Returning "Home" (Open)

[Christopher Wren]

Christopher carefully maneuvered his way towards the trunk of the Whomping Willow. The pattern he and his friends once used seemed to be etched in his mind, it was almost like reciting his ABC's. Chris made his way to the secret room hidden deep inside. It seemed to him as if no one had been down here since he was last here, years ago. Dust, Cobwebs, and spiders seemed to be everywhere, which was a little more than he cared for. He carefully examined everything, mugs that were once filled with warm, delightful butterbeer, were now filled with spiders. Chris made his way to a bookcase that sat in the corner to the left of the sofa. He lifted his arm and brushed the spine of one of the books with his finger, revealing Quidditch Through the Ages.

Chris reached to pick up the book. Just as he wrapped his fingers around it, the sound of breaking glass busted through the silence. Chris turned and an in instant shouted, "Stupify". A brilliant red light flew from the palm of his hand, slamming into an old wooden table. Christopher raised his forearm, shielding his eyes from pieces of debris as they flew by and the dirt cloud that now filled the room. When the dust settled, Chris scanned the floor for what had caused the noise, a mug had fallen and shattered. He bent down and waved his hand over the broken pieces of glass and muttered a spell, too silent to hear. He continued to do hand motions over the pieces of glass as they floated into the air. Chris then proceeded to wave in the direction of the coffee table that sat a few inches away from the sofa and the shattered glass soon found it's way there. Just as the last piece landed, another noise broke the silence, but this time it came from the entrance.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah had heard there would be a new arrival at Hogwarts. Only this time, it wasn't a student. This time, the Ministry was directly going to place someone at the school. She assumed he would be here to make certain things were "monitored to their satisfaction". Knowing that at least some of the Ministry had people who were loyal to the Mage after her episode at the Department of Mysteries, D'rorah was immediately suspicious and wary. The last thing she needed was another person around to have to avoid... and even if this new addition wasn't under the thumb of the Mage, he could likely be reporting to someone who was.

She had watched his approach to the Whomping Willow through a window from the fourth floor, narrowing her eyes slightly as he dodged the tree branches and slipped underneath the trunk of the tree. Looking around, she could see that none of her fellow students were about. And so, she carefully hopped up to the window ledge and gave a last look around before transforming to her sparrow animagus form and flying down to where she had seen the auror.

Not changing back yet, she used her slight form to slip as quickly as she could past the dangerous branches of the tree and to the area where the man had disappeared. She was just in time to see him hurl a "stupify" curse directly where a glass had fallen and broken. Apparently he was a bit jumpy... perhaps that meant he knew how dangerous things currently were at Hogwarts. Debating for a moment, she decided she didn't want to be seen in her animagus form. The fewer people who knew about it, the better. A way back from the entrance to the room, she transformed back and carefully stepped forward, wary of any spell that might find itself hurled in her direction.

[blue]"Good day, Mister Wren. I trust you are aware that this tree is a restricted specimen. I do believe the Headmistress has arranged suitable accomodations for you within the castle walls, where you will be far safer,"[/blue] she greeted, her voice quiet and even. She was ready for whatever response she might receive, including having her wand tucked safely within the pocket of her sleeve for quick access should it prove necessary.

[Christopher Wren]

Chris assessed the girl who stood in front of him. Just from her brief introduction, one could tell she was very intellectual. Christopher stepped forward and stuck out his hand, "Good day to you as well and please, call me Chris." Christopher retracted his hand after the his formal introduction, a bit curious as to how a student, even one as smart as this one would know his name. Chris took a step back, "If you don't mind me asking, how did a student know who I was? I would've thought that the headmistress would have kept at least my name quiet." Christopher felt his nose tingle and immediately turned his head, letting out a rather loud sneeze. "Excuse me," he muttered. "I'm quite aware that this is a restricted specimen, but lets not be a hypocrite, because you are clearly not supposed to be out here either," exclaimed Chris as he let out a slight laugh, "Besides, I'm not going to tell anyone, it can be our little secret."

