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Post by phee on Sept 2, 2007 22:07:52 GMT -5
<<An introspective piece . . . I'm not sure how anyone else would fit in, but you're welcome if you can work yourself in.>>
It was early, a couple of hours still before the first students would be making their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Phoenix Albion slipped quietly out of bed and moved, barefoot, to the archway that separated the bedroom from the bathroom. He stood for a moment, just watching, as his wife, Libby, slept on, her white blond hair spread across the pillowcase.
He had never loved anyone the way he loved her; so much so that he could have been content, he thought, to stand there forever, just watching her sleep. A moment later he yawned, reaching to scratch the back of his neck, and moved into the bathroom, silently casting a muffilato spell behind him.
Still barefoot, he emerged a few minutes later, showered, shaved, and dressed in dark blue jeans and a hooded sweatshirt with its sleeves cut out. The muffilato spell still held, but out of consideration he moved quietly, grabbing his crosstrainers from the chair he'd tossed them into the night before.
Slipping into their living quarters, he eased the door closed behind him and dropped into one of the wingback leather chairs flanking the fireplace to pull on his shoes. That done, he rubbed his eyes and slipped out of their living quarters on the seventh floor.
There were magically concealed short-cuts connecting the castle's upper and lower floors. Few if any of the students were aware of them, but one of the first things he'd done at Hogwarts was to teach Libby their locations and how to use them. With all the normal stresses a married couple faced, he hadn't been about to add something as stupid as the number of stairs they had to climb to get from the Great Hall to their own living room.
This morning, however, headed downstairs rather than up, he wanted to stretch his legs so he took the stairs, emerging shortly onto the fifth floor.
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Post by phee on Sept 2, 2007 22:29:46 GMT -5
He'd come this way just a day or two ago, and discovered three students creating a garden in one of the corridors. Wysteria Edwin, Alessandro Darko and Keaira O'Connell, chafing under the ban on students leaving the castle unless escorted by a professor, had whipped up trees, several kinds of flowers, a grapevine, a flock of birds, a gurgling water fountain - Phoenix shook his head, smiling at the memory. Honestly, they were so much more creative than he'd been at that age. Of course, he reflected, few of them had spent their formative years locked up in St. Mungo's Hospital, undergoing forced Occlumency training. This morning, however, his footsteps took him down a different corridor, and after a turn or two he stopped in front of a large, rather grand painting of a sneering man with long, stringy black hair framing his pale, pointed face. "Yes?" the painting rumbled, and Phoenix looked up; the face in the painting lit with the slightest bit of curiosity, and then the wide, thin mouth moved in recognition. "Well, well," Professor Snape's painting said. "It would appear the prodigal has returned."
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Post by phee on Sept 2, 2007 23:03:38 GMT -5
Phoenix smiled ruefully and rubbed one long finger over the bridge of his nose. "Good morning, Professor," he said quietly.
"Nicolas Phoenix Albion," Snape said, distinguishing each syllable. From his tone, he might merely have been cataloging the necessary ingredients for a potion - and a very ordinary one, at that.
"It took me a while to find your portrait," Phoenix said. "Otherwise I'd have been by to say hello before now."
Snape said nothing, but raised one brow at his former student.
"So . . . " There was a short, silence, uncomfortable for Phoenix, at least.
"If it will make this conversation pass more quickly, Mr. Albion," Snape rumbled, "I can tell you I'm already aware that you've accepted the position of Divinations master here at Hogwarts. Personally, I doubt Headmistress LaPointe gave adequate consideration to the other applicants for the position. She may have been persuaded by the Albion name, of course . . ."
Phoenix laughed low. "The Albion name?" he echoed Snape. "You think my parents' name bought me this position? That's not true and you know it."
"Do I?" Snape queried. "Custis and Gillian Albion . . . both aurors, both members of the Wizengamot . . . and both, coincidentally, the parents of Hogwarts' newest Divinations master? Oh, come now." Snape's eyebrow climbed upward into his hairline. "I should think even you would be able to divine that connection."
