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Post by Gwyn on May 3, 2010 20:45:41 GMT -8
A joint post by Adrian and Gwyn
Gwyn, trying to figure out what their next step should be was talking to Bedros. "From here we go to the Allardyce home, nothing can change that. But what about Adrian, does it matter where we show up? London isn't exactly anywhere close to Antwerp and if he's floating around somewhere how will he know where his body reappears?"
"My boy have you learned nothing about the human spirit." Bedros rolled his eyes and gave a puff of smoke. "I don't know how your species managed to survived. Time for a lesson then so just listen. Once separated from the confines of your bodies your spirit sores. His spirit lives on, so just because he is without his body doesn't mean he can't think. He already knows where you will appear and will likely be waiting for you."
"So he can cover that distance in ten minutes? Gwyn said in amazement.
"I told you to listen, and I won't answer questions to which I have already given the answer." Bedros gave another puff of smoke.
Gwyn deep in thought paid no attention to the dragon. How do we get Adrian to overrule the creature in the amulet? he thought. If we keep his body petrified then the creature can't use it against us.
"If I take Adrian to the flat how do I get the amulet off? Will I be able to left it off? Then what?"
"I'm sorry to say this but you won't be able to take the amulet off, only the head of your family can do so and remain unaffected long enough to return it to the box. The box must then be brought here and I will seal the amulet into the box. Then it can harm no one unless someone puts it on. That is likely how your friend fell into its trap. It is a thing of beauty but it has a hidden darkness for those who are unaware. It is hard to resist. Before anything can be done you must somehow convince your friend, there, to fight for the right to dominate the amulet. When that is done your father will see the change in him, it is quite evident."
"Could you enlighten me on what that change is? It would be a lot simpler to know what we're looking for."
"I have no idea what the change is. No one has ever bothered to tell me. Why tell the dragon? Another failing grade on human judgement." Two whiffs of smoke rose into the air from Bedros's nostrils.
Air raid sirens began to wail in Gwyn's mind "You've never seen this done before?" A note of alarm was in his voice. "You're telling me all this and you've never seen any of this being done? No experience?" Gwyn walked in a circle as he ran his hands through his hair. "How the hell do know if this won't kill him the minute we're out of the chamber?" Gwyn threw his hands in the air. "Този водно конче е душевно болен (This dragon #@&%*/\ is insane. In Bulgarian)"
"I understood that." Bedros commented.
Gwyn ignored the comment. "How do you know any of this?" He was obviously agitated, his voice was raised. . Megan came to his side.
"I know it through lore and the writings on the section of blue wall. Doubting a dragons memory is another human failing." More smoke puffs.
Gwyn walked over to the wall with the strange script. "This is what your telling me?" He ran his fingers over the tiled writings.
"Would you like me to continue? I'm finding this rather tiring." Bedros spoke with a note of sarcasm.
"Alright go on."
"Please try to not interrupt again. At the change your father must then remove the amulet. Then he should break the chain and remove it before he it puts the amulet in the box. Then bring the amulet and chain here to me." Bedros looked at Adrian laying on the floor and gave a notable sigh. "This is all pointless." Bedros looked back to Gwyn. "I very much doubt that this young man has the fortitude to dominate the amulets power"
"You have no idea the strength Adrian has!" Gwyn raised his voice in anger. Megan took his hand to calm him. "In the future please refer to him by his name. All he needs is a reason to fight this and I think we can provide that reason." He turned away from Bedros and spoke quietly to Megan. In the next instant he was gone. Megan then in turn spoke to Andi and the girls disappeared.
Ten minutes later Gwyn and his father returned. It was vital that Adrian remained petrified. Gwyn went down on one knee and lifted Adrian and held on to him tightly.
"Wait you mustn't go yet." He turned to face Taliesin and the dragon. "Bedros I'm shocked. Our loyalty has always first been to the family." Taliesin scolded him. "No matter what!"
"He is not family." Bedros replied.
Taliesin in anger poked the dragon with his staff. It was clearly something that brought a great deal of discomfort to the dragon.
"Oh alright. I may have forgotten one small detail. Bring him here."
Gwyn and his dad laid Adrian on the floor in front of the dragon. Bedros blew a small jet of flame onto the amulet and chain until it glowed. Once he was done he turned his back to them and walked off to the far side of the room.
Seeing it all Gwyn glanced at his hand and cringe remembering the pain of a dragon's burn.
"Once it's cooled you will be able to handle the amulet safely when it's ready to removed." the Wizard advised.
"Thank you Taliesin we are indebted to you." Mr Allardyce said.
The wizard bowed. "Remember that burn will scar badly and there is nothing that can be done" Taliesin reminded them.
Gwyn again picked up Adrian. He paused just a moment but his father assured him it would be alright.
The second they arrived at the flat Andi ran to Adrian's side. She took his hand and began encouraging him to fight the darkness and the voice within.
"Adrian you have to fight this. You have to fight this with all your strength to come back to us; to come back to me." She began to cry. "I can't lose you and I know you don't want to lose me." She started telling him how important he was to her and that she could never imagine them not being together. She told him several times that she loved him and kept encouraging him to fight and come back to her.
The second that his body, along with the others, went to the safe room, Adrian was able to form conscious thought again. His first experience was being ripped from his body. His spirit stayed in the church while his body left, and at that moment he felt as if he were ripping in two. Everything was in a shade of grey, and as he looked around he fully came to realize what had happened. “Am I dead?” he could only think, because there was no body to impart sound. He tried moving, and realized that he could move just by willing it, and at an incredible speed. He instantly soared into the air, passing through the bricks and any obstacle as if it were nothing. He was very high up when more memories came to him.
Adrian the spirit realized then that he was not dead; he had just unwillingly dispossessed his body. He did not know what this might mean for his body, and in fact it could be dieing at this moment. He didn’t think this was the case, however, because he did not have that second voice in his head anymore, and a sickening feeling told him where it might be. He tried to follow the group into the room then, “speaking” the proper phrase. Distance seemed to distort and he could tell he was traveling but then he felt as if he hit a barrier and was repulsed. His spirit soared back over to the church where he had begun.
If he couldn’t go there, he knew where the trio would go next, and he quickly sped off to the Allardyce flat. He made incredible speed, and was convinced that the only way to travel faster was actual apparation. When he arrived, the group was not there. He almost started to panic, not knowing if he had guessed wrong and they had gone somewhere else. Not much later, though, Gwyn arrived and quickly found his father. Adrian followed Gwyn and tried to talk to him, shouting that he was there, but the young man took no notice of the incorporeal spirit hovering next to him. Adrian heard Gwyn tell Mr. Allardyce what had happened, and explain the current state of things, explaining what Bedros had told him.
Adrian returned to the place they had planned to move his body. He knew what he had to do, and knew it would not be a conventional fight. The spirit that had possessed his body was older and stronger, but Adrian fought for his very existence, he had to win. Moments later they returned, his body with them. A sudden urge compelled him to seek his body then, a need to inhabit a living vessel. He soared into the body, immediately feeling the resistance of the other soul. Adrian was now an invader, and the other spirit was defending its home. For an instant, Adrian felt helpless, that he could not win. He began to lose the tenuous grasp he had, and somehow knew that if he lost this battle that he started, it would be his last chance. There would be no more dispossessions for him; he would just cease to exist.
Faintly, he felt Andi’s grasp on his hand, heard her words. In his moment of weakness, Adrian heard her call to him, and it gave him the strength to push back and establish a foothold. He envisioned then, his body covered in a deep and impenetrable blackness. At one point, there was a speck of light, and with each struggle he made, and with each bit of ground he gained, the light grew and began to fight back the darkness. Slowly, he was making ground. Each tear shed from Andi for him and each call she made lent him strength, and he knew he needed it to make any progress at all.
As Andi spoke through her tears there was a change happening. His head and arms would twitch even though he was under the Petrificus. His eyes were shut but they could be seen moving back and forth. There was something happening inside Adrian and Andi kept encouraging him to fight and return. She then bent over and gave him a long kiss and told him that she needs him. As soon as she kissed him there was a big change in Adrian and his legs and arms began twitching even more.
He had almost assumed complete control of his body again, but his strength was fast fading. The flow of white began to slow, and then stopped. The black tide began to creep forward again, consuming the parts of him that he had claimed back. He felt her kiss then, and the connection that Andi had made with him surged with power and strength. In one final push Adrian fought with all he had, and even more than that with Andi’s help. The darkness receded, and then was gone all together. Suddenly all traces of it were gone, and he had won the battle. He had his body back.
Adrian's face suddenly had all its colour back and he took a sudden deep breath. Mr Allardyce had been waiting for this moment. There was a static hiss from the amulet, at that moment and for a second it glowed deep purple. He reached down and took the amulet removing it and its chain from around Adrian's neck. With a great tug he broke the chain and then laid the Amulet in the moulded pocket in the box. Gwyn and his father vanished.
Several minutes later Gwyn returned without his father who had stayed back to speak to both Bedros and Taliesin. A big smile crossed Gwyn's face when he saw Adrian and Andi together in a large arm chair with Adrian holding a big glass of scotch in one hand and Andi's hand with the other. Andi's free hand held a bag of ice against the burn caused by the dragon's fire. Adrian looked up at him a little sheepishly but Gwyn went over and pulled him out of the chair, nearly spilling the drink, and gave him a huge hug.
"I'm so glad to see you mate, you really gave us one hell of a scare, but that's behind us now."
"What happened to the amulet and chain?" Megan asked.
Gwyn released Adrian from his bear hug and sat down beside Megan and explained. "The chain's melted down and has no power whatsoever; just a gold nugget. Father dumped the amulet onto the floor and Bedros super heated it. When he was done it went back to the way it looked before. Quite beautiful actually. Dad put a sealing charm on the box and put the amulet into of the vaults in the storage chamber. No one can open the box now, it takes an drop of Allardyce blood to break the seal. Now there's a warning about the amulet on the box and inside it dangers will be explained. Something that should have been done long ago. He feels bad for not taking it to storage as soon as the rings were out. If only he'd of known."
"Taliesin figures the spirit somehow drew you to the vault and aided you in opening it. Knowing your passion for locks Adrian I imagine you didn't need much convincing. Anyway what it comes down to is that the spirit in the amulet used you to get out into the world again. The amulet is much older than we would guess. Some lore sets it back as far as the Romans but Taliesin doesn't really know and we're not sure how it ended up in our family. It's over with and done. We have you back in one piece and I think some of the credit should go to Andi" Gwyn poured drinks of muggle alcohol for the girls and himself and sat back to hear Adrian's tale of the nightmare he lived through.
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Post by Bessain on May 6, 2010 9:10:37 GMT -8
Despite how horrifying Adrian's experience had been, everyone was able to relax knowing the nightmare was over. No one held any grudges that Adrian had not come out to them sooner. They were all happy with the fact that their friend was alive and well... until Gwyn's father reappeared in the house.
Every smile in the room suddenly disappeared.
Mr. Allardyce had never struck Megan as a demanding parent, since that role was reserved for Mrs. Allardyce. But if her own parents had given her the look Gwyn was now recieving, she would have gladly tucked her tail and ran for it.
"Gwyddion," he said in a calm quiet voice that sent shivers down Megan's spine. "A word please."
Gwyn stood and followed his father into the next room. He shut the door behind him, having the feeling that this could turn out to be rather embarrassing.
As soon as the two left, Megan shot a curious glance over at Andi and Adrian. Suddenly, they all got up at the same time and scrambled to press an ear against the door.
"What were you thinking, Gwyn?" pried Mr. Allardyce.
"You can't push this on me, we didn't know he found the amulet."
"Thats not what I meant. You're an adult now and I'd like you to make your own decisions. But you could have killed Adrian removing the amulet in the chamber."
"Yea well, your pet dragon put a stop to it. Adrian's fine." countered Gwyn.
"Adrian aside. There were signs Gwyn. I'm assuming now that Megan's accident was no misfired defense spell. Adrian could have killed her and you all turned a blind eye and tried to hide it from even Dumbledore."
"Megan's fine, but--"
"Yes, Gwyn you're all fine! But any number of these events could have turned for the worse and you're not bothering to learn from them because you're all fine! What if Adrian had died today?" Mr. Allardyce's temper was starting to rise, but it was apparent that he was fighting to keep it at bay.
"Theres no point in dwelling on 'what-if's'--"
"Then what if Megan had died? Where would you be Gwyn?"
Gwyn, for once, had no counter.
Outside the door Megan shifted uncomfortably and accidentally bumped into the handle.
Seconds later Mr. Allardyce appeared and had to side step to avoid being crashed into by Andi and Adrian, who were still leaning against the door.
"Listen up all of you. Any more half truths out of you and I'll have you all sent back to Hogwarts!" he grumbled and walked out of the room and out of sight.
The group was silent for some time. Not quite sure what their next move was.
"I think we better get back to the Riel's," Andi piped up at long last. "It's probably better if we take a break from investigating, today."
Megan nodded her agreeement, and visibly brightened at the chance to apparate again.
~
The next morning at the Riel's, the girls woke early in order to get ready for the funeral of their late headmaster. Neither of them were at any time very fond of Armando Dippet, but it was a good excuse to get back to Hogwarts and visit with their school friends. The downside, was that Dumbledore had probably been informed of the amulet incident and would have a few things to say.
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Post by Gwyn on May 7, 2010 6:30:12 GMT -8
To say that Gwyn did not sleep well that night would be a serious understatement. The day's events and the reaction of his father laid heavily on his mind. He should not have spoken the way he did to his father and inside Gwyn knew he was right to be that angry. It would have been easier to be told off there and then. He gave up trying to sleep and got up after 10, he dressed and quietly left the Riel home. There was a Flemish pub down the street he'd seen but in the muggle world he was not of age. He pulled out the identity papers that had been made up for him at Hogwarts and looked at them with an eye to changing them, that was not necessary, it showed him to be of legal age in the muggle realm. He went in and surveyed the muggles. The ring made it possible to hear any conversation he chose to focus on. There were those speaking of the days events, of the shortages of food or petrol, or their government and its failings and a few who took notice of the young man who had just walked in. He didn't belong here but he wasn't here for idle chit chat with the locals. The barman eyed him as he walked up to the bar.
"Large brandy." Gwyn ordered and pushed a English Sovereign at the barman.
The barman scooped it up quickly and grabbed Gwyn's hand pulling him closer. He put the Sovereign back into Gwyn's hand and released his hold.
"To be seen paying with this amount of money for a drink is foolishness my English friend." he whispered. "There are men in here who would beat you senseless as soon as you step out that door for this." He turned and filled a glass with a deep honey coloured liquid then slid it across the bar to Gwyn. "On the house, I believe you English say, no?" He then served a large man who'd walked in behind Gwyn.
Gwyn took a table against the wall and began to sip the brandy at first and then he gulped it down as one would drink water. The man who had been behind him at the bar made his way over to him and sat down at his table. The burly man smiled at him raised his glass of beer and took a long draught and set the glass down. Gwyn acted as though he was not there.
"You must be one of the English students staying with the Riel family. Your friends not joining you?" the man spoke with a heavy Flemish accent.
"No they chose to turn in." Gwyn looked coldly at him, he was in no mood for company.
"I saw you at the old church with the others, you have a interest in churches? I know the two histories well, I can tell you all you need to know."
This startled Gwyn, what exactly did the man mean by two histories.
"I'm sorry I don't quite understand." Gwyn replied looking the man over more closely.
Gwyn tried to move into position to access his wand quickly should the need arise, but he couldn't move an inch.
The man smiled and in perfect English said. "You and I are leaving when I'm finished my ale. I'll make the excuse that I'm showing you the way back. Once we're at the side of the building you will step into the darkness and apparate back to the Riels. I'm sorry to do this lad but these streets are no place to be for a lad such as yourself. Wizard or not it wouldn't matter. They'd be on you and slit your throat before you could do anything. Men here have to work for a week to earn as much as you threw on the bar. If you're not up on your muggle money stay away from their businesses."
Gwyn was freed.
"I am well aware of the values of muggle money, it was all I had. Dumbledore have you following us?" Gwyn asked.
"No as matter a fact. He thinks you'd of had more sense than do something like this. It's the Riel family we're watching over, I saw you leave the house on your own. Louie, the barman and licensee, is one of us. He's muggle born and stayed on to take care of the family business after Hogwarts. Best of both worlds you might say and this pub never runs dry of anything. Everyone figures it's black market but we know better." He winked and tapped the side of his nose. "There's more than a few of us who live in the muggle world. Come on lad let's get out of here and get you back where it's safe."
Gwyn didn't argue and as they left he gave the barman a friendly nod thanking him for the drink. Once outside the bar Gwyn didn't wait around. A quick look about as he stepped into the darkness beside the pub and he vanished.
In an instant he was in the secret chamber and then in another he was in his London flat. It was immediately clear that he was on his own. He never tried to guess where his father always was off to and it suited him to be alone. He walked to the library, took a glass and the brandy decanter. He went out onto the lawn and seated himself against the garden wall and looked up at the stars. He had done this often when he was younger and troubled about something. After the second glass full he set the glass aside and drank from the half full bottle.
