Trading Sorrows
(OOC: 1908-09 school year.)
,-[ Hogwarts Grounds - Narrow Descent ]---------------------------------------.
Thomas D'Arcy gently walks over to a clump of bushes, dexterously separating them. "Sorry, Sylvie" he murmurs, seeming rather crestfallen...
Sylvie Winters looks around, quietly, deciding this to be a much nicer spot then she usually escapes to. Looking back to Thomas, she shakes her head. "...sorry? You have nothing to be sorry for."
Thomas D'Arcy steps through the bushes with a shake of his curls. "If only I had...My mentor once said that if there is one thing that is the worst thing of all, it is regret. Never say, 'If only I had...'...If only I had worked a bit harder, not lost my temper so often earlier in the year..."
,-[ Basalt Cliffs ]-----------------------------------------------------------.
Sylvie Winters sighs softly. "You did a lot, Thomas. Did a lot good. More then I managed, certainly... But you have other years." She leaves it at that, following a touch curiously. So they weren't stopping there.. "This is nice," she comments.
Thomas D'Arcy gently runs his hands over the rock face, then begins slowly ascending the cliffs, easily finding hand and foot-holds. "Not there yet" he smiles. "And don't worry...this failure reflects not one tuppence on you."
Sylvie Winters says, "Oh? The path is nice, then.. I won't comment on anything else until you tell me we've reached it." And hopefully keep form making a fool of herself, though she does smile a bit. "I shan't mourn the points I didn't get, perhaps, but there's still enough I didn't do."
,-[ Basalt Ledge ]------------------------------------------------------------.
You did everything you could possibly do" Thomas D'Arcy replies, shaking his curls and pausing upon reaching the summit of the hill. "There...Is that not a fair prospect?" he inquires, gesturing over the landscape.
,-[ Shrouded Valley ]---------------------------------------------------------.
Sylvie Winters says nothing, though she reaches a hand into a pocket where she still carries the newspaper. Points aside, there was one moment in the year when things really mattered, and she performed horridly. "Yes, it is indeed.." she agrees quietly, before continuing to follow.
Thomas D'Arcy pauses upon reaching one of the hollows, then abruptly swivels, attempting to give Sylvie a quick peck on the cheek. "And Sylvie" he murmurs, drawing away. "When I said you did everything possible...I meant it."
Sylvie Winters stops moving for a moment, a bit surprised. Then she gives a slight nod. "I.. well, thank you, Thomas. I only thought I had learned what I needed to." No need to dwell, though.. Not now. "What's done is done, I suppose.. next year is a new one."
Thomas D'Arcy flops down in a particularly grassy area, nodding once. "Well...we probably ought to get packed. I must depart for Egypt in a week, and the train leaves rather soon..." His actions, of course, are certainly not those of one who intends to leave anytime soon...
Sylvie Winters looks around slowly, before carefully taking a seat. "Are you not already packed?" she inquires, before the second thing said really registers. "You're going to Egypt over the summer?"
Yes" Thomas D'Arcy replies, closing his eyes. "To both questions. And father has decided it is time for me to begin observing business arrangements. I believe we are going to be working on some sort of shipping transactions...or something of the sort."
Sylvie Winters nods. "Shipping transactions? I'm afraid I hardly know anything about that.. Still, it must be an interesting place. Have you been before?"
Thomas D'Arcy sighs, shaking his curls dolefully. "I have never been there" he replies, wrinkling his nose. "And I have no wish to go there...From what I have heard, tis completely a heathen land. Not to mention being unbearably hot."
Sylvie Winters leans back, finding a more comfortable position on the ground. "I hadn't heard. It's not one of the places I went to, myself. Surely there is something to see in every foreign place, though.. if you're one who likes to travel. Will you be gone the whole vacation, then?"
Thomas D'Arcy nods, biting down hard on his lip. "Yes...yes I will. Perhaps it is a good thing, though...I'm not certain if I can face other wizards after what happened with Winterbourne..."
Sylvie Winters winces inwardly. For her own part, she's hardly willing to look anyone in the face, now. "I never heard exactly what happened, after... But from what the Professor said, it sounded like you did well, helping." Her voice has a someone questioning tone to it.
Thomas D'Arcy sneers slightly. "My help indeed...Twas my fault the auror was killed, you know. I had three choices...and I picked the worst of the three. If I had either attacked Winterbourne, or incapacitated Nan in time, Ebiroth would still be alive. And now...."
Sylvie Winters shakes her head. "You mustn't blame yourself for that. You couldn't have known which to choose ahead of time.. And at least you were there to help. You did what you could."
You were incapacitated" Thomas D'Arcy observes, lip twisting slightly. "And did you see the look on Hazeltine's face when he saw what had happened to Tudor? Simply ghastly..."
Sylvie Winters asks quietly, "Incapacitated?" She shakes her head again. "I was /helping/ Winterbourne!" Her eyes examine the ground near her as she adds, "I didn't see him, of course. It's a terrible thing that happened, but you can't blame yourself for it, Thomas."
Then who else can I blame?" Thomas D'Arcy inquires, gazing up with an oddly helpless expression. "I can't blame even Winterbourne....nor anyone else."
Sylvie Winters says, "It was chance, nothing else. Horrible, random chance." She looks over Thomas for a moment. "If you simply must blame someone, blame me. It's better then anyone else.. But it /wasn't your fault/."
You?" Thomas D'Arcy inquires, incredulous. "/You/? No one can resist an imperio spell from someone as powerful as Winterbourne...Don't be foolish. No, twas my indecision and incompetence that cost the auror his life."
Sylvie Winters raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Well, why shouldn't it be blamed on the fact that I didn't realize who he was until too late, or that I went off with him alone, or that I did no more then 'keep an eye on him' when it was obvious something was wrong? Or.. here.. blame it on the fact that I /did/ notice something wrong early on, and made sure I could stay near him." She chuckles for a moment at the hopeless number of reasons she came up with. "Honestly, Thomas, you were trying to /help/. That in itself is good."
Thomas D'Arcy gazes up at Sylvie reproachfully. "At least you realized what he was...and how could you possibly have known that he would choose to imperio you? No one else had any rational reason to doubt the veracity of his comments. And there wasn't anything else you could have truly done. I on the other hand..." He pauses, trailing off. "Well, argumentation in this matter is useless...I suppose I shall just send that letter to Charlotte...and hope she accepts my offer."
Sylvie Winters protests, "I /didn't/ realize what he was. Only that something was wrong. I'm sure so much more was expected of me, as Head Girl.." She trails off. "What offer is that?"
Weell..." Thomas D'Arcy begins doubtfully. "I placed my resources at her disposal...She is practically an orphan now, you know...and I'm not certain what is to become of her."
Sylvie Winters seems to think about that for a moment. "That's.. kind of you."
Thomas D'Arcy frowns, shaking his head. "Tis the least I can do for stealing her father from her...and it certainly doesn't even come close to making up for my negligence."
Sylvie Winters sighs. "I'll never convince you, will I? You did your best, and no one can ask more of you then that. But I'm sure she'll be grateful, just the same, for you offer."
Ruth Cohen walks in, aimlessly, looking as though she's merely trying to put off the thought of having to go meet up with Tristan and get adjusted to living in an entirely different place. She catches the sounds of Sylvie and Thomas's conversation, but none of the words. Ruth begins meandering over towards them, first giving a half-hearted wave.
I'm afraid not" Thomas D'Arcy replies from his position in one of the grassy hollows. He lifts his head, giving Ruth an equally half-hearted wave before allowing his head to fall back once more.
Sylvie Winters says quietly, "I mean it, though," before sitting up a bit straighter, and offering Ruth a quiet nod.
Ruth Cohen kicks absently at a clump of grass, wondering what Sylvie and Thomas are talking about but having learned enough tact not to ask about it. "So.." she begins, but finds she has nowhere to go with it.
So what?" Thomas D'Arcy inquires, evidently assuming that Ruth had overheard the conversation. "We move on...I don't know how, but I can't possibly keep moaning in this fashion. Tis counter-productive."
Um," Ruth Cohen says, looking clearly confused. "So stop moaning?" she finally suggests. "C'mon, get up, the train'll leave soon. I was just saying 'so' because I didn't have anything else to say."
Thomas D'Arcy laughs ominously as he rises to his feet. "Good point...I really must give Loudown a sort of congratulations present. And we can't miss the train..."
Sylvie Winters returns to surveying the ground. Move on. It's a good idea, however impossible. "Do what you can, now, and don't beat yourself up over the past." She glances between the two, also standing. "How much time do we have?"
Ruth Cohen raises an eyebrow at Thomas but finally shakes her head, deciding she'd rather /not/ know what he plans to give Tessa. "It'll come pretty soon," she answers Sylvie. "I've lost track of time a bit, so I'm not entirely sure .."
Yes indeed" Thomas D'Arcy mutters, growling slightly. "Especially if you make an error beating yourself up." He laughs dryly, then heads off downstream. "We have about ten minutes"
Sylvie Winters peers after Thomas. An error? Well, time to go face everyone again, anyway... with a small shrug to herself, she starts to follow.
Ruth Cohen narrows her eyebrows disapprovingly at Thomas's back, and follows.
,-[ Hogwarts Grounds - Train Platform ]---------------------------------------.
Thomas D'Arcy heads over to the wall, against which his belongings have already been placed. It pays to have friends among the house-elves, no?
Ruth Cohen , on the other hand, dragged her own trunk out here before heading out to the valley and left it foolishly unattended. She takes a seat on top of it, swinging her booted feet softly, allowing her heels to bang into the side.
Jason Simmons Comes up the hillf from the direction of the dark castle, carrying a steamer trunk. He is dressed in Muggle Clothing.
Sylvie Winters glances up toward the school. "I'd better go get my things," she mutters. "See you on the train, perhaps. If not, keep in touch.. Or.. well, see you next year, anyway," she finishes quickly.
Jason Simmons says, "Hello!"
Jason Simmons says, "hello." Jason Simmons says, waving cheerfully to Samuel."
See you, Sylvie!" Ruth Cohen calls out cheerfully. "It'll be weird to call you Professor Winters, next year."
Hearing Ruth, Jason Simmons breaks into a big grin which he tries to hide behind his hand. Obviously the fact that Sylvie will be their new transfiguration teacher seems funny to him.
Jason Simmons looks at the Train and then turns and stares mournfully at the Castle behind him. He will miss all of his friends over the summer vacation.
Sylvie Winters smiles weakly toward Ruth. "Only when others are around," she calls back, quietly, before moving off toward the building.
End of Year Feast 1908-09
(OOC: 1908-09 school year.)
,-[ Hogwarts - Great Hall ]---------------------------------------------------.
Sarah McLeod waves nervously at Chris, hearing the curses, and remembering the recent events.
Chris Holloway shakes his head, "Wait for the Headmaster's end of year points first," he says to Clawn, "You never know how it's going to go."
Thomas D'Arcy glowers as he reaches out a slender, albeit it slightly trembling hand towards the filled tea-cup that sits on the table in front of him. He gently sips from the brew, scowling in a manner worthy of Grindelwald himself, brow creasing.
Where is the Headmaster?" Kokelia Makani asks those around her, "He should be here by now". Her hand dips into her purse and she pulls out a golden pocketwatch. It's reflections bounce off of the walls of the hall as she checks the time sullenly before re
Sylvie Winters walks quietly into the room, her robes a bit damp from the rain, though wet has become their usual state. She pauses not two steps inside, eyes half down as she looks quickly around the room, her gaze never stopping in one place long enough to meet anyone's eyes if they were looking.
Samuel Argentarius takes his seat at the Ravenclaw table. Avoiding food and drink, he silently waits for the final awarding of special points by the Headmaster. Maybe Ravenclaw might have a chance after all...
After pouring the steaming tea half-way up the cup and returning it to where it belongs, Isabelle Matria smiles brightly, grasping the tea in her hands. Turns her head to Kokelia furrowing her brow. "Yes, he really should be here." She says to Sabrina, with a small frown which soon dissolves into a grin. "Don't be silly. I will read all of them, but I can't say I will return many." Giggles. "Oh, and don't, don't you dare send Berriepie, I hate her. How could your father have such an owl?" She asks, scrunching up her nose.
Sabrina Hopkins giggles, "I don't know... I won't..." she says, smiling slightly. "He should... I wonder where he could be..." she says...
Tanna Finley pulls a small piece of candy out of the stash in her pocket, slipping it into her mouth as she just watches the room with wide eyes. Five years here, and still everything about it excites her.
Isabelle Matria's grin breaks into a smile as she sips the tea, allowing the warm liquid to sooth her throat which had been hurting, and allowing a blissful sigh to escape from her lips. "Oh, I just love tea." She says with a bright grin. "What do you want to do when you graduate, Sabrina?" She asks, watching her friend with wide eyes. She can't be leaving, I won't let her! Isabelle Matria thinks to herself, letting a small frown cross her face before sipping her tea again.
Jocelyn Montgomery frowns slightly as she glances around, not seeing the Headmaster anywhere. Shrugging a little, she puts the elastic band back in her pocket, finished de-braiding her hair. Spotting Thomas nearby with the almighty scowl on his face, she says to him, "Cheer up, Thomas. We didn't lose by that much."
Dwight Floens tilts his head as he continues to peer about, anxious to eat and head back home. He swings his chubby legs over the edge of his seat, turning in a way that allows him to stare at the entrance.
Thomas D'Arcy presses his lips into a thin, critical smirk. "A loss is a loss" he observes in clipped, mechanical tones, "No matter how you disguise it."
Sabrina Hopkins takes a sip of her tea. "Well, I've been thinking about it..." she stops and takes another sip of her tea. "Well, I think i'll have to think about it more... I'm going to go back and live with father for a while... While I think more... Because i'm not reallly sure... I've thought about it all year, but I still am not sure..." She says with a sigh. She takes another sip of tea.
Sylvie Winters shakes her head a bit, finally making her way toward the Slytherin table, with hardly a glance at anything else. Upon reaching it, she pauses, deciding where to sit out of the remaining empty places.
Isabelle Matria blinks. "I see --.." Is her rather confused reply. "Live with --- Fatherr?" She asks with a hint of a mocking confusation in it. (OOC: Sorry, don't think that is a word, oh well.)
Kokelia Makani opens her mouth and yawns a bit, covering it with one of her hands, she reaches towards the table and picks up a hot cup of tea, pouring it into her tea cup. She takes a sip, and looks towards the other staff members quietly.
Thomas D'Arcy glances up towards Sylvie, gesturing towards the empty spot beside him. "Please...It would be an honour" he murmurs, inclining his head to one side.
Sabrina Hopkins nods to Isabelle, "My father," she says...
Clawn Crater nods at Chris, "Yeah, who knows what could happen at the last minute.. So, are you excited about the Quidditch World Cup?"
Throughout the halls of Hogwarts, David Porter's voice is amplified. "Students, the end of term feast will be beginning in five minutes. Please proceed to the Great Hall. Make sure your bags are packed; the train will be leaving shortly thereafter!"
Sylvie Winters offers Thomas a quick, grateful smile as she moves toward him, taking the offered seat. After she sits down, she reaches to pour herself a cup of tea, apparently putting all her concentration into the task.
Samuel Argentarius grows mildly impatient as he awaits the arrival of the Headmaster. He idly takes some small sip of his tea before putting it away again. As he grows bored, he pulls out a small book from his robes and begins reading.
Sarah McLeod grins at the trunk placed conviniently at her feet, so that she has a footrest. She awaits the start of the feast. In her mind, it's the beginning of the end... Which is good in most ways.
Tanna Finley starts a bit at the voice, then smiles, turning to look around her. Bags... Oh, right. Not with her. But they are packed. Satisfied, she twists back around to face the table, looking up and down it's length.
Jocelyn Montgomery rolls her eyes, muttering, "You can't win all the time." However, she does know that trying to convince Thomas of this is futile, so she says nothing further. Hearing David's voice, she shifts slightly in her seat, her eyes again straying to other places about the hall, waiting for the feast to begin. Maybe there's still a chance they could win..
Chris Holloway glances at Clawn, then admits, "I'm still looking forward to it, but...not as much as I was before. Right now, I just want to go home. It's been a hard year."
Kai Tyrell shuffles in quietly, head bowed, dark blue eyes searching the room. She gives a short tug on her robes to straighten them out. Silently, she makes her way around the edge of the room to the Ravenclaw table and takes a seat. A small gray tabby tags along at her feet.
An eyebrow is arched, but quickly lowered as she sees the entrance of her aunt. "Hello, -- Ms. Linter!" Isabelle Matria says brightly. At the arrival of David she quiets down and sips her tea.
Clawn Crater nods, "It has, you've went through a lot... It was really wierd when uhhh... never mind.."
Devonny Verissa glances at the small bag at her feet, which holds only clothes, as she will /not/ be moving back and forth each year. Her eyes then scan the hall again, and a sigh floats through parted lips as she returns to looking along the staff table.
Sabrina Hopkins notices Hermonion and says, "Hello, Miss Linter!" but quiets as she sees Mister Porter enter.
A little uncomfortably, Chris Holloway nods to Clawn and says, "Uh, yeah."
Hermonion Linter rushes in, hurried. In her hand rests a rather large book, and a piece of parchment. Smiles at the both Isabelle and Sabrina. "Hello my dears." She calls out happily, making her way to the staff table and sitting down near Devonny. Her hair looks to be quite a mess, as she seems to have just come from the Library.
Dwight Floens, still staring out toward the hallway, nods as the feast is apparently starting. Rather awkwardly, he turns his bulk to face forward once more, eyes on the staff.
Damon Ulricht plods inward, and saying naught, leans by the door, showing a false interest in this event.
Kokelia Makani gives a bright smile towards Hermonion, giving her a big smile. "Hermonion!"
Devonny Verissa grins and waves at Hermonion, though her greeting is not quite as enthusiastic as Kokelia's.
Edana Wislan is uncontrollably fidgety by this time, and shifts the way she seats herself every thirty seconds. Her once pressed robe is wrinkled terribly, and even the normally calm shadow bat on her shoulder seems agitated. She has gotten her wand out by now, fiddling it between her two hands and occasionally twirling it between fingers, but nothing more than the momentary fuzz of glitter results from her play.
Sylvie Winters sets the teapot down, once her cup is about two thirds full. She wraps both hands around its small surface, staring quietly into the liquid, which, while not the most interesting thing, keeps her from having to look elsewhere.
Not noticing Kokelia at first, Hermonion now sees her. "Kokelia! Hello, how're you doing?" She asks with a bright smile at her friend. Hermonion Linter waves back to Devonny, although her attention is on Kokelia.
Ruth Cohen sits quietly at the Slytherin table, her ankles crossed and tucked under the bench, her elbows propped up on the table top. She rests her chin on top of her clasped hands and glances at the staff, waiting for the feast to get moving.
Thomas D'Arcy smiles dryly, as if he well aware of his rather stubborn, opinionated nature--and were proud of it as well. Nevertheless, it might be noted that the boy's grin is rather forced...as stiffly starched as the shirt he wears underneath his robes usually is.
David Porter moves into the Great Hall, quietly nodding about to several students with whom is a closely acquainted. Grinning to his fellow staff members, he pats some of them on the shoulder as he passes by, or stops to whisper a few words into their ear with a grin on his face all the while. Finally, he arrives at his place -- the chair at the center of the Staff Table. He stands behind it and looks about, quietly. This is the well-known signal for students to take their seats and for there to be quiet among those in the Great Hall. With hands behind his back, David Porter continues to grin as he looks over the crowd.
Sylvie Winters raises her head long enough to see that David actually is here, and to watch him walk to his seat. A slight nod is given in greeting, whether the man sees it or not, before she returns to watching the rather still surface of her tea.
Sarah McLeod silences herself, though that is not a long stretch, as she was not making much noise to begin with. She watches the Headmaster intently, waiting for his little speech (which must be coming).
Looking up at David, Isabelle Matria takes another sip of her tea, which is really disappearing quite fast. She sets the cup down on the table, still watching him.
Edana Wislan presses her lips tightly together, preventing herself from making sound... and attempts to restrain herself from making squeaks as she fidgets in her seat, wide grey eyes full attention to David.
Kokelia Makani looks up to the Headmaster, awaiting what should be a very interesting speech. She folds her hands in her laps, stopping to give some students a quieting looking.
Tanna Finley watches eagerly as the headmaster enters, whispering one last thing to a girl next to her before settling into an excited silence.
Zinnia Zeroth turns to look at the headmaster, awaiting his speech. More than that, she awaits the points, though she doesn't see how Hufflepuff could win now.
Hermonion Linter quiets as David comes in, throughing a last smile at Kokelia before looking at him, the smile still resting on her face. She brushes a small strand of hair out of her face, while still watching him.
Michael Hazeltine looks up at David when the headmaster makes his entrance. He nods politely, but seems unable to bring himself to share in the other man's good cheer.
Kai Tyrell straightens up in her seat as she watches the Headmaster enter and stand before the students. The gray tabby that followed her in hops onto the bench and sits next to her and also regaurds the headmaster. A pair of dark blue and a pair of bright yellow eyes watch intently and wait for Mr Porter to address the students.
Here we are at these tables, once more. It's hard to believe that another year is gone!" David Porter says cheerfully, the grin continuing. "Before we start the festivities of the feast, I must bore you with my endless babbling... It's been a great year! We've had our good times and our bad times this year, but we've certainly grown for the better, I think. I look out among you all and I realize that you've grown such much since you walked in here last September." At this, his eyes particularly go towards Sylvie, the school's newest professor. "I hope you all will enjoy the summer months before you... Hopefully your heads will have digested all the information you've received this year so that you will be ready to go next year..."
For himself, Thomas D'Arcy inclines his head towards the headmaster respectfully, then returns to glowering at his beverage. He rotates the tea-cup, examining the swirling dregs with a listless expression on his usually attentive features.
Emili Lordre lifts her eyes from the table top to give her attention to the headmaster when he begins to speak, as much as its worth. She's not said anything since her entrance, and doesn't plan to now, either. Petite hands are folded primly in her lap, having no irritating locks to brush back, or anxious situation to wring over.
Edana Wislan smiles proudly at David's beginning speech, as if he's addressing her in particular. The child sits up a bit straighter, eager for him to continue.
Isabelle Matria grins at the speech, knowing parts of it quite well. Taking her eyes off David for a moment, she looks in her teacup and finding enough for one more sip, she picks it up and takes the sip willingly. After this she sets the cup back down and looks once more at David intently.
David Porter quietly looks towards the board containing the points, and then looks back to the masses, smiling slightly. "If I understand my job correctly, I believe that it is my duty, and honor, to award the house cup... Currently the points stand thus: In fourth place, Hufflepuff with eighty-nine points." He glances towards the Hufflepuff table; he's not so proud of that. "In third place, Ravenclaw with one hundred and eighty points; in second place, Slytherin with two hundred and seventy-five points; and in first place, Gryffindor with a two hundred and eighty-two points!"
Rhea Aswynn has arrived.
Shaking her ringlets, which she has let grow out only a bit, Sarah McLeod takes her feet off of her trunk. Perhaps she thinks that would be a form of disrespect. Whatever the reason, she straightens up as she starts to clap for her house.
Sylvie Winters grips her cup a bit tighter, her only real reaction as she feels the Professor's eyes on her for a moment, and gives no other sign about how she thinks she, in particular, has grown, though a few of the worse things come unbidden to her mind. With an effort, she looks up and gives a quick smile, returning her attention to her tea once more as the topic changes to points.
Adam Black notices the glance at Sylvie and groans under his breath. New professor, old girlfriend. How awkward /this/ will be!
Damon Ulricht shows no anger or remorse to the house cup announcement; such social things are of no interest to him. In fact, it's unclear whether he's even listening to the speech.
Thomas D'Arcy continues swirling his tea, the only change being a slight, mournfully meditative crease of his erudite brow. How can /anyone/ possibly be so cheerful under the circumstances?
Ruth Cohen puts her face briefly in her hands. A great year, right. Only the most stressful and bizarre in her life so far. Next thing he'll be saying that it ended admirably...
Tanna Finley bounces once in her seat, eyes lighting up as Gryffindor is announced to be in first place. Of course, there are still additions, but even coming this far is enough to make her happy.
A small frown passes through Hermonion Linter's features, but soon disappears. She, however, sets down the book and piece of parchment on the table after realizing that she still had them in her hand. She looks back at David.
Devonny Verissa shrugs a bit indifferently at this news. Slytherin may have been her house, but she certainly wasn't going to make it public that she favored Slytherin a bit over other houses.
Edana Wislan suddenly claps, her tiny hands not making much noise, but her round cheeks pulled up in such a grin as one has never seen on the young girl. She's happy, but after a few minutest, she casts an apologetic glance toward the Slytherin table. She did make amends with one of them today... she could hardly over celebrate, and break that tenuous friendship now. So in light of that, the child calms herself and with a final quirk of a grin, halts her clapping.
Sarah McLeod halts her clapping, wanting only to /eat/. If Headmaster would just get /on with it, she thinks to herself, but waits patiently.
Nanami Leysee sighs and watches closely. She mutters "Ravenclaw's out of it, but no telling whether Slytherin or Gryffindor will win... I just hope we get some points this year, not getting any last year was embarrassing.."
Night Cyranio sighs, not very happy with Hufflepuff's house points either, he looks down to his cat Wind, who is sitting on the ground next to his feet, he glances around the Great Hall, looking for a familair face, but not having much luck in such a crowd.
