Pure But Changed

A small chuckle falls from his lips, it’s warmth almost reaches his eyes, “Tell her she needs an appointment,” he jests back, “– she doesn’t get special admittance just because she’s young and under five feet, if word got out I’d have Goblins of the Gringotts committee barging through my door in a minute.” Terry looks down at his desk – it was cluttered that’s for sure, but he knew where everything was even in this mess. But still, perhaps Daphne was right. “Someone?” Terry says with a tsk, he raises his wand and flicks as he mutters an incantation. Every book, pen, and parchment aligned back into it’s proper place, “– don’t tell me you do all your tidying manually. That sounds utterly exhausting and…muggle.”

‘What ifs’ are the questions that have kept Terry’s career afloat all these years, and here is where he contradicted with Daphne. It was a ‘what if’ that lead to the creation of the Technomagical Initiative, and that was getting the Ministry of Magic somewhere. “We cannot be naïve or idealistic in such matters, we must look at it from all angles. Your heart is in the right place, but the Ministry of Magic cannot afford a financial or moral assault at this stage.” Terry pauses, “Unless, for the compensation problem, we don’t commute sentences already passed and the new laws only apply from the date passed. That keeps both the integrity of the Wizengamot and our treasury intact.” It is harsh, but strategically sound – thought he could already feel like disappointment pooling within her, and his words reflected off of Daphne and back onto him with how heartless and cold he sounded. “Another option is we allow the incarcerated to appeal their sentences to be tried again, but under a no compensation bylaw.” Still, Terry stands his ground firmly, “Besides that, my point is that decisions will have to be made regarding this, a committee would have to be formed and ratified by all sitting members of the Wizengamot. I’m assuming the Liberal Magical Party will want to lead here… my concern is that your party’s ambition for progressive policies overshadow the need of the situation.” At her statement a small thin-lipped smile graces his face, “Don’t be too hard on the old guard, Daphne. That may be us before too long.” 

“Alright, who?” Terry asks pointedly, he needed names and ranks to see how much this want for change and reformation had taken root – and to measure if it was in fact a cause to get behind. “You’ve been in this Ministry long enough to understand how the wheels turn, and they turn slow if you don’t grease them properly. Change can be accomplished – this muggle technology fiasco is a testament to how being stagnant only hurts us – but it must happen in increments, especially this, otherwise it will overwhelm the court.”

“Oh I think your secretary would just let her pass,” Daphne smiled. “She’s a bit soft I think, she would just pretend not to see her and suddenly you’d have her in your office,” knowing her daughter she would as well. She’d find a way in anywhere. “Since when did you get bothered by goblins,” just the thought amused her. They weren’t the friendliest she would admit to that, going to the bank was always a nightmare.

Watching as he tied his desk she had to laugh “Since when did you know householding spells. Terrence Boot doing the cleaning. No I don’t, I’ve never dusted in my life. My parnets still have elves in their hosuehold. Some won’t give up their old traditions. I’m teaching my daughter to put away her own things though. I don’t plan on keeping them,” that was a fact. Household spells would have to do. Not even in Paris, they had someone do it for them. 

Listening to him she nodded at his words. They of course would never fully agree, but she had to admit there were truth to what he was saying. They didn’t have the money to give everyone a compensation, but they could maybe do something else. “I can see how they either getting released or having their case looked at again is something. I’m just worried that the pool of new courtcases will cost more than we can afford,” she was far from oblivious to the amount of money things cost. Compensation and court cases cost money. Just like in the muggle world. Perhaps more.

Scoffing at the world comittee “You and I know one will never get anywhere. It just drag on and on until they either run out of time or jst decide it’s not worth it,” she had already aired some ideas to Shacklebolt, and she knew she would gain support among her own part at least. Smiling as he asked for names she shook her head “I won’t give you any names just of now. I have to talk to the right people in my party first,” otherwise it would be buried. “I’ll notify you as soon as I have a list of people I know will support it,” looking behind him out the window she didn’t understand why just other offices were their view. “This machine already runs slow enough as it is. I don’t think more grease will help here....” she sighed “In truth my office isn’t safe anymore. I found some damage to the lock of my desk. Someone clearly wants whatever I keep in there and I can’t take them home with me. That’s why I’m not giving you a list. I don’t want to cause toruble for anyone.”