Christopher glanced at the sofa behind him. A little agitated with the dust, Chris muttered a spell and made a slight hand motion. The dust slowly raised off of it and seemed to form a small cloud. Chris then moved his hand to the entrance and the dust followed. He shoved his arm out a little farther, bringing it into a fully extended position, sending the dust straight out of the Whomping Willow. He then returned his attention back to the young lady who stood before him, this time making a small gesture to wards the sofa. "Please, have a seat," stated Chris as he plopped onto the sofa. He didn't expect her to have a seat, even from ministry standards, she seemed a bit uptight.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

She accepted the hand offered to her and shook it with a firm hand, assessing him as she did so. [blue]"D'rorah Philosophy,"[/blue] she reciprocated as he introduced himself as Chris. Her face remained neutral as he asked how she had come to know his name. [blue]"I pay attention."[/blue] she replied simply. [blue]"I would never think to bother our beloved headmistress for information of this sort. She is much too busy."[/blue] Her voice betrayed no hint of irony, even though D'rorah was dripping with it inside. D'rorah had her own intelligence within the Order, and the movements of an auror were not so difficult to follow.

[blue]"God bless you,"[/blue] she offered as he sneezed, each word distintly separate as she spoke it. Her own nose twitched in response and she found herself suddenly grateful that he had offered his hand to her before the dust in the room had caused him to sneeze. She smirked as he remarked that she also should not be in the tree either, an eyebrow arching as he said it could be their little secret.

Watching him lift the cloud of dust from the sofa and send it through the window, she began to speak again. [blue]"I am quite capable of keeping my own secrets, Mister Wren. And I have no illusion that anyone sent here by the Ministry has any interest in preserving the secrets of students... no matter how inconsequential they might seem. In point of fact, I am here because I followed you here. And I did so in order to inform you of the restriction. Therefore, my temporary presence here is well within my authority as a school prefect."[/blue]

She kept her voice calm and even, nearly monotone, as she spoke to him. She saw no need to be blatantly rude to the man, as he hadn't done anything to her yet. But neither did she have any intention of warming up to an agent sent here by the Ministry. At least, not until she knew more about his purpose here and where his allegiances might lie.

She watched him plop onto the sofa, her eyebrow arching more sharply at the careless motion. She wondered if he normally handled himself so carelessly, or if he was attempting to be casual thinking he might somehow gain her trust for whatever task might lie ahead of him. She knew people who got comfortable with the wrong sort, loosened their tongues, and ended up telling the wrong things to the wrong people. But then, if he was indeed here to watch the school, perhaps it would do her well to cultivate some sort of friendship with him... considering that, she thanked him and accepted his offer of a seat, sinking down onto the sofa gracefully, her back still straight. [blue]"So then, Mister Wren, what brings you to Hogwarts?"[/blue] she asked somewhat casually, turning her knees slightly toward him to show she intended to listen. [blue]"And why, in the name of the Heavens, would you choose this very dusty place as your first visit?"[/blue]

D'rorah didn't much like chit chat, but she would pretend to as long as she thought something useful might eventually come of it.

[Christopher Wren]

Christopher arched his left eyebrow, surprised that his comment seemed to almost agitate her. She obviously wasn't a fan of the ministry, many people aren't these days. Chris assessed D'rorah once more, her hair was a mix of what seemed like natural blond and gray streaks, a dead give away that this girl had seen and experienced things that would drive most people mad. The way she spoke and put her sentences together would make anyone think she was at least in her mid-twenties. It was almost as she was forced to grow up, even though she wasn't ready. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. You obviously aren't a fan of the ministry or at least I'm assuming you aren't," he exclaimed. He let out a quiet and subtle laugh in a attempt to ease the tension in the room, "And as for the secrets, I only report to the ministry if something is life threatening. I don't think us being here is life threatening to anyone." Christopher's eyes continued to follow her as she gracefully took a seat on the sofa. Even the way she sat, perfect posture even though this was no special occasion, the girl really needed to relax. Maybe a vacation to get her mind off of what ever was bothering her.

"This may or may not come as a surprise to you, but something is bad is happening. People have started disappearing. The ministry has investigated but are coming back empty handed, and that's if they are even making it back," said Chris as he let out another sigh. "I can't say much more, just that the ministry is afraid that Hogwarts is once again not safe. For now they are just sending me to keep a watch out for anything peculiar, anything that might relate to the disappearances," explained Christopher.

He let out another laugh and began to speak, "Well at least you have a since of humor. Well, this place has a lot of memories. My friends and I would come here all the time to just have peace and quiet or just hang out. This place wasn't known by many, and the few that did know were usually to scared to even get close to the place." Chris eyed her up and down, trying to make it obvious he was observing her.

