OuOWP once again

[alt_poppy]

Today's epistle from the Office of Underage Wizard Protection:

Children of Hogwarts, Hello!

First, allow me to apologise for a lapse on my part: I realised belatedly that I neglected to send any of the pamphlets in our series on 'Dietary Diligence', but rest assured that if you would like to read any of the titles on food and proper eating I mentioned yesterday, your Matron now has plenty of copies.

Now for today's topic!

It is a matter of no small difficulty for children to discern when they may trust adults and when they must, instead, be wary in order to protect themselves and their families from harm. On the one hand, children understand that it is their duty to obey and respect their elders, even as their parents respect and owe duty to those in authority over them. On the other hand, children must understand that there is darkness and evil in our world that threatens their safety.

Never Speak with Nor Accept Anything from Strangers:
It is for this reason that parents teach their children never to speak to strangers unless Mother or Father introduces them and gives permission. For this same reason, children must learn never to accept gifts or food or broom rides from any adult unless their parent or teacher gives express permission.

Never Allow Unfamiliar Adults to Touch Any Part of You:
In fact, as we are now becoming aware, our lessons ought to be even more stringent: children must learn never, ever to allow an unknown or slightly known adult to touch them in any way, even to take them by the hand. It is far too easy for an adult to abuse a child's trust and come close enough to seize the child and Apparate away with her.

Self-Awareness:
Are there really such threats all around us? The answer, I'm afraid, is yes. While our world, Our Lord's most gracious realm, is a very safe place and while we are well governed by the Ministry and well-protected by the department of Magical Law Enforcement, there are undeniably a handful of evil individuals hidden in our midst. Safety depends on preparedness, and preparedness demands that we be aware of the ways in which harm could befall us. Thus we must always be alert to the possibility that somewhere around us there might be someone bent on doing us harm. It is far better to be alert and prepared than to be taken by surprise.

Self-Knowledge:
I know that all of you are taking lessons in Defence and Charms, and I'm told that many of you are participating in the school's Duelling Club. There you are studying the wand skills that may someday enable you to defend yourself should someone assail you, but for the time being, your best defence is to know your own limitations and to avoid rather than brave conflict. Avoid being taken alone, keep alert, and flee danger if it confronts you.

Do Not Make Yourself a Ready Target:
We have recently been reminded that children may unwittingly make themselves enticing targets for predators. In addition to the ways we've already addressed (playing alone in lonely places, allowing strange adults to come too close, accepting gifts or invitations from people one doesn't know well, acting on one's own recognisance without permission from a parent or teacher, trusting too much to one's own strength or skill), there is a new danger facing you today that my generation never faced: your public diary.

The Dangers of Public Diary-Keeping:
Alas! These diaries are an avenue for danger. Writing in these little books has become all the rage. We love to write in them and read what others say; we can scarcely bear to be without them. We appreciate that they allow us to communicate so quickly and casually with our friends and loved ones near and far. We are titillated that we can read in them the daily notes of people we do not know well--celebrities, politicians, society figures, and outlaws. Occasionally someone will say something shocking, but more often people merely write about the ordinary details of ordinary lives. And yet these small revelations are strangely compelling; they fascinate us and make us feel that we know secrets about the people who share themselves in that way. Someone might describe the comic details of having a new dress fitted; someone else might blab about her little brother's desire for a puppy; another might confide his financial worries; and yet another might anticipate the pleasures of an upcoming vacation. These admissions may seem harmless to you, but to a criminal mind, these details become fodder for evil fantasies and material for villainous plans.

Do Not Tell Your Diary Any Personal Details:
It may seem harsh. It may strike you as unnecessarily cautious. But, oh, children! It is always far better to be cautious and be safe than to be unwary and become a victim of the evil ones who lurk and look for ways to harm you.

Here in the Office of Underage Wizard Protection we like to say that Self-Protection Is First of All a Matter of Self-Governance! Guard your tongues, blunt your quills, keep your private knowledge private--and be safe!

To learn more about these important topics, ask Madam Pomfrey or your Prefects for copies of the following pamphlets:

* Never Talk To Strangers
* Don't Tell Your Secrets in Public
* Hold Tight, Don't Write: 10 Things You Musn't Tell Your Diary
* Never Go Alone (Keeping Safe in Public Toilets)
* Look Out for Lechers
* Hands Off: Parts of You No One Else Should Touch
* Trust Your Head (Your Head of House Can Help)
* Your Prefect Cares
* Hearing Your Healer
* Feeling Troubled? Tell Matron
* Perk Up: A Smile Will Raise Your Spirits
* When Daily Cares Become Nightmares

Tomorrow we will discuss how to avoid conflict and live harmoniously with others. In the meantime, Keep Your Wits About You and Be Safe!

Ms Prunella Post, AEOIA
Office of Underage Wizard Protection

Comments

[alt_padma]

Madam Pomfrey, is she saying it's my fault? About Sanji?

