaling heavily, Mary spared the crowd one last look and left, leaving a stunned Sirius behind in her wake.
"Let's go," Lily whispered, taking Severus by the arm.
The pair of them hurried after Mary as the crowd began to disperse; though Simone's angry voice could still be heard echoing down the hall.
They caught up to Mary a corridor away, the normally vibrant girl leaning against the wall, staring at her feet.
"That was brave of you, Mary," Lily said compassionately as she neared her friend, "You were very brave to stand in front of all those people and confront Sirius like that."
Mary laughed humorlessly, "Yeah, well I couldn't just stand back and let him spout such dragon shit. Consent shouldn't be something to debate the circumstances of; if you wouldn't give it under normal circumstances, then having it taken in any form should be wrong no matter what method was used."
"Still, what you did took some courage," Lily stated.
Mary smiled wistfully, "Thanks. You're not the only one who's been going to Sprout for advice. She's the one that told me the stigma attached to rape and assault is just society's way of shame people into not talking about things that make others uncomfortable. Sure we all get it's a terrible thing, but people want you to keep it hushed up so that their day isn't inconvenienced by feeling empathy towards someone else's sorrow."
"Like how no one wants to talk about forced marriages still being a thing with some purebloods," Severus said, "Anyone with a conscience can see it isn't fair to the bride or groom to be stronghold into a marriage they don't want for the sake of bloodline. Yet even the 'good' purebloods turn their backs to it and brush it off as if it isn't their business. It's a 'tricky subject', they say and they just avoid acknowledging that it exists at all. Leaves the bride and groom without the security to voice their dissent."
"So glad I'm not a pureblood," Mary said, "But yeah, it's a lot like that. And Sirius was just starting to piss me off. I mean, can you believe him? 'Stripping someone isn't a consent issue if I'm not attractive to them'? What utter bullshit!"
Mary looked over at Severus, shamefaced, "I…I'm sorry I didn't see how wrong it was that day by the lake, Severus. I should have been able to see how it would be wrong if I was in your shoes…I should have done something about it."
"Maybe people should have," Severus huffed, "But I…appreciate your apology. You and Lily are among the only people who have apologized for that experience."
"Remus did too," Lily pointed out.
Severus snorted, "Yes, only because Thea apparently tore into him about his cowardice."
Lily rolled her eyes, "Anyway, are you okay, Mary? That had to have been difficult for you."
Mary shrugged, "It was in a way, but it was also sort of—what's the word? Cathartic? People back there seemed either on the fence over Sirius's words or in agreement with him. Hell, I bent plenty of girls from our class have considered giving a love potion to a boy they fancy at one point or another just so that they would have a date to Hogsmeade. I know I used to joke about it."
"Many students here have," Severus offered as a means of comfort, "Really girls are tricked by ads and society into thinking those potions are romantic or for a laugh. Hell, some of high society just considers it an alternative means for a pureblood girl to secure a wealthy husband; I know Narcissa and her sisters were supposed to have been well groomed in such tactics to ensure worthy marriage prospects."
"That's sick," Lily said, her face scrunched up in disgust.
"So I wasn't the only one who used to make light of such things," Mary sighed, "I suppose that's a comfort. Still doesn't change that I couldn't see how wrong it was. Then this whole thing with Mulciber happened and now I just keeping going over in my head all the ways he could have done to me."
"When people talk about love potions they usually think of it in regards to someone they themselves are bewitching or someone attractive giving it to them," Severus mused, "Rarely does anyone consider the possibility of being on the receiving end of the affections of someone they abhor."
Lily nodded, "I know Jess has gushed over the romanticism of a love potions being used to win over a guy or two. She talks of how it would break the ice and by the time it wears off the person will surely have 'learned to love' her enough that they'd stay. I guess she never entertained the thought of having someone give it to her and it being a guy she doesn't like. I bet she would be horrified at the idea of someone like Peter giving her a love potion."
"Jess is shallow," Mary stated, "She's hung up on looks to the point that she thinks dirty tactics are fine if the guy is cute, but she'd probably call it harassment if a boy like Peter even made eye contact with her. Which is low; for all we know he's a decent guy away from Potter and Black."
Severus snorted at that, but Mary chose not to acknowledge it.
"I think I'm glad Mulciber used an unforgivable on me instead of a love potion, you know?" Mary announced after a minute, "The idea that I could have been spelled into wanting his attentions makes me sick to my stomach. If he had done that I doubt I ever would have been able to live with myself…I'd just picture his smug satisfaction at knowing that even if convicted he still took away a part of me and made me desire it."
"Oh, Mary," Lily said sadly, pulling her friend into an embrace.
Mary rested her head on Lily's shoulder, "I feel a tad bit relieved knowing I wasn't enchanted to enjoy it or participate," she shuddered, "Just thinking about the possibility makes my skin crawl."
"I think it would make any of us feel that way," Thea said softly, walking up to them with Nesme and Davis close behind.
