Knock-knock: Who's there?

[Alessandro Darko]

The interior of Hogwarts was cool and slightly damp. The aged stone walls kept out the light and kept in the musty smell of stone, tapestries, and torches. Those were smells that Alessandro had missed for all his time spent in the realm below, or wherever it was. The clicking of his shoes echoed through the empty corridors, bouncing off of portraits and suits of armor. He glanced up to his right at the picture of the Hogwarts staff during Dumbledore's regency. They all seemed to be smiling back at him, and some even waved 'hello' as if to welcome him back to the school. Without even a shift in his expression, he turned his gaze forward once more and continued moving. He was going straight to the headmistress's office, hoping he would be able to catch her at a decent moment. He had had only a day to think up a good enough excuse for his sudden, and lengthy disappearance.

Approaching the stone Gargoyle, he hoped that the password hadn't changed in the time he had been gone, and murmured the magic words. [blue]"Lemon Sherbet"[/blue] The stone Gargoyle rotated and lowerd itself, revealing a staircase up to Headmistress LaPointe's office.

Once he ascended to the top, he reached out his closed fist, and knocked three times on the door. He tried his best to straighten up his appearance; his long, scraggly hair smoothed back, and he patted his hands against his trousers and smoothed out the front of his shirt. He had picked up some muggle clothes before returning to Hogwarts, hoping that it would assist in the believability of his story. As he waited for her to respond to the door, he flexed and stretched his palms out, shaking them out and then rubbing them on the sides of his thighs. He was nervous, but what a beautiful feeling that was for him, feeling his body react to the chemicals released by his brain. Hopefully she would not question him too much, and to ensure this, he would play the sympathy card. "Please, take pity on me, I've been put through hell." Yes, he would be sure to incorporate the 'being put through hell' part somewhere in his story and explain the toils of getting himself back home.

His mental workings were cut short though, as he held his breath when he heard the handle being joggled and the door swept open.

[Caira LaPointe]

Caira had been busy all day with paperwork. Finally beginning to feel triumphant with the return of at least one of her students, she had taken it upon herself to take a personal stroll around the grounds, and corridors, even popping in the odd class or two. The looks on the faces of the young witches and wizards she had encountered was priceless. If only she could read minds on a whim, for she was sure that there could have been many-a-thought that would amuse her. So after she made her rounds around the school, and schmoozed with some of her staff, she took a detour to the elf kitchens to oversee her little helpers. Upon spotting Garamsythe, one would think the small elf had been physically abused by the Headmistress, for his reaction to her was worse than the students. Caira was shocked that her faithful servant would handle her presence outside of their usual meeting spot with such disgrace; she would be wise to address and modify this in the future. After she had indulged in a cup of tea, she made her way back to the office.

Resuming her paperwork was an unwanted task, but it had to be done. Ministry documents littered her desk as inquiry after inquiry were responded to, invitations to Hogsmeade functions, staff payroll, applications for employment, and parcels sent to her via owl, all arranged on her desk in an upheaval of professional antagonism. She had just sat down and picked up a letter from the ministry regarding the stay of two of their officials, Arista Blackwell and Thornelius Stockholm, when she heard three knocks at her door. Her hair bounced lightly as she tilted her head toward the sound, her eyes staring at the door, penetrating the wood as if to see who was behind it. Finally, she had made her way to it, and pulled the handle, the door sweeping open and the face of a student in muggle clothing staring bleakly back at her.

Caira LaPointe was usually one to reserve her emotional expressions to a composed level, however, after her current ordeals with missing students, this was indeed an unexpected surprise. His name popped into her head almost immediately. Alessandro Darko, fifth year, Ravenclaw House. His student profile showed academic prowess and not many behavior issues, save for a couple curfew breaks and an instigated fight during Defense Against the Dark Arts. Blinking twice, she gained her bearings once more and spoke.

"Mister Darko! Merlin's Beard, please do come in, take a seat, wont you?" He said in a hushed, shocked tone of voice. This was good. Excitement brewed within her heart for at last she would have answers as to how a fifteen year old boy could just vanish overnight. After she had swept back into her office, gesturing to one of her fine, comfortable armchairs, she conjured up a pot of tea, and snapped her fingers for Garamsythe. The small crack from his apparition phased her not, and she requested her ritualistic tray of treats for the student. Taking a seat herself directly opposite the chair indicated for Alessandro, she crossed her legs and filled a cup of tea, setting it on a saucer in front of Alessandro's chair, and then one for herself.

