Forevermore

Recreation, Quibbler, Dec. issue ii

Christmas is around the corner, and while we may be settling down in warm fires and cozy blankets, the unfortunate truth is there is a significant part of the wizarding world that has yet to find a place to call home. Who are these displaced people, you may wonder since no one has really talked about them yet. Let’s tell you through a Q and A. 

Q : How many people have been displaced during what we are calling the second wizarding war?

A: A total of 206 families were reported to be displaced, within the wizarding community. The muggle number is probably way higher. 

Q: Who are these people who have been displaced? 

A: A multitude of families, including all kinds of blood status (if you’re interested in knowing).

Q: How were they ‘displaced’ exactly? 

A: The best question so far. These were families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by death eaters, because they were Order members, or because they were the wrong blood status, or they’d refused to support Voldemort’s reign. These were wizards and witches who were forced to leave their homes because they were trying to escape the ministry round up of all muggle-borns. These were families that may have been sympathetic to Voldemort’s cause, but ended up being displaced anyway because he was using their properties for his own agenda, or because their homes have been seized by the ministry now. 

Q: Why are they still displaced? Why didn’t they rebuild or just go back to their old homes?

A: Some don’t have the funds to rebuild, some people don’t have the heart to go back to broken homes where their families were tortured or killed, some are afraid to go back to their homes because they feel exposed there since some death eaters are still free. Some are small kids, whose houses have been seized or destroyed, who lost their parents, and now have no place to go. These are just a few of the reasons. 

Q: Where are all these people?

A:  Unfortunately, there is no designated place for such people to take refuge in. They are scattered all over Britain - staying with relatives, renting cheap hotels or apartments, and hiding in muggle areas. Those with children have sent them to Hogwarts while they find a way to make their family a home again. 

Q: Why is the ministry not helping these people?

A: We wanted to blame the ministry, really we did. But after we did some digging, we found out that the ministry is, unfortunately, in no condition to help in such rehabilitation efforts. It was itself destroyed from the inside out during the last year, and it has been a long road trying to clean up their messes. Their priority is to first make the ministry safe again. Their departments are being scrutinised, their funds are depleted, and their work force is massively reduced. 

Q: Can we help in any way? 

A: While the ministry can’t help presently, maybe you can, maybe we all can. You could find out if there are any such families in your area, help them with food or shelter or support, whatever they need. It is important to be aware of and acknowledge the outcomes of the war, to be able to help rebuild and restore. It is the holiday season after all, let’s spread love and kindness. 

Please feel free to send us an owl if you need help, or know of someone who might need it. We are here for you. 

With hope and faith, 

Prongs, Vega, Redtail and Rover 

The idea of helping the war- ravaged families had been Theo’s. After Hermione had laid out her plan to write anonymously for the Quibbler, to Harry and Ron, she had also approached Theo to ask him if he wanted to partake in it with them. He agreed immediately. They all distributed their roles. Harry would choose the topic they would tackle for every issue, Hermione would be the researcher, Ron with his easy-going personality was able to talk to the younger children in school to get their stories, and Theo would help Hermione in the research as well as provide funds where needed. So when Harry had talked to this group of new marauders about the displaced families, Theo had immediately volunteered to help them. However, he was concerned that people would not want to take his money, so they had decided to help through their column. After their article came out, they received a heap of letters at the post office, where they had registered a PO box under the name of ‘Recreation’, from families asking for or recommending others for their assistance. Theo then sat down and meticulously looked over every one of these owls - sending money, arranging support, fixing appointments with healers, and helping out in whichever way he could. 

The column had given Hermione a new sense of purpose. She was finally doing something to help the wizarding community. Their research proposals had been submitted, giving her some respite. Now it was time to draw up timetables and make lists, both activities that Hermione loved doing. Her weekends were spent with Harry in the DA, or with Neville at the gym, who was introducing her to training her with weights. The result was that Hermione felt stronger than ever, both mentally and physically. She had opted out of the book club after the first few weeks, not being able to really connect with the others, and Theo didn’t hold it against her. 

Hermione finally felt like the large tear in her soul was beginning to mend itself, and a big part of it was because of the mornings she spent with Malfoy.  He would reach the grounds before her and clear a path in the snow for them before she arrived. She  loved the feeling of  the wind in her hair and the air in her lungs when she ran. It made her feel alive like nothing did.  He got her to make her mental walls strong till one day he wasn’t able to enter her mind on the first attempt. 

“Yes Granger! Excellent!” he cried with excitement.

She blushed instantaneously. 

No, really Granger, this was a breakthrough. After today it will get much easier for you, the first time really is the most difficult,” he said encouragingly.

