ooc: how is Gideon here? I thought I had him locked in my drawer! =P Anywa, thanks Kris both ways


Nott raised an eyebrow. "Well, that made sense."

He shook his head and coughed to disguise his comment, not fan of another senseless row of insults right then. They finally seemed to be going though something big, right?

"You might, but I think your giant friend -" he said, pointing his thumb at the doors of the Great Hall, "went that way. The doors of the castle are shut closed after all."

He gestured Gideon to go with him as soon as Weasley had accedded to this. Sure, who knows if Nott would keep his promise, though up to know the Gryffindors seem to do more good on their side than against. Then again, they might get something from this. Like a feeling of self-satisfaction of helping a lost soul or something. Theo had no time to consider their reasons.

They both hurried their steps - or at least Nott did expecting Gideon to follow behind. It was heard foots steps before them, and soon the castle shadows allowed them to perceive the two eldery figures walking quite slowly though the walls, though actually one of them seemly trippled on his own feet trying to go slower, out of some very shown impatience. Without as much as a second thought, Nott broke into a run trying to reach them. It would have been his footsteps the ones to alarm Fudge and Dumbledore of him, slowing down and letting him reach them.

"Minister -" he said quite agitated, trying to speak in within the intakes of breath. "I think we found - something you might be interested in."

He finished this with a smile and trying to compose himself as he allowed some minutes for Gideon to catch up.

"What's with you harrassing us like this, you -" Fudge started plainly irritated, looking back and forth from the Slytherin boy to the Headmaster. "I'm looking for nothing you can give and I don't have the time to waste with you - Explain yourself quickly."

He finished, mildly perturbed by the look of amusement on Dumbledore's face.

"Oh, nothing, we wouldn't wish to disturb you -" Nott said still out of breath, "but my friend has a theory, you know, about the question you asked us earlier? We would like very much to give it a try - it would prove once and for all I'm not a lier as some think to imply."

He turned to Gideon with a hand gesture that very much said 'go ahead', leaving Fudge with a struck confused expression in his face.

"I know that," Ron snapped, looking rather indignant but turning to walk there all the same. He expected Hermione and Harry to follow them, but Harry didn't seem all that eager and Hermione wanted to be cautious for now, so with a shrug he went on alone...

ooc: I suppose we can pick up on these characters later on if we need them.

Gideon took off after Nott, not at all finding it difficult to keep up with the other boy's pace, skipping slightly and humming something along the lines of "The Wizard of Oz" to himself. When Nott suddenly broke out into a run, Gideon followed close behind, looking like a child running into Honeydukes. Oh, what fun...he wondered if he was actually right, and if they would force Fudge to keep his word. It might make the headlines, even, in Gideon's fantasy world. "Ravenclaw Outsmarts Minister of Magic".

Gideon came to a stop next to Nott, catching his breath before speaking. "'ello, Minister," he said brightly with a hint of mischeif in his voice. Hopefully Fudge would not remember who he was--he doubted his aunt ever mentioned him. "Y'remember how y'wanted to ask us if we knew what got Malfoy? Well, I think..." Gideon paused for effect. "Well, Sirus Black got in'he Gryffy's Common Room before, s'maybe it isn't tha' hard t'get into the Slythy Commons. Probably a human or part-human, or an Animagus like Black got in with a password, then...I donno, got an' changed into some beastie an' then--" Gideon's voice reached a triumphant pitch--"got away wi' him!"

ooc: *lol* Oh dear... oh dear oh dear oh dear... Is that Gideon's answer? Ouch. My mistake. My horrendous mistake. I thought you had it figured out but by the look of it... you are rather half way. *grin* I'm tempted to pinch Gideon's cheeks.

"Is that so!" Fudge said immediately and with his eyebrow rising in a way that could only mean he was humored, a smug smile was splitting his featured in half. "Here the student wants to give lessons to the Ministry of Magic. And about Sirius Black!"

He was already swallowing with the impending laughter, when the gesture of Dumbledore's stopped him quite calmly.

"If you allow me, Cornelius, I would prefer we have this conversation in a more private enviroment, shall we?" he said this slowing his hand and making a swift movement to unlock the first room at sight. It was a small classrom coincidentally available for their use. The Headmaster walked inside without further addo and found a seat on the very front, on the professor desk of course. Fudge followed rather esceptically and trying not to look as uncomfortable as he was. Next he had found an extra chair and dragged it to the front to sit next to the Headmaster, on the front, as it should be. Dumbledore waited for both boys to come inside before waving his wand again and closing the door.

"Now, I believe you said you had some information we didn't," he said accomodating himself on the chair. "But Cornelius' thinking is also reasonable. Maybe you would think I would overview the possibility of using a history such as that of Sirius Black, even when so personally involved. But, you still are missing that it was not because of his animagus powers that Mr Black managed an entry though the secured portrait. I trust you read about it in our history books. Mr Black did forced his way out of Azkaban, but you will find our and Azkaban security is very different one from the other.

"Now I must soon to ask why do you think an animagus did this and why it explains the attack in the Slytherin Common Room, the way it happened and the very different descriptions of the supposