Hogwarts MOO

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."

Transfiguration and Tornadoes

(OOC: 1907-08 school year.)

+---[ Hogwarts - Transfiguration Classroom ]---------------------------------+

Samantha Crewe yawns, flipping open her book. She grins at the mention of the bats.

Chris Holloway gives Daryn a very odd look, then glances around at the other students in the class. Noticing that they're not reacting, he decides to be oh-so-British about it and ignore Daryn's eccentricities.

Sylvie Winters slips into a seat and pulls out her book.

Daryn D'Arcy glances up from his pocket-watch as he begins distributing papers to the students. "Your two minutes are up...Close your books immediately." A sharp eye is cast in Mandy's direction. "Once again, Miss Brocklehurst, you are tardy, but just in time for our quiz. Take a seat, but not in the front row as their is a family of bats nesting in the middle desk."

Samantha Crewe closes her book, and slides it under her desk. She casts an amused glance at Mandy, and gets out her quill

Mandy Brocklehurst mumbles something about poltergeists before sitting down in the second row and staring at the front row as though thoroughly searching it for nocturnal creatures.

Sylvie Winters closes her book, putting it away. She glances at Mandy as she finds and takes out a quill.

Daryn D'Arcy clears his throats as he begins. "Now...in no less than eight lines, discuss the opposing viewpoints of the public, and the ministry concerning transfiguration. Also explain how the conflict was resolved. Make sure to identify the document that formed the backbone of this reconciliation."

Daryn D'Arcy clears his throat as he glances up, then stands. "Put down your quills and hand your papers to the front row as quickly as possible. Since the quiz covered nearly everything a lecture or discussion would, I have planned a little treat for today's class." He solemnly glances around at the gathered students, waiting for them to finish handing in their quizzes.

Sylvie Winters looks over her paper quickly. Shaking her head, she hands it forward. Putting away her quill, she looks at Daryn curiously.

Daryn D'Arcy smiles as he removes a wand from within his sleeves. "Now...I am certain that most of you have only thought of transfiguration as a useful tool to make a spare pot...or a fancy necklace to wear to some social gathering. However, today...we shall cover the usages of transfiguration in duels." He hurriedly rushes to the center of the room, and clears a circly of radius ten feet in the center of the room. "The first thing that you ought to know, is that spells are objects. They can be dodged, hidden from, but most of all, they can be transfigured."

Chris Holloway hands his paper forward, then leans back, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He watches Daryn with a somewhat bemused expression on his face, though whether it's because of the nightrobe or an aftereffect of the quiz is unclear.

Mandy Brocklehurst stares at Daryn with obvious interest and shifts her position so as to better see him.

Philip Tsang comes in realizing he's late. He quickly takes a seat and hopes Daryn won't see him.

Emili Lordre sets down her quill and passes her parchment forward. Watching Daryn curiously, she rests her chin in one hand, elbow propped on the desk and takes in as much information as she can.

Myles Coffey noticing that he is much too late, walks back out and will talk to Daryn later.

Daryn D'Arcy taps his wand thoughtfully. "However...more on that later. First of all. If you were to transfigure something...anything in a duel, what two things should you target?" He peers about, pursing his lips. "And please...do stand. It is relatively hard to duel while seated. Mr. Tsang, you are quite late...please see me after class about the quiz. You as well Mr. Coffey."

I apologize for my lateness, there was a commotion in the Owlery." Myles Coffey says.

Chris Holloway raises his hand, after waiting a moment to see if anyone else is going to.

Daryn D'Arcy blinks twice. "Perhaps I might ask what you were doing in the Owlery so close to class time, but I probably would not like the answer. Remain standing." He turns to Chris with a little sigh. "Yes, Mr. Holloway? Which two items would you transfigure?"

Chris Holloway says slowly, "Well, the wand is the first thing that comes to mind. As for the second, I'm not so sure. It'd be hard to transfigure the person, so maybe..." he looks slightly embarrassed at this point, "Maybe their robes or something."

Sylvie Winters stands up as instructed, brushing off her robe as she does so. She looks at Chris as she quietly decides on her own answer.

Myles Coffey rests his weight against the wall, and puts his book bag on the ground.

Emili Lordre rises out of her seat at Daryn's request, hesitantly taking out her wand as she does so. Thinking over the question, she frowns, but says nothing.

Philip Tsang waves to Hank coming for him to sit next to him. He finally catches on what is going on and stands up abruptly following his classmates.

Mandy Brocklehurst stands up obediently and scuffs the floor with her shoes a little.

Daryn D'Arcy smiles, arching an eyebrow. "You ought to have more confidence, Mr. Holloway...Your original answer would have been correct. Yes...the person, or the wand. Now, if you can please pair off...we shall have a small duel. Since none of you ought to know the Humantro spell, we shall only be transfiguring wands. And /do/ hurry...Pairing off is really quite simple, and not much fuss needs to be made over it."

Hank Shih whispers something to Philip Tsang

Philip Tsang looks around the room wondering who to pair up with.

Chris Holloway nods to Myles, and takes a step over to stand next to him.

Mandy Brocklehurst raises an eyebrow at Samantha as if to ask 'Do you want to be my partner?'

Samantha Crewe glances at Philip and then to Mandy, and nods.

Sylvie Winters glances around once. She raises an eyebrow questioningly at the person closest her own age, Emili.

Emili Lordre gives a faint smile at Sylvie and moves so she is standing next to her.

Mandy Brocklehurst smiles and goes to stand next to Samantha.

Philip Tsang glances at Samantha and accepts Hank's offer politely.

Kanani Wana'ao isn't late. She was here the whole time...right? Quickly hurrying in, a hand holding down ebon tresses, she glances about - quietly.

Hank Shih nods his head and walks quietly towards Philip.

Daryn D'Arcy gives an encouraging smile towards Emili, as if urging her to say 'yes'. He glances about at the rest of the latecomers, shaking his head with a faint smile. "Miss Wana'ao, I suppose that means that you will be my partner. When you are ready, attempt to transfigure your opponent's wand. Fell free to cast now."

Hank Shih whispers something to Philip Tsang

Samantha Crewe looks at Mandy. "I'll go first," she volunteers, raising her wand.

Emili Lordre gives a nervous little sigh and waves her wand at Sylvie's, murmuring the spell under her breath.

Rather large chunks of hail strike the many turrets and towers of Hogwarts castle. Propelled by the fierce, gusting winds, they rattle against the windows as if attempting to break them.

Hank Shih takes out his wand from his robe and points it at Philip's wand and mutters, "Altro Mesion Frunu Terra." Philip's wand begins to shake a little.

Philip Tsang bows to Hank as he usually does and waits for Hank to strike first. He glances anxiously at his wand wondering what it will turn to.

Mandy Brocklehurst nods to Samantha. "Alright then." she says.

Mandy Brocklehurst sneaks a glance out the window, frowning.

Kanani Wana'ao eyes Daryn D'Arcy, ashen pallor whispering something milkish as she handles her wand with delicate fingers. "Partner? Excuse me, but could you explain the comment - I am to transfigure my opponent's wand?"

Samantha Crewe takes a breath before exclaiming, "Altro Mesion Frunu Terra!" and pointing towards Mandy's wand. Mandy's wand suddenly turns into... a plain quill.

Hank Shih looks at Philip's wand as it changes into a piece of wood. Hank smiles a bit at Philip.

Myles Coffey nods to Chris and mutters, "Altro Mesion Frunu Terra."

Mandy Brocklehurst 's gaze returns to her wand and she chuckles. Dipping it into an inkpot, she writes something on a bit of parchment. "Hey, it works!" she says.

Sylvie Winters watches Emili anxiously, quietly flicking her own wand and muttering the spell, hoping for a plain old piece of string. And hoping she got the spell off in time, as her own wand changes in her hands and she blinks at it.

Daryn D'Arcy nods towards his Slytherin partner with a sigh. "Yes...transfigure my wand...Preferably something...not disgusting like sludge."

The wind howls creepily, small peices of hail on the roof and sides of the castle adding percussion to the howl of the wind and the creaking of the trees in the forbidden forest.

Samantha Crewe smiles at Mandy. "There you go," she replies, shrugging.

Myles Coffey glances out the window, then focuses back on Chris' wand, nothing has happened yet.

Samantha Crewe looks around, waiting for everyone to finish and smiling at their outcomes.

Chris Holloway blinks, and looks down in surprise at the rather long candy cane he happens to be holding. He grins at Myles, and says, "I almost wonder what would happen if I ate part of it, but I'm not going to try."

In the distance, you can hear a low growl of thunder and if you were to look at the sky you'd notice the fluffy clouds in it steadily becoming darker.

Emili Lordre takes in her breath sharply as the hail assaults the building. She frowns slightly as her opponent's wand shimmers into a tin ladle, but her attention is distracted by her own wand and the quickly darkening weather.

Myles Coffey says, "Wonder, if it would taste like wood."

Philip Tsang watches with wide eyes as he sees Hank's spell hits directly at his wand. He drops his quickly when it turns into a piece of wood. He gives a small chuckle later and walks over to Hank for doing well.

Mandy Brocklehurst stares out of the window, biting her lip.

Myles Coffey inquires, "Mr. D'Arcy, will Chris' still work even though it is a candy cane?"

Chris Holloway says to Myles, "I'll pass this time. Change it back and we'll try again?"

Kanani Wana'ao offers a disdainful glance toward her partner, lifting her nose at the thought. "If I'm to transfigure it, I'll transfigure into whatever I want!" Attempting to appear as though she knows what she's doing, she points her wand at her opponent's, staring at it for a while before finally managing to conjure up something...something...unrecognizable. Black, slimy...ew!

Sylvie Winters peers at her tin ladle for a second more. She looks up to Emili. "Good job." Then she scans the room quietly, looking at others' results.

Philip Tsang whispers to Hank if he can change his piece of wood back into his wand.

Myles Coffey whispers something to Chris Holloway

An open window down the hall bangs loudly, buffeted by the wind, adding to the symphony of the storm. The small, mostly harmless pieces of hail, seem to be getting a little bigger.

Chris Holloway whispers something to Myles Coffey

Chris Holloway glances in the direction of the window, and says, "Maybe I should go close that one."

Samantha Crewe looks around again, watching others to see what they are doing. "Alright then, I'll suppose I'll have to transfigure it back."

Myles Coffey says a phrase under his breath, and instantly Chris' wand changes back to it's normal form.

Daryn D'Arcy shakes his head as he withdraws a crystal from within his robes. A light glow comes forth as his wand quickly transfigures back to its previous form. He lightly rushes about the room, murmuring the transfiguration spell as he points to everyone's former wand. "No, it will not work..that is the point in transfiguring it. Casting the transfiguring spell again will simply reverse the process. Now...on to the more delicate part of today's lesson. As I said earlier, spells are /objects/...they can be transfigured like anything else. It usually helps to focus on a spot just in front of the opponent's wand. Prefect Winters...if you would care to help me demonstrate? Please...cast the stupefy spell..."

Mandy Brocklehurst nods at Samantha before jumping at the noise. "Oh honestly," she murmurs. "Will these storms never end?"

Myles Coffey says, "Your turn Chris."

Hank Shih looks at Philip with shock and mutters, "Don't you like your piece of wood? Hehe..I'll change it back." Hank holds up his wand and points it at the piece of wood and mutters, "Altro Mesion Frunu Terra." The wand begins to shake a little and with a blink of a eye, it changed back to it's formal form.

Myles Coffey whispers something to Chris Holloway

Chris Holloway nods to Myles, but holds off from having a try of his own since Daryn's demonstrating something else.

Mandy Brocklehurst puts her wand safely back into her pocket and watches Daryn.

Emili Lordre nods at her partner, growing rather anxious as the storm builds up, but focuses on Daryn's demonstration with evident interest.

Sylvie Winters nods slightly to Daryn. "Of course." She eyes her wand for a second, willing it to work, and takes a breath. "Stupefy" she mutters, waving her wand a bit.

Philip Tsang gives a small wink at Hank and wants to cast the spell himself at Hank already knowing what to change it into.

Gada flaps into sight, hooting a warning as it dives at Philip Tsang, dropping a letter. Immediately, the bird flaps away again.

Philip Tsang raises a hand urgently to ask Daryn to be excused.

Samantha Crewe gives Philip a questioning look from across the room.

Fireshocker has arrived, looking for Philip Tsang.

Fireshocker tucks a message into a small pouch on its leg, flaps its wings quickly, and swoops away to its destination.

Daryn D'Arcy draws his brows together, hoping to god this works, for it only has worked twice for him. He murmurs the transfiguration spell five times in quick succession, pointing to each of the five small sparks that fly from Sylvie's wand. There is a small puff of smoke, and the odor of sulfur fills the room, but when the air clears there are five distinct bundles of flowers lying on the floor. Daryn exhales deeply, obviously relieved as he takes the bundles and offers each lady in the class one. "Yes, Mr. Tsang?"

Fireshocker flaps into sight, landing smoothly on the ground.

The wind begins to moan and howl, whipping around the turrets and towers of the castle. The relentless hailstones grow ever larger and continue to attack the building and grounds alike. A forked bolt of lightning streaks across the stormy, darkening sky, illuminating it with a grand, white light. The thunder that follows rumbles ferociously throughout the hallways.

Philip Tsang sighs happily. "Um...I want to be excused for a minute. My friend needs some urgent help. I will be back in around 5 minutes."

Fireshocker leaves away towards home.

Chris Holloway nods, looking mildly impressed at the demonstration. Then he steps quietly aside to close the window that was banging open earlier.

Mandy Brocklehurst backs up against the wall, staring out the window, mouthing something.

Gada flaps into sight, hooting a warning as it dives at Hank Shih, dropping a letter. Immediately, the bird flaps away again.

The swirling clouds overhead seem to coalesce, twisting slowly into a dark, ominous tunnel that slowly winds its way downwards to touch the ground a ways away from Hogwarts.

Sylvie Winters smiles slightly. She managed to make the charm work first time, and it didn't end up stupefying anyone, which wouldn't have been good in this case. She murmurs "nice," as she looks at the flowers.

Emili Lordre's eyes widen with surprise, but seems pleased with the demonstration. Biting her lip at the storm, she looks at Daryn anxiously, wanting to sit again.

Daryn D'Arcy gives Philip a light nod. "Of course...I...suppose you may, though it seems like a professor would be more appropriate." He turns towards the other students, clapping his hands once against the other. "There is nothing to be worried about...this room is surrounded by heaven knows how many protection spells, and nothing can get in. Now...one person from each group is to cast a simple spell...perhaps...the leg-locking curse at his or her partner. The other person is to attempt to transfigure the spell. Do /not/ become embarrassed...or hurt if it does not work, for I have...unfortunately, not gotten this to work many a time myself."

Chris Holloway, who was closing the noisy window, takes a step back from it, and exclaims, "Goodness, it's a cyclone!"

Fireball tucks a message into a small pouch on its leg, flaps its wings quickly, and swoops away to its destination.

Sylvie Winters nods again, starting to open her mouth and ask Emili if she wants to cast first. Then she hears Chris and spins, blinking.

Kanani Wana'ao pauses for a moment of thought, but decides to remain silent, glancing at the flowers suspiciously - but moreso at Daryn. Oy. Still handling her wand with care, she doesn't move, refusing to show a trace of the confusion blocking her.

Daryn D'Arcy waves his wand impatiently. "Yes yes...there is nothing to be worried about. It will /not/ hit the castle. Now please, may we begin with the lesson? My dragonlets are getting hungry and will eat my bats if we do not hurry." He turns towards Kanani, waving his wand and murmuring in a soft voice. "locomotor mortis."

Mandy Brocklehurst stares out the window and positively /screams/.

Emili Lordre glances at the window at Chris' exclamation and gasps, paling. Shaking her head, she reminds herself to heed Daryn's reassurance and turns to Sylvie, cringing as Mandy screams.

Chris Holloway comes away from the window, looking somewhat unconvinced. Perhaps it was the references to dragonlets and bats that undermined his confidence. "But we never have cyclones in the United Kingdom..." he mutters, returning to join Myles.

Gada flaps into sight, hooting a warning as it dives at Hank Shih, dropping a letter. Immediately, the bird flaps away again.

As more bolts of lightning streak across the sky, they light up the whirling black tunnel that is the ferocious tornado, approaching the castle with deadly speed. It swirls beautifully in a circle, a frightening shade of black. As it whips around the grounds it uproots small trees. The hail beats against the windows relentlessly.

Sylvie Winters looks out the window for another second, hoping there isn't anyone outside. Actually hoping she'd have some way to know if there was. Well, they should all be in classes.. as long as she doesn't hear anything. She looks back at Emili. "You want to tranfigure, or cast the charm first?"

Kanani Wana'ao is not idiot, but for lack of information she just eyes Daryn - this kid /can't/ be much older than she - and points her wand at - well, somewhere, likely the other wand - and somehow manages to produce a simple lei. Hmm.

Mandy Brocklehurst decides this would be a good time to hunch under a desk.

David Porter's voice is amplified throughout Hogwarts. "Staff members, report to the Great Hall immediately. Students, get underneath any object that is sturdy. Take cover at once..."

Mandy Brocklehurst whimpers loudly and curls up, a look of sheer terror upon her face.

Daryn D'Arcy gives Kanani an approving nod, then glances up in irritation. "Class is dismissed...remember to do your reading for next week. Go...quickly..."

The howling of the wind and the pounding of the hail has risen to a feverish pitch, a chill wind whipping through the castle, an ominous portent of what is to come. Small dust-devils light about the grounds, twisting the grass into little circles, though they merely echo the impressive size and power of the tornado as it approaches. Dirt whips up about it, solidifying its form as it twists and meanders its way towards Hogwarts at great speed despite its indirect path.

Sylvie Winters turns again, focusing one the Hufflepuff. "Erm, one second, Emili.. Mandy, It's all..." She blinks, and moves toward Mandy. "Easy, Mandy.. We'll be fine."

Chris Holloway had started to say, "D'Arcy...there's trees flying around out there..." when he hears Porter's announcement. He promptly takes cover under a heavy looking table, and pulls Myles down with him.

Daryn D'Arcy raises his voice, eyes flickering a little. "Did you hear me? I said to leave...It is evidently not safe here. We shall meet in the Great hall. None of these desks is sturdy enough to provide shielding...every single one of you must leave this room immediately."

Myles Coffey gets up from under the desk and leaves according to Daryn's instructions.

Emili Lordre's eye is caught by something outside, and she stares, seemingly entranced by the cyclone. Tearing her eyes away at the Headmaster's she bites her lip and flees the room.

Kanani Wana'ao grabs the lei, throwing it about her neck with a smudge of satisfaction - was that a sigh? - before twisting to eye Daryn, uncomprehending, but intelligent enough to head toward the door, pacing herself quickly.

Sylvie Winters nods quietly. Seventh floor classroom, not a good place to be. "Everyone, go with Daryn. Hurry." She reaches out an arm to Mandy.

Mandy Brocklehurst takes Sylvie's arm and stares out the window, whimpering.

Daryn D'Arcy nods to Sylvie. "Forgive my audacity Prefect, but please escort the first group of students to the Great Hall. I shall check the other rooms on this floor for any students."

Sylvie Winters just nods again. If he wants to do that instead of her, at least it'll still get done. She stands up and heads out (with Mandy?) after the other students.

+---[ Hogwarts - Great Hall ]------------------------------------------------+

Chris Holloway goes over to Ruth, and says to her, "I thought this sort of thing only happened in America! What do you do when there's a cyclone?"

Kynthia Silvertongue hurries towards the center of the room, occasionally glancing frightenedly out the window.

Ruth Cohen says, steadying the slight tremble in her voice, "You go the cellar . .that's all you can do, most of the time . . but I suppose the Great Hall is just as safe . ."

Kayla Lockwood inquires, "How about the pit room?"

Sylvie Winters runs in, following the group of students who came from tranfiguration. Most of her attention is turned on them, making sure everyone is alright.

Ruth Cohen shakes her head, "That's on one of the highest floors! That'd be crazy . . "

Kayla Lockwood says, "oh"

Emili Lordre bites her lip nervously, staring at the ceiling, oblivious to the conversation around her.

The luminous cloud cover blackens the sky; only the torches provide light in the deep darkness. Massive lightning bolts and enormous rolls of thunder make it sound as if there were a death tournament occurring in the heavens. The spiraling vortex of the tornado grows larger. Impact with the school is imminent. The enormous roaring of what sounds like a train can be heard. The pressing inside of the school is changing; it feels as though you are being pressed against by the air itself.

Daryn D'Arcy bows as he enters the common room, not too far behind Sylvie. "The upper floors are completely clear of students, headmaster. There is one fellow who seems to be stunned with fright on the fourth floor, but he is in a safe spot."

Siria Sardona comes in, seemingly nervous, her hands continually clasping and unclasping..

Micaela Goldbeck seems strangely unworried, only intent on her task and what to do next. She nods at Daryn and grasps her staff, waiting for a cue from the headmaster.

David Porter nods to Daryn, "Thank you, Mister D'Arcy..." His gives a protective glance to the students now in the hall. "Sylvie!" He calls, gesturing for her to join him at the center of the room with the other staff members. There isn't much time left, but he knows the two people is not enough.

Mandy Brocklehurst rocks back and forth under the Hufflepuff table.

Kanani Wana'ao's expression is on the verge of being penetrated by sheer anxiety, the unsettling sounds causing a frown above caramel-glazed orbs; decidedly, she heads in that direction, weaving her way through students.

Sylvie Winters glances toward the Professor. She gives Mandy a worried glance, but hurries over to join the staff.

birthday party?" Vertigo Hypno inquires.

Ruth Cohen gestures the people who came in recently to get under the tables, already under the Slytherin table herself, having ducked under there automatically on hearing the headmasters announcement to get under something sturdy.

Chris Holloway glances around at his fellow students, then remarks to those nearest him, "We should probably get under tables anyhow, and not distract the teachers."

No Vertigo." Kayla Lockwood says.

David Porter looks to the teachers, the Minister, and Sylvie. He raises his wand high above him, waiting for the other members to follow suite.

No..... tornado" Hank Shih says.

jeez, and on your birthday" Vertigo Hypno says.

I know!" Rhea Aswynn exclaims.

you have the worst luck" Vertigo Hypno says.

yes on her birthday." Kayla Lockwood says.

Dust and small rocks join the pieces of hail that buffet the castle, swept up and flung by the wind.

thanks" Rhea Aswynn says.

Micaela Goldbeck raises her staff, following David's lead.

am sorry, am so scared. " Kayla Lockwood says.

Myles Coffey ducks under the Ravenclaw table, motioning Siria to do the same.

The black, ominous tunnel draws ever closer to Hogwarts.

Vertigo Hypno whispers something to Rhea Aswynn

Rhea Aswynn looks around more worried so she grabs KAyla and Vertigo and she pulls them under the Hufflepuff table

Sylvie Winters pulls out her wand, smoothly for once, and raises her own wand.

Kynthia Silvertongue pulls out her wand, face set.

Rhea Aswynn whispers something to Vertigo Hypno

Chris Holloway peeks out from his position under the Gryffindor table, so as to get a view of what the teachers are about.

Hank Shih screams slightly and hurries and hides under the Gryffindor table.

Daryn D'Arcy eyes the students rather worriedly, but continues pacing the Great Hall, hands clasped behind his back. He turns towards the staff, arching a shrewd eyebrow as he notices them raising their hands. He glances towards the students who have just entered, and jerks his head towards them undoubtedly requesting them to join their housemates.

Rhea Aswynn exclaims, "Sorry Hank only had two hands!"

Mandy Brocklehurst rocks back and forth restlessly, carefully looking anywhere but the window. Her deep blue eyes are almost blank with terror.

Vertigo Hypno says, "how long has it been her"

I think for umm..." Kayla Lockwood says.

it was just hailing then it sort of turned into a tornado, pretty recently" Rhea Aswynn says.

oh" Vertigo Hypno says.

Kayla Lockwood runs over to Rhea and hides behind her letting her hand go.

Hank Shih says, "The crazy thing is there is someone outside."

Kayla Lockwood says, "Yeah."

The howling winds are now almost deafening, the tornado looming large as it approaches Hogwarts, radiating destructive force. The air in the castle grows even more pressing and ominous.

Chris Holloway looks over at Hank, and asks seriously, "Who's outside?"

David Porter does not wisk his hand; instead he holds his wand straight up into the air. He knows that the chances may be slim, but he has to do what is necessary to protect the school. Looking to those lined up in the center of the room, he speaks... "Repeat after me..." Closing his eyes, he shouts... "PRAESIDIUM!"

PRAESIDIUM!" Vertigo Hypno exclaims.

Daryn D'Arcy turns his eyes towards Hank, shaking his head. "Mr. Trim is safe...the tornado shall pass nowhere near him. It is more dangerous for him to try and enter the castle than to stay where he is."

Emili Lordre almost reluctanly, but not quite, slips under the Slytherin Table, continuing her gaze at the ceiling from beneath the table. Tearing her eyes away from the tempest once to glance at the pacing Daryn with puzzlement- why is he not also under a table?- she continues to stare at the lightning and angry clouds, features tense.

Micaela Goldbeck shouts, 'PRAESIDIUM!" shortly after David, eyes closed and concentrating hard.

Kynthia Silvertongue stares out the window, hand shaking as she raises her wand as David did and follows his lead. "PRAESIDIUM!"

Sylvie Winters takes a deep breathe, silently begging her wand.. and whatever they are doing.. to work. Holding her wand up, she raises her voice. "PRAESIDIUM!"

Daryn D'Arcy brings his finger towards his lips, darting a furious glance towards Vertigo. Nevertheless, he does so soundlessly, so as not to disturb those clustered in the center of the Great Hall.

Ruth Cohen watches, at once enthralled and genuinely terrified. She tugs at her hair nervously and listens apprehensively to the wind.

Kynthia Silvertongue shuts her eyes, seemingly concentrating,hoping..praying...if it didn't work...

"PRAESIDIUM!" the staff members, the Minister, and even Sylvie say. Their voices can be heard above the enormous raging howl of the viciously spinning vortex. As the words are spoken, enormous bright red balls of pure energy leap out from each of their wands and shoot through the walls. Through the windows, and the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall, an enormous bubble takes a smooth shape around the castle. Energy, flowing just like water, continues to pour out of each of the wands being used towards the shield. The tornado impacts with the shield only seconds afterwards. Vibrating floors make standing difficult. The tornado seems to implode upon itself as it hits, literally being forced back into the sky. The storm itself continues on, winds having died down. The forces of pressure within the school begin to drop.

whew" Vertigo Hypno says.

Micaela Goldbeck sits down slowly, holding onto her staff for support as she sinks to the floor. She wipes beads of sweat off her forehead, and looks up at the ceiling, relief slowly spreading over her face.

Kayla Lockwood says, "thats better."

Daryn D'Arcy reaches a hand towards the mantelpiece to steady himself as he gazes up towards the passing storm, wincing as the tornado passes overhead. Nevertheless, his right eyebrow arches rather skeptically as he peers towards the staff members.

Ruth Cohen gets up shakily from under the Slytherin table . . . that was really scary for a moment, the shaking floor, the loud noise . .but it seems to be over. She breathes deeply and steadies herself, taking a seat on the bench by the Slytherin table, still catching up with what just happened.

Sylvie Winters stands as the spell does it's work, every bit of concentration on what she's doing. The amount of concentration drains her, and she pushes harder to keep going until the spells ends, everyone is safe.. and she falls to the floor.

Vertigo Hypno gets up from the floor underneath the table, then helps Rhea an Kayla up

David Porter lowers his hand. He is a powerful enough wizard not to have been affected by the spell a great deal, as he underwent training for the sort. It is by a miracle alone that he was able to recall a spell powerful enough to disrupt the forces of Mother Nature. As he notices Sylvie becoming weak, he quickly moves to catch her. Kneeling, he gently lays her against himself, not wanting her to lay flat. "I need smelling salts!" his tired voice calls out, beads of sweat obvious on his forehead.

Myles Coffey whispers something to Chris Holloway

Chris Holloway lets out a sigh of relief when the storm is repelled by the shield. He shoots a glance over at Ruth, then makes his way out from under the table. He walks closer to where the staff members are, and then hurries to get some smelling salts. (or anything similarly odoriferous)

Daryn D'Arcy rushes to Sylvie's side, withdrawing the ever-present vial from within his robes. What with all the fainting that has been going on as of late in the Slytherin common room, he has been carrying them on his person.

Myles Coffey gets up from the floor and yells to Chris, "Hurry up with those smelling salts!"

Kynthia Silvertongue 's wand drops with a clatter as the floor shakes. She sinks down onto her knees, looking tremendously exhausted. Her violet eyes drift to Sylvie and the Headmaster slowly as she attempts to get up again, but does not succeed.

Micaela Goldbeck gets up, slowly recovering her energy, though her hair is sticking, wet, to her forehead and the sides of her face. "Is everyone else okay?" She calls out to the rest of the Great Hall after casting a worried glance at Sylvie.

Chris Holloway halts in mid-run when he sees Daryn pull some from his robes, and instead returns with the ever-present teapot and some mugs. (this is England, after all, and institutional tea is always present) He pours some tea out into the mugs, placing them on the table nearest the spellcasters.

Mandy Brocklehurst whimpers quietly but she nods, not moving from her place under her house table.

David Porter takes the smelling salts from Daryn, and mutters to him, "Tend to the Minister, please..." Quietly, he waves the smelling salts in front of Sylvie's nose. His eyes glance about as he does this, checking on the rest of the students and members of the faculty who are in the Great Hall.

Kayla Lockwood whispers something to Rhea Aswynn

Rhea Aswynn looks at Kayla and smiles, then she says "I'm glad it's over".

Myles Coffey grabs a stool and rushes over to Minister Silvertongue.

Ruth Cohen nods cautiously, eyes wide as she surveys everything around the Great Hall. "Everyone else seems to be fine," she says softly.

Here Professor, rest on the stool." Myles Coffey says.

Emili Lordre releases her breath, joining Ruth at the table. She observes the scene at the center, eyes flickering with worry at the exhausted professors and prefect. Sighing again, she looks distantly disappointed at the ceiling for a moment, but shakes off the expression.

Daryn D'Arcy quickly uncaps his vial as he kneels, offering the pungent salts to the headmaster. He nods, brusquely rising to his feet and approaching Miss Silvertongue as he offers an arm. "Forgive my...ahh...indiscretion, but you truly look weak.."

Chris Holloway remarks as he offers tea to Micaela and Kynthia, "That was completely unnatural."

Sylvie Winters blinks, slowly, a few seconds after getting a sniff of the smelling salts. Another moment, and her eyes flutter open. She immediately tries to sit up and look around.

Micaela Goldbeck sits absentmindedly at the head of the Ravenclaw table, where she accepts the tea from Chris. "Yes, decidedly unnatural," she says under her breath.

Kynthia Silvertongue smiles at Daryn as she takes his arm, rising to her feet. She still looks rather shaky, beads of sweat forming all over her face, and she sinks down on the stool a minute, hardly daring to believe the tornado's actually gone.

Chris Holloway puts a mug of tea next to Kynthia, and says to her kindly, "Have some tea, ma'am." He then goes to offer one to Sylvie.

Kynthia Silvertongue glances over at Micaela with tired eyes. "Unnatural's an understatement," she notes exhaustedly. "That was horrific."

David Porter looks about and stands, patting Sylvie on the shoulder. He moves towards the points board and quietly changes some figures.

Mandy Brocklehurst shudders under her table, obviously not daring to move.

Micaela Goldbeck looks cautiously at Kynthia as she recovers her energy, "Yes," she says, her old determined voice coming back to her, "And you seem to know more about these occurrences than the staff here does. We will have to speak later."

Daryn D'Arcy quickly whispers something to the Minister, then rises to his feet and approaches one of the windows, staring darkly out after the receding tornado. Brows draw together as he casts a questioning look towards the headmaster, then quickly approaches with a bow, quickly whispering something.

Daryn D'Arcy whispers something to David Porter

David Porter whispers something to Daryn D'Arcy

Sylvie Winters peers about, weakly. "It worked.. is everyone alright?" Her voice is quiet as she looks around the Great Hall at the students. She then looks at Chris, "Oh, thanks.." and reaches up to take it.

Daryn D'Arcy whispers something to David Porter

Kanani Wana'ao, indecisive to a point, glances about the faces - particularly the male faces - in the room, eyeing the staff with a hint of respect before dashing it to glance over at the House Board. Boredom ensues; back to looking.

Chris Holloway puts the last mug of tea on the table next to David Porter, but says nothing to the Headmaster.

Ruth Cohen stands up, the adrenaline reaction from the storm suddenly taking effect. She feels like she needs to run and shout, but restrains herself to simply walking slowly around the perimeter of the great hall.

David Porter nods quietly to Daryn. "Come on, gent..." He stands, moving up the steps.

Micaela Goldbeck nods and Sylvie and smiles, "Yes, it worked. And you did wonderfully . .we couldn't have done it without you."

Kynthia Silvertongue offers a faint smile in Sylvie's direction. "I do believe we are alright," she notes, glancing around the room. Almost to repeat what Micaela said, she also notes, "You did a very good job, at your age."

Chris Holloway pulls himself up to sit on the table, and helps himself to the tea he'd poured for David. "Should we be taking a look outside, to make sure there's no one hurt out there?" he asks Kynthia and Micaela.

Sylvie Winters smiles slightly. "Thank you." She's glad she was able to do anything, she usually has such horrible luck with spells. At least she can do it when it matters. "Miss.. What happened? I don't think I've ever seen a storm quite like that one."

Micaela Goldbeck nods at Chris, though she still seems tired. "Yes, Chris, take another person and go search the grounds . . . I'm afraid I am still a bit too tired."

Chris Holloway jumps off the table, and looks around to see who could accompany him.

Ruth Cohen tries to catch Chris's eye, even as she paces about the room ..she needs some way to work off this nervous energy.

Chris Holloway asks finally, "Ruth, Myles? Either of you want to help me take a look outside? Make sure no-one's hurt?"

Ruth Cohen nods at Chris, "I'd like to come," she announces, pulling on her cloak and heading toward the door.

Sylvie Winters starts to get up and go to Chris, but discovers she's still a bit tired. She looks to the people he addresses with a small nod, and turns her attention back to the staff as she waits for an answer.

Kynthia Silvertongue sighs. "I'll bet that tornado hit the amphitheatre.." she notes regrettably.

Micaela Goldbeck sighs and nods, "It probably did . .I'll have to rebuild it. I was hoping to use it in a couple classes."

Sylvie Winters offers quietly, "I'll help rebuild, if you like." Then adds, almost regrettably, "if you'll wait until I'm less tired."

Micaela Goldbeck nods, "Well, I believe I'll put off that class for another week or so, Sylvie, until I can do it myself . .though I appreciate the offer."

Sylvie Winters nods slightly, then repeats her earlier question. "I've never seen anything like that, I don't think. "Why'd.. What happened?"

Sylvie Winters sighs and stands up. "I think I'm going to go up and rest.. If there's anything I can do, let me know. Or, if you'd be willing, if you come up with some explanation.." She gives a small curtsy and heads to the hallway.

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.

The Revelation

Having left Gilbert at home with the children Kalika Fallon-Wexler marches to Eva and Tommy's house. Her curly hair has been pinned back, but she appears particularly harried with hair frizzies sticking out about the pins (nothing like unruly curly hair). As she reaches her destination, she quickly smoothes her robes, attempts to smoothe her unruly hair, and sighs. In her hand she's carrying the latest installment of the Daily Prophet. Frowning the freckled woman, raps urgently on the Fallon's front door.

Expecting the knocks, Tom Fallon is nearly poised at the door, and opens it at once. "Oh good, you're here," he comments with a quick smile. He steps away from the door to allow his sister room to step inside, and glances at the newspaper in her hand. "Well, we'll have enough copies of it..." he remarks, motioning for her to follow him into the living room where he last saw Eva several minutes ago.

Eva's own hair is anything but tidy, though it doesn't hold a candle to Kalika's. "Kalika, hello!" Eva greets her sister-in-law with a relatively quiet voice. "Do you want some tea or anything?" the woman asks, her voice slightly strained as she paces slightly aimlessly through the livingroom, her arms crossed over her front. She approaches the woman and leans in to kiss her cheek, giving as care-free a smile as she can manage. It's almost as if Eva doesn't want to be the one to bring up the fears that have been already expressed.

"Yes I'm here. Always try to come when asked, you know," Kalika answers quickly before glancing around the street and then stepping into the house. She sighs a bit as she pads into the living room. "Thomas Porter certainly is the talk of the town, isn't he?" her voice as a sarcastic edge. She offers Eva the warmest smile she can muster given the circumstances, and returning a cheek kiss in return to her sister in law "that would be lovely!" With a sigh, she welcomes herself to a seat on the couch--it's her brother's house, afterall. She opens the paper to the article in question. Before saying anything else, she just furrows her eyebrows, "I assume you've both read it."

"Over and over," Tom answers with a nod, picking up his copy of the Prophet before also sitting down. He faces Kalika almost grimly as he flips to the article in question. "Thomas Porter. Well, what do we make of this one? I guess I was sort of expecting some kind of hidden message for us if it really was Lindsay, assuming Porter published anything else. But nothing really stands out to me." Tom's voice is calm, hopeful even. Maybe this isn't connected to them after all.

"Yes." Eva answers slightly tersly before she disappears into the kitchen for a moment. Some clanking is heard while she prepares the tea, but after a few minutes, she returns with tea for the three of them, setting a tray down on a side table near Kalika before taking a cup for herself and sitting down. "This whole thing scares me to death," Eva admits, her voice shaking a bit. She clears her throat as if to hide the shaking, but her face is pale as she looks to Kalika. "What do you make of it?"

Eyes are narrowed at Tommy as Kalika tries to decide if he's kidding or not about the hidden message. After several moments pass, the women quirks an eyebrow and leans back in her seat. "So. . ." she wrinkles her nose ". . . you really /don't/ remember?" Kalika sideglances Eva and then Tommy and frowns. "I'm nearly one hundred percent certain it's Lindsay now." Her frown deepens and the woman sighs. "Do you remember Avery's wedding at all, Tommy? I was a flower girl and Lindsay was the ring-bearer." She leaves the story here for a minute as she nods at Eva. "It's frightening because Lindsay seems to have himself wrapped in something far over his own head and capacity. He's always been a selfish dolt, but I never never never thought he'd be /this/ selfish!" Kalika picks up her cup of tea, takes a deep breath, and manages a single sip before returning it to the table.

"Woah! Hold on Kalika, back up!" Tom says, holding up his hands in defense. "You're going to have to remind me about Ave's wedding. I know I was there and all, but don't you remember that gorgeous bridesmaid, Catherine, that she paired me up with to walk down the aisle? I spent half that day mustering up the courage to ask her on a date! Err..." he stops, glancing at Eva. "Before I met the love of my life of course. Come to think of it, Catherine wasn't that pretty...!" he stammers, momentarily his old, jovial self. But one look at Kalika brings him back to reality. "Lindsay was the ring-bearer, yes, I remember that. He was just a kid. The article mentions a ring but... it's a bit of a stretch, Kali."

Eva snorts wryly at Tommy's backpedaling and she leans over to pat him on the hand affectionately, forgetting for a moment the reason that Kalika has come by. It doesn't take much to bring her back, however, and she looks from Kalika to Tom and then back again. "What? What happened? I haven't heard this story that I recall." Eva's voice sounds strained again and she nervously takes a sip of her tea. "Please tell me. I can't stand the suspense of not knowing right now."

"It's /not/ just the ring Tommy!" Kalika uses her brother's childish nickname while rolling her eyes. "/Clearly/ your attention was elsewhere!" she exasperates as she takes another deep breath and sips at her tea. She returns it to the table, and then her anxiety seeps through once more. "Lindsay--like all young ring-bearers--/misplaced/ the rings! It was absolutely unbelievable! And then when he couldn't find them he accused /me/ of eating them! Consuming a ring!" She raises her fingers to her temples. "He's saying who he is to /us/. I don't know why now when he's been gone so long, but this is Lindsay. I'm almost certain of it."

Recollection dawns on Tom like a wave, a cold wave of bleak certainty. He remembers now, the look of panic on his cousin's face when Lindsay stood before her with an empty ring pillow and accused Kalika of eating the rings. Looking back down to the newspaper in his hands, he re-reads the lines mentioning the rings. Kalika was right. Inhaling slowly, he looks to Eva wordlessly, his eyes surely conveying his emotions. Turning to his sister, he says, "So... what do we do now? You're right. It is Lindsay. It is."

The look on Tommy's face inspires pure terror in Eva. She sets down her cup of tea with a loud CLACK onto the table next to her and looks from Tommy to Kalika and back again. "If it /is/ him... he's putting us /all/ in danger," the woman whispers raspily. All the color has now drained from her face, making her freckles appear even more prominent and stark against her skin. "Oh, Merlin. Oh, /Merlin/!" The last is said a bit louder than she had intended, and Eva looks worriedly toward the direction of the childrens' rooms before looking back. "What do we do?"

Kalika brings the cup to her lips, but her han ds are shaking so much that she can't manage to actually take a sip of tea. With another sigh she places the cup on the table. There's no point in accidentally spilling tea all over herself. "Is there /anything/ to be done--besides murder Lindsay whenever he turns up?! Honestly! If we go to the authorities we effectively put our families in danger by leaking Lindsay's identity! Are there any authorities either of you would trust? Gil and I came up empty when we discussed this in code in front of the children--which, by the way isn't the best way to discuss such thing, I think we have to buy the children a puppy now--" She croses her arms over her chest as she leans forward in her seat. "Gilbert and I are open to suggestions. We're working on new security charms around the house."

"Calm down, Kalika," Tom says automatically at hearing his sister's murderous sentiments, but unknown to him presently his hands are balled up into fists. How dare that little snot endanger his family like this? "We're probably in danger even if we don't go to the authorities. Honestly, I don't quite know what to do. It seems to me, though, that Lindsay was trying to warn us. Why else would he have slipped in this message? And written under that name? He wants us to know it's him. I don't know... do we try to contact him? Is he going to show up sometime?" Tom shakes his head as he notices his fists, and makes to take Eva's hand in his instead. "The kids at Hogwarts are safe. We'll take extra care here and put up some charms too. Maybe that's all Lindsay wanted us to do." Even as he says this, Tom doubts his own words. This is bigger than security charms.

"The kids at Hogwarts are safe, but we have more of them home than at school, and then your four," Eva gestures with her free hand to Kalika. "And Freddie has six at home right now, and Henrietta isn't strong after this last one, and then there's little Felicity at Basil's house..." Eva trails off and blinks tears out of her eyes as she takes deep breaths. "We are /not/ safe." She pauses and breathes in very deeply and slowly. "What do we do?" she whispers.

"What authorities would we even go to?!" Kalika exasperates and then adds in a quieter tone, "Who would we even speak to?" She frowns as she wrings a corner of one of her sleeve. "But--" she begins and then stops. "So our brilliant plan is to sit and wait, then?! I hate this! Why is he such a self-ish dolt?! Why can't he think of someone other than himself for once!" With a sigh she nods at Eva, "Gilbert and I discussed it, and I'm thinking of quitting work and staying home. I'm no Auror, but I'm not an /untalented/ witch." She frowns a bit and then smirks, "I'll have to stop saving the world one legal brief at a time." And then she shrugs, "Perhaps we should consider pooling resources in /one/ home. . ."

Nodding, Tom agrees with Kalika. "I could get behind all staying in one place. It'd be a mad house, but it might be the safest option. The more adults we can have guarding the children, the better. No one should leave the house alone." Pondering, Tom mentions, "Didn't someone mention Martin Rathe last time we met? He's an auror isn't he? He's at the ministry in any case, and if he has Astra Rathe behind him, maybe he could help us."

"Freddie mentioned that they spoke at the Daily Prophet," Eva chimes in quietly, looking down at the floor for a moment before she looks back at the other two. "I think we're going to have to all get under one roof. It will take a lot of work fitting everybody into one house, but I would not feel safe otherwise." The woman sighs a bit. "Whose house do you think would be able to accomodate /everyone/, though?" This, it seems, will be the difficult question.

"An Rathe auror? Yes, I vaguely remember hearing something about him--do either of you know him? I don't think I knew a Rathe younger than Astra when I was at Hogwarts. . ." Kalika wrinkles her nose as she considers that while biting her bottom lip. "I don't know whose house would be most appropriate. Not ours--it's too small to house everyone. Who has the most kids? Presumably they'd have the most space--"

"I can't say I've ever met him in person... or at least I don't think I have. But Ave's at Hogwarts, so maybe she can get a hold of him through Astra. Or, well, Freddie seems to have access to him as well. Maybe we'll just shoot him an owl... or not, I guess that could be intercepted. We'll have to be careful with communication from now on, now that we're certain." Sighing once more, he adds, "I suppose we could fit everyone here. Or try at least. We'll have to conjure up some extra beds, and maybe create an addition or two at the back..." he trails off, home renovation the last thing he wants to think about right now.

"I can't say I've ever met him in person... or at least I don't think I have. But Ave's at Hogwarts, so maybe she can get a hold of him through Astra. Or, well, Freddie seems to have access to him as well. Maybe we'll just shoot him an owl... or not, I guess that could be intercepted. We'll have to be careful with communication from now on, now that we're certain." Sighing once more, Tom adds, "I suppose we could fit everyone here. Or try at least. We'll have to conjure up some extra beds, and maybe create an addition or two at the back..." he trails off, home renovation the last thing he wants to think about right now.

Eva pauses as she thinks of their house being invaded by the whole family - all her brothers and their progeny, and then Tommy's family as well, and she pales a little bit, but gives a decisive nod. "It only makes sense. We already have the most bedrooms..." She trails a little bit. "Anyone with kids under Hogwarts age should come here certainly, but who else? How can I possibly leave out Jared and Logan, even though they haven't any kids. And what about Basil's older kids - Briony, and of course, Gabe. Alice and Alden, too." Eva sighs a bit and seems to be doing some math in her head. "If we put all the little girls in one room and all the little boys in another, that would save a lot of space, and then we could leave rooms enough for the parents..." She pauses. "I'm going to have to get more protections on the shop. Maura and Felicity have been living in the apartment and I certainly don't want them to be in danger. Ariena is probably safe, and Oliver is at Hogwarts this ye
ar..." Eva trails off, then looks a the others. "I assume that Christine and her husband would come, too?"

"Yes. Avery. Avery can help," Kalika sighs a bit and leans back in her seat. "We have each other. That makes us strong, right? And yes, I suppose your house is the best option at this point. Especially with the children away at Hogwarts soon." She moistens her lips and then nods a bit, "We will have to put the children altogether. We'll make sure that we get bunk beds for them. That's the only way there will be enough space." Kalika shrugs a bit at the notion of Christine, "I don't think Christine will bend to this plan easily. Her and Ryan have tended to be away from all of us--"

"Niamh will be at Hogwarts too, anyways," Tom adds. "The only reason I can see Christine being a target is that she's the youngest sister. I don't know how these people think. I guess symbolically the youngest female in a set of siblings is the most vulnerable, but I'd say they could fend for themselves. Sorry to say, but same goes for Gabe and Briony. We can't physically fit our entire family under one roof, no matter how much we want everyone to be safe. The children are the priority. They're the ones who couldn't defend themselves for an instant, wandless and untrained." Tom feels a terrible sense of helplessness just now. He can't protect his family alone, and it's an awful feeling.

Eva looks more fearful as she is reminded that her older nieces and nephews should be able to fend for themselves. "I don't know," she admits. "I suppose we'll just have to see how many we can fit." The woman closes her eyes for a moment and thinks. "I think that's everyone. "That's ten boys and eight girls. Surely they'll fit into a room each - they're still all small enough. The older ones can fit in where there's room for the holiday. That leaves three rooms for adults, plus the office could be converted, so four... Logan and Jared could share, and Alden. If Alice stayed with the little girls, that could fit her in, then we might have room for Gabe and Briony, too, since there would be room for you and Gil, and Basil and Sibyl and Freddie and Henrietta... It would be tight but then they would still fit." Eva's hands are shaking a bit. "I don't want to leave /anyone/ out," she finally admits. "How could he do something so /selfish/?" she asks, her voice cracking as she fina
lly breaks down into tears.

"Yes, the concern really is the children. With more of us it guarantees more than one of us will be around during the day to watch the children," Kalika nods at Tom while she considers what she would do to Lindsay if anything happened to any of the children. She then nods a bit at Eva, "You're right. Ideally we would all stay here. Considering the material in these articles. . . I wouldn't put it past any of Lindsay's newfound friends to hurt any of us." She sighs and then tries to soothe her sister-in-law, "He's always been like this. He just. . . he doesn't think. He's a stupid dolt, especially with this nonsense--"

Letting go of Eva's hand in order to wrap an arm around her, Tom squeezes Eva to his side and kisses her face. "We'll make it through, don't worry. I'm as mad as you are at Lindsay, but the only thing I can think of is that he's got some crazy idea in his head that he's taking down a greater evil and that risking our family's safety is something worth doing. His outlook always was a little skewed that way." He shakes his head disapprovingly. "I know you want everyone in one place love, but that could be dangerous, too. If they have us all together, they could wipe out each one of us if they had a large enough attack."

"But there would be /more of us here/ to protect ourselves!" Eva counters, choking back a sob. "If they cornered Briony, or Gabe, or Alden..." She falls silent for a moment. "There would be nothing they could do to protect themselves if they were alone, or with only one or two others. I imagine there must be scads of these evil people." Eva takes a deep breath and wipes her face. "There's safety in numbers." She states, very firmly. "If we have to live in close quarters until this ordeal is over, however long it takes, we can deal with it. I want our family - /all/ of it - to be safe." She sighs as they share about Lindsay. "I can't imagine he wouldn't think of this." She pauses. "Though I suppose it's possible he doesn't even know how many nieces and nephews he has. He's been gone for so long..." Eva hiccups, then sighs.

"He's been gone for over ten years," Kalika agrees. "It's been a very long time. When he left I was only just pregnant with Chance." She sighs again. "Tommy, I agree with Eva. If we're altogether we can protect each other. I know that we all have talents when put together. Plus we only have to worry about security in one house in that case. While the children are the primary concernt, anyone connected to Lindsay could be considered a target. We don't know who these Dark wizards are and why Lindsay is so interested in them in particular, but we know that they have sinister plans."

Although he shudders to imagine living with so many people in the same house, Tom is wise enough to recognize when there's no arguing with Eva -- and Kalika agreed, so it was more or less decided. "Well, alright then. We'll try our best," Tom says. "We'll wait it out for a while and see what happens. If Lindsay does show up, maybe he can shed more light on what to do. If not, we'll just have to ride it out."

"If we need to, we can add a couple of rooms, just to keep things from getting too cramped." Eva perks up just a little bit. "Just think, you'll have help from Basil and Henrietta, at the very least, and Alice would probably help, too. She's always been a very helpful girl." She sighs a bit. "I suppose she's a young woman now." Eva shakes her head. "If Lindsay shows up, he had better not come /here/," she says sternly. "He'll have to meet up with us /somewhere else/." Eva shakes her head, then leans in to Tommy and puts her head on his shoulder. "I suppose there's really nothing else to do but wait."

"And wait we shall!" Kalika states as she stands to her feet and smoothes her robes. Running a hand absently over her hair, the woman pads to the door. "We'll weather this. We've weathered worse, I think." She furrows her eyebrows a bit at her own lie. "It may still amount to nothing. Even if it is Lindsay, they might not know. . ." She shrugs a bit as she opens the door. "Take care you two. And stay in touch so we can organize a temporary move." That said, she pads out the door and into the night to return to her own family.

Neva Turner invading Ravenclaw Common Room

The voices rise momentarily, then seem to move away slightly.

A brown-haired fourth year comes down the stairs alone, wearing an open robe and slippers and rubbing his eyes blearily. "H-wha?" he mutters, stopping at the entrance to the room.

Wandering around the castle, Neva Turner notices that the entrance to the Ravenclaw Common Room is wide open. She strolls over making sure there are no prefects or teachers around and enters the common room with curiosity. As she makes her way in, she notices a first year Ravenclaw standing in the room. With no words said, Neva just stands there.

The boy blinks, taken aback by the brazen invasion of the commons, then begins striding towards the trap door, hands clenched.

Sari gasps as she hears footsteps enter the room. She turns around quickly to find a Hufflepuff just standing there. Grimacing slightly, she says in a whisper, "Why in the world are you here?" Sari approaches the Hufflepuff and slightly frowns, but then grins. This could be fun. She had never seen a Hufflepuff in here before.

Neva looks at the boy wondering what's going to happen next. Neva also looks at the girl and wonders if she should run for it. "Umm..It was wide open. This is so weird..but cool!" Neva says as a wide grin comes across her face.

A ghost of a Scotsman rises up through the floor, kilted and carrying a bagpipe. He plays a ghastly tune, smiles politely, and then pauses to survey the activity. "I say, isn't this the Ravenclaw commons?" he muses aloud.

The fourth-year stops stalking towards the girls and glares at them. "What are you doing here?" he exclaims, addressing Neva. "Are you deaf? They said you're not to wander the halls alone, and here you are!"

Sari chuckles at the girl's answer. She nodded and then stated, "Yes, I noticed it was open, but I don't think you really should be in here." She gasps once again to see a ghost floating by them. Sari, not knowing what to say, just whispered to the girl, "I guess you could stay here, but you got to be careful." She then backed away and took a seat on one of the arm chairs.

Looking at the ghost, Neva tends to break out in a ridiculous laugh. "Yes this is the Ravenclaw Common Room. I was passing by and saw that it was open and I came in. This is just so odd!" She replies to the ghost. Looking around the common room, Neva notices how much better it is then hers. She hears the fourth year telling her off and she replies, "Well I was making my way back to--to my common room and I got lost and made my way up here. With all this chaos in the castle it is alot easier to get lost than before."

And what's your name, young lady?" the Scotsman inquires politely, a faint smile crossing his pallid lips. He floats peacefully several feet away, his feet a scant inch from the floor.

Sari giggles at the girl's answer and then sits farther back into the chair. Her blue eyes lit up excitedly at the presence of the Hufflepuff girl. Never in her life would she expected one here. Sari leans forwards and gives the girl a small smile.

Neva Turner. And yours would be?" Neva asks the ghost politely. This was such a bad idea coming into this common room. I'm going to be in such big trouble. But its so worth it. Neva stares stunning around the common room impressed by it.

The boy is less polite. "You've the manners of a boggart and the brains of one of Miss Swathsbuckle's biting slugs! This is the Ravenclaw commons, and you bloody well know it. But we can't well have you wandering around on your own like a bleeding fool, now can we? Sit here, see, and I'll go fetch one of the prefects." He turns away decisively, shaking his head, pausing only to point at Sari. "You, Huntington was it? Keep an eye on her."

Sari frowns slightly at the boy. She didn't like him ordering her around like that. She really wanted to sass him, but bit her tongue and got up from her chair. Flipping her golden hair, she walks up to the girl and whisper's in her ear, "I could hide you."

The ghost observes this with some amusement, hefts his bagpipe, plays a dreadful chord, and then begins to drop into the floor again, touching a hand to his head in salute. "MacArthur." And he is gone.

Neva's mouth drops. Never in her life has someone made insults about her. As the boy leaves, the Ravenclaw whispers something in her ear. Listening closely, Neva understands that the girl wants to hide her. "Alright. I'll play along with it..This'll be so much fun but so much trouble." From then on she follows the Ravenclaw's plan.

The boy reaches the stairs and hurries up them, his footsteps echoing on the stone steps. A few moments later, they stop and the sounds of hurried conversation can be heard.

You'd better hurry then..He's going to be back any moment!" Neva rushes the girl, and looks around the room to find a great place to hide. I wonder if I'll get caught and how much trouble I'm going to be in.

Sari grins at Neva and then looks around for a moment. Where could she hide a Hufflepuff? She then sighed and whispered to Neva, "I can't find anything big enough. Could you hide behind that arm chair that is by the fireplace?"
The conversation on the stairs ends, replaced by the sound of two sets of feet rapidly descending the steps.
That'll never work. They'll find me in an instant! I'll hide in the storage chest!" Neva hurries in the storage chest and waits.

Sari hurries over to an arm chair and sits down quickly. She did not want to look suspicious. Taking really deep breaths, she tried to calm herself down. She looked at the stair case intently hoping that they wouldn't come too soon.

Inside the storage chest, Neva's heart is beating rather fast and she waits there for what seems to be bigger chaos then with the castle. She slowly breaths in and out not too loudly for her position might be given away.

The boy appears at the foot of the stairs, followed by a fifth year girl wearing a prefect's badge. She takes a few steps into the room and looks around, putting a hand on her hip and arching an eyebrow. The boy looks around, his expression a mixture of righteous indignation and something... else. His eyes lock on Sari and his lips tighten grimly. "Where did she go?" he demands.

Fooling a prefect is alot of fun. Neva thought to herself. But so much trouble. As Neva lay in the chest wondering if they are going to find her or if the first year Ravenclaw is going to rat her out, she slowly takes more deep breaths and her heartbeat racing faster than ever.

Sari glances at the boy with her blue eyes. She could feel her heart beating quickly at what she was going to do next. "I have no idea. She just ran out. You really didn't expect me to follow her, did you?" Sari stated still staring him down.

The boy returns her stare, eyebrows lifted. "I bloody well told you to keep an eye on her. Wandering around the castle alone is suicide! You--" and he stops sharply as the girl puts a hand on his shoulder and shakes her head. She moves towards Sari, a genuine look of concern on her face, and stops just in front of her chair. "I believe you," she says simply, "but did the girl say anything before she left? If she's afraid, there's no telling what might happen to her." The boy clenches his fists behind her, glaring at Sari as if to say "there, look what you've done."

Neva's heartbeat tends to slow down now as she tries to hear what the prefects have to say. It's getting bloody hot in here. She thinks to herself, and takes another deep breath and thinks, I'm in such deep trouble!

The first year looks up at the prefect, as her blue eyes wavered. Sari tried to smile and then said, "She said something about coming in here by accident. I couldn't figure out anything else. She was mumbling too much." Sari then glanced at the boy once again with anger in her eyes.

The prefect sighs to herself, observing the blatant hostility. "I suppose I'll have to go after her, then. You two wait here, and if she comes back, please ask her to stay." So saying, the girl hurries across the room and down the stairs to the trap door. Meanwhile, the boy gives Sari a /look/, crosses his arms, and stalks away towards the tower stairs.

Sari gives a quiet sigh of relief and she sink back into her chair. She put a hand across her forehead quickly wiping her sweat off. That was the hardest thing she could ever do. Sari then looks at the chest and then at the boy. She should give the Hufflepuff girl some air, but then the nosy boy would probably catch her doing so. She frowned, muttering words about him under her breath.

As the boy passes the storage chest, he aims an irritated kick at it, just a light one mind, and then takes a seat in a chair just beyond it, pulling a small book out of his robe and thumbing it open. He crosses one leg over the other and makes it painfully obvious that Sari is no longer worthy of his attention. The prefect takes hold of the knotted curtains, eyes tightly closed against the blue glare, and lowers herself cautiously, disappearing from view.

The rattle of the storage chest gave Neva quite a jump. She never expected him to come and kick the storage chest. Good thing he didn't look in it or I'd be dead. This can't be all my fault. Why would they leave the Portrait holes ungaurded and wide open?

Sari glances nervously at the chest as the boy kicked it. She gave him a quick glare and mumbled incoherently. Sari started to fidget a stray lock of her golden hair still glowering.

The boy glances up quizzically at the sound of mumbling, then returns his attention to his book.

Additional footsteps can be heard on the stairs.

As Neva tries to get comfortable and bead of sweat drops down her forehead. She feels this tingle in her throat then.... *cough cough*.. OH NO!..

Sari jumps up slightly as she hears the cough and then tries to figure out what to do. After a few moments of pondering, She brought a hand to her mouth and pretended to cough. She definetly hoped this would work.

A pair of third year boys appear at the base of the stairs, looking a bit frazzled. They stop in mid-step, taking note of the incredible hostility Sari is directing at the innocent-looking fourth year. "Hoy, what's going on?" one of them asks, genuinely puzzled, even as the coughing sound was heard and Sari pretended to cough. The fourth year glances up, shrugs exaggeratedly, and returns his gaze to his book, though the rate at which he has been turning the pages suggests that his concentration is less than complete.

Sari looked at the chest again. There had to be some way that she could give the poor girl some air. She stared intently at the boys that came up. She had to get all of them out of the room, or maybe find a way to just open the chest without acting suspicious. Sari frowned as a puzzled expression entered her eyes. She then took in a breath and walked towards the chest. Upon reaching it, she glanced at the boy who was sitting in the chair and said, "What book are you reading?" Sari put on one of her best smiles, hoping quietly to herself that this would work.

Oddly, Neva thought her coughing might get her caught obviously it hadn't. She was getting more light headed as the minutes passed. When is that other prefect coming back? Neva thought. Wait she heard the Ravenclaw girl speaking. This is great. Talking with the prefect..This should be good. A smile came across Neva's face as she listened.

The boy looks up at Sari in surprise, even as one of the two new arrivals starts walking towards the chest as well, eyebrows raised suspiciously. The boy in the chair abruptly snorts, tilting his book so that the cover is visible to the girl. Horpin Doffler's /Magical Disasters of the 1600's/.

Sari peers at the book as if she was interested in the title. Thoughts in her head was rushing quickly through. She had to keep the conversation going. She grinned slightly as she said, "What's it about?" She clasped her hands together, as if to look like an innocent first year who did not know anything.

The boy in the chair does not respond, through he does tap the title meaningfully with a fingernail. Meanwhile, the two third years have reached the storage chest, and the one with raised eyebrows reaches towards it as though intent on opening it up, even as his friend follows out of habit and watches Sari chatting up the fourth year.

She hears two people rustling right outside of the storage chest perhaps going to open it. This is bad..Neva thought. The girl has to do something or I have to something..But what? Neva looks around the dark storage chest to see if something to block the opening.

The darkness is almost absolute, and the chest is fairly empty seeing as how there is room for an twelve-year-old inside it.

Sari frowned slightly at the boy, but then hears footsteps behind her. In quick thought, she places a hand on the cover and starts to lean on the chest. Her body was shaking with fear, but she tried to keep calm. "I asked what it was about. Not the title. If you don't know, then you are obviously not reading it," Sari said to the boy in the chair almost stammering.

The boy in the chair sets the book down on his lap and glares at Sari. "Leave well enough alone. I'm minding my own business. If you must know, I'm reading about King William III's invasion of Ireland right now. And if you really want to know, read the bloody book yourself." So saying, he picks it up again and hunches his head and shoulders down, returning his eyes to the page. The third year boys pause to observe this, giving each other a perplexed look. Then the same one who was reaching for the chest takes another step towards the chest, convinced now that something is up. "Say, mind if I have a look in there?" he suggests, looking at Sari.

At about this time, there's a soft noise from the trap door, and after a few moments, the prefect's head appears, followed shortly by her torso and finally her feet as she hauls herself up the makeshift rope. She looks quite worried as she gets to her feet and begins hurrying back up the short staircase into the common room.

Sari gets up from the chest after giving the boy, in the chair, an angry glare. She turned towards the other boy, who had asked her a question, and says, "You may if you like, but I don't see why you would want to seeing there hasn't been anything in there for weeks." She tried to look calm as she strode back to her seat. Sari could not hide the girl any longer. She would just have to make up something if they found out. She took a seat in the chair and sighed quietly.

The boy in the chair sneezes.

Neva gulps. For she now knows she is about to get caught and in even more trouble than before hand. Why did I have to come in here? Why am I so curious? Here goes...

The boys are going to open up the storage chest and see me there and I don't know what I am going to do. Neva thought.

The prefect finishes charging into the room and looks anxiously around. The boy in the chair glances up from his book. The third year begins to open the lid of the chest.

Sari looked at the prefect that entered the room. Sweat was starting to fall down her neck as she tried to smile. She nervously looked around, but she anxiously kept an eye on the chest. He was going to open it. Her heart practically leapt as she tried once again to stay calm.

The boy has the lid open now.

Neva could feel a slight breeze from the small opening of the top of the chest. Oh no. Don't open it. Don't open it. Neva thought to herself. She could here the prefect set out to look for her re-enter the common room. The crack was getting bigger.

Well, then, the boy has it open NOW.

Neva stared blankly up at the two boys. She didn't say a word. The only thing she did was put her finger over her mouth to have the boys not say anything. She stared and stared and waited.

Did she come back?" the prefect asks breathlessly.

The prefect looks from Sari to the boy in the chair to the two boys next to the storage chest, catching her breath. The brown-haired fourth year shakes his head negatively at almost exactly the same instant that the two boys simultaneously exclaim "Wah!" "Gah!" and stare at the cramped form of the girl in the storage chest. The prefect happens to be looking at Sari as this occurs, and her attention immediately shifts towards the scene.

Sari grimaces as fear enters her eyes. She had to get herself out of this mess. She thought to herself, but nothing was coming to mind. She would have to just make up something is they asked. Sari looks at the chest and sighs. She bit her lip expecting the worse to happen.

Shhh!" Neva whispers to the two boys. As she stares up knowing any minute the Fourth year boy is going to come over and pull her out..Any minute she'll be getting yelled at or worse getting detention. Neva waits for the worse.

The boy in the chair gets up and takes a step towards the chest to see what the commotion is, even as the prefect hurries over to take a look for herself.

Neva stands up and says, "Man! Where did that thing go..I thought I saw something crawl in here..Hmm." Neva said nervously. I hope that is a good enough excuse. She looks around the chest for something to point to but there was nothing..She wipes the sweat from her forward.

Sari smiles nervously as the girl gets up from the chest. At that point she was going through her list of perfectly excuses. She stared at the group of people around the chest, wondering what would happen next.

The prefect looks at the scene with obvious dismay, even as the fourth year points at the girl and shouts "you?!" incredulously. The third years back away, sharing a bemused look.

Sari looks around as she hears the noises. She sighed as she thought that the ghost was coming back. Muttering to herself, she still tried to keep her attention on the scene, but it was getting quite hard.

Neva stared up from the empty chest. She looked at the two older students and didn't say anything. As the sounds of bagpipes filled the air Neva looked at Sari for a plan.

The prefect finds her voice, turning towards Sari. "I suppose this is that Hufflepuff girl?" she asks, sounding disappointed, almost sad.

The fourth year interrupts, "You bloody fools! Do you realize how risky your stupid game was?" He points to the prefect. "She went out looking! What if something had happened?!"

Neva stared at Sari hoping that something else might happen or someone important would walk through the room. I wonder what I should do, Neva thought. But nothing came to mind.

Sari looks surprised as she looks at the prefect. "I didn't know she was here. Honestly," She stated, still glancing nervously at the Neva. Why did she choose to help out this girl? Sari sighs and tries to stay calm. Maybe everything would turn out fine. What was really starting to perturb her was that nosy, fourth year. Oh, how she wanted to ring his neck, but she knew that wasn't possible. Sighing once again, Sari looks back at the prefect.

That's enough, Peter." The prefect chides quietly, listening to Sari's claims. "I'm sure you don't expect me to believe that," she replies. "I'm a Ravenclaw too, you know." She looks unhappy. "I don't know what to do with you. Normally I'd report you to your House Heads, and who knows, maybe you'd even be expelled. You especially," she adds, still looking straight at Sari. "Lying to a prefect, at a time like this! You're a disgrace to our House!" She's starting to sound rather upset, causing her voice to tremor slightly. The fourth year boy is nodding, glaring at Sari with a vindictive expression. The third years are watching in obvious shock.

Look..Alright..I didn't want to get anybody hurt. I came here because I was lost and I was looking for my common room. And with all this chaos within the school, it's easier to get lost. That's what happened with me. And I went in the chest because I saw something in there." Neva stated seriously. She looked back and forth from the prefect to the Fourth Year to the First year. Then she stared at the opening to the entrance way. Hmm. I wonder if I could run for it..

Sari looks as if she is about to cry, but oddly maintains to keep a calm attitude. She gets up from her chair and approaches the Hufflepuff girl. She then stops and turns to the prefect while saying, "I apologize. I didn't know what to do. It is just that she looked like she needed some help and I decided to help. Once again, I apologize." She peers at the prefect intently as her blue eyes start to have tears. That was true. She wanted to help and did not expect that she would have to lie. Sari grimaced slightly, scolding herself for being so dumb.

The prefect turns to the Hufflepuff girl, frowning. "How dare you? You 'saw something' in a closed chest and just happened to hide there for all this time? You are a horrid liar and an even worse disgrace to your own House." She turns to Sari and says more quietly, "I forgive you. But what you did was very dangerous and it'll be up to the House Heads what happens next. For now, I want you to go up to your room and stay there." She turns to the Hufflepuff. "And you, you..." she pauses, taking a deep breath and visibly collecting herself. "You're alive, at least. Consider yourself lucky. I was nearly eaten when I went out to look for you."

Oh..I'm really sorry about that..And..I didn't see anything crawl into the chest. I hid there after she told me that she could hide me. I'm sorry..All I wanted was to get back to my common room..Really." Neva said starting to cry. She really didn't mean for anyone to get hurt or anything. "Why are the common rooms open? How come just anyone can get in?" Neva asked the prefect.

Sari nods as she looked relieved that the prefect had forgiven her, but she doubted that the House head would be as forgiving. She sighed softly as she turns to leave, but then suddenly stops at Neva's words. Her jaw almost dropped, but she just shook her head. This was going to be a long day. Sari continued towards the tower, slowing down a bit, to see what the prefect would say.

I'll go back to my common room and wait for my Head. I just want to say I'm sorry." Neva waits for a moment and sees what the two people in charge are going to say. She hopes that she doesn't get expelled she loved Hogwarts. She's been a bit scared of it because of the recent events but she still loves this castle.

The girl looks sad. "I don't know why all of this is happening, but the commons are open because the passwords have all failed." She sighs, then gapes incredulously at the twelve-year-old Hufflepuff. "After all this, you still want to go off on your own." She starts laughing, mirthlessly, then gasps. "No. You're going to stay here until they come to check on us and we can send you with an escort."

Alright." Neva mumbled as she stands there in wonderment of what her punishment might be. She thought to herself, Would I really get expelled? I hope not. I wouldn't mind detention but I couldn't bare being expelled.

Sari sighs as she starts to walk up the steps. She did not want to miss anything. She pauses for a moment to look back at the group, listening intently for anything else they might say.

The prefect turns to the assembled boys. "I'm going to go fetch a teacher." And she leaves.

The prefect changes her mind in mid-step. "No. They'll check on us eventually. We'll wait here. Come with me," she says to the Hufflepuff, walking over to the bookcase. "Pick out something to read. It might be a while. And what are the rest of you looking at?" she asks, smiling wanly at the three boys. The fourth year reddens and slumps back into his seat, picking up his book half-heartedly. The other two boys look at each other for a moment and then turn back to the stairs.

Can I ask you a question?" Neva asks the prefect, "Am I going to get expelled?" She looks at the bookcase blankly, wondering about her answer. She picks up a book not caring what the title is or what it's about and flips through it.

Sari mumbles to herself as she turns around. Nothing else seemed to be going on, so she leaves up the steps quickly, as her golden hair flies wildly behind her.

The prefect looks at the little girl beside her and sighs. "I couldn't say. With all that's happened, I really couldn't say. Got something? All right. Come sit over here." She selects a book for herself and then leads the way to a pair of chairs in the corner of the room, settling down in one of them and gesturing the Hufflepuff into the other.

Astra Doesn’t Share

The late spring has finally settled into the castle and where a few weeks ago the chill of winter hadn't been quite displaced it has now fled to be replaced by the promise of warmer months ahead. While the tower office is as cut off from the rest of the castle life as it normally is, quiet and serene, there are a few scattered windows that allow the room to be well lit during the day without aid from magical assistance. There is a low table off to one side where there is a stack of paper and beside it a large basket filled with rolled, but not yet sealed, parchment. A magical quill is busy at work on the thin stack of paper, writing something out. When it has finished its task it dips back into the inkpot and the top sheet rolls itself up and deposits itself in the basket. Then the process starts over. As for the main desk it sits empty for Astra is on the balcony above searching through some of the books there.

The familiarity of Hogwarts reassures Martin's nerves as he trudges down the many hallways to the headmistress's office. Despite the sleeping draught he's been taking, dark circles still encase his tired eyes. The rest of his appearance, however, is relatively normal--his robes are smooth and wrinkle free. Biting his bottom lip he comes to the large oak doors of the office. He raises his hand and raps gently on one of them.

Turning her head toward the doors where the soft rapping comes from, Astra smirks. Whoever is on the other side is not faculty or staff else they would have allowed themselves in and this gives the woman some pause for consideration. The hesitation doesn't last long on her part and she gestures to the entrance, taking out her wand as she does so to release the charms that keep it from opening to just anyone. "Come in. Come in." Her voice isn't irritable as much as mildly amused. Not quite tucking her wand away yet she stands up fully and leans over the railing to see who is coming for such a visit. "Martin!" The younger man isn't hard to recognize even from her distance for she knows him well. Splitting a grin she puts her wand away, drops a book onto a nearby table and then takes the stairs two at a time as she literally hops down them. "My boy, come to pay a call! It's about time! Come in!" Gesturing to a chair by the main desk, "Do close the door behind you" and then she
proceeds to brush down the front of her waistcoat. "Come to bring news? You don't look so well you know. Tired about the eyes." True to form her emotions flash from joy back to aloof as she observes the man more carefully.

A smile is flashed to the headmistress as he's recognized, "It's good be here! Been far too long since I've been to the school. Although, it's always nice to see that it doesn't change. . . much, anyways." He smirks as he enters the room. "I'm not interupting anything important I hope," he observes as he notices the quill writing on the parchment in the corner. He half-smiles at the comment about his tired eyes and manages a slight nod, "I'm afraid I'm not sleeping well. . . too much thinking. Perhaps I need to invest in a pensieve." His smile broadens as he strolls further into the large room.

"You can use mine if it'll help. I've not much use for it these days without an apprentice to abuse, err, that is to teach." Astra heads around to her desk and dragging out the chair takes a seat without much formality. It isn't a piece of furniture that is easily conducive to rocking back and propping one's feet up on the desk and she looks a bit lost when she doesn't manage to do it this time around. Making a face, she grumps to herself and then curls her hands into her lap. "Oh! I know you're probably here more for business than gossip, but I /must/ tell you. I've got a potential match set up for Seker! The Marqueen family. Very good name, very good family, and they're willing to add one-hundred and ten acres to the estate. It'd be such a good match. I do hope Seker's game for it. The girl is young, but she'll grow up soon enough and if we're lucky we'll have more Rathe running around." Tilting her head, "Angelina and you are planning on having more, yes?" "You're a good f
amily sort. Not like me. You should have more kids."

