Epilogue: "Nineteen Years Later..."
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Epilogue: "Nineteen Years Later..." Li9olo10

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Epilogue: "Nineteen Years Later..."

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Post by Apollo Zabini Tue Jun 20, 2017 5:19 am

A lot of things changed in nearly two decades. Obviously, age and experience and just the fact of time - those things could alter a person's goals, preferences, wishes. Everything. A few things, however, did not change. Apollo's unruly hair, for example, had never found itself tamed. And why bother, when it was yet another sign of defiance against a culture of preening, self-appreciative purebloods? He wasn't part of that circle anymore, and good riddance. Sure, he sometimes wished that his mother could've changed her mind. He sometimes woke to nightmares about Christian because of the people he betrayed - even if Christian refused to accept that it wasn't entirely the Hufflepuff's fault. Well, former Hufflepuff, that is.

But, for the most part, he was free of it. In particular, he was glad to be out from under his father's thumb. The escape had started long ago - well before he graduated from Hogwarts. But there was no part of him that missed it or wanted to look back.

Still, some things were yet unchanged. Aside from the hair, obviously. (And, let's be honest here. He partly left it because he knew Lily liked it.) Apollo would never, it seemed, consider himself worthy of what he had. Whether that was talent, or his position at St. Mungo's, or his-

"Dad!"

-family.

He turned, swooping up his little girl as she flew through the door, Naomi swift on her heels. If anyone had changed, it was the littler Mulciber. She'd been through a literal nightmare, before becoming a walking one herself. But time and circumstances had changed her as well, and he managed to still call her a friend. Lately, though, she'd been a bit much. Today, it seemed, would be no different.

As soon as he finished greeting his daughter, she was at it again.

"I just don't see why you wouldn't consider it, mate."

"Can we not do this today?" He asked, everything about him looking exhausted as he gestured towards Emiko, the charmer settled in his arms. She didn't need to see this. "Or, you know, at all?"

Naomi huffed, crossing her arms and sinking against the doorframe. "Don't you think he would want it for you? After everything, Robert would be proud."

"No one would really pick me. You know that." He shook his head, frowning at her.

"You've changed," she argued firmly. "People see it, even if you don't. I'm serious, Apollo. Am I gonna have to talk to Lily about this? I know you don't want me to, but I will if it comes to that."

He scowled deeply at that, and a little hand reached up to his chin. "Don't be mad, papa." That, of course, was more than enough to turn his lips upwards again. He assured her that he wasn't. Certainly not with her. So she went back to playing with the ribbon she had begun twining between her fingers. Thank Merlin she was still too young to know what they were arguing about.

Aha. Another reason to refuse: he didn't want his family wrapped up in any of it. No way.

"Think about the good you could do," Naomi went on after a moment or two. "You could help the werewolf population, for Lily. Because of Lily. You could promote Muggle safety and protection - and if anybody's word would mean something in that case, it's yours! Look at where you came from, what you were supposed to be. And you could work on the foster and adoption systems. You know full well how rubbish they are."

There was a definite strain in his gut as she listed off her reasoning. She made some valid points, and of course hit on everything he would want if granted the opportunity. He did want to do all of those things. He really did. Not only could he show their daughter what a person could accomplish for others, but he could genuinely make things better for those 'others' in question.

His chin ducked towards his chest, and Apollo leaned his head against Emi's. He could hear Naomi's sigh, which felt much louder than it probably was.

"Just... Will you at least discuss it with Lupin? Seriously. I don't trust any of the other people who're talking about running. At least consider it and air out the whys and why nots. I'm sure he'll sort everything out for you - even if it means you stand your ground and say no."

She was being rational about it, which was almost unusual. No, it was extremely unusual. So he knew that she was being completely serious. They eyed each other - her pointedly and him warily - for a long time. Until Emi started to squirm and grow impatient with him.