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Post by phee on Sept 3, 2007 20:33:01 GMT -5
"I'll tell you what I've divined, if you're actually interested," Phoenix shot back, and a furrow appeared in Snape's brow.
Phoenix held his silence and after a moment the former Hogwarts Headmaster snorted. "I can't recall that my preferences ever influenced your behavior one way or the other," Snape said. "Does that mean you're interested?" Phoenix asked.
"Not particularly," Snape rumbled, "but if you're determined to tell me I have no objection to hearing it."
Phoenix pursed his lips, then huffed. "You know about the Dementers in the forest?" he asked Snape.
"I know they are the reason the Headmistress has seen fit to restrict the students to the castle," Snape said. "A fact, incidentally, that has resulted in them running amuck in the school corridors."
"I haven't noticed any students running amuck in the school corridors," Phoenix said. Elsewhere, perhaps, but not in the school corridors.
Snape snorted. "And what do you call that . . . that arboretum . . . that has sprouted on this very floor?" he demanded.
Phoenix laughed. "What? That little garden a few of the students whipped up? I call it clever and well done. In fact, I gave them each 10 points for creativity."
"Points I would have rescinded on the spot had I still been Headmaster of this institution," snapped Professor Snape's painting.
"Well, then, I guess we'll just have to be grateful you're no longer Headmaster of this institution, won't we?"
They glared at each other for a moment until Phoenix sighed, crossed his arms over his chest, and leaned against the wall. He glanced up and down the corridor before trying again. "So, do you want to know, or not?"
"About the dementers?" Snape asked. "I already know about them."
"Did you know they're not really dementers?" Phoenix asked, and Snape slid a glance at him.
"Go on."
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 3, 2007 22:10:38 GMT -5
Caira came up slowly around the corner. She had been quietly listening. She knew of the problems in the forest already, but wondered why Phoenix would be discussing them with Professor Snape.
"Actually Severus," she said, interrupting, "I was quite impressed with Phoenix's application to his post." She smiled warmly. Her warm manner and way of calmly addressing people by their first names usually put people at ease. "I spent a good many hours considering the other applicants. In the end, Phoenix was the best of the group... and that's saying a lot."
She paused, "And I already know about the shadows in the forest, so please continue," she added with a playful smile and a conspiritorial whisper.
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Post by phee on Sept 3, 2007 22:48:50 GMT -5
At the Headmistress's words, Phoenix pushed himself away from the wall, straightening from the casual slump he'd fallen into with Severus Snape's portrait. "Good morning, Headmistress," he said, glancing down the corridor behind her. "Um - actually, I'm beginning to wonder if this conversation is a good idea. If any of the students happen to stumble on us here - "
"And you're raising this concern now, Mr. Albion?" Snape asked archly. He looked down his nose at his former student, one eye brow raised. "I'd have thought you should have been aware of that possibility from the beginning."
Phoenix rolled his eyes but otherwise ignored Snape's comment. "I thought it was early enough it wouldn't be a problem," Phoenix said. "If the Headmistress is already up and around, though . . . . It's really up to you, Professor LaPointe."
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 3, 2007 22:55:10 GMT -5
"Maybe..." Caira scrunched her nose slightly as she thought, "Headmaster Snape's portrait would be better off in my office... with the other Headmasters' portraits." She flashed Phoenix a winning smile. "Then you could continue your conversation in private and..." she smiled up at Snape... "and Severus would be in his rightful place."
She looked from one to the other. Snape had always had the sourest disposition of anyone she had ever met, and the idea of having him in her office wasn't entirely appealing, but it really was his rightful place. "Besides, Professor, I'd like to hear what else you might know about this business in the forest. Talk of..." she started to say Elemental Masters and Shadow Warriors, but paused. Definitely, that was something he wouldn't want to discuss in the corridor where any student might happen upon it.
She tilted her head slightly and smiled. "What do you say? Portrait in my office then?"
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Post by phee on Sept 4, 2007 19:46:03 GMT -5
"I have to admit, I had hoped to be able to visit with Professor Snape again in the future, Headmistress," Phoenix said. He slid a glance sideways at Snape's painting, adding, "Assuming he had no objections, of course . . ."