He knew his father was angry with him and to see him walk off, or simply turn his back to him, as Gwyn saw it, was unthinkable. He never spoke out in anger and would wait several minutes before saying anything, but he never turned his back and left. Gwyn, as usual, had acted as a pompous fool and he knew it. How could he have thought that he could handle it. He knew nothing about the amulet and had the girls not been there he would have been dead, and if they had failed they would have been next. Nothing he experienced in Durmstrang or Hogwarts prepared him for what happened. The spirit in the amulet was more powerful than anything he'd experienced and the malice he felt from it had long awaited being set free. Out of sheer dumb luck he managed not to kill everyone that was close to him. He had been a fool. He thought, as usual, he could handle it and very nearly set it free in Adrian's body, to take a unknown toll of lives in both the Muggle and Wiƶarding world. He felt all his bravado and confidence drain out of himself as quickly as the brandy flowed in. In a somewhat drunken haƶe he could clearly remember how his father had looked at him, the anger, the pain, the fear at what might have happened and the disappointment that was in his eyes. Tears welled up in Gwyn's eyes and the odd sob escaped no matter how hard he tried to hold it in. All the "if only" comments ran through his mind but in the end he had to sense to know what was done is done.
He sat for hours watching the moon and stars journey across the sky. About 4am a light came on in the flat. Voices and the odd words drifted out but he paid them no heed and with his wand he refilled the brandy decanter and took another drink. He realised someone was calling his name and to his surprise it was Megan's voice. He ran the back of his hands across his to clear eyes but thought better of it and moved further down the lawn away from the light. He didn't want to see anyone. Light must have reflected off the decanter because she saw him.
"Gwyn!! He's here I found him he's outside." Megan began to run out the French doors but Mr Allardyce gently caught her arm.
"I think I best take care of this Megan. I don't think he's ready to talk to anyone just now. Best leave it with me."
Megan wanted nothing more than to make sure he was alright and every fibre of her being wanted to go to him. They'd been looking everywhere through the night since the watchman raised the alarm when Gwyn didn't go back to the Riel's. He finally remembered hours later hearing Gwyn use a word that started with "gin", just before he vanished. They had been to the flat earlier unbeknown to Gwyn but they had only done a quick run through and left. Megan finally relented and when she'd found the others they returned to the Riel's.
After she had gone Mr. Allardyce turned out the lights and walked out to his son and sat beside him. He picked up the decanter and filled a glass that popped into his hand. He took and drink and sat back against the wall.
"The muggle stuffs much better you know." He commented. They sat there in the dark and quiet for sometime before saying anything. He laid his hand on his son's shoulder. "I'm sorry son... It's been a difficult and frightful time all round."
Gwyn couldn't bring himself to look at his father. He laid his head back against the bricks of the garden wall. "You have nothing to apologise for dad. I've been a such a damn fool, again. You were right, I thought I could handle it... and instead I nearly got us all killed." He had to wipe his eyes. "I always think I can handle it."
"You aren't the first and you won't be the last 17 year old to make that mistake. It goes with the territory Gwyn. As long as you can take this and grow because of it not all's lost. I know many wizards and witches alike who would have made the same mistake."
"But they were almost killed, and I can't get that thought out of my mind. When I close my eyes I see them laying there, dead. Megan and the others...... I'm sorry dad."
Mr Allardyce pulled Gwyn close with his arm around his son. "Everyone's alright and they know you're safe. That's all that really matters now." Gwyn leaned over against his father and wiped his eyes again.
They sat there quietly for a hour or so until Gwyn finally went to sleep. His father used the Mobilicorpus spell and put his son to bed. He stood there looking down at him and reasoned that Gwyn had likely learnt his lesson. Later that day was Headmaster Dippet's funeral and he would make sure that no matter what Gwyn would be there. The next morning when the others woke at the Riel's Gwyn's bunk was still empty. They readied themselves and Megan wondered if they would see him at all that day.
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Post by Michi on May 8, 2010 19:17:03 GMT -8
(So the bunk of this was written sometime after midnight... a while ago. Be forewarned.)
Emily made her way through the quiet halls of Hogwarts up to the headmaster's office. There were still plenty of students who remained at the school over the Easter holidays - particularly students studying for their OWLS and NEWTS - but enough had gone home that there was a difference. She had planned on returning in a few days for Headmaster Dippet's funeral, and she assumed the bulk of the student body would be back by then as well.
She was still in the muggle clothing she had worn while traveling - admittedly not terribly different from her school uniform, as she was in a knee-length pleated skirt and a blue sweater, with a muggle coat over - but she felt extremely out of place without her school robes.
Emily herself had gone on holiday with her parents and her brother Edmund, who was a fourth year. It was yesterday that she had gotten an owl from Dumbledore asking her to return to Hogwarts. The letter was currently in her coat pocket, having been folded and re-folded several times. He hadn't said why, exactly - just apologized for ruining her holidays but assured her that he wouldn't do so were it not necessary.
This, of course, worried her.
She knew her friends weren't in school - Megan had invited her to a party, but as she had been in Rome with her parents at the time Emily had been forced to decline (Though quite frankly, she would rather have gone to the party. Interesting though Rome was her parents were there not for the museums but because their friends were there.) She was sure if anything had happened to one of them she would have heard about it by now. Unless, of course, they were all dead.
She was just having the mental image of them all lying in a smoking ditch on the side of the road when she came upon the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the headmaster's office.
"Licorice wands." She told it the password Dumbledore had given her in his letter, and it stepped aside to admit her.
As a good student, but with no exceptional circumstances, Emily had never been in the headmaster's office before. Professor Dumbledore was standing beside his desk, regarding a book. he looked up when she entered, and smiled kindly.
"Ah, Miss Browne. Please, take a seat." He gestured to the chair in front of his desk and she sat, fidgeting slightly. He looked pleased to see her- it didn't seem as though anything bad had happened. Still, she would feel better knowing what was important enough for her to have to catch a portkey back to England at six this morning.
"Please, Professor, is something wrong-?" He shook his head immediately.
"I am sorry if I caused you any worry - and, indeed, for cutting short your holiday. Rome, I believe?"