"Fine," he muttered, shocking Naomi into raised eyebrows and an actual smile. "I'll go. I'll do it right now if it'll make you shut up. Just- Take Emi to her mum, alright?"

She nodded, so he crouched down, setting Emiko on her feet. He brushed her hair out of her eyes and smiled warmly. "Alright, darling. Tell your mum I love her. And that I'm gonna be late, so you two go ahead and eat whenever you want."

Off the ladies went, and Apollo started off as well, leaving the St. Mungo's potions lab in search of Robert. Despite the ideals and dreams that Naomi had just stuffed into his head, he was frustrated about it. So he knew, of course, that he looked none too pleased when he arrived and knocked on Lupin's open door before pressing his shoulder into the doorframe.

"Don't take this the wrong way or anything, Robert, but.. My friend is pushing me to go for the Minister position and... I really don't think I want it."
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Post by Robert Lupin Thu Jun 22, 2017 2:26 am

Robert had been working, off and on, for months now on a new potion that just never seemed to work. It was maddening, and here he was again, on the umpteenth batch. He had stacks of notebooks of notes and miles upon miles of scribbles in his own version of a potions making shorthand.

The potions lab was still one of his favorite places in the world. Life, lately, had been kind, and he was grateful because it had made the years of struggle seem worthwhile, even though few had ever taken the time to get to know him below the surface.

Khaat and Brian were living peaceful lives. They were still working, and the estate was still as noisy as ever. His grandchildren had steady partners, and Abbey and her husband were living in one of the cabins on the estate grounds, with their two toddlers. Dakota was in Paris, training to become part of the operations there. Julia had taken over running Kate's share of Madam Malkins' and was trying her hand at designing clothes and jewelry. Grandsons Robert and Benjamin were on a trip to Romania because they believed they needed to learn to be dragon whisperers or some such nonsense. And Benjamin and Michael were in young careers as aurors. Gryffindors all, of course they were. Some things didn't change. He could not have written a better script.

He heard the heavy creaky door open and heard someone enter. He continued working, but when he heard Zabini's voice, it drew his attention. He motioned Zabini to come over and sit beside him at the workbench, a place that seemed now to be one of the natural states of being for him. There were few here at St Mungos that were closer to him than Zabini, and Robert treasured him.

"It's about time," Robert replied to Zabini, looking closely into the cauldron. "Someone responsible needs to take it sooner or later. I won't live forever, you know." He looked over at Apollo. "Why shouldn't you have it? It's a job like any other, and you're certainly qualified. Besides, as a healer, you make the best judgment you have with the information you know at the moment. It's all you have. Hell, its all any of us have."

He thought deeply for a moment, and then changed his mind, and picked up a little bundle of dried leaves. He tossed them into the mortar and crushed them to a fine powder.

"Working on a potion for Blood Malediction. I understand how it works now, and I understand what, theoretically, ought to stop and repel the growth of all those abnormal cells. But--the ingredients are proving to be ridiculously rare." He chucked the powder into the cauldron and was greeted promptly with a ball of flame exploding from the cauldron. He leaned back to avoid being hit with it.

"Buggar," he sighed. "And then there is that little business." He looked over at Zabini. "Not on fire, are you?" He debated on putting out the fire, and watched it simply die out in a matter of seconds. "The problem is the binder. The active ingredients won't accept the binder, and every time I get to this stage, the bloody thing spits. I'm making progress, though. 'Fireballs are getting smaller."

He moved the cauldron off the burner and picked up another cauldron from beside him on the floor, placing it on the burner to start again.

"So, talk to me. What's your reluctance?" he asked.



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Post by Apollo Zabini Sat Jun 24, 2017 8:41 pm

He lifted an eyebrow but crossed the room at Robert's invitation, sitting down backwards on the bench so his right arm pressed against the table and he could half-face the Minister while he worked. But discomfort crawled around inside his chest at the reminder that he would one day be without the man who had inadvertently become the father figure in his life. Even though Apollo had become a little less disillusioned about his and Robert's beliefs over the years, and recognized their differences much more easily now. And none of them were enough to make him upset or to turn him away from his mentor.