"I'm not here to be an enemy to you. I want to help in anyway that I can. I know that you have seen something. You features are a dead giveaway. You are a very smart girl and I know you know the reasons as to why I'm here," Christopher said in a serious tone. He raised up out of his seat and walked casually to the far wall. Leaning against the wall, he started again, "I am here to help. I'm not a fool, I know there is corruption in the ministry, but the Aurors could be a lot of help. I won't notify anyone, not unless you want me to. If you know anything, please let me know." Christopher finished and looked at her, half of what he just said was based off of suspicion. After years of work as Auror, one learns to trust their first instincts and right now his instinct told him she knew something. He walked back over there and extended his hand once again.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah remained quiet as Chris spoke, choosing not to interrupt. Perhaps he had good intentions. Even if he did, she had no way of knowing the intentions of those who had sent him here. Then again, perhaps he was yet another in a parade of convincing actors who was here to dig out information. She knew he was right. People were disappearing. And she also knew the Ministry's historical position on Lightfighters and Shadows... Shadow Warriors, in particular, were believed to be the actual evil-doers. That had been clearly proven to her when she had been held at the Ministry and "questioned". It was during her torture that Mallan had taken his life... and she had been unable to help him, and nearly corrupted herself by their methods. And then had escaped with no one to anchor her.

No, she held no love for the Ministry these days. In the days when her father had worked for the International Ministry, she had been naive enough to believe he might be able to bring about some change... but his death had ended that naivete. She watched his eyes move over her as he assessed her, and her own narrowed slightly in response.

She stood as he rose from his seat, remaining standing in front of the couch as he leaned against the far wall. [blue]"Am I to understand that you, who do not even know who I am, are offering some sort of allegiance and protection to me?"[/blue] She shook his hand shortly. [blue]"With all due respect, Mister Wren. I am quite capable of seeing to my own protection. Given my last encounter with the aurors you claim are so eager to assist, I would prefer to take my chances with my enemies. If I have any at all, that is."[/blue] She offered a smile that didn't quite make its way to her eyes that lasted only a moment. [blue]"Do aurors who assume so much so quickly tend to live long?"[/blue] she asked evenly. She threw her eyes around the room, pursing her lips slightly at its appearance. [blue]"In any case, if you are interested in preventing further disappearances... or, more precisely, if you are interested in preventing your own strange disappearance, I would highly recommend being inside the castle before dusk... and certainly before nightfall."[/blue] She paused, arching an eyebrow at him thoughtfully. [blue]"I would hate to have to save your life so soon after meeting you."[/blue]

[Christopher Wren]

Christopher stayed where he was, he didn't want to make it seem as if he was a hungry dog in search of answers. Everything D'rorah was saying continued to fuel his suspicion. He was rather glad too, going off of a whim like that can get someone into a lot of trouble. When she finished her question, Chris shook her hand and immediately froze in shock, the what should be warm, soft hand of the young lady was ice cold. He didn't like it. No human, not even by wizarding standards, had hands that cold. Chris was a little caught off guard, but managed to maintain a confident voice as he pulled his hand back to his side, "Yes, yes I do. Even a fool could look at you and tell you've seen and experienced very dark things. You hair shows me that you have experienced a lot of stress and your hands." Christopher let out a sigh, one as smart as her could have easily hidden these things from people like himself, "Your hands are ice cold, almost deathly cold."

She cut him off, choosing to ignore the his last few statements. Chris just assumed she would come back to the subject. And if she didn't, he knew not to press the subject further. He needed to befriend these kids in order to help them. Christopher's eyes had wondered to the floor when she started talking. His thinking was interrupted when she finished her question. He opened his mouth to speak, but this time she didn't give him a chance. She was a very fiery person, perhaps her past experiences had left her no choice. Perhaps they had left her with the inability to trust as well. She wasn't opening up like he needed her to. Even though he was on a mission for the ministry, he still had to protect these kids, no matter what the cost was.

Chris' eyes wondered back to the floor, what did she have against the Aurors? He knew there was corruption in the ministry, but he didn't suspect that any of his friends would be stupid enough to be corrupted as well. She apparently knew something he didn't. Actually, a lot of things he didn't. "Thanks for the advice. I assumed you already knew about the disappearances, but I would not have felt right NOT telling you," said Chris, as he walked over towards the entrance/exit. He fought back a laugh as she quirked her eyebrow and made her last statement. Apparently she did have at least a little since of humor, but he had to remain professional, "I just ask three things of you Miss Philosophy, one is that you promise to inform me if anyone or thing becomes dangerous. And by dangerous, I mean life threatening. Two, is if you know of any sort of corruption in the ministry you tell me, right here and now." Christopher took a short pause, thinking his last question over one last time. He brought his eyes level with hers, he wanted to show her he was serious and that despite what she may believe, he was here to help, "And three is that if and when you are ready, I want you to tell me everything you know about what's going on. Can you do those for me?"