"Yes." She said, not bothering to ask how he knew this, "It's fine though, I wasn't particularly enjoying myself." He nodded.
"Well be that as it may I'm going to have to ask for your help."
"My help?" She asked wondering what on earth Dumbledore could need her help with. Unless it was baking muffins or playing Quidditch there was nothing she was particularly good at. Certainly nothing she was better at than Dumbledore. "Sir, I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but what could you possibly need my help with?" He smiled again, blue eyes twinkling.
"You see, Miss Browne, I currently have your friends off on a mission of sorts, and I had intended to ask you to accompany them. But as you were out of the country it hardly seemed practical. And then I heard something interesting." He lowered his head slightly, looking at her over the hop of his spectacles. "Is it true you are a Legillimens?"
Emily felt herself turn bright red, which seemed answer enough for Dumbledore, who sat back in his chair.
"But how did you - who - " She stammered, unable to think of anyone who could possibly know. "I haven't even told anyone!" She exclaimed, "Not that there's much to tell - really sir, I'm not very good at it -" He held up a hand and she stopped rambling, grateful he had stopped her.
"You may not have told anyone, but I had a very interesting conversation with Mr. Knight several weeks ago." She quickly tried to think back and remember if she had hexed him recently. Oddly nothing came to mind. "He seemed to think you were somehow following him, or had used a spell that enabled you to read minds as you inexplicably knew where he had been all the previous day. He left out many of the details - but it is clear he is not aware of what Legillimency is."
Emily remembered this - Canis had stolen one of the Gryffindor prefect's badges and chucked it out behind the greenhouses. He was gloating about it, and it had been easy even for her to see why. Slightly harder was finding out where he had hidden it, but it had been worth the headache to be able to inform him what he had done and where he had done it and watch the color drain from his face. She'd had no idea he would go to Dumbledore.
"Once I had assured him this was impossible - telling a slight lie, I'm afraid, though to be honest I did not believe at the the time that it was probable you knew Legillimency - it is, after all, rarely practiced, and not mentioned except in NEWT-level Defense Against the Dark Arts, which I gather Mr. Knight is not taking. It did, however, seem odd. I decided not to speak with you about it until I knew for sure."
"How did you know for sure?" She asked, wondering what would possibly have tipped him off.
"Well," He said, "As it happens, I had an interesting chat with your grandmother. Mrs. Rosier." Emily stared.
"That's impossible," She informed him, "She died last year." Dumbledore nodded.
"As I discovered - and my condolences, by the way. I had the privilege of meeting her a few times, and I knew she was quite an accomplished Legillimens, and a good Occulimens. I didn't make the connection for a while, however, because of course you do not share the same surname." Emily nodded - Antila Rosier was her mother's mother.
"Eventually however I was able to locate a portrait," He continued, "It was not terribly difficult, though I must admit to some breaking and entering on my part." She thought she knew where, too - a massive portrait of her grandmother hung in their sitting room. A wizard like Dumbledore was unlikely to have trouble with the light protection that was on their manor house."She informed me that she had indeed begun to teach you Legillimency before her death. She also informed me that you were not very good, as of yet, though you had more aptitude for it than your mother did. Apparently Atria was only ever able to detect a few lies here and there." Emily nodded - it had been quite hard getting away with anything as a child. Though until recently she had never been a good liar, usually relying on being able to get away with things rather than on covering them up.
"She was right, sir, I can't do very much. The thing with Canis was about all I can do, and then I had a headache all night. We didn't get very far when she died, and I tried reading books about it, but it's so hard just reading the theory." After her grandmother had died last summer Emily had indeed found every book that even mentioned Legillimency in her family's library and shut herself up with them for weeks. She had been determined to become a spectacular Legillimens to honor Antila's memory. However the books merely contained the theory, written a dozen different ways but effectively saying the same thing - it was very hard to learn this particular subject without a teacher. Dumbledore nodded.
"I agree - the theory on its own is maddeningly frustrating. Which is why I will be giving you lessons once school resumes. For the moment, however, we will simply have to go on an afternoon's worth of practice and good faith."
"You're going to teach me?" Emily asked incredulously.She couldn't help but feel that Dumbledore would be a much more patient teacher than Antila, who took to hitting Emily around the ankles with her cane to try to get her to focus.
"I am. I am a fairly accomplished Legillimens myself, as well as an Occlumens." He paused, "I did not ask Antila, but I suppose it might be too much to hope for that you know some Occlumency?" Emily nodded.
"That was easier to learn from books, because I know a little about Legillimency. I've never actually tried it, of course, but the theory was somewhat straightforward if you know how Legillimency works."
"Well, as I have some time right now - and I'm assuming you aren't busy? I think it would be a good time to see where you are in both Legillimency and Occlumency."
~
Emily sat by the lake, nibbling a bar of chocolate to take away the bad taste left in her mouth by one of Madam Pomfrey's headache remedies. She was, as she had known, not terribly good at Legillimency and abysmal at Occlumency. Professor Dumbledore had been very patient with her limited abilities and promised to have at least one more lesson with her before the funeral.
She hoped that her friends would come back to Hogwarts for Professor Dippet's funeral - without them it was very quiet here.
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Post by Gwyn on May 10, 2010 20:01:07 GMT -8
"Gwyn, Gwyn... come on boy wake up." His dad reached down and shook him. Finally an eye opened and looked up at him.
"What?"
"Time to get up son. Funerals today and you need to get cleaned up before you go. You're expected to be there you know. Everyone who is anyone will be there and you'll be among those that have no choice. How you feeling?"
"Not well but I've been worse. What time is it?" Gwyn managed to croaked out
"It's half eight." his father replied "Your expected to be at Hogwarts at 9:30. You've a meeting to attend."
Gwyn groaned. "Bloody hell nine thirty." Another moan. "Is this an Order meeting or did you say something to Dumbledore?"
"I didn't say a thing, you managed that yourself." was the terse reply.
