21 March 2010

My colleague, Mr. Forrester is surely mistaken that all one needs to survive a dementor attack is family, as I can assure him that my nephews had each other by their side.  Is there a bond stronger than a twins’?  Perhaps the Department of Mysteries knows.  Regardless, they could have used the assistance of a stranger that night.  Of course, Mr. Forrester is right that one should not rely on said stranger for protection, but that is why Defense Against the Dark Arts is required for all students at Hogwarts for the first five years. But I for one would welcome the assistance of a specialist who has studied Defense, just as I welcome healers for healing or a potions master for potions.

The insinuation that muggle-borns and half-bloods are more likely to need help or otherwise have less magical knowledge clearly ignores the fact that two of the victims so far are from a family that can trace its magical roots back to the Roman conquest of Britain.  If a lack of magical knowledge leaves one more vulnerable to dementor and other dark attacks what will provide protection? Gareth and Gawain are magically gifted, and have an intelligence and curiosity that the Department of Mysteries has always sought. They had the knowledge; they had family; they had a lifetime of magic; they understood our world as well, and probably better, than most; what else would Mr. Forrester suggest they should have had?

Now, Mr Forrester also takes aim at the rules and regulations of the Ministry, casting those laws that protect and guide us as a barrier to greatness, but conveniently forgets the number of lives lost to unsanctioned and unsafe experimentation throughout history.  The magical creatures maimed and set loose on defenseless muggles and children in the effort to create a new magical species.  Creatures that Ministries around the world are still dealing with today. Healing potions that when given to the sick turned out to be a new form of poison.  Enchanted objects that get lost in the muggle world, leaving destruction and more work for the Ministry to clean up.  Regulations work to keep us both safe and hidden.

As for the suggestion that pure-blooded witches and wizards know what not to do, I do believe Mr. Forrester gives us too much credit.  While at Hogwarts, I saw my fellow students, regardless of blood, act foolishly.  The hospital wing saw as many pure-bloods as it did muggle-borns, though perhaps more Gryffindors than Ravenclaws.  Later in life, during my career in the Wizengamot, I’ve seen plenty of pure-blooded wizards brought in to answer for their less than brilliant ideas.  It was not to long ago that a group of pure-blooded witches and wizards thought to purge our society of witches and wizards of muggle-descent.  Does Mr. Forrester believe that was a stupid thing to do?  If not, I will be speaking to the Minister and the Chief Warlock about expelling him from the Wizengamot.  And perhaps, the reason muggle-borns remain part of our world, despite the attitudes of Mr. Forrester and others, is because they are every bit wizard-kind as those of us who can trace our magical lineage back countless generations and they belong among us, not among muggles.

Of course, if Mr. Forrester would like to chance allowing flagrant breaking of the International Statute of Secrecy, I will happily direct them to his office, or his home if he decides the cramped offices of the Wizengamot are an extravagance the Ministry can ill afford.  If he wants spread the message of the importance of the family, I invite him and Ms. Thermopyro to the Prewett Manor to speak with my brother and his wife, Gawain’s wife, and his siblings, and of course Gareth who thankfully has managed a full recovery while his twin remains in the Emeric Farley Ward[1] for the foreseeable future.  I would also suggest that Mr. Forrester double check his Pure-blood Directory[2], because I don’t see an over abundance of pure-blooded witches or wizards in positions of authority in the Ministry.

1.	Emeric Farley Ward - A long term residence ward on the Creature-Induced Injuries Floor
2.	Pure-blood Directory