Dwight Floens keeps his eyes plastered to the front, not so much as glancing at the table that will hopefully soon be filled with food. He reacts only little to the points, with the general feeling of 'well, I tried'. Of course he knows Slytherin is the best house, points or no.
Sabrina Hopkins sighs. Ravenclaw in third place? A frown passes over her face but then quickly disapears. She glances over at the Gryffindor table and smiles slightly, then turns back to the Headmaster.
Chris Holloway runs a hand through his hair, but otherwise says nothing.
The feature's of this prefect darken slightly. Third place? What a disgrace. She tsks a bit, but still listens intently. She takes her teacup again and puts it to her lips, attempting to get one more sip out of it. She doesn't. Frowning, she looks in it and sighs putting it down. She puts a hand to her head. She offers a tiny smile at the Gryffindor table, Isabelle Matria's congradulations. Her smile immediately disappears once she looks back to David. Hopefully they will get some points for doing some nice things during the year? A hopeful look appears on her face.
David Porter grins brightly towards the students who are cheerful at this announcement, and yes indeed, it is a thing worth cheering for. "Okay, that's great and all, but recent events in the dark wizard matter /must/ be taken into account." Now smiling, he begins to explain his changes. "Unfortunately, I hate to inform you that Hufflepuff was not a factor in recent events, and therefore will receive no points." Frowning slightly, he moves on. "Ravenclaw has done well... For Isabelle and Justin's work in trying to locate the teachers, and Siria helping to de-spell Ruth and Chris, I award seventy points." He continues on, quietly smiling at Ravenclaw, "For Emili's work in disenchanting Ruth Cohen and Chris Halloway, Ruth Cohen's work in de-spelling the staff members, and Thomas D'Arcy helping with the final takedown, I award eighty-five points." A slight pause, before he looks at Slytherin - tsktsk. "But, Gryffindor's presence cannot be denied this year... For Justin
and Tanna breaking into the staff room to get the teachers, Christiane's work in distracting Winterbourne, and Chris's bravery in delaying Winterbourne long enough for the staff to get together, I award 100 points."
Kokelia Makani nods to herself, thinking the points were awarded fairly. Though, she does send a bit of an upset look towards the Hufflepuff, and a small smile towards the Gryffindor table. At least one of her two favorite won.
Isabelle Matria opens her mouth. Well, at least Ravenclaw got some. She gulps unhappily, allowing a frown to darken her features once more.
Devonny Verissa practically /stares/ at Headmaster Porter, disbelieving. They won? In her first year? She doesn't dare clap, lest she jinx it and Headmaster wasn't finished yet, but when other students begin to clap, she joins in.
David Porter clears his throat, speaking through the noise and bustle. "So, I believe it's time to set the appropriate decorations..." He claps his hand, sending an eerie wave across the room. The room is now adorned in the colors for Gold and Red for Gryffindor, with two house banners hanging above both ends of the staff table, and the Hogwarts Crest banner hanging directly above David. "Congratulations, Gryffindor!"
Josiah Beinhorn smiles widely at the announcement. Last year Aurora, this year him! How great is this!? He cheers, though not loudly. He sits back down and remains quiet.
Sabrina Hopkins frowns again. She takes a tiny sip of tea. She sighs and looks around the room, then looking at the headmaster once more.
Kai Tyrell sighs, only slightly wistful about the points. House cup isn't really what matters in the long run. she supposes...And besides, there's always next year.
Edana Wislan restrains herself from such an outburst as last time, and instead of clapping, straightens herself up fully, with such a haughty grin, though exceedingly happy for HER house. Her eyes shine brighter as the decorations appear and she is just so proud... though hardly any of it was her doing.
Sylvie Winters lets go of her cup rather quickly, with the feeling her grip would break it if she didn't. She glances toward the people mentioned, with an obligatory congratulating nod, and murmurs a very soft, "Good job," to Thomas next to her. But after, it's only with a strong effort that she doesn't burry her head in her arms. At least she wasn't really mentioned, not after screwing up so badly, which she shall obviously never forgive herself for.
Michael Hazeltine listens to the Headmaster's announcements, then nods to the students seated at the Gryffindor table, as if to say well done. He applauds, facing them as he does so, the first hint of a smile he's had all night coming over his face.
Thomas D'Arcy sets down his tea-cup with small clatter, gently massaging his brow and looking rather ill. And not necessarily because of Gryffindor's victory, though that is certainly a factor. Points indeed...
A smile is tossed happily in Isabelle's direction, and a congratulating smile at Gryffindor. Sighs a bit, but she still smiles. Hermonion Linter tilts her head to the side, admiring the decorations. She always did love cats.
Zinnia Zeroth claps politely for Gryffindor. She feels disappointed
Micaela Goldbeck applauds politely, as she always does, though she looks faintly mystified at the students reactions. She's never been very interested in points, herself.
Kokelia Makani stands up and rightfully claps, a smile upon her face. She nods towards the Gryffindor table and then lowers herself back into her seat.
Nanami Leysee nods to herself. No mention of her, at least, which works for this once. She applauds for Gryffindor.
Tanna Finley nearly jumps out of her seat, giving a little squeal of a cheer, blushing a bit at her name. She looks at the group she's sitting with, a surprised expression on her face, mouth forming the words 'we won'.. then starts clapping hard.
Devonny Verissa continues to clap, though her palms are becoming a bit sore.
Isabelle Matria claps rather gently for Gryffindor, no heart in it at all. Well, you can't win 'em all. She breathes out, leaning back just a bit.
Emili Lordre's cheeks tinge red as her name is mentioned, shifting her gaze back down to her hands which partake in a brief session of polite applause for the Gryffindors. The interhouse competition never really held much intrigue for her, anyway.
Jocelyn Montgomery eyes the decorations, feeling mildly oppressed by the bright colors of the opposing house.
Chris Holloway eventually allows himself to be swept up in the enthusiasm of his housemates, and joins in the applause, if not quite the cheering and occasional whooping by some of the more raucous Gryffindors.
Thomas D'Arcy certainly does not clap, not being one to conceal the utter disdain he feels for the Gryffindor house in general. However, oddly for him, he fails to make any snide comment to his neighboring slytherins, instead choosing to sip at his tea and remain silent.
Kai Tyrell applauds Gryffindor politely, silently appraising the groups reactions. She can't help but notice one of the younger Gryffindors is rather bouncy. Perhaps someone has put a spell on her out of jealousy...
Sabrina Hopkins claps for Gryffindor politly, then stops after a minute and takes a sip of tea.
Hermonion Linter claps softly, tilting her head to the side as she looks at the decorations. She breathes in deeply, and then breathes out.
David Porter clears his throat, deliberately. "Students, students.... Settle down, please... I have one more announcement..." Chuckling softly, he looks towards the Gryffindor table. "Congratulations, again..." Then, he addresses the room as a whole. "I am pleased to announce that, for the 1909-10 term, your Head Boy will be Lucifer Brulagne and your Head Girl will be Tessa Loudown. Be sure to congratulate them when you see them." He looks towards his staff. "Now, let us eat, drink, and be merry! The train will be leaving at 6:30 PM, so be sure that you're packed and ready to go... Have a Relaxing Summer!" The Headmaster sits down, and as he does so, the tables are filled with luscious amounts of food.
Thomas D'Arcy rises as quickly as possible, though not so quickly so as to seem rude, then darts outside, curls almost seeming to bounce. Oh /wonderful/...and now that twit of a Loudown is Head Girl. Disaster and embarrassment /always/ come in clumps, it would appear.
Ruth Cohen claps and glances over towards the Gryffindor table, smiling faintly at those she knows. She's managed to get friends in most of the houses, so she doesn't feel too down by Slytherin's loss. She'd been expecting it, anyway. She /is/ surprised, however, by the announcement about the head boy and girl. She could've sworn that Nanami would make head girl, since Nell left. Ah well.
Kokelia Makani whistles at the mention of Tessa's name, and then turns to give a smile towards the Headmaster as he sits down. "Brilliant speech," she manages to say to him. She looks around the table as the delicacies appear.
Sylvie Winters claps for just a second, quietly but politely. With the knowledge that she simply can not stand up and leave, being head girl and all, but wondering how quickly after food is set she might go. Seeing Thomas rise, she says softly, "Wait.." Otherwise keeping her silence.
Sarah McLeod grins, as she finally stops clapping, and piles food onto her plate, vying to get the largest piece of... well... /everything/. She waves at Ruth, noticing the glace, but doesn't expect her to see it.
Sabrina Hopkins takes a scoop of marshed potatoes and a pork chop. She takes her knife and fork and begins to cut her meat. She puts down her knife and begins to eat.
Nanami Leysee sighs and puts her head down... Not entirely a surprise, but a very large disappointment. She'd worked so hard for it, too... Brianna wouldn't let her hear the end of it.
Thomas D'Arcy skids to a stop, then swivels, heading back towards Sylvie. "Yes?" he inquires, a bitter smile twisting at his features. "You wished to speak to me?"
Tanna Finley claps even more wildly, if possible, at the announcement of Tessa becoming head Girl. Only once she settles down... barely.. does she look over the assortment of food, a crazy grin on her face.
Jocelyn Montgomery sighs quietly, looking around the room then down at her food, thinking. Be merry? Hardly. As Thomas gets up abruptly she raises an eyebrow, but shrugs, beginning to serve herself.
Kokelia Makani reaches for a plate of candied yams, and she puts some on her plate. In between bites she murmurs, "Hermonion, it has been a while!"
Isabelle Matria's frown is lost as she smiles at the delicious food which appears. She carefully spoons some mashed potatoe, a bit of corn, and some turkey onto her plate, not to mention desert in advance. She takes a small slice of strawberry cake. She takes a small bite and chews with her mouth closed.
Kai Tyrell turns to the table, lays her napkin carefully in her lap, and begins to eat, first cutting her food daintily into small pieces before consuming them one by one. Eating is quite a tidy affair for her, and she finishes her food with surprising speed for one with such precise table manners.
Chris Holloway digs in with a will, helping himself to a goodly portion of all the various foodstuffs as they are passed around the table.
Sabrina Hopkins takes her last bite of mashed potatoes and pork chop. She takes a scoop of corn and begins to eat it. She finishes it after a while and takes a fruit tart and begins to eat it.
Hermonion Linter nods. "Indeed, it has. What a splendid gown, Kokelia. How has your teaching been?" She asks brightly, spooning some corn and different foods onto her plate before taking a bite of mashed pota toe and corn mixed together.
Larry McCloud grins and stares wide-eyed at the vast amounts of food laid out before him, as soon as the signals given, he piles it onto his plate, and begins eating like he hasn't eaten in weeks
Sylvie Winters reaches for her cup again, but only swishes it once before replacing it on the table. Her voice is nearly a whisper, only as loud as it needs to be for Thomas to hear. "Where are you headed? If you don't mind company, I'd join... Only if you don't mind." It seems the easiest polite way to walk out, away from the reminder that she turned into a failure this year.
Devonny Verissa scoops a small portion of everything on her plate, not outwardly aware of being spoken over. She eats small bites, but scans the hall still, hoping that maybe he will come...
Kokelia Makani takes a sip of some sparkling wine and responds, "Why thank you! Well, I plan to do more as the next year comes around, of course. Hopefully you will be able to visit my class sometime?" Her eyes turn towards the commotion with Thomas, and she can't help but roll her eyes in disgust as he prepares to leave so early.
Sabrina Hopkins finishes her food and sits back, watching everyone around her. She looks around the room, smiling slightly. She glances at Isabelle. She finishes her last bit of tea, making a bit of a face when she does as it is cold by now. She pours herself another glass of tea and spoons a bit of honey into it, stirring it and then taking a sip.
Isabelle Matria finishing the corn, she starts on the mashed potatoe, saying to Sabrina after she finishes chewing. "Well, we cannot win them all. I must say, Gryffindor deserved to win in a way." She offers with no happiness in her tone as she takes another bite of food.
Dwight Floens turns his attention to the food. -Finally-. He scoops up helpings of whatever he can reach, filling his plate rather high, though from the looks of him he'll have no trouble eating every bite of it.
Thomas D'Arcy sighs, nodding ever so slightly and offering his arm. "Well, I don't see any reason to /not/ allow you to come. People I never intended to introduce to my little spot have found out about it..."
Michael Hazeltine seems to be avoiding conversation at the staff table, though he doesn't avoid the food provided.
Neriva Nebulae comes in from Marble Staircase, with a warm, pleasant look on her face. The woman is quite elderly, and appears to have some trouble moving about. Having a very unique scent, her perfume smells expensive (and just a wee bit strong). Something about her a natural grandmother-like quality.
Kai Tyrell sips her tea slowly and uses her goblet as camouflage, peering at those around her from over the edge of the cup's rim.
Nanami Leysee sits back up, sighing. She says to Isabelle "I guess you're right. But I'm going to make sure we stomp them into the ground next year. I don't even care if we win..."
Sabrina Hopkins nods slowly. "Yes, They did," she says to Isabelle, her tone a bit more happy then it was earlier. She takes another sip of tea.
Hermonion Linter nods. "That would be wonderful." She says while pouring herself a spot of tea. "What will you be doing over the summer?" She asks with a bright smile as she takes a sip of her tea.
Isabelle Matria nods to Nanami with a smile and Sabrina. "We shall get it next year, I know we shall. We shall all be on our very best behavior, unlike some this year...." She casts a glare at some first year Ravenclaws who grin innocently. She rolls her eyes and sighs.
Kokelia Makani gives a smile at Neriva, remembering the day she met her. "I will be working at the Ministry no doubt," she giggles, "And yourself?". She silently urges the other staff members to participate in the conversation. She helps herself to a sweet tart for desert.
Sylvie Winters slides out of her seat. She hesitates a moment, as it seems like he might want to keep wherever it is secret, but she does wish to go. She takes the offered arm, giving a last glance to the room.
Neriva Nebulae slows comes into the room, carrying a wicker handbag (much like Sofia on the Golden Girls) on her right arm. Her steps are slow, as she feebly makes her way about. It's amazing that a women of her age is still moving about as good as she is, though. Her direction is towards the staff table, and unlike usual, her spectacles rest upon her nose. A grandmotherly smile goes to the children, and she excuses her tardiness.
Sabrina Hopkins sighs and whispers to Isabelle, "I'm going to head upstairs... I want to make sure everything's packed and ready..."
Isabelle Matria nods to Sabrina slowly, finishing the potatoes and taking a bite of the turkey. "I will be there in about an hour." She says quietly, making a random guess.
Emili Lordre, contrary to the general population of the school, ignores the food before her, satiating herself instead with a cup of tea. Sipping the warm liquid daintily, she allows her tepid gaze to wander, flitting over faces, yet taking in little. Lowering the cup from her lips, she sighs, reflecting upon the year with regret.
Sabrina Hopkins nods to Isabelle and stands up. She walks out of the great hall, towards the staircase.
Sabrina Hopkins walks out through `(N)orth'.
Chaya Tiki comes in, chirpy, cheerful, and- wait! /Chaya?/ Chirpy? Cheerful? No rock-hard expression or solemn mood? Weeiird...
Tanna Finley begins a conversation with her group of friends once more, hardly looking at the food that finds it's way to her plate. Everything here do delicious, it hardly matters what she ends up with.
Neriva Nebulae walks behind the staff table and begins to make her way towards the Gryffindor table. She smiles brightly at all of them, and finally reaches the table. "I'm just so pleased for all of you. So happy. Very thrilled." She grabs several Gryffindor's hands and squeezes them, lovingly. "I'm sure you're quite happy yourselves." As she smiles at them, her wrinkled face becomes more apparant.
Kai Tyrell spies Neriva Nebulae, most obviously the Astronomy/Astrology teacher from her robes, and watches the elderly woman move across the floor as Kai's cup is lowered and placed back on the table. Kai's dark blue eyes follow Professor Nebulae wondering desparately in her request to be put in the woman's class was accepted.
Larry McCloud waves over to Rhea as she enters and smiles one of those special smiles
Hermonion Linter thinks for a moment. "In most likeliness, I shall be looking at magical bookshops for more books for the Library." She smiles brightly. "But after that," she pauses. "I don't know. Wait for the next schoolyear to start, I guess." She says with a grin. She smiles at Neriva. "Hello." She offers happily.
Kokelia Makani hopefully awaits Neriva to join the table, as she loves the antics of that woman. Her fork still navigates food towards her mouth as she tries to keep a conversation, "So will there be any new staff additions for the next year?"
Tanna Finley glances toward Neriva, her face lighting up once more, though it never really was dim. If anything, the excitable girl is on a true emotional high today.
Jocelyn Montgomery looks up from her plate, which is empty. Of course, it had hardly been full from the start, so she hasn't eaten all that much. Spotting Chaya, she raises an eyebrow at the other girl's apparently cheerful mood - odd.
Rhea Aswynn enters the Great Hall excitedly, running late like always. She smiles at Larry and waves to him, then she walks over to Night taps him on the shoulder saying " 'ello Night, I'm late again, I was searching the castle again for Star before we left tonight. She hasn't been back for a long time...maybe she headed home already."
Chaya Tiki smiles perkily to Jocelyn, seeing the raised eyebrow. Her long, blonde hair to her thighs seems to almost bounce as she smiles, and her owl-like features are chirpy. Apparently, /some/one has had too much sugar for their own good...
Sarah McLeod gobbles all the food up, and then loads some more on her plate, barely speaking between mouthfuls.
Jocelyn Montgomery stares at Chaya. Now /that's/ disturbing. However, the girl shifts over slightly so that there's more room on the bench beside her, and gestures for Chaya to join the table.
Neriva Nebulae begins to move back towards the staff table, her steps still slow as usual, but with a softer expression on her face. Finally reaching the staff table, she sits down, sighing greatly with the relief of being off of her feet. She sets her handbag on the table, gleaming out towards the multitudes of students, and then turning to her fellow staff members. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," he soft, delicately and intricately refined British accent have more texture than the voices of moth. "I bought a little something for each of you..." Opening her bottomless handbag, she takes out several pewter figurines. One has to do with a librarian, one being a minniature cauldron, and the other having to do with Arithmancy, and so on. Each of the figurines as a little person who is with the object that has to do with the subject. Delicate fingers hand them out to her comrades. "I hope you like them," she says with a content grin.
Dwight Floens, now that food is present, keeps his eyes on the plate. He eats quickly, and the pile he's collected disappears just as fast, only to be replaced. When it comes to eating, he's a bottomless pit, and he -never- had a need for social interaction.
Hermonion Linter smiles brightly. "Like it? I love it. Thank you so much!" She says brightly, with a wide smile. And to Kokelia, "I don't know." She answers calmly.
Michael Hazeltine nods to Neriva politely, and says, "Afternoon Neriva. And, ah, thank you." That possibly being one of the longest sentence he's uttered today.
Kokelia Makani jumps up and attempts to smother the frail teacher in a huge hug. "Thank you!"
Sarah McLeod nods, and says, "Why, thank you," at her gift. She had not been expecting something like this...
Isabelle Matria gets up, finishing all of her food. She waves to everyone in the Great Hall, and runs out. Hmm, what does Sabrina want her for? With this in mind she quickly runs out of the room and out of sight as from jumps up the stairs.
Larry McCloud follows some of his fellow peers and eats like the world is ending. It's amazing where he finds time to breathe, but some how, it's managed.
Chaya Tiki nods cheerily, plopping down next to Jocelyn with a smile. "Thanks!" She chirps, resettling her robes a bit and nearly bouncing, it seems, for some unknown and unfathomable reason. Can you say... disturbing?
Kai Tyrell sighs and takes her eyes from Professor Nebulae as she finishes the last of her tea. Very pertly, she dabs her mouth with her napkin and then folds the latter neatly on the table. She still has some packing to do, so with that, she stands and steps out of the Hall.
Night Cyranio after hearing about Star he says "Well I hope Star is okay..." then he holds out a hand with a brownie in it to Rhea and says "Im not really hungry, want it?" then he says "Kayla has not eaten a single one, after all that work from making them too!"
Neriva Nebulae oofs slightly as she is embraced by Kokelia. Hardly expecting his, she bursts into a calm (and refined; isn't everything refined with her?) laughter. "Be careful, my dear. It would be horrible for me to have my blood pressure go up," she warns. Chuckling softly, she returns the embrace and then looks to the rest of the staff members, quite proud to be a part of this staff. "I love you all," her genuine, melodious voice says.
Jocelyn Montgomery stares at Chaya with silver-grey eyes, as if trying to figure out what's made her so - cheerful, all of a sudden. Deciding this is one mystery even she cannot solve, she asks quietly, "What's gotten into you, Chaya? You're so...happy.." She says 'happy' almost as if it were something unknown to the world.
Wont Regret gets up from the Gryffindor table and leaves the room.
Kokelia Makani looks up and lets go of Neriva, "I really appreciate this, you are like the mother I never had!" the young teacher squeals, she then takes a seat and motions for Neriva to sit down. "Eat my dear!"
Michael Hazeltine eyes Neriva and grunts noncommitally in reply.
Larry McCloud finishes eating, obviously eating a little too much. He makes his way over to Michael Hazeltine, extends a hand of greeting and smiles, "It's been a pleasure this year sir. You've done a good job with the Gryffindors."
Rhea Aswynn smiles polietlly to Night and says to him "Sure, I'd love one!" Then she says "Even though I'm worried about her, I'm sure she can take care of herself. Anyways have you seen Ulysses lately." she begins to nibble on the end of the brownie waiting for a reply, she's beginning to realize why Night was always worried about Ulysses.
Neriva Nebulae grins at Kokelia and pats softly, and then frowns deeply towards Michael, respectfully denying the offer of food. She's a very, very tiny lady. It's hard to believe she eats at all. "My dear, what is wrong? Your house won the house cup, and you're here with all of us... Oh well, some rest and relaxation will do your heart good; I know we all need it. It's been a long year!"
Kokelia Makani turns and wonders if Michael will grace the presence of their conversation, a slight gleam in her eyes as she stares.
Night Cyranio suddenly, after hearing the name 'Ulysses' he says "Actually, I was eating a brownie in the Kitchen yesterday, and Ulysses was there, at first I thought It was a mirage or something close to that point, but I found out it really was him" then he says "Ulysses ate one of the brownies I made too!"
Devonny Verissa stands up, checking her pocket watch again. "It has been fun chatting with you all," she says, "but I must be on my way... There are a few little things I must attend to before I leave." With that, she walks out the door,.
Hermonion Linter frowns as her eyes are drawn towards Michael as well. How could he be unhappy on a wonderfully happy day like this? "Bye, Devonny!" She calls after the teacher.
Silvramord flutters into the hall and settles down on one of the rafters, gracing many of the cheerful staff members with a curiously baleful glance as he ruffles his feathers. If a bird were capable of looking indignant, this one certainly would.
Jocelyn Montgomery watches as Devonny leaves, frowning slightly at the woman's retreating back, but her eyes return to Chaya quickly.
Michael Hazeltine nods to Larry, and shakes the boy's hand, "This victory is entirely the students' work, lad. Congratulations."
Emili Lordre finishes her tea in good time, setting down the cup gently and pushing it away. Once more does a sigh pass through her lips, and with it a momentary wave of fatigue seems to pass over her. Shadows beneath her eyes become evident, her pallor ashen, and frailty making her seem like nothing more than one of the porcelain figurines Neriva bestowed upon her fellow staff members. However, the moment is short-lived, hardly noticable in fact, and the girl rises from her seat with subconcious grace, and without a word of departure, slips back out through the doors of the hall.
Rhea Aswynn grins at Night and says "Really? That's wonderful! I'm so glad he's ok." Then she gets closer to Night and says quietly to him, "I'm really sorry about all the fight we had this year, about Ulysses and about...well /everything/. This year was a tough one. I finally understand how worried someone can get about their pet, or 'friend'. I'm glad we made it through this year in one piece" Then she smiles again grabs a cup of juice and drinks it, she nudges Night and says "Have you seen Kayla recently, I wonder where she is?"
Kokelia Makani lets her hopeful look go, it seems Michael has no intention of speaking anytime soon. Standing up, she grabs her gloves and prepares to leave, holding her trail as she goes. "I suppose I should go pack.. I'm spending my next few months at the Ministry Quarters.. not too shabby I suppose. I will be there to watch the train go off, though."
Larry McCloud smile back at Michael and heads towards the hallway, he looks around the room, and waves to everyone, then takes off upstairs to finish packing
Chaya Tiki whistles chirpily [is that a word?] and looks around the room, eyes eventually straying to the magical ceiling, showing weather and sky. "Always loved that," She remarked, more to herself than anyone at the table. "Always thought this place was stuffy and cramped, but that ceiling always made me feel better..." With a cheerful shrug, she begins to whistle again and look around at the people.
Michael Hazeltine waits a moment more before answering Neriva's question. He turns to face her and Kokelia, and pauses to choose his words before speaking again. "I'm very glad that Gryffindor won the house cup," he says quietly, "But I'd be happier if Ebiroth Tudor were still around. I'm sorry if I'm being a bit of a wet blanket today, but.." he shrugs.
Nanami Leysee sighs. "Where are we supposed to meet with Professor Goldbeck, anyway..?"
Night Cyranio says "I have not seen Kayla in a while" then after a pause he says "Maybe she is in this room, but busy talking to one of her other friends?" he glances around the Great Hall, wondering if he could catch a glimpse of Kayla, but has no luck.
Michael Hazeltine pushes aside his plate, being done eating. As Neriva leaves, he also excuses himself, nodding politely to Kokelia and all the other remaining staff members as he goes.