"My dear, please...Everyone's been worried sick. There were search parties...searching for days, weeks even. Your parents are distraught. What on earth has happened to you Alessandro?" Her features were etched with concern for the young man. On the inside, she was battling which emotion she felt more. Excitement for the fact that she would be getting answers, and potential light fighter information, or anger, for putting her through all of the troubles of losing students and making her look a fool. Her memories replayed her inquisition against the Hogwarts Prefects and how there seemed to be an unspoken resistance against her, she could feel it. Hopefully she could, at least, crack this one.

[Alessandro Darko]

Sooner than he realized, he was quickly ushered into the Headmistresses office with steadfast speed. Immediately she directed him to a rather comfortable looking armchair next to the fireplace, between the chairs, a low tea table with a tea pot and accessories. He took a seat gingerly, his body sinking into the cushioning and fabric, feeling strangely comfortable in the chair, he may as well curled up for a nap. He watched with ambivalence as she summoned a house elf he had never seen or heard of, and requested a tray of treats that he heard the Headmistress was famous for hosting. With that thought, he smirked a little bit, realizing that he too was able to verify the rumors. As she pushed a cup of tea toward him, he picked it up and held it in his hands, and for a moment, his parched lips were about to take a sip, but then his brain sent signals to his hands to keep the cup where it was. Alessandro was not a fool, or at least if he were once, he wasn't today. Veritaserum was undetectable in liquids and he didn't relish the idea of telling the truth in this particular meeting. Instead of setting it back down on the table, he merely held it in his hands in his lap, waiting to answer her questions and would wait for a discrete moment to set it down.

"My dear, please...Everyone's been worried sick. There were search parties...searching for days, weeks even. Your parents are distraught. What on earth has happened to you Alessandro?"

He swallowed hard, and turned his gaze on the idle hearth next to him. Here it went, his explanation which would provide the reason as to why he had disappeared without any trace at all. Taking in a deep breath as he shifted in his chair to take a more comfortable posture, he cleared his throat, casually setting down the tea and clasping his hands in his lap.

"Headmistress..." He began with a low voice, his eyes struggling to find their way to her own as they darted everywhere on the table before him. "...I must confess to you that I did break curfew the night I had disappeared...I had woken from a nightmare, I was shaken. I could not get back to sleep. I don't know what possessed me, but I found myself dressing and opening the window in my dormitory. I conjured a broom, and soon I found myself flying off into the night, an unwise decision that I would later find a mistake...." He said with clear disdain and regret dripping from his words. He swallowed hard once again before continuing.

"Headmistress, that night I flew into town, Diagon Alley...but it was a part that I was quite unfamiliar with. But there were some problems with my landing, and it was quite unbecoming of my talents to admit, but I made quite a scene as I touched down, and broke my broom as well as several barrels of water and flour outside of some shop. Hastily I made my way from there because of the circumstances. As I took cover in one of the alleyways nearby, I noticed it was littered with random objects, garbage or something. I reached down to pick up an old sneaker and all of a sudden everything spun around me, fast. I was flying up through a strange whirling tunnel and then before I knew it I was hurled across the ground so hard it knocked the wind out of me. When I came to, I had no idea where I was, in some strange open field...It took me a couple of days to find civilization, and when I heard people speak, I realized how far I had been whisked: The United States. Since I had lived there for a brief period when I was younger, I knew how to navigate my way, and I had been inquiring about neighbors that I lived near that were close to my family when we lived there. Eventually I was able to make my way across country and they helped me, my old neighbors, find Wizarding Folk in the U.S. and they were the ones who helped me get back here to England….” He exhaled as it was quite a lengthy explanation of how he had disappeared and reappeared so suddenly. Hopefully the Headmistress would buy into his lies and just accept them for what they were worth, and welcome him back into Hogwarts.

[Caira LaPointe]

She listened intently to every word that came out of his mouth. Every sentence he finished, she held onto, committing his explanation to memory. Her features were a rather complete display of interest, concern, fear, frustration, shock, anger, it was all present on her face, though she wasn’t sure which part of his story she felt most strongly about. It was a rather tall tale indeed, a young wizard waking from a nightmare, and flying off to town, only to crash-land and stumble upon an unauthorized portkey. The thought of said occurrence caused Caira’s expression to shift to that of internal thought. Wasn’t there some kind of authority on portkeys within the ministry? She would do well to make a mental reminder for later, and would inquire about such a portkey. By the time Alessandro Darko finished his story, she had just about heard enough, but her expression did not let on. Lost in the United States? It sounded almost convincing, but for him, she would allow him to think she bought it.

