Hephaestus Doge

[Warded Private]

Sometimes, when the Death Eaters have killed another fine young person for idiotic reasons, I wonder what I would do if my family was threatened. It's something of a hypothetical because I don't believe you can truly know what you would do until you actually find yourself in a situation like that. It's easy to say 'what if' when the danger is amorphous but when the wand is at your throat, things tend to be very different. I am no fool. I know that bravado and braggadocio rarely survive their first encounter with reality.

I don't know what it says about me but if I could guarantee that Oberon, Rose and Puck would be permitted to escape to somewhere safe and that Dulci and Del would protected or also permitted to leave then I would agree to just about anything, even to pledging my allegiance to the Death Eaters. I can't say I'm proud to say that but their safety is more important to me than anything else. I am no longer a young man. My wife is dead, my children grown and with children of their own. They are healthy, happy and successful. What more can a father ask for? If my sacrifice could ensure their safety then I would not hesitate.

I wonder sometimes how many among them have made the same decision. To take the risk on their own shoulders and the stain upon their own souls in order to protect those they love. Or are they all blind ideologues, willing to sacrifice their families and themselves on the altar of stupidity?

[/Ward]

In light of the revelations by Mrs Longbottom and the murder of both my beloved wife and my much-valued and loved daughter-in-law Rose’s brother and sister-in-law by Death Eaters, I will be declining my invitation to the Purple Hats’ little soiree and ceasing any and all support I may have, in the past, been inclined to offer to their events and works. My daughter-in-law is a Muggleborn, a fine woman, a superb mother and a remarkable Healer. If you wish to judge her based on nothing more than her bloodline then I have no use for you.

The measure of a person’s worth is not in their bloodline but in their actions and their words. Or as Voltaire said: "All men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference."

[Warded to Doges by blood and marriage]

Well, I suppose I have drawn a line in the sand there and not before time. However I have no reason to doubt the veracity of Mrs Longbottom’s words and I cannot and will not support a gaggle of idiotic women who would judge a person based only on their bloodline. This, of course, does not include any of my numerous female relatives. I know most of you attend those meetings under sufferance anyway.

[/Ward]

( [Warded Private] )


Someone left a copy of the Quibbler in my office after a meeting. It was certainly interesting reading. Amusing too. I particularly enjoyed speculating over which tiny kernel of public information had been used as the basis for some of the more fanciful articles. They did have the feel of something that had begun from one phrase or sentence that had been taken out of context and spun into something quite entertaining.

( [Warded Private - family by blood and marriage can read] )

I have some clients who have a rather challenging piece of land on which they wish to build their home. The land is extensively forested with a small clear section which was just the ideal size for a family home. Unfortunately it's not a flat section of land but instead has a sharp rise in the middle. They weren't enamoured with the idea of a stepped house but didn't want a home that depended too much on magic for support for a variety of reasons. They came to me thinking they'd have to pay large sums of money to have the land levelled.

I'm always a bit surprised when people don't see the obvious when it comes to house design on challenging landscapes. It seemed exceedingly obvious to me and likely will to many of you. I think they had simply gotten caught up in a design they liked but couldn't make work without substantial and expensive earthworks and thus couldn't see past it to what was eminently workable. I presented them with this design:

( Cut for image )

It's a touch more modern than they were initially thinking about but they've decided that they like the way it uses the landscape so well that they no longer care. It also gives them more room than they were initially anticipating and it well within their budget. I think, on the whole, it's one of my better designs.

It is perhaps the easiest thing in the world to criticise an organisation as large and monumental as the Ministry. They’re an easy target. You can say almost any kind of negative general statement and be certain that firing in the dark in such a way is almost guaranteed to hit something because in so large an organisation there will always be someone, no matter how insignificant they may be, who is doing what you have accused them of doing. You will always be right in your general accusation simply through the law of averages because there are so many people within the Ministry. In other words, criticising the Ministry in a generalised manner is a little like hexing fish in a barrel. You’re always going to hit something.

Does that mean the Ministry should be above criticism? Of course not. Absolutely not. It is the duty of the Ministry to serve the people. It is the duty of the people to monitor the Ministry and demand change when it is warranted. However criticism aimed at the Ministry, at any organisation, should never be formless and generalised because that is merely a waste of everyone’s time. Criticism must always be direct and backed up with genuine solid evidence that is not merely hearsay or opinion. After all, critical opinion is merely that – opinion. It may have little basis in fact or truth.

As an example, making the accusation ‘The Ministry is corrupt’ is pointless. What is corrupt? What does that mean? I am certain it means something slightly different to different people. I’m sure the Death Eaters think the current Ministry is corrupt because they believe they favour Muggleborns too much. Yet I have spoken to Muggleborns in the course of my work who believe the Ministry is corrupt because it is too beholden to the purists. Who is right? Who is wrong? Poor perception can make even the most benign thing seem corrupt and rotten.

However, saying ‘Person X is corrupt and here is the evidence to prove it’ is something to be lauded. Here is criticism that is absolute, that has proof, that is based on hard evidence. It is not an opinion, it is fact. Further criticism launched from this platform – ‘How did you not know? Is this person the only one? How deep does this go?’ – has merit because it is based on fact and not on rumour, hearsay or falsehood.

By all means, ask questions of your Ministry officials. That’s what they’re there for. Talk to people. Have opinions. Discussion is always valuable. But remember that perception is important as well and that your perception of an event or a decision that has been made may not always be the best or the most accurate or reliable. You are seeing only one small part of what may be a very large picture. Form your opinions but never set them in stone. Question yourself as firmly and fiercely as you question others. Be prepared and willing to admit that you are wrong. Only then will you have a chance of finding the truth.

( [Warded Private] )

This morning I discovered that saying to a tailor "I need to update my wardrobe. I haven't bought any new robes for nearly fifteen years." leads to said tailor getting a glint in their eye which is almost frightening and then having to spend the better part of two hours being measured and trying various styles of robes and fabrics while simultaneously reminding both yourself and the tailor that you have a budget in mind and you intend to stick to it. I'm not sure how successful the latter part was.

( [Warded Private] )

( [Warded to family (blood & marriage) and friends] )

I think I've completely exhausted all possible variations on the sentence 'That design is not physically possible even with extensive use of magic'. They finally understood. I hate having to disappoint people but sometimes you have to accept that reality is always going to trump dreams when it comes to houses.

( [Warded Private] )

[Warded to Oberon and Rose]

I have been going through some of my paperwork and have found

Well, Cora made provision in her will for her jewellery to be split three ways between Dulci and the wives of her sons. Since you weren't married at the time, Obi, I simply packaged up a share of the jewellery to be held for any future wife of yours and subsequently I completely forgot about it.

I was hoping to have the two of you (and Puck of course) and Del over for dinner sometime soon to discuss a few other matters so, Rose, I can give you the jewellery then. It's not a great deal and none of it is overly gaudy or flamboyant. Cora was a firm believer that jewellery should be worn, not locked away in a vault, so she favoured simple, elegant pieces that could be worn with just about anything. I think you'll like them.

[/Ward]

( [Warded Private] )

In the light of what has happened in recent days, the words of Demosthenes come back to me once more: "You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit."

( [Warded Private] )

[Warded to Doges by blood and marriage]

I know things are quite chaotic at the moment but when they calm down, I would like to have all of you over to my place for a family dinner. We haven't done that for a while and I know it's been far too long since I have hosted one. I was thinking either the evening of the 11th or the 18th depending on everyone's schedule though if anyone has a better evening in mind, let me know.

[/Ward]

[Warded Private]

I woke up this morning and reached out for Cora again. Strange that even after ten years, I still do that. How did Dad manage to move on the way he did? I envy him that. Maybe I should speak to him about it but I’m reluctant to dredge up those days for him. Maybe he wouldn’t mind. I know he worries about me even if he doesn’t say anything outright. I suspect the children have been talking to him.

Oberon even suggested that perhaps I ought to start dating again; that he and Dulci and Del wouldn’t mind if I did. That seems such a ludicrous thought but I know that I’m barely middle-aged for a wizard. Dad wasn’t that much younger than I am now when he married Rebecca. But how do I explain to them that I still feel as though their mother is just about to walk in the door?

Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m hanging on too much to what is lost and cannot return. I know Dad still remembers and loves Mum. I know that moving on does not mean forgetting Cora.

I just miss her. I wasn't ready to lose her. We still had so much to look forward to.

[/Ward]

I hope that the Wizengamot know what they're doing in regards to the Unforgivables. While I certainly support any and all measures to bring the Death Eaters - all vigilantes for that matter - to justice, my concerns lie more with the well-being of the Aurors themselves. These spells were classified as Unforgivable for a reason and I hope that any Auror that is forced to use them in the heat of battle is able to forgive themselves afterwards.

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( Application for Hephaestus Doge )