What was this woman's problem? She spoke as though people having the choice to play Quidditch would bring about the end of society. As though championing for women to be able to play Quidditch would somehow take away from her rights.

"What you may not be able to understand, Mrs. Crouch, is that the issue goes deeper than just Quidditch. The same people who say that women are unfit to play Quidditch are the same who say that they can't be aurors or healers, or do anything with their lives beyond raising children and running a household. I understand, though, that this doesn't seem to be something that interests you as the only choice you care about giving to women is who will saddle them with fifteen children."

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   Ophelia Devine

This was the woman Ben chose to be his mistress? Really? Melody could understand his choice in her less than she understood the mechanics of the sport Ms. Gallivan was so vehemently arguing for. What was he thinking being with someone so blind to reality? Then again, Melody herself was blind to so many things before him as well. Merlin. Ben really needed to develop a finer taste in women.

"I understand completely." She bristled, insulted by Ms. Gallivan's callous remarks. Merlin help the blonde if Melody ever caught her alone with Ben. "What you don't seem to understand is the fight for women's rights isn't merely one battle, but a war. To have men like the ones who complain about a sport or sell their daughters openly accept women in various professions would be to turn Society on its head. Change isn't instant. It inches and crawls and is something we're not like to see in the capacity we desire. Women aurors and healers are the stepping stones to women playing quidditch. Inches, Ms. Gallivan, not miles."

  

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beautiful set by mj

Cee didn't necessarily disagree with Mrs. Crouch. They were on the same side, really, just arguing from different perspectives. It all boiled down to Cee being passionate about Quidditch and Mrs. Crouch not. Their different waves of feminism were creating a whirlpool.

"Women have been playing Quidditch for quite a while, Mrs. Crouch," Cee said. "You wouldn't know this, but the Holyhead Harpies have been around since 1203. I do not disagree with you that change won't come overnight but I don't understand why you are so passionately against Quidditch in particular. I don't have what it takes to become a healer but I'm not saying we should champion for women's place in the Quidditch industry before the medical one! It isn't a matter of the nature of one's profession, but rather of giving women a choice to do whatever they want, whether it is to play a foolish sport as you call it, or raise fifteen children."

  

"I am.not passionately against quidditch." Melody insisted. The last thing she needed was for Ben to have one more reason to dislike her. Melody thought the sport senseless and violent and didn't understand what purpose the snitch served, but she wasn't against the sport. There were just more important matters to attend to first.

"A healer or auror are more important to society than an athlete. That's what I mean by steps. Let men become accustomed to women in those more important positions and the rest will follow." Where was Ms. Gallivan's chaperone? No wonder why Ben was able to have an affair with her.

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   Ophelia Devine

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beautiful set by mj

Cee resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the woman's words. Aurors and healers are more important to society. Why hadn't she eloped with an auror or a healer then? Cee resisted the urge to ask her that as well, that would have been beyond petty.

"I wonder if you ever have any fun in your life, Mrs. Crouch," Cee concluded. How had someone as fun and open minded as Mr. Crouch ended up married to this woman? Eloped with her, even! She sounded like the sort of woman your conservative brother would want to betroth you to.

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   Ophelia Devine

Ms. Gallivan had to be insane to believe having bludgers hurled at herself was fun. Reading was fun. Dancing with handsome men was fun. Having sex with her husband (loathe as she was to think of it in the presence of Ben's mistress) was fun. Dodging balls and praying for one's life was definitely not fun.

"One needn't risk her life for fun. I'm certain you'll find that for yourself one way or another. Good day, Ms. Gallivan."

  

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beautiful set by mj

There were many other things that put your life at risk. Having babies, for one. Mrs. Crouch seemed like the sort of woman who would want to have a dozen of them.

"Good day to you too," Cee replied cooly and then headed to the opposite part of the shop from where the unpleasant woman had headed. She hoped that she wouldn't find herself in Mrs. Crouch's company anytime soon!