Hermonion Linter gets up, smiling at the remaining people in the Great Hall and quickly walks out, her loose strands of hair moving about as she runs.
Dwight Floens finally finishes stuffing his pudgy face, and pushes his plate back, standing up. He simply must go make sure he has everything. With hardly a glance around him, he saunters out.
Taking the Plunge
(OOC: 1908-09 school year.)
+---[ Hogwarts - Medical Center ]--------------------------------------------+
Thomas D'Arcy is lying on one of the cots, completely rigid. There is no movement of his robes to indicate even the slightest breath...and the boy's eyes are wide and staring. Nevertheless, they glint furiously, and there is a black ink-moustache across his upper-lip.
Sylvie Winters steps in and looks around. As she sees Thomas on one of the cots, she walks over to him and regards him for a moment. At least to her, whatever they are getting into starts right now. She sighs, and pulls out her wand. After glancing around, she turns back to Thomas, quietly speaking. "Ennervate!"
Lupine Johnson wanders in, "Oh, there /you/ two are. Somebody said you were in there." She frowns at Thomas, glancing questioningly at Sylvie, her brows furrowed anxiously.
Thomas D'Arcy relaxes as he takes a long-awaited breath, cheeks recovering a bit of their pallor. "Thank you, Miss Winters...I am glad you came. I shall show Professor D'Estiny that she can't keep us down..."
Sylvie Winters gives a slight nod, putting her wand away. "Of course." She turns toward Lupine, offering her a quiet nod in greeting.
Thomas D'Arcy clears his throat as he climbs to his feet, arching an eyebrow. "Well...Let's get on with it then...Meet by the quidditch field as soon as you are ready."
Lupine Johnson nods sharply, "Right. Let's go. Meet you there." She heads off regally.
+---[ Hogwarts Grounds - Quidditch Field ]-----------------------------------+
Thomas D'Arcy tightens his grip about his broom, knuckles whitening under the pressure. "Now...Are you lot read..." The boy pauses in midsentence, turning towards Wont. "Go..." He smiles slightly as the Gryffindor obliges. "Mmmm...now...I trust you are all ready? Clothing, any toiletries...etc.?"
Lupine Johnson walks in, small, leather bag slung over one shoulder and the handle of her broom - which isn't too old nor too new - in her right hand. She looks nervous.
Sylvie Winters rubs her broom with one hand, the other going for a moment to the pendant she's always worn at her neck. Then she places that hand on her broom as well, and looks down at the small bag she has dropped at her feet. "I'm all ready," she says. Probably this is what passes for nervousness with her, but she's decided this is what she's doing.
Owl swoops in and lands on one of the goalposts. He looks about, blinking slowly, and then spirals down to the quidditch field, dropping a small piece of paper onto the pitch before winging off again.
Thomas D'Arcy lightly clears his throat, glancing furtively towards the castle in the hopes that Professor D'Estiny doesn't appear. "Here is the plan..." He pauses, and heads over towards lupine. "What have we here?"
Lupine Johnson quickly picks up the parchment and glances it over, frowning she notes to Thomas, "IS this all of us? What about Justin..and Samantha...?" She asks hesitantly.
Lupine Johnson gulps, "Listen to this!" She gasps loudly to her friends, "I thought I might give you a sporting chance...after all, I don't really /need/ your two friends anymore. You'd best hurry, though, as I'm not going to bother to feed them anymore. As a matter of fact, I won't even be around. Should make it easy for you poor fools. But I don't really need them found, either, so lets see if you idiots can manage it when I give you a rather blatant clue."
Thomas D'Arcy frowns, brow darkening as he hisses slightly, peering over Lupine's shoulder. "We cannot wait for them...You saw the parchment. Curse Winterbourne and his...his...d***ed arrogance...Now, we have one of two options. Head off into the forest and pitch camp, or go to Hogsmeade...I took the liberty of...ahh...purchasing a bit of land in Hogsmeade...with a house."
Lupine Johnson says, "IF you don't find them, you won't need to move them. If you look for them, you'll probably overlook them. Guarded by a dark harbringer. No lizard's gold to be found. And it's signed...Hugh WInterbourne." She looks anxiously at Thomas, "Let's get out of here and THEN think about his clues...""
Sylvie Winters blinks, and takes a deep breathe. She takes a few steps over, looking at the parchment. If she wasn't sure before, she would be now.
Thomas D'Arcy nods as he mounts his broom, hovering ever so slightly in the air. "So...Where to? Forest or the estate? The estate might be more comfortable, but I don't know if the Hogwarts faculty will come after us. On the other hand...they might overlook the estate simply because it is so close..."
Lupine Johnson anxiously swings a leg over her broom, shifting her hands as Thomas taught her, "The estate...no, the forest and THEN the estate." She announces eagerly. They...might have luck with this plan. OR they might not. She launches to hover near Thomas.
Sylvie Winters walks back to her bag and snatches it up, jumping on to her broom and letting it hover a few feet in the air. "If anyone looks for us, I think we'd be harder to find in the forest, although the estate would likely be nicer.." She shrugs and sighs.
Lupine Johnson sighs, having pocketed the parchment, "Right, forest then estate, like I said." She smiles warmly at Sylvie then nods curtly to Thomas, "SO? Does that work?" She demands, unconsciously placing Thomas as leader.
Emili Lordre frowns, hugging her arms close to her and hanging back from the other three, eyeing the brooms nervously.
Thomas D'Arcy chews on his lip. "Indeed...We might as well head off into the forest...in case anyone might be watching...then make a landing. We ought to dismount at that point...and perhaps walk to Hogsmeade."
Lupine Johnson nods to THomas, "And...have your wands ready, everybody." She warns, looking down and gulping quickly. She WILL do this, she MUST.
Thomas D'Arcy sighs as he withdraws a wand from within his robes.../not/ his own. "I do hope this will work...maybe I ought to have a little bit of practice with it. Twas Kaleb's...I believe I confiscated it from him some time last year." He smiles softly, turning to Sylvie. "Sorry, Sylvie..."
Lupine Johnson tries not to snigger, "Well, then, let's not delay." She says curtly and with a deep breath heads her broom upward, beckoning to the other three.
Emili Lordre's face is ashen, and she bites down on her lip. There is no possible way she'll get on one of those brooms, but not even she can guarantee that she'll lie if a teacher asks where her companions have gotten off too.
Sylvie Winters pats her pocket, where she's made sure to leave her wand in easy reach, not that it isn't always. She shakes her head at Thomas, almost smiling. "Don't be." She directs her broom up into the air.
Thomas D'Arcy turns towards Emili, canting his head to one side. "Is something the matter, Emili? You look decidedly pale..."
Lupine Johnson turns to Emili, then she heads downwards too her and with a softer look in her eyes she whisper hurriedly.
Thomas D'Arcy lightly chews on his lip...but there is that familiar, hard sharpness to his eyes that most feel it dreadfully hard to lie to...
Come on. You...Listen, I'm deathly afraid of heights - though you mustn't tell - but remember Ruth and Chris, they're more important then some petty fear." Lupine Johnson whispers to Emili.
Lupine Johnson straightens her self proudly on her broomstick, her head held up righteously, "Come on, Emili. Let's find them." She announces triumphantly with a quick, brief, warm smile at Emili.
Emili Lordre shakes her head slowly at Thomas, then turns it into a nod. "Ah...the brooms." She says, as quiet as ever. She gives Lupine a hopeless look, biting down on her lip harder. Casting her eyes to the ground, she mumbles, "I barely know 'ow to mount a broom, let alone fly one." Nevertheless, she walks jerkily over to the shed and picks out a broom, holding it out in front of her as if it were a dung-covered shoe.
Lupine Johnson beams at Emili, "I /knew/ you cared about Ruth and Chris. I /knew/ you were brave and righteous!" She exclaims in delight. Let Emili just TRY backing down now. With that she swoops over to Thomas again.
Thomas D'Arcy frowns, arching an eyebrow as he meditatively dismounts, eyeing Emili's progress, then places his comet inside what appears to be his bottomless bag...He quickly approaches a grove of bushes, where he fumbles around a bit before reappearing with an old, worn, though far more sturdy-looking broom. "You can ride with me, Emili...This broom was custom made. It isn't much for speed or acceleration, but it handles marvelously."
Sylvie Winters turns, watching, then swoops back down partway. She should have remembered that Emili didn't like flying. She waits to see what Emili does, now, wondering what she could say that the others haven't if it's needed.
Lupine Johnson beams briefly at Thomas, "Onward!" She announces, taking out her wand and waving it for emphasize, "Let's go before Professor D'Estiny find us.
Emili Lordre stares at the broom, and if it were possible, her face would be even more pale. Of course she cares about them...oh, she's just slowing Lupine and the others down. She tears her wide eyes away from the broom to look at Thomas. "Oh?" She manages weakly, putting the broom back. She looks relieved, but not a whole lot more relaxed as she walks quickly over to Thomas.
Thomas D'Arcy laughs softly, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Well...front or back, Emili? You /will/ be holding on of course...either that or I will be holding on to you..."
Back." Emili Lordre answers immediately. That way she can just hold on, squeeze her eyes shut and pray she doesn't fall.
Lupine Johnson swoops upward, beckoning to Thomas and Sylvie, "Come on." She calls to them. Her wand still out.
Thomas D'Arcy nods slightly as he mounts his broom, leaving ample room for Emili in the back. "Then make certain you hold on.../tightly/. Since you are in back, I have no way of preventing you from falling."
Sylvie Winters smiles slightly toward Emili, then directs her broom back up into the air to join Lupine.
Emili Lordre doesn't allow any second thoughts, Lupine seems impatient as it is. Clambering on behind Thomas, she encircles her arms around him, maybe a bit /too/ tightly at first, then loosens her grip marginally. Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes shut and waits.
Lupine Johnson grins cheerfully, "Come /on/." She demands, heading towards the forest, "We have no time to waste, as it is." As she swoops off her face darkens considerably/
Thomas D'Arcy arches an eyebrow as he begins hovering, murmuring a gently reminder. "Tighter is better than not at all...marginal discomfort is petty compared to a hundred foot fall..." He smiles, nodding towards the impetuous third year before heading off towards the forest, slowly, though steadily accelerating.
Sylvie Winters glances one more time toward Thomas and Emili, and also starts toward the forest, rearranging her bag to sit more comfortably on her back.
Emili Lordre takes advantage of this, and does tighten her grip, refusing to open her eyes.
+---[ Hogsmeade - Forest Path ]----------------------------------------------+
Thomas D'Arcy raises his voice in order to be heard. "Halt...we must land...From here it is necessary to walk..."
Emili Lordre breathes her relief, and hesitantly opens her eyes. She can't very well dismount blinded.
Sylvie Winters hears, and sends her broom in a dip toward the ground. Once close enough, she jumps off, holding the broom in one hand.
Lupine Johnson waves her wand through the air and mutters, "Lumos." quickly, a flash of light surrounds her wand as she looks around and dismounts quickly.
Thomas D'Arcy gently presses down on his broom as he descends towards the forest canopy, though he slows as he actually reaches the branches in order to avoid various limbs and provide a safe landing. He gently set his broom down, waiting for Emili to dismount.
Emili Lordre slides off the broom, wavering ever so slightly. There. That wasn't /too/ bad. She cracks a small, grateful smile at Thomas before slipping out her wand and also whispering the word to make it go alight.
Lupine Johnson frowns, "Where now?" She wants to know, lips pursed together tightly, her face only visible because of her lighted wand as she looks at her friends.
Lupine Johnson swivels towards the forest, "Ever onward?" She suggests with the overlay of cheerfulness in her voice.
Thomas D'Arcy frowns as he takes out Kaleb's wand, setting it alight with a slight murmur. "We walk...Keep away from the trail, though. When we reach Hogsmeade, I shall update you on everything I have been told regarding Winterbourne. He /said/ he would not be there...but one never knows."
Sylvie Winters pulls her wand out of her pocket, holding it in front of her and close to her. "Lumos," she murmurs also, quietly. The wand goes alight, and she nods to Lupine, looking down the path.
Lupine Johnson heads forward, "Right. Let's go. She holds her wand out in front as a beacon."
+---[ Hogsmeade - Hogsmeade Trail ]------------------------------------------+
Thomas D'Arcy pauses as he reaches the summit, placing his hands on his hips as he gazes out over Hogsmeade. "Now...we cannot enter the city by the usual entrance...Do you see the observatory?"
Lupine Johnson blinks at Thomas, "Noo..." She hesitates towards him, "Why...what do you mean?"
Thomas D'Arcy sighs, pointing to another hill, below which are nestled a few large houses. "The gate guard would report us in a moment...We must climb to the observatory, then descend the hill towards Hogsmeade. Understand?"
Sylvie Winters follows where Thomas is pointing with her eyes, studying the area and giving a faint nod.
Thomas D'Arcy quickly scribbles something down on a piece of parchment and fastens it to his owl's leg, releasing the creature. His eyes rest on the bird for a few moments before turning back to his companions, nodding once. "Well...let's go..."
Lupine Johnson nods sharply, "Right. Let's go." She replies without hesitation, smiling at them and turning her attention to the hill, marching forwards.
Emili Lordre glances curiously at Thomas, then nods, understanding. She stoops for a quick moment, removing a decayed leaf from her shoe, then setting her foot down and following the rest.
Thomas D'Arcy glances about roguishly for a moment, before running down the hill, arms spread wide as his cloak and robes billow in the wind. He spins about several times as a bubbly laugh emerges from his lips...though it is quickly cut short.
Sylvie Winters turns toward the hill and starts to walk forward, idly brushing off her robes as she goes. Watching Thomas, she smiles slightly, though she'd never think to do that herself. She just keeps walking quickly.
Emili Lordre descends the hill at a moderate pace, a slow smile flickering over her pale face as she watches Thomas, with a small shake of her head, she lifts her head and looks about her.
+---[ Hogsmeade - Avenue of the Stars ]--------------------------------------+
Thomas D'Arcy sighs as he begins hiking up the hill, leading to the observatory. He smiles slightly upon reaching the summit, pointing to one of the larger, tudor-style buildings. "Tis a fair prospect, is it not?"
Lupine Johnson looks over her shoulder at Thomas, "Hrmm?" She wonders curiously of Thomas, furrowing her eyebrows together.
Thomas D'Arcy gestures towards the house, smiling as he descends towards the building. "Our home for the next...however long. I hope you find it...acceptable?"
Lupine Johnson stares at Thomas, "We don't know who lives there, Thomas." She protests, looking around quickly.
Sylvie Winters follows, shifting the weight of her bag again, although she seems used to this sort of traveling. Putting a hand up to her eyes, she looks toward the mentioned house. "Looks nice enough," she comments quietly.
Emili Lordre nods in silent appreciation, pausing a bit in her trek, not quite used to this much walking, although the hallways of Hogwarts do provide ample exercise. Pulling down her hood, she scoops out her braid, as it had come undone throughout the events of the day. Draping it over her shoulder, she pulls her hood back up, and also starts down the hill after Thomas.
Thomas D'Arcy arches a surprised eyebrow, canting his head to one side as he pauses on the doorstep and unlocks the door with a large, double-toothed key. "Of course we do.../we/ live here, you know. I told you I bought a lot last year..."
Lupine Johnson stares at Thomas, "Wha...you...I...but...Thomas, someday I would LOVE to catch you unprepared." She mutters grumpily, following him and shaking her head in a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
Thomas D'Arcy laughs softly as he holds the door open, revealing a carpeted entry-hall...A butler comes to the door, eyeing the children with an amused twinkle in his eye. "Ahh...Master D'Arcy...I did not expect to see you so soon. And who are your friends?" Thomas blinks, pursing his brow as he gestures to each of the ladies in turn. "This is no comfort visit, I am afraid, Benson. But these are Miss Winters, Miss Lordre, and Miss Johnson."
Sylvie Winters looks into the house, actually rather amazed with it. She shows little /outward/ surprise at the appearance of a butler, but this is better then she's ever seen.. and certainly more then she expected on this venture.
Lupine Johnson smiles winningly at the butler with a quick bob of her head and little curtsey, "Sir." She murmurs politely, going to stand by Thomas.
Emili Lordre gathers cloth in-between her fingers, and dips a polite curtsy at the butler. 'Twouldn't do to forget manners, so matter how nervous she is. Looking about, she gives a small murmur of appreciation, laced with impress.
Sylvie Winters gives a small curtsy of her own, still quietly admiring the estate.
Thomas D'Arcy smiles softly as he steps across the threshold, gesturing for everyone else to do the same. "Bedrooms are on the second floor...Pick whichever one you wish, and I will select one of the remaining ones. The dining room is to your right, the sitting room is to your left, and on the other side of the sitting room is the library. Each room has a full washroom...Make yourselves comfortable. In fifteen minutes, a maid will enter your room to see to your needs. I...I believe that is all. We ought to reconvene within two and a half hours for a short discussion before having dinner. And...And don't worry about the servants...They won't spill any information. Benson is the only one who truly knows why we are here, and he took care of me as a child. By the way.../please/ don't try to extract any baby stories from him..." He darts a grin at the butler, who chuckles softly.
Riddles, Pictures, and Disguises
(OOC: 1908-09 school year.)
Thomas D'Arcy is pacing back and forth, hands clasped behind his back. A large, leather-bound volume is on one of the tables, and next to it is a small pile of black and white photographs. On the mantelpiece, just above the fireplace, is a large stack of parchments covered in writing...They are held down by a small clock.
Lupine Johnson frowns deeply, sitting in a chair stiffly, as if she isn't accustomed to it...she certainly seems to stand out in such an environment, she repeats the poem, "If you don't look for them, you won't have to move them..errr, if you don't /find/ them. If you look for them you probably will overlook them. What sense does that make?" She snaps, continuing, "Guarded by a dark harbringer, Thomas, what's a harbringer? Lizard's golden treasure?" She shakes her head.
Lupine Johnson grins suddenly with enlightenment, "Lizard's golden treasure....dragon...dragon..a lizard with golden treasure is a dragoon, wait, it says /no/ lizard's golden treasure." She frowns.
Thomas D'Arcy furrows his brow as he lightly chews on his lip, not even pausing a moment in his pacing. "One line at a time...one line at a time. What sort of lizard would horde treasure? A dragon...correct. Yet it says there is none..."
Lupine Johnson nods, "Right. Okay then, IF you don't find them, you won't need to move them. What does that mean? DO we find them by not looking for them? IT would fit the next line: IF you look for them, you will probably overlook them...but, that makes no sense. He said to hurry so...we Have to look for them."
Thomas D'Arcy snaps his fingers sharply, whirling towards his comrades. "What was that Diven dribbling about earlier? Wasn't he talking about dragons? I...I wish I had paid more attention...he might have had something there..."
Lupine Johnson nods, "Wait..I heard that story..let me concentrate for a second." She demands.
Sylvie Winters is standing, though very still, not moving around. She bites her lip, deep in thought. "So there is no dragon," she repeats, shaking her head. "I don't see how that helps, there aren't any in most places.." she glances toward Thomas, then Lupine, falling silent for a moment. She never exactly heard the story.
Thomas D'Arcy turns to Sylvie, arching an eyebrow. "But then why would it even bring up dragons? Unless they are believed to be there...or once were...but are no longer there..."
Lupine Johnson nods, "Right...the lair below the Hogsmeade..the dragon's lair is below the town...thousands of tunnels, i /remember/. Listen, the dragoon is gone..no, the TREASURE is gone. The dragon guards it for Winterbourne...I believe we know where they are!" She exclaims excitedly, looking around at Sylvie, Emili and Thomas..
Emili Lordre silently ponders the words, frowning as she does so. Twirling a strand of hair about her forefinger in thought - she's let it down, too tired to do anything with it any more, and it hangs about her form like a silver veil. Glancing up at the others, she offers her thoughts. "Pair-'aps it is asking for what the treasure is, instead of who it belongs to?"
Sylvie Winters nods briefly. "That's the only thing that would make any sense. If there was a dragon.. missing... somehow, I suppose.." She blinks, then nods again, this time to Lupine. "There's a dragon liar right under us? It would be the perfect place.."
Thomas D'Arcy groans loudly as he sinks into a chair, massaging his forehead. "I don't suppose how we are going to get past a dragon...I don't think a stupefy spell will work. I suppose I could try a sleeping charm..." He turns towards Emili, rising to his seat and approaching the girl, taking a seat beside her. "What was that, Emili? And...and Professor Goldbeck said the legends were false...so....hence the lack of a dragon..."
Lupine Johnson nods, "Yes. Chris and Ruth are below Hogsmeade this very minute..BUT...we will look tomorrow. I say it is time for dinner and sleep, am I not correct?"
Thomas D'Arcy frowns, shaking his head. "In all respects but one... Before we leave to find them...I need to tell you as much as I can about Winterbourne. Mr. Tudor has been gracious enough to lend me his journal...and photographs of his victims."
Thomas D'Arcy rises to his feet, pressing his lips into a thin line as he takes the auror's journal, and opens it in order to begin reading. "Michael's leg shall never recover, I am afraid...though Winterbourne has fled. Probably disapparated, though there is evidence of a port-key being used. I did find traces of his magic imprinting in knockturn alley, but the ministry, once again, has denied me permission for using veritaserum. I...Michael is still too weak to walk very far...entered the castle today.../his/ castle...and saw his experiments. A sight I /never/ wish to see again." Thomas closes the book softly, setting it on the table as he seizes a few of the photographs and holds them out to Emili and Sylvie. "Not the originals...but I had to duplicate them."
Sylvie Winters steps forward to look at the pictures, after listening silently to the journal. She shakes her head slightly at the pictures.. they don't look good.
Emili Lordre's face goes quite blank, dead of any emotion as she looks over the pictures. She hasn't even indulged in lip-biting, as she was while intently listening to Thomas read. In her mind she places Ruth and Chris in those pictures, instead of the people they actually are...were, and abruptly averts her eyes down to the floor.
Thomas D'Arcy retakes the photographs, placing them on the desk as Cally is ushered in by Benson(the butler). "Ahh...welcome to your home for the next week, Cally. I am glad that you were able to make it. Come right in...we are just discussing Winterbourne. You can get cleaned up now if you want...simply select one of the rooms upstairs for your own. Supper will be in a half hour."
Thomas D'Arcy lightly clears his throat as he heads over to the fireplace once more, furrowing his brow. "Winterbourne specializes in onieromancy...dream magic, and as you can tell, has a flair for being a bit flashy. It has also been said that he gains strength from fear...so if you ever have any doubts, or any nightmares, you /must/ talk to the others, for despite his letter, I know not whether he is there or not."
Cally Meadows steps in quickly, and stops to look around. She looks at Thomas, and nodding, looks in the direction of the stairs. Cally takes the time to stare awkwardly around, before deciding on staying where she is to listen to Thomas.
Sylvie Winters nods slightly, stepping back to her position at the side of the room. "Strength from fear?" she repeats, and sighs, before turning to give Cally a greeting nod.
Thomas D'Arcy glances about himself worriedly, tone softening. "I hope you understand...Supper will be in fifteen minutes. If you...If you wish, after supper, we can all go to the library. I ordered several books regarding oneiromancy...and spells in the imperius family." He glances up towards Cally, smiling once. "Yes...yes...you may go to your room if you wish..."
Emili Lordre nods once in Cally's direction, in a detached sort of way, as she is rather lost in thought. She nods again at Thomas, pursing her lips as she twirls the hair about her finger tighter.
Thomas D'Arcy heads over towards Cally and the staircase. "Here...allow one of the maids to escort you. I believe we have plenty of bedrooms left open...Your maid shall be...Miss Preen...Miss Jennifer Preen. Come down when you are ready..."
Sylvie Winters says quietly, "I should like to visit the library after we eat.. I, for one, want a look at those books." Every little thing she can pick up that might be useful, she'll take, and they could easily have useful information.
Thomas D'Arcy nods once, bobbing his curls. "As should I...Then there is but one thing left to determine before we start off tomorrow. Should we adopt disguises or no?"
Sylvie Winters gives a short nod. "I think it would be best.. better to use them, and not need them, then to go without disguises and find out we should have used them.."
Emili Lordre shrugs, and sighs irritably at the hair twisted about her finger. Slowly easing her finger free without pulling out too many hairs, she looks up, and curiously inquires. "'Ow would we disguise ourselves?"
Cally Meadows glances from Thomas, to the maid, and then to the others gathered in the room. Her heart is beating quickly and she doesn't feel quite like going off somewhere else. "May I, by any chance, simply stay down here?" Cally says so quietly she may have been heard by no one. Biting her lip, she looks around with wide eyes and reaches up to her necklace to hold.
Thomas D'Arcy gives Cally a nod, gesturing to a spot on the couch beside Emili. "Of course, Cally...I don't see why not. But disguising? Emili...you are in advanced transfiguration, I used to be. Why can we not transfigure ourselves?"
Sylvie Winters bites her lip, frowning slightly. "Those of you in the class would have to.. transfigure the rest of us, as well." Not that she'd mind being transfigured.. but she'd like to be able to do it herself. "If you can do that, though, I do think it would be a good idea."
Thomas D'Arcy nods slightly, chewing on his lip. "I can certainly try...though a few of you might end up with beards or moustaches...Anyhow, shall we eat? I believe Pierre has finished cooking..."
Sylvie Winters raises an eyebrow. "I doubt I'd look too well with a beard." She smiles weakly, then sighs. "Not the point, though, is it.. Yes, I suppose I am getting a bit hungry, anyway."
