InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "There are voices in my head"

Jason didn’t think his day would turn out this way. There was a standard invite to a business lunch at a private room in the Three Broomsticks with Hermanus Angeline and his associates after an event. He had still been on a high from his performance - fifth place and upsetting the world championship ranking by knocking Mikel Stöm out of scoring position. Yeah, he didn’t do half bad. Plus Flemming was a hoot to spend more time with, young and inexperienced, but definitely going places.

The whole Quesada affair didn’t hurt either.

With the tension from the Prophet letters this week and then showing up to the opening ceremony decked out in neon pink, Jason didn’t expect it to go unmentioned. He wasn’t anticipating being politely chewed out by Hermanus Angeline once the meal and formal meeting was over. Jason should have cared, should have taken to heart that Angeline was disappointed he had ‘failed to consider the widespread political and social impact of his actions.’

Of course, that was the furthest thing from the truth. Jason thought every bit of this through ad nauseum.

“With all due respect, sir, while I am a citizen of the United Kingdom racing in an international event, I am not an ambassador for my country. I still retain my rights as a private entity, especially as I have no one to answer to but my sponsors.” His voice was firm, certain. Jason wasn’t some young kid who needed to be scolded. “If my actions reflect poorly on the United Kingdom, perhaps we ought to consider if the political and social climate of the United Kingdom isn’t to blame.”

Jason waited a moment for Angeline to say something else. “If that will be all, I do have other engagements to attend to.” He looked pointedly at Percy Weasley who seemed to be just watching on at the whole affair, almost daring him to say something.

Percy, for his part, had mostly spent the day watching and observing the proceedings. Broom Racing was a different sport entirely from Quidditch and one that he, admittedly, did not follow with any regularity. However, since the Winter Solstice Race was an international event, it only made sense that he shadow Angeline before he took on the task of organizing British representation during the European Cup. The less said about his experience regarding the Triwizard Tournament the better.

It did not help that Angeline was giving Jason King a dressing down while others were present. It didn't matter if it was very polite one, cloaked in the carefully approved dialogue that marked someone as having been in politics for a standard amount of time, one knew never to do so when others not immediately involved in the situation were present.

He would have stepped in anyway, but King's look provided him the perfect opportunity. "Hermanus," Percy stepped forward, arms extended apologetically, "I am terribly sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak with Mr. King about a matter concerning Games and Sports. If you don't mind?" Not that Percy was giving his fellow Ministry worker much of a chance to object. He already started to maneuver racer slash Quidditch player to a more private area.

Jason flashed Angeline a smile. He barely knew Percy, but he would take the exit when given, also when it carried more grace than he was capable of providing at the moment. Once they were away from everyone else he gave Percy a more honest smile. “Thank you for the save, assuming it was actually a save.”

Percy kept his face impassive. "If I had any reason to address your behavior, which I do not, Mr. King, I would hardly choose a venue such as this to do so." Proprietary was something he valued, in addition to discretion. "But since I have a moment of your time, I did want to pass along my… admiration for your recent letter to the editors of the Prophet."

Admiration was not the right word Percy was looking for, but it was the best he could come up with under the circumstances. He was here as a member of the Ministry, and could not let his personal feelings be represented in an official capacity. "I know several who found it very inspiring." Including his assistant, a recent graduate of Hogwarts and a muggleborn herself, and his mother, who he had to convince that maybe Jason and the other muggleborn individuals did not necessarily need freshly knit pink scarves.

“Well, I did feel rather singled out by Mr MacFarlane and found it only appropriate to respond in kind with my story.” Jason could recite that line from memory - Players who divide their loyalties by wearing black and white AND pink are, by definition, not giving their all to their team. “What color I chose to wear doesn’t impact how I fly. At the very least the numbers support that.”

"No it does not," Percy agreed. Hamish MacFarlane, for all of his brilliance on the pitch, could be rather short sighted at times in Percy's opinion. To think that politics had no place in Quidditch was ludacris. Good Godric, the BIL was filled with formal and informal politicking and that didn't even get down to internal team dynamics. "However, I do hope that by sharing your story others will feel emboldened to share theirs. Not everyone is like my brother and his friends who are outright asked."

“That right there, is exactly what I am hoping to create.” Jason was too well practiced at this now, turning any passing comment into a platform. “There are too many stories that not only be told, but be heard from the muggleborn perspective, but from those with family ties to death eaters, those not empowered to act, and even those who fell in line with the Death Eaters.”

“Of there are also inherent in asking people to tell their stories and we can look to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as evidence of that, but we’re not going to get any better if we don’t change the discourse.”

"Truth and Reconciliation Commission," Percy murmured as he wracked his brain for the reference. The name certainly sounded familiar, but from where he could not immediately recall. "Please forgive me, I know it's from relatively recent Muggle history, but I cannot name the country."

Percy himself was not particularly interested in sharing his story, mostly because it had already been written for him. He had long given up trying to fight against the Weasley tide. The oncoming storm was far easier to maneuver against.