So, as usual, he knew that Robert had a point. And this time, Apollo wanted to believe him, but he just wasn't sure. He would've liked to have been sure.

Luckily, Lupin gave him a break to lose some of the frustration Naomi had left him with. Rare ingredients? "That always seems to be the case with you," Apollo teased with a grin. He leaned forward to look at it just in time to jerk backwards as the contents of the cauldron exploded. "Bloody hell," he breathed, automatically checking his hair as the question of fire was raised.

"Have you tried Bitterroot or Boom Berry?" He asked after shaking his head. The former, he'd thought of for its protective properties, and the latter for its use in healing potions. "Maybe even both."

As Robert started over, Apollo sighed and leaned back against the worktable. "Let's say I did decide to run," he began for argument's sake. Reluctance colored his features as he looked at the wall in front of him. "We both know how badly the press can twist things. That's how all of this started, to some extent. They'd take everything that I say, everything that I do, and twist it. Think what would happen to Lily - to our daughter. To Christian and Ace, and their kids. And people don't associate our family with positive things, anyway.

"No matter what I've done, there's a history there that they can use and distort and... I don't know. Somehow, as a thirty-six year old with his own family, I'm stuck with this horrible legacy. People would take one look at the ballot and, if they didn't know me personally - or perhaps even if they did - they'd choose anybody else. But the people I care about would be ruined no matter what. I'd be happy," he clarified, "to do good in the world outside of just working as a healer. But I'm not sure the people would let me."
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Post by Robert Lupin Sat Jun 24, 2017 11:08 pm

"Boom berry," Robert looked up at him. "That might be worth a try--but, I think, perhaps I will try to fuse the berry with the binder first since it is the binder that becomes unstable. Perhaps, if I fuse them together, the restorative component of the boom berry will keep the binder from igniting the whole works as soon as it hits the cauldron. Thank you. We shall have to try it."

He listened to Apollo list his many concerns. They weren't frivolous issues. They were issues he had either thought of or struggled with himself, so he understood exactly what Zabini was trying to avoid.

"I can certainly understand what you're saying," he agreed. "My family has not been seen well for decades now, and I certainly get more negative press than any other Lupin since Remus. The press can harm you--or help you, either one--or both. They can speak truth, or they can weave lies. You can't live and die by the press, and you can't let your loved ones do it either. However, my suggestion is that you and your family make a solid decision to stop giving a rat's posterior about what the papers say, and the sooner, the better."

"You all need to agree on what you all feel what's best for your family, as a collective decision, and then stand on it, and stand on your commitments to yourselves and each other. Look, if you do this, you aren't starting it alone because they're in every step with you. You certainly can't do it alone, and you won't finish it alone. Whatever you do, though, once you start it, you stand together on it, no matter what."

He thought for a moment. There was so much Apollo already knew about him, and, perhaps a few things left that he did not. The more he thought about it, the more he began to think that perhaps he'd left something out that, now, perhaps Apollo could benefit from knowing. He reached in front of him and turned off the burner and then checked his watch.

"I think I have something that it might do you good to see and to know. And, honestly, it is something that you might very well be interested in--perhaps," he said. "Do you think you have an hour or so to go on an errand with me?"

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Post by Apollo Zabini Wed Jun 28, 2017 6:20 am

Apollo smiled a bit more easily at Robert's consideration of the Boom Berry alternative. But there were more serious matters, obviously, that were worth discussing. Matters that would undoubtedly change his life and the lives of those he loved. Even if he didn't run, he knew that it would affect them in some way because it would always be a question in the back of his mind.

There were more qualified people who could run, Apollo knew. That Chief Warlock man, Parsons. The Headmaster. Someone directly related to Lupin, who could run off the name. Hell, his former professor, Teddy, would probably have better odds.