Cally Meadows nods again at Thomas, and moves her glance to rest upon Emili and the couch. Walking slowly and shuffling her feet along, she moves swiftly over to sit down. One hand she keeps wrapped around the red pendant which it tied about her neck, and the other she uses to help sit down lightly. The word 'eat' is heard coming from Thomas, and she looks around at the others. She isn't hungry, after all, but of course Cally could /try/ to eat something.
Thomas D'Arcy arches an eyebrow as he heads off towards the dinner table, taking a seat on one of the chairs. "You must get your strength for tomorrow...You shall certainly need it."
Sylvie Winters walks toward the table, choosing a seat, which she lowers herself into.
Cally Meadows falters a moment before she actually stands up again, making her way over to the table. After standing behind one of the chairs for a moment, she pulls it back and sits down, her eyes wide and alert as they have been for a while.
Thomas D'Arcy selects what appears to be a dumpling, and places it on his plate. "Pierre has been experimenting with Czech foods lately...So tonight we have roast pork, sauerkraut, and dumplings...Gravy as well, of course. We ought to have a choice of a few pies for desert."
Flying Lessons
(OOC: 1908-09 school year.)
+---[ Hogwarts Grounds - The Entrance ]--------------------------------------+
Sylvie Winters is standing at the bottom of the steps, looking out into the snow, robes pulled around her to keep out the cold.
Lauren Welch says, "Hi Sylvie."
Your on the Quidditch team, right?" Lauren Welch inquires.
Sylvie Winters turns around slowly. "Oh, hello, Lauren.. Yes, I am. I'm seeker, and the captain as well."
Lauren Welch says, "Oh, well, do you think you could help me perfect my flying skills."
Lauren Welch turns her head to one side and slightly raises eyebrows, waiting for an answer.
Sylvie Winters nods slightly. "I could, if you'd like. Although it might be a bit easier without the snow."
Lauren Welch says, "Yeah, I was wondering about that weather factor too. But then again, by the time the snows all gone, I doubt I'd have enough time."
Lauren Welch says, "Please."
Sylvie Winters shrugs. "I can now, if you want, then. I'm not doing anything until.. until the service this evening." She licks her lips and sighs.
Lauren Welch is now following Sylvie Winters.
Lauren Welch says, "Good! You can lead the way to the field, I guess."
Sylvie Winters shakes her head. "Alright. Let me go get my broom.." She goes up the stairs, and returns a minute later with said object in hand. "Let's go, then."
+---[ Hogwarts Grounds - Quidditch Field ]-----------------------------------+
Hm..." Lauren Welch says.
Sylvie Winters walks up to the edge of the field. "Here we are. Now.. you had flying class as a first year, of course. Are you taking it now, as well?"
I did have it a first year and..." Lauren Welch says.
Sylvie Winters nods slightly, watching the girl. "...and?"
Lauren Welch says, "and..I'm taking the class this year as well."
Sylvie Winters says, "Alright. But you still want more work? Well.. Tell you what, why don't you show me what you can do right now, and we'll work from there. Okay?"
Lauren Welch walks over to the edge of the Quiddith field towards the Schools broom closest. After careful study of each broom, picks up a Shooting Star and moves back over towards Sylvie. Well now, here we go then.
Lauren Welch holds the broom out in front of her and throws on leg over the broom. She begins staring up into the air, and then, without warning pushes of the grounded and goes straight up into the air.
Sylvie Winters lays her broom flat out in the air, making it hover, and perches on it. She stays there near the ground, watching.
Lauren Welch eventually decides to stop going up by the time she reaches the top of the goal post, and zoom forward towards the post.
Lauren Welch lays flat on her broom as the goal post rapidly approaches to slightly to her left. Once about 1ft. past the post, she begins her turns, which are extremely too wide.
Sylvie Winters starts to begin to wonder why this girl wants extra help. It's not until she sees the turns that she even knows what to start with. But she doesn't say anything yet, waiting for Lauren to finish.
Lauren Welch after swerving around the first goal post, decides to form a figure eight and takes a hard right turn, and head around the second post, finishing off her turn with a magnificent 360 and immediately, swoops straight down towards Sylvie.
Lauren Welch sees the ground approaching faster, and, after thinking about the fact that she can't turn for anything, decides that it'd be best to pull up on her broom, and does so.
Sylvie Winters stays perched on her broom as Lauren comes near. "That wasn't so bad. I'm guessing it's mostly the turns that give you trouble?"
Lauren Welch she glides slightly above the ground about 4 feet past Sylvie, then, without thinking, throws her head back up into the air as well as her hands and the broom flies out from under her legs and BOOM! She lands on her back.
Sylvie Winters blinks and jumps off her broom, letting it fall to the ground. "Are you alright, Lauren?"
Lauren Welch gets up off the ground, breathing hard and rubbing her back. Yeah, just the turns. My landing was bad too, that was mainly because I wanted to long to pull up. I got kinda scared, so, once I made the pull, I immediately stopped thinking and Boom.
Yeah, I'm fine." Lauren Welch says.
Not like I haven't fallen before." Lauren Welch says.
Lauren Welch says, "Been hit by 2 Bludges once, in the same instance."
Oh...I hit the ground hard then." Lauren Welch says.
Lauren Welch says, "But anywho, hat do you suggest, about my uh...turns and all."
Sylvie Winters nods slightly. Two bludgers? Ouch. "Well, as long as you're alright.. Retrieve your broom, and we'll work on a few things."
Lauren Welch bends down slowly and grabs her broom, and pushes her self back up into a standing position, with the use of her legs.
Hm, I think I want a faster broom than this one." Lauren Welch says.
Lauren Welch mounts the broom once again, and slowly glides back over to the broom closet, about the pace of someone jogging.
Lauren Welch dismounts from the broom, and scans the rack. Hm...I got one Sylvie!!!
Sylvie Winters fetches her own broom from where she left it. "It's probably fine, for now.. You won't want to go too fast anyway. Now, I'm guessing the problem is the way you shift your weight turning.. Perhaps, anyway? I've seen that before."
Lauren Welch says, "Don't worry, it's not the fastest once I could find."
Lauren Welch shows Sylvie the old Comet.
Now, what's all this about weight shifting, and how do I perfect it?" Lauren Welch inquires.
Sylvie Winters shrugs. "If you're happy with that one, then.." She hops back onto her broom, letting it hover about five feet in the air once she's up. "Sometimes people want to lean away from the turns, especially sharp ones, and done a certain way the leaning can redirect the broom and make the turn much wider. Do you think that's what you were doing?"
That might be it. When I come up on the turn, I do move a few inches or feet or so outwards, I guess I'm afraid I'm going to hit someone or something." Lauren Welch says.
Lauren Welch says, "I was always like that with the Muggle Game Baseball and such sorts."
Lauren Welch says, "And then I try to make up for moving outwards, by taking a sharp turn, which sometimes, launches me back in the direction I came. I've done it once before."
Lauren Welch says, "I turned extremely too sharp and ended up doing a full circle in the air and almost losing my balance off my broom."
Sylvie Winters nods slightly. "That's what you want to work on, then. Try weaving around the goalposts, and takes the turns slowly.. just concentrate on keeping your weight centered, or even leaning into the turn."
Could you show me real quick, like, fly me through it in the air." Lauren Welch says.
Sylvie Winters motions toward the goalposts at one end of the field. "Over there, then. I'll be happy to run through it once, myself."
Lauren Welch hops onto her broom and raises herself up to Sylvie's height.
Shall we go then?" Lauren Welch inquires.
Sylvie Winters nods. "Of course. Now, watch.." She starts to make a half-loop around the right-hand goal, flying rather slowly. Instead of keeping her weight centered like she usually would, she leans into the turn just a little for the other girl's benefit, so she can see it.
Lauren Welch says, "Uh huh, now I guess, I will try it."
Lauren Welch starts for the stand of the goal post. She immediately y crouches down on her broom to pick up a more speed.
Sylvie Winters pulls out of the loop, floating just in front of the goal area to watch.
Lauren Welch once about five feet from the goal post, she makes the same mistake and swerves out slightly almost losing her balance, and then tries to regain her balance by tilting to the other side of her broom and leaning extremely too far into the turn.
Sylvie Winters calls over, "You've got the idea, but try leaning a little bit less. Still in the same direction, though.."
Lauren Welch Ah!!! I can't control- the broom lunges forward with Lauren still on it, hands flailing through the air, boom, the broom sticks straight into the ground and Lauren is down by it's bottom.
Lauren Welch gets knocked unconscious.
Sylvie Winters directs her broom downward, jumping off as she reaches Lauren. The girl holds out one hand to rest it on the other's shoulder. "Lauren.."
Lauren Welch wakes up and reaches her right arm out to brush some grass off her face, Oaarr!
I hurt my arm." Lauren Welch says.
It might be broken." Lauren Welch says.
Lauren pulls her left arm under her body and hits the snow off her face.
Lauren Welch says, "I need to go to the hospital wing."
Sylvie Winters bites her lip. "I doubt it.. At least there was snow to cushion the fall. But you might want to go see the nurse, if it hurts.. Can you get up?"
Thanks for the lesson anyways Sylvie. It's been fun. I'll remember to work on those turns, soon enough." Lauren Welch says.
Lauren Welch says, "Thank You, Goodbye, Sylvie."
Lauren Welch says, "Come on Maxie."
Sylvie Winters nods to Lauren. "Alright. And I do hope your arm is okay.."
Society of Seven
(OOC: 1908-09 school year.)
+---[ Hogwarts - Great Hall ]------------------------------------------------+
Chaya Tiki mutters a greeting, looking to be falling back into depression. Her face pale and thin- has she /eaten/ in the last decade? -, while her eyes and expression are virtually dead.
Thomas D'Arcy gives Ruth a curt nod...He is perhaps a bit pale, but not noticeably so. Nevertheless, his features give the impression of irrationally stubborn determination. "Horridly...I failed in my duties as a seeker, and when I had the opportunity to take revenge on Chelsea, I was unable to..."
Chuckling without mirth, Chaya Tiki says, "Join the club. I was the /last/ person that could've afforded to be so horrible up there, but I was. And, again, we've lost..."
Ruth Cohen puts her head down on her book. "We're a jolly lot today, aren't we?" she says with a wry grin. "Well, we'll be sure to beat hufflepuff . .if they haven't already been disqualified for not having their team put together. Any news on that?" Ruth, of course, wasn't allowed to play and is quite upset about that. She felt perfectly healthy . . . but her replacement probably did a better job than she would have done, anyway.
Chaya Tiki pales. "Ruth, we have to face Hufflepuff?" Her eyes are no longer dead; instead, uncomfortable and nervous. "Nuh-uh. No way am I doing that." She shakes her head fervently to emphasize.
Thomas D'Arcy's features deepen into a bitter sneer. "Oh they have had their team together for quite some time...Bound to be horrid, but they're bound to win. Just like ravenclaw when the stupid snitch sat on Alaenna's head...heaven knows she is too incompetent to catch it in the usual fashion...Damnation. I hope Chelsea rots in the medical center..."
Sylvie Winters slips into the room, eyes shifting toward the opposite door until she sees the other Slytherins; then, she pauses, brushing off her robe and walking over with a nod for greeting. "Hufflepuff?" She shakes her head. "I really don't want to lose to them."
No, we'll beat them," Ruth Cohen says, trying to be upbeat and failing. "We can't have /that/ bad luck."
Thomas D'Arcy rolls his eyes, hissing for all the world like a parseltongue. "Right.../this/ time the snitch will choose to sit in the seeker's /hand/. "
Muttering something darkly about losing the High Ones' favor, Chaya Tiki flops into a chair and pulls Stubtail gently out of her shoulder bag, stroking him absently. "It's past luck, Cohen. I'm sure it's something else, too. But /what?/ Talent, that's /one/..."
Ruth Cohen slams her book shut and stands up. She's been fairly moody lately . .but with good cause. Adolescence does that to you. "Well, I wish you all hadn't rescued me. Dying in the dark and cold of starvation can't be a whole lot more depressing than you lot are." And with that, she storms out up to the common room, to try to get some more work done. . . at this rate, she's fairly certain she'll be dropped from her advanced classes because of her inability to keep up.
Thomas D'Arcy gazes after Ruth thoughtfully, then turns back towards Sylvie. "Sylvie...remember our little squadron of six that we found so very useful on our...err...mission to rescue Ruth and Chris?"
Sylvie Winters blinks after Ruth, then sighs. She turns to give Thomas a slight, questioning nod. "Yes.."
Thomas D'Arcy clasps his hands behind his back, nibbling thoughtfully on his lower lip. "What if...what if we got something like that together in Slytherin? I noticed it was particularly effective...and with year-round training we would be even more so....Do you think we can do that?"
Chaya Tiki's face goes a bit red, obviously holding back tears. "Lost the match, friends upset, and /no responses/..." She buries her face into her cat's fur, breathing deeply. "Notgoodnotgoodnotgood at /all/..."
Sylvie Winters nods again, and seems to think about it for a minute. "It's an.. an interesting idea. Certainly worth trying.. I think we could.."
Thomas D'Arcy smiles softly, almost coyly as a twinkle enters his eye. "What should we call it? The society of seven? The...well we can take care of that later." He glances about furtively, lowering his voice. "We can even probably post a notice on the house board...No specifics need be mentioned, and if a professor should happen to be there, we can always say it s a...political discussion group."
Chaya Tiki sighs deeply and continues to pet Stubtail, half-listening to the other conversation. "Sounds interesting," She remarks to no one in particular.
Sylvie Winters bites her lip for a moment. "Yes, names later.." She keeps her voice quiet. "Political discussion.." She smiles a bit. "It would work. Or something along those lines.. they wouldn't know.. And it would be good, to have something like that," she finishes.
Chaya Tiki sighs, exhausted, and her eyelids drop as she strokes the kitten. After a long breath, she, to all appearances, dozes off.
Thomas D'Arcy smiles softly as he whirls about, racing for the doorway. "Come along, Sylvie...Let's break the news to Ruth and then post an application invitation on the slytherin common room board. Only the best shall be able to attend, of course..." He pauses, skidding to a stop. "Ummm...perhaps you ought to break the news, since you are going to lead...or do you want me to?"
Sylvie Winters shakes her head and turns to follow Thomas. "Don't matter.. you can, if you wish to, but otherwise I will..."
+---[ Slytherin Commons - Slytherin Common Room ]----------------------------+
Ruth Cohen is lying on the couch, a book propped up against her knees and looking fairly sulky. She doesn't notice Thomas and Sylvie come in, her forehead furrowed in concentration as she scowls at the open pages of the book.
Thomas D'Arcy dashes into the room, features animated with excitement. "Ruth...Emili...Wonderful news!!" He turns to the elder of the two girls, both eyebrows delicately arched. "Emili...do you remember our little group of cloaked figures that worked so well against Nan and Professor LeTeone? We are going to try and implement such a group...year-round...in slytherin."
Ruth Cohen doesn't turn her eyes to Thomas, though her ears seem to perk. She's listening . .and entirely confused . . . though she seems to be entirely ignoring him.
Emili Lordre pauses at the foot of the stairs she has only just descended, and tilts her head to one side at Thomas, curious. "Yes..." She replies, cautiously, not quite understanding the need for such a group within the house.
Sylvie Winters hurries in after Thomas, stopping a few feet into the room and glancing about at Ruth and Emili. She's smiling faintly, and nods a bit as Thomas introduces the idea.
Thomas D'Arcy gives a rather silly grin as he attempts to throw his arms about Emili, almost crying with happiness. "It will be an elite group of course...Special training in spellcasting both offensively and defensively...though it certainly won't be easy. We /shall/ have to do quite a bit of research to find new spells...and we may even try experimenting with various potions..."
Ruth Cohen is now extremely confused. However, Thomas being insane and happy is perhaps better than Thomas being insanely depressing . . . and he /does/ seem to be determined to be insane . . . "What on earth are you talking about?" she finally asks, exasperated.
Emili Lordre's eyes widen as Thomas throws his arms about her. "Ah...that's nice." She replies faintly, gently detaching herself. "Yes, very nice, really. When do you...we?...begin?" She repeats, offering a small smile to show her support even though she's really quite wary of him in this mood.
Thomas D'Arcy smiles as he flippantly tacks a notice to the house board, then sinks into one of the chairs with a small laugh. "Yes...yes. You see, Ruth...When I kidnapped Nan and the professor I hardly did it alone." He turns his head towards Emili, arching an eyebrow. "As soon as possible...You must apply, of course...but I am almost completely certain that all of you shall make it."
Ruth Cohen contemplates throwing her book at Thomas in the hope that /that/ would force him to make sense, but decides against it. "So you're forming a gang of kidnappers?" she asks, still baffled. And when she's baffled (and she /hates/ being baffled) she gets sarcastic. "What is this, the Slytherin Mafia?"
Sylvie Winters chuckles softly, her appreciation for the idea almost unusual. It's not too long ago that she never would have considered it. Now the girl just finds a chair, after glancing at the notice. "I'm sure they.. you all.. will." She nods to the few in the room.
Thomas D'Arcy smiles, canting his head to one side as the book narrowly misses his head. "Actually, Ruth...this /will/ be the Slytherin Mafia. You are precisely correct--The members shall receive extra training. Hence the reason why only the best can join..."
Ruth Cohen slouches deeper into the couch. "Won't be me, then, I'm well on my way to failing charms. Staying back a year is starting to sound better and better as time goes on . ."
Thomas D'Arcy sighs, shaking his head a bit dolefully. "Oh I'm certain you will do fine...Besides, it isn't going to be /all/ spellcasting you know...There will be extra history and potions and whatnot..."
Ruth Cohen stretches and spins about so that she's sitting up on the couch, instead of lying down as she was before. "Right," she says slowly. Still unconvinced, of course. "Well, sign me up for a try-out, I suppose. I'm trying to kill myself with stress you see," she adds, her face deadpan though her eyes twinkle mischievously. "Any extra duties are being sought out diligently."
Sylvie Winters smiles over at Ruth. "Wonderful. I mean, that you'll try... You'll do fine." She nods once more, then starts to dig through her bag for something, likely unrelated.
Emili Lordre slips into a chair, balancing her books 'pon the arm. "And I," She says after a moments thought, sending a scowl to the books. "Need something else to do, or I will 'ave read all the books in this school before I graduate."
Thomas D'Arcy blinks, becoming a bit more somber. "I....I take it that you don't remember anything relating to Winterbourne then? Tis most unfortunate...How I /long/ to get my hands on him and rend him limb from limb...Perhaps even more so then Chelsea." He pauses, reconsidering. "Nah...but almost as much."
Ruth Cohen shakes her head at Thomas. "Not a thing, and it's driving me crazy. I can't /tell/ you how many people have asked about it. I haven't even seen the diary, so you know more about what happened than I do." She pauses for a moment, looking thoughtful, and then adds, "Say, speaking of what you know ..do you have any idea why Chris has gotten so . .weird? He won't talk to me anymore . .I have to figuratively drag him into conversations, and he resists the whole way."
Thomas D'Arcy furrows his brow as he runs a slender hand through his curls, almost as some sort of nervous gesture. "To tell the truth, Ruth...I really have no idea. I...I suppose it could be the awkwardness of having been kidnapped with you...but then he /is/ becoming a teenager. " He narrows his eyes, glancing over Ruth thoughtfully. "What if he were smitten by you?"
Ruth Cohen wrinkles her forehead. "How do you mean? Did I hit him? I hit you both all the time, but never hard, or seriously . . . and he's an awful liar, I /know/ something is wrong. . . I just haven't bothered to pull it out of him just yet . ."
Thomas D'Arcy leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "No...I mean that the boy might be thinking of you as more than a friend." He pauses, examining Ruth's features carefully. "Not beautiful...but he never was one to whom that matters. Nevertheless, your looks have certainly improved."
Ruth Cohen groans, sinking into a slouch. "Lovely," she announces sarcastically, "So when boys are attracted to girls they stop /talking/ to them? It's ridiculous . . . "
Sylvie Winters finds what she was searching for, and sits back in her chair. She studies it, keeping one ear open in case she has anything else to add, but she's pretty much out of this part of the conversation.
Thomas D'Arcy lightly closes his eyes, pressing his lips into a thin line for a moment. "To tell the truth, I really don't know...But he seems so very nervous around you, and I just /cannot/ understand why, unless that be the reason. And you...how do you regard him?"
He's a good friend," Ruth Cohen says levelly, not flushing as she used to. "And I suppose I wouldn't mind if that really was the reason he's so uncomfortable . . . but I can't help but think that that's not the reason. I don't know, it's a mess." With a shrug she picks up her book again and props it on her lap, staring at the page with determination, even if she isn't absorbing the information at the rate she'd like to . ..
Thomas D'Arcy interlaces his fingers, staring a bit morosely at Ruth. His voice is sincere, utterly devoid of any teasing sensation. "I...I don't think I should mind if you /did/ like him...and I cannot think of a better person for you. Ruth, /please/ be sincere. Do you...don't you like him in that way at all?"
Ruth Cohen puts her arms over her face, as though hiding from the topic. "I don't know," she exclaims, bringing her hands down to her side again before continuing. "I'm just twelve, Thomas. Well ..almost thirteen, but . ..I can't really be expected to know my own mind like that, can I? I do like him an awful lot, but it's three years yet before I can even /begin/ courting in earnest . . ."
Thomas D'Arcy lightly chews on his lip as he approaches the girl, offering an arm. "I know...oh I /do/ know...painfully so I should think. But /do/ remember one thing. If it /is/ something else, pry it out of him even if you must use a cricket bat. Now...how would you care to look in on Nan?" The boy turns about, not waiting for an answer as he leaves the room, cloak lapping gently at his ankles.
Lucky Leeches
(OOC: Nearing the end of the 1908-09 school year.)
,-[ Hogwarts Grounds - Front Lawn ]-------------------------------------------.
Sylvie Winters walks up, hood down even in the falling rain, and gives a small curtsy as she comes toward Lucas. "Good day, Sir."
Thomas D'Arcy heads out of the castle, hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the ground. Curls quickly dampen as rain patters down, plastering his 'bangs' to his forehead. Upon hearing the prefect, he glances up in surprise, rainwater running in rivulets down his cheeks. "Good afternoon, professor" he murmurs, accompanying the greeting with a formal bow.
Lucas Geronicus looks up at the rain, tired of this weather. He waves and gives a quick "Good Afternoon" before looking up and waving his wand in a circle, causing a small, thin field to form over him, blocking the rain. The rain merely flows over it and off to the sides. He looks over at Sylvie. "Congratulations on being chosen as next years Transfiguration teacher. I'll look forward to seeing you on staff."
Tharghan Kunkel comes up the hill with a big frown on his face, apparently not to happy about the rain, "Hello professor, hi Thomas." he says with a great shout because of the heavy sound of the rain.
Sylvie Winters bows her head slightly, in a small nod. "Thank you, Sir. It was an honor to get the position.. Though I am still interested in Sacred Geometry, if you don't mind me hanging around.. just putting it off for a few years." She smiles, then adds, "Being so near the end of the year, could I help you in any way? Cleaning up, getting things ready for vacation?"
Thomas D'Arcy nods vehemently in agreement. "Indeed sir, I believe I can safely assert that there isn't a single member of Slytherin who isn't proud of our house head." He gives the elder girl an admiring glance, then turns once more to the professor. "Yes...If there is anything I can do to assist..."
Lucas Geronicus shakes his head as he always does to that question. "No. I don't believe there is anything to fix or help with at the moment, but your offer and concerns are most appreciated."
Thomas D'Arcy's features register vague disappointment, but his slender lips twitch into a smile as he raises one hand, brushing away a dripping lock of hair from his forehead as his robe-sleeve falls to the boy's elbow, revealing a thin, cotton undershirt. "Of course, professor" he murmurs, eyes rising to the darkening skies.
Sylvie Winters nods again, briefly. "Yes. If anything turns up, feel free to ask. I'm always around." She looks out over the damp lands, then turns her eyes back to the professor. "I was interested in what you were showing me, the other night. If you have time later, Sir, might we work on things a bit more? I don't mean to pull you away from other things."
Thomas D'Arcy lightly spins around on his heel, the precipitation becoming a bit too heavy. "Well, so long, professor" he murmurs, waving over his shoulder as he scurries up the castle steps.
Lucas Geronicus nods. "I'll even write up a reference pamphlet for you if you wish..." He looks up at his thinning shield. "I'm about to be drenched, so I'm going to go inside. I'll talk with you later." The small 'glass' shield disintegrates, just as Lucas runs (slowly, so as not to slip) inside.
Sylvie Winters smiles. "I'd appreciate that, for when it's time to apply. See you later, Sir." She curtsies again, slightly, watching, then turns to follow after Thomas.
,-[ Hogwarts - Potions Classroom (Dungeon) ]----------------------------------.
Thomas D'Arcy nervously slips into the classroom, hands clasped behind his back, curls plastered to his forehead. Though he is drenched from head to toe, his cheeks have a healthy, almost excited blush to them. "Evening, professor."
Catrina Vinar glances up from her papers, where she is drawing a quick diagram of something or other. Spotting Thomas she blinks a few times, quite unsuredly. Pig boy. "Good evening," Catrina replies cordially, though her brow arches questioningly, "How may I 'elp you?"
Sylvie Winters walks into the room after the younger Slytherin, hair and robes both a bit wet. She offers a slight curtsy, and a greeting of, "Good evening, Ma'am."
