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Apr. 6th, 2003 12:42 pmYesterday, I gave Professor McGonagall my resignation. She immediately tore it to pieces and called me a few choice names in her own, fond way.
It's strange what times such as these will bring out in the people around you.
When word reached me of the owl that Dean recieved from his parents, I wish I could say that I was shocked. Sadly, I wasn't. All too often have there been cases of parents becoming too blinded by their own fear and doubt to be able to see their child for who he really is, and has always been. It sounds completely outrageous that any mother and father could ever be ashamed of their child for who - or what - he is, but there you have it. "Ain't nowt as queer as folk," as my grandmother liked to say.
Then I spoke to Minerva and discovered that Dean had mentioned mine and Sirius's upcoming wedding, and a terrible thing occured to me: I've never seen fit to hide who I am and who I love. It comes from having too many secrets in your life to begin with. This number on my arm proclaims me to be a werewolf to the entire world, and I have learned to wear it proudly. It never even occured to me not to be just as open about other aspects of my life, as well.
(Sirius: "You couldn't hide if it we had an Invisibility Cloak, you great ponce.")
But what if this was having some kind of influence over the students, or what if my presence were making the children or their parents uncomfortable? If having a teacher who is one of the stately homosexuals of merry olde England has become a problem, then the solution seemed simple: resign. For Dean's sake, for the student's sake. They don't need this kind of distraction from their studies and their lives. They've plenty of other things to worry about - sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, Dark Lords and Death Eaters. Poufy professors shouldn't be a factor.
And despite Minerva's insistence that I do not resign, I still feel uncomfortable about the whole thing, and I'll be making a concerted effort to be more professional and less... obvious, in the interest of keeping Hogwarts respectable for students and parents alike. Professor Dumbledore recieved over two hundred owls when parents found out I was a werewolf, three years ago. We don't need a repeat performance of that. I just want to teach people who want to learn, and that's all.
A final thought: No one should be treated in such a way by his own parents, and the road Dean has ahead of him will be very long and very rough. He can't hide out at Hogwarts forever. At some point, he will have to face his parents and attempt to make them understand that he is still the same boy they raised, and loved, and still love whether they want to admit it or not. There's a chance he'll succeed, and an equal chance that he won't.
Either way, I'm sure we'll all stand behind him one hundred percent. Especially Seamus.
Also, for Dean: you are more than welcome at my home, if necessary. There's plenty of room, you could even have the guest house to yourself. I think you'll be fine, between Seamus and perhaps the Weasleys, but I want you to know that you will always have a place to go, if you need one.
Must away - I have cranes to fold.
It's strange what times such as these will bring out in the people around you.
When word reached me of the owl that Dean recieved from his parents, I wish I could say that I was shocked. Sadly, I wasn't. All too often have there been cases of parents becoming too blinded by their own fear and doubt to be able to see their child for who he really is, and has always been. It sounds completely outrageous that any mother and father could ever be ashamed of their child for who - or what - he is, but there you have it. "Ain't nowt as queer as folk," as my grandmother liked to say.
Then I spoke to Minerva and discovered that Dean had mentioned mine and Sirius's upcoming wedding, and a terrible thing occured to me: I've never seen fit to hide who I am and who I love. It comes from having too many secrets in your life to begin with. This number on my arm proclaims me to be a werewolf to the entire world, and I have learned to wear it proudly. It never even occured to me not to be just as open about other aspects of my life, as well.
(Sirius: "You couldn't hide if it we had an Invisibility Cloak, you great ponce.")
But what if this was having some kind of influence over the students, or what if my presence were making the children or their parents uncomfortable? If having a teacher who is one of the stately homosexuals of merry olde England has become a problem, then the solution seemed simple: resign. For Dean's sake, for the student's sake. They don't need this kind of distraction from their studies and their lives. They've plenty of other things to worry about - sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, Dark Lords and Death Eaters. Poufy professors shouldn't be a factor.
And despite Minerva's insistence that I do not resign, I still feel uncomfortable about the whole thing, and I'll be making a concerted effort to be more professional and less... obvious, in the interest of keeping Hogwarts respectable for students and parents alike. Professor Dumbledore recieved over two hundred owls when parents found out I was a werewolf, three years ago. We don't need a repeat performance of that. I just want to teach people who want to learn, and that's all.
A final thought: No one should be treated in such a way by his own parents, and the road Dean has ahead of him will be very long and very rough. He can't hide out at Hogwarts forever. At some point, he will have to face his parents and attempt to make them understand that he is still the same boy they raised, and loved, and still love whether they want to admit it or not. There's a chance he'll succeed, and an equal chance that he won't.
Either way, I'm sure we'll all stand behind him one hundred percent. Especially Seamus.
Also, for Dean: you are more than welcome at my home, if necessary. There's plenty of room, you could even have the guest house to yourself. I think you'll be fine, between Seamus and perhaps the Weasleys, but I want you to know that you will always have a place to go, if you need one.
Must away - I have cranes to fold.
