A/N: Happy New Year everyone!
Stop The Press
Scorpius Malfoy,
I don't know if you've seen this yet, but I've enclosed an article from the Daily Prophet, just in case you haven't. Apparently you didn't have any part in doing this, but all I can say is you have some very loyal – and incredibly clever – friends to have done something like this for you.
Needless to say, you've got the job. Alan didn't exactly have much choice once the Minister of Magic got involved. Of course you still have school to finish, but it would be great if you could start work as soon as possible after that. I will send more information later regarding when you will start, what your working hours will be, how much you'll be paid (not very much, I'm afraid) etc.
Congratulations on making it onto the team.
Yours,
Steven Hopkinson
Prejudice or Precaution?
Is the Ministry guilty of discrimination?
With the War years in the past, is it wise to be cautious of those who once sided with the self-proclaimed "Lord Voldemort" or is it time the wizarding community moved on? The question is one that must be answered as an instance comes to light of a Hogwarts student, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy (17) being refused work at the Ministry on the grounds of the actions of his father, Draco Malfoy, former Death Eater, making him unsuitable for the job. Is this a reasonable precaution to take, particularly considering the department Scorpius wished to work in (Muggle Liaison) or is the Ministry simply holding on to old prejudices? The Daily Prophet looks to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to set an example for the rest of the magical community to follow.
"Everyone was a bit shocked when Scorpius was sorted into Hufflepuff back in first year," admits war hero and Hogwarts professor, Neville Longbottom, "But he's since proven himself to be a great kid: bright, unselfish and hardworking. I believe he was bullied a little when he started, but has since gone on to prove himself impossible to dislike, and I think you'd be hard pushed to find a single student or teacher in Hogwarts who doesn't like him." Indeed, this attitude seems to be replicated across the entire school. Every one of Scorpius' teachers testifies to him being an excellent student, and his classmates seem to adore him. Albus Potter, son of Harry Potter, who could once have been considered an enemy of Scorpius' father, says of Scorpius: "We've been best mates since first year. I guess people thought it was a bit odd, considering how much our dads hated each other, but I never really thought about it like that. He's a great guy and we're friends, and that's all that's ever mattered. Who cares what our parents did while they were at school? We're not them. We're completely different people."
Surprising though this friendship may be, a bigger shock comes in the form of Scorpius' girlfriend, Rose Weasley, daughter of Ron Weasley and muggle-born Hermione Weasley. Surely this match cannot have been approved of by either set of parents? And yet Rose insists her parents are nothing but happy. "Dad wasn't that keen at first," she says, "But then he met Scorp, and now they get on brilliantly. Scorp has that effect on everyone. He brings people together. I think our year must be the first at Hogwarts to be friends with everyone, regardless of House, and that's mainly down to Scorp. He's really passionate about Muggle Studies, too. He's been doing it since third year, and consistently getting the highest marks in the class. He really wanted this job, and I know he'd be brilliant at it. It just seems unfair that he shouldn't get it simply because the Ministry can't let go of things that happened years and years ago, before Scorp was even born."
Is Rose right? Is it time that we, as a community, moved on and let go of the past? Surely Scorpius Malfoy, Hufflepuff, Head Boy and star pupil, with nine OWLs and a good chance of achieving excellent NEWTs, cannot be denied the opportunity to become part of a programme that is, after all, aiming to eradicate prejudice and discrimination among our community? Perhaps it is time the Ministry realised that the past is past, and allowed Scorpius' generation the opportunity to forge a new future.
Rose,
I don't know whether to yell at you or march over to your dormitory and kiss you. Steven just wrote to me and showed me the newspaper clipping, and I know it was all your idea. Your mum should never have told you that story about the newspaper article she persuaded Rita Skeeter to write in her fifth year.
I'm so glad she did, though. I got the job! I can't believe it! Remind me to be extra nice to you for the next week. Actually, make that the next month.
You're the best girlfriend ever!
