For the record, ten minutes was NOT a lot of time.
Atlas still had Toby tucked under his arm and he was moving on fumes as he descended from Gryffindor Tower along with Apollo and Aries. He wasn't even sure who or what had woken him up (he had been comfortable in his puddle of drool on his pillow) or even how he had managed to get his feet into a pair of shoes. Granted he was crushing the heels of his sneakers beneath his feet but still, his toes were in the shoes and that was making a world of a difference given the hour and just how COLD it was. The blast of cold air to his face had also torn through his small narrow frame...which did not bode well for the first year who had carefully scheduled his bathroom breaks...you know what we mean???
Groggy and incoherent, Atlas was still alert enough to know that whatever was about to go down...was bad...really really bad. Truth be told, Atlas was expecting an execution.
A public one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Samia 
Aries was HOLDING on to Atlas for DEAR LIFE.
Because nope, no, no, no, no thank you, no.
They were not dying. They will be okay, things will be fine. JUST FINE.
But as the names started being called out, his eyes widened - they were taking away his girlfriend and friends and people he occasionally waved at.
"Will they not be allowed in lessons either?" he found himself asking dumbly - and immediately regretting it because the key to survival was being invisible, yes?
And while Aries was squeezing all the blood and feeling out of Atlas hand, Atlas was squeezing his legs together. The cold and gripping fear was making his current situation unbearable. He really should not have chugged all that water at dinner and before bed, but the feeling of dehydration was always a lot when he denied himself too many liquids during the day...for reasons.
It says to me you won't survive the new world and there's no longer reason to keep trying with you
Those words felt like confirmation alone that there was going to be an execution and...Rosier seemed keen to make sure they all knew that resistance was futile. Reminded him of something...
Gasping a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding as names were called, Atlas' bright blue eyes watched in horror as Quinn was called and then his vision went all kinds of blurry. Where...where were they taking them? No...no...no they COULDN'T take Quinn. They couldn't have him! His blood boiling, it was Aries' grip that spared Atlas from forgetting his own self preservation...so...in essence...his brother had just saved his life this hour, not that he would admit to that. Instead, the Gryffindor's arm tightened around his Pluto plushie and bit down hard on his lower lip so as not to make any sound. UNLIKE HIS BROTHER...who felt that NOW was the right time to ask questions. Atlas nearly whacked him upside the head himself...but one of The Hoods™ did that on his behalf. And then Atlas' stomach twisted horrible in his ability to now be able to compare his own motivations and actions with...
them. So it was all he could do to watch Quinn get manhandled and disappear among the sea of dark robes and hoods. His whole body trembled and the desire to squeeze his brother's hand back was there...but thanks to Aries being ARIES, Atlas had no feeling left in his hand and quite literally couldn't move his fingers.
Circulation would be nice. Soon. Yeah?
Relieved, in almost more than one way, that it did NOT seem like there would be an execution...Atlas struggled to gulp for air when next Rosier was demanding Professor Williamson make himself known.
No...no no no...no...no...not...no...
Air seizing in his chest once again, his eyes widened and dried immediately as the burly Creatures professor step forward. Atlas wanted to call out to him. He may have even had a naïve moment of drawing his wand and disarming Rosier and ... well ... that was as far as the thought went because in the Gryffindor's next breath the man himself was pointing his wand at Professor Williamson...and then words Atlas did NOT want to hear but would rather her than a certain 'one hit wonder' alternative uttered.
His knees nearly buckled, his teeth sinking into his lower lip so aggressively they drew blood, and he made a muffled noise that was somewhat like that of a dying cow as he watched this man, his hero and one of the only people he trusted, crumble to the ground like discarded parchment. His legs squeezed together more and dipped a little at the knees, but still remained vertical beside his brother. Though he was now making muffled sounds like a wounded dog, whimper and breathing sharply through his nose. Complete nostrils flaring and his entire face red.
...and then they were taking Professor Williamson away too. They wouldn't even let Professor Recard SEE him.
These people were...monsters.
He glanced timidly over at his brother, teeth still clutching his lower lip and now afraid to remove in case...well...in case...
Were they dismissed? Could they go back? Atlas hadn't....been able to pay attention to have heard.