"I know you're right," he conceded regarding the press, "but I'm much more aware of what the press can do than my family is, you know? It would hit them harder than I think they'd care to admit."

It took a moment, but Apollo recognized a truth, which made itself known from some part of him deep down. "I know that they would support me. All of them. But I can't help but feel like this could ruin things. Finally -- finally, I've found a place and a family and nothing's gone to hell yet, and I don't think I'd be able to stand watching that all fall apart, now."

Despite the sudden ache of emotion in his chest, Apollo was intrigued by Robert's request. "I've already sent word to Lily that I'll be home late tonight. I've got time," he confirmed. Errands with Robert had never done him wrong in the past, so whatever this was he was sure it would be helpful. Helpful and important. It felt odd to learn that he didn't know everything about his favorite mentor, but then, Apollo supposed that went both ways.

"You should know by now that I'm always up for one of your errands," he pointed out, supposing that - if Lupin didn't know, he deserved to.
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Post by Robert Lupin Fri Jul 07, 2017 5:12 am

"I want you to see the cause that our family has always rallied around, the thing that keeps us together regardless of all the twaddle around us. This? All of this? St. Mungo's and the Ministry? It was never ever what any of us had intended. This trip is a tad unconventional, I grant you, but when should that surprise you?"

He rose from his place at the workbench and flicked a finger at the burner to be certain it went out and then picked up paper bags he'd set out of his way so they wouldn't catch fire.

"Take this," he said, handing him one of the bags. "You'll need it. Mind if I drive?" he asked, drawing his wand and offering Zabini his arm so they could port out.

He landed on a narrow, winding street lined with brownstone flats, perfectly trimmed little trees, blooming flowers surrounding the trees. He loved this place more than he should. It was part of his past, his family's past, and, he was sure, his family's future when he would no longer be here.

"Here," he pointed to one of the flats. "This is what matters. Nothing else." He went up the steps and laid his hand over top of the knocker to undo the enchantment on the door and then turned the antique brass doorknob. "Come in."

He went into the flat, decorated warmly and cleanly with a nautical theme.They were immediately met with the sound of people--a lot of them. Children were everywhere, being tended by a bevy of gentle adults, men and women of all ages. They noticed newcomers at once. The children looked expectantly at him, hoping.

"Did you bring it, then?" asked a ginger haired boy of about 7, approaching him. "Is that it?"

"Of course he did," another boy said. "He's got it, just there." Amusement crossed Robert's face, and he looked at Apollo.

"You're about to be mobbed," he told Zabini. "I'd use that bag if I were you." He looked at the children who were gathering like Father Christmas had stepped in. "I told you I would, didn't I? I keep my word. Did you eat your lunch?" They nodded obediently at him, as if they expected him to actually fall for it. He opened his bag and pulled out a handful of sugar sticks and lollipops and began handing them out.

"Captain!" a man in his sixties with salt and pepper hair made his way into the midst of the children. "You're back early. We didn't expect you back so soon."

"I promised, didn't I?" Robert said. He turned to Apollo. "Let me introduce you, Zabini. This is Owens. He manages the place when we can't be here. He's been here, what, 30 years now, Owens?"

"Thirty five, but who's counting?" Owens smiled. "Welcome, Mr. Zabini. I wondered when he'd finally bring you around. I've heard a lot of good things about you. Welcome to Paris. Do make yourself at home, and help yourself to the fresh coffee and tea in the galley. If you'll excuse me a moment, I hate to rush but this lot tapped our store of restorative tonic. Had to send out for more, and I need to pay the commissionaire for bringing it 'round so quickly."

"Really? I thought I left you plenty," Robert frowned.

"Not nearly. Perkins' team brought in another fifteen since you left. They're upstairs now. Your missus is still up there."

"Of course she is. All the crew members accounted for, then?"

"Yes, thank Merlin. One of our biggest operations in a long time."

"Good work, Owens. How many do we have now?"