“Ah, she has good company in Draco and his son.” Terry smiles. There is an imperceptible ease in his voice, Daphne seems to be unaware of his association with her estranged sister - and he’d like to keep it that way. He abandons this line of questioning to avoid further suspicion, and moves on to the next thing on the agenda: Schooling. “If you’re concerned about safety, the Chamber has been sealed entirely by Aurors, and there’s safety and protection spells all around the castle.” Terry speaks with assurance, his eyes glint slightly in the dim light, “Hogwarts is safe.” His lips press into a thin-lipped smile, “Don’t feel too bad about it, it probably wasn’t a lie.” He gestures to the parchments and papers littered around his desk in an organised mess, “I am a very busy man.” Terry jests, although it is true. He’s often here, sitting at his desk until odd hours in the night.

“You have a point,” Terry nods, “- although plenty of fines are already in place for minor misdemeanours. Sentences to Azkaban are reviewed on a case by case basis to by the Wizegamot. If I understand your request for reform it’s finding adequate and suitable punishment for the middle crimes - those in limbo between the petty small-time thieves and the unforgivable murders. That’s a large bracket.” He pauses momentarily, “And if we do implement even smaller sentence for crimes within that bracket, how are we to deal with the implications of those sentenced prior to the reform?” While people liked to be ten steps ahead, Terry preferred to be twenty steps ahead and then two more for good measure. “What happens when prisoners are released due to commuted sentences and demand compensation?Not to mention, we’d be undermining sentencing decisions made by the existing Wizengamot. ” “And in there lies your battle.” The Ministry was in better shape that the years before, still recovering from the economic blows, but still prosperous under Minister Granger’s leadership. But just because money is available, that money will be allocated to your desired program. You had to do the dance; courting politicians across benches, greasing palms will Galleons and pleasantries when required. And to Terry’s knowledge, this reformation would be one applauded and rallied for by the public - but despised behind the doors of the Wizengamot. Nobody likes change, even if it is good much-needed change in the world. Especially politicians, this one included. Still, for the sake of bipartisanship, Terry decides to entertain the idea, “Do you have a plan to whip support?” At her remark, Terry scoffs slightly, “The No-Contact Statutes have been expensive, I agree, but they have been put in place for the security of our nation, from threats within and around. Think of it as an investment rather than a burden.”

Hogwarts is safe. So she thought once too. Having heard that there was no place safer than their school. It wasn’t so safe after all. With the same sentiments rising once again, Daphne suddenly thought that perhaps it wasn’t the best place for her daughter. Not only was Amélie her only child, but also all that was left of Pierre. “I’ll let her run in next time to see if you’re ctually busy or just hiding,” she returned the jest. Sometimes Daphne would just hide in her office, just to get an hour without someone wanting a signature or want to talk her into a new deal. “You should get someone to clean up your desk,” how did he even find anything in the mess.

“If they are looking for compensation it just proves that we didn’t do our job right,” She didn’t want to think of the thousands of souls who had suffered in that place. “If we have to think what if’s all the time then we don’t get anywhere Terry,” Daphne was well aware of all the things that would happen if they did change things around, but as of now it was no other choice than to just do it. It would take years to get anything sorted, and perhaps they would have time to release those that didn’t need to still be incarcirated.

“Someone has to raise the question, if nobody asks or tries to change things or do anything, then nothing will get done. We’ll be walking the same path as always, and nobody decides to be that person. We both know what happens when nobody stand up to something,” this was a hill she was prepared to die on it seemed.  “Several of the members should have left decades ago, they belong to a world that isn’t there anymore,” she brushed some hair behind her ear.

“I do, I know for a fact that there are members who are willing to at least look at the idea of a change. If nobody is willing to change anything then why do I bother going to any seassions?” it was true. It was frustrating how people never changed. Deciding not to answer him, she wasn’t going to get into a discussion. They had lost that battle, but not the war.

Terry chuckles softly, remembering a time he used to write to Kingsley on the bills, policies, and amendments he wanted to put forth with his blessing, “I suppose one more won’t bother him then.” Terry reaches for the document, taking it back into his safe careful hands and away from any potential tea spillage. He’s done it himself countless times to expect more of anyone else, a tragedy forecasted should be a tragedy avoided. 