"Actually I would appreciate that," Martin arches an eyebrow at the notion of Astra abusing an apprentice and he bites his lip to prevent chuckling at her struggle with the chair. "A match for Seker? I don't think I'm familiar with the Marqueens--what kind of business are they in? And when you say young--how young?" He arches his eyebrow again and then asks, "Does Seker know you're peddling him off for lands?" And then he chuckles at the notion of having more children, "I think four is enough for now. Harper's always crying. And not just crying /screaming/. Austin calls her the 'shrieking death harpy'. Besides, I think the stress of the brood is getting to Angelina, and that's not to say the nanny isn't helpful--"

Waving her hand in a dismissive fashion Astra sighs "Drop them off at the estate and get them a tutor. It'll be good for the both of you to have some /you/ time." The woman's notion on how to raise a family is perhaps not the *best* example out there. "The estate and the resources exist. If my father says anything, which I doubt he will, you can tell him to take it up with me. I'll give you the funds to find appropriate tutors if that's what you need. You can visit them on the weekends or after work or whatever you need to do." Arching an eyebrow at the "peddling" comment she smirks, "Duty to family my dear boy and he hasn't seen fit to produce any direct heirs. Neither has Satinka. Not that I /blame/ Satinka. The men have the easy part of it, but some women don't mind it for all that I suppose. I don't think Satinka will be bearing me any grandchildren and so *someone* has to fulfill that role." "I'm not /peddling/ him off so much as making sure the family's ties and roots r
emain strong. Marriage for love is a beautiful thing, but it rarely works that way. Marriage, at least for *us*, is primarily political and duty bound. You have Angelina and in that you are lucky, but most purebloods aren't so fortunate." "Now, come sit. You're making me nervous."

"I'll talk to Angelina about dropping the children off at the estate--" Martin shrugs and sighs "--she's not looking well. Very. . . thin lately. I'm not entirely sure why--" He cuts himself off as he takes a seat. "And I understand love and marriage don't always go hand in hand, but I'm curious as to what Seker thinks about it all. But /you/ wouldn't marry someone for the sake of the line, would you?" the question is emphasized with an arched eyebrow. He shrugs again as he smoothes out the wrinkles in his robe from sitting in the chair. "I /am/ fortunate, Angelina is a gem."

"Good, good the older ones should be starting an education in earnest anyway and it's about time we set them up for a productive future." Astra stretches out her legs under the desk, not a difficult thing given her size, and she waits a breath before answering Martin's question. "No. I didn't. The man in question was a twit who was two decades older than myself. Instead of biding my father's command, which now that I look back on it would have probably been /better/ for me, I went off and chose who was going to be the father of *my* children. I had secured my duty by the time I was eighteen." Running two fingers over her brow the woman sighs again, "If I had done as my father wished I probably would have had a happier life, but I couldn't see it then. I was too young. I may not have /loved/ the man, but we would have had a good strong family and the troubles I had would probably not have existed. Granted, there would have been other issues but not Ministry related." A thin ru
eful smile follows quickly upon those words." "The girl is eleven this year and entering Hogwarts but I'm sure with the right guidance she'll grow into a strong enough woman to fit into the Rathe family." "I need to pin Seker down and ask him to consider the contract, but I'd rather know he was committed to something than wait and hope that he'll find a suitable match on his own. Sometimes I think I did those children a disservice in the way Blair and I raised them."

"Have you met the young lady in question? Or just her family?" Martin asks idly as he leisurely leans back in his seat. "So I assume, since she's only eleven the two won't be wedding until she's done, correct?" "Is it necessary to draw a contract so soon? I don't know much about such things, but it just seems. . . early, particularly considering her age." He presses his lips together and then asks a more personal question, "Are you suggesting you think you might have led a happier life if you'd been with the aforementioned twit than Professor Helit?" He looks down uncomfortably. It's not in his nature to raise such things with people he cares about or is loyal to. Questioning strangers is so much easier than questioning those he's loyal to.

"I have yet to meet the child in person, but I know that my uncle does business with her father. Right there we already have connections and that is enough for me." Calm about this, Astra's taken the time to digest what she's potentially doing to her son and while it doesn't sit the best with her it is, in her mind, far better than a bad alternative. "They'll be married when she's seventeen, whether she's finished with school or not. Of course, I'll insist that she finish her education regardless because a witch without schooling may as well be nothing more than a glorified muggle." Pulling her hands out of her lap the woman reaches out and rests them on the arms of the chair. Tapping her fingers against the wood, she sizes Martin up as she allows the silence to encompass the room. The time stretches out but in actuality maybe ten or twenty seconds pass at most. "Quintus? No. I would not have been happier with Reynard than Quintus. My father chose that match for me when I was
no more than five. I might have been younger. Quintus /I/ chose well after my children were born and my duty in that regard filled." There's another beat, "But Quintus *did* ask my father's permission and had father refused," uncomfortably she shifts and there's a frown, "I would have done as he wanted. Duty to family always comes before desire for self - no matter the cost." Then she looks up sharply and eyes the man in front of her, considering something but not bringing voice to her words just yet.

Several seconds of silence encompass the room and Martin sits in the quiet, unsure what to say in response. He cross his arms over his chest, and continues to stare at the same spot on the floor. After several moments pass, he swallows and then moistens his lips, "Well the Rathes have my loyalty despite regardless of anyone else claiming the title 'family' to me."

Whatever was sitting ready to say is lost in that moment. Snapping to sit straight and leaning in slightly over the desk, Astra is wired. "The Rathe /are/ your family regardless of blood. You are one in every way that matters to us." Narrowing her eyes the corners of her lips twitch downward, "Who is trying to make claims on you that they have no right to? Your grandparents? I'll show them the door if they even try that. Leaving you to rot until it suited /their/ purposes. What do they know of family or loyalty?" Hands move to rest on the flat of the table surface and her fingers curl down like claws. "You are my son. You should have been my brother. You are a Rathe. Who is trying to make claims on you?"

"No, the Fosters have left me alone for some time now. They tried to contact us when Hope was born, but I nipped that in the bud." Martin looks up from the floor. "Just after my final year at Hogwarts, a man claiming to be my birth father contacted me. He lived in Cyprus, and Angelina and I visited him a couple years in a row. I genuinely thought nothing of it--" He frowns slightly, and then seemingly changes the subject, "Astra, do you read the Daily Prophet?"

Lifting on hand in an attempt to say something she drops it back onto the desk and just stares. A few more attempts are made by Astra to speak as she first opens and then closes her mouth in an attempt to figure out just /what/ to say. Then, instead of addressing the first issue she decides to answer the question. "Not often, no. It's a trashy and sensationalist paper. It's not fit for human consumption most days unless you're looking for something to laugh at, why? What does this have to do with a man who happened to be there during the conception of your life but not during your childhood?"

A nod is given at the notion of the Daily Prophet being sensationalist and then he frowns, "Perhaps I should start at the beginning." He takes a deep breath, "Anyways my supposed birth-father moved to Diagon Alley to set up shop for a family business--a Mediterranean restaurant in Diagon Alley. Apparently I have many biological cousins, uncles, and aunts and they run a chain of restaurants throughout Cyprus and Greece." He shrugs slightly. "Once again, I thought nothing of it. I assumed there wasn't harm in getting to know this man, even though he'll never /really/ be my family. Until--" He frowns and cuts himself off. "--I'm getting ahead of myself again. I apologize." After clearing his throat he continues, "Anyways, several months ago an article was printed in the Daily Prophet, by one Thomas Porter--a reporter with a death wish. Porter described generalities about Dark Wizards, but named the Vasilis in his article--my biological father's lastname." He swallows again, "Wel
l aware of the tripe printed in the Prophet, I ignored it. And then another article came out with more sinister material connected to the name, so I visited the Daily Prophet. No one I've talked to knows who Thomas Porter even is." He offers another shrug. "I still didn't fret. Not until a few weeks back in Diagon Alley--"

A nod is given at the notion of the Daily Prophet being sensationalist and then he frowns, "Perhaps I should start at the beginning." Martin takes a deep breath, "Anyways my supposed birth-father moved to Diagon Alley to set up shop for a family business--a Mediterranean restaurant in Diagon Alley. Apparently I have many biological cousins, uncles, and aunts and they run a chain of restaurants throughout Cyprus and Greece." He shrugs slightly. "Once again, I thought nothing of it. I assumed there wasn't harm in getting to know this man, even though he'll never /really/ be my family. Until--" He frowns and cuts himself off. "--I'm getting ahead of myself again. I apologize." After clearing his throat he continues, "Anyways, several months ago an article was printed in the Daily Prophet, by one Thomas Porter--a reporter with a death wish. Porter described generalities about Dark Wizards, but named the Vasilis in his article--my biological father's lastname." He swallows again,
"Well aware of the tripe printed in the Prophet, I ignored it. And then another article came out with more sinister material connected to the name, so I visited the Daily Prophet. No one I've talked to knows who Thomas Porter even is." He offers another shrug. "I still didn't fret. Not until a few weeks back in Diagon Alley--"

Digging her fingernails into the desk top as if they were claws the small woman listens intently without any form of interruption. Keen eyes observe the other's facial features and expressions while Astra herself keeps close observation on not words alone but body language. Not ready to spring into any sort of action she detaches herself from her stance and leans back into the chair. Grabbing the edges of her coat she coils it around herself as if it were a cloak, but there is less draping of fabric. She doesn't hunch down but remains seated upright and still, her pale face peering over the edge of her collar while she puts this to memory. It is her way of taking in her surroundings, pacing herself before flying into a flurry of action. There is only one motion as she lifts a hand from her lap as if to say "continue".

"Do you remember that student with met in Diagon Alley? Quinn Branigan? Well if you recall I had an encounter that involved him several days prior," Martin frowns further as he recalls the events of the day. "Daniel Darian was there with a younger woman I didn't know and a darker haired woman who introduced herself as Angelica Harrington. Harrington knew who I was and that I was remotely affiliated with Niklos Vasili." "I can't quite describe it, but something about her urged me to do some back-checking, and when I did, I learned Harrington was a runaway. She'd been expelled from Hogwarts at age fourteen and had supposedly runaway thereafter. That was thirty-some years ago." He moistens his lips and pauses for several seconds before adding, "The stranger part in all of it is, the description in the file did not match the woman I saw. At all. And beyond that there was no picture." He pauses again. "I thought it was an oversight. Files can get lost after thirty years so I thoug
ht I'd contact her family, perhaps they'd still have a picture." Several moments of silence pass as Martin considers how to articulate the rest, "Dead. All dead. Not one relative remaining. Not a cousin. Not an aunt. No one."

Too long has silence and happiness made Astra complacent when it comes to dealing with life outside of Hogwarts. This news, along with the earlier revelations brings all that to a screeching halt and she's rattled headlong back into her old ways of doing things. The icy silence that envelops her doesn't melt away immediately and when it does it is only the silence that shatters. "Daniel ran away at the age of fourteen. I remember that because he fled right after the Malumaximi attacked the school. I never understood /why/ he left, but I remember that he dropped off the face of the earth only to return some twelve years ago." Hooded eyes open wider and the woman forcibly keeps herself still. "Now we have another orphan with no living family attaching herself to Darian or Darian is attached to her but neither of them have a past that is easily traceable." "Angelica Harrington reminds me of another name, but I somehow doubt it is the same person. There are a billion Angelica's i
n the world," and here her smile curls into a feral thing, "but it would be my luck if fate spat that hairball up near my feet." "I remember you and Quinn speaking of this altercation, yes. There was another woman involved if I'm recalling correctly. You didn't happen to catch her name, did you?"

"Yes, there was an altercation after I left--Quinn described it. But, no, I didn't catch her name, although she looked vaguely familiar." Martin sighs. "And I admit I didn't look at her as well as I ought. It was sloppy." He bites his bottom lip and then adds, "It's all so strange. And it seems sinister, but there's nothing blatantly so; nothing obviously wrong. Merely suspicion."

"So this strange woman comes out of nowhere, supposedly friends of Darian and approaches /you/." Stirring from her seat Astra finally stands up and shoving her hands behind her back she clasps them there as she begins to pace. "What you say bodes ill and I sense there's a change in the weather Martin. It feels like a storm is approaching. Low, quiet, and gathering it feels like there are clouds on the horizon." As if to verify this she looks to the clear and sunny skies outside of the nearest window and she releases another sigh. "I'll need to get back issues of the Prophet unless you've kept copies of the articles?" "Strange that too how articles can be written and printed by an author no one at the paper knows about. Something is rotting and I have a very bad feeling we're about to walk on top of it all." Turning her head to look at Martin she stops mid-pace and comes to a halt, standing straight again but her hands kept behind her back. "The man who is claiming heritage ov
er you has a shop in Diagon you say. Perhaps I should develop a taste for," pondering, "Greek" pausing before adding, "food."

