Arthur, perhaps you can say for certain: my impression from within the St Mungo's realm is that the Ministry genuinely ignore the Travellers and Roma, so long as they keep themselves to themselves--and the Ministry are well aware that those clans are mixtures of magicals and what the Ministry choose to label as squibs. I think it's very rare that one of their children does make itself known in our book, but not entirely unheard of. So, I don't really believe Alice's worry would pertain to Ivy Lowell if we do determine she's of Traveller or Roma stock. If she were ever found, she wouldn't be expected to be in the book, and in any case, it's not likely a Ministry employee or a Healer who came across her would feel inspired to intervene.
Now. We know that could change. It's certainly true that those groups suffer harassment and discrimination. I can't say entirely why the Ministry have not chosen to intern them. Certainly, there's historical precedent, but blessedly we've chosen to think it was a Muggle atrocity to persecute and shun such people.
But that's only Ivy Lowell. And only if she is, indeed, a Traveller or a Roma child. There's still our wayward Sirius whose surname I've forgotten. That's not the problem is it? Might we have been wrong about such an important detail? I wish I'd thought of that before I went and had a look at the book. (There are no new names, by the way.)
Supposing, however, that we haven't found him because his parents are in hiding, then that presents exactly the dilemma Alice has laid out.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2012-04-16 11:06 pm (UTC)Now. We know that could change. It's certainly true that those groups suffer harassment and discrimination. I can't say entirely why the Ministry have not chosen to intern them. Certainly, there's historical precedent, but blessedly we've chosen to think it was a Muggle atrocity to persecute and shun such people.
But that's only Ivy Lowell. And only if she is, indeed, a Traveller or a Roma child. There's still our wayward Sirius whose surname I've forgotten. That's not the problem is it? Might we have been wrong about such an important detail? I wish I'd thought of that before I went and had a look at the book. (There are no new names, by the way.)
Supposing, however, that we haven't found him because his parents are in hiding, then that presents exactly the dilemma Alice has laid out.