Thomas D'Arcy turns a bit redder at this, suddenly becoming rather conscious of his saturated state. "Err...I was wondering if you needed any assistance with anything...Perhaps fetching more baneberries from the greenhouse...Or preserving locust wings, replenishing leech supplies..." He trails off, eyes lowering to the floor.
A pleasant smile of greeting is sent in Sylvie's direction, before she considers Thomas' offer, "Assistance you say?" Catrina Vinar slowly contemplates this, glancing around the classroom. "Well, there is no shortage of jobs to be done. I've got a few new rats who need to be dealt with," her hand extends, "this whole place to be cleaned, and a few delightful leeches that need to be caught from their bucket and sliced." Her lips curve upwards into their usual, full smile, "You take your pick."
Thomas D'Arcy blinks twice, eyes flickering along the floor eagerly. "Rats, you say?" the boy inquires, arching both eyebrows. "Do you want them captured or evicted? As pets?"
Catrina Vinar let's her smile grow, as the slytherin questions, "Actually, they are to be kept much as pets. My old pair died recently, and I need two for a lab done with the Potions II class." She fingers her quill idly, flipping it around in a small hand, "They need to be fed, watered and have their cage cleaned. Also, it would be good for them to be handled by humans seeing that they are so young, and I want them to become used to large amounts of people."
Thomas D'Arcy looks vaguely disappointed...He had been hoping they were /wild/ rodents that needed capturing. "Would it be...to much trouble to work on the leeches? It will be good practice for potions class as well...slippery little devils."
Catrina Vinar nods thoughtfully, looking at Thomas over the rims of her glasses, "If that is what you wish. They are in a large container, simply swimming free-- and alive." Catrina stands at this point, turning around in search of her pretty little leeches. She picks up a large black container, and carries it slowly over to an empty table-- most are covered with papers and ingredients-- setting it down. A few splashes of water have escaped, but not much. She points to the container, which obviously contains the leeches, "Just a moment. I'll see if I can find you a net and a pair of gloves." She glances at Sylvie, "Will you be helping, too?"
Sylvie Winters stays silent for a moment, thinking over the options. She examines the leech container, as it is brought out, then nods once as she is addressed. "Yes, Ma'am, I'd like to."
Thomas D'Arcy grimaces as he heads over to the counter, selecting a slender, sharp, wood-handled knife, and a wooden board. Returning to the bucket, he sets his items down, reaches in, and withdraws a slender, three-inch long leech who immediately begins squirming furiously...Nevertheless, Thomas merely tightens his grip, slapping it down against the wooden board, free hand reaching for the knife.
Catrina Vinar smiles at Sylvie, and turns to her desk. She withdraws two pairs of gloves, and a tiny net. All three items are tossed idly onto the table, "Feel free to use those if you wish." An appreciative nod is sent to Thomas, "Ah, make sure to slice them right down the middle. "
Thomas D'Arcy gives a nod as the aforementioned leech squirms out of the boy's grasp and begins wriggling across the board-surface. "Never could stand gloves" he mutters, clenching the knife in one hand and reaching after the disobedient creature. "Nell always /did/ look at me askance for refusing to wear the things...By the way, does it affect the potion if leeches /aren't/ sliced down the middle? And is it corrupted if the entrails aren't removed? I never had the opportunity to test it..."
Sylvie Winters pushes the sleeves of her robe up and out of the way, rolling them neatly. She selects one of the pairs of gloves, sliding them onto her hands as she moves toward the counter and retrieves a set of slicing materials for herself. She returns to the container, looking into it for a moment before fetching a leech out.
Thomas D'Arcy's brow creases as he captures the leech, and with a quick motion makes a shallow cut down the middle, revealing the organs. He stares at the creature a moment in revulsion, then scoops out the entrails, depositing them in the waist-bin.
Catrina Vinar shrugs slightly, tilting her head to the side, "If the leech is not sliced exactly down the middle it will not affect the potion. Slicing it down the middle is just a way of getting the proper amount of leech that is to be used. As for removing the entrails, yes, that is a major thing. The entrails will make the potion go foul, and emit a most horrible odor. It basically cancels out all of the effects of the other ingredients." A nod goes to Sylvie, "Good job."
Thomas D'Arcy makes another cut, perfectly slicing the leech in half, then sets it to one side. His hand reaches into the black container once more, capturing another of the creatures; this one is about three inches long, and really quite corpulent. At least for a leech. "Do you suppose entrails can be used for a stink-potion?" he murmurs, more to himself than to anyone else as he brings the blade towards the unfortunate pre-potion ingredient.
Sylvie Winters places her leech onto her board, pinning the wiggly creature there with one hand. She grasps a knife in the other, carefully lowering it toward her small victim. She holds the leech a bit tighter, slicing it neatly once she's slowed down its movements. While listening to Thomas and the teacher talk, she scoops out the insides.
Catrina Vinar raises an eyebrow at Thomas, placing her words delicately, "If done the right way, I assume the entrails would produce quite a stench." She pauses, a slight smile twisting across her ready lips, "If any such potion does appear in this school, you will be my first suspect, Mr. D'Arcy, so don't go around getting ideas." Her grin grows slightly, as she makes her way back to her desk.
Thomas D'Arcy briefly considers tying such a potion to the tail of yet another pitiable porker, then riding the creature through the school again, but drops the idea noting he was lucky enough not to incur disciplinary measures the last time. "If any such potion is found, professor, I shall make certain that the prank was /not/ my idea" he replies, firmly slicing the leech once more. However, his cut is a bit too deep this time, and instead of revealing the innards, it slices through them.
Sylvie Winters throws the entrails away and finishes the cut, afterwards placing the leech aside. She reaches toward the container again, watching the leeches move around. She decides on one, and after a moment the long, thin creature is drawn out and lowered to the board. This one seems a bit more slippery, and almost gets away from the girl, but her hand follows it along the board's surface and she pins it again, keeping her silence as she cuts down its length with the knife.
Thomas D'Arcy grimaces in distaste as he holds the creature over the waist-bin, virtually turning it inside-out as the entrail-fragments tumble in clumps through the air. Sighing wistfully, he finishes the cut, and sets the two halves beside his already-prepared leech.
Catrina Vinar shakes her head slightly, making a note of this in her mind. She returns to her diagram, and continues to sketch quickly along with her quill. The diagram can now be identified as a rat, a map of it's organs.
Sylvie Winters peers at the leech, making sure she's cut far enough to remove all the organs. Once sure, she proceeds to pull the innards out of the slim body and carefully tosses them into the trash bin. Then her hand once again pins the thing down, as she slices through again, the full depth this time.
Catrina Vinar nods approvingly at the growing pile of gutted and slitted leeches, "Wonderful," Catrina comments, looking them over for errors. Finding none, Catrina turns to glance at the container. Only a few of the slim, rubbery bodies can be seen gliding throughout the water. "You just have to finish up, now. 10 points to slytherin for your help."
Thomas D'Arcy bows deeply as he heads over to the sink, flicking one of the knobs and thrusting the knife-blade under the steady stream of water. "Thank you, professor" he murmurs, rubbing a rag over the steel delicately, so as not to inadvertently cut himself.
Oh" Thomas D'Arcy continues, glancing over at Sylvie. "I shall begin cleaning up the area and bagging our little friends...if that is acceptable of course."
Sylvie Winters bobs her head in a small nod, setting her most recently finished leech near the pile. She surveys them, looking at each half, then starts to slide off her gloves. "I have no objection," she says, peeling the glove from her second hand.
All With the Best Intentions
(OOC: 1908-09 school year. A handful of students in a residence in Hogsmeade as they attempt to find and rescue two other students. Nanami has been kidnapped after trailing one rescuer to the residence, and Tl'nial LeTeone, a Hogwarts teacher, just came to the door. The students are all in disguise.)
Thomas D'Arcy laughs softly, shaking his curls. "I'm sorry...I just moved from a small town in Suffolk...I had no idea that it was necessary to be uncivil in this part of the world. Nevertheless, I am honoured to meet a neighbor..."
Tl'nial LeTeone lifts an eyebrow, lips curling as she smiles, tugging velvet cloak tighter about petite form, "I did not say that it was necessary here, just that it tends to be the usual theme for those around here." An incline of head. Small, black-gloved hand falls from robes, and extends to Thomas, "I am Tl'nial LeTeone. A teacher at Hogwarts. Whom might you be?"
Thomas D'Arcy reaches out his characteristically slender-fingered hand to grasp the professor's. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss LeTeone. You must be quite the witch, to have attained such an esteemed position. D...Dernier...Philippe Dernier is my name."
Nanami Leysee hrmms and takes a deep breath, considering screaming to the teacher. Best way, really, to insure they get rescued..
Tl'nial LeTeone preens, at this, "Oh, I am... One of the best at the school. I /am/ the Advanced Magics teacher..." Ego level rockets, as she tries to glance around him, "Might I... come in possibily? I love to see what people have done with their homes."
Thomas D'Arcy gives Nanami a desperately pleeding glance before turning once more to the professor. He pauses, examining her for a moment...then opens the door and steps to one side...positioning himself between the professor and Nanami. "Do come in...I should be honoured by your visit."
Thomas D'Arcy pauses, stepping forward once again. "But before you do so...I was wondering if you might cast a simple lumos charm for me? The night is so beautiful...and I heard that professors cast the best spells..."
Nanami Leysee rolls her eyes and decides to play unconcious, just in case she gets found. Not that it's that hard, what with the head wounds.. She slides under the table
Nanami Leysee , on the way down, accidently smacks her quidditch wound on her chair. She cries out, and collapses, actually unconcious.
Tl'nial LeTeone begins to step forward, but offers a soft blink, "Cast lumos? But certainly you can cast it? Even the first years quickly become quite adept to the charm." She is confused, "And, if the night is so beautiful," she turns, cloak sweeping about, and peers upwards, "than why ruin it with artificial light?" At the cry, her wonderful moment is ruined, and she looks back, "What was that?"
Thomas D'Arcy glances over his shoulder. "Oh...I'm so dreadfully sorry. I am afraid my cat's tail was stepped on...I shall have to see about getting it bandaged. But about Lumos...My mother...it was her favourite spell. She used to light her wand on the most beautiful of nights...and tell us the most wonderful stories. But..." He pauses, wiping a tear away from his eyes....He /was/ president of the drama club. "But she passed away last summer...You look a bit like she did, and I was wondering if you might cast the spell...just to..." He trails off, gazing at her imploringly.
Tl'nial LeTeone stiffens a little... "Wait... /I/ look like her?" She looks insulted, "I am only in my twenties! Are you insinuating that I look old?" Uhoh... Has anyone ever discovered that she's vain?
Tl'nial LeTeone preens, a little... Beautiful, her? Perfect! She hmms, softly, "I'm afraid I cannot tell stories, though."
Thomas D'Arcy smiles softly as he leans against the doorframe. "Just the spell would be enough...The first flickering of light as it appears...utterly breathtaking. Though you must dim your wand and put it away before entering I am afraid...Sylvester...He is my other cat. Well...he just /cannot/ stand lights for some reason..."
Nanami Leysee is curled up under the table, catching up on her sleep. Oh, she likely needed it anyway.. Lucky thing she didn't decide to scream first.
Tl'nial LeTeone nods softly, and lets her wand fall from her sleeve. She ponders is fondly, before murmuring: "Lumos." A soft glow flickers at the end of the wand, after only a split second. "Will... this do?"
Thomas D'Arcy nods, smiling as he steps to one side, placing himself between the professor and Nanami. "Thank you...Please extinguish your wand and come in...I am truly honoured by your favour, madam."
Nanami Leysee is kind of out of it. If Tl'nial found her, she'd be kind of hard to explain...
Tl'nial LeTeone lets cloak elegantly flow behind her, as she murmurs a soft, "Nox," at her wand, and tucks it back into the depths of her sleeves. She smiles to Thomas as she passes, "Thank you, for inviting me in."
As the teacher enters, she might notice some half-a-dozen hooded figures standing on the other side of the door...or the nod that Thomas D'Arcy gives to them as he claps it shut. "Now...is there anything in particular you would wish to see?"
Tl'nial LeTeone blinks softly, at the hooded figures, and at Thomas' nod. A soft scowl... Oh, fiddlesticks... This doesn't look good. "Perhaps... your powder room?" A faint innocent look. Though, she's paling a little... Really, no one can keep up their happy countenance when there's a nice row of hooded figures on either side of you.
Thomas D'Arcy raises one hand as his brows draw together, pointing a well-hidden wand towards the exact spot in Tl'nial's sleeves where he knows her wand to be hidden. His lips move softly, forming the word "Accio"...and in a split second, the six figures simultaneously raise their wands, targeting the professor.
Sylvie Winters stands there quietly, one of the line of hooded people. She stands, quite still and silent, until the cue is given and she raises her wand with the rest.
Cally Meadows makes sure the hood completely shrouds her face, before raising her wand along with the others. Her eyes dart from Tl'nial to everyone else in the room, before moving her gaze back to the teacher and concentrating.
Thomas D'Arcy firmly grasps Tl'nial's wand in his left hand, eyes flickering. He turns towards the figures, jerking his head in the direction of one of the couches. "Escort our dear professor over there where I may speek with her...And keep her under guard." He himself turns on his heel and strides into the living room...dignity marred as he trips over someone's foot...namely Nanami's. He kneels, reaching under the table, and attempts to drag the girl out.
Nanami Leysee gets dragged out. Oh, when she finds out Thomas has kidnapped a teacher as well...
Tl'nial LeTeone takes a step back, trying to retreat towards the door. As her wand escapes, she tries to snatch for it... Eyes narrow at Thomas, "What are you /doing/?" A pause, "/Your/ professor?" She catches sight of Nanami, and eyes widen as she's moved to a couch, "Who the bloody hell are you?" No, she isn't happy...
Sylvie Winters steps toward the teacher, to help the others.. escort.. her. She keeps her wand in her hand.
Thomas D'Arcy sighs, examining the prefect. He kneels, easily lifting her into the air, and carries her over to one of the maids. "Please put her to bed...she is fatigued..." He turns to Benson(The butler), and hands Nanami to him. Obligingly, he carries the girl upstairs." He pauses, gazing after the trio before straightening his robes and turning back to the professor. "Now...Allow me to explain." He murmurs a small incantation as he shrinks in stature, returning to good old(ahem) Thomas. "Do you recognize me?"
Tl'nial LeTeone lets eyes narrow, and offers a soft growl to Thomas, "You bloody fool. I should have kicked you out of my class for good. You know when the Ministry gets word of this..." She looks after Nanami, "You injure any of the students, and I shall have your head. If its with my own strength I need to rip it off." She goes quite willingly for now.
Cally Meadows looks sideways at Sylvie before watching Tl'nial, determined to watch the expressions on her face as she is put through all this. She steps forward as well, smirking despite herself. There's no turning back now, it seems. For Thomas especially.
Thomas D'Arcy sighs as he sinks onto the couch, gently massaging his forehead. "I am certain you will, professor...but it is all in a good cause. Tell me...you just came from Hogwarts. Was there any information circulating regarding our unraveling of the riddle?"
Tl'nial LeTeone lifts an eyebrow, "What riddle? I don't here anything these days, unfortunately." She looks around, at the hooded figures, warily, "Hasn't anyone noticed you, and these others are missing?"
Sylvie Winters winces inwardly at the teacher's words, although she doesn't show anything. She knows she can't go back. The girl looks back at Cally for a moment, then rests her eyes on the teacher, quietly watching.
Thomas D'Arcy closes his eyes, then furiously slams his fist into the wall. "They aren't doing /anything/? I owl them with where Ruth and Chris are, and they don't even tell anyone...Priceless, utterly priceless." He paces worriedly a few times, before holding out a small piece of parchment. "Here...read this..."
Tl'nial LeTeone studies over the parchment, hand lifting to forehead, "Yes, but how do you know this isn't a fake? And how can you know where they are? I don't understand this riddle." She rubs forehead again... Than a soft laugh, "Lizard's gold. Dragon."
Tl'nial LeTeone wilts a little against the couch, hand still on forehead. "Headache," is murmured, to herself, as she extends parchment back to Thomas.
Cally Meadows stands steady and emotionless--quite apart from her usual shifting and fiddling. She looks from hooded person to hooded person. Most of them she can hardly make out, even though she knows who they are. But /which/ person is under which hood, is the question. Even though her arm begins to tire as she holds out the wand, Cally holds it out firmly. Musn't show any form of relaxing. Even though her head is directed to the teacher, her eyes shoot to the library door, the stairs, and then again to all the faceless robes.
Nanami Leysee is presently stirring and questioning her maid.. "What was happening...?"
Thomas D'Arcy lightly chews on his lip. "We don't know it is a fake...but can we afford to treat it as some sort of hoax? And you don't have the advantage of our wonderful library...and lupine's all-hearing ears...and impeccable memory. It...it is a long story, but they may be found in the catacombs beneath Hogsmeade. However...I am certain that you noticed that they no longer have access to any food...or water. They cannot live longer than three days, and tomorrow is their second day. I mailed Hogwarts as soon as possible...but they probably think our hypothesis merely the result of delusional children." He accepts the parchment, eying the professor. "Please...forgive our kidnapping...but when you recognized us we had no choice. If we were to be reported...Ruth and Chris would certainly perish." He gestures towards the hooded figures, as if to order them to lower their wands.
Sylvie Winters lowers the hand that holds her wand, half thankfully. She keeps her gaze on the teacher, still hardly moving except for that one downward motion.
Tl'nial LeTeone studies Thomas, "And, if you cannot talk teachers into helping, why not go yourself?" A shake of the head, "Its so ridiculous, I'm almost inclined not to believe you, and rush back to Hogwarts, explaning everything here..." Teeth are bared, faintly.
Emili Lordre, upon hearing a relative silence compared to the minor amount of chaos before, shakes her head to herself, and relaxes, returning to the page she was on. She /does/ wish she knew what was going on, beyond the library door, but it doesn't sound like anyone's been killed or something. Unless, of course, everyone was killed at once, but she'll just have to trust that that's not the case.
Thomas D'Arcy clears his throat as he approaches the professor, seeming to plead. "We cannot afford to be torn by divisions from within. Please--Help us. Do with me what you like once we return to Hogwarts, but only help us.
Cally Meadows lowers her wand with no deliberation, glad her arm was releaved of her burden. She would have emitted a sigh, but caught herself just in time, attempting to be as quiet as possible. She glances around quickly, watching as the others drop their wands as well. Again, it is only her eyes that move, and they too return to watching the teacher with full attention.
Tl'nial LeTeone shakes her head softly, "I suppose so... but not right now. My head hurts, horridly..." Though, why she shall not explain... "But again, why not go and save them yourselves?" But with that, she drops into sleep, unconciousness... Its hard to tell. Those telepathic links have taken a toll on her.
Nanami Leysee , meanwhile, is back awake, and is finishing listening to the maid. She screams, in her famed deafening roar, "They did WHAT?" She grabs her wand, and dashes foolhardily down the stairs, seeing the unconcious professor. "What have you done!" She aims her wand at the hooded figures.
(OOC: Thomas had to leave. ICly, though it doesn't show up, he stepped out to find something to revive Tl'nial, and got held up doing... something.)
You feel a light breeze which promptly strengthens and slightly chills you. It goes away as quickly as it came moments later. Then, you hear footsteps, but see no one walking.
Tl'nial LeTeone is unconcious... Whoo-hoo?
Emili Lordre is in the library, growing quite tired. What /is/ going on out there? Does she dare look? Eh, maybe she'll be safer staring blearily at the words.
Sylvie Winters keeps her hood around her, hiding her face, even though she's under disguise anyway. The girl turns quietly to look at Nanami, deciding to offer some sort of response. "We've done nothing to her.. She fell asleep."
Nanami Leysee growls.. "Tell Thomas THIS breaks the little treaty.." She screams towards one of the hooded figures, "Stupefy!", and runs for the back door
Sylvie Winters hardly thinks before taking off after Nanami, raising her wand again. Luckily it wasn't her the spell was aimed at. Trying to keep the girl in her sight, she utters the first spell that comes to mind.. which happens to be the one just used. "Stupify!" She keeps chase, in case it doesn't hit.
Nanami Leysee drops to the floor, avoiding that spell at least..
Nanami Leysee does lose any chance of evading any cast by the other hoodeds, though :0
Two figures in black robes and hoods fade into view. One promptly waves their wand at Nanami, shouting "Petrificus Totalus" while the other rushes over to Tl'nial. He whispers something to her, but realizes that she is unconcious.
Nanami Leysee gets petrified. So much for the invisible people rescuing her...
Emili Lordre's curiousity finally gets the better of her, and she rises from her seat in the library to crack open the door, and slip through, to see an unconcious professor, six hooded figures, Nanami ducking spells, and Sylvie (though she doesn't know it's her) casting spells. Ah, non. Yes, the library was much safer, warmer, see how nice it sounds now? With a bewildered shake of her head, she places her hand on the doorknob again, but lingers momentarily to see how everything turns out.
Tl'nial LeTeone is lying against the couch, head tilted forwards... She looks more like she's peacefully sleeping, than out cold... The telepathic link, and headache from it just tired her quite a lot.
Sylvie Winters blinks at the new arrivals. Well, they've stopped Nanami for her, but likely they shouldn't get away now either. Whoever they are. "Don't move," she instructs them softly, wand still in hand as she rapidly searches for a good spell.. And hopes the other 'hoodeds' are doing the same.
The first figure raises his wand and shouts "Imper-". He is stopped by the second figure who says, "Let's not use illegal spells. Why not chose something like- Norta Morto Talcris!" As he says this, his wand is waved at the figure who is Sylvie.
Sylvie Winters manages to get caught right in the middle of starting to speak, and frowns at the caster. She hurriedly motions toward the other person, hoping the others cast and stop him, while she rushes at the nearer one. She can't cast, and has to do /something/.
Tl'nial LeTeone starts to awake, and lets eyes open, "Lucas?" She lifts a hand to head, as she lifts herself into a seating position, "Did you come?" Trying to get to feet, she stumbles.
Cally Meadows turns swiftly on her heel, staring at the two hooded figures. She tries to think up some spell to keep them for leaving, but then a jolt of recognition enters her head. Of course, there are /higher/ more /advanced/ people standing around with wands. Surely, they will do something, if they can. Cally is in absolutely no advanced classes, so she would /not/ be the one to choose. Gasping, she sees that Sylvie was cast upon, Norta Morto Talcris at that. She may not be able to cast for a while now Fumbling utterly with her wand, she raises it to the first hooded member, and shouts out, almost without thinking "Accio!" directing her wand at the other hooded one's wand. Please work, please work....
Nanami Leysee is facedown, petrified, in the middle of the room. Not having a good day; knocked out twice, kidnapped, and petrified..
Sylvie Winters hears Cally, and silently prays that it works. Now that she's running at the other, which was probably not the smartest thing to do, all she can hope for is to physically pull the others' wand away, or that someone else will cast a spell on him as well, around her.. which some makes sure they are able to do as she glances back.
The first cloaked figure is caught off guard by the student's spell, and loses his wand. However, he is so skilled with magic that when he says, "Visivo Sparus" it seems to work anyway. The second figure has already returned to Tl'nial's side and is whispering something to her.
Emili Lordre watches with wide eyes, unknowingly having removed her hand from the doorknob to place it over her mouth in shock. Will the day's events never cease? Seeing the duel, erm, rage, she fingers her own wand. Should she help? Oh, the professor's awake again. Eyeing the second figure, she points her wand at him - or her - reassuring herself that this seems to be the common goal of her comrades. A whispered word and silver strands shoot out towards him - or her - in an attempt to coil about him/her and, well, tie 'im/'er up.
Sylvie Winters stops moving, eyeing the figure at the teacher's side for a moment. She frowns at the one still casting, or at least toward the area he was last in, then looks back. She walks determinedly toward the other, with the teacher.
Cally Meadows grasps the stranger's wand in her hand, feeling her own in the other. She gasps, however, as the wizard (witch?) casts without it, leaving her feebly behind with a stranger's piece of wood. Cally simply stands there, her jaw dropped, and the hood slips off her head revealing her face. She's too shocked, really, to do anything else.
Tl'nial LeTeone doesn't much care whom the second figure is, and just collapses, "So... Tired." She tries to blink, and notices Sylvie... She lifts a hand, "Petrificus Totalus..." The last spell, since casted without wand, whether it worked or not, sent her into unconsciousness once again.
The second figure sighs and see's that he's in danger. He quickly waves his wand at Tl'nial, while saying "Visivo Sparus". Then, he performs it again to himself, also disappearing out of sight.
Tl'nial LeTeone fades slowly out of sight.
Nanami Leysee continues staring at the floor. Bleh, she'd have been more then happy to help whoever tear the others apart..
Sylvie Winters immediatly steps in a direction that shoudl put her behind the one she's approaching as she hears another spell. Perhaps it'll get.. whoever.. and not her. She's not even sure whether it's someone they would have to stop. Then she blinks as he dissapears in front of her.
Nanami Leysee is SO going to kill someone when the petrify spell wears off..
Emili Lordre sighs at her failed spell, and slips her wand away again. Further proof it was the other wand she had that did most of her work. Ah, well. Rubbing a hand against her brow, she mumbles something to herself. Disappearing people from no where, crazed Ravenclaw captives, used-to-be-kidnapped teachers...yes, the library is a very nice place. Maybe she'll just stay there until this whole ordeal has blown over, and then transfer to Beauxbatons.
Emili Lordre sighs again, then slips back into the library, the door clicking shut behind her.