Before Hermione could get a word in, he continued, “actually if you’re not feeling too spent, there is something I would like for you to try.”

She was spent, completely exhausted but his excitement was catching and his eyes a clear sharp silver. How could she ever say no to such a sight? She wordlessly nodded. 

“Okay. So, we have discussed before that there are more than one ways to occlude. I want to explain to you, as briefly as I can I promise, why I chose this particular method for you. You see Granger, your mind is already very organised. Whenever you save a bit of information, you are able to catalogue it precisely in your mind. Like your mind has a subconscious filing system that it uses to store everything. It is a big part of why you’re as smart as you are. But, it comes at a price. Because you have all the information so easily accessible and so well- catalogued, it also overwhelms you. Because your mind is constantly running through everything all together.”

He paused, preparing himself for the reveal.

“That is where the room comes in. Its advantages in your case will be two-fold. The first is ofcourse to protect your thoughts, which is what you just did successfully. Now if anyone tries to view your mind they will only be able to enter that room. Whatever you choose to show them there will be in your control. The second use of this room is just an extension of the first. You know how some people get overstimulated by too many people or too much noise? That's a physical overstimulation. So they go to a quiet place where they can unwind. Your mind gets overwhelmed in the same way with too much information or overthinking. So it needs a place where it’s quiet so you can recharge. That space is this room. Just like you’ve been walking into the empty room before you go to sleep, you can access the room anytime you need a break. And you can even choose to selectively access the memories or the information you want. That will take more training, but eventually, if you wanted, you could just sit in this room and access only your arithmancy problem while blocking out everything else. The only drawback would be that you would also be less attuned to your surroundings at that time.” 

“What I want you to do now, Granger, is close your eyes.”

She did as he said. 

“Now imagine that room.”

Hermione instantly conjured her kitchen.

“Alright. Now, I want you to think of a book, any book that you are well-versed with, and imagine it being on your kitchen table.”

Once again, Hermione did just that. Hogwarts: A history was perched on her table.

“Now, you won’t actually be able to open and read it but you will be able to recall whatever you already remember from the book. When you’re doing that, without exiting the room, without adding any other memory to the room, try to recall the first time you met Potter.”

Hermione started reciting the book to herself, which wasn’t at all difficult as she knew it by heart. She was lost in her reflection, when she heard Malfoys voice calling out to her from far away.

“Potter, Granger. When did you meet him?”

And when she tried to remember, for the briefest moment, she couldn’t. It was for just for a few seconds at the most, before her memory of their first meeting in the train flowed into her, but she had felt it. The walls of her mind had been resolute in that sliver of time, not letting any other thoughts in, while she accessed the book in the room. 

She opened her eyes in wonder, to find Malfoy looking at her expectantly, waiting for her verdict.

“Wow. Malfoy that is just… I honestly don’t know what to say.”

“No! That’s not good enough,” she remarked mentally chiding herself. No, let me just try to put what I’m feeling into words. The occlumency and its application is just brilliant. It didn’t feel restrictive, I knew I could access my thoughts readily, but at the same time I also felt that if I wanted to, I could just continue to read my book without being distracted by anything else.”

“However,” she said haltingly, biting her lip, “it’s the fact that you actually put so much thought into what technique to teach me; that you managed to figure out exactly what I would need without my saying anything… I don’t think anyone has ever done something like this for me before. I am utterly awestruck, not to mention speechless - a feat only you can manage by the way, because no one else gets me tongue tied the way you do. Actually, I am beginning to believe that no one gets me the way you do,” she said, whispering the last few words. 

While she had been speaking, Malfoys face had transformed into the biggest smile and his eyes were positively blazing. He took a few steps to get closer to her, and Hermione's throat dried out in anticipation. He had only just extended his hand out for her, when they were interrupted by a loud sound. 

“Hermione! Malfoy!”, screamed the voice of Ron.

“Hey!” he yelled again as he reached them.

Malfoy’s smile was instantly replaced by a scowl, and he took a few steps back instinctively. Hermione was disappointed to say the least, but she plastered on a small smile and looked at Ron. 

“Hi Ron, how are you here so early?”

“We had quidditch practice! I’m surprised you didn’t notice, we haven’t been exactly quiet. We just finished actually and I remembered that you come here after your run, so I thought I’ll swing by and see how everything is going.” 

“Yes Weasley, I’m sure you don’t get to catch-up with Granger having all lessons together and being in the same common-room,” said Malfoy snidely. 

“We may technically be together, but you Slytherins just hog all of her time, or she is in the library studying to be the next Minister of Magic, so no I don’t actually get any time with her,” grumbled Ron, as Harry and Ginny also reached them.

 Once they were all together, there was nothing left to do but walk back to the castle for breakfast.