"Thirty three this time," Owens said. Robert looked at Apollo.

"Overwhelming as it looks, these--all of these--," he nodded towards the children, "are what matter, more than anything you and I just left behind a moment ago." Owens started herding off the little ones that had their supplies of sugar, leaving the room considerably quieter. "I know it looks dramatic, and it is. Given the decision you're looking to make, places and situations like this will become much more real to you, things most people don't realize they need. Just to make your decision, you need to have your wits about you, and your heart has to be firmly anchored in its proper place. It's why I didn't tell you where we were going. Let's go through to the office so you can think a moment, and I'll explain." He motioned for him to follow him towards the back of the flat to the captain's office.

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Post by Apollo Zabini Fri Jul 07, 2017 8:14 am

Apollo's eyebrows lifted as a bag was handed to him, but he didn't have time to peek into it before they were off to wherever Robert was taking them.

Maybe it was just him imagining things, but wherever they landed, it seemed... darker. Later in the day. Attributing the assumption to not having left the hospital all day, Apollo turned his head to take in the place Lupin was interested in. He found himself squinting a bit at Robert's claim. More important than anything else? Merlin. The younger man found that pretty unbelievable, considering something that big would have been hard to hide.

He had no problem going inside, of course, but once there he slowed, eyes wide. Kids were, quite literally, everywhere. His fingers clutched the bag instinctively but it offered no answer yet.

"What-"

He was cut off by one of the children as they approached Robert, curious along with the other excitable ones. It took only seconds for Apollo top understand and open his own bag to pass the sweets around. Despite his immediately smile at the news of Robert's unnecessary and unexpected praise, he was still confused.

Captain? Galley? Crew members? This wasn't a ship, this was... an apartment. And one full of small children at that.

Apollo could feel his mouth fall open a bit. These children were more important than saving lives? Than making potions that could prolong a life? Who were these kids? "Is this an orphanage?" He asked, trailing along behind Robert even as he looked back at the kids eating their surprise treats. "Don't misunderstand me, Robert. Emi means the absolute world to me and Lily, but why is this one so important, compared to the other places?"
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Post by Robert Lupin Fri Jul 07, 2017 3:29 pm

"Not an orphanage, Zabini. This is more. Much more. I know you're a wonderful family man, and that's part of the reason you deserve to know what this organization does. The other part is that you surely would not be here if I did not trust you with some of the deepest secrets I have," he glanced at him and cast him a wee bit of a cheeky smile, "Not all my secrets, though. A man's got to keep something for himself in his golden years." He opened the door to the office, done in warm wood paneling with a comfortable old persian rug. A partners desk stood central to all the operations. This was the tactical hub of it all, for all practical purposes, the bridge of the company and crew that had found a way to make sense of the chaos around it by framing itself and running as a tight ship.

Artwork usually on the wall sat temporarily on the floor leaned against the wall, removed to make way for maps of Paris and its neighborhoods, maps of France and rural areas, many of the maps tacked up in haste during the night for the purpose of strategic command. Small bubbles of colored light were improvised enchanted replacements for map pins marking various points on the map. The credenza held old leather-bound atlases, ledgers, a stack of rolled up maps, and, hastily placed upon all of that that were emergency supplies-- stacks of neatly folded children's clean clothing and a plastic trash bag of brand new stuffed toys awaiting little hands. And, in the far corner of the room, a supply cabinet for some potions ingredients, another for potions that stood at the ready, and a small but efficient potions workbench held a stack of children's board games and a basket of coloring books with tins of crayons.

Two magical items hung on the wall right behind Robert's desk, on either side of the largest map of Paris and the surrounding area. On the right an old yellowed parchment adaptation of the marauder's map, but it only covered this flat. Every crew member and every child appeared as footprints moving about the flat so that Robert could see at a glance where everyone was, on every floor. Sirius's doing a long time ago. It still made Robert smile to remember his old friends and all the effort they'd put into this project.