Sylvie Winters is lucky enough to be missed by the worse spell. Probably very lucky. Once in a life time... Anyway, she steps back, her mouth working silently. If only she could will her voice back.. she'll have to wait another few minutes before speaking.
Invisible, unconscious, and clueless, Someone manages a faint telepath to Lucas: 'Thanks'. She wishes to help Thomas, but not alone... She can't do that. It'd probally lose her her job.
Nanami Leysee closes her hand around her wand. Oh, good, it wore off. She decides to attack one of the hooded people, but waits on an audio clue as to a location..
Cally Meadows glares at herself, miserable at the fact that she can't undo some of these spells, due to her inefficient knowledge and teachings. If only there were some other people who could be here. She throws the stranger's wand into the same hand as her own, and pulls up her hood so that in veils her face again.
Tl'nial feels a telepathic impulse from Someone, who seems to say in her mind.
Nanami Leysee hmms and thinks.. Ooh, while people are showing off.. But, is she skilled enough to do that on an unwilling target? Well, maybe, she judges..
Sylvie Winters waits the needed moments for her voice to return to her, even testing every few seconds.. she's impatient. And wondering why she got herself into this, she'll never be able to go back to the school.. Finally the voice returns, with a single cough. In her most commanding tone, she announces, "All of you, show yourselves. Nothing will be done if you do not cast at us or try to leave."
You hear a third hidden voice, who calls out, "Finite Incantatem" As the golden sparks spiral outwards, you see the carpetdepression made by the invisible Tl'nial move.
Nanami Leysee rolls over, aiming squarely at Cally and screaming "Humantro!" She attempts to turn the girl into a standing lamp, then rolls behind a table for cover..
Tl'nial LeTeone is still unconscious, though this time she's quite pale, and not able to respond to much... Her mind, were Lucas able to perceive her thoughts... Is a mess.
Cally Meadows looks over at Nanami only long enough to stare at her in horror before her head pops and changes into a lampshade. Her body twists and molds painfully. The ordeal makes her look horribly anerexic. Cally's waist is squished until it is an inch in lenght, and it slowly changes from cloak, to metal. Her two feet turn into staffs, and split to become four. In the end, she's a standing lamp with a thin metal post and four feet to rest it on.
Sylvie Winters looks around grimly, deciding whether to deal with the adults or Nanami. Well, one has cast more recently then the other.. "I said show yourselves," she repeats, already moving toward where Nanami is, wand out and ready to cast expelliarmus the second she sees the girl.
You hear a sigh, and a white-robed/hooded (Not at all like the KKK- there's no pointy hat, and this guy seems friendly enough) figure appears, unable to maintain his invisibility any longer. "Everyone, freeze! There will be no more casting. Ralph, Robert, please leave. I'll handle it from here." You hear the footsteps of invisible people. Before one leaves, he casts "Accio", calling back his wand which Cally probably dropped during her transfiguration. You hear him leave as well, and the door slamming shut. "Nanami! I shouldn't have freed you from your spell..." He sighs. His voice sounds familiar when he says, "Oh well. The next one of you who moves or casts a spell will lose 20 points for their house when I find out who you are."
Nanami Leysee blinks, recognizing the voice, and says "Professor! I was already free, and besides, one of you did curse me... And I've had a bad day, anyway, what with the constant being kidnapped and knocked out.."
Cally Meadows /would/ cast. She'd cast and cast until she dropped. However, her present state makes that impossible. Cally feels all--cramped-like. It's quite painful, actually. She may have been screaming if she indeed had a mouth for it to come out of. The most that happens through this rage is her lampshade tilts a bit, before she's still again.
Sylvie Winters stops, slowly, not lowering her wand. What is twenty points, after this? They really ought not let those people go, but there's little chance of getting them back now, and.. that voice. She looks around the room, and barely stops herself from exclaiming 'Sir!', instead just swallowing hard.
Someone shifts, somewhere now, as if coming awake... Tl'ni offers a faint noise, but lapses back into darkness... whoo. pretty... not... colors....
Someone removes his hood, revealing his true identity. He frowns and commands, "I want all of the masks and hoods off! /NOW/"
Cally Meadows can't take off her hood, /or/ cast. She fumes, a bit of steam emanating from the top of the lamp. The lampshade, however, would not be there if it weren't for the hood. It /is/ the hood, just changed to accommodate Cally in her lamp-form. Oh, when she gets out of this.... Nanami as well as /everyone/ else will be /sorry/.
Sylvie Winters regards the man for a moment. It would have to be him.. she shouldn't have come. No, she really shouldn't. "Someone transform this person back," she says from under her hood, motioning toward Cally.
Someone waits for the hoods to be removed. As he waits, he goes over to Cally and casts "Humantro" He doesn't even wait to see if it worked. He promptly casts "Argus Revelus" and rushes over to Tl'nial to help her up. "Miss LeTeone, are you alright?"
Tl'nial LeTeone appears with a sudden burst of heat and a flash of light from Someone's wand.
Lucas Geronicus appears with a sudden burst of heat and a flash of light from Lucas Geronicus's wand.
Tl'nial LeTeone blinks at Lucas lightly, as she comes to... A light smile passes over features, "You /did/ come... But... why didn't you come to me? I thought it was you... I heard a voice in my ear... talking.. It sounded like yours..." Mind clouded, she's confused, yes.
Emili Lordre is in the library, not that anyone really cares, her head in her arms. Oh, so tired. She would grab a book and take refuge in her room, but she doesn't dare wander out into that mess again.
Sylvie Winters hasn't removed her hood yet, not that it would matter with the way she's disguised. No one would know her anyway. She watches the two teachers now, not planning on letting them get away.
Cally Meadows widens, expanding larger and larger as her waist grows--doubling, tripling in length. The post gets larger, turning into a robe and flesh once more. The lampshade pops again, this time returning to the cloaked head. Cally grits her teeth, forcing down the pain that surges throughout her body. Her four feet return to two just as Cally leaps down to pick up her wand. Keeping her hood on, she raises her wand in utter rage, turning towards the man. "Rictusempra!" she cries out, knowing the spell would probably do nothing. She doesn't quite have control over her body--her anger is taking care of that.
Lucas Geronicus explains to Tl'nial, "I did come to you. My brother-in-law also came to you as a cover-up. I figured the students would try to cast at me, so I asked for their help. That's why it took so long, and that's what I tried to tell you before I lost the telepathic link back at the castle." As he helps her up, the Rictusempra spell causes him to briefly chuckle, but it wears off. Next, he gets up and casts a spell you've never heard before- "Nullificus Mendacius!" As he says this, a violent shockwave of wind is released. It doesn't chill you, but seems to be eating away at the hoods and make-up in the room.
Tl'nial LeTeone closes eyes tightly, and collapses against the wind, "At least you came... Don't take them back to the castle just yet, Lucas... we'll need to talk. Once Thomas returns, too..." No, she's not very steady on her feet right now.
Nanami Leysee peers at the Professor from around the table, but frowns at the wind, which she is completely unaffected by. Well, it would figure that she wouldn't wear make-up.. She is currently still hiding, so doesn't see the others.
Cally Meadows watches in awe as her hood completely disintegrates, leaving her with a very normal robe. She glares at Lucas, narrowing her eyes even more at the thought that she is completely unprotected. Cally can't do anything besides stand where she is and stare at her surroundings. Her ears are alert, and pick up what she assumes are a few of the maids bustling around upstairs. Didn't they notice anything was going on?
Sylvie Winters tosses her head slightly, as the hood partly disappears, revealing her changed looks.. older, definitely, not nearly as skinny, and her hair seems to be blond. "No one is going anywhere," she says firmly. "All of us, including you two, are staying in this building." At least she /sounds/ confident.
Nanami Leysee grabs her wand, ready to curse Sylvie if the casting starts up again.
Lucas Geronicus hands an unmarked vial of potion to Tl'nial. "Please drink that." he commands softly and kindly. He whispers something in her ear with a smile, then gets up to deal with Sylvie, who he still does not recognize. He seems to detect something, but turns to speak to Nanami. "I ought to punish you, but I suppose you helped." He sighs. "As a matter of fact, I need your help. Can you telepathically communicate with Thomas to see if you can figure out where he is or which of these figures he is? I know it's a curse to be linked with that Slytherin, but it's needed at the moment." He looks away, then adds with a smile, "Don't forget to concentrate."
Tl'nial LeTeone takes the potion from Lucas, and stands fully as she drinks it... A wrinkle of the nose, and a swift shake of the head... Ick. She perks quickly, though. A smile, and a faintly shocked glance go to Lucas at whispered words. Than, after a moment, she looks about and hearing Lucas' instructions to Nanami, gives him a sharp glance., "/Hey/. /I/ was a Slytherin." She peers to the cloaked figured, "I have no clue w
Nanami Leysee says "He's not in here, of course.." She concentrates and thinks.. "He's outside, somewhere, but I don't recognize it.. And Professor Goldbeck has given me permission to defend myself if attacked, and I was kidnapped, which qualifies!"
Sylvie Winters eyes the wand in her hand, keeping a tight grip on it. If anyone did try anything, she'd be ready. Telepathic communication? Interesting.. although once he finds out who she's is, she'll probably get no more extra help. The girl frowns towards Nanami, or at least the direction of her voice, then turns her eyes back toward the teachers.
Emili Lordre remains in the library, oblivious to the happenings beyond the door, and hoping that those beyond the door are just as oblivious to her existence.
Nanami Leysee is still hiding behind that table, out of sight of Sylvie..
Lucas Geronicus looks sternly at the unrecognizable Sylvie, much more upset then any student has ever seen him. "I've had enough of this /GOD-DAMNED/ spell-casting, disguising, conspiration, and kidnapping. And you certainly /will/ NOT give /ME/ orders tonight. Am I clear?" He stomps his foot hard on the ground. "Remove your hood at once!"
Cally Meadows purses her lips as she continues to narrow her eyes until they are but slits. She places her hands on her hips, looking around before taking a few steps backwards. Cally looks around, determined to find a shadowy and far more comfortable place. Backing even more, she eventually reaches the wall pressing close against it. With all these other things going on, Cally assumes she might not've. At Lucas' last comment, she turns to Sylvie. "Don't do it!" she yells out, before returning to silence.
Tl'nial LeTeone is still standing next to Lucas, and jumps away, faintly as he explodes... almost literally. She lifts a hand to possibly settle her palm 'pon his shoulder, taking a step closer, "Shh... Lucas... Thomas claims they're doing this to try to save Chris and Ruth... I don't fully believe them... but we should try, maybe?"
Emili Lordre is jerked from her drowzy state in the library at Lucas' angry yells. With a sigh, she rubs at her eyes and attempts to concentrate on the book she was reading before.
Sylvie Winters swallows hard, staring at the person who had quickly become her favorite teacher. He'll hate her now, of course, and that's the /least/ of her worries. "I have not cast since the others stopped, and you seem to have removed most of my hood for me," she notes in a steady voice. Then hearing the other teacher, she nods. "And that /is/ what we are going to do. Don't try to stop us.. if not for us, them for /them/."
Lucas Geronicus looks crossly at Cally. "I wasn't going to punish you since you've removed your hood, but I've had ABSOLUTELY enough of you." He raises his wand, uttering "Norta Morto Talcris!", just as Tl'nial speaks to him. He calms down, but is too late to cancel the spell. "I do /not/ approve of KIDNAPPING /MORE/ people to find those who are already kidnapped."
Nanami Leysee winces.. Wow, someone who screams as loudly as her. She definately stays down below the tableline, expecting a flurry of spells any second now.
Sylvie Winters regards the male teacher for another moment. Finally she uses one hand to lower her hood, trusting in her disguise to keep her concealed without it. Besides, the thing was mostly gone anyway. "Help us," she says, sounding just slightly as though she's asking him to.
Cally Meadows screams. She just screams and screams and screams over and over again, filling the room with her sound. Even though her mouth /is/ shut, she can still make noise, if not muffled. It's a scream, even if it is a hummed scream. Words, no, but sound, yes. Why must these teachers be so ungratefully /stupid/! They don't /deserve/ to be teachers, /or/ to have any form of silence. They have /no/ right to stop people for trying to save lives. /NONE!/
Tl'nial LeTeone lets a hand clap -- softly, of course -- over Lucas' mouth. "Hush. In a way, I have slight seniority over you, having been at the school longer." Eyes narrow, and she looks at /everyone/. "Any disguises, or any spells will be let down /now/, and we will all talk civilly. I saw the note Thomas had, and I am /slightly/ inclined to believe you, if not fully because of all these foolish acts. Now, if you all will permit it, we will sit down and talk, or else march straight back to the school, and have you reported to the Headmaster."
Sylvie Winters sighs, considering their situation. "Sit, then." She nods toward the teachers, and her fellow students. As for herself, the disguise doesn't go away.. she was never even taught how to do it, not that she would let Lucas know her even if she could.. but she steps toward a chair, waiting until the others are seated.
Nanami Leysee sighs slightly, but slowly stands up from behind the table, putting her wand back in her rather dirty and battered robes.
Lucas Geronicus calms down significantly, but is really just holding it all inside. "I suppose Tl'nial can handle this from here until she is knocked out again." he says sarcastically. "I'll go now since I'm not needed." He begins opening a small, invisible dimensional fissure/portal. You can't see the fissure itself, but can see how the light contours and bends around the edges of it. Lucas looks like he's preparing to step through...
Cally Meadows watches Sylvie, and then steps out from her shadowy wall. She walks over to the nearest seat, pulling it back and then sitting down with a heavy thud. Cally, however, keeps her wand in her hand, having it at the ready should she need it. A childish thing to do, yes, but she /is/ a child.
Sylvie Winters hesitates for a moment, not sure what to do, but she can't have long before Lucas goes and he can't leave.. "Wait, Sir."
Nanami Leysee blinks.. Oh, dear, Professor LeTeone and herself would make it one on six again, and Nanami's not THAT good...
Tl'nial LeTeone tries to snatch at Lucas' arm, "No. You're staying. That's why I called you in the first place... and I only passed out because I tired myself." She rubs forehead, "Look... if I helped them alone, I'd..." She ughs, stepping away, arm falling to side, "Nevermind. I suppose you're just like the /rest/ of the staff at Hogwarts. They think they've found the missing students. I'm starting to see why Thomas got so upset." She turns on her heel, and stalks towards a couch.
Sylvie Winters watches the man quietly. He probably didn't listen to her, but at least the other teacher said something.. not that she really wants him to stay, but he could probably be of help, which they probably /can/ use.
Nanami Leysee , now that she's out in the open, looks quite ragged. She's covered in dirt from the scuffle that brought her here, her short hair is tangled, the wound on the back of her head is now even worse, and she has a new, very nasty bruise on her right temple.
Lucas Geronicus looks extremely depressed and his eyes water slightly, although he does not cry. He turns around. "No. I'll find Chris and Ruth on my own." He makes one last statement before approaching the fissure. "The ends never justify the means, Tl'Nial. Remember that always." He attempts to step through, but is too depressed to concentrate enough, and loses control of the fissure. It promptly closes.
Sylvie Winters blinks as the fissure closes. She never had expected to see /that/ from him.. thought he could do nearly everything. Of course, it was likely an exaggerated expectation.. "Sir. Will you sit down, now, and listen to us?"
Cally Meadows looks around at all the seated people quickly, and then turns to watch Lucas. She feels only hatred for the man at this moment, but that's probably because she's being unreasonable. They have their views and opinions, however wrong they may be. It's almost like a unicorn thinking it was born to swim underwater--or fly on a broom.
Tl'nial LeTeone gets up, moves towards the other teacher, and tries to catch Lucas' gaze in hers, "You won't be able to, Lucas. Look. I want to find them, and so does everyone else. At least let me help? I'm already here, I've seen the riddle... Thomas says they're in the catacombs under Hogsmeade. He says today is the second day they're there, without food or water... they /need someone now/."
Nanami Leysee coughs and sits in a chair... Though it's still behind that table. "Well..." She's still angry, and that makes her dangerous, but she's got it controlled at least.
Lucas Geronicus sighs and takes a seat. "Maybe so, but now does kidnapping and casting spells on other students help rescue them?" he askes with a twisted smile. "You don't expect them to just apparate in the second a student gets knocked out, do you?" He loses his smile and looks serious, but no longer angry or upset. "If we are to find them, we need to form an organized search in the catacombs rather than sit around here casting spells on each other."
Tl'nial LeTeone sits on the floor, near Lucas' feet, "That's what I was trying to ask of Thomas before I passed out earlier... I understand them wanting to help Ruth and Chris, but not why they've been kidnapping, and casting spells." She generally tries to project calmness to the room. Pondering, she takes a handful of various coins from her pockets, and starts transfiguring each into mugs of tea, handing them out. "Now, one of you..." she gestures to the former hooded-ones, "Please tell us what's going on?"
Nanami Leysee hmphs. She WAS the one kidnapped, she should get to explain that part.. She takes the tea and sniffs it, then drinks.
Sylvie Winters finally lowers herself into the chair she's been standing by, perching on the edge of it. Her wand is still out, but not up. "You must understand, we can't let anyone stop us. Ruth and Chris need us /now/, and if we are stopped, we won't be here to reach them. The idea is not to hurt anyone, or do more then necessary.. just /save them/."
Cally Meadows twists her locked mouth into a sneer. She would say something, but obviously, she can't. Casting spells and kidnapping wouldn't be /needed/ if certain individuals wouldn't of been so /daft/ as to not see the obvious. After such a long period of time, /finally/ a few teachers decide there /might/ be hope? And then the /students/, who -/KNEW/- the truth and tried to point others in the right direction, are at fault? No. /Someone/ needs to go over the facts once more.
Lucas Geronicus remembers that Cally is still unable to speak. "Sorry about that, dear. Let me fix that..." He reaches out his wand and says his favorite (and best) spell with a smile, "Finite Incantatem". Golden sparks spiral outwards from him, dispelling most curses in the room.
Tl'nial LeTeone cradles her warm mug of tea to her, and ponders softly, "When I came in, thinking I was visiting a new neighbor, my wand was immediatly taken from me, and I was "shown" to a couch. I saw another student out cold... That does not look like you're trying to help anyone. Which is probally why everyone is so upset."
Sylvie Winters sighs quietly. At least she's back to her usual, cool, collected, logical self. Except for the fact that she's still disguised. "Ma'am, you mustn't blame us. Nothing was done that was not needed. There was too much of a chance that you might see something that would.. that would make you report us. Which would have quickly ended the search." She pauses for a moment, then adds, "And you know, you could be a great help to us by staying.."
Emili Lordre decides that it must be safe now, and, stifling a yawn, picks up her book and hesitantly departs the library, pausing in the threshold. What if its not as calm as it seems? Oh, well. She'd hate to wake up in the library, instead of 'her' room. Closing the door with a soft click behind her, she leans against the wall and looks over those gathered, too tired to be surprised at Lucas anymore. She, too, is in disguise, slightly shorter than usual, and more rounded out, filling her formerly willowy figure out and giving her a decidedly more mature look. Her silver tresses are now a dark auburn, although the length hasn't changed, its hidden in the intricate weave of braids pinned atop her head. Her skin has darkened a bit, but not too much, and only if one had made a careful study of Emili's wide, depthful aquamarine eyes, would they recognize her. Hugging her book close to her, Emili inches over to a more shadowy part of the wall, hoping no one notices her, and list
ens to the people sitting down.
Nanami Leysee being that student, contemplates mentioning that she'd actually just accidently hit her head. But, to be fair, they HAD knocked her out once anyway.. Oooh, she was going to make Thomas pay...
Cally Meadows's mouth springs free of it's former curse, and she rubs her jaw wearily. "You monstrous man," she mutters, shaking her head. First a lamp, and then /that/? Lucas quickly finds his way to the /bottom/ of her good teacher's list. The thing is, even though Lucas has now become so kind, she's too stubborn to realize the change. Yelling out and then going and saying 'dear' are two very different things. To Cally, however, Lucas is still incredibly mean. And, no, she isn't usually like this. Something must've gotten into her that wasn't there before. Cally is more the quiet one who sits off in a dark corner watching, than to talk back to a teacher. Today will just have to be different.
Lucas Geronicus sighs, unsure of what to say now. After sitting and listening to the students and Tl'nial, he apologizes. "I'm terribly sorry... I apologize to everyone. I don't know what came over me when I threw that fit. I haven't had one near that size in over 10 years." He then changes the subject back to Ruth and Chris. "If they're out there without food and water, I suggest we find them /immediately/ and end this discussion."
Tl'nial LeTeone lies her head against the edge of whatever Lucas is sitting on -- since she's on the floor by him. Teacup is set down, and she yawns, "I hate to say it... but I'm too tired to do anything just.. now.." A yawn.
Sylvie Winters looks from one teacher to the other. "We were planning to start in the morning. Tonight was mostly for.. preparation."
Emili Lordre very much agrees with Tl'nial, although she keeps this to herself, and eyes the stairs as if it were some wonderful boon. Thinking she might be able to make it to the stairs, and up them without being noticed, she starts her sleepy trek over there, creeping along the wall.
Lucas Geronicus muses quietly with a slight smile. "So all this time, we've been angry at me for not being interested in saving them when you weren't planning on rescuing them tonight anyway?"
Tl'nial LeTeone laughs, sleepily, "I was upset that you were going to leave. I would've saved them tonight, if certain events had not tired me out." She scowls at where she's sitting, and decides to get up, and sit /on/ the couch instead.
Nanami Leysee sips at the tea further, but shakes her head. Tonight or tomorrow, putting more students in danger still isn't the answer..
Sylvie Winters says, "At least we were planning on sometime, which.. forgive me for saying it.. is more then anyone else seemed to be doing." Though, perhaps that is a bit too harsh, not that they listen. "Anyway, I do believe we would all like to be rested to begin in the morning.. Any of the maids can show you to a place to sleep, I'm sure there are spare rooms somewhere." She looks at Lucas, "You will stay with us, won't you, Sir?"
Nanami Leysee puts her head in her hands and mutters "This is no good.. I'll just have to take Thomas up on his offer of leaving me unconscious in a chair for the rest of this madness.."
Lucas Geronicus sighs and yawns. "I am kind of tired, but I still think I should get a head start finding them. He gets up, but finds that he is too tired to walk. He ponders transfiguring his white cloak into a cup of coffee, but changes his mind and sits back down, "I guess I'll stay with you, Sylvie" he says with a wink.
Emili Lordre reaches the stairs, and starts up them at a moderate pace, footsteps falling with hardly a sound on the steps. Finally, she stops climbing, and meanders down the corridor to her room, enters it silently, shakes her head sleepily at a maid, and collapses into the bed. With a small sigh, she raises herself again, to place the book on a table, shed her disguise - surely she has no need for it any longer - and slip out of her robes into a night gown provided by the maid. /Now/ she can sleep, at long last.
Tl'nial LeTeone gets to her feet, "Is there an extra room I could stay in? If not, I can just go next door, and stay with my family, as I originally intended to." She looks to Lucas, and scowling, aims a light kick at his shin, but that prooves useless as it only sends the tired woman off balance, and she trips, falling over.
Sylvie Winters pales slightly, searching eyes looking over Lucas. She should have expected it.. but after earlier, is he not upset with her? She licks her lips. "Thank you, Sir. I'm sor.." sorry? She sighs. "As I said, I believe we have plenty of extra rooms.. one of the maids can show you, and get you settled in."
Lucas Geronicus says to Sylvie "I suppose." He reaches his arm down to help Tl'nial up. "What on earth was that for?" he asks with a small grin. "Trying to hurt others only hurts yourself, a lesson I should've learned a long time ago..."
Tl'nial LeTeone gets to her feet, and eyes Lucas. She flumps down, "I think you know what it was for." A sniff, as she settles on the couch. Yes, it was teasing Sylvie, since he discovered her, but Tl'ni is still jealous. She peers towards the stairs, "Bed sounds really nice, though..."
Nanami Leysee sighs and stands, heading for the bedroom Thomas had assigned her earlier. "I still say sending students on this search is utterly insane.. I only hope I am not completely proven right!"
Sylvie Winters stands up from her chair, finally slipping her wand back into a pocket. She looks at Lucas for a moment longer, wondering. But figures that, short of simply asking why he doesn't at least yell at her for talking like she did.. and certainly her actions.. she'll never know. And she doesn't plan to ask. "Of course.. Goodnight, ma'am, Sir." She glances toward Nanami and shakes her head slightly. "I ought to be getting some sleep, myself."
Nanami Leysee forces the maid Thomas basically has guarding her out, then sleeps in her dirty robes
Lucas Geronicus nods to Sylvie "Goodnight." Before he heads off to bed, he turns to Tl'nial and smiles with that familiar benevolent look of the 'normal' Lucas. "Here's a little something to cheer you up so you can sleep cheerfully... Orchideous!"
A large bunch of cyan flowers sprout from the tip of Lucas Geronicus's wand.
Tl'nial LeTeone gives a faint grin at the flowers, "Seen that spell used, but not towards me." She stretches a little, as she heads to the stairs as well, "Goodnight, Lucas." She tries to hug him quickly, without falling again, or somesuch. A maid is caught, and she asks about a room, and nods as she's led to one... Being to tired to telepath again tonight, she calls after her: "Hate you? Never!"
Sylvie Winters heads up off to 'her' room tiredly, wondering what sort of adventure the next day might bring. This one was certainly exciting enough.
Any Good Rescue Begins With Breakfast
(OOC: 1908-09 school year.)