“South Africa.” Jason offered simply. “The final report came out in Autumn 1998.” Then just to fill in the blanks, Jason decided to give a short history lesson. “Following the Apartheid — a system institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination lasting almost 50 years— both victims and perpetrators of violence gave testimony. The latter of which created some complication as the perpetrators were given amnesty in exchange for their testimony.

“The goal was to bring out the truth, but it was somewhat controversial. There has been a number of interesting thought pieces about the benefits and risks of restorative versus retributive justice.” Jason really didn’t think himself as an enthused consumer of history or politics, but on this one had started to do his homework. “I think if the wizarding world wishes to move on and become better, we could stand to take some cues from our non-magical counterparts.”

Nodding, Percy appreciated the short lesson and cue when it came to the date. He had read something about it in the muggle newspapers, but those months had been fraught with the wizarding world's own recovery. Or the beginning of recovery. "You are not the only one who feels that way." He paused, considering his next words carefully. "I am not sure how widely known this is, but during the Scrimegeor administration Minister Shacklebolt worked closely with the Muggle Prime Minister and found the experience very informative."

That was neither confirming nor denying Kingsley Shacklebolt's interests in adopting Muggle ideas, but it certainly allowed for the opportunity to entertain them. What Jason King and his lot did with that opportunity was up to them.

Jason raised an eyebrow, taking interest in that comment. His own feelings toward the current Minister of Magic had been largely related to the fact that he was a black man -- and admittedly race didn’t quite mean the same thing as it did in the magical world as it did the non-magical, but Jason lived at an intersection of those two worlds. “And what might it take to get an audience with Minister Shacklebolt?”

Much less than it took to meet with Fudge or Scrimegeour, Percy could say with some certainty, but he kept that particular thought to himself. It never boded well when someone spoke ill of their former superiors, especially when the individuals in questions were not available to defend themselves. "While I cannot make any guarantees, Minister Shacklebolt and my family have a history," an understatement certainly, "I would be happy to put in a good word."

Although he wasn’t sure how he might approach an audience with the Minister, it wouldn’t hurt to have that on the docket. Of course that meant there might have to be more of a plan in place. Well, he would certainly be busy over the quid season break. “That would be appreciated,” said Jason. “I certainly feel like this movement is bigger than me, and if the plan is to actually change the discourse of the wizarding realm it might be a good idea to first speak with the Minister of Magic.”

Percy nodded. If they had been seated he would have steepled his fingers under his chin, but for now they remained tucked firmly in his robes pockets. "Any movement worth a grain of salt is bigger than one person." For good or for ill. It would be easier if all of their troubles had been washed away with Voldemort's second demise, but even now, well over a year since the Dark Lord's defeat, the Ministry was still battling the insidious dregs of his followers and those of a similar mind.

"Have you reached out to other individuals who may be of a similar mind?" The Quidditch players had made themselves obvious, but there were other muggleborns with prominent voices. Hermione Granger for example. Or those who would have been previously labeled blood traitors. "The more people you have signed on to your cause the more the Minister is likely to listen."

Jason nodded. “I have been speaking with a number of other muggleborns and disenfranchised people.” That was at least one part in making sure to go each and every quid match over the last block, to sit, answer questions, and hear people. Too long have “However, I fully admit we are still an evolving group and eager to bring more voices with various backgrounds to the table.” Jason wasn’t sure what side of the fold Percy fell on, but he at least appeared to be be helpful.

Percy gave a mild sound of approval, not that Jason or any of his other compatriots needed it. “Any backgrounds in particular?” Percy leaned forward, interested in the answer. Muggleborns were an obvious start, but one evening his sister in law had given him an inside account of having so-called being heritage. There was of course, Hagrid, as well. Would they and those like them eventually be included?

“To be perfectly honest, we need more people with strength in law and politics. Anyone who has been disenfranchised by wizarding society has a seat at my table.” It was the easy answer and most obvious answer. Yes, it was about muggleborns first, but only because he was one, he knew that story. “I am sure you are more familiar with the progressive movements in the 1960s and 70s. The muggleborn struggle might be unique, but it not the only one.”

"The Squib Rights Marches during Jenkins' time," Percy supplied, unsure if that's what Jason was referring to. "My mother has a cousin…" he trailed off, realizing beyond the fact that the man was born a squib, he didn't know anything about him. He would ask his mother about him when he saw her next. "You may want to speak with the Society for the Support of Squibs as well as the Society for the Reformation of Hags. If you want to include other disenfranchised segments of the population."

Truthfully, Percy could not be sure if Jason wanted his suggestions or not. As they had already been made there was no way to take them back. "Please let me know if I can be of assistance in any way."

Jason nodded, making note of those two organizations. He imagined he would be a busy man over the quidditch season break. “Thank you for the conversation, and also for saving me from Angeline. I will certainly be in touch if anything arises, but please know that goes both ways.”