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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 9, 2007 18:38:15 GMT -5
"New York... everyone keeps saying New York," repeated Caira thoughtfully. "I can't think she would feel very safe in the place where he parents were killed, but maybe." She looked up at him with an assessing gaze. "Alright Mordred. You can look for her too if you like, but I want to know as soon as you find anything. I have to tell..." she glanced down at a file before her, "it says here she's been placed with a caretaker, but he hasn't heard from her at all... and didn't sound interested at all, to tell the truth. But, I have to inform him when we find her."
She squeezed her eyes shut and massaged her temples. "This has turned into a nightmare Mordred... find out whatever you can and please let me know as soon as possible." She looked up and offered a tentative smile. "She has to be somewhere, right? Take the rest of the day then."
With one last smile, she turned her attention back to the file before her as Mordred left.
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Post by phee on Sept 9, 2007 20:43:53 GMT -5
It was during lunch in the Great Hall that a small owl landed beside Professor Albion's table setting and held out one leg, waiting patiently for the divinations professor to remove the message it was carrying. "Yeah, right," Phoenix muttered under his breath. "As if I have to be psychic for this."
"Did you say something, Phee?" Libby asked. She glanced at him, her napkin halfway to her mouth.
"It's not important," Phoenix lied, but he could tell she didn't believe him. He held up the slip of paper with its curlicue calligraphy evident. "A note from the headmistress," he told her. "I've been a bad boy."
"How bad can it be?" she asked. "We've hardly been here long enough for you to have . . ." She stopped, looking at him carefully. "Oh," she said. "You're serious."
"Well, half serious at least," he told her. He sighed, putting his silverware down. "I didn't have much of an appetite anyway," he said. He shook his head at the owl, saying, "No answer, thank you. I'll go on up now."
He leaned over to kiss Libby's cheek. "Wish me luck," he said, and with that he slipped out of the hall, raising an eyebrow at Dien Serlaen in passing, and headed for the Headmistress's office.
<<Caira, please assume I had the password for the HM's office and arrived shortly thereafter.>>
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 9, 2007 20:57:16 GMT -5
Caira looked up from her desk and offered an exhausted smile. "I'm glad you were able to come so quickly, Phoenix. You really didn't have to quit your lunch just for me." She gestured to a nearby overstuffed chair, offering him a seat. "I'm trying to get any information I can that might help me find D'rorah Philosophy. I'm sure you already knew she was missing again, as she's one of your house prefects. Surely, you know a bit about her? Anything you can think of would be helpful... no one seems to know why she ran away last night or where she is now. She's very weak and gravely injured. We need her back. I'm hoping she'll go somewhere familiar, somewhere she feels safe. I need to know where that is..." Caira trailed off and shook her head.
"I feel like I've asked these same questions a million times today." Her shoulders sagged with defeat. "To lose two students in the space of only a few days... to lose the same on twice, even!" She laughed weakly. "I should have stayed with the international ministry... Politicians, I think, are easier than children."
She paused. "Please Phoenix, anything you can offer will be helpful... she needs medical treatment for those wounds... she isn't strong enough to take care of herself in the state she was in yesterday."
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Post by phee on Sept 9, 2007 22:02:37 GMT -5
"I wish I could help, Headmistress," Phoenix said. He shook his head. "I made a point of looking at Ms. Philosophy's student file when I learned she had disappeared in the first place, of course. As her Head of House I feel . . . I know it's ridiculous, but I feel some sense of responsibility, though I had nothing to do with the girl's disappearance. In truth, I can't even tell you what forces returned her to Hogwarts, or from where she was returned!"
He looked at Caira. "Headmistress . . . I'm sorry, I know you asked me to call you Caira, but it's just not the way I was brought up. If you don't mind -- Headmistress, if the girl was taken from Hogwarts against her will, we need first of all to determine who would have cause to abduct her. If she removed herself from Hogwarts, in all likelihood she would have returned to some place in which she feels secure.
"I agree, she most likely isn't able to take care of herself, although you would know more about that than I do. Her files mention a guardian. I assume you've made contact?"
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 9, 2007 22:16:05 GMT -5
Caira pursed her lips thoughtfully. She couldn't help but get the feeling that Phoenix wasn't being entirely forthright with her. She knew he had been in the Room of Requirement the night she had returned... and that he was one of the Elemental Masters. Yes, she had far more information now than she had had before.
"Oh yes, I've contacted her caretaker... he didn't seem to care much that she was missing, but did assure me he'd let me know if he heard from her." She paused and added wryly, "Though that assurance seemed to be based more on not wanting her around than on any concern for her well-being."
She stood and paced. "Really Phoenix, I just want the girl back safely. You were there the night she disappeared in the forest, you were in the room the night she returned. I can't help but think that, of all the people I've talked to today, at least some of you must know something." She sighed heavily. "I can't have the death of another student... the Ministry will have me send everyone home... we'll have to close the school." She looked up at him, her eyes pleading.
"Please Phoenix... I... I knew her father... and I could never forgive myself if anything happened to the girl."
