InsaneJournal

Current mood:

annoyed

Owls dated 18 March 1998.


To our esteemed Minister,

Bravo on your attempts to curtail youth from its overexuberant ideas of protesting a right which can only seem fair and natural to them. They are, after all, children, and this regime seems intent on proving that even children are not so innocent as one might believe. Incidentally, should you desire my removal to Azkaban, I would that you simply inform Narcissa after the fact, rather than attempt to hold it over her head as a threat. Much cleaner that way.

I do warn you, however, that my family is somewhat of a sticking point: as you recall from the trials, Harry Potter explicitly stated that neither Draco nor Narcissa did anything which furthered Voldemort's efforts, inasmuch as Narcissa lied to protect the Potter boy from Voldemort herself, and Draco was unable to do as bid and kill Dumbledore. I understand that my own actions will, of course, speak to the contrary, but Potter's testimony regarding both their actions should remind you that while not heroes, neither of them are deserving of my fate. And then again, who am I to speak of legality? I am but a humble citizen. "L'état, je ne suis pas." I remain as well

Your humble servant,
Lucius Malfoy



Lucius has perfected a rather neat trick of double-writing his letters. There is no charm upon the words, nothing suspicious to a Ministry official; instead, the wording is coded so that to the ordinary reader it looks like a very long but casual letter, the kind one would send to any relative not in close quarters. Deciphered, however, the contents change to reflect Lucius' true sentiments.

Dear nephew,

As it takes me rather longer than your mother or your aunt to read any news which passes in the journals, I was somewhat a latecomer to the information contained in your last entry. Narcissa did share the contents of her letter from the Ministry, and I can only assume yours was much the same. I fault neither of you for speaking out. It was your right, and you did so eloquently, Teddy. As for the results ... well.

My dear boy, you are quite deservedly angry. I will not repeat any protestations that you ought not to incite further comment, because such a command would be fruitless. At this point, I can only say that I am here, Teddy, and I know your sense of powerlessness. I am one of its principle causes, or at the very least what I stood for is part of those causes.

I would not have you channel that anger inward, Theodore. Bitterness is a poison which you should not imbibe, because in the end it can only weaken you. You are a good lad, and a talented wizard - you cannot allow them to win over you. It seems as if you are trapped, and perhaps you are. But there is always a way. I am loath to use their example against me but it is true: when the movements against the Dark Lord began, they had nothing. They were as powerless as you are now, because the majority of the world did not wish to see what I knew in my heart: the Dark Lord would win, if there was no physical opposition to His side. It began with ones and twos, and would have lost everything if there was no great determination to keep going forward. If one person had not stood, there would have been no one else to flock to, no matter how difficult the times.

You have seen, and your generation will see, prosecutions against those who believed in something else entirely. Whether or not you have the courage to stand for those who did nothing physical except believe ... I am not advocating becoming a martyr for a cause. Do not mistake me in that, my nephew. But these times are going to get much worse before they get better, and knowing that even just one other voice stood out like you did will help those who cannot voice for themselves. We are not often inclined to be so public, those of us in Slytherin, but sometimes speaking out is the best thing anyone can do. It is the most necessary, regardless of the consequences.

I am proud of you, Teddy, and, I will admit, not a little frightened. I do not wish to see you stand in such a light if only because I fear how bright and battering that light can be. I have been in such places. Persecution for one's beliefs is never something easy to stand against, and you have done it. You are doing it.

If you would continue then you will have to face those consequences. You have seen it already; those who claimed friendship and then turned their backs once the so-called 'Chosen One' beckoned them forth - yes, those were new-formed scars. You have done nothing publicly to merit such pain, and they knew it. They deserve the weight of your censure as surely as you deserve praise for standing forth regardless. Never forget that hypocrisy is a bedfellow found in all houses, and all people. But in a select few there is something better which can counter it. I know you will think this rather terribly optimistic for me, but it holds true nonetheless. It is simply a matter of finding that better instinct, and bringing it forth. Loyalty is not an easy thing to forget nor gain, precious one, and that is why they turned on you. It was too new, in the face of old alliances. I do not excuse their behaviour - it was and is despicable - but it is understandable, in its own twisted fashion. I have had to deny loyalties in the face of greater demands. It is not an easy thing.

The main thing I wish for you to gain out of all of this is that I would not see you falter. You have been unneringly strong, and I wish that I could provide more than strength of words alone. But remember: words, and the thoughts and feelings behind them, can be stronger than death itself.

(And on that note, do not ever place yourself in a position where you feel the contrast literally, or, my dear boy, you will face a severe thrashing when next I see you.)

Be safe, and if you need anything, do not hesitate to call on your family. We are your most loyal, at all times. Your cousin is a bit of a hot-head (and we all know where he got that from) but Draco is and always will be a more than ample second. Ones and twos are all it takes to start, Teddy. I remain

Your loving uncle,
Lucius Malfoy