Daphne spoke so candidly, Terry was a little surprise. He’d accounted for a ‘they’re well’, not the barrage of insults thrown so casually at her parents. He notices her sister Astoria has escaped the line of inquiry, he clears his throat softly, “And your sister, Astoria? I trust she is well too.” Terry takes another sip of his tea, “Hogwarts does have an outstanding curriculum that prepares you for the very worst of this world. British education isn’t all that bad. At least it’s not Durmstrang.” Terry could never imagine himself as a father, much be in the same situation choosing between two schools, but he tries to quell her worries as much as he can. Her next sentence catches Terry a little off-guard, he’s not usually likeable as it is, much less to children. They find him serious, brooding, and boring. “Ah, well, she’s a charming young lady herself.” 

“That makes sense.” Terry concedes. The muggles have have a clue or two after all, “I suppose the decide by categorising the charge of the crime and allotting the required sentence. We could attempt to do the same, lesser crimes receive fines or lesser sentences.” As Terry begins to think on the matter, he notes that the matter of funding would play an important part in the reform. “And then there’s the matter of funding.” Terry muses, “Funding to build, and funding to sustain. Not to mention the rigorous training we would have to provide for staff and Aurors.” 

“I wouldn’t know,” Daphne shrugged when he asked about her sister. “I sometimes speak to my brother-in-law, it’s mostly for my daughters sake. She loves her uncle,” she added. It was true, their son and her daughter were close enough in age, and she did adore her uncle. Other than that she didn’t see or speak to her sisters family.

“You can say that we aren’t that close,” it was true. She wouldn’t let anything happen to her beastly family, but she wasn’t going to spend much time thinking about them. “I do plan on sending her to Hogwarts, even my late husband was on board for that. The French one is just too big for my liking. She’ll have a much better time here,” if her in-laws were planning on taking her somewhere else, they would have to do it over her dead body.

“She really does like you, I’ll let her come see you next time she’s around. Last time I had to tell a white lie and say you were probably busy,” she gave him a smile. As he went back to work she nodded “I think that would work better. To most a fine or a small sentence would be enough. Most of us don’t go around casting unforgivable curses or mudering,” Daphne crossed her legs again “We have plenty of funding, they just have to decide to put it in the right place. As of now it feels as if they’re throwing money out the window. Which is a fitting muggle expression I like.”

“This is just a small proposal to get our two camps talking,” Terry points to the parchment in Daphne’s hand, “– i’m sure the details can be negotiated and detailed as per our liking.” he smirks, “It would greatly benefit us all if our two parties were supportive of each other’s initiatives.” Quid pro quo – he was sure the question was swivelling around Daphne’s mind. What political deal isn’t a case of ‘you scratch my back, i’ll scratch yours’? “And what better than to start one together. I hope to discuss this proposition with Shacklebolt too.” 

Terry wasn’t opposed to mixing business with his personal life, in fact it came in rather handy at times, having a connection such as Daphne sitting across the aisle. He was glad they were on amicable terms, it meant he could get things done and have a functional relationship with an ex-girlfriend. Sometimes he’s so caught up with work and pushing things through he forgets to ask: “How’s the family?” Terry wasn’t particularly close with Daphne, but enough to know that she had a deceased husband and a young daughter. While the 

And her words he grimaces, and mutters under his breath, “Well, I could think of some deserving of such a fate.” He could think of more than some. After all, there were no shortage of Death Eaters during the Wizarding Wars committing despicable acts. Voldemort struck fear into their hearts, and while Dumbledore was one of the greatest wizards of all time, he didn’t inspire the discipline and order a sentence to Azkaban would. “Baby steps,” Terry says, taking another sip of his tea, “Let’s start with structure…could you elaborate more on the Muggle model?”

If he was willing to get his party on the side of this, it made her wonder what he would ask in return. Daphne hoped he knew that they wouldn’t get more votes on more restrictions. Her father was, of course, a big fan of the whole thing he wanted to keep the muggles as far away from them as possible. “I’m sure Kingsley is open to the idea, the poor man has had to suffer through my countless owls about reforms I want doing,” Daphne picked up the saucer again as the document was placed back onto his desk.

