Closed A Step Towards Unity Group 5

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Some people in Hogwarts were mean. Not all of them, but some of them. Like mean about things you couldn’t help. Like race. I hadn’t personally experienced that, luckily, but I knew for a fact others had. It definitely was not fair. Being a Dhaphmir kind of scared me a little bit, especially since no one except my family and quill pal knew. And Simon. Simon Kincaid. My two best friends didn’t even know.

There was chatter of an event, taking place in the rehearsal room. Something about race. Which was interesting. Hogwarts seemed to be having a few problems regarding that subject, so wouldn’t this just bring up or maybe even start a few new problems? I was pretty sure this was something the potions teacher and a Dhaphmir were doing, so I hoped that at least one of them would have an idea on how to run this as smooth as possible. I had no idea what the heck this event was, but I didn’t want to miss out… right? Who even knew.

Before leaving, I felt that I needed to wear something other than sweatpants and a hoddie, so I wandered over to my wardrobe, and looked for the nicest clothes I owned, well took to Hogwarts. I ended up with cream off white flare pants that actually looked half decent on me. And they were soft, so that was an obvious added bonus. I needed a top to wear with it and I hated crop tops or any shirt that was too short, so naturally, I didn’t own any. My not so fashionable brain thought a chunky sweater would look nice with it, and I wasn’t so sure, but I settled for a not so chunky sweater. I obviously paired with my high top air forces, a muggle brand of shoe.

This was probably the nicest I had ever dressed up for on school grounds and that was saying something. This could be the nicest I had ever dressed up in my entire life. Which was saying something. I never went to school, so no fancy concerts to dress up for. I had only owned dresses back when my mum dressed me, but after that I refused to wear them, so mum was smart and never bought them for me again.

I began heading down the stairs for this event, hoping it would be a good one. I was also hoping that I would know at least one or two of the people there, because this was already probably going to be awkward, so having a friend, or someone I knew would help me.

When I arrived, I was directed to an area where my group was supposed to meet up, but no one was there yet, so I decided to check out the snack table. I did’t want anything spilling or getting on my fairly white pants and shoes, so I would be protecting them, and trying to keep them white. And the pants. I hadn’t ever worn them before and it would be a shame to have to get rid of them after just one wear.

I grabbed one of the small plates at the table and added a few small piles of various snacks and treats, hoping that when I got back to my groups area there would be some others there. And there they were.

Who would miss this exceptional opportunity? A gathering where the feasibility of getting to know about the people who are... -not entirely human is uplifted. Adya never has once been this desirous to attend an errand before. Not to mention, this is her first one.

There was a hell of a lot of matters which piqued her interest. The books borrowed from the library, beyond any doubt have been helpful. Those ignited her mind with curiosity about Dhampirs and werewolves. To be honest, that information alone couldn't satiate her. It's just theory, isn't it?

On a theoretical base, the young girl knew quite a bit about them. But imagine an eye to eye conversation? Whoa! A feast for the eyes and ears. The whole time during her last class, her head was stocked with pictures of her conversing with those part humans.

Whether she'll be able to identify them on her own. Whether they'll be honest about their experience with her. And lots and lots of questions were noted down in her notebook, for the session. From silly to serious.

As the bell rang where she was free to leave the class, Adya jumped off her bench and ran past the students' crowd. No time to catch a breath, Even though the young slytherin was drenched from running. She obviously doesn't want to miss out on anything.

The instant she reached her dorm, the young girl grabbed the clothes that had the air of being the comfiest among her clothes. Putting on her purple hoodie and orange sweatpants, Adya locked her trunk and left the dorm with her backpack. Her dark hair looked a mess... Which she wasn't bothered by, obviously.

After a little fight with the moving stairs, the girl stood at the entrance of the rehearsal room. Her eyes glancing around the area. People started making their appearance. Adya made her way to the particular arrangement where the professor pointed her. Seemingly she's the first Since she doesn't know @Charlie Jacobsen went to grab for some snacks. The young girl plopped herself down on the armchair and began tapping her foot impatiently while waiting for others.

wc- 346/800

Word Count: 416/800

I liked to think of this event as a circle of unity. A safe space where everyone could get together and support everyone. At least, this was only in my dreams...in real life, there's conflict. There's mean girls and mean boys, mean brothers and, um, mean brothers. Not everybody at this school was entirely human. And that was okay...I may know people of different races and not even realize it, but I wondered why the thought scared me a little. I guess it opened my eyes to the fact that everything was not what it seemed, including my own background?

So in the Rehearsal Room, I was at an event about race. Dhampirs, part-goblins, part-veelas, part-giants, werewolves, etc. Gosh, that was a lot of races...the library had yielded lots of information about them, and it was amazing how just a year ago, I would have laughed at the thought of such beings existing at all. I guessed that my outlook on the subject had changed greatly since I first came to Hogwarts.

I did my hair in a sort of waterfall braid and ran up flights of stairs to the Rehearsal room. There were only a few people there, one of them I recognized. It was Charlie from the Musician's Meeting, though I didn't know her too well. Maybe this meeting or whatever it was was a chance for me to get to know some people better. "Hello everyone!" I said.