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah could tell as Chris shook her hand that he was suddenly taken aback by her cold grip.  Perhaps she should have simply ignored his outstretched hand, but something told her that would have either aroused further suspicion or would have bred animosity.  There simply was no way to cover the chill that had plagued her after being so close to corruption so many times... certainly, she had tried.  It wasn't pleasant to feel constantly chilled, and it wasn't something to which one could become accustomed.

A hand briefly flitted to her hair as he mentioned the color.  It was yet another thing she simply had no control over.  It wasn't a simple greying from stress, as he thought... rather, the color had been leached from it by a Shadow's taint.  But stress could be a good enough excuse with everything that was happening.  She crossed her arms in front of her as he mentioned how cold her hands were, her jaw clenching slightly.  She shouldn't have shaken his hand.  It was as simple as that.  Now, at the very least, he would be suspicious... which would mean he would be watching her closely.  Already, he felt as though he knew something.

She nodded as he mentioned that he wouldn't have felt right NOT telling her about the disappearances.  [blue]"I appreciate your forthrightness.  It is a rare quality here,"[/blue] she replied quietly.  What if he was actually telling the truth?  What if he was genuinely concerned with the welfare of the students and could perhaps be trusted?  It would certainly be helpful to have someone at the Ministry who actually sided with the Lightfighters.  She watched him warily as he continued speaking, following him with her eyes as he headed toward the exit to leave the dusty room.

[blue]"From my point of view, Mister Wren, the entire Ministry and its point of view are corrupted,"[/blue] she replied calmly.  [blue]"If you are interested in seeking out dangerous individuals, you might begin with our Headmistress... and I would recommend indulging in the offerings of her hospitality quite cautiously."[/blue]  She took a long, slow breath, trying to figure out how to best go forward.  Did she want to trust this newcomer... if he turned out not to be trustworthy, he could be killed as readily as any other agent of the Mage... but perhaps the damage would already be done by then.  The decision felt like it took forever, but it was made in a split second.  [blue]"Or, if you wish to seek out corruption within the Ministry, there are several Unspeakables as well as Aurors who seem to feel that torture is a perfectly acceptable method of extracting what they want from a student.  That is the problem with layers of bureaucracy... one never knows exactly whose agenda one is supporting,"[/blue] she remarked, the last statement in a thoughtful manner.  She crossed the room, and stood eye to eye with him, quite aware of the fact that she would be invading his personal space powerfully at the moment as she searched his eyes with her own piercing gaze before reaching into her pocket and extracting a small, clear crystal... about half the size of a snitch.  [blue]"Take care, Mister Wren,"[/blue] she instructed reaching out to press the crystal into his hand.  [blue]"And if you feel as though you are in trouble... or simply wish to speak with me again, this will find me."[/blue]  Her eyes narrowed slightly as though she were searching for something as she watched him.  And then, without further word or warning, she turned to head through the exit, watching the branches for a moment before slipping away with a speed and grace honed through many years of training as a warrior.  Once clear, she continued walking unhurriedly towards the castle, intent on returning to her common room before evening fell.

[Christopher Wren]

Christopher continued to lean against his spot. Yes, he did know that at times some of the Ministry's views were about questionable. He never really thought of them to be down right evil, although given what Miss Philosophy has said, it did seem possible. The headmistress was another story. How could the Headmistress be in with the bad guys, that just seemed outrageous. Chris decided to take her word for it, "If the Headmistress is siding with the enemy, that you are right, the Ministry must be as well." Chris made a sudden movement and his fist slammed into the wall, "How could I have been so naive! I'm trained to find shit like this."

The fact that Miss Philosophy knew of the Headmistress' siding and didn't act upon, let Chris know that Caira was a dangerous person. Chris let his hand fall back to his side, torturing was only used on what the ministry considered "highly dangerous" criminals. Ones that would be immediately sent to Azkaban after the interrogation. Christopher eyes darted back and forth across the floor as he began thinking. He couldn't abandon his post here at Hogwarts, the students were in need of help, especially if the Headmistress wasn't even on their side. No, if he stayed here he wouldn't lose his job, meaning that he could be a great asset to Miss Philosophy. Having a friend inside the ministry would be a great advantage to her.

Christopher accepted her gift, he had used this type of magic before, so it shouldn't be too much to handle. "Thank you," her replied in almost a whisper. Chris' were now transfixed on the small crystal he now held. He so deep in thought after learning all this information tonight, that he almost didn't take notice in D'rorah leaving.