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Post by phee on Sept 9, 2007 22:34:29 GMT -5
"Yes, I was in the forest the night Ms. Philosophy disappeared, Headmistress, but not as part of Professor Kade's group. I didn't even know there was a group until after Ms. Philosophy disappeared.
"And as you say, I was also in the Room of Requirement the night she reappeared -- but whatever magic was used to return her to Hogwarts from this 'Shadow Realm' was not my doing. If there is anything I can add to what you already know," Phoenix said, "I'm at a loss to know what it is."
He shook his head. "Even the fact that her guardian is apparently less than concerned with her disappearance is news to me, Headmistress." He sighed. "Caira, I don't doubt that you want the girl returned safely. I think we all want that."
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 9, 2007 22:38:57 GMT -5
"Alright Phoenix," replied Caira, sounding defeated. "As you wish. If you happen to think of anything, let me know. Hopefully she'll turn up soon."
She stood and made her way to a perch on the far side of the office, handing a note to a small brown owl. The owl hooted amicably and took off. "I guess I just have to keep asking... someone's bound to know something, right?"
She offered a sad smile. "Good day, Professor Albion," she said, deferring to his wish of formality.
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Post by Keaira O'Connell on Sept 9, 2007 22:47:46 GMT -5
Keaira had been expecting this note since earlier at breakfast when some very similar notes landed in the laps of a few specific people. The headmistress was questioning them all. She was not going to get caught in a trap. As soon as she had consumed, or rather swallowed her breakfast whole, she retreated to her dorm room, summoning the one person she knew could help her. “Hermes I need your help again.”
With a small pop a well dressed house elf had appeared in front of her, he bowed, and then asked what service he could provide. Keaira had quickly drawn out her money pouch, and handed him a good portion of it. “I need the best potion that can counteract vertiserum, and I need it before lunch, please.” Keaira knew that she could guard herself against mental attacks but if she tried something like that she would need to be prepared. The elf disappeared with a small pop, and was gone only a few minuets before reappearing, with a small vial. He handed it over, along with what wa left of the pouch of money.
“Mistress, Master Hashel sends his regards, and reminds you that you must take the potion no more than 45 minuets before the use of the vertiserum. Otherwise the potion will not be effective.”
Keaira nodded, and slipped the potion in to her pocket. This way she would be ready. As lunch rolled around sure enough there was a barn owl headed her way, with the same envelope with the loopy cursive writing that everyone else had received. She nodded to the owl, and gathered her things, headed up to the headmistresses office. As she reached the doorway she turned away long enough to take a does of the potion. She would not be caught off guard. With in the seconds after the potion was taking she bagan closing her mind. 15 years of torment from others thoughts had taught her to keep every mind that wandered about away from hers. With the long hors she had spent with her grandfather she had learned how to keep others out of her mind quite efficiently. 15 years will do that to you.
She didn’t need to say the password, because as she was ready to enter the door opened and out came Professor Albion. “Good afternoon, professor, I trust all is well?” She said the words out loud, not even allowing them to form in her mind before they escaped her lips. She hoped that her mental block would even fool him, however, he was a telepath, and had a bit more practice than her.
As she ascended she focused her mind. “Brick wall, brick wall.” She thought the words over and over again, so that it was the prominent thing in her mind. Blocking out all but the most insistent minds, her use of occulemcy would make professor Snape proud, and maybe even Albion. She had planned what she would say, this way she wouldn’t have to think to much, Hopefully it would be enough.
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 9, 2007 23:17:12 GMT -5
Caira looked up as Phoenix left and Keaira entered her office. "Oh Keaira," she greeted with a tired smile, "please, come in, have a seat." She thought she saw a well-veiled distrust in the girl's face, but decided not to call attention to it. Taking a deep breath, she set about the familiar speech.
"As you might already know, one of your fellow students, D'rorah Philosophy, has gone missing. Now, I'm especially concerned for her, considering the extent of her injuries when she was taken to the infirmary. Please, if you can tell me anything about her or anything about what happened to her, it might help me figure out where she might be." She settled back in her chair.
"She's in desperate need of medical attention and she's just not capable of providing it for herself. I'm trying to figure out why she might have run away... or where she might have gone. Please Keaira, is there anything you know? Even if it doesn't seem helpful?"
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Post by Keaira O'Connell on Sept 9, 2007 23:27:13 GMT -5
Kearia smiled slightly at the headmistress, she sounded so warm and inviting, but yet some how she didn’t even seem to notice that Gat Soilder had slipped in under her watch and had kidnapped D’rorah right under her nose. As she listened to the headmistress Keaira noted that the speech sounded so well rehearsed. Keaira knew that something like this was coming. So she set about saying what she had already intended.
“Surely Headmistress, you were in the hospital wing last night? You really don’t know where she’s gone?”
She let the words come out to sound as if she was just curious, although her actual thought was very accusing. How had the headmistress allowed this to happen? It was just another piece to the puzzle that just didn’t fit right.
“I would really like to help, but I don’t really know D’rorah, I’ve only met her on a few occasions, and the night she was kidnapped I was only there by chance.” She paused a moment and screwed up her face in a questioning look. “Headmistress, with the way D’rorah’s wounds looked how do you even suppose she removed herself from the school? Do you perhaps think that once again she has been kidnapped? After all she has already been targeted once.”
