Emmeline Vance, Tinworth personified (emmeline) wrote in thebreach, @ 2010-08-31 13:47:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! log, [1980-08] august, charity burbage, emmeline vance, ezra goldstein |
Who: Ezra Goldstein, Charity Burbage, Emmeline Vance
When: 31 August 1980
Where: Hogsmeade, Scotland
What: A protest in Hogsmeade!
Rating: G
Status: CompleteSo far the protest had been peaceful. People were holding signs and sitting in front of Madame Puddifoot’s. But there had been no violence. Which was good. There was no need to add fuel to the fire. Or give those who objected to muggleborns any credence to their theories that muggleborns were out of control.
Ezra wasn’t here to protest; it wouldn’t be fitting, considering his position. However, his boss had suggested he go to Hogsmeade to keep an eye on things.
Charity would insist, should anyone ask, that she was out strolling and shopping through town and unintentionally came across the protest outside of the tea shop. Truth was, after her Letter to the Editor made the paper a couple days back, some of her old mates from the movement owled her to thank her and see if she was interested in getting involved again. They told her that the sit in was planned, but she hadn’t decided if she would join.
Her curiosity had gotten the best of her, however, which is how she ended up in Hogsmeade in the end. As she was deciding whether or not to join the ranks or continue to keep her more low key profile, she noticed a colleague and friend nearby.
“Observin’ the muggleborns in their natural habitat?” she whispered with a wry quirk of her mouth so only Ezra could hear her. She knew he would take it as the light joke she intended it to be. “Part of a work assignment, perhaps?”
Ezra turned at the sound of a familiar voice. “Well, the Muggle Liaison Office ought to know about muggles first hand. So they sent me.” He grinned. “Hello, Charity. And I’m just here keeping an eye on things. Unofficially official.”
Raising an eyebrow, he inquired in what capacity she was here.
“Ay, well, I suppose tha’s all in order then.” Charity shared the grin with Ezra until his eyes landed expectantly on her answer. She felt as if he knew why she really was here and that he’d see through any excuse. “I’m jus’ in town to do a bit of shoppin’, actually. Nothin’ terribly excitin’, nothin’ official.” Never mind that it was work hours or that her list was mostly of things that she had consistently put off attending to for months now.
Emmeline had gotten off work early. It had surprised her Department head that she had even asked, normally she was one of the last to leave. She had come with Doris, who had seen some friends else where and gone off to check on them. She had her eyes out for Elladora’s sister, knowing that it would be important to keep a lookout on her if she was around.
She saw Charity and smiled at her, walking over, being very quiet at first, not wanting to distrub her conversation. “Excuse me,” she said. “I just wanted to say that I really like the letter you wrote to the Daily Prophet.”
Charity looked over at the new person and smiled at Emmeline glad for more than the distraction the younger woman provided. Ezra looked as if he was about to question Charity’s excuse and she was happy to turn her attention elsewhere for a moment.
“Thank you. I dinnae realise how many people read the letters section of the Prophet until jus’ recently. Suddenly everyone has an opinion though.” Charity shrugged and smiled. There had been a couple rude remarks, but on the whole things were quite positive. “Best when people agree wi’ the sentiment though.”
Ezra was about to comment on the lucky coincidence that had brought Charity to Hogsmeade for shopping on the very same day that a protest was being held. Fortunately, she was saved by the approach of a young woman. He vaguely recognized her. From the Ministry cafeteria, he thought.
“It was a good letter. And needed to be said,” he agreed. Then he turned to Charity’s admirer. “Ezra Goldstein, Muggle Liaison Office,” he introduced himself. “You don’t happen to work at the Ministry by any chance, do you?”
“I do,” said Emmeline. She held out her hand. “Emmeline Vance, Unspeakable. I’ve been addressing some people over the journals. Unfortunately, common sense doesn’t taste good to some people.” She looked around at the growing number of people. “This seems to be fairly successful, though. I’m glad that plenty of people are coming.” And despite the misgivings of many others, it didn’t seem look as though it would become violent.
Ezra recognized the name. The fact that not only was the Department of Mysteries employing a Muggleborn, but that she was also willing to publicly identify herself as one spoke well. “And no, there does seem to be a mob mentality about some things unfortunately,” he agreed. “I’m also glad that it’s peaceful.” Whether it would do any good remained to be seen.
“Me too,” Emmeline admitted. “I was afraid it wouldn’t stay peaceful. I came here because I don’t want to just sit by, but I don’t fancy being involved with anything dangerous at all. But if everyone keeps letting themselves be afraid, then nothing is ever going to change. And public demonstrations like this, if kept peaceful, will remind people that Muggleborns are here, that we’re people and that we deserve our rights.”
Charity smiled at Ezra’s compliment, quite touched that he thought so, as she closely observed the group. There were some familiar faces in the crowd. She knew there would be. It had been at least a year since she last participated in such action, with the exception of her recent letter. The prospect of joining today had been in the back of her mind. The old exhilaration came back to her when she saw her thoughts published. It left her conflicted about what her role should be.
These thoughts went through Charity’s head as she watched the group. “If it’s peaceful, people will take them more seriously. Even in the face of violence. Once the demonstrators turn violent too, they become illegitimate. This cause has to be more important than fighting back.” She was speaking in the abstract. In some ways, it was how she was able to relate to this now.
“And violence only confirms in some people’s minds our second class status.” Reluctantly, with a shrug, he added, “Dunno if it will do any good.” He’d spent the last few years trying to talk shopkeepers out of hanging those damnable signs; he didn’t think he’d persuaded one person yet. The crowd was decent sized though. Perhaps if enough people spoke up, things might change.
He glanced over at Charity, grinning a bit. “D’you miss it at all?”
Charity met Ezra’s eyes for a moment before speaking. She tried not to bring it up all that much that she had been involved. It was cowardly and she knew what she was doing with the letter, that she was reengaging.
“Yes,” she said honestly after a moment. “I don’t miss the uncertainty, but if I can’t say something, who can? If this doesn’t change things, what will?” She pursed her lips slightly and glanced at Emmeline. Charity didn’t know the younger woman as well as Ezra, but she continued anyway. “I’ve been thinking about getting back into it, but ... I don’t know.” She had lost too much last time and nothing promised that this time would be any different.
Ezra nodded, not entirely certain what to say to Charity’s confession. He’d been joking mostly. While he did think it was important that people speak up for what they believed in, he was also aware of what had happened to Charity’s fiance. Before he could say anything, however, there was a shout from the crowd. He looked over to find members of the MLE wading in.
“Charity, good to see you again. Emmeline, nice to meet you. If you’ll excuse me...” he said, hurrying off to see what was going on.