Lucas Geronicus comes down the stairs from his room and joins the others. He takes a seat near Tl'nial, and whispers, "Good Morning! I hope you slept well..."
Thomas D'Arcy chuckles as a few of the servants march in, the various dishes balanced a bit precariously. Nevertheless, they are delivered without incident. "Well...it would appear breakfast is served..." He nibbles on his lip, winking towards Emili. "I believe Pierre made you a crepe...he was certainly happy to find a frenchwoman in our party."
Tl'nial LeTeone grins to Lucas, and nods, "Fairly well... This morning has not been as nice, though. It seems one of the students quite hates me." A slight shrug, and she perks at the breakfast... Not transfigured, and quite hot. Yum. She takes her food, and tea, offering a 'Thank you.'. Than going back to Lucas, "How did you sleep?"
Nanami Leysee takes a large plate of food, having never gotten to eat supper last night, and starts on it. "Well, I guess we're searching today? No chance of talking you people out of taking any students and just getting the staff or the ministry to do it..?"
Thomas D'Arcy rises to his feet, accepting a pair hot-water filled bags from Janette(a maid), and offering them to Tl'nial and Nanami. "For your heads...I do hope you feel better by this afternoon...we are to meet our contact then." He pauses, turning to Nanami as he arches an eyebrow. "Ahh...yes..thank you for the reminder. How are we going to let Hogwarts know the professors are safe?"
Emili Lordre blinks, a bit surprised to have been acknowledged, then gives a small smile to show her gratification. Starting on her food, lifting small morsels of the crepe to her mouth and eating quietly, still listening to the conversation.
Sylvie Winters slips down the stairs and into the room. At least she's in time for breakfast. She nods slightly, walking over to get her own food.
Lucas Geronicus smiles. "Quite well, actually." He takes a look at his breakfast and decides that it's better than what he'd be able to summon at this moment. "Although I had a strange dream..." he continues. "But to avoid worrying you, I think I'll not share the details if you don't mind."
Tl'nial LeTeone ponders softly... Most know of them know of her animagus form... "I could go back in my animagus form, and take a note, written by myself." She eats softly, and shifts from legs crossed, to curling them beneath form on the couch. Woman is quite like a young girl at times. "Thank you, Thomas," is murmured as she takes the hot-water bag.
Thomas D'Arcy frowns lightly, then shakes his head. "No...I think I will send Silvramord. Is there any token we can attach to the letter...that will be evidence you are alive? Of course, it can't be too heavy...Silvramord is a bit young yet." He raises a finger into the air as a cigar-box sized falcon-like owl swoops into the room, lands on the boy's finger, and begins preening its feathers.
Lucas Geronicus looks at Tl'nial and Thomas. "You don't have to do that... My owl is with my brother-in-law a few blocks away. I never use Arcus to deliver anything, so it's hardly recognizable." He waits for a response, however positive or negative it is.
Thomas D'Arcy arches an eyebrow, then shakes his head as he takes a delicate bite out of a blueberry muffin. "We want them to recognize the owl...or they might think it from Winterbourne. Oh well...just write a letter...your handwriting ought to be proof enough. And I think the headmaster will recognize my owl."
Nanami Leysee takes the hot-water bag, pressing it to a brilliant bruise on the side of her head.. "Well, as nice as it is to see you're worried about proving the teachers alive, can you mention me?"
Tl'nial LeTeone ponders softly, "See, the thing about me going in my animagus form... Most would know its me. I don't know of any token though... Besides... collars..." She thinks, "Yes... see. In animagus form, we have collars. People may recognize those." A nod to Thomas, "Or Lifted... but I have no clue where my owl is just now."
Thomas D'Arcy nods once towards Nanami, smiling a bit. "Why should we? If I tried to dispatch you I would end up incapacitated for a month. But go ahead...write whatever you wish..." He bites his lip, eyeing her bruise. "Now /why/ won't you let me at least give you something to dull the pain?"
Tl'nial LeTeone finishes her breakfast, and sips at her tea as a servant takes the plates away, "May I have a parchment and quill, or must I transfigure them?" A smile tugs at lips.
Lucas Geronicus shakes his head to himself. Will those two ever get along? No time for that now, though. "Tl'nial, I'll write it..." He gets out a piece of parchment from an inside pocket of his white cloak and begins rapidly writing a note. Within a minute, he's finished the letter and folded it up. Then, he ties it with a red and blue ribbon bearing his family seal. He apparently carries a lot of those... Anyway, he gives the letter to Thomas. "It's ready to send."
Thomas D'Arcy gives a nod towards one of the servants, and the requested materials are immediately delivered. "Well...the next order of business is to transfigure you three into something a bit more...err...unrecognizable." He withdraws a wand from within his robes, turning to Nanami as he grasps the note. "There needs to be three...one from each of you. Now...how about...a little taller, blond hair...certainly longer hair..."
Sylvie Winters finishes with the last bite of her food, and sits quietly, simply listening to the conversation and going over things in her head. And she turns slightly as the three are about to become disguised, to watch.
Nanami Leysee glares says "Now, now, wait just a minute! I definitely didn't agree to having YOU transfigure me, much less try and treat my wounds!"
Lucas Geronicus stares at Thomas. "There's no need to transfigure me... I'll change to my animagus form." He pauses, looking away, but turns around a moment later to add, "When I transform, could you please remove the collar? I know that's sort of illegal, but it's nothing compared to what's already done."
Tl'nial LeTeone works on writing her letter, "No need to work on me, Thomas. I can change myself." After her letter is written, she holds another coin in her hand -- she seems to have a lot. But that comes with already being from being rich, and being a teacher -- and lets it transfigure into a copy of the collar she wears as a Minidrag. This is wrapped, and clipped about the letter, "There." Holding this to Thomas.. A tilt of the head to Lucas, "Animagus form... Mine could be quite useful if we do meet the wizard." Lips curve into smirk, "One added addition to my form being small, and fast... quite poisonous venom, as well."
Thomas D'Arcy sighs, sinking into a chair. "Fine...fine.../you/ transfigure yourself. Use the looking glass on the wall over there..." His head jerks towards the fireplace. I was just trying to save your strength, since you are hardly in the best condition." He arches an eyebrow, turning towards Lucas. "No...no...no animagi. We all need to be in human form. Don't worry...I have been working on disguises all night, though you can do yourselves." He sighs, accepting the letter, and ties each letter about one leg of his bird. "Yours is the only one left, Nan..."
Arjum flies into sight, dropping a message to Thomas D'Arcy, then lifts up into the air and flies away.
Nanami Leysee sighs, and nods. She takes the letter from Thomas and a pen from within her robes, and writes at the bottom: "I am fairly okay, but... Tell Lorien to feed my cat, please." She signs her name and says "I'm not all that recognizable.. Anyway, aren't we just going to the sewers?"
Lucas Geronicus frowns. "Fine. I'll disguise myself instead..." He reaches for his white robe with the hood that he wore the night before. As he places it on himself, the cloak seems to remove all the light around his face so it cannot be seen. "Only you all know this disguise so it shouldn't be recognizable by anyone else. Just to top it off... Visivo Sparus!" he commands as he waves his wand at himself.
Lucas Geronicus fades slowly out of sight.
Thomas D'Arcy winces slightly as the owl delivers a note, then clears his throat a bit guiltily. "Hmmm...Apparently I am going to be roasted over a slow fire when I return..." He quirks an eyebrow, gazing towards Nanami. "Professor Goldbeck has guessed at your absence...and is, to say the least, just a tad upset. But on to more important matters: This note has just corroborated our hypothesis--They are certainly hidden in the catacombs beneath Hogsmeade."
Tl'nial LeTeone ponders softly, "Just remember. If it is needed, I will later go into my Animagus form. It depends upon what happens." She stands, "I'm going to vacate to my room to change. I believe their was a mirror there." She strides up the stairs, and later returns. Body is the same, perhaps a little older, but the major differences lie in facial features, which have turned Irish, a faint splattering of freckles, hair to shoulders, quite red and frizzy -- and lastly: eyes gone green. "This should do." She watches as Lucas disappears, smirking faintly, "Now that's not fair. I won't know where you are. But, anyways."
Thomas D'Arcy scribbles a message onto a sheet of paper and tucks it into a small pouch on Silvramord's leg; Silvramord flaps its wings quickly, and flies away to deliver the message.
Silvramord flies into sight, returning to its master: Thomas D'Arcy.
Thomas D'Arcy sighs, glancing about. "Perhaps it is not wise to go about invisible, Professor...If anyone can sense your presence...and see no one there, all is lost. I believe a simple disguise would be far better..."
Nanami Leysee shakes her head and says "Where is the entrance to the catacombs, then...?"
Thomas D'Arcy cants his head to one side, pressing his lips together. "I...I don't exactly know...That is where our contact comes in. He may be drunk...but at least he has been to the catacombs before. They are, as the professor said, 'somewhere outside the city limits'."
Someone laughs, revealing that he's walked across the room. "Why would you care where I was? This isn't a duel or anything..." He sighs. "Being telepathically linked, you can probably detect my location anyway, although I doubt anyone else could. Maybe if I transformed to an Animagus NOW, I'd be small and undetectable." A few seconds later, he asks, "Thomas, if you have time before we leave, I'd like to make sure you can telepathically communicate with Nanami so if you split up..."
Nanami Leysee blink, then screams in Lucas' general direction "You weren't supposed to tell him that!" Ugh, she's really getting a headache now..
Thomas D'Arcy almost recoils, gaping. "/What/? Telepathically communicate with /her/? I hear enough just /listening/ to her. I don't need to read her thoughts as well...I'm not certain I even /want/ to read her thoughts.. In fact, I am /firmly/ convinced I don't."
Tl'nial LeTeone ponders, and than laughs softly towards Nanami and Thomas, hand covering mouth, "Oh my..." Irish looks lend well to form, though, but aren't much different than her usual... besides hair, and eyes.
Someone sighs. Thomas's got a lot to learn about what a telepathic link actually does. "You won't be able to read her thoughts. Just a few of them when the link comes and goes. You'll mostly hear thoughts directed to you, which you're already capable... I was just going to show you how to SEND them. You're all set to receive."
Thomas D'Arcy's eyes widen as realization dawns on him. "Are you saying that /we/ are telepathically linked? Why did I have to be linked to /her/?" He turns to Nanami, a bit accusingly. "So /that/ is how you saw past my disguise..."
Thomas D'Arcy shudders slightly. "But never mind all that...we shall be together at all times...the reason we even came together in the first place was each of these students wished to find Chris and Ruth...whether alone or not. Needless to say, chances are better in a group...Now, if you will excuse me, I must conduct a dueling practice downstairs...Nan, please disguise yourself before we go outside."
Sylvie Winters glances between Thomas and Nanami for a minute. She reaches up to rearrange her hair, forgetting for the moment that anything is different, then sighs. She decides that if she could communicate with anyone that way, she'd make use of it. Not able to bother with her hair the way it is now, she brushes off her clothes.
Tl'nial LeTeone smiles lightly, "I enjoy my telepathic link... A few reasons being, like, such as last night... able to call for help... and its /new/. It intrigues me..." That childish curiosity sparkles in eyes.
Thomas D'Arcy pauses, arching an eyebrow as he reaches the top of the stairwell. "Oh...for those of you with longer hair, the maids can attend to you. It will need to be out of the way...for I have no intention of anyone getting caught."
Someone seems to have left the room, but you hear his footsteps as he comes back into the room. He sighs and commands, "Argus Revelus!" Moments later, he appears into view, but is dressed in the robes of an auror. He looks a few years younger and about two inches taller. "Is this good enough? Or do I need to cast Nox on my face?"
Emili Lordre looks over to Thomas, and inquires softly, "Should I, also, disguise myself at this time?" She isn't terribly happy about it, although she tries not to show it outwardly.
Thomas D'Arcy sighs, pausing once more. "Perhaps a bit more unassuming...we don't want to be mobbed by any auror fans, you know." He nods towards Emili, indicating the affirmative before he turns, footsteps echo hollowly on the staircase as he disappears from sight, voice floating upwards from the ballroom. "Now...we will be going over shielding charms..."
Tl'nial LeTeone taps her own hair with her wand, and its pulls tightly back into a small, unruly ponytail. "That works." She grins to Lucas as he returns, and moves from the stairs to the couch, sitting. She ponders her clothing, softly, and hmms, "I will return." Disappearing, she soon returns in a long, black skirt, with a white blouse, with full sleeves. The last touch is a velvet, black choker about neck, a small heart-shaped pendant hanging against throat.
Lucas Geronicus sighs, and commands "Altro Mesion Frunu Terra!" His robe begins shifting it's color and fabric into a common ministry robe for a worker at the Hogsmeade Ministry office.
Emili Lordre sighs, barely audible, and murmurs the incantation. Her hair darkens into a deep auburn, and her skin too darkens from her accustomed pallor, gaining a healthy rosy flush. She also seems to grow older, figure filling out more, and limbs rounding out. When she is finished, only her eyes remain virtually unchanged, the only clue to her former identity. Looking over herself, she frowns, and shakes her head, seemingly slightly perplexed. Indeed, this disguise is uncannily familiar, although she can't for the life of her place the reason.
Nanami Leysee goes upstairs, and returns rather quickly. Unlike most of the rest of the students, she doesn't look eighteen, but thirty. Her hair is longer, and a deep black.. But she's still short.
Thomas D'Arcy' voice floats upwards once more. "Sanctorum Omnia...I want you to pair off. Those who are on the side nearest to me shall cast a minor offensive spell...Those on the other side shall cast Sanctorum Omnia. /Go/!" A slight hissing sound indicates the casting of spells, and a groan is audible, along with a smacking sound that can only be Thomas' hand colliding with his forehead. "No...Stupefy is /not/ a minor spell...you are lucky that you missed your partner. Now...try again. This time, try...evincio or something..."
Tl'nial LeTeone settles lightly on the couch again, brushing at now black skirt. A light smile to Lucas, "How does this work by way of disguise?"
Another hissing indicates a second bout of spell-casting...and amazingly, there are no shrieks of terror. A sharp sound...probably Thomas snapping his fingers floats up the stairwell, preceding the boy's voice. "Good...Now, get washed...And try to cast the shielding charm as often as possible, but /only/ in the house. Understand? Class dismissed..." A pounding sound comes closer as a dozen adults race up the stairs, then to their rooms. Moments later, Thomas D'Arcy can be seen reappearing. "Half an hour til we depart..."
Nanami Leysee shakes her head.. "Thomas, trying to teach them that is.. Oh, never mind. Half an hour? I'm taking off this bloody disguise once we are down there, too..
Tl'nial LeTeone ponders, as she stands and twirls a little, "I like my outfit at least. Not sure if it'd look better with me like this, or..." She pauses, peering to a looking glass.... "I wonder..." This is murmured, as she waves a wand over hair, "Altro Mesion Frunu Terra..." Hair becomes black, with bold silver streak through. She lets this fall from ponytail, next to right eye. Turning, "How's that? Or red with the streak?"
Thomas D'Arcy frowns lightly as he heads upstairs. "I'm a bit weary...I shall be back when it is time to visit our contact. And please...no streaks.." He sighs, modifying his approach. "Besides, you look much prettier without them, you know..."
Tl'nial LeTeone sniffs at Thomas, but lets hair return to the brilliant red she'd put it at, at first, for the disguise. She turns, "I think I'm going to perhaps walk around Hogsmeade a little."
Refusing to Say Goodbye
(OOC: Actual log from school year 1908-1909.)
Over the school, a magically magnified voice announces, "The Memorial Service for Ruth Cohen and Christopher Holloway will be held in the Assembly hall in just a few minutes."
Tanna Finley wanders into the room, perhaps a bit slowly, and looks around.
Micaela Goldbeck walks over to Lupine from her place on the stand and takes the girl by the elbow lightly, leaning forward to speak quietly to her. "Would you like to speak first or last?" she asks.
Lupine Johnson looks up at Micaela, "Oh...well, I'd prefer to speak earlier, Professor Goldbeck." She says quietly, "But.. no, wait, last.. well.." She frowns, and seems to be deciding which would make her speech more dramatic, though it is not because she cares not about Ruth and Chris, rather she has other reasons to make her speech dramatic. SHe seems very pale and upset but there is strangely a spark in her eyes, it is an angry, hopeful spark.
Sylvie Winters slips in, her eyes silently looking over the assembled students. She's said she won't believe anything without real proof, and either way, she's not sure she wants to be here. But.. here she is, looking mostly like herself.
Micaela Goldbeck nods at Lupine. "Well, I suppose I'll make some introductory notes and then let you go. The headmaster and /both/ house heads got called away at the last minute, or they'd be speaking instead of me. I suppose I'll just have to make do . .." she says to Lupine, not really waiting for the girl to make up her mind. With that said, she heads up to the podium, looking over the assembled students.
Lupine Johnson frowns deeply, "Last." She says in a firm, decisive tone, "But...Professor, may I ask who else is speaking?" She wants to know, still her voice is soft and her eyes are cast downward as she speaks in that mournful, melancholy voice.
Astra Rathe enters the chamber, trying to be as quiet as she can due to the Service. Keeping to the back she finds a place to sit. After tugging the hood of her cloak up she places her hands in her lap, trying to keep as neutral a face as possible.
Tanna Finley finds a seat and takes it quickly. Folding her hands in front of her, she blinks at them, then bites her lip and looks around.
Siria Sardona steps quietly in, doing her best to keep to herself. Siria slips in through the hall, glancing at the others who dared to come. A frown drags sadly across her face, thinking of the two they are waving off. Two students considered dead at Hogwarts isn't right. She shakes her head, tossing about dark locks which seem strangely mournful, like the girl who bears them. They can't really be dead, can they?
Micaela Goldbeck clears her throat and begins speaking. She'd not really written her talk ahead of time, the other speakers having had to leave so quickly. So her speech is unusually disjointed, considering the usually put-together teacher. "Well, I'd like to welcome all you students here, but I can't help but wish we didn't have a reason to gather here today," she says with a slight sigh, the podium enchanted so that her voice resounds through the auditorium. "We are here to offer some closure in the whole event of Ruth and Christopher's disappearance and to give those who need to mourn a chance to do so." She takes a deep breath before continuing.
Emili Lordre's footsteps fall without a sound on the floor as she slips into the chamber, eyes trained on the floor. Only when she finds a seat does she look up, briefly, at those gathered. Did they all believe Ruth and Chris are dead? Did /she?/ With a small shake of her head, she sits, fingers twining together in her lap, and listens in a detached sort of way to the introductory speech.
Chaya Tiki silently enters, eyes shifting around. Her appearance... dead. Hollow eyes, sullen face, pale skin. Has she /eaten/ in the last decade? Has she /smiled/ in the past fifty years? In all appearances, it seems not. Her mind rushes with restless thoughts as she slips into a chair and listens. They aren't dead, she thinks to herself. I'd feel it. I know it...
Sylvie Winters shifts in the seat she's chosen, but just barely, listening. This whole service makes it too real for a girl who stubbornly won't believe it. Not until there's proof. Not while /she/ was here..
Cally Meadows slips quickly into the Assembly Chamber, keeping more towards the back of the room and moving to the darker splotches in sight. She looks around at everyone who decided to show up. Sighing to herself, she shakes her head. The are /not/ dead. They should be spending more time on search and rescues than memorial services. Cally'll only lay down her stubborn stupidity when some sort of body or remnant of one is found. Leaning against a darker section of the wall, she turns to watch Micaela talk before them. They all don't know what they're talking about. Ruth and Chris? Dead? No, that's impossible. Just watch, they'll come back. They /will/ come back.
Mitchell Freeman quickly wanders across the room and into a seat as Professor Goldbeck starts speaking, after having hung about the door shuffling his feet. The boy glances around briefly at the others present. Not for the first time, he wonders why he came. Out of respect, he supposes, not that he even knew either of the two.
Micaela Goldbeck continues in a softer voice, "Ruth and Chris were good students. What's more, they were good friends, and I'm sure they will be missed very dearly. Chris in particular exemplified what we want the students at Hogwarts to be. He was kind, chivalrous, he worked hard and helped other students achieve their best as well."
Lupine Johnson purses her lips together tightly, her eyes are frozen over in ice as she glares at Micaela. How dare she? Dead? How would she like to have everybody give her up for dead and leave her to the wrath of a dark wizard? Dead, indeed! Even if they are, they shouldn't stop looking until they have found the bodies. She glances briefly at Cally and gives the closest thing to a smile she can muster before turning back to Micaela.
Cally Meadows smirks, continuing to shake her head in the shadows. Chris not only /worked/ hard and helped others, but he will /continue/ to work hard and help others. Surely, when they come back, both of them will. Cally can only nod in return to Lupine, too disturbed to smile at all. She can't even try. Nearly /everyone/ Cally had talked to didn't believe they were dead. How could so many of the adults? Were they /blind/ enough not to realize they could be and /are/ still out there, somewhere?
Micaela Goldbeck sighs, trying to think of more things to say. "I know the whole issue of their disappearance has yet to be resolved and we'd all like to believe that they are still alive. But . . ." she pauses, shaking her head and trying to think of what to say. She's never been particularly good at speaking outside of a lecture setting, where she's the expert on what she's speaking on. This sort of thing ..is not her forte. "I suppose it would be best to hear from their fellow students . . Lupine Johnson has been kind enough to offer to talk. Lupine?"
Tanna Finley listens silently to the speech, head down and staring at her lap, or the floor in front of her. She blinks a few times, sadly. It's not fair. No one should ever die. Ever ever ever.. It's a wonder the child isn't sobbing already, she's usually so over emotional. Must be in shock still. And how well did she even know them?
Astra Rathe stares into her lap, the words of the Professor just sort of washing over her. She's here to do honor to what *might* be, not a fact only a theory given by the Ministry because they don't wish to waste any more time. Shifting in her seat she glances up, glassy-eyed as she ruminates over lost acquaintances. Although it's hard not to believe. She's known death once before, even if she was smaller then. Despite her best attempts to hide behind a facade of unfeeling a single tear does make its way down her cheek. Reaching a hand up quickly she brushes it aside.
Tharghan Kunkel says, "A lot of you may think they are dead, but I personally don't, so I don't know why I am here."
Tharghan Kunkel storms out of the hall looking for someway to get the ministry to keep looking.
A pair of adults, the woman obviously Ruth's mother, sit in the back of the auditorium, silent and withdrawn. The man's face is drawn in a combination of anger and sorrow, his hand on his wife's shoulder as she leans her head on his.
Mitchell Freeman lifts a brow at Tharghan's actions, shaking his head slowly and muttering something under his breath.
Chaya Tiki sighs quietly, absentmindedly stroking the slumbering pet wrapped about her neck. If only I were more like Stubtail, she wished. Naught to worry about save a full stomach and a couple friends. Friends... she looks around. There's Emili... Sylvie... that's about it. Sighing again, she turns her attention back to Micaela. Interesting, she remarks. Death ceremonies are so /different/ here... still, respectful to those gone... she frowns. I would've felt them leave, though. Wouldn't I?
Sylvie Winters blinks once at the young Hufflepuff's actions, and fights back whatever first impulse she might have had, staying still. She wants to do.. something. Not just sit here. Anything so that she could keep telling herself none of it was true, at least until it /had/ to be. And this was doing the opposite. But just in case, she had to be here, even if she wouldn't ever admit it.
Lupine Johnson goes to stand in front of the people, "I, for one, do not believe that Chris and Ruth were wonderful people." She pauses, and from a few of the students she gets her desired effect, "No, I believe they /are/ wonderful people and I also believe it is despicable the way everybody is willing to believe that Ruth and Chris are dead. Imagine, Ruth and Chris, sitting in the wizard's hideout, shivering from cold, practically dead by starvation but still hanging on to a thread of life.. why? Because - I think this is true - they have faith that they will be rescued. They /believed/ that the ministry and other authorities would show some effort to find them. All the ministry has done is look on the Hogwarts grounds and performed a few useless charms." OF course, they've done a bit more than /that/. "Are they really trying...or have they not really tried at all? Perhaps they don't believe they can do it...and they won't let anybody else try because that would prove that
they were better than the ministry. . Why I would think that the minister, at least - whom I know very well to be a good, honorable person - and who I also know to enjoy both Ruth and Chris' company would try. IF I had the power, I would rescue them or die trying and I am shocked that others would do less...I never thought of these authorities as cowards - before this." Lupine finishes to the murmerings of students.
Chaya Tiki smirks quietly at the fellow Slytherin. "Well said," She remarks. "I still don't think they're gone; either that, or I'm in denial." She grins. "Perhaps both."
Cally Meadows leans even more heavily against the wall, using it for support on her pale body. She'd spent much of the previous night up, pacing, and had little strength for today. Cally looks down at the ground, listening as silenced emanated throughout the chamber. In her opinion, at least, she was just beginning to get to know Chris better when he left...and he /didn't/ die. Neither did Ruth, at that. Cally blinks, looking up at Lupine. For the first time in a /long/ time, she actually did have an honest, true smile. That was /exactly/ how Cally felt about the whole idea, and she was glad a few other people did as well.
Micaela Goldbeck looks vaguely surprised and slightly upset. It isn't healthy for the students to persist in believing that Ruth and Chris are alive when all the evidence points to the contrary . .but she could hardly drag Lupine off the podium during the middle of the service ..but . .. she just leans back and decides to see how it goes . . . she hasn't got any of the other staff here to back her up, after all.
Thomas D'Arcy raises his voice as he steps into the room. "Stop!!" He pauses in the doorway, giving the occupants of the room a disgusted sneer, lifting his chin ever so slightly into the air before heading towards the teachers, eyes glittering furiously. "Stop this nonsense at once."
