My name is Terry Boot

[alt_terry]

I wish to speak in particular to the students of Hogwarts. The older ones will remember me.

I was born to Muggle parents. I was taken away from them when I was so young that I don't even remember them. I was told I was a mudblood and given to Amycus Carrow to be his slave.

Or perhaps you don't remember? I was the quiet boy called 'boot' who sat on the floor in the corner of Transfiguration class, who dodged your kicks and never reacted to your jeers. I spoke of myself in the third person, and tried my best to seem simple-minded, because it was safer that way.

But here's the truth. I am a wizard, and I have always been one. The Sorting Hat itself told me so when I put it on during what should have been my first year at Hogwarts. It didn't hesitate at all to sort me into Ravenclaw House.

I have a wand that works well for me, and I've been studying spells and charms, just like you. I'm best at Transfiguration, Charms, Runes, and Arithmancy.

For those of you who pride yourself on your class standings, remember this: you can never claim to be first in your class, because you've never competed against a good number of your true classmates. Those missing classmates have had to hone the qualities that the Founders sought even more keenly than you. They are incredibly brave, they have bonds of loyalty that will never be broken, no matter what the Protectorate decrees, they have wit beyond measure, and they had learned cunning through painful experience. They may call you 'master' or 'mistress,' and you might think you control them, but you don't. That is because magic is not something you can simply declare doesn't 'belong' to a muggleborn. We didn't steal anyone's magic; we didn't need to, as it bubbles up inside of us, impossible to deny. As truly as it does for those who have a tapestry showing eight generations of pureblood descent.

Voldemort's claim of 'blood superiority' is a lie. We are your equals. Just an accident of birth could have put any one of you in our position. Think what it might have been like for you if you had the same magic in you that you've always had, but someone took you away from your family and made you a slave, just because of who your parents were.

Think of yourself, sitting on the floor, barefoot in winter. Hoeing beets in the field, trying to walk fast enough to stay ahead of the whip. Toiling in a coal mine, in total darkness, while still feeling your magic inside of you like a glowing ember.

Someone who is truly a witch or a wizard can't blow that ember out.

The Protectorate never will, either.

Comments

[alt_harry]

I remember you.

So you've been learning magic, now?

Do you really think you'll ever be Padma Patil's equal? Or Linus Moon's?

[alt_terry]

I'm glad you remember me.

I've been their equal since the day I was born.

I've been learning magic for years, for almost as long as you have. Yes, of course, I have been cheated of the education I should have received at Hogwarts, that the Sorting Hat intended I have. But I started by studying on my own whenever I could (from books, and by observation. I had the run of the libraries of Amycus Carrow and Headmistress McGonagall) and I'm learning under other teachers now.

Of course, no one can be exactly someone else's equal in terms of education because some people prefer some subjects to others. Some people are naturally brilliant in one particular area. Like Neville Longbottom was in Herbology, or Thomas Capper was in Arithmancy.

It make take me a little longer, but I'm confident that eventually I'll be able to match my Hogwarts cohort spell for spell in at least the basic subjects.

I'm already doing NEWT level work in some, like Transfiguration.

I've also had exposure to certain kinds of education which you haven't had at all.

Order Only

[alt_terry]

I hope I don't make things too hot for the Cappers still at Hogwarts by mentioning Thomas. But I wanted to remind people that being brilliant in a subject won't protect them, either.

Private Message to Daphne Greengrass and Hydra Lestrange

[alt_blaise]

What sort of magic would even be useful for someone like that to know?

Maybe he's been taught the spells to polish boots and clean things? Or tote heavy things?

Re: Private Message to Daphne Greengrass and Hydra Lestrange

[alt_daphne]

Kicks and jeers? I don't recall doing anything of the sort. Who would have dare mucked about with Carrow's property?

I've not idea what magic would be useful for someone like that.

Re: Private Message to Daphne Greengrass and Hydra Lestrange

[alt_blaise]

I agree. Carrow was the only one I knew touched that one. So far as I ever noticed, anyway. But then, eh.

Anyway, it'd be mad anyone giving that one a wand. Hope whomever it is doesn't make the mistake of trusting it.

Private message to Blaise

[alt_daphne]

I'm writing this just to you, as I don't know how Hydra will feel about my sharing this...

But back when everything happened with Draco, remember how Auror Lestrange called Hydra up to help her with interrogation?

Well, Harry's servant - that girl, she knew how to occlude. How to block out Hydra and even her mother. Isn't that mad to think about?

Re: Private message to Blaise

[alt_blaise]

Just proves they're proper animals, doesn't it? That's why a legilimens can't see anything in its thoughts. It hasn't got any.

I still can't think what drew Draco into such madness.

Re: Private message to Blaise

[alt_daphne]

Draco knew occlumency as well.

Yes, well, we shall forever have to wonder at that.

Order Only

[alt_harry]

I'm hoping if I reply to you it'll make some of the other students feel like they can, too?

Worth a try.

Re: Order Only

[alt_terry]

It's worth a try, certainly. Thanks, Harry.

Re: Order Only

[alt_luna]

Well, you're certainly causing a huge ripple in the Ravenclaw common room. People are huddled up in corners in groups of twos and threes, looking at their journals and whispering.