"I take it the fight is over," Severus surmised.
Thea gave a small smile, "Simone is still trying to hash out what constitutes an appropriate punishment. McGonagall showed up eventually and now her and Slughorn are butting heads on 'inappropriate' advances."
"Glad at least she sees it as a serious matter," Severus muttered.
"How are you doing, Nesme," Lily asked kindly.
Nesme shrugged, "I'm alright, I suppose. I'll probably write me mum about it, just for someone to talk to. Simone recognized the situation before I could eat one of the candies, so I'm glad I was saved from that, but…it just bothers me. Why couldn't Jason have just spoken to me? Sure I might have turned him down, but it's better than having my trust broken, right?"
"Considering what he resorted to, it sounds like he cared little for trust to begin with," Severus said. The others nodded.
"It's embarrassing too," Nesme admitted sadly, "Here I am being tricked and in the worst way, and all anyone can focus on over there is questions like "Why her?" and whether or not I should be flatter he picked me." She shifted from foot to foot, "All eyes on me for once and it's for all the wrong reasons."
"Ignore them," Davis encouraged, wrapping an arm around her comfortingly, "They're all idiots."
Nesme nodded, "You're right. Um…thanks for sticking up for me, Mary."
Mary smiled, "Anytime. So love potions are a hot button issue with Simone, huh?"
Davis nodded, "Been like that ever since I met her. She was furious to find out Slughorn actually shows off a sample of Amortentia in his sixth year class. She nearly walked out on the assignment that day."
"She's definitely passionate about it," Severus said, "There is one thing I'm curious about though. Sure, I myself have considered the immorality and outright dubiousness of enchanting girls into loving a person."
'Never in a million years would I have done that to Lily,' he added in his head, 'Better no love then live a lie with fabricated love.'
"But even I can say that it rarely crossed my mind to consider the offense of the same being done to men. Like I said to these two," he gestured to Lily and Mary, "It's been in practice for years for pureblood women to use all manner of tricks and tactics to seduce a wealthy suitor to marry. From perfumes enchanted to allure and lipstick designed to cause lust, men have been subjected to all sorts of traps for decades all as a means to make stronger alliances and produce heirs. I admit I never really took into account how unfair that is to the potential groom."
"So why has Simone given the subject so much thought," Mary asked the question just hanging on the tip of Severus's tongue.
"I'm afraid I can answer that," Thea offered, "It all has to do with Simone's father."
"What happened to him?" Lily asked.
"Before he was a barrister for the Wizengamot," Thea explained, "Mr. Serapeum used to work as a private legal aide for the public in lower courts. He had all the schooling and power to work in a higher position, but he wanted to help the 'little people', so to speak, people who couldn't afford representation in even minor cases like property disputes. He did good work and his clients were very grateful…some a little more than others."
Everyone was hanging on Thea's every word by this point, all leaning forward in anticipation.
"There was this woman," Thea went on, "A widow who got into a dispute with her in laws over the assessments of her late husband. They had contested her claim to the money and his ancestral home and she was poised to lose everything. Mr. Serapeum, being the skilled man he is, found the loophole necessary to grant her custody and deny their claim to the fortune. She was understandably overjoyed about it, as any of us would probably be if we were a step away from homelessness."
"I take it the issue here is how she expressed her gratitude," Severus surmised.
Thea nodded, shifting uneasily, "She brought him a gift the following week. Now back at his old firm, Mr. Serapuem's clients didn't always have a lot of money to make full and proper payments, so many of them brought his other means of pay. Baked goods, gift baskets, a bottle of wine. Some knitted him socks or scarves or made salves and potions for everyday needs. It was there way of saying 'thank you,'. So when a jug of homemade spiced mead showed up on his desk, he didn't see any harm to it."
"I guess the next thing he remembered was lying face down on the sidewalk," Thea continued, "Apparently a colleague had seen him acting funny and tried to get his attention. When he didn't respond, they stunned him. It turned out there was Amortentia in the mead and he had been on his way to that woman's home."
"Father stopped accepting gifts from clients after that," Simone said, startling everyone as she stepped into the little half circle they'd formed, "Not long after he closed down his private practice and took a position working under the Wizengamot. It was safer that way, more secure."
"There never was any charge placed against her," Simone added, her brow furrowed as she stared at the floor, "She had to pay a hefty fine, but she never stood trial for it. She was pretty, she was wealthy; most thought it sort of flattering in a way that she set her sights on him. His friends were mad and worried on his behalf, sure, but most people just saw it as a funny story, a hilarious anecdote. "Remember that one time some crazy broad tried to give you a love potion? You sure dodged a hex there; I doubt the missus would forgive you for running off with someone else!' They just couldn't seem to see past the 'humor' in it."
"It isn't funny at all," Lily assured Simone sympathetically, "What she did was atrocious!"
