Golden Haze – Intermission Two
AN: And now the meat of the plot sets in. Draco's attack was for a reason, Hermione is going to begin her campaign to fix the laws she doesn't like. Fleur is at the center of this for some reason, her personhood and her veela nature clashing violently. More time bridging going on here. It's December now.
Thanks to everyone for your kind reviews! They mean so much to me!
Music of the Story: Yaz - Move Out
A letter received by Mrs. Ariel Hopson, senior staff editor of the Daily Prophet. Promptly relayed to her direct superior, Olsen Archer, editor in chief of the newspaper:
To the editor of the Daily Prophet –
It has recently come to this reader's attention the harsh difference in the treatment of citizens with magical creature ancestry and those without it at the hands of the Ministry. While I, myself, am muggleborn, I find the treatment of such individuals to be appalling. There is no reason to restrict an individual simply because of an ancestor that could be many generations removed, and yet the ministry finds cause to force such individuals to register with several different departments. Their actions are more closely monitored than those of former Death-Eaters awaiting trial for justification that makes sense to this reader.
I urge the Daily Prophet to put their best investigative reporter on this subject and to dig into the matter. The policies were put into place during [name redacted –ed.]'s reign of terror and need to be overturned. To continue to have such rules in place makes this new and just wizarding government, so recently free of evil, no better than its predecessors.
M+G – concerned citizens
Printed December 10th, 1998
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One encoded letter from William Weasley to Fleur Delacour, spelled with a humorous password dating back to a misadventure in Egypt:
Dear Fleur
They trust me, only they do not. They want to target you and whoever's been writing those letters to the Daily Prophet for their next attack. I keep telling them that you can't be attacked because it would obviously implicate me. They don't believe that I could be sold out so easily, but I have told them time and time again that betrayal was so rife during the last war that the order would implicate me before all others.
It's been a month since my last letter and things have stalled on this end. I have gone out on a few of their missions, but mostly they keep me in the dark. When those letters to the editor in the paper started, they wanted to move, to go to the offices and track down the sender and make an example of them – but they could not as it was obviously too public. I fear that once they find out the identity of that person through other means, however, it may be too late and they will act without conscience.
If the individuals who are behind that letter writing campaign are who I have believe them to be, then they are both in grave danger (not to mention rather paradoxically working together, don't you think?). These people will stop at nothing short of revealing themselves to the public eye for their cause. Raising public awareness is not the best course of action in a time like this.
Fleur, please, I know that you at least have influence over a part of this group, tell them to stop before it is too late. We can't risk her; she's too valuable to you and to Harry.
If at all possible, she should try and go home with Harry or Ron over Christmas, I don't think she will be alright by herself (or alone with her letter-writing compatriot) because these people know how to manipulate things in the muggle world. After all her family went through during the war, I don't think that it would be wise to act rashly at this point in time.
Bill
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One newspaper clipping by R. Skeeter, who, despite everything, is still the best investigative journalist the Daily Prophet has on staff.
LONDON – Tall, dark and foreboding, Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt has granted this reporter a special interview with regards to the recent attacks on those citizens of this great country of ours that have magical creature blood. We sat down in his office to discuss several topics regarding this situation
RS – Thank you once again for agreeing to speak with me, Minister Shacklebolt, I understand that these are very trying times.
KS – It is no problem, I am here to assist all of wizarding Britain in any way I can.
RS – What can you tell our readers about why the laws that restrict such beings, usually reserved for those who are a danger to themselves or others, are still on the books? This was not the way that it was before the war, Minister.
KS – Those laws were put into place during the previous government in an attempt to circumvent old prejudices. Voldemort, despite many of his followers being of such origins, could not stand the idea of an impure wizarding race. He, we have uncovered through internal memos and documents from the previous government, set into place these laws in hopes that someday the race would be completely free of both the muggle born and magical creatures. We believe that this was wrong and are working to change such laws.
RS – You would have the support should you simply force the laws through chambers, why have you not done this, Minister?
KS – The current political climate is such that to do such an act would be considered no better than what the previous government did in the eyes of many of the muggleborn witches and wizards that live in our society. Because it is incredibly uncommon for a muggleborn to possess creature blood in the first place such legislation would be seen as catering to the older, more traditional families in our society. We've tested this extensively in focus groups and are trying to find a way to write an all-inclusive non-discrimination act that includes everyone.
RS – What is the timetable on that?
KS – As soon as we can get something that everyone can agree upon.
RS – Can you comment on how the recent attacks of those with creature ancestry are affecting your plans with this legislation?
KS – At the moment, I cannot, I would direct you to speak to the director of magical law enforcement in that regard. A task-force has been put together.
Continued on page D-5
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One legal document prepared jointly between one H. Granger and D. Malfoy regarding the ethical treatment of those witches and wizards descended from magical creatures.
Title I –
(a) The government and all other authoritative bodies within the nation, shall refrain from Discrimination against any of the following individuals.
i. Those born to non-magical familes
1. Known as "muggles" colloquially, also defined as individuals who are mix-ed origins, such as those who have a half-blood or pure-blooded mother or father and the other parent is of non-magical birth.
ii. Those who have magical creature ancestry
2. Being descended from such beings as banshees, veela, vampires, giants and other non-threatening magical creatures humanoid in form
iii. Those who become magical creatures through exigent circumstances
3. Such as werewolves or vampires
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One dirty look from one R. Weasley to one D. Malfoy, both of whom are trying to ignore the past in order to solve the present crisis.
"I don't know what you an' Hermione are getting up to, Malfoy, but if you hurt her, I will make you wish you'd never been born."
"Thank you, Weasel, but with my hands as they currently are, the most I could do would be to splatter ink over her face. But as freckles seem to be a thing with you, I can only assume you'd like the addition."
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One hastily passed note in during the first pre-test for the Defense NEWT.
Hermione, we must speak and soon. I have received word from William that your letter writing campaign with Draco Malfoy has been noticed by our enemies. He thinks you will be targeted next, we must discuss Christmas plans.
Fleur