To the left of the map was a large abacus with softly glowing, multicolored glass beads, moving on their own with an almost soothing subdued clacking sound, seemed to be keeping count of something. The abacus had two sections--a left and a right, rather than a top and bottom. The beads on the right moved not only up and down but side to side as well. The left section, the larger one, seemed to stay static, but it too was obviously tracking something. It had been one of Kate's and Lily's contributions, their design created by an alchemist, and it still proved efficient.

The only picture that had not been removed was a wizarding group picture in this very room of those who had started it all--Remus, Sirius, Michael, James, Lily, Robert, Kate, all appearing to be pouring over a large map on the desk. They stopped their work and looked up when they saw him enter.

"You can all stand down for now," Robert told them. "Everyone's back, and we're alright for the moment." They appeared relieved. Robert picked up a stack of bright and friendly children's blankets from a chair and put the stack on the floor.

"How'd we do?" Sirius asked.

"Thirty three," Robert replied.

"Oh, brilliant!" he said, pleased.

"Sit wherever you like. If its in your way, just move it," he said to Zabini. He went to the chair behind the desk and moved a wayward stuffed turtle and laid it on the credenza before he sat down.

"Sorry about the clutter," Robert said. "It isn't normally in disarray, I assure you. We had to rally a lot of supplies quickly. We first came here back in 1985, and back then we were a rough, disorganized band with a mission and just enough money to rent an attic in a not-so-lovely part of town. God, that was awful," he shook his head and smiled, remembering.

"What we had was a handful of galleons and a task that we believed we'd wind up in a week. As you can see, not only are we still here, but we've grown considerably. Aside from home and family, this is where my heart is." The place made him smile. As ugly as the task, it had purpose, and the world was a little better for the work this place did in secret.

"Let me explain. There is a very lucrative black market in stealing and trading all manner of magical things--artifacts, wands, spellbooks, magical creatures, and, so far as I'm concerned--the most detestable of them all--the procuring and selling of wizarding children. The children you met were part of the ones we've brought in just this week, and, you heard Owens say, we brought another 33 in just during the night.

"Most of the new ones are still up on the third floor. We've got..." he put on his glasses and opened a ledger on the desk, scanning a page. "82 here right now. It is definitely a bit more crowded here than usual. The most we've had here at one time was 117 several months ago when we were fortunate enough to be able to raid a clearinghouse right before the auction was slated to start." He put his reading glasses back in his pocket.

"What we do, what we've always done, is we try to find these children, wherever they are on the planet, and we go in and extract them from their 'handlers'--greedy dark arts wizards who risk our world entirely to take wizarding children, ideally when they're just coming into their powers, and training them with only one or two spells or abilities, and then they retail them to greedy muggles to exploit those kids into using those skills for their wealthy muggle owners to keep lining their owners' pockets. It's completely despicable by any sense. And our one week mission to rescue a child has become a perpetual commitment to find every single one and bring them home.

"We've become, essentially, the privateers subcontracted now by a lot of wizarding governments to quietly and covertly use whatever skills we have to find these children, rescue them, and return them. There are others who try to do what we do, certainly, but we're one of the largest and certainly one of the oldest now. The men and women you've seen are almost all espionage specialists in one specialization or another. Many of them are people I trained myself or Brian has.

"I brought you here to let you see what really drives my priorities and how I've kept those boundaries clearly divided so that my house has been able to survive all these years. I can't tell you if it'll work for you. I can only show you what I've done and how I answered the very same questions you're asking right now."

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Post by Apollo Zabini Tue Jul 25, 2017 4:03 am

Apollo's eyebrows lifted in vague amusement at the Minister's assurance that his once-apprentice would never truly figure him out. Nobody ever could with another person, Apollo felt. No matter how much he loved Lily, or even his daughter, there would always be something he couldn't truly understand. Over the years, he had learned to accept that.