"What?" He lifted his head off his pillow. "I didn't see anyone but you, I was here remember. Can't a man drink in his own home without being lectured about it by Dumbledore?"
"Like I said, you did this all on your own. When the sentry told you to go back to the Riel's you didn't. You used the ring and didn't apparate as asked. The ring is a quiet departure, Apparation isn't. First thing he did was wake the Riels to see if you were there. When you weren't the alarm was raised. Get your ass out of bed, you need to bath before you go."
Forty five minutes later Gwyn was dressed and in the library dreading the meeting with Dumbledore. Dumbledore was taking time out of his schedule on the day of the Headmaster's funeral to lecture him. This didn't bode well.
At nine fifteen his father brought a cracked brown betty teapot into the library. Gwyn knew what it was right away and when his father indicated that he was ready to leave the pit of his stomach hit the floor. If his father was going to be there, at the meeting, it was worse than he'd imagined. All sorts of consequences went through Gwyn's mind. He got up and held onto the tea pot with his father and after a jarring few seconds they appeared in Dumbledore's office. His father greeted the new Headmaster and sat down. Gwyn too took a seat. He noticed that the room was still as had Headmaster Dippet had left it and that his portrait was behind the desk draped in black . Gwyn was tense and when three other fathers and their sons', all head boys from the other houses, arrived matter of seconds apart he literally jumped out of his chair. Gwyn was confused.
"Thank you gentlemen for being so prompt. The fathers are of course welcome to stay if they wish. Otherwise breakfast is still being served in the Great Hall for the many expected arrivals." Dumbledore waited as the fathers left and then addressed the boys. This was not a meeting about Gwyn. All Head boys had been called together because they would be a part of the eight men that would be carrying the Headmaster's coffin on their shoulders into the funeral service along with four others selected by the Dippet family. They were going to be instructed in the procedure at ten in one of the empty rooms on the second floor. Gwyn was relieved. They met for about twenty minutes and were dismissed.
"Mr Allardyce could I speak with you for a moment." Gwyn was halfway out the door and his stomach dropped again. He entered the office closing the door behind him and took the seat, as Dumbledore directed, closest to the desk. Dumbledore look kindly on him.
"You have been through a difficult time I understand. You have also caused those closest to you a great deal of concern. I understand what you did and why but I would have hoped you would have handled your feelings without the over indulgence of your father's best brandy. Gwyddion, you are in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of many others a respected man. History is full of men who, to use a muggle expression, try and drown their sorrows, in a variety of ways. Most, if not all, fail in this and ultimately their problems compound. What disturbs me the most is the lack of concern you showed for your friends, the Riel family and the others who searched for you."
"I nearly killed us all Professor!" Gwyn unconsciously clenched his fists. "Then the thought of that dark creature being released all because of my stupidity. All I saw when I closed my eyes was my father looking down at us, we were laying there, dead, because of me, because of my ego." Gwyn stared at the floor. "I couldn't bear thinking about it but I couldn't stop thinking about it either."
"I understand better than you could possibly imagine my dear boy. The key is when you were told what was to be done you accepted that council and followed it. You made a mistake but you corrected it and no one died. You must remember that also. Your father told me of the guilt you feel and I understand. But remember, you listened and acted. That is not the sign of a impetuous conceited ego driven young man. Once, as a young man I found myself in a situation where I thought I was right and in that belief I reacted to a situation in the only way I believed possible. I was right and the other was wrong. My conceit had very serious consequences that I must still live with daily. So you are not the first to feel as you do. This takes place in nearly every mans' life at sometime. The important thing is that you accepted the advice of one more skilled in these matters, and because of it you've grown stronger. You've accepted responsibility and now you must move on and focus on matters at hand."
"The Riels have not requested your group to be moved elsewhere because of your actions. I expect you to write a letter of apology to the Riel family and provide a gift of good will for Mrs. Riel, who was most troubled by your disappearance. There is now nothing more to be said on the matter." Dumbledore rose from his chair and and picked up a small item from a side table and examined it as he spoke.
"I have already informed the others that Miss Emily Browne will be joining your group. She will add Legilimency skills to your group and your father has agreed to provide her a ring. She has arrived and I'm quite sure Miss Ƶabe and Mr Prewitt are well acquainted with her as they are all in Ravenclaw House. On another matter there is a meeting for those of the Order who will be attending the funeral to ensure nothing slips through the Ministries net. It will be brief and in this office at eleven thirty."
"Do you expect Mr Riddle to attend the service Professor?" Gwyn asked.
"Yes, I have no doubt whatsoever. Aside from likely being responsible for his death he and the former Headmaster were close. I doubt there are any feelings of guilt on his part and it will give him the opportunity to rub shoulders with those in authority and well placed. He wouldn't miss the opportunity to endear himself." He turned to Gwyn still holding the odd object. "If you hurry you may just make your funerary instructions."
Gwyn left Dumbledore's office with only minutes to spare and raced to the room where they were to be instructed on their part in the funeral rite. Adrian was there and looked surprised when Gwyn walked in. All he could do was give Adrian a half hearted smile. He didn't want to discuss the matter with anyone but clearly he would have to do some explaining, and what was he to say to Megan. They would all be together shortly at the Order meeting. He felt the pit of his stomach drop again.
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Post by Bessain on May 12, 2010 21:35:30 GMT -8
((I know its shorter than usual, but I think michi needs to get her foot back in the door))
The funeral went smoothly with hardly any problems. Megan found it amusing that the only ones who seemed terribly torn up about the headmasters' passing were the Slytherins and, of course, his family members. The last one was less funny to the mischievous Gryffindor.
Megan and Andi were having trouble suppressing silly smiles as Emily rejoined them. It seemed like ages since they had last seen their friend. They clustered together in the audience and tried to gossip quietly about their adventures. The three came to a quick stop, however, when they realized they were interrupting a eulogy. It wasn't before long when Megan noticed a familiar face in the second section of the gathering.