Taking a deep breath, her eyes searching for something unseen in the room, she closed them. Another deep breath and a slight hair-toss, her eyes were now open and focused solely on Alessandro. “I cannot begin to express how…severe the situation has become. After hearing your explanation of your disappearance, Mister Darko, I have discovered a very reckless and thoughtless student. Quite ironically, a Ravenclaw, no less. I’ll not lead you to think that I’m completely thrilled about your return, though I am very happy to see you are safe and sound. That’s the important part. I shall be notifying your
Parents and the Ministry immediately, but there will be repercussions for your actions in due time. Expulsion is usually the path taken in a situation of this…this nature, however, I find sympathy in your story. I have too experienced something so powerful that it completely overtakes you and forces you to do stupid, and reckless things that one would not normally do in sound mind and body. Therefore, you shall stay….your punishment shall be decided later, I’ve got much work ahead of me.” Her tone was quiet and deadly serious. Her eyes lingered on Alessandro momentarily before casting her gaze out the window, shaking her head slightly as if in disbelief and confusion. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips as she put a delicate hand up to her face, running it back and through her hair.

She was really going to get it from the Ministry. A student just flying off into the night is not what she needed at the moment, but at least she was recovering from her losses. Dylan Cooper was back from an apparent Quidditch mishap-- she was beginning to loathe the sport, for she remembered something of a similar nature happening to the very student sitting before her not too long ago. And now Alessandro Darko, returned from overseas due to an accidental portkey activation. It was rubbish, but she had nothing else to go by, so his story flew. “Mister Darko…It’s quite a tale…the ministry may not accept such an explanation….but I shall do my best. I’m so sorry that you…that you…well I’m sorry that you had to go through everything you went through…” Her apology lacked complete sincerity, and she sounded quite tired and defeated at the moment. “You may go now…as I’m sure you’d like to get some rest and prepare to resume classes. You shall be receiving an owl detailing the specifics of your punishment. Until further notice, you are to remain on school grounds, am I understood?” The last part of her sentence had her looking him straight in the eye with a tired sort of strength about her expression now.

The students were so trying these days. Always testing her patience, always pushing her limits. Dylan, Alessandro, Zane. These three boys seemed to be giving her the most trouble, Zane being the main contributor, though, she doubted that Zane Lucifer Bishop would be causing her problems any further. A small glimmer of smug happiness sparked to life inside of her, though it was snuffed out quickly at the next thought of daunting paperwork and official business. The toils of leading a double life.

[Alessandro Darko]

Unfortunately for him, the Headmistress was not pleased.

He could see her exasperation from a mile away and when he had finished, he had hoped that she would bear a somewhat more....amicable posture? This was simply not the case for dear old Alessandro, boy who hath been resurrected in a manner of speaking. He gripped the ends of his chair tightly as he prepared for the backlash from Caira, but he received nothing too harsh, yet, serious enough.

He was in fact, dismayed to hear that he was to receive punishment. Had she really known what had befallen of him, he was sure that she would not dole out any sort of retribution for him. He had died! He was burnt to ashes and transported across the fabric that separated dimensions! He had spent AGES in perpetual fire and now that he was back he was to receive more punishment. Alessandro's hope was crushed within him as he hung his head, listening to the Headmistress speak. She sounded tired. As if she had been fighting a long and drawn out battle and she was on the losing side. He found himself almost feeling sympathy for her, but then quickly reminded himself of the duality of her nature. She was supposed to be in league with Dark Phoenix. He would do better to feel more remorse for snakes being picked off by vultures than to feel sorry for Caira in the future.

He cleared his throat and straightened up in his seat as she continued. She was doing a great job, however, as she continuously enforced that she felt for his case. She insisted that she actually understood what he was going through because she knew what it was like to be overcome by some powerful force. [blue]I bet you do, Ms. LaPointe...Dark Phoenix must have a stronghold over you. Imperius, or not, your cause will find it to be quite difficult to proceed with your dark acts soon enough.[/blue] He thought as she finished with his dismissal.

He stood from his chair, straightening out the horrendous muggle clothes he had dressed in.

"Headmistress...I can only tell you how sorry I am for breaking the rules. It has been a nightmare indeed, and I'll remember in the future that suffering a normal nightmare is not to be taken to extreme, for suffering a nightmare in the flesh was far worse." He said, bowing his head quickly before he was making his way to the door.

He took one last glance at the headmistress before he departed from her office, and noticed that she held a sort of distressed look about her. Closing the door behind him, he wiped any semblance of remorse from his features, and rolled his eyes, moving into a brisk walk.

Lying was so draining these days. He hated how he couldn't even be honest with his own parents in this day and age. But this was his fate, his destiny. The shard of Yin that was called Elemental Fire had claimed his life for its own, and now he worked for a cause, lied to his headmistress for the better; A future without evil and discord.

Who was he kidding? The lightfighters were losing. They had become SO separate these days. If they had any hope at all, they needed something that would bring them together as a team. Complete harmony from within was what they all were lacking. If something wasn't done soon, they were all as good as dead.