Joanna Podmore is a Scrimgeour (paintthis) wrote in find_horcruxes, @ 2010-02-13 11:23:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | joanna podmore, sloane vaisey |
WHO: Joanna Podmore and Sloane Vaisey
WHEN: Saturday morning
WHERE: The Vaiseys' rectory and its greenhouse
WHAT: The usual painting/gardening session and then chatting about politics.
RATING: Low
Satisfied with her sketch on the canvas before her, Joanna worked on mixing the paints on her palate. Coming here was the escape that she needed, although it didn't keep her from dwelling on recent events. The Daily Prophet article from that past week was one thing that had not left her mind. The news never left much of an impression on Joanna, but this was different. It had to do with her family, even if it was family she had never known before. Despite the possible Death Eater ties to the death of her cousin, a part of Joanna still thought that for some things, the Death Eaters had the right idea. But even expressing a tiny bit of sympathy to Sturgis or Rufus or any of her friends in the DMLE was not something she could ever do. And she wanted to say it to someone. "Sloane? If I tell you something, don't think poorly of me?" Joanna didn't want that to happen. Having Joanna over was an escape for Sloane as well. Things were tense, to say the least, with Giles, and she looked forward to her new friend's visits on weekends. Friendly company and enjoyable chatter while they each worked on their favourite hobby - respectively painting and gardening - had a soothing effect on Sloane, leaving her in a better mood. Looking up from the plant she was repotting, Sloane wondered what could worry Joanna. "What is it?" she asked, unable to promise that she would not judge her. Her friend came from a different background and was surrounded by Aurors and Hitwizards whose opinion certainly did not match Sloane's. There was a risk that she might not like what Joanna had to say, but she'd chosen to befriend the painter already knowing this, and so she didn't want her new friend to censor herself around her. She liked Joanna, liked that she was different from most her other friends. Trying to make her fit a mould would be counterproductive, in all honesty. She should have thought this out. Now that she had started this, Joanna wasn't sure how to say what she wanted to say. Whether Sloane would judge her or not, she hoped that Sloane wouldn't have the same reactions that she imagined the others would have if she ever told them. "I keep thinking about everything that's been happening with this war," Joanna started. "And I've never told anyone this before. I mean, you know that my brother is a Hitwizard and my boyfriend is an Auror. This is not something I could ever tell them." Yes, she should have thought out what she wanted to say before opening her mouth. "Anyway, I wonder if the Death Eaters have the right idea on some occasions." Sloane froze. Whatever she could have come up with, when wondering what Joanna would say, this had not even brushed her mind. What to say? How to tell if the painter was serious or if she was trying to figure out Sloane's own opinions in this war? As she had mentioned herself, her brother and her boyfriend were in the DMLE. She could not speak freely, it was far too risky. Yet, if Joanna was serious... "I'm used to hearing all sides of stories, in my job, so don't worry about being judged, please," she began, trying to make Joanna comfortable without giving out too much. "What occasions did you mean?" Every event she could think of, Joanna didn't completely agree with all of it. She didn't like the last Minister and was glad they had a new one, but all that happened that night wasn't something she agreed with. "I don't agree with the how, but getting rid of people who shouldn't belong in our world." Like my father, Joanna thought. "Magic shouldn't be in the Muggle world." The 'how' had got her cousin and her unborn child killed, and so Sloane would have been shocked - well, even more than she already was - if Joanna had approved of it. But it was only a mean to an end, and if she believed in the value of that end goal, then she might be brought around to see the necessity for such violent means as well... "So you'd like a stronger application of the Statute of Secrecy, is that it?" "Something like that. Our world would probably be a better place if that were to happen." Joanna shrugged her shoulders. It wasn't like she could do anything about it herself, only support the decisions of others and even if it was done in a way that she didn't approve of. "I must be odd. I come to this conclusion because of my father and Sturgis is on the other side." Sturgis had had a worse childhood experience compared to her and he went with a legal route. "What do you believe?" Sloane wasn't sure if she could answer that question yet. She didn't know Joanna well enough yet, their friendship still relatively new, and this was such a loaded question, especially with the painter's entourage's political