Simone graced Lily with a grateful smile, "Glad you see it that way. I wish more would." She leaned back against the wall, "a few months after it all happened, I heard my parents talking about it in their room late one night. I'd had a nightmare and wanted to sleep in their bed. That's when I heard them talking; turned out my dad had his own nightmares."
Everyone shared a knowing look.
Simone was silent for a long time before she finally spoke again, "Dad used to dream of being released from the love potion to find that he had been under its influence for years and had started a whole family with that woman. He said he dreamed of finding out he had been away from me and mom for so long that eventually we had moved on and mom married someone else; that I called a different man my father. He would dream of seeing that woman with a bulging belly and all these little ones running around and realizing most people would side against him if he chose to leave her, regardless of how he had been bewitched by her. He dreamed of the guilt of being unable to love any child he had with her when he knew it wasn't their fault she forced him to conceive them with her."
"He dreamed of his whole world crashing down around him and society being unsympathetic to his plight because none of them could see how utterly fucking mad it is that someone would drug him to take away the life he knew," Simone finished, glaring a hole in the wall opposite her, "Where the hell is the world's moral compass?"
"We act like the Wizarding world is so grand," Lily mumbled despairingly, "And we somehow forget that in a way, this world is so far behind the muggle one. It's like living in the dark ages."
"Muggle world isn't that much better," Severus pointed out, "Otherwise more people would have acted years ago when my father first laid a hand on my mum. Beating your wife or kid is still considered something to let the family sort out for themselves."
Severus looked at Simone, "I guess since certain gender biases have been laid out today it's only fair to say husbands probably get hit by wives too and I'm sure society is just as quick to ignore it as when it's the other way around. Never happened in my house, but that doesn't mean it's never happened anywhere."
Simone nodded.
"That's the first time you've ever admitted in front of us what went on in your home," Mary said in awe.
Severus shrugged, "Marcus said it isn't something to keep quiet about. If I'm too ashamed to talk about it, I'm just helping keep these problems secret and helping make others feel too afraid to come forward themselves."
"Good words to live by," Simone said sagely.
"No arguments here," Mary added.
"of course, I'd appreciate if this stayed with us," Severus put forth, looking around at his friends, "There's plenty of blithering idiots and apes who would think a beating from my father something to have a good laugh about."
"Like those pricks in your dorm," Nesme pointed out.
"Nesme," Davis gasped in shock.
"What?" Nesme glowered, "I've had a stressful day with all this excitement; I think I'm allowed to say a few dirty words."
Like a bubble bursting a lot of tension drained away and the group allowed themselves a good little laugh. They'd probably deal with a lot of people who couldn't understand them or their plights, their positions or ideals, but at least they had understanding in each other.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been bothered by the concept of love potions in HP universe. They are essentially magical roofies.
Throughout the books it bothered me how the dubiousness of consent was with them. Dumbledore mentions that Merope Gaunt most likely used one on Riddle's father, and yet expresses some form of pity or sympathy for her, despite the fact that she robbed a man of consent to benefit herself. Yes she was abused, for which I do feel bad, but think of it like this: if a guy from an abusive home went off and roofied a girl to get her pregnant as a means of keeping her with him and calling it 'love', would you feel comfortable hearing someone view them as pitiful and sympathetic instead of repugnant? Rape is rape, you shouldn't be able to excuse it on the grounds that your life was miserable leading up to you raping someone. (I should also note that Dumbledore says Riddle was born without love and therefore incapable of understanding love. Considering he is a product of rape, I find this a terrible implication on Rowling's part in regards to children conceived via rape. )
When Ron accidentally eats the chocolates meant for Harry, it is never addressed whether or not the girl who dosed the chocolates was punished. Some have argued that Ron's near death and the discovery that someone intended to poison Dumbledore sort of took priority, but that makes it seem even worse. "Oh someone tried to drug Harry and do god knows what to him? Well we have a different situation on our hands here, so let's put a pin in that." I mean, can we at least see it as serious from the perspective of the Chosen One's safety; it would be insanely easy for a student who took the mark to use a love potion to seduce Harry into going somewhere with them and delivering him straight to Voldy.
Love potions are sold in some varying degree in stores in the wizarding world as if they aren't a potentially dangerous substance and frankly I find that as appalling as if a pharmacy sold date rape drugs off their shelves.
As for my chapter itself, love potions strike me as something that this morally questionable wizarding world would view as commonplace in courtship, what with the amount of purebloods vying for blood purity and suitable marriages. Considering that a pureblood girl was most likely seen as less desirable an heir than a boy, I imagine the pressure would be on them to therefore marry as high up as possible and ensure they bear boys to carry the family's legacy and creeds. This would most likely mean they would feel pressured to try many methods of seduction in order to acquire a suitable husband. So I figure love potions would not be considered anything more than a useful tool in that endeavor.
Simone would naturally take issue with how lax laws are on love potions after how it nearly tore her family a part. And so began her knew awareness that a person being harassed or assaulted or coerced should matter regardless of gender.
Read and review, lovelies :)