Innocence

Chapter Ten

The hallways were silent and dark. The only light came from the flickering torches on the walls, casting archways into shadow.

Sophia walked as quickly as she could, trying to remember the way to the owlery that she had been shown earlier. Finally, after only a few wrong turns, she made it to the heavy wooden door, and had to use most of her strength to push it open. Once inside, it closed again by itself.

She was stunned by the number of owls that were slowly waking up around her. The nocturnal creatures were slowly coming to life as she watched. It didn't take her long to spot Mark's distinctive pattern of feathers, and she whistled to bring him down.

Perched on a cabinet to the side of the room, Mark drank from a tub that Sophia had filled with cool water and he ate a few treat pellets that she had on hand. She spent a bit of time in there with him, stroking his head and back as his blinked at her in appreciation. Thinking back to her brother's black cat, Thumble, she silently thanked her parents for buying her Mark. After all, Thumble only really liked Adam and her parents, and Mark was able to deliver mail for her. Although she could always use one of the school owls if she had to.

Just as she was tying her letter to Mark's leg, Sophia heard a soft sound coming from outside the door. A second later, a folded piece of paper was pushed underneath. Pausing for a second, Sophia considered what to do. It was a bit of a mysterious circumstance to be in, though she guessed she was in a mysterious place to begin with. She picked up the paper and unfolded it.

As soon as she had read what was on the sheet of paper, she dropped it as though it had burned her. She picked it up again and ran to the door, intent on finding who had put it there in the first place. It took her quite a few seconds of pulling, so by the time the door was open, the hallway was completely deserted.

Stuffing the note into her robe pocket, she finished tying the letter to Mark's leg and carried him to the window, watching as he disappeared from view in the quickly darkening sky. As soon as he was gone, she turned on her heel and marched purposely from the owlery and back to the common room.

She found it hard to ignore the message that was hidden in her robes.

No-Majes... What are they good for?

- - - - -

"Anti No-Maj propaganda?" Credence asked in shock. "But that's obsurd!"

"Is it though?" Percival asked him. "The existence of such a thing isn't what makes this situation odd, Credence, it's the fact that it's happening at our children's school." When all that Credence did in response was blink at his husband incredulously, Percival continued. "Think about it. You more than anyone know about the existence of No-Maj anti-Witchcraft propaganda and calls for violence and capital punishment towards us magical folk. Therefore, why should it be so shocking that the opposite exists?"

"But..." Credence started, before pausing again in order to put his thoughts together. "But the Second Salemers were against Witches because they believed that they were an immediate threat to them. And they were right, seeing as a certain blond haired bastard existed. How on Earth could anyone think that No-Majes pose a threat to us?"

Percival carefully took Credence's hands in his. "My darling." He said softly. "Hatred is a foul creature born initially from fear. But like a fire, as it spreads it becomes all-consuming and destructive. In time, the hatred may be quenched but from its ashes grows intolerance, which some may say is even more dangerous. After that, certain actions that were once taken in order to protect one are taken in order destroy the other. What once was rational soon becomes irrational."

"So... What you're saying is that this anti No-Maj propaganda doesn't exist because people think they're dangerous, but just because people hate them for who they are?"

"Exactly." Percival dropped his husband's hands again. "However, Professor Blackrose's parents were both No-Majes, so he won't tolerate such hateful speech. He has asked me to be on the case to try and find out who is behind this and to put a stop to it as quickly as possible."

"The Director of Defense in America? The Head Auror of MACUSA? Don't you think it might be a waste of time? Couldn't one of your men do it instead?" Credence stuttered but continued when Percival sighed. "What I mean is... Don't you think the President is going to be annoyed about it? I can understand why you would want to do it. I'm just saying that the President might think that it's a waste of time and take it out on you."

Percival thought for a second. "In all of the years that I have worked for our government, their main priority has been to protect our existence from being revealed to the No-Majes. Which, after all, is why Grindelwald was so dangerous to them, as he saw it as our place to be known and served by those without magic. Children are a key to our future. This is both a threat to our exposure, and it's something that the people who are doing this need to know isn't okay. I don't know if it's maybe the faculty, or students themselves who are behind this, but either way, if it continues, more students will be exposed and they need to see someone with power dealing with it. Then they will learn how serious it is."

"And I guess you think that you're that powerful man, do you?" Credence asked, smirking.

"Yes... I like to think that I'm quite a scary figure when I need to be."

"You mean when you want to be?"

Percival grinned. "I'll get this sorted."

- - - - - - - - - -

"What is this?" I hear you cry. "Actual plot?" Yeah, it appears that way doesn't it?

I try and write for about 45 minutes everyday. That can be hard when you've got writer's block though. Which is what I have.

Currently writing chapter 23 if anyone is interested.