"I didn't bring the articles with me, but I have them stored away at my office. I could owl them to you--" Martin offers as he nods at the idea of a storm coming. "Yes, the Vasilis have a restaurant in Diagon Alley: The Pantheon." He wrinkles his nose and then adds, "Be careful. I don't really know what's going on, or what it will all come to." He swallows again and sighs, "I'm sorry to have brought this up at all. I don't mention it to Angelina. She's looking so thin, and I don't want to alarm her uncessarily."

"I think it would be best if you moved your family to the estate. I'll make sure father keeps the family's private parlor open for apparation, but the rest of it will be shut off like it usual." Astra's calm has taken back hold of her but her eyes give away the energy that lies under that unruffled exterior. "If there is something foul afoot it would be best if you had a place of safety and while the estate isn't Hogwarts it's safe enough." Pulling her hands away from the small of her back she waves one offhandedly. "I am, if nothing else, a small woman and that often helps me." Smiling, she shows teeth and the expression is all edges and sharp points, but she does seem amused. "You'd be surprised at how many people who don't know me brush me off given my size and sex. Stupid, stupid, stupid but people are generally lazy. I want to see what this man who is trying to claim /my/ family member as his is made of. I bet it's none too tasty."

A nod is given. "I'll speak to Angelina about moving to the estate." Martin frowns slightly, "Although I may have to actually explain everything going on." Swallowing hard he stands to his feet. "Alright, I will owl those articles to you to review. They are, at the very least, scandalous. And at the most--" He shrugs again. "Thank you for seeing me. Unfortunately, I best be off to see to the children." That said, the auror walks to the door.

Hrmphing at something Astra calls out "One moment Martin!" Stepping forward toward a glass case she stops up short as something occurs to her. Waving her hand distractedly in front of her face, she turns instead. "I'll have the pensieve shipped round to the manor. You can access it there and that way I can use it too if I find I have need for it." Worried eyes take in the younger man but all she does is offer a very real smile. "Martin, take care of yourself and Angelina. We'll come out of this. We always do." What she doesn't add is /I hope/. "Give everyone my love and I'll see you soon."

Everything’s Fine… But Don’t Go Anywhere

Martin Rathe has this unruly habit of walking home whenever his mind felt weighed down by the events of the day--a habit that he's exercising today. But his walk isn't bouncy or chipper. It's heavy and burdened. Unfortunately, walking tends to make him late for dinner--burdened walking even more so. As he comes to the large oak door, he smoothes his robes, inhales a deep breath, and forces the warmest smile he can muster. No reason to worry any of the family unnecessarily. However, no matter how warm this smile, his eyes are still encircled by dark shadows that not even the strongest sleep draught can cure. He opens the door and calls, "I'm home!" He pads into the hall and glances around for the little ones.

No sound is made in reply to Martin's announcement for a good fifteen seconds, save for a stifled giggle coming from the room adjacent to the hallway. Suddenly, a young boy's voice shouts, "Attack!" and three blurs of flailing limbs leap out and make for Martin. The charge, led by Austin barrels toward the man without restrain. Hope's giggles are getting the better of her as Angelina Rathe, waiflike as she hasn't been since early childhood, steps into the hallway with a strained smirk, a now-shrieking Harper in her arms.

Chuckling light, Martin Rathe 'is tackled' (more like voluntarily collapses) to the floor. "Wow! You three are getting so strong! One day I bet you'll conquer more than your dear old dad. In fact, I bet you'll eventually be keeping the streets of Diagon Alley safe," he comments with a smile. He tickles the girls before standing to his feet and tousling his son's hair. A wince is given to Angelina as she's holding Harper, "I'm sorry, sweetheart... did wake her?"

I keep the streets of Diagon safe already, dad! While you're at work!" Austin announces, glancing to his mother as he realizes he's forgotten his indoor voice for the hundredth time today. His glance travels to Harper, and he wrinkles his nose. "Let's get out of here!" he says with a feigned sense of urgency in his voice. "Death Harpy will deafen us!!" With that, Austin, Hope and Tessa flee the room, running from the excited yelps of their young sister. Meanwhile, Angelina steps closer to Martin, wincing only slightly, and sets Harper on her feet. The little girl doesn't stop yelling, but totters off in the general direction of the other three. "You didn't wake her," Angelina assures as she throws her arms around Martin's middle and sighs heavily. "Austin does a fairly good job of that, though," she remarks, voice muffled by Martin's shoulder until she pulls away.

They're getting big, aren't they?" Martin comments as they all totter off. He accepts the easy embrace and plants a soft kiss on his wife's forehead. "We should probably consider getting them a tutor soon. Well--not Harper--but the other three would benefit, I think." His bites his lower lip as he examines his wife carefully. He doesn't mention how frail she looks, although he's concerned. Instead of addressing the subject head-on he side-steps it, "How was your day?"

Angelina hasn't been sleeping well, but she can't decide whether it's because of Harper's crying or Hope's intermittent nightmares, or if it's due to Martin acting rather tense as of late. Worrying unduly is one of Angelina's strong suits, and sensing that Martin is refraining from telling her things that have him stressed almost causes her to worry more. Presently, she nods and answers his question. "It was fine," she comments. "Tessa found a beetle and named it Theodore and asked if I could make a leash for it. And Hope has a loose tooth. Austin will probably tell you to try to punch it out later," she says, smiling despite herself. She always promised herself that after children she'd be able to discuss things other than the antics of her offspring, but that's proven harder than she thought. These days, she lived for the four small people on whom the sun rose and set. "A tutor would be a good idea, especially for the older two," agrees Angelina. "Hope only has five years u
ntil she starts school," she says, almost to herself, recoiling inside. Five years only? "Would Astra know of some good tutors?"

Yes, I actually went and spent some time at the school this week. Astra actually suggested that we move the manor--" Martin walks towards a chair in the living room and takes a seat. "--and while I love living just the six of us on our own, I'm starting to think it might be worth it." He bites his lip again, as he thinks on his feet for a reason why. "Well, first off, I know Harper's been such a pain lately, and at the manor there's more adults that would be willing to pitch in--and even with just the nanny I don't think it's as effective as people who are actually invested in the children--" He takes a breath. "And I think you and I could get more peace if we moved, and that it might be good for the children. And the manor is very. . . safe. It'd be like being at school almost." And then adds quickly for good measure, "Not that safety's the reason to move somewhere, but when considering the other things it's a factor. Of course."

The manor?" echoes Angelina, surprised at the suggestion. As Martin takes a seat, she stays where she is for some time, trying to decide what this means. "Harper's just loud," she says first, trying to defend the child somehow, although she knows that this isn't what the conversation is /really/ about. Considering it, she has a hard time visualizing what it would be like to live at the Rathe manor. "Couldn't we just... hire some tutors who would come here?" Angelina finally makes her way to the living room and sits down across from Martin, looking to his eyes for clues to what he's really trying to make happen. "Apart from some additional support with the children, I don't really see an advantage..." she trails off, absently rubbing her right eyebrow nervously.

Yes, Rathe manor is very . . . s--" Martin rephrases mid-word "--atisfying." He winces at his own word choice, and then shakes his head. "We could hire a tutor and have them come here, but there's added benefits about the manor. Like being around some of their family. I once heard it takes a village--although in my case, that wouldn't really be true." He frowns slightly and then rubs his temple. "I just want them to grow up knowing their family--" he cuts himself off again. "That actually reminds me of a conversation I had with Niklos a few weeks back. He thinks, and I agree, that it might be best if the children and you don't see him for awhile." Martin stares at his feet like they're the most interesting thing he's seen all day. "He's heading back to Cyprus, and just thinks it would be difficult if they became. . . to attached."

Looking to Martin with a skeptical glance, so calculating only a former Ravenclaw could possibly possess it, Angelina sighs and nods, looking away slightly. "Family is important," she admits. She could hardly deny that, and it was clear that her own family wasn't stepping into that role for her children. Her father hardly left the house anymore, and seemed brooding and uninterested when they visited. And she hadn't even seen Arianne for months; the young woman had yet to lose her lust for travel. The last owl they received placed her somewhere in North America. Nodding, Angelina continues with, "I suppose an extended stay at the manor would be rather exciting for the children... and... it would be nice to have other adults around during the day. Maybe..." she says, slowly warming up to the idea, "maybe we could go out some evenings? Just you and I?" Angelina looks back to Martin at this, with a hopeful expression.

Absolutely, I think that it would be good for us to have time away from them and pursue life outside of them. And if we're at the manor we don't have to worry about a second rate nanny watching them," Martin nods almost too emphatically. "I'm glad you're considering this. I just think it would be good for both of us. /And/ them." He clams up after realizing that he might be selling this idea too much. He sighs, relieved that this may fly, especially given everything going on. He drums his fingers on the arm of the chair, leans back, and closes his eyes.

Still not entirely convinced that Martin is disclosing all the facts, Angelina simply nods at what he's said. He certainly looks calmer, suddenly. "This doesn't have anything to do with Niklos, does it? Moving to the manor? I mean, of course we should respect his wishes if he wants to put some distance between he and the kids..." she ponders, admittedly more than a little confused. "But nothing's... he's not mixed in something bad, is he?"

Of course not," Martin scoffs unconvincingly. Clearing his throat and opening his eyes he gazes at Angelina, "If that were the case, I wouldn't be seeing him anymore either, would I?" He clamps his eyes shut again. "Niklos is just a wanderer. A very charming . . . wanderer." He continues drumming his fingers on the arm of the chair. And then, for good measure, Martin opens his eyes again and furrows his eyebrows, "Please keep them away from the Pantheon Grill and any of my supposed Vasili relatives." He closes his eyes and adds as a sort of after thought. "Just as an aside I've cancelled our subscription to the Daily Prophet. We don't need to expose the children to such tripe." He raises a hand fleetingly.

Angelina's expression travels clearly from mild confusion to a mask of open perplexity as Martin speaks. Keeping the children away from the restaurant was more or less an acceptable request, given Niklos' odd concept of what's best for their children. But the newspaper? "You did /what/? Martin, no!" Angelina protests, not aggressive but surely shocked. "The Prophet is my only window to the outside world these days. I need it!" After a moment of silence, she confesses, "I know it's tripe... but it generally has some grounding in the truth. Please, Martin," Angelina says, eyebrows furrowed.

Tightening his jaw, Martin sighs. "Do you read the /whole/ thing? Maybe I could get it sent to the office and bring it home? That way the children won't get to it--I just don't want them to be unnecessarily frightened, or you to be. They publish articles that come from no identifiable source. It's . . . it's. . . it's. . . bad business practice! That's what it is." He crosses his arms over his chest. "How about switching to Witch Weekly? They seem to be better at keeping track of stories and the like? I just don't want anyone being unnecessarily concerned. When there's something to be concerned about, I'll bear that burden--"

/Martin/," Angelina says, a bit affronted, shaking her head. "It doesn't work that way. I'm not stupid, you know that... I know you do. I can't be left blissfully unaware like some women could be." Her flash of anger turns to a pained feeling of empathy for her husband as she looks at him, fretful and desperate. "You bear these worrisome burdens, love... but you can't hide them from me completely. I know there are things you can't tell me. Secret things about which disclosure would compromise security. I know there are dangerous people out there." Standing up and walking towards Martin, she puts one hand on his cheek and stoops down to kneel beside him. "I worry, too. It can't be helped. You don't have to try to shelter me all the time."

A small smile involuntarily pulls Martin's lips upwards at the feel of Angelina's touch. "I love you," he says simply. He takes a deep breath and sighs, the smile fading from his face, "You are my partner, and while there's no reason to tell you everything right now, as it could amount to nothing. . ." he trails off momentarily, but then continues ". . . I fear there's a storm coming. And I think there's little I can do to stop it." He grasps the hand on his cheek and plants a light kiss on it. "But I will do what I can to protect /our/ family."

Angelina only has time to smile genially at Martin before, from upstairs, there comes a series of possibly delighted high-pitched squeals and a loud laughter, clearly from Austin. Even from where Martin and Angelina are, the exclamation of, "MY TOOTH!" is clearly audible, as is the thunderous sound of eight feet stampeding down the stairs. Glancing to Martin, Angelina merely says, "Let's deal with this storm first," and grins as she goes to attend to daughter, now with one less tooth, and her hysteric siblings.