An Interference of Portraits

Torture at the Gala Dinner

'I ended up in Merrion Square where I met this man. He was a dapper chap, sitting on a park bench in his fedora hat and a bright pink scarf. He wore a green carnation in his lapel.'

I took a deep breath and tried to calm my beating heart because I wondered how many people had realised I'd essentially just come out to them or was about to... But also, because my speech was clear in my head now. I was sure I was probably going to be preaching to the converted but there was no harm in reinforcing the message. Besides, no doubt the press would be printing my words the following day and I'd reach a far wider audience.

'We got talking and, well, he gave me much to think about because although we were discussing prejudices of a different kind, much of what he said had parallels with the causes of the war and what we need to consider after going through an event like that.'

I paused again. I needed to give my audience, as much as myself, time.

'I'm sure there are some in this room who have guessed the significance of where in Dublin this conversation took place. I mentioned Merrion Square. It's where three sculptures celebrate the Muggle writer Oscar Wilde; though, after reading The Picture of Dorian Gray, I wonder if he knew something of our world. Some of you may know his work, he was a brilliant man, a genius. He was also a man who was persecuted by a society that judged him for being homosexual. I hope you can see the parallels here. There is no difference between using the words "Muggleborn" or "Queer". Persecution is persecution, discrimination is discrimination, no matter what. Often for little other reason than a person being different or not fitting into someone's picture of what is normative.'

I waited momentarily for my message to sink in.

'I'm not just talking about Voldemort's narrowminded ethos where the life of a Pureblood is more valuable than a Muggleborn witch or wizard, or a different Magical Being. We can extend these known discriminations to other differences that touch us all, whether it is someone's race, or gender, or sexual preference, or how they identify, or if they have a disability, or their age, or religion, their size... the list goes on.'

I smiled at Hagrid who gave me a visible thumbs-up from the table with the group of staff from Hogwarts before he elbowed Firenze and winked at Filius Flitwick. I was glad they were all invited, particularly as all had been vital players in the war. I had also noticed that Mr Kreacher was seated at the table with a considerable number of the Hogwarts's House-Elves, though he'd not mentioned the invite to me. They were all properly clothed and Mr Kreacher still wore his Potter uniform.

'To me, those differences create diversity and diversity paints colour into our world. Diversity is not reason to judge. Travelling has just embedded those thoughts for me because I have met so many people over the past three years. And so many have had something to give. There has always been something to learn. There is still plenty to learn... Diversity is something to understand because it is often also a struggle to be considered "different". It is a struggle, amongst other things, to be accepted. The part that interests me now, is who sets the perimeters of what is considered normative? I can only come up with one answer. We do that, all by ourselves. We as a society, a culture, and as individuals within our pockets of culture... We grow up in our little sheltered sectors and forget to look outside that and see the colour in the world around us! My friend in Dublin reminded me that the world has come on substantially, but Voldemort... Tom Riddle, to use his given name... has shown we have not moved on far enough.'

I looked around the room and nodded gently.

'It is up to us to make sure there is no place for discrimination and prejudice in our culture. There should be no place for alienation. It is up to us to ensure we view all our neighbours as equals. That was what this war was about in the end. Ultimately, that was what I was fighting for... and will continue to fight for...'

I paused again, aware of the stillness in the room. I quirked a small smile just as a camera clicked in the silence.

'There's an important lesson to learn from Oscar Wilde and the naturalness of difference. You see, he wore a green carnation in his lapel as a covert symbol of his homosexuality. He chose this flower because, at the end of the nineteenth century, people called green flowers unnatural, just as they declared Queerness as unnatural, and just as Tom Riddle declared Muggleborn witches and wizards as unnatural. But as my Dublin friend said, Mother Nature still made that flower; it's still a product of nature, just as all of us are, no matter our unique differences that make us who we are. So, tonight, I'm not only celebrating my birthday, but I'm celebrating who I am as an individual and who you all are as individuals.'

I smiled then, aware of the sudden rustling of whispers around the room as people realised what I'd just announced. I waited for the whispering to stop.

'You know what, because some things should never change, I reckon George Weasley will be running a book on whether tomorrow's Press headlines run with "Harry Potter: Order of Merlin" or "Harry Potter: Queer"...'

I grinned then at the table that the reporters from The Prophet, Witch Weekly, and Wizarding World were sitting around. I was wanting to throw back my head and laugh with the audience who were cheering and all the Weasley brothers were definitely wolf-whistling along with a few others too.

I waited until everyone calmed again.

'You know, I was recently asked what do I value in this world? I answered simply and with one word: love. I stand by that and tonight isn't really about my birthday, or me receiving this... the Order of Merlin for services to our Magical society. It's not really about me at all. It's about love. An unconditional love. It's about all of us, coming together under one roof and celebrating our freedom, our choices, and our ability to reach out to others and make the world a better place. It's about all of you out there who stood up for something you believed in. It's about those we've lost but who will always have a place in our hearts. I know that many of you, many of us, bear the scars of that fight and we have to remember it was worth it. Love makes the fight all that bit more fiercer and that bit more beautiful for succeeding...' I touched the medal over my heart. 'So, really, I wear this for you, not for me. And I want to thank you all for sharing that with me, for helping, for fighting with me... and I hope you'll continue to help me fight for a better world going forward...'

I gave a brief bow then, to signify I'd finished, as I stepped away from the lectern.

There were lots of people standing up and cheering and clapping as I shook Kingsley hand again and made my way back down to our table.

***