Scorp
Scorp,
I didn't really do anything. I only suggested the article; everything else happened because of you. Every word of that article is true, and it's time those idiots at the Ministry found out what an incredible person you are. I know you're blushing right now, and shaking your head, but it's true. In fact, it didn't do you justice. Even if they'd interviewed the entire school, they couldn't have done you justice.
Congratulations on getting the job! I'm so excited for you!
Love you, Scorp.
Rose
Dad,
I don't know if you saw the newspaper article about me in the Prophet. It's hardly the way I'd have wanted to get a job, but I'm still glad Rose did it. It was her idea, naturally. She didn't even tell me about it until it had been published. It was someone from the Ministry who sent me the article, along with a letter saying I'd got the job.
I can't help feeling a little guilty about having to coerce the Ministry into hiring me like this. It would have been great just to be accepted purely on my own merits. I'll prove that they were right to hire me, though. I'll work incredibly hard on this project.
It's funny: you'd think now that I've got a job guaranteed I wouldn't feel so nervous about my NEWTs, because it's not like they really matter anymore. Instead, it's the opposite. I'm more worried about them now. I guess I just want to prove that I really do deserve this job. The NEWTs feel really, really close now. I have to admit, I'm absolutely terrified. Rose has been getting very stressed. Most people are scared to talk to her, for fear of having their heads bitten off. Our Transfiguration teacher has said she could get a place on an advanced Transfiguration course for three years after she leaves school, but she needs at least five good NEWTs, and an O in Transfiguration. She's become a bit obsessed with it. I would tell her to relax, but I'm afraid I don't dare to.
Anyway, I have a massive pile of homework to do before tomorrow, so I suppose I'd better go now.
Love,
Scorpius
Mother,
I need your advice. I received a letter from Scorpius today, which is wonderful, but I have no idea how to reply to him. He's told me all about life and school, and confided some of his worries and problems to me, which I think is the most honest he's ever been with me. I don't know what it means, but I don't want to mess this up by giving him really stupid advice. I know it's normally you he writes to, and I was hoping you could tell me what to do. How do I give advice to a seventeen-year-old boy? It's not like I was making the best decisions myself when I was seventeen.
What do I do?
Draco
Draco,
You don't need my advice at all. What this means is that Scorpius finally trusts you the way he never has before, and that he wants you to know about his life. Try not to overthink it though. It could be that he doesn't need advice at all, and just wants to talk to somebody. Let him know that you care about his problems, and be honest with him. Say what you think, not what you think he wants to hear. He clearly just wants to tell his dad about his problems, and I think he's recognised something in you that you have yet to recognise in yourself. Yes, you made some mistakes when you were younger, but people learn from mistakes, and I think you've learnt a lot. Stop focusing on the things you did wrong and focus on how you would do them right. You're a wonderful father, and if you'd just give yourself the chance you can teach Scorpius a lot.
All my love,
Mother
Scorpius,
Yes, I did see the article and I have to admit Rose Weasley is a very intelligent girl. You shouldn't feel guilty about it, though. If it was entirely Rose's idea then you have nothing to feel guilty for anyway, and the fault actually lies with the Ministry. They had no right to refuse you the job simply because of Grandad and I, and it's good to see that the Prophet is capable of bringing important issues such as this to the attention of the public, as well as publishing idle gossip.
Don't ever feel like you have to prove yourself to anyone but you, through grades or through your work. The Ministry are lucky to have you and they'll see that soon enough. I spent years trying to prove myself to people and it never got me anywhere. Just do the best you can and that will always be enough. I think if I could go back and live my life again the main change I would make would be to make every decision for myself and not for anyone else.
Perhaps that sounds a little selfish, but that's not how I mean it. I just mean I spent so long trying to please my father that I lost track of the difference between what I wanted and what he wanted. Not that you're the same as me at all. I think you're very good at making decisions, but just remember that you won't win anyone's approval by getting good grades. If someone doesn't like you then you just have to accept that and move on, because they aren't worth a minute more of your time.
I love you, Scorp.
Dad