It had been terrifying when she had seen him for the first time when she entered the Ministry for her first day. Her daughter was only four at the time, a recent widow and suddenly having to face the mistakes of her past was far from the easiest. If she remembered correctly she almost ran away from him. A twitch of her brow as he asked about her family.

“My mother is as she always has been. Completely useless and my father is still a beast,” Daphne put the saucer on his desk. “I went to visit Pierre’s parents with her. They are still frowning at the prospect of English education for her,” she didn’t go into more detail than that, he didn’t need the details. “She likes you, you know,” Daphne looked at Terry with a weak smile. Her daughter always wanted to see him whenever she came to the Ministry with her.

Looking at him as she heard what he said she chose not to comment on it. Her sister had married one of the Death Eaters that got away. It also made her wonder if he had ever wished they came for her family as well after the last war. “Well,” she picked up the saucer again to finish her first cup. “The muggles have them separated depending on what level of security they have. Murderers, rapists and other more serious crimes are in higher security parts. People with lesser crimes are under a lower security regime.”

Character development task 01 || Listen here

A song that encompasses your character’s essence in while they were attending Hogwarts.

Caution - The Killers

Coming from a neglectful home, Daphne was the person who felt the wrath of her father. All she wanted was to get out and make her own life. The song tells the story about a girl who has decided to take a great risk, but also knowing it can go terribly wrong. For her it was to leave the etablished and privillaged pureblood life and views for a life where she could make her own decisions.

Their feelings towards the Battle of Hogwarts, or its aftermath.

Youth - Daughter

The song is about loss and how something like that can become a big part of someones life. Daphne often reflected on the meaningless loss of life during the war. How her views mirrored those who took those lives. “The Lovers that Went Wrong”. Was the regret of losing her first love, how the war tore them apart. After the war, she was out of the Greengrass household as soon as she could get herself a job. The war and the battle of Hogwarts haunted her for years afterwards. She took it upon herself to keep a group of young students safe and fought two Death Eaters by herself. That’s also the day she realised she was going to die one day and truly lost her innocense. She felt like she was one of the lucky ones who could walk away with her life intact.

Your character’s most major or pivotal life event

Some Die Young - Laleh

In 2014 at the age of 34 Daphne became a widow. Her husband Pierre died a horrible death from illness. He was also 34, and died decades before his time. The song mirrors her wanting to keep Pierre alive for herself and their only child through the memories and stories of him. After he died she was in a dark place for a very long time, and it still hangs over her like a constant black cloud. She would beg him as he was dying to not leave her. The anger over his early death is something she will never shake, nor the scar of the open wound it left. It also reminds her of all those who died during the war who died before their time. Her regret for not listening to her premonition, that she tried to tell herself it was lying. Telling herself she could have prevented it.

A song that encompasses your character’s essence in the present.

Always Remember Us This Way - Lady Gaga

Would the world be a better place without Azkaban?

While the Liberal Magical Party would say yes without a doubt and members of the Wizarding Reformist Party would agree (though on varying levels), Terry privately disagrees. 

To him, the real question is: Is it better to be feared or to be loved?

Love has no place in government. Fear, though – - fear is useful, fear is effective, and Azkaban - depicted to be worse than death - is the most feared fate in all of Great Britain and Ireland. A looming consequence that preys on the mind of every witch and wizard, and keeps law-abiding citizens law-abiding. Fear can influence. With the recent breaches and the resurgence of ring-wing politics, order must be maintained by any means necessary. The threat of exposure is no joke. Dismantling the very institution that keeps the wixen population from breaking the law out of fear, is well, foolish. Doing it in the name of peace and prosperity is even more so. 

