Soul of an Activist

[liquidsky]

Life after the war was difficult to adjust to, but it would have been difficult no matter what. Barty had never experienced normalcy and hardly ever felt freedom. Now he was unattached to any cause, because his cause was dead. His cause was dead and so with his father, so was his Lord, so were the few people he had known that he felt kinship with.

But the world was also changing. Finally there was movement in a system so ancient and constricting that it was creaking at the seams. Barty still believed that it had to be broken before it could be fixed, but he didn't yet know where to start that and sometimes he felt old. Barely 37 physically, but he felt as if he'd seen too much and he was tired.

Idealists were trying to bring about change through the slow ways of politics and bureaucracy. Barty didn't believe in it, but he didn't really believe in anything these days. However, he saw names he recognized, saw his old students doing politics. Mostly badly. But Hermione Granger, well, she stood out. It wasn't difficult to find out everything about her, given her role in the second war it was more difficult to avoid her.

She was smart, Barty knew that, even from his memories of her when she had still been a child. But there she was, a young woman, fighting for the rights of those oppressed and being smart about it. Barty couldn't help but keep an eye on her. They agree on surprisingly many points.

He never showed his face, but he started to send her letters. He never gave his name. The letters were unsigned. Unsigned and stubbornly addressed to Miss Granger, never mind her title or marital status. He gave her advice, he praised or criticised her and every now and then he would help to influence things in her favour. He had dirt on everyone who had been in the ministry long enough and he wasn't above playing dirty, not if the ends justified the means. And occasionally also just not because it was amusing to have grown men fear for their lives just because of a little note they got.

Comments

[liquidsky]

Dear Miss Granger,

I was surprised to learn that you postponed the vote on the House Elf act. How come?

[braincandyheartstrings]

At first the notes were troubling. Then, when she realised that nothing she tried to track down who was sending them to her actually worked, they became vexing, and then... they became sort of thrilling.

Often they contained useful information, or at the very least intelligent input, and Hermione started to find that she was actually looking forward to them.

Dear Nosy Stranger

Not my call, conservative forces above my pay grade stepped in.

P.S it's still Mrs Granger-Weasly

[liquidsky]

Dear Miss Granger,

What forces would that be? I do hope they up your pay soon, if you end up having to raise seven children on no money that can only be difficult.

P.S.: I don't like to give people I marginally respect horrible names, even if they happen to be their actual ones. It doesn't seem fair to call you names for your bad choices.

[braincandyheartstrings]

Dear Mr. Rude Condescension,

Let us keep my family life out of our discussions.

P.S. There is nothing wrong with my name, or the choices attached to it.

[liquidsky]

Dear Miss Granger,

Fair enough. But that doesn't answer my question regarding the circumstances. Perhaps I can be of assistance.

P.S.: We'll agree to disagree.

[braincandyheartstrings]

Dear Mr. Helpful

Too many people are listening to Herman Trufflesnot's tired old arguments about the house elves wanting to live under current conditions. I am not confident that a vote could be won at this point in time.

P.S. See why I don't think my name is particularly unfortunate?

[liquidsky]

Dear Miss Granger,

I believe you shouldn't bench the issue so quickly. People won't have much reason to listen to Trufflesnot with all that's going to surface.

P.S.: No. Idiots make all right lovers, not any kind of equal partner.

[braincandyheartstrings]

Dear Mr Cryptic,

All that is about to surface?

P.S. That was unexpectedly crude.

[liquidsky]

Miss Granger,

Patience is a virtue and sometimes ignorance can keep you in office.

P.S.: I do that at times, I feel it adds spice.

[braincandyheartstrings]

Dear Mr Felon (?),

Don't do anything foolish now.

P.S. Too salty for my taste.

[liquidsky]

Dear Miss Granger,

I've never done anything foolish, but it's easy to commit felonies when many laws are inherently stupid and people even more so.

P.S.: It's worth adjusting to.

[braincandyheartstrings]

Dear Jester

Don't get me in trouble.

P.S. I am perfectly satisfied by my current diet.

[liquidsky]

Dear Miss Granger,

Never fear. I'd not want to cause any trouble for you. The opposite.

P.S.: Here I took you to be more adventurous.

[braincandyheartstrings]

Dear Mr Uncooth,

Stop flirting with me.

[liquidsky]

Miss Granger,

If I was, it would be a lot more direct. But I prefer these things in person, at least that has the potential to be satisfying.

[braincandyheartstrings]

A good thing that we do not interact in person, then.

[liquidsky]

Miss Granger,

What is there to worry about? It's not as if you'd be tempted.

But perhaps we do. Or perhaps we will. Will I have to flirt so you'll recognize me?

[braincandyheartstrings]

That seems like a terribly clumsy and imprecise way of going about it.

[liquidsky]

Imprecise? How many people do you flirt with every day, Miss Granger?

[braincandyheartstrings]

Your question should be how many men flirt with me.

[liquidsky]

Only men, Miss Granger? You're missing out.

[braincandyheartstrings]

Fair point, or it might be if I wasn't married.

[liquidsky]

You should have gone for the girl in that family, at least she has a brain. Comparatively speaking.

[braincandyheartstrings]

I am fairly certain you are aware of who she is married to, so I think it's fair to say that wouldn't have worked out so well for me.

[liquidsky]

Fair enough. A change of topic, perhaps?

Have you ever realized how often women settle for less? I believe you would, given your political stance.