All the good stuff belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter 7

When Sunday morning rolled around, Hermione awoke early. She was ready and waiting with a cup of coffee when the mail owl arrived with The Daily Prophet. Over lunch at the Leaky on Friday, Draco and Hermione had finally come to agreement on who would be featured in the first ad. Once the paper was in her hands, she eagerly snapped it open and read.

Dean Thomas - My Story

Hello Readers. Most of you have probably never heard of me. I am not like most people you read about in the paper. I am nobody really, but I have been given the chance to tell my story, and I don't want to waste it, so here goes.

I was raised in London by my mother and my stepfather, both muggles. I don't know my father. Ever since I got my Hogwarts letter, I figured he must have been a wizard, but I really don't know. Since I don't know my father, and I was raised as a muggle, I get treated as a muggle-born. I have no qualms about being "muggle-born," at least in name. Blood has no matter to me, but unfortunately it matters greatly in our world.

I first encountered prejudice at Hogwarts. I was no stranger to bullying and being called mudblood. Really, it was nothing major compared to what others had to endure, but it wasn't pleasant, to say the least. I later found out that Hogwarts was a pleasant shelter and reprieve from the prejudice that runs rampant in our society.

Honestly, I never really thought much about blood until the war. When the Muggleborn Registration Commission was set up, I ran. I wasn't sure what would happen to me either way. If I ran, I wasn't safe. If I stayed, I wasn't safe. All I knew was that I had to stay away from my family to keep them safe. I knew being anywhere near them was to put them in danger. That was the hardest part. Leaving my mother and little sisters was worse torture than anything else I endured.

After a while I was found and captured, like many others. Thankfully, I was saved by some friends, and didn't have to endure the horrors and torture that others underwent.

After the war I thought all the prejudice would be over. That was the whole idea right? I was wrong, but at least it is safe for us now. It does feel good, If not still slightly strange, to be able to walk around without fear of being caught and called to court to defend my magic, the constant threat of my wand being snapped looming over my head.

Although the safety is nice, things haven't been all that great since the war. I, like many other muggleborns with average credentials, have had a very hard time finding and keeping work. I am often looked over for positions because of my blood. Sure, people don't say that, but when I find out who got a job I was passed over for, it is usually a pureblood.

I have been laid off several times from jobs I really liked. There is no official policy in the ministry about layoffs, but when cuts come it always happens that the muggleborns go first. It's been hard keeping a roof over my head these past few years, but I am still trying. I haven't given up yet.

A few weeks ago I applied for a job in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, a job I am well qualified for by the way. I got passed over. They said since I am muggleborn "I couldn't possibly know enough about magical sports to be able to meet the requirements of the job." They didn't even let me get through the full interview.

I am not trying to complain, or pass blame. What I am trying to do is tell my story, and hope that it can be one of many to lead our society in a brighter, more inclusive direction. Thank you readers. I hope my story can help you see our world through the eyes of another.

Dean Thomas

Hermione looked up from the paper with tears in her eyes. Dean's story was so like the story of so many others. Not only was she happy that it turned out the way she hoped, but she was happy he got the chance to tell it himself.

Sitting alone in his flat, reading their first ad, Draco couldn't help but smile to himself. He really was a genius. He wished he could see Hermione's reaction. He decided he would do just that.