leanings. Joanna had said so herself: her brother did not share her opinion on this. Could she really trust her that she was honest, and not trying to get information on her? She was getting paranoid. "I believe that the Statute of Secrecy is there for a reason. It's not just here in England, it's international; all over the world Ministries protect their wizarding population and culture from Muggles." This was neutral enough, she thought. No one could accuse her of Death Eaters sympathies merely for this. "What's your brother's reasoning? You said that he doesn't agree with you." A neutral response. Joanna had half-expected that. This was a loaded topic. They should be talking about their hobbies, not politics. But she had been the one to bring it up. "He is completely against Death Eaters, but I think he'd agree with the Statute of Secrecy to a certain extent." Joanna sighed. "I'm sorry for bringing this up at such a time." Although she wasn't going to say it to Sloane, Joanna did feel a little bit better that she'd been able to say it to someone. "Change of topic?" Joanna asked. A different topic was probably in order. And it wouldn't hurt for her to get back to her painting, which she had been neglecting. Sloane frowned at Joanna's question. "I'm sorry, I hope that I didn't make you uncomfortable? Please, you can talk to me about anything, don't worry about it." She really didn't want her friend to feel that she could not talk to her, especially if she was serious about this and there might be a chance to bring her around to their side of this war. "It's a touchy topic and we all get defensive when it is broached, don't we? There's so much on the line. Yet, we need to look at both sides to be able to make our minds, and that's what I try to bring with my job. I'd be a terrible friend though if I didn't allow that same discussion to happen in private." Joanna shook her head. "No, you didn't make me feel uncomfortable at all. I actually feel relieved that I'm able to say that to someone. Until we started this, I didn't really have anyone that I could say that to. I don't think my brother or Rufus would understand." If she ever said something to them, she anticipated that they would be disappointed in her and question why she thought that way. Although, Sturgis might given that it was their father that had her thinking this way. "We do. Maybe it's because on some level, we don't trust each other. We're all on different sides of this war. I feel like I'm right in the middle. There are some things I believe from both perspectives. But thank you, for letting me." "I think that the same goes for most people, actually," Sloane replied, digging her fingers in the earth to carefully cover the roots of the plant she was repotting. "There are solid arguments as well as strong deterrents on both sides, I think, and I'm sure that many people find themselves with a foot on each side because like you they believe in one side's argument but are reluctant with the means used." Even she had trouble with some of the Dark Lord's decisions, at times, like Guy Dobbs' horrifying death. "It becomes a question of which side's reasons win over its deterrents." "As of right now, I am leaning towards one side more. The death of innocent people, especially pregnant, doesn't sit well with me." The death of her pregnant cousin taught her that despite being pregnant, that was no guarantee to keep her safe. Anything could happen to anyone. "It bothers me more to think that that actually happened now. If we had known about her death when it happened, I would be bothered by it, but not as much." Joanna placed a hand on her abdomen, still having a hard time believing that a baby was growing inside her. "But leaning towards one side doesn't mean I've made any decisions as to what side I'm really on." Sloane closed her eyes at the mention of pregnant women's death. It didn't sit well with her either, even when the unborn child would have been a stain upon what used to be a great bloodline. "I don't think that anyone, whatever side they might have taken, approves of innocents' deaths. I guess the difference is who is considered innocent." Sloane had to believe that there had been something huge that justified it. If it could be justified. There were things that didn't sit well with her, either, in their side's actions. Guy Dobbs' death. The murder of a pregnant woman. She had to remind herself that because she did not know or understand the reasons behind them did not mean that there were none or that they were not worthy. The Dark Lord knew better. She ought to never forget that. "War is ugly, isn't it? There's no way it could ever be otherwise; it would not be war if it were easy and painless." Joanna shook her head. "No, it isn't easy or painless. But maybe it wouldn't hurt so much if the fighting was kept between the two parties rather than involving innocents of both sides." Those she thought were innocent, maybe weren't as innocent to others. "Of course, there is no way for us to know