I agree with you – it might have been an easier path in if I had been more my father’s son. Still, I would rather lose with some integrity than win as a liar and a hypocrite, and I’ll be sorry if that’s who our next Minister turns out to be. I know we talk a lot about ‘society’ as one homogenous entity, but I have to believe that there are enough people living in it with minds and opinions of their own, and people with enough compassion to care about more things than money and power.

I don’t mean to argue with you. In fact, even some of my own friends might agree with you. I’m just not sure I can.

Thank you for the invitation – I’d be happy to attend. I’m sure we can still agree on transfiguration topics, if nothing else.

I’m planning a few things, and you would always be welcome to attend in turn if you hadn’t already made your position clear. I may host a ball at some point – to put it cynically, if you prefer – to mingle with a wider audience, and I would be grateful to hear any advice you have for that. As long as that would not fall under the purview of supporting me politically?

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