Despite his Maccahvelian approach, Terry isn’t completely heartless. He doesn’t believe everyone who’s ever graced the halls of Azkaban deserves the treatment. He takes a sip of his tea, and pauses, “Well, if it’s the limelight you desire, we’re happy to share,” Terry says with a small grin, but it quickly changes back into the grim line he wears all too often, “Ah yes,” Azkaban, as horrid, wretched, and dreadful had its place in the structure of the Ministry of Magic, and Terry was not looking to change that any time soon, “– while I share your sympathies and abuse of power is an issue that needs to be dealt with, Azkaban is an instrumental piece in maintaining law and order especially during such unprecedented times. Instead, I propose the reprising of Hebrides.” You can’t please everyone, but Terry can sure try, “Long-forgotten and resigned to the ministerial archives over three hundred years ago, Hebrides was the original plot that was planned to build a prison. I propose we build it as a second prison, manned by Hit-Wix rather than Dementors, to hold those who have committed less severe crimes. Not every misdemeanour is deserving of a Dementor’s Kiss, wouldn’t you agree?” Terry returns his cup to its saucer, “Thoughts?”

Watching him as she could see the wheels turning inside his head. She had a younger member of her party joke that he practically lives in his office. That there was no way he could be human like the rest of us, not someone who worked as much as he did. Daphne wouldn't have such talk in her office. They would get nowhere if they just spent their time bad mouthing the opposite party members. 

As Daphne listened to him, she didn't give much away. If she had it her way, the whole place would be torn down. Something new built. A new system. Not that she didn't want those who chose to break the law just be able to walk away, but literally sucking the life out of someone wasn't the right thing to do. "I'm sure I can convince people to back it in the House. It's in dire need of reform and a facelift," Daphne looked at him. What did he want in return was the big question. 

Having been to Azkaban herself once, she could still remember some of the poor souls who had suffered under the dementors reign. Where nobody seemed to bother with what happened to those who got a one-way ticket there. Only really working for the British Magical government for a mere 6 years, she knew that emotions wouldn't get her anywhere. After all, as a child, she was taught that everyone else was beneath her. That they should fear those who still hold a pure line. 

"No crime should have that as it's sentence Terrence," Daphne said as she sipped her tea. The idea that they let those creatures do that to people made her feel sick. "I still say we tear the whole place to the ground and build a new prison on that lot, I know of it. Structure it as the Muggles do theirs. Some parts are for those who have committed a less serious crime and other parts for those who have committed more serious crimes. Leave that wretched place to finally fall apart."

August 2014. Greengrass Mansion.

Having returned from Paris, Pierre was gone. Buried and she was left behind with their daughter. Amélie had just had her fourth birthday, it had been a few days since she had asked for her father. Perhaps she had somehow realised that he wasn't coming back. The thought of staying in their home in Paris was too much for Daphne to handle. She had boarded up the house and left with Amélie when it was all over. To return to her ancestral family home in the English countryside, to return to the world of her parents. To return to England, the country she ran away from so many years ago.

He snaps his fingers together and a teaset sitting idly on the credenza glides swiftly onto the desk placing it between the two. It knows it’s work, the pot starts to heat and loose tea is dropped in to brew, then the lid clamps shut. At her question Terry slightly raises a brow, a small chuckle escapes his lips. The truth was between the new trade deals with Japan, the Technomagical Intiative taking off, and blackmailing a few MWs into doing his bidding in the house, Terry had his hands full these past couple of months. He’d noticed her absence; but not enough to miss it. Even though she teases jokingly, he knows making the excuse of being a workaholic may not cut it with her. “I certainly missed your views on policy.” He quips back with a small smirk on his face, steering the conversation down a less sentimental and more productive path. Terry slides the parchment over, “We’ve been having a secondary look at Azkaban and it’s severity.” The document is unfinished, a work in progress with little notes scribbled into the margins, but enough to provide a working framework for prison reform. “I think with all the…” How shall he put it? “– attention on the Technomagical Initiative as of late, and the resentment sowing between our two camps, it may be an opportune moment to in fact come together and make the world a slightly better place.”

Having been gone for a while, it was a combination of taking her daughter to see her French grandparents. They still didn’t like the thought of their granddaughter attending Hogwarts rather than Beauxbatons. There had also been plenty of work. Some French citizens had tried to inflintrate some departments in the British Ministry, and some French extremists had made the trip across the Channel. As a former diplomat she was asked to speak to her French counterparts, it gave them a little break from her parents. It also gave her time with her daughter, the throught of her being sent off to school terrified her. Taking her cup when the tea was finished, she raised her eyebrow at his words. Looking at the parchment that was passed to her as she sipped her tea, letting go of the saucer as it floated in the air next to her, she took the paper from his desk.