One other person , a girl with dark hair, I may have glimpsed at the Christmas party, but she was still a stranger to me. There was an older teenage boy there too, I might have seen him around the common room, but I didn't know him either. I sat down in a chair across from the dark-haired girl and said, "Er...hi, I'm Aurora! What's your name?"

Her last class of the day... of the week, actually.... was now over and AngelFyre had rushed to her tiny dorm room to change out of her class robes and into something more comfortable. She and Simon had agreed to meet in the Rehearsal Room for 'The Step Toward Unity' meeting. They had both been looking forward to it and she hoped with all her heart that some minds and hearts may be opened and more understanding would be the end result of this gathering. She knew Simon, in particular, had been very aggrieved by the specious and anonymous articles printed about the half breeds amongst the student body. It was for his peace of mind more than anything else that she wanted some measure of success to come from the meeting. The fact that the gathering had even been put together was a very positive step in the right direction.

As she stood outside the room in the corridor, about to push open one of the heavy wooden doors, she smiled as a rush of wonderful memories flooded over her. No one would ever know Simon like she did, but so many knew enough about him now to know how kind and sweet and genuinely interested he was in people. He only wanted to be as friendly and helpful as he could to everyone he met. Not many knew what he was, but would be shocked, most likely, to find out. If there was ever a poster child for turning peoples' ideas on their heads for who and what they thought a half breed was, and the dangers they posed to the student body at large, Simon Ezra Kincaid was that person.

She pushed her way in and found the room not too crowded, but there were a good number of people around. She caught his eye almost immediately and waved to him and almost as quickly pointed to the refreshment table, indicating she would stop there first and be with him in a moment. He, of course, flashed his devastatingly rakish smile at her and nodded.

As she then turned her attention to the refreshments and everyone else in the room, it occurred to her that she really did know no one else in the room but Simon. Nope. Not entirely true. She saw Aurora Griffith from her Golden Explorers' Club. Still, it would be a great opportunity to meet folks, that is for sure. It also crossed her mind to wonder how many in here were here because, like Simon, they were half breeds themselves? Her two favorite people at Hogwarts were not fully human, and while they knew of each other's importance in AngelFyre's life, even they did not know about the other what she knew of them. Such knowledge was sacred and not hers to divulge. Looking around the room, she suspected there was quite a lot of secrecy to be had... on both sides of the equations. Then she idly wondered who, in here, might have the perceived need to keep much of who they were a secret.

Such a burden that must be. She did not think that Simon would categorize it as such overall, but there must be times when it felt that way to him. He never outright volunteered such information, at least not on a whim, but he did not deny it if confronted with it either. She understood that as she was coming to grips with being a Seer.

She was not a half breed, it was true, but she had a... a.. a what, exactly? Gift? Talent? Curse? to see things. People may tend to fear the half breeds in the school, but they at least garnered some respect. Her secret fear was in being seen as a mockery, a fraud, or a laughing stock. People tended to snicker and deride divination and 'seeing' in this school if conversations she heard in the corridors and Great Hall were to be believed.

That set AngelFyre's soul ablaze truth be told. She may laugh easily and often, and cry just as easily and often, but she was the most serious person, well student, she knew at this school if she were being honest. Just ask her boyfriend. He knew well her penchant to analyze everything from every conceivable angle. An old soul in a young body. That description fit her well, so it was a scary prospect to let others know what she was capable of only to have them think she was a wing nut. Her 'gift' was not something she could just whip up on command, which made it seem even sketchier. Deeply thoughtful, analytical minds wish to be taken seriously. At least AngelFyre did.

Hmmmmmm.

She had spent so much of her time focused on what this meeting could mean to and for Simon that what it could also mean to and for her had been placed on the back burner. She did that a lot when it came to Simon, but she would not change that for the world. Still, as she made her way over to him and the group girls he was speaking to, she had an ember of hope ignite deep within that perhaps this meeting might help rid her of some of her fears as well.

Taking her place next to his side, she smiled at him and shoulder bumped him playfully. She really wanted to kiss him, but there would be a time and a place for that later. There always was with them. "Hello, ladies. I am AngelFyre McCubbin, but please call me AF," and she smiled brightly at all of them. "Like Simon, I too, am a Hufflepuff, but a second year. Very nice to meet you. I have great hopes for an enlightening evening for all of us," and then she turned to Simon, feeling her smile grow even wider.

"Good evening, Mr. Kincaid," and she winked at him before taking a sip of her cranberry juice.

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Interacting with @Simon Kincaid @Charlie Jacobsen @Adya Oakes @Aurora Griffith

Word Count: 1,012

Word Count: 416+323=739/800

Banner created by the wonderful aurora griffith

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As I returned back to my spot I found a girl, who looked like she was a first year sitting right there in my spot. She was tapping her foot impatiently, almost like she was being forced to come here. I instantly regretted coming. I gave the girl a cold look and a cold “Hello.” I sat away from her, wishing Ava was here. It’s not like she could come, but I still wanted her to be there.

