Who: Minister Pius Thicknesse & OPEN What: The Minister delivers a speech on the latest legislation from the Ministry of Magic, The Muggleborn Aid act. When: Thursday, 20 January, noon Where: Hogsmeade Rating: Rabblerabblerabble!
Though visible security was minimal, Pius spotted the faces among the crowd that were The Dark Lord’s devoted servants. He did not expect trouble, but one must always be prepared. Among them he saw Yaxley, and a look from the man seemed somehow to make him feel more strongly about the speech he was about to give, more right. As it should be.
As Pius rose to address the crowd, genial smile plastered across his face and wand flourished to magnify his voice, he saw before him the subjects of The Dark Lord... whether it was how they saw themselves was only a matter of time.
"Wizards and witches of Britain, of Scotland and Ireland! Our world is changing," he cried, casting his eyes over the crowd and his arms wide. "We stand poised between what we can do and what we must do to preserve our historic culture against the daily onslaught of corruption and perversion from the world of Muggles. Their history, too, is long, and filled with wars where those who are different are persecuted, those who are gifted suffer great prejudice, those who are weak abused by the strong. But we," he paused for dramatic effect, his last words ringing in with cheers from the crowd. "We are not weak!"
Voice softening but magnified all the same by the Charm, Pius continued after the crowd had quieted again.
"Nor are we senseless brutes and murderers," Pius hissed. "Your Ministry is working hard to ensure the safety of Muggles and Muggleborns as well as witches and wizards. The Muggleborn Aid act will provide the structure and transparency our world needs to best address the current situation, and in turn we shall provide for those who are in need, who find themselves trapped between two worlds."
"It is the duty of your Ministry to protect, to defend, to shoulder the burden of our world’s ills. In your homes as parents you pass down the grand traditions and ideals of wizard kind, in the schools our teachers give lessons that support and nurture young magical minds. Allow your Ministry to serve you, to be parent and teacher both to a culture, a people, under attack. Ours are mighty hands, and in the hands of the mighty, magic is might!"
Pius took a step back in closing, arms held open and head inclined in respect to those who stomped and cheered and cast bright, fizzing lights from their wand tips.
Those who did not would find out soon enough the very meaning of mighty.