Keaira spread a look of concern across her face, to hid the fact that she already knew the answer to her own question.
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 9, 2007 23:42:48 GMT -5
“Surely Headmistress, you were in the hospital wing last night? You really don’t know where she’s gone?”
Caira shook her head. "No, I wasn't in the hospital wing last night." She sighed and closed her eyes. "I left her that morning. I guess I shouldn't've, but I really thought she'd be safe here... it never occurred to me that she could disappear from the infirmary itself."
A thought look came over her face as Keaira continued.
“Headmistress, with the way D’rorah’s wounds looked how do you even suppose she removed herself from the school? Do you perhaps think that once again she has been kidnapped? After all she has already been targeted once.”
"No, no... someone kidnapping her right from the castle itself? Why, that's absolutely preposterous. I..." she trailed off, thinking. She wondered exactly how much Keaira did know... whether she knew it had been a kidnap attempt that had gone wrong, in fact, a kidnap attempt that never should have happened in the first place.
"Why would she be targeted?" wondered Caira aloud. "What would anyone want with a Ravenclaw prefect, for pity's sake?" She shook her head. This questioning was getting her nowhere, and very quickly. "Your whole group seems to have a thick air of secrecy... I just want to bring D'rorah back so she can be made well again."
She sighed dejectedly and shook her head. "I can't help but have the feeling people know more than they're telling me. This girl's life may very well be at stake, and no one seems to know a thing about her or about what happened last night." She exhaled slowly. "Well, as I've told the others, I hope you'll let me know the minute you think of anything that might be helpful... I can't just send a search party all over the world looking for her."
She looked back down at her list, waiting to see if she had earned any further response.
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Post by Keaira O'Connell on Sept 9, 2007 23:57:21 GMT -5
Keaira had expected the Headmistress to try and gleam more from her, and she had expected her to question her knowledge of D’rorah where abouts. What Keaira had not expected was the guilty feeling that she had to suffocate very quickly as it rose with in her. She knew that although she wasn’t lying, she was holding back information that could be helpful. The real question Keaira had, was not whether the headmistress would be able to use the information, but HOW the headmistress would use the information.
Keaira knew why there was such an overwhelming secrecy to the way her newly found group. They needed it. Being who they were it was too dangerous to tell every one in the world that they were the only ones able to stop the evil that was spreading. Too many people might try to stop them, or even hurt them if they knew.
She shook her head. There was nothing else to tell. “Headmistress, I’m afraid that I have no clue where D’rorah would have fled if her life was threatened. I did not know her well enough to have hat kind of knowledge. As I said it was just a coincidence I was with the group when she was kidnapped, and when she was returned. I was to be honest, just following Alessandro. He is after all such a cutie…”
She allowed her voice to trail off at that admission, forcing a blush, and a small giggle, just to complete the rouse. “The first time I met D’rorah she was scolding me for turning him in to a mouse though. I truly am sorry, Headmistress LaPointe, perhaps some on else will know more.”
Keaira stood up at that finial statement, and slowly turned, headed for the door.
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 10, 2007 0:07:19 GMT -5
"Yes, of course," replied Caira wearily. She watched as Keaira made her way toward the door with a feeling of resignation. Once the door had closed, she stood from behind her desk and threw on a traveling cloak. "I guess all I can do now is search," she said to herself. With that, she disapparated, headed to find out how the search was going. She scowled, she had always hated using Shadows for tasks such as this... they tended to attack whatever they found, rather than simply finding it.
A loud pop sounded, and suddenly, she was gone.
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 10, 2007 10:17:12 GMT -5
About an hour later, having still had no sign of D'rorah, Caira returned to her office. A pop sounded as she apparated in, startling the owls she had been using to summon people to her office for questioning.
"Oh, it's only me," she said quietly. Her eyes looked weary as she looked to the next names on her list. Kono Slaker, Mira Quanz, Yumi Gandal, Gat Soldier, Jared Spade... She waved her wand, setting a kettle of tea on the fire. It was going to be a long day... and it would only get worse if she didn't find D'rorah soon. The girl could be anywhere by now, perhaps even nearly dead... or, an even worse thought, already dead. She shuddered and pushed the possibility from her mind.
As she poured herself a cup of tea, a knock sounded at the door. "Come in," she called, quickly pouring a second cup as she looked up to see who had responded to her summons.
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Post by temperizer on Sept 10, 2007 18:36:05 GMT -5
"Headmistress?" Asked Kono questioningly. On the one hand he didn't want to sound guilty in case he had done something wrong. On the other hand he wasn't sure why he was there and didn't want to risk sounding too confident and end up stepping on someone's toes. So instead he enterred the room alert and aware. Confident nor cowering.
It had been strange to be requested for a visit with the Headmistress especially since he had basically been an automaton since Mongol's death- a pang in his heart physically hurt him as he attempted to stop himself from a recollection already half over.
"You wished to speak with me?" he asked calmly but cautiously.
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