I waited for more people to come, and guess who was the next to show up, Simon. I sighed and put on a cheerful smile for him, and returned his hello. “Hey Simon. Good to see you.” I told him in my most cheerful voice I could do.

Another girl showed up, and she had bright red hair. I had never seen her in my life, so I just smiled and waved at her. I didn’t feel like saying anything to her, so I didn’t.

Another girl showed up. She was different though. She was in love with Simon was definitely in love with her too. Were they dating? What else would be going on with them if they weren’t? I just smiled at the girl who introduced herself as Angelfyre. I would definitely call her AF.

Simon asked who wanted to go first. I didn’t want to go, because I wanted to see and example before I went.

Another girl showed up asking if she could join. “Fine with me. We haven’t even started yet.” I told the girl.

I was hoping someone would get up and go first or I would have to go. I hadn’t really done much preparation, but I had brought a fully drawn out family tree of wizards, witches and vampires, but for some reason my brain had told me to bring a second paper, in my other pocket along with the fat black marker I had used for the first chart. As a backup plan.

Pureblood Heir Speaks Out Against Halfbreeds

Are half-breeds truly wizards? This is a question posed by Bancroft Serafino Sr. to the Ministry of Magic last week has had members reeling. To be considered a wizard by the Ministry of Magic, a wizard does not have to even be fully human or even wizard at all as muggleborn half-breeds also infiltrate our schools and our streets. So how much "wizard" does one require in the United Kingdom to be a wizard? Just magical talent in someone without any known wizarding heritage? How is this possible he asks. In the United Kingdom a sizeable portion of of one's ancestry does not have to be a wizard. The Ministry has standards for what can own a wand, allowing goblins and house elves veelas and giants to cast magic that they were never intended to be able to cast. Extreme alleged advocates are ushing for one-fourth, one-eighth, perhaps even less. This leaves us to ponder, how little

of our blood has to be a wizard to be considered a wizard.

The United Kingdom's answer to the question 'Who is a wizard?" has long been that a wizard is any person with at least half human-wizardry. At some point this extended to at least half human-muggle parentage with a child that is capable of casting magic. This definition reflects the long experience with lax lawmakers that have tried to be inclusive and involve everyone. However, it is well known that wizards need to come from a wizarding bloodline, those that lack a wizarding ancestry are not wizards and those that are not even human are certainly not wizards regardless of the magical "spark" they have.

"Non-wizard wizards", a term coined by some pureblood families describes people capable of casting magic and legally able to own a wand under UK law, but are not true wizards. "Their magic is at best unstable," Bancroft Serafino Sr. explains. "They have no business learning and developing alongside true wizards," and he blames the slipping skill level of modern wizards as well as the extreme levels of violence reported in schools to be the fault of these non-wizard wizards.

"Giants are known to be aggressive, have a short and violent temper. The fact that they have had a child with a human is a filthy tragedy, but more than that... that [part-giant child] shares in their parent's propensity for violence." There have been reports of half-breeds injuring other students and eyes have been placed on Hogwarts over the past several weeks. Hogwarts is the only school that offers wizard training to half-breeds. There have been limited reports of half-breeds slipping between the cracks at other schools.

The limited number of upper classmen with no record of what happened to numerous children at Hogwarts has aroused suspicion. Headmaster Solomon Lear claims that hags were living near the school and that they influenced and caused harm to an unknown number of students. However, when asked to provide proof of this, the school was only able to provide verbal accounts and a visual record of 'key memories' which shown that there was an incident of some sort but no proof of the incident that could be concretely detailed.

Parents have begun to rally against Hogwarts, protesting their inclusion of half-breeds in the student body. Many blaming half-breeds for the reports of injuries and the fact that the school has gone through an "unusual number of school nurses" these past few years.

Some parents propose separating half-breeds from normal students. That only students with a full, true wizarding history can be taught at Hogwarts. That if there is a traceable non-human heritage, then they should not be able to participate in wizard schools. Some go as far as to say, a separate school is not good enough, these students should not be allowed to use a wand. Many of these half-breeds are associated with dangerous, violent races that do not participate in an appreciable extent with the wizarding world. The the term "being" is too strong a term to define describe them and that half-breeds are abominations.

*viewtopic.php?p=384697

Simon had already read it, so he waited patiently while everyone else did so. The article mentioned that halfbreeds magic was 'unstable' and he thought of his own wandcasting, which, truthfully, wasn't the best. He had heard that dhampirs weren't very accurate with spells and incantations and so far, he was good proof of that. Still, all that did was slightly hinder or delay his own learning and never was a threat to his fellow classmates at Hogwarts.

Still, he knew at least that AngelFyre would never agree with the 'dangerous' or 'violent' races that the writer spoke of, nor that halfbreeds were an abomination. Charlie Jacobson, most likely, as well.

[Word Count: 268 without the Prophet capture. 739+268 = 1007/800]