Tom Riddle sat with some old school friends across the way. The girls quickly quieted down and wore scowls on their faces the minute Megan pointed him out. Old hurts started to rise for Megan and she felt as if her whole day was ruined... until she saw Gwyn.
He was walking Headmaster Dippets coffin with seven others for the ceremony. Megan thought he looked very tired, and maybe even a little sick. He fit right in at a funeral, that was for sure. Well he has had a long night, she thought to herself. In all honestly, Megan was a little hurt that she wasn't able to sit with Gwyn last night. But it wasn't anything she couldn't get over. She reminded herself that this was about Gwyn and not about her.
When he finally came to sit down with the group, Megan gave his hand a little squeeze and simply said nothing about the matter. If anything, she was more worried than mad. Gwyn had given them all quite a scare last night.
The funeral dragged on and it was lunch out at the school by the time it ended. For fear of sounding insensitive to any passers-by, they all avoided commenting on how incredibly boring the entire affair was as they ate their lunch. The order meeting was to take place soon, and it would be safer to discuss any extra-curricular business there. But the air of the funeral was starting to bother megan and she could feel herself twitch with the need for activity.
"You feeling okay?" Megan asked Gwyn, she reached up to feel his forehead. He was still looking very tired. She made a point not to push him about the previous night. Gwyddion replied only that he was fine and that finishing his lunch would do him some good. Megan left him alone.
"So Emily!" she said, switching the focus of the group. "How was your vacation? We missed you at my party! Guess theres quite a bit to fill you in on."
Megan chuckled. "I know you just got back but... you ready to start traveling again?"
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Post by Michi on May 26, 2010 14:07:43 GMT -8
(Short post is short. Even I can only drag on small talk for so long!)
"I suppose," Emily admitted, "Honestly I didn't do much traveling - just a portkey out and back. And it was a thoroughly miserable vacation. I'm up for anything that doesn't involve sitting in a parlor drinking endless cups of tea and discussing how much better we are than magicless plebeians." She made a face. "What have you all been up to? Dumbledore never exactly told me..." Megan gave her head a tiny shake.
"Later." She said, "It's probably a good idea not to talk about everything here."
"Ah, yes." Emily agreed. There was a pause, as they all tried to think of something to talk about that wasn't related to whatever they had been off doing.
"How was the party?" Emily asked at the same moment that Andi chirped "How was the weather in Rome?" Another, smaller pause.
"Sunny. Dry." She answered, sensing that Andi probably wasn't terribly interested and had just asked to alleviate the tension. "You know, typical Italian springtime." The others nodded. "...the party?" She prompted. Grins all around. It must have been good.
"Oh you would have hated it" Adrian said cheerfully, "Noisy, people everywhere. *Drunk* people everywhere." He clarified. Emily grinned, imagining her friends staggering around, five identical lampshades on their heads.
"If only I had been there to hand out hangover cures the next day." She said, mock-wistful, "And clean up the awful mess."
"Do you even know how to make a hangover cure?" Andi asked. "I've actually looked and it's not in any of the potions texts. Probably to make students learn the hard way not to drink too much." Emily rolled her eyes.
"I learned how, unfortunately, because I have a younger brother who likes to guzzle five-hundred-year-old wine with his idiot friends, and a nagging sense of responsibility to make sure he's not green and vomiting at breakfast the next day." They laughed.
"If I were you I'd just let him suffer." Adrian interjected, "One morning of that and he'd be more careful." Emily shrugged - she couldn't really fathom the amount of hell there would be to pay if her fourteen-year-old brother showed up to a fancy brunch looking like death warmed over. It was more than likely she would - somehow - end up being blamed.
"Anyway I hope you at least muggle-proofed your house?" She said to Megan.
"Of course," Megan responded, with an eye-roll of her own, "The last thing I wanted was for some muggle gate-crashers to show up and see something they shouldn't. Gwyn made security as tight as possible." Emily glanced at Gwyn, who had yet to say a word. He looked drawn and tired. Emily opened her mouth to ask if he was sick when Adrian stood, checking his watch.
"We should get going," He told them, "The meeting's going to start soon."
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Post by Gwyn on Jun 8, 2010 23:27:29 GMT -8
Megan, in a hushed voice, quickly explained what she could of the Order to Emily as they headed to the Headmasters office. When Emily realised that she would be in on a meeting of a secret order set up by Dumbledore and that work outside of the Ministries influence she went quite pale. The meeting took no more than half an hour and was a chance for everyone to connect and meet new members. Information on the Headmasters death and those believed to have a hand in it was updated as was the movements of Mr. Riddle, or Lord Voldemort as he was now called, in and out of England and the continent. Nothing much of what the younger members of the order had found was reported but it was said that they had had some interesting results that looked promising. There was a encouraging murmur that went through the members as they nodded and generally gave them encouraging looks. A port key had been placed in Dumbledore's office so that members could leave the office without being seen. The five students were the only ones who remained behind as they would not be returning to the Riel's till later in the day.
Hogwarts was full again as most students were staying for the last few days of the holiday. Gwyn was pestered by questions once it was learn that he and the others would not be at school for some time. The fact that it was all four of them plus Emily made it immediately suspicious and though Gwyn said there was nothing to it no one believed it. The common room was packed when he came down from the bedroom so he headed out as quickly as he could through the portal and then he ducked into the passage that would take him down close to the first floor. He found Megan waiting for him by the doors and he could tell she had faced the some avalanche of questions by the scowl on her face. He took her arm and they headed outside away from the crush of students.
They had a couple of hours before their trip back to the Riels so a quiet stroll on the grounds was the perfect get away, who knew when they would be able to do this again. They had hoped they might come across the others outside who were no doubt being pestered at least as badly as they had been. First they sat when they reached the hill above the lake and then they laid back on the overlooking the lake. A moment of bliss until it was time to leave. They found the others on their way back and made their way to the Head Masters office for the their return to Belgium. Now that the amulet was back in its case they would be able to put all their efforts into the search for Riddle and the whereabouts of Godric Gryffindore's sword.