[alt_poppy]

Oh, my dear. Whatever point Ms Post wished to make, it is very poorly conveyed. I hope you can set the thought aside because the truth is that we cannot live our lives so carefully as to never give an evil person chance to harm us. The fault lies entirely with the individual who killed your brother, not with anything you or any of his loved ones did or did not do.

[alt_seamus]

How dare she

Madam Pomfrey I don't want to criticise anyone from the Ministry. Especially adults who are trying to teach us to keep ourselves safe.

But these diaries were the gift of the Lord Protector. Why would He have given them to us if He didn't mean for us to write in them?

If an evil person saw what Padma wrote about her brother and used it, that isn't Padma's fault! It's the fault of the person who murdered her brother! She didn't blab ANYTHING. There's nothing wrong with writing about her family especially when we couldn't send owls!

Padma please don't let this worry you. NO ONE thinks it was your fault.

[alt_poppy]

You are quite right, Mr Finnigan. The diaries are the Lord Protector's gift to us, and I feel certain that we are meant to use them.

Furthermore, while prudence is always advisable, you are very right that it would be perverse to blame victims for the violence and evil perpetrated against them.

Order Only

[alt_poppy]

And it's worse than perverse to encourage a child to feel herself guilty for the violent death of her younger sibling.

Honestly. If I could have edited the piece or withheld it, I would have. Perhaps I should have refused the order to print it, after all. And of course, the spell transferred the whole thing, potion, cauldron and flame, onto my journal page precisely as it appeared in her letter.

It doesn't help that the officious woman may find herself in the soup as a result: the damage it's done to this one child (and how many others?) can't be reversed.

And yet, I can't help but feel ambivalent because there are ways in which this whole initiative from UWP is spot on: we live in a very dangerous world under a government that is in no way protecting us, and these journals are no small part of the danger!


I hate this sort of irony. I really do.

[alt_padma]

I got an answer from Director Selwyn. And he told Madam Promfrey that he got an owl from Mr Rosier. Did you do that?

Cheers, Finnigan.

We got back after supper, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow.

[alt_selwyn]

My dear girl, I will be having a chat with Ms Post first thing tomorrow morning and I will ask her that very question.

The correct answer, of course, will be 'no, I would never dream of suggesting such a thing.'

[alt_padma]

Thank you very much, Mr Selwyn. I'm sorry to have troubled you.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

Huh. I don't see anything in here about what you should do if one of your teachers tries to kill you. Is there some way you're supposed to be ready for that?

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

No doubt they won't try to kill us as long as we wear galoshes and eat properly.

The whole business isn't nearly as funny today. How awful do you have to be to say to a girl that her brother died because she was a blabbermouth? I hate Patil as much as anyone and I don't think it was her fault.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

Yeah. You're right about that.

Funny she doesn't say anything about how it can be dangerous just reading what other people say about you sometimes. I mean, it's too bad Patil had to see this. It was really dead cruel what she said.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

You're spot on it's dangerous to read things people say about you sometimes. I do the stupidest things when I'm really cross.

[alt_selwyn]

Excuse me, Madam Pomfrey. I've been extremely busy of late but I just received an owl about this matter from Stephen Rosier. Do I understand correctly that these missives were approved by someone working in my division?

[alt_poppy]

Ah, Director Selwyn. Yes, indeed, that is what the Office of Underage Wizard Protection has led me to understand. I have two letters from them directing me to print these essays on matters of safety and health; in the first of them, Ms Post, and in the second, her superior, a Mrs Carter-Symmons, cite authority from your office for their instructions to me. Shall I forward the documents to you?

[alt_selwyn]

Please do so immediately.

Also, I'd request that you arrange for the pamphlets she sent you be rounded up and returned to my office; it does sound as though they were not adequately examined before being sent out.

Did she claim authority from my office regarding the essays she asked you to post? It appears these may be even more regrettable than the pamphlets.

[alt_poppy]

They claimed authority from the office of the Director of Protectorate Affairs for both the journal essays and the pamphlets.

The pamphlets all bear dated marks from your office. Some of them were originally marked in the 1940s, others later. All of them were re-stamped in 1991 with the exception of a few bearing this year's date.

I will ask the Prefects to collect all of the copies that have been dispersed to students in their Houses. We will arrange to have them transferred to you as soon as that has been completed.

[alt_selwyn]

My office has been short-staffed in recent weeks; three of my people were admitted to St Mungo's with the pureblood form of the illness. It's made things quite difficult. Nonetheless letting something like this by was inexcusable, and I expect to be able to discern from the documents who approved them.

[alt_selwyn]

Oh and it probably goes without saying, but just to make it entirely clear, please refrain from posting any further missives from anyone at all from the Office of Underage Wizard Protection.

[alt_poppy]

Thank you, Director. I'm happy to cooperate.