When there was no objection from Snape, he continued: "And I believe some of the students visit him as well?"
"Occasionally," Snape's painting rumbled.
"Moving the painting to your office would, of course, put the professor with the rest of the Headmasters' paintings, but I have to admit, I'd feel more than a little uncomfortable knocking on the Headmistress's door or making an appointment anytime I wanted to visit for a few minutes."
He glanced from Professor Snape's painting to the Headmistress. "May I suggest a temporary compromise? A muffliato spell should suffice for the moment; and while I don't question your right as Headmistress to move any painting you choose to, I'd like time to arrange a duplicate of the painting for my quarters, again, assuming Professor Snape has no objection."
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 4, 2007 22:04:05 GMT -5
Caira smiled. "Alright then Phoenix, Severus," she said, nodding to each of them. "I'll leave the positioning of your painting up to you, Severus. Phoenix, I have no problem with your making a duplicate. Though, I am still interested to hear what you might have to say about the other matter." She tilted her head slightly. "I find that, the more sources one receives information from, the more likely it is that one has accurate information. I'd just like to hear your take on everything, is all."
She looked back to the painting. "And once you two've discussed it, I'd like to hear your take too, Severus." She brandished her wand and murmured a quick 'muffliato'.
"Now then, gentlemen... where were we?" she asked with a mischievous smile.
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Post by phee on Sept 4, 2007 22:51:03 GMT -5
"Mr. Albion," Snape said, but then he paused. "Excuse me," he said, correcting himself, "Professor Albion had just asserted that the dementers in the Forbidden Forest are not, in fact, dementers." There was an air of controlled anticipation about the former Headmaster, indicating he fully expected his former pupil to be wrong in his assertion. "He had not, as of yet, asserted what he does believe them to be, however."
"All right," Phoenix said, brushing aside Snape's obvious disapproval. "The thing I do not know, Headmistress, and which I must know from you before I proceed is . . . potentially delicate regarding certain others I cannot name without breaching their trust. Please, allow me to phrase this carefully. I don't want to violate anyone's confidentiality by anything I say here."
He looked at her intently. "Were you aware of a disturbance outside of the castle last night, Headmistress, and a . . . a meeting that followed? Again, I do apologize," he told her, "but I would have to decline to mention names even if I were ordered to do so, Professor LaPointe."
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 4, 2007 22:56:55 GMT -5
Caira nodded slightly. "Of course I'm aware of the disturbance, Phoenix... one student was killed and another is missing. Yes, I keep on top of such matters... it would be pretty hard to hide the death of a student from me, wouldn't you think?" She laughed, a sound almost like nervous laughter. "I don't know all of the particulars, but I do know a bit..."
She paused, gathering her thoughts. "There are dementors in the forest. But, not only dementors. There are also Shadows. As someone who pursued the DADA position while you were at Hogwart's, Severus, I'm sure you know at least a little of the Shadow Realm. The dementors, apparently, are the lowest form of creature from that realm. The forest has been invaded by stronger beings from that realm lately. And we know that conventional wand magic is largely ineffective against creatures from this realm," she looked around to see if there was any dissent. "What I need to find out is if there are any Shadow Warriors or Elemental Masters in this school and identify them... they are the only ones who can defeat the evil that seems to be growing around us... or, so I am told."
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Post by phee on Sept 5, 2007 19:05:12 GMT -5
"I apologize, Professor LaPointe. I should have known you were aware of last night's events. My doubt had to be personally insulting to you, and I apologize for it. " He shook his head. "Regardless," he said. "We were talking about the dementors.
"You see, I believe we've made a serious mistake - we as a society, that is; I'm speaking of the wizarding world as a whole here. Dementors have served as prison guards at our own Azkeban for hundreds of years as far as I know, and at other wizarding prisons, as well, on the continent and in the Americas. I cannot shake the impression that we've essentially invited or created the trouble we now face. Voldemort used the Dementors for his own purposes, but he obviously did not conjure or create them. We've made a place for them in our world, and evicting them now is likely not possible."
