02. [video]

[theboywhodied]

[An anxious Cedric appears on screen. He looks from left to right, his mussed hair flying just about everywhere. He taps the screen to ensure that it's turned on---in his mind this somehow serves a purpose. When he's sure everything's working, he waves.]

Hello! This is Cedric again. I've talked about this with one or two of you before. I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself or it's something you've all heard before, but this is something I need to sate my curiosity about. It's just that this world is so different from what I'm used to and there are so many different types of people. If that's even the word you prefer. And sometimes we have conflicts with one another.

So I have to ask: what do you think of people who are capable of using magic? Witches, warlocks, sorcerers, casters, wizards, or whatever you choose to call them. Are they all right, do you think? Or not?

Comments

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ He actually drops one of his candies, though he sweeps it up again casually. ]

"In the way" - of what?

Do they kill for sport, or is there some end they are striving for?

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

It's to purify the wizarding world.

[He makes a face of disgust.]

They believe in wizard superiority, and they hate Muggle-loving traitors. Can't let magical blood get diluted.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ Lightly: ]

They have their reasons, I suppose. These "witch hunts" you spoke of, for instance?

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

Right. Both sides just kept escalating the conflict---attacks, persecution, hatred, and it went on and on until wizards decided to go into hiding. That worked for most of us, but some wizards want to control both worlds.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

Do they indeed?

[ A little pause. ]

Well, you must admit - that puts rather a different spin on your original question.

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

I'm not one of them either. I don't think anyone can control this lot, no matter what powers they have.

But I've been thought people might think that of me.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

One of them, one of us.

Your thinking seems very cut and dried.

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

I know...evil acts aren't always done by evil people, and there's some subjectivity to certain things. But I won't abide by wizards using power to seize control of the world.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ His fingers are starting to get sticky. He licks them. ]

I think you're a very well-intentioned young man.

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

Well I certainly hope so.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

A young man with good intentions, who believes himself well-intentioned, and possessed of magical power...

Someone is going to use you.

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

Is that advice or a threat?

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

Ha! Ha! Ha!

[ He giggles into his floppy sleeve. ]

Whose side are you on, in this conflict we find ourselves unexpectedly embroiled in?

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

You mean the Initiative and the anti-Initiative?

There's still a lot I don't know.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

The Initiative is most certainly trying to use every one of us. Whether it's a mutually beneficial relationship remains to be seen.

But I very much doubt they are the only ones here with interests.

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

Ah.

Thanks for the warning.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

What's your name?

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

Cedric Diggory. Yours?

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

I am Xerxes Break.

[ And then, because he's an eavesdropping eavesdropper who eavesdrops: ]

People have been telling you alllllllll sorts of helpful, encouraging things, haven't they?

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

For the most part, yeah. Some friendly warnings too. It's been better than I expected.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

Yes, it's always nice when people tell you what you want to hear. ♥

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

Are you saying it's not reality?

[He looks worried.]

I've had warnings already. I know to be on my guard, and I know the world's not as safe or nice as I want to believe. Trust me, I had the innocence blasted out of me before I arrived.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

I'm simply--

[ ...

His voice actually drops, from its usual high-pitched, condescending sing-song into something resembling a serious tone: ]

Ah.

[ A little pause. ]

What happened?

[ Video ]

[theboywhodied]

[Cedric looks faintly uncomfortable. He's bitter, but he doesn't want to vent his bitter anger everywhere.]

I was murdered. For no reason other than that I was in the way.

[ Video ] 1/3

[maddeninghatter]

[ For someone who strives to hide his true feelings he is... really quite appallingly bad at it. He gazes at the screen, looking positively stricken.

Guilt-stricken, in point of fact. ]