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Post by Bessain on Jun 29, 2010 22:21:48 GMT -8
Back at the Riel’s, the girls took some time to help Emily get situated. They made room in the closet and found space for a small space opposite to the bunk bed.
“You know if we used an extension charm on the closet we could probably just live in there.” Megan observed.
“Well we would have more room.” Andi agreed facetiously.
“This room is fine,” Emily chuckled. “Besides, that charm is hard enough to perform on a hand bag, much less a closet.”
Megan frowned, but relented. Emily had a point. To change the subject, Megan threw out a couple of ideas for places they may like to investigate. She was really just hoping for any insight that Emily could offer, but was disappointed. Emily had absorbed a lot of information that day and was still apparently taking it in. ~ The group met in the living room after dinner that night to discuss their next move. They had gotten side tracked, both physically and mentally. The late headmaster’s funeral could not have come at a worse time. But now that everything was said and done, it was time to reset priorities.
“I don’t think we should go back to the church.” Megan started. “I know we haven’t been there long, but it feels like a waste of time.”
The rest agreed, but voiced concerns about the next step. Megan didn’t really have a plan past that, just opinions.
“Honestly though,” she said quietly. “I think we’re going about this the wrong way. We’re looking at places that Riddle has visited. Visited, not frequented. He’s much harder to detect in long absence. Maybe we should start looking at places he’s at. Dumbledore said something about Borgin and Burkes today during the meeting… though I’m sure it was more of a warning than an assignment.”
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Post by Gwyn on Dec 4, 2010 16:53:13 GMT -8
Gwyn thought for a moment and admitted that Megan was absolutely right. Going to where Riddle had been gave them a lot of background on how he thinks but it took them no closer to finding out where the sword might be. Riddle was working, which was a surprise, and they knew where, so wouldn’t tailing him be a better route.
“That makes sense but we need to know how he thinks and where his associates wait to be contacted. We could follow him when he leaves work in stages, only one of us behind him at a time and then change, say after 5 minutes. Trouble is knowing where and when to change. We could use polyjuice potion so he couldn’t recognise us but that would take a bleeding month and we haven’t got that much time. So we’re back to where we started, following him.”
Gwyn normally would have an idea or two but this time he just drew a blank. Well there were the radio’s the muggles used during the war to talk but they were large and cumbersome. Gwyn began pacing.
“It would be dicey trying an invisibility spell and he’d spot us at some point. We could ask around but that to would be dicey, especially if he gets wind of it. He’s too smart to keep to a routine and at some point he’ll apparate. He’s likely to have people here and in England and if we could find out who they all are we might know his movements. We can’t compete with him head to head and if we’re separated for a couple of minutes how would we keep in touch? Knowing where Riddle has been helps us understand how he thinks, and if we’re lucky it may also tell us where he may have hidden the sword or where he’s likely to hide it if he hasn’t done so. So where do we go from here?” Do we ask Dumbledore for help. He may give us names of associates in England but you’d think he’d have already done that. Other order members must have tracked him at some point and reported it to Dumbledore. Maybe there’s a scroll we could check? What do you think of setting up a map and marking everywhere it’s known he has been to see if there’s a pattern. I think Dumbledore would know more about that than he lets on.”
Gwyn walked over to the bar and pulled up a bottle of gin and a bottle of wine. “Drinks anyone?” He asked as he turned and faced the others.
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Post by Bessain on Mar 13, 2011 14:01:46 GMT -8
Over the next couple weeks Megan, Andi, Adrian and Gwyn all took turns watching Riddle at work. It was a boring task and the day seldom turned up and positive results. Despite the few people who actually came in the shop to purchase anything, the group found that there were three individuals who repeatedly stopped by. It also became apparent that the same trio of people never bought or sold anything while in the shop.
The first of the three was an old man that Adrian and Gwyn followed to a pub one night. They discovered that his name was Yorik and he lived alone in the country side. Adrian was convinced that the man was mute because he never said a word to anyone, though Gwyn seemed to think he was simply used to a hermit lifestyle. The boys were unable to learn anything else without drawing unwanted attention.
The second of the three was a young woman, an aspiring reporter for The Daily Prophet. Medora Thaxter, whose column the girls both shared an equal dislike for, was soon to be appointed the new editor for The Prophet. Megan and Andi decided that she could be a useful informant for Riddle, and kept her name on the top of the suspect list. When Medora’s name came up during a visit from Gwyn’s father, he quickly warned the girls to keep their distance. Ms. Thaxter was a highly ambitious and equally temperamental woman who spent much of her time snooping around the ministry. Megan had the idea that either Andi or herself should intern for the editor as up and coming women reporters. They were on their 7th year at Hogwarts anyway; it was a plausible plan... in spite of Mr. Allardyce’s warning.
The third was a middle aged man who the group was able to discern absolutely nothing about. He would apparate to the front of the store during each visit, and disapparate out in the same place. Even after weeks of waiting and watching, the man entered and exited the same way every time. It was almost maddening.
One day when Megan and Adrian shared a watch, the strange man apparated to the front of the store. The two quickly got to their positions, pretending to browse idly at a window outside the store next door. Out of the corner of their eyes, they could see the man talking to Riddle who stood behind a counter. He stayed in the shop for a total of ten minutes, and promptly walked out. Instead of disapperating, the man stopped outside the door and walked deeper into Knockturn alley. Megan and Adrian exchanged glances.
Megan moved first, letting the strange man gain some distance before following behind. Adrian caught her by the back of her sweater.
“Shouldn’t we go get the others?” he asked, concerned.
“Adrian there’s no time he’s getting away!” Megan insisted, dragging out her wand and casting a disillusionment charm on her friend. Adrian quickly did the same for Megan. Megan grabbed the end of his cloak to keep track of each other, and together they walked deeper into Knockturn Alley.
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