Time Is Running Out

[Casper Darrow]

Casper wanted to sit down desperately and relax but he was at his own event and if he had any chance of convincing people he was the man to vote for, he had to do more than sit on his backside. He wasn't awful at socialization, not with men anyway, but he was an introvert at heart and much preferred to be remain silent and engrossed in a book or his work.

Spotting someone he hadn't yet spoken to, he approached and was about to introduce himself when he realized the man was one of the other candidates. Mr. Scamander, if he recognized him rightly from the Daily Prophet. "Hello Mr. Scamander, I'm Casper Darrow, it's an honor to finally meet you." He smiled awkwardly, realizing he'd given his name again, so used to having to offer it without people knowing who he was already.

  

[Eugene Scamander]

Eugene was not doing too well with the attending of other candidate's events, not after finding out Polly was pregnant. Now, most days he rushed home, but after holding his own event here in Irvingly, Eugene had come to like the little town, so figured an appearance at a Mr. Darrow's event wasn't too far out of line. Eugene thought it to be a friendly sort of race, or at least so far, so there should have been a little camaraderie between them.

"Mr. Darrow, good to meet you." Eugene said with an extended hand as his fellow candidate approached. "How's the campaign treating you?"

  

[Casper Darrow]

It wasn't untrue that some of the candidates intimidated him - Lestrange definitely unnerved him and he did feel a little uncomfortable being in competition with his boss, Mrs. Parkinson. He would definitely feel rather sheepish if he was elected over her, seeing as his role in her department was obviously below her.

However, his cousin was another candidate and he wasn't intimidated by him, he'd be more than happy to see Evander win and some of the others, one of those others thankfully being Mr. Scamander. Casper thought from his article that he seemed a very decent chap indeed and so far he had no reason to change his mind. "It's a little overwhelming but sort of exciting at the same time. I'm only doing the one event so the pressure is on today really. How about yours?"

  

[Eugene Scamander]

Eugene nodded along as Casper spoke. This whole event and promotion thing was rather tiresome. It could be a little intimidating, but Eugene had set all of his up to benefit somebody else in some way, which was more important than benefiting himself.

"No complaints, raised some decent money for both the scholarship fund and the new library here in town, that's all that matters." Even if he wasn't elected, Eugene would at least know that he'd made some difference somehow.

  

[Casper Darrow]

Casper wished he had more money and resources to be able to do more charitable things with his campaign but he was hoping that if enough people voted for him and he became Minister, he'd be able to do all those charitable deeds then and make Hogsmeade and the rest of the wizarding world in Britain, a better place for everyone.

"I heard about the library! I think it's absolutely wonderful! Libraries makes books so much more accessible to all people." Maybe he'd vote for Mr. Scamander, he could certainly get behind a charitable fellow who wanted to encourage Casper's favorite sport: reading. "I wish I could do more for people with my campaign, everyone else is offering scholarships and homes for unfortunate ladies and I'm just having a picnic." He smiled somewhat sheepishly. At least his invitation was open enough that maybe some less fortunate individuals could get a little food they might not have otherwise? Maybe he'd see to it that the leftovers went to the homeless and hungry.

  

[Eugene Scamander]

"Glad you think so." Eugene grinned. It was nice to hear that the library was appreciated. "It is most unfortunately, all publicity stunts I'm afraid, but helping benefit others in some way is a nice bonus." He admitted. He admired Casper's thoughts on the situation though.

"Getting the word out is all you need to do really." Articles, events, getting your name out there, it was all you could do.

  

[Casper Darrow]

Casper didn't like to think that all the charitable works the other candidates had done were shallow and for votes rather than for the people, he liked to think that there had at least been in part some want to help the less fortunate in the motivations of others and he felt quite sure that Mr. Scamander had been genuine with his, he seemed a very honest and decent gentleman.

"I'm not sure many people will vote for me, there are so many other candidates who seem better suited." Faustus Prewett was one he found both intimidating and at the same time not - he wasn't scary intimidating, more heroically intimidating in that he had been an Auror and dealt with all sorts and he seemed an honest sort too. Casper was just Casper, he couldn't even talk to women without getting tongue-tied and most of the other candidates had wives and children. Or husband in the case of Mrs. Parkinson. "But I'm supposed to be optimistic, if I wouldn't vote for me, then why should anyone else? Not that I intend to actually vote for myself." He flushed a little at the latter, not wanting to come across as conceited. Just because he didn't think himself the best candidate, didn't mean other people needed to think that.

  

[Eugene Scamander]

"Honestly, I'm in that boat with you mate." Eugene admitted with a little shrug. He wasn't entirely confident many people would go for his rather liberal campaign, but at least he'd been able to stop and make a few people think along the way. Realistically it was all he could hope for, especially now, knowing he was expecting a babe within the next year, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to be devoted to anything other than his family.

"That's the attitude though." He nodded again. Optimism went a long way in these things. Eugene preferred the be realistic and not get his hopes up too high, that way things would just settle out again afterward.

  

[Casper Darrow]

He thought Mr. Scamander surely had more going for his campaign than he did but it was nice to know he wasn't the only one suffering from self-doubt. Maybe neither of them would become Minister but it was an experience to remember either way.

"I still haven't decided who I'm going to vote for, I should have attended more events really. Did you attend many others?"

  

[Eugene Scamander]

Eugene was pretty sure he was not modest enough to put in a vote for anybody other than himself, but if he had to, he would lean toward Jon Webster, just for the humor factor. A middle class muggleborn in the seat of power would just be perfect. Not to mention the bear.

"I attended a couple, but honestly I was not as diligent as I should have been." Wasn't much to do about it now, though he was trying to make up for lost time now with the last few before voting. "This campaigning thing is tiresome, most days I just want to head home from work and fall asleep." He had always been a bit of a homebody himself, preferring to head home to his wife and their home above anything else.

  

[Casper Darrow]

Even though this was Casper's only event, he could definitely agree it was tiring. He thought he'd probably sleep for so long afterwards he'd miss his chance to vote at all. "Whomever does become Minister will surely be exhausted by the time they're elected" he chuckled, knowing full well that some people had done several events among other things, all of which absorbed time, money and effort.

  

[Eugene Scamander]

"You know, I don't think I can imagine." If he were elected and then the baby after, he would never sleep. He would be like the undead, floating along with no sense of what he was doing. He wouldn't even be sure they would have a nanny- Polly would be a very hand-on mother, had been the last time and would be again.

"I suppose only time will tell." He pursed his lips, suppressing a grin. "Well, Mr. Darrow, it's been a pleasure, best of luck, but I fear if I leave my wife alone for too long she starts spouting my praises and today is not about me." He extended a hand for another shake before fully excusing himself.