if some deaths are intentional or accidental." No matter how she looked at it, Joanna just wanted the war to end. There was less to worry about with a baby on the way if the war was over. "I suppose I wouldn't care as long as the people I care about survive. I've already got to worry about Sturgis and Rufus since they are in this war. But if I had to fight in this too, I would and be on their side even if it's not the side I want to be on. Fighting against them would be too painful." "I understand that," Sloane said, and she did, for she could not imagine disagreeing with Giles and Dylan on something so important. She was proud of them for fighting, she could not imagine herself married to someone who did not defend their ideals like Giles did. "I believe most of those fighting are not doing so solely for themselves, but for their children as well. This war decides of the world they will grow up in." Sloane, for one, wanted the children she would have someday - and she would have children, there was no other option - to live in a pure and proud wizarding world, protected from decay and disappearance at the hand of ignorant and arrogant Muggleborns and Muggle-lovers. The Dark Lord would win. She had utter faith in Him and his Death Eaters. "I believe that too, that they are fighting for the children. I'd personally like to see this war end before I have this baby. Might be a bit wishful thinking for the war to be over by September, but that's something truly wonderful and terrifying to think about at this time. But I hope that he or she will live in a better world and not the world we're living in right now. Also, hopefully, with a father as well when it is over." Whatever the outcome, Joanna did hope that her son or daughter would be living in a better world. Even if the war didn't end for years to come. Sloane wasn't sure if there really was any chance to make a breakthrough with Joanna about politics. If she could not join the faction opposing that of her boyfriend and her brother, as she'd said, it didn't seem likely. It saddened her, for Joanna was quickly becoming a friend and Sloane wished that she could embrace her own opinion without worrying about her brother's or that Auror of her's. Yet, it was good to know that she was leaning towards the Dark Lord's cause, if so hesitantly. She filed the information in her mind, knowing it would be useful someday. Now, though, was not the time to push it any further, she thought. If she insisted, she might scare Joanna off. "We all hope it will end soon, don't we? It is such distressing times. Which is why, I admit, our painting and gardening sessions do me so much good. After a week reporting news of the war, this beauty," she made an all-encompassing gesture with one hand towards the greenhouse, the plants and Joanna's easel, "is what I need." Joanna smiled. She looked forward to the weekends because it was so enjoyable to paint and to talk to Sloane about anything. Today's discussion had been different, but Joanna was glad for it as she had gotten out that she sometimes agreed with the Death Eaters. "This is a great way to relax. I can't imagine what it must be like to report the news every day. I'm glad that I get to help with this." She enjoyed having this friendship with Sloane and wanted that and their gardening/painting sessions to last a long time. "I've noticed that I don't get as frustrated when it comes to painting here as I did just trying to get a landscape right during the summer. So it is helpful for me too. And thank you for listening, Sloane. I appreciate it." Sloane had finished repotting the plant she'd been working on. "It's beneficial to both of us, I'd say," she concluded with a warm smile as she watered it. "Now tell me, how's this painting progressing? Have I told you that I'll take with me the one you gave me last week when I'll visit my friend Sarah for tea later today, to show her. She's just as passionate about Herbology as I am and I'm sure she'll love it." "I think it is progressing rather well." Joanna thought she would have been further along if she hadn't brought up such a topic, but that didn't matter. She had the right colours for the flowers she was painting and there wasn't much work left to do. "Have a look for yourself." Joanna moved the easel so that Sloane could see how it was progressing herself. "What do you think?" Joanna was going to see Sarah that afternoon as well at the memorial service. It was that reason she had come earlier so that she could leave earlier for it. "Oh no, you didn't. I do hope that she does love it, though I too am sure she will if she's as passionate about Herbology as you are. I'll be seeing her this afternoon too, but obviously in a different setting." Putting down her watering can, Sloane walked up to the easel to admire the painting Joanna was working on. "It'll be absolutely gorgeous," she complimented her friend sincerely. "Sarah would agree with me, I'm sure. She might even like it so much that she'd order a painting of her own..." |