Tanna Finley listens quietly to Lupine's words, never looking up. By the end of it, the fifth year really is sobbing. Now she's just confused, she can't believe that this is happening, it.. it isn't fair. It wasn't allowed to happen.
Lupine Johnson blinks at Thomas, "Excuse me, DArcy? Nonsense? I thought you believed that they weren't dead too, as I've just been telling them..." She hesitates, looking nervous, maybe...well, if Thomas doesn't believe it.
Sylvie Winters looks carefully at Lupine, hearing what she says. She silently thanks the younger Slytherin for helping her keep her belief. If no one else does anything, she's going to /make/ them let her search. She will. But is that what everyone else should have heard? She glances around, now, to see the reactions, then blinks at Thomas as he comes in.
Astra Rathe shuts her eyes against the onslaught of words. At least someone else believes they're alive. Trembling, she refuses to cry, not any more than she has and certainly not in public. While pondering her own state of mind about the matter the inward silence is shattered by an outward shout. Turning her head Astra stares from under her hood at the figure of Thomas with quiet wonder.
The adults in the far back corner of the room make no comment, or even seem to change their demeanor. The woman seems a trifle more upset and the man glowers even more sternly . . . but it's hardly noticeable.
Chaya Tiki turns to Thomas grinning. "Ah, we have another believer?" She smirks. "I do think this is coming out /quite/ well." A smug look upon her face, she continues. "If there had been any evidence of their death by word or body, I wouldn't be saying this; but there isn't. I, for one, refuse to think that Ruth and Chris are gone."
Micaela Goldbeck stands up, trying to keep her calm. "Will everybody settle down?" she asks. "If they /are/ indeed proved to be dead, would you like to know that you behaved in this manner at their memorial service?" She sighs, stepping forward to take the podium again, regardless of whether Lupine's still there or not. "We admit there is some controversy concerning whether or not they are alive ... but we may never find their bodies and the matter may never truly be settled. But some closure must be had, if just for the sake of their parents. Believe what you like, but treat the solemnity of this service with respect, please." Her voice is icy and sharp. She may not be able to speak at a funeral . .but she does know how to discipline, when necessary.
Thomas D'Arcy mounts the wooden stairs leading towards the stage, footsteps echoing hollowly as he gives the faculty members who have even dared to appear disdainful glances, saving his worst glance for Micaela. "We are gathered here today to mourn the deaths of two Hogwarts students..." He clears his throat, glaring pointedly at a first year in the front row. "Two Hogwarts students who are /not/ dead. Have you no faith? No fidelity? For shame!! Simply because two students disappear for a month, you assume them dead? I am utterly...shamed by your behavior..."
Tanna Finley raises her head to look at the Slytherins, tears streaming down her face. What are they talking about? They can't be gone, but.. they /are/, and it's not fair, but it's true.
Lupine Johnson sighs, she continues, "And, I believe they have faith in us...so should we not have faith in them? And, Professor Goldbeck, how would you like to know YOU behaved this way if they are indeed found to be NOT dead. Well?" She retorts sharply, "Thomas is right and any here who does not believe him is much more fit to be where Ruth and Chris are now then those two. THEY would not believe YOU were dead."
Cally Meadows lifts herself off the wall, looking over at Thomas as he barges in. Indeed this entire thing is nonsense, but she doubted one person could bring it to a stop. She watches, waiting for Thomas to continue. She looks from Thomas to Lupine, and then back to Thomas again. This whole thing is just so stupid. Why can't any of the /adults/ see that? Cally thought /they/, at least, should be the more observing and intelligent ones It seems that this time, however, most adults and ministry members had failed the students of Hogwarts. Most of all, they had failed Ruth and Chris. Failed terribly so, at that. If /they/ were lost, wouldn't /they/ want someone to go look for them, to find them, and to have /faith/ in them? Just because a dark wizard had killed a bunch of other people doesn't necessarily mean they had killed /them/. Thomas and Lupine are both utterly correct.
Catrina Vinar bundles in, her lithe figure moving quickly. She gives a curt, cordial nod to the others, bustling into the Assembly Chamber and all. The professor frowns momentarily, gazing at the rather rebellious students. They are dead, can't the children see that? Humor them, and all will be well. She takes her seat, intent on seeing how Micaela handles this 'situation'.
Micaela Goldbeck ignores entirely Thomas's glare. "Since we are obviously accomplishing nothing by this service but further stirring up resentment and anger, I'm closing the service. Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, Mr. Holloway, Mrs. Sainsbury . .. please meet me outside the room and I'll attempt to explain the vile behavior of our students." She turns to Thomas and Lupine. "If you are going to have a rally and riot, please do so where you won't further distress the relatives of Ruth and Chris." Her voice is sharp and clear, not condemning Thomas and Lupine's opinions ... merely the manner in which they choose to air them.
Emili Lordre is jerked out of her reverie at the change of mood, and looks up through her lashes, first at Thomas, then Lupine, eyes passing over tearful faces as she does so. Biting her lip, she casts her sad eyes to her entangled fingers once again. Very well then. They are not dead. But they are gone, are they not? Perhaps she can twist this 'memorial service' into a gathering, recognizing the fact that they are missing. Oh, but surely its too much to hope for, a month missing...
Thomas D'Arcy continues, not even pausing for breath as his eyes flicker over the audience, the corner of his mouth twisting into a sneer. "You all know what Ruth and Chris are. They have their faults...perhaps they might not have been the most law-abiding of students. However, they were intelligent, selfless, /loyal/ people. If any of us had been lost, /they/ would never have given up hope. How dare any of you do any less? I shall /not/ believe that anything has happened to them until we see irrefutable evidence...namely their corpses. And we shall not."
Sylvie Winters shifts again, quietly. This shouldn't happen at a service, whether the service was right or not. But as for they was she's refused to believe them gone, this has helped.. she'd /better/ be allowed to go look.
Nanami Leysee slips into the service late. Oh, dear, looks like she hasn't missed much..
Micaela Goldbeck speaks up sharply. "Thomas, please take your opinions outside. As I asked." With that, she turns and walks over to the corner where the parents of the missing students are gathered. The staff /first/ had to abandon her to speak alone at this and then she's left alone when the students begin misbehaving. Of course .she could have expected it, but this is a bit far. What is she to do, hand them all essays? Detentions? Hardly.
Thomas D'Arcy lightly swivels to Micaela, eyes flashing. "Rally? Riot? This whole memorial is a farce!! If /any/ of you truly believed the pair were dead, then let him explain to me why in perdition neither the headmaster, nor either of the two house heads have shown up?"
Tanna Finley looks around, her confusion now plainly not helping her. "Stop this! At least have some respect for.. for them if they.. they are.. You aren't helping!" The girl stands up as she speaks, then runs out of the room with tears pouring down her face.
Astra Rathe turns only her head and eyes to follow Thomas as he takes the stage. So much for dignity. Then again would she truly be any better if the missing students were closer to her? Unlikely really. Yet there are the parents to consider. Standing up she drifts to the doorway of the hall to watch, it isn't that far from where she is sitting. Perhaps they aren't dead, but then, perhaps they are worse than dead and that's not something she wants to consider either.
Micaela Goldbeck sighs, turning from her almost-conversation with the Cohens to speak again to Thomas. "The headmaster, Professor D'Estiny and Professor Hazeltine were called away. They did not abstain . . .all share the opinion that the two are indeed dead."
Lupine Johnson straightens her self, taking courage from Thomas' words, "Exactly. You might even say, while refusing to believe in Ruth and Chris, you are /helping/ the dark wizard. It is what he /wants/ you to believe. Do /any/ of you REALLY want to help him? If you do, you are worse scum then I thought. And also, if the headmaster or their house heads cared in the slightest they would have shown up, would they /not/? It seems authority corrupts people even more than I thought." Her voice raises steadily throughout her speech until she almost screeches the last word.
Thomas D'Arcy hisses furiously. "Called away? For what purpose? To consort with the ministry, whose utter incompetence is completely instrumental in our failure to reclaim both Ruth and Chris?"
Catrina Vinar lets her face crease in the lines of a disdainful frown. She turns to Thomas, "Do us all a favor and take your theories elsewhere. Yes, it may in fact be true that Ruth and Chris are alive and well, but have you considered the other side of things?" Her eyes are hard, and nearly without emotion, lacking what vehemence is soon to come. "It is only human to be wrong sometimes. And if it is so that they are dead, you have contributed in ruining their funeral. Their time when we remember them."
Micaela Goldbeck gets slightly angry, flushing as she addresses the two ringleaders. "Mr. D'Arcy, Miss Johnson, you are both to report to my office /now/. And twenty points from Slytherin for your monstrous behavior. I'll meet you in my office shortly."
Sylvie Winters sighs softly. The parents shouldn't have to listen to this, anyway, and as long as the teachers are busy dealing with the other students.. She stands up and quietly, slowly approaches the other adults, head down, offering a small curtsy as she nears them.
Lupine Johnson nods, "I will NOT take my theories else where and I will NOT go to your office. I swear, in refusing to believe in them, you ARE scum." She says furiously, "Besides...WHO - with a spark of decency, that is - would care about points when their friends are missing, may I ask?"
Cally Meadows nods triumphantly, even if /she/ didn't exactly do anything, but Thomas and Lupine had. She almost steps forward to urge them on, but thinks twice about it and decides to stay where she is. Cally turns to Micaela to glare at her as long as possible. Taking away points, trying to silence them? "They speak the /truth!" she shouts out, alarming even herself. Biting her tongue sharply, she steps back, attempting to conceal herself.
Thomas D'Arcy completely disregards Catrina as he continues.../nothing/ short of a petrifaction charm can stop the child now. "Perhaps you fail to understand, professor. This goes /beyond/ points and detentions now...I don't care what you may say. Moreover, do you think either of them would like you to cry over them? I /know/ they wouldn't...but they are /not/ dead."
Catrina Vinar scowls. Her temper flares, though she takes a hold of it, forcing her face upwards into a more ambivalent look. Glancing at Micaela, she stands back a bit, not sure whether to intervene with this. Her face twists unhappily, finally becoming content to simply stay back until a later time.
Lupine Johnson looks at Cally, startled slightly then she smiles, "You see? Perhaps I am not well known for being honest but I doubt anybody here has ever heard Cally speak a single lie. It is a pity that at the beginning you spoke of Chris as all such wonderful things...because if you - you scum - really believed them you would be SEARCHING, but you are a coward, like the minister and the headmaster and - so it seems - EVERY person of authority in this entire world. Cowards and hateful, idiotic ./scum/!" She glares at Micaela, here eyes burning with hatred, "If you think points matter now..."
Astra Rathe drops her jaw at Lupine and Thomas, even Cally. Now that's courage. Moving down the aisle, she keeps her head covered with the hood but stops at the foot of the stage. Wanting to say something to the other Slytherin but is unable to find words. Instead she gives a grim smile and turns on her heel, heading out at a dead run and dignity be damned.
Micaela Goldbeck stares levelly at Lupine and Thomas. "Very well, I see I can do nothing to stop your rantings. I am not scum, Miss Johnson, and you are both well on your way to suspensions, if not expulsion. However, I will ignore it given the fact that I, at least, have some respect for your opinions. I'll see you all later." With that, she turns about, still fuming a bit, and leads The Cohens and Mrs. Sainsbury away.
Emili Lordre untangles her fingers to raise both hands to her face. Oh, this is going horribly. Why did she come, only to witness this chaotic turn of events? Not removing her hands from her pale face, she relies on her ears to inform her of the going-ons in this mess of a memorial service.
Sylvie Winters sighs, shakes her head, and rushes out of the room after Micaela. Time enough to talk to the others later, even if she does believe the two aren't dead.
+---[ Hogwarts - Micaela Goldbeck's Office ]----------------
Sylvie Winters slips in quietly, knocking softly as she enters. She's more unsure of herself then usual, having no experience with this sort of thing. And, besides, she refused to believe them dead, especially after what happened. The girl stops a few steps in, offering a deep curtsy to the adults.
Micaela Goldbeck is sitting at her desk, in quiet conversation with four adults who sit in chair arranged around the other side of her desk. She is no longer angry, merely deeply upset. She glances up at Sylvie and nods, "Hello Sylvie. Allow me to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, Mr. Holloway, and the Holloway's housekeeper, Mrs. Sainsbury," she says, gesturing to each person in turn. Mr. Holloway is in a wheelchair and seems very vague and not all there.
Micaela Goldbeck continues to the adults, "This is Sylvie Winters, the Head Girl. She was in Ruth's house."
Sylvie Winters nods a small greeting to each as they are introduced. "It's a... pleasure to meet you," she says softly. "Though I regret that it must be under such circumstances."
Hello Sylvie," Mrs. Cohen says quietly, a short woman about Ruth's height and with her same pale complexion. Mr. Cohen (who looks nothing like his daughter) nods briefly at Sylvie, his face impassive. Mrs. Sainsbury, a middle-aged Yorkshire woman, continues, "We're pleased to meet you too, miss, it's just that .." she trails off and blows her nose loudly with a well-used handkerchief in her hand. Mr. Holloway seems to have not noticed Sylvie yet.
Micaela Goldbeck is sitting at her desk, facing four adults in seats arranged on the other side of the desk. Sylvie is off to the side, speaking with them.
Thomas D'Arcy strolls into the room, chin raised into the air proudly, blazing eyes not at all diminished by the relatively drafty walk down from the memorial service.
Sylvie Winters nods slightly, wondering what the teacher has already said to them. She chooses her words carefully. "I understand. This must be a hard time for all of you. I am sorry for the way the service went, but sorrier still that Ruth and Chris are not still here with us." She pauses, partly to form what she wants to say next, and partly to see what type of reaction she's getting.
Lupine Johnson walks in, head held high and proudly, following directly behind Thomas she glares at Sylvie, "They are not with us here - though they would be but for the cowards in authority - but are STILL with us in this world." She informs Sylvie and the adults icily, her voice quiet but very clear.
Thomas D'Arcy clears his throat before speaking, voice not at all submissive, but rather proudly regal. "You wished to speak with us, professor?"
Mr. Cohen, an arm protectively about his wife's shoulders, nods at Sylvie. "Thank you, Miss Winters," he says. "We shouldn't have let her come here in the first place," he begins grumbling, but at a look from his wife he cuts himself off. He turns to look at Lupine, but does nothing more than that, though his wife's sobs continue in redoubled intensity.
Lupine Johnson throws her head haughtily, "Do not even Ruths parents wish for her to be saved?" Se demands in shocked disbelief.
Micaela Goldbeck nods at Lupine and Thomas. "I'd like to express my disappointment in you two. You've deeply upset Mrs. Cohen . . . though on the behalf of Ruth and Chris, we are impressed by your sincerity and devotion to them. The Cohens . . ." she pauses, closing her eyes briefly. "They wish as much as you do that they are still alive, but there's nothing they can do about it at this point. Please do not upset them further, Miss Johnson." Her voice is quiet and level, betraying no emotion. Perhaps a better testament to how upset she is, her gradebooks are nowhere in sight, and the reams of notes that seem to follow her around everywhere haven't been touched in the longest time.
Sylvie Winters purses her lips. She wants to turn around an let the girl know that she /knows/ that, that she won't believe them gone until she sees proof, that there is a /reason/ for the way she's phrasing her words.. But she stops, and doesn't turn around, merely nodding to Mr. Cohen. "I know this give the school a bad impression in your eyes, after what has happened to your children. And I don't blame you for it.. I believe anyone would feel the same way." She pauses, not sure whether she should say this next part.. she'll have to do it very carefully. "When and if I am able to search, I will do all in my power to the bodies, which you must want in order to send them off properly. Until then, I can only express to you how sorry I am for what has happened."
Lupine Johnson gives a foul, simpering smile to Micaela and she answers in her sweetest voice, "Whatever, you say, Professor Goldbeck. I know you THINK that we just believe what we ant to believe but Im afraid that sounds more a like a coward - you, for example or even more so, WInterbourne."
Mr. Holloway nods in a very vague fashion. "Thank you, my girl," he says loftily to Sylvie, "Have you met my boys? They're attending Eton right now, fine school, if Justin doesn't manage to tear the place down. He's a very troubled child . ." He's obviously not processing the situation.
Thomas D'Arcy frowns furiously, lips writhing a moment in disbelief. "How could you have done such a thing, professor? /You/ know they aren't dead at all...but you provide a sanctuary for those who have been...unfaithful enough to give up hope to rest their consciences. Why? I thought you were, at the very least, fond of them. So why do you aid their enemies?"
Lupine Johnson turns her gaze to Mr. Holloway, her eyes widen in disbelief then she nods, "He is precisely correct..., and the same to the Minister...and all of those who insist on believing they are dead. When they return I assure you it will be most embarrassing for you, the Ministry and the headmaster."
Sylvie Winters looks at Mr. Holloway for a moment, uncomfortable. Quietly, she finally responds, "Yes, I have, Sir. Both of your boys are very nice.." She doesn't understand him, and decides that's the best way to respond. Then she turns back to the other adults. "Ruth and Chris are both wonderful people, and we were lucky to have them with us for a while. Although I'm sure nothing could ever replace them, I'd like to do what I can for you.. If there's anything any of you might ever need, I'm at your service. I only wish I could bring them back to you."
Micaela Goldbeck turns her head to the side, avoiding everybody's eyes. Does she, perhaps, feel guilty about having been at the memorial service as well? She believes them dead, to be sure, but the determination of what seems to be the entire student body has shaken her convictions a bit. "We do what we have to do to keep going, Thomas," she says, ignoring Lupine's comments entirely, though she thinks that the girl wasn't disciplined enough as a child. "I /do not/ know that they aren't dead, Thomas. I can do nothing for them, though, be they dead or alive. The search isn't entirely abandoned, after all . . . Ebiroth Tudor and a small team are still searching . .. but the rationale behind the ministry's actions is that they can no longer afford to have almost all the Magical Law Enforcement squad diverted onto a single task. As some may say, a lost cause."
Thomas D'Arcy clamps down on his lip, a small drop of crimson appearing. "The ministry...the ministry. Why is it always the ministry? They organize ineffective searches...bicker away opportunities, then give up sooner than anyone else. I know Mr. Tudor is going to continue to hunt Hugh...err...Winterbourne, but what can he do? The ministry hasn't even authorized him to use veritaserum..."
Mr. Cohen nods at Sylvie. "Thank you very much," he says, and is seconded quietly by his wife and Mrs. Sainsbury. He then turns to Professor Goldbeck. "We'd best be going now, Ann is . .. well, send us word if there are any developments." With that, he turns and leaves, having not so much as acknowledged the presence of Lupine and Thomas. Behind him follows his wife, followed by Mrs. Sainsbury pushing Mr. Holloway's chair as they make their way out.
Micaela Goldbeck sighs, putting her head in her hands. "It is always the Ministry because they have taken it out of our hands, Thomas. The staff of the school can do nothing, as much as we would like to." Her voice seems to betray a hint of unusual emotion, as though she'd like to just go have a cry on her own. "Please, Thomas, Lupine, I don't want to argue with you. Not now, not today."
Sylvie Winters gives another, not quite so deep curtsy to the group as they go out. She adds silently to herself that, what's more, she /will/ bring Ruth and Chris back to them. Alive, unless all she does find is the bodies.
Thomas D'Arcy closes his eyes, clenching both fist and eyes. "Tell the headmaster that I shall be departing tomorrow afternoon. I...I cannot stay in a place where.../you/ understand, don't you, professor? I...I just don't care about this anymore..."
Lupine Johnson looks at Thomas, "NO, Thomas.. please..." She almost pleads. If he goes, she'll be alone and she'd leave also but go back to her parents willingly? Not she, not EVER.
Micaela Goldbeck sighs. "I understand, Thomas," she says, her head still in her hands, "And I wish I could do the same. I'd try to dissuade you, but that would be quite useless, as I have well found out by now." She pauses, struggling with what to say. "But your name is still in my gradebooks. So are Ruth's and Chris's . . . when this whole issue is settled . .either we find them or their bodies ..I hope you will return."
Thomas D'Arcy nods once, forcing back tears that have begun to brim in his eyes, then offers a hand. "For what it has been worth, thank you for your assistance, professor. I shall return with them...or not at all."
Lupine Johnson bites her lip, a drop of crimson blood seeps up onto her lip as she looks at Thomas with large, pleasing eyes. He /can't/ go, it would be too mean! How /dare/ he...
Micaela Goldbeck shakes his hand firmly. "You're a good student, Thomas, for the most part. You'll be sorely missed." She takes her seat again, and adds, "I believe many of your friends here would like to dissuade you, though, in addition to Miss Johnson."
Lupine Johnson perks up, "You're going to look for them.. not home to your family...may I come with you, Thomas?" She asks, though it is obvious she will come no matter his answer.
Sylvie Winters bites her lip, looking at Thomas. Perhaps this would be a good time to go.. But she does so want to ask one question of Micaela, and depending on the answer, to speak with her friend as well. So she stands there, uncertain as she's seemed all day, which is a most unusual look for her.
Thomas D'Arcy closes his eyes as he turns, shaking his head. "No...no, I am afraid not, Lupine. Chris and Ruth have gone...I don't know what I should do if you went as well. Besides...who will take care of Emili and Astra?" He offers a hand, attempting to crack a small smile. "Farewell, Lupine...With luck we shall meet again sometime soon..."
Micaela Goldbeck glances over at Sylvie, "Thank you for coming to speak with the parents . .I was at quite a loss for words, really. Mr. Cohen is still swearing he'll track down some ministry member or other and dismember them . .." She smiles wryly, though her heart isn't really in it.
Lupine Johnson glares at Thomas, "You fool, do you think I could bear your death? You seem to think you are the only person in the world who matters. I WILL come. If you won't let me come with you, I'll follow you."
Sylvie Winters gives a tiny nod, looking at the teacher. "It.. was the least I could do. If only I could do more for them. If only I could do more in /all/ of this.." She bites her lip, quickly falling silent.
Thomas D'Arcy laughs softly, lifting a single finger to the girl's cheek. "So young...yet so headstrong and determined." He smiles at her sadly, not saying anything else before turning towards Sylvie, approaching her cautiously.
Prefect...Sylvie...Thank you for being the best of sisters. I shall feel your absence acutely, I assure you..."
Lupine Johnson glares at Thomas, "Stop playing like you're my father, Thomas. I'm as old as you." She throws back her head haughtily and setting her mouth in a line of grim determination she asks, "Well, Thomas, need I follow you or will you let me travel with you?"
Sylvie Winters turns toward Thomas, blinking. If she was going to cry from any of this, it would be now. And almost likely, with the way she's been breaking down.. but not yet. "I suppose I could not stop you from leaving, either? You know I should like to go, but my duty is to the school as a whole, and I could not unless I had permission, even if you wanted anyone with you.." She pauses for a moment. "I'll miss you terribly, brother. But I'll see you again."
Micaela Goldbeck has rather tuned out the students, staring blankly at a piece of parchment in front of her. She probably doesn't even notice that the students are still in the room. The parchment is a letter, addressed to her children ... but she doesn't know where she should even start, or what to tell them.
Thomas D'Arcy pauses a moment, biting his lip as he glances over to Lupine, smiling slightly. "I suppose you might as well come with me...I'm not about to leave you alone in the forbidden forest..." He sighs, biting down even harder on his lip before throwing his arms about Sylvie, burying his face in her shoulder.
Sylvie Winters puts her arms around Thomas, and a tear slides down her face, then another. Oh, for.. so she is going to break down. "Thomas, I.. Oh, they're part of the school, too, are they not? My duty is to them as much as anyone else, and I've sworn to myself.. Would you mind terribly if I /did/ come along?"
Lupine Johnson glances at Sylvie briefly, then to Thomas. She doesn't know Sylvie well and Thomas was right about the others needing somebody to take care of them but perhaps she would be a help..
Thomas D'Arcy looks terribly aghast as he lifts his head, gazing at Sylvie. "Are you absolutely /certain/ that you wish to come along? It won't be easy, you know..."
Lupine Johnson nods, "And...Thomas was right about the others needing somebody to take care of them..." She voices her worry quietly, "But..."
Sylvie Winters looks back at Thomas solemnly, then gives a small nod. Crying, here.. that's worse then the way she was sobbing in someone else's arms last night. "What has ever been easy? I've sworn a hundred times over to myself that I would find them, and besides.. who in this school needs someone more then they do, right now? Yes, I.. I am sure."
Lupine Johnson frowns, "But...you are Head Girl..." She protests, "Though your help would be appreciated...they would need to find a new Head Girl and..."
Thomas D'Arcy attempts to give Sylvie a quick peck on the cheek, for all the world like some child whose elder sister has just given him the present he requested. "Wonderful!! Be certain to be packed by six o'clock tomorrow afternoon... Bring your broom, of course."
Lupine Johnson nods sharply, "Good." She looks a mildly nervous at the mention of a broomstick, unknown to most Lupine is afraid of heights, but, she levels her jaw determinedly, Chris and Ruth are more important.
Sylvie Winters is a bit surprised, and she manages a weak smile for Thomas. She glances at Lupine and says quietly, "As Head Girl, my duty is to the school, and they are part of the school.. so it is also to them." Then she nods. "I'll be ready to go."
Lupine Johnson adds, "And Thomas, PLEASE don't tell anybody else...though, well, maybe Justin but.....and Samantha.. and...oh, /dear/." She frowns, looking upset.