He turned to Severus Snape's painting. "That's really what I came to ask you about, Professor," he said. "Are there spells to banish not just dementors, but these Shadows the headmistress mentioned? Spells beyond the Patronus Charm, which merely drives them away for a time?
"And you, Headmistress, you mentioned Shadow Warriors and Elemental Masters. Professor Serlaen seemed to suggest last night that I might be an Elemental Master, and that others had been identified here, at Hogwarts, among the faculty. How do I learn if what he suspects is true? Who if anyone can help me master the magic required to fight this evil?"
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 5, 2007 19:51:22 GMT -5
"No Phoenix, I'm not insulted at all," replied Caira amicably. "And please, both of you, just call me Caira. It's too formal and stuffy around here as it is." She smiled warmly before shifting back to a more serious expression.
"Actually, the only magic we know of that can destroy a shadow creatures are the chants of Shadow Warriors... Elemental Masters can subdue shadows, but not actually destroy them. We need to gather the Masters and Warriors for each element... together, the five of them can destroy the creatures."
She bit her lip... she knew Phoenix was holding back information, but she wondered how she could get what she needed. All she wanted to know at the moment was who the identified warriors and masters were. Suddenly, she had an idea. "Phoenix," she said his name slowly, thoughtfully. "I wonder... do you have access to the research of a student in your house? Her name is D'rorah Philosophy. I tried talking to her myself before, but it's more like talking to a brick for all the useful information I got back. Maybe..." she trailed off, apparently deep in thought.
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Post by phee on Sept 5, 2007 22:30:14 GMT -5
"Miss Philosophy?" Phoenix asked, surprised. "No, I don't know of any research she was engaged in. Of course, I had really only had her in Divinations class once before last night's events and her disappearance. And as I recall, she was called out of class early that day by an owl from your office. . . .
"You do remind me of something another student mentioned, though. Alessandro Darko asked me about a book on ancient magical practices. I can't recall the author's name, but I have it in my notes for that day's class. I suppose it's possible his interest is somehow related to D'rorah's research. I'm certainly willing to ask him."
He paused, thinking, and the silence dragged on.
"Yes?" Professor Snape's portrait drawled eventually. "Do share with the rest of the class, Mr. Albion."
"It's just . . . there was something last night." Phoenix glanced at the headmistress.
Snape sighed loudly. "He's hesitating, Caira, because he doesn't recall if he heard it said aloud or if he picked it out of someone's head. The latter is far more likely, I assume, or he would not be quite so reticent."
Phoenix shot Snape an annoyed look. "A student named Wysteria Edwin, I think," he said. "She's also in my Divinations class. She asked Alessandro Darko if a book might still be in the Ravenclaw Common Room. Not orally," he said. "She thought it . . . communicated it to Alessandro Darko. They seem to share a mental link of some sort; I'm not sure of its nature. It seems likely it might be related in some way to Miss Philosophy's research, though I can't be sure. My attention was occupied with what evolved into an exceptionally stupid and annoying quarrel with Professor Serlaen. Oddly enough," he mused, "I think we may end up being fairly good friends as a result of it."
"Focus, Phoenix," Snape said. "Focus I'm sure the headmistress is even less interested in your social life than I am."
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 5, 2007 23:06:49 GMT -5
"Yes, I tried calling her from class to my office. Like talking to a brick, that girl." Caira scowled slightly at the memory. "I may as well have asked the owl himself for information... or maybe one of the desks."
She listened with great interest to the revelation about Wysteria and Alessandro. She ignored Snape's jabs at Phoenix, being accustomed to working with brusque individuals while working with the International Ministry. "The connection... well... from what I know of Shadow Warriors and Elemental Masters, the share a mental connection once they've bonded... of course, I'm just thinking out loud," She waved her hand in front of her face, as though dismissing a thought that had been wafting in the air before her.
"I want to talk with those students," she said finally. "I want to know exactly what it is that's going on around here. I can't just subject the other students to danger unless I know what's happening." She stood back and crossed her arms as she thought. It was far too early in the year for this sort of trouble.
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