Like any enthusiastic child, Tony took the offered caramenl-coated popcorn, having never tasted something like this before! He had been offered some wizarding snacks at the common room gathering the evening before: Bertie Bott Beans and a chocolate frog that he hadn't had the heart to eat, but kept the card of Dilys Derwent, who was a healer, just like he aspired to be!
Well, after the incident with Miss Amarantha Valenduris the evening before, Tony wasn't so sure about that. His previous enthusiasm about taking potions was marred by her behaviour, seeing that she was the Potions Club president and her personality had discouraged him from pursuing a membership.
It seemed that this was the reason why Professor Pembroke had called him in his office that day, though Tony had put two and two together after a housemate told him what he taught. Tony, who in his previous life was coming from a family that fit the status quo (white, Church of England Christian, English, reasonably well-off), was unused to being the subject of prejudice. It felt awful and dehumanizing and there was a part of him that wanted to hide that he was from a non-magical family. If there was such prejudice about it, why hadn't Professor Valenduris, his initial mentor, warned him about it? Tony could have lied about coming from a non-magical family, said that at least his mother had been a witch. Then, perhaps Miss Amarantha wouldn't have been so cruel to him and he wouldn't feel like his and Hyacinth's friendship had ended.
Then again, Professor Pembroke admitted to being a muggleborn himself and he'd described a successful resume, so clearly one could make something of himself in this world, in spite of their "lesser" blood.
"Thank you, Professor Pembroke," Tony said. "To tell you the truth, professor, I find the term 'muggle' somewhat derogatory as well. Don't you think?" He preferred to think of his family as non-magical, than use that odd word to describe them. Muggle. It set them apart, made them seem like they were lesser humans than wizards.
Well, after the incident with Miss Amarantha Valenduris the evening before, Tony wasn't so sure about that. His previous enthusiasm about taking potions was marred by her behaviour, seeing that she was the Potions Club president and her personality had discouraged him from pursuing a membership.
It seemed that this was the reason why Professor Pembroke had called him in his office that day, though Tony had put two and two together after a housemate told him what he taught. Tony, who in his previous life was coming from a family that fit the status quo (white, Church of England Christian, English, reasonably well-off), was unused to being the subject of prejudice. It felt awful and dehumanizing and there was a part of him that wanted to hide that he was from a non-magical family. If there was such prejudice about it, why hadn't Professor Valenduris, his initial mentor, warned him about it? Tony could have lied about coming from a non-magical family, said that at least his mother had been a witch. Then, perhaps Miss Amarantha wouldn't have been so cruel to him and he wouldn't feel like his and Hyacinth's friendship had ended.
Then again, Professor Pembroke admitted to being a muggleborn himself and he'd described a successful resume, so clearly one could make something of himself in this world, in spite of their "lesser" blood.
"Thank you, Professor Pembroke," Tony said. "To tell you the truth, professor, I find the term 'muggle' somewhat derogatory as well. Don't you think?" He preferred to think of his family as non-magical, than use that odd word to describe them. Muggle. It set them apart, made them seem like they were lesser humans than wizards.