#sec2018

“If you listen to all the songs from Eurovision since its creation you’ll have 73 hours of music straight”

The entire wizarding community was on the edge of their seat as voting to break the historic and unexpected tie began and came to an end. Dozens of interviews were conducted, biting questions thrown at the remaining duo, heated debates and finally the opening of the polls, a ballot with only two names. Was the wizarding world ready for a werewolf undersecretary or would they follow tradition, security and familiarity with an underestimated elite? No one was really sure how this would end, all they could do was watch, weigh answers, view platforms and VOTE. 

The day rolled around where the winner would be announced, a gloomy monday morning, clouds rolling in fat with rain and thunder.  Whoever won would change the way everyone viewed the candidates for minister as well. Would it strengthen or weaken the campaigns of the men fighting for that top spot? It all depended on this result. Not every wix had immersed themselves in the technology given to them so the result was broadcast over many mediums, on the radio, through the papers, even a podcast or two as it was announced on the steps of the ministry with both Remus Lupin and Rodolphus Lestrange in attendance, their teams with them and Helena Rosier and Alecto Carrow standing just in front of the leader they had run for.

The announcer was making a grand speech about history and society but no one was listening, waiting with anticipation coursing through chilled bones. Hopefully they’d say the winner before the sky opened up and covered those too slow to react with icy rain. 

“And finally, I am honored to announce that your new Senior Undersecretary is HELENA ROSIER!!” thunderous applause, some grumbling, and practiced smiles from both sides as Helena was congratulated by Rodolphus and his team, making her way to the podium to accept. Alecto Carrow, to her credit, smiled convincingly and clapped politely, as did Remus Lupin and the Uprising members in attendance. There was no loud protesting, no booing, even if she hadn’t been who they voted for all seemed to accept with dignity the election of Helena as undersecretary. Would her win signify another for the Opposition, did it ensure Rodolphus would be minister or was Helena enough of a middle ground to give confidence in the appointment of Remus Lupin? Only time would tell.

Alecto had meant to attack her brother, to call attention to his abuse in order to keep Helena safer, with a spotlight on him and such intense scrutiny he was less likely to harm her, Alecto knew that from experience. But she also felt Helena had more choices than she believed. It was 2018 for fucks sake, betrothals were arcane to most families at this point and believing she was trapped, as a capable, intelligent and apparently fierce adult was absurd to Alecto. If Helena wanted too she could free her damn self, but she actually seemed to enjoy the ----Alecto wasn’t sure what the right word here was, but again, high risk scenarios that her own choices put her in, that seemed to be what Helena thrived off of. The wizarding world might still be behind muggles in some specific areas but law enforcement, and all the friends Helena seemed to have, and the strength she displayed in openly lying to the world...it just didn’t add up to Alecto. And being verbally assaulted by her, she had immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion, she hadn’t even bothered to ask Alecto what she’d meant by it or why she’d done it, just immediate accusation and blame. She had experienced that her entire life, not being given a chance to defend herself, immediately being guilty of whatever the crime was. Helena might have thought she was right, or righteous and she was certainly entitled to whatever she was feeling but what kind of person went right for You did this thing to me on purpose for this reason and i’m hurt, and i deserve to be hurt, so fuck you.?

It wasn’t a real secret, that the old pureblood families were still abusive, elitist sacks of shit, they were all supposed to support one another, to not put each other through the crap their families had. Alecto had given a poor choice of words, but she’d meant to threaten Amycus and to warn Helena, as if she didn’t know, that her actions were well beyond dangerous and she chose them anyway. Instead of working to remove herself from the Carrow family clutches she had provoked a man she knew would seek retribution. Turning the eyes of the world on Amycus could have kept her safe, but only if she actually wanted to be, and Alecto just wasn’t sure she did. When people remained in situations like that, though she knew abusive relationships weren’t a cakewalk to escape from, for this woman it seemed more a conscious choice than one of fear. She wasn’t even sure why Helena had decided to run, it felt odd. The girl was a Healer, a good one from what she heard and well liked but no background in politics and no public face whatsoever and when the stakes of running were so high why go ahead when others could do a better job?

Perhaps alecto figured she’d lose, after being outed publicly, it would make sense and only go to highlight how deep the prejudice was against halfbreeds and magical creatures. If she had kept her mouth shut, if she hadn’t admitted to being a werewolf, maybe she’d have won. There was really no way to know now. But even if she had won, or if she did now, the consequences of HER choices would not disappear, they’d increase but she had prepared herself for that.

Under Rodolphus as minister she wouldn’t back down from him, not ever and none of his threats would matter because she could take care of herself and she wasn’t under anybody’s thumb. Her thoughts and beliefs were her own but she wouldn’t let him pass laws that appeared to help when they truly oppressed and she’d never stop fighting for the rights of all people in their world, including the ones like him, and the ones that voted for him. ALL magical beings deserved equal rights. And if Remus won, she saw what everyone else did, that perhaps the two most important seats in government would be vulnerable once a month. But wolfsbane was becoming more effective and Severus Snape was working on a cure. Plus they would implement plans for those times and she’d make sure Remus didn’t fold under the pressure or let his personal feelings keep him from governing them all. She was the perfect candidate, the perfect undersecretary, between her background and her platform, and her ability to handle both candidates for minister she should have won perhaps. And it was wrong to believe she had only tied, or lost, because of her admittance but no one wanted to see a half breed in power, they’d do anything to avoid that, including electing a girl who was easily manipulated, who enjoyed dangerous situations and who seemed to be playing at a life she didn’t really want. Someone with that much self denial shouldn’t be given so much power. 

He should have been accustomed to it by now. The blinding flashes of cameras and the endless shouted questions all culminated into a maddening chaos. Ordinary citizens could enjoy their right to privacy, but the Lestranges were no ordinary lot. Merely arriving at the polls became a family affair, each member of their household present - Rabastan, their mother and father, himself, and the soon-to-be Narcissa Lestrange. Each fulfilling their patriotic duty.

As expected, and as had been the case for months now, his fiancee stood by his side, composed and dignified. But the mood between the two of them had changed ever since her revelation of her activities. Now he didn't know what to make of her. So, in a rare and uncharacteristic moment of wisdom, Rodolphus elected to instead steer clear of her warpath. He was beginning to learn that he oughtn't make assumptions about Narcissa after all - that perhaps she was more poison ivy than delicate daisy.

They carried on their charade, though, and the family made a charming picture -- all tall figures and sharp angles. A perfectly unrealistic portrait of the ideal political family.

It was in the quiet solitude of the voting booth that he could shed that facade. A frown twisted his features, and his posture, so perfect before, slouched as he leaned most of his weight on his right foot. Only now, without the flurry of pretense, could he truly consider the decision before him.