“I’ve been asking for this for a long time Terry. This Muggle buisness is taking too much time in the House. It might have gotten better after we got rid of the Dementors, but there are documented cases of Aurors abusing their power. This Technological Initiative is getting too much attention,“ Reading the paper “Also why are we still keeping that wretched place as a prison. It makes us as bad as the Dark Ages.”

No matter how vigorously he rubbed at his cheek, from experience he knew even if the colour would fade that the outline would remain. Terry was just thankful that he was presently divorced from Clarisse, otherwise, he’d have the nearest vase hurled at his head on-sight of it. Terry takes his seat at his bureau; one side with papers neatly stacked, and the other half in disarray. with parchments and books layered over each other. He picks a scroll from the pile – a new bill the Wizarding Reformist Party are looking to introduce that may benefit from bi-partisan support, “Ah, well, before we cut to the chase right away,” Terry skims over the document’s contents, “– may I offer you some tea?”

Seeing him struggle to remove her mark, she would get it off him before she left. Daphne couldn’t imagine him wanting to walk around with that on his face. Pierre didn’t always enjoy it either when she did it, it was more that he had to face some work matters with some bright red marks on his face. Shifting her gaze from the man to the scroll he moved it seemed that perhaps this wasn’t just a social call. “Tea sounds lovely thank you,” her gaze following the movements of the man in front of her. She still remembered the shock of seeing the boy she knew having grow to become a man. “You didn’t ask me to come cause you missed me?” she said amused. Did he ever turn his mind off?

  There was once a time when a wave of anger bubbled within him at the sound of her name. And now twenty years later, she galavants into his office and plants a solid kiss on his cheek. Evidence of it is marked by an outline of Daphne’s lipstick softly imprinted on his skin. Terry winces as she envelopes him into a hug, thinking how if young heart-broken Terry Boot knew of his fate he’d have ran sooner. Terry is not one to enjoy being this intimate, not with a colleague at work, and especially not with a married ex-girlfriend. His interpersonal relationships are layered with strict limitations and boundaries, to compliment the many he pushes in his line of work. But today he’s in a forgiving mood; not that Daphne Greengrass’ affection is ever blatantly rejected. “You were gone?” he says dismissively, smudging away the lipstick on his face. Terry smirks, taking a step back as she releases him from the embrace, “I hardly noticed.”

“Oh, I hardly believe that,” Daphne couldn’t help but smile as he rubbed her lip print off. Had she chosen the shade she had cause she knew it was the favourite? Perhaps. Placing her coat over the back of the chair as she sat down she crossed her legs. She had always liked the chairs. Daphne could remember the very first time she stepped into his office, how nervous she was. After all, then she hadn’t seen him since they were seventeen. It had also been one of her first days after her appointment to the Wizengamot. Afraid that perhaps he would throw her out or curse her. Now she was sitting in his office.

"Now, I do wonder why you have honoured me with a visit to your office." Crossing her hands in her lap her blue eyes found his across the desk.

Daphne Greengrass had changed since her teenage years. Her parents and her family strongly belived in blood purity and supremacy. They had even delighted over the fact that she dated a pureblood during her sixth year. That didn’t end well, words were spoken that she didn’t want to think about. Words she couldn’t take back no matter what. As she got older and after she met her husband she changed. Her late husband was a good man, he was pureblood like her but had a liberal view. He was what inspired her to choose the party she represented.

It had been a while since Daphne had seen Terry. They had somehow managed to make up as adults. After having been to France with her daughter for a few weeks, she couldn’t turn down his invitation. Her usual red shoes and matching lipstick is what most saw. Followed by the long strawberry blonde hair and big blue eyes. Behind it all, she knew she was a good politician. Someone who burned for her cause, and someone who cared.

Knocking on the door before stepping in Daphne smiled when she saw him “How lovely to see you,” walking over as she always did. Her arms wrapped around him in an embrace and a kiss planted on his cheek “You look good. I hope they have been treating you well while I was away.” Most men didn’t get such a greeting, but Terry had earned his. Even if perhaps it wasn’t his favourite thing.