Swinging the Vote

Samuel Oscar Wollett emerged from his Apparition point, checking his clipboard anxiously. The Tyrforth apartment block, flat 4b, Lupin and Black. Well, Black would be a staunch Tory, of course. Lupin, however... word had it that he was a tough nut to crack. It was said that he had never agreed to vote for any candidate, or indeed ever been seen near the polling stations. But Samuel was determined. He carefully adjusted his red rosette and knocked.

The door was opened by a tired looking, brown-haired young man in a faded green robe. Samuel breathed a sigh of relief - he hadn't wanted to cross wands with a Black, not after last time when he had knocked on the door of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place by mistake.

"Mr Remus Lupin?" he asked, just to be sure.

"Yes?"

Samuel indicated his rosette. "I represent the Muggleborn and Halfblood Equality Party. Will you be voting for George Frillip in the upcoming Ministerial elections?"

He was met with an even gaze that betrayed nothing. "No."

"Samuel had been expecting that, of course, and was rather proud of himself for not batting an eyelid. "You yourself are a halfblood, I understand?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Do you not feel oppressed in your daily life?"

Lupin's mouth twitched into a smile. "I suppose I do."

"Well, that's all because of the Pureblood Ascendancy! If he is elected, Mr Frillip will no longer allow the so-called wizarding aristocracy to dictate Ministry policy. Muggleborns and halfbloods will receive equal treatment at last!"

"A sound policy," Lupin said, his voice perfectly level. "What about the War?"

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named seeks to make the Ascendancy permanent. Naturally, we would lend all our efforts to preventing him from making further advances.

Lupin appeared to be genuinely interested now. Samuel felt a small thrill rush through him - would he be the one to crack the uncrackable Lupin?"

"Tell me more about your policies. For example, I have a close friend who is a werewolf. What's your stance on them?"

The question was entirely unexpected, and Samuel found himself fumbling around for an answer before finding it on his clipboard cunningly hidden under the heading 'Goblin Revolts'. "All non-human species would receive equal treatment under Mr Frillip. He is a firm believer in diversity and tolerance."

"Hmm." Lupin appeared to think, then said quite suddenly, "No. I'm sorry, I won't be voting for you. Good-bye," and shut the door.

///

Ursula Margot Browning emerged from her Apparition point and checked her clipboard with the air of a professional. Lupin and Black... well, Black would be a hardline Tory, of course. It was Lupin that she was interested in; nobody had yet persuaded him, and Ursula herself had bad memories of the last time she had been here. She was sure even now that the boy had been laughing at her.

She knocked on the door, which was opened by what could only be Black.

"Good day. Is Mr Remus Lupin in, please?" Never be rude to a Black, particularly when you were tackling Grimmauld Place tomorrow.

Black gave her a faintly bored look but was saved the trouble of actually responding when his friend appeared in the doorway, holding a damp tea towel in one hand and a plate in the other.

"It's all right, Sirius, I'll handle it," he said, and Black promptly vanished. Ursula was sure he gave her a pitying look as he passed.

"Mr Lupin, I represent the Whig party. Can Cornelius Fudge count on your support in the upcoming Ministerial elections?"

That blank look terrified her, though she would never admit it. He seemed so old for his age. "No."

"Mr Fudge has vowed to stop the Dark Lord in his tracks," Ursula pressed on, without missing a beat. "He will put more Ministry funding into training Aurors and will set up a militia to aid in efforts against the Death Eaters."

"What about werewolves?"

The question had caught her out last time, but she was ready for him now. "In the current emergency good sense dictates that non-humans be prevented form gaining a foothold in our society. Once Mr Fudge's policies bring down the Dark Lord, however, something will be done. We believe strongly in giving those non-human races who have traditionally caused the Ministry no trouble - including werewolves - a greater role to play in today's wizarding society."

There it was again. He was laughing at her, she knew it. "I'm sorry, but no. Good-bye."

The door shut in her face.

///

Narcissa Cassiopeia Malfoy, née Black, emerged from her Apparition point and tugged at her skirt, wrinkling her nose in disgust at the coarse Muggle material.

Lupin and the blood-traitor... well, Sirius wouldn't be voting Tory, you could count on that. It was doubtful that Lupin would either, but she had promised to try. This was her husband's career at stake, not to mention his standing with his Master.

She patted her hair nervously and raised her hand to knock. The door swung open, revealing Lupin and that awful black mutt that had taken to following the Marauders around after their fifth year at school.

"Oh, hello, Narcissa," Lupin said in surprise. He had to raise his voice, because the dog was growling. "Snuffles and I were just going for a walk."

"I'm not blind," Narcissa snapped. The dog's growling grew louder and Lupin reached down, putting a warning hand on his head. "I'm here to ask whether you will be voting for my husband in the election."

"Oh, I doubt that very much," Lupin said cheerfully.

"You should consider it. He would end hostilities with the Dark Lord and usher in a new age for wizarding Britain."

"Yes, I'm sure he would," Lupin murmured. "What's his stance on werewolves?"

Of all the questions in the world... he was trying to throw her, of course. Well, she wasn't so stupid as Sirius thought. "My husband will see to it that all dangerous creatures are kept away from humans for our own safety." Really, what other answer could you give?

"Of course," Lupin said, his voice carefully neutral. The dog was straining to get at her as he hauled it inside and slammed the door in her face without so much as a 'good-bye'.

"I don't understand you, Moony," Sirius confessed once he had transformed back. "Why don't you just tell them that you don't have the vote?"

Remus shrugged. "They never ask. And besides, that would spoil the fun."