As they walked into the office, though, he took in everything else before the portrait. And when he saw it, he froze, utterly dumbstruck. Those were... They had to be, right? Apollo had seen a picture once or twice through Lily's family and the history books. That was the original Lily Potter. A sudden instinct to tell her about her granddaughter struck him, followed immediately by a desperate desire for approval. Neither made sense, though. This was only a shade of the real woman, and she knew nothing of his Lily. Her own parents hadn't known her as much as they should have. So he would continue to go without, it seemed.

Still, it took a couple moments to pull his gaze away and listen to Robert.

A few minutes later, he regretted listening. In some ways, at least. Because he started off feeling confused and rapidly just grew more and more disgusted. With people, with the world, and with those who might have sat by and let something like that happen. All he wanted, suddenly, was to go home and check on his daughter. Merlin, what monsters.

Realizing that he'd clenched his hand into a fist on the arm of his chair, Apollo let out an uneasy breath before relaxing that arm.

"Do-? I mean... Not to be blunt or anything, Robert, but-- We both know that I can't run for anything unless you're gone. I don't want that. But, are you saying that whoever becomes Minister is going to take this place over? What if- whoever they are, say they don't care enough. Who runs it, then?"
Apollo Zabini
Apollo Zabini
Fifth Year Slytherin
Fifth Year Slytherin

Number of posts : 646
Occupation : Beater for Slytherin

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Epilogue: "Nineteen Years Later..." Empty Re: Epilogue: "Nineteen Years Later..."

Post by Robert Lupin Thu Jul 27, 2017 1:41 am

"And how do we know that, precisely?" Robert asked Apollo. "We know I'm 90 years old and I've been in office for almost 30 years. I don't have any intention of keeping it forever--I don't want to work that long, not doing that anyway. If I find there's someone who looks like they have reasonable ideas and I'm ready to go, I'll spend more time here. I'll do this. If you want the Ministry, by Merlin, you can have it. I'll throw your victory celebration myself and be glad to do it."

"This is about as far from the Ministry as it gets," he said. "Let me clarify. There are many changes I would have like to have been able to do, but the wheels of progress in government turn slowly, many times far too much so. These children cannot wait for the Ministry to feel comfortable to get around to them. I have wanted to make a difference--a real, tangible difference, but I also have wanted to keep a balance.

"This allows me to do that. I am fully in touch with my family. I won't surrender that. However, this allows me to get beyond policy and do something that feels more real to me. This certainly isn't openly sanctioned by any government but it is one way to fight back against to a nasty problem, and as long as one child gets taken, this place will be here. Brian takes care of the day to day operations because he doesn't know how to give it up, and my granddaughter Dakota is here in training and doesn't want to be anywhere else.

"Look, you have always had great ideas when it comes to human rights, and I think it is worth your efforts to try to put them into action. Align yourself before you do so, though. Find what keeps you and your balanced and whole--and, especially, well grounded."

"I would have done you no favors if I did not show you, in some small way, that the things you see in the papers, the things you will read in policy and laws, are very real. The people are real, and so is the hideousness. If you're going to do this, you will need to keep around you that same bit of inner strength that allows you to deal with some of the ugliness that you see on a daily basis in St. Mungos. You hold lives in your hands, and you will do no less as the Minister..."

"Robert, you didn't introduce us to our guest," Lily said and then, leaning on the edge of the desk in the painting, turned her gaze to Apollo. "What do you stand for, Son? And is it the same your family members stand for?"

"My apologies," he said, looking at them and at Apollo. "Feel free to go introduce yourself to them. I've always found they have wisdom, even if they are just part of the artwork."

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Epilogue: "Nineteen Years Later..." Pbucket
Robert Lupin
Robert Lupin
Gryffindor Graduate
Gryffindor Graduate

Number of posts : 3100
Special Abilities : Master Healer, Potionsmaster, Energy Worker, Portkey Creation
Occupation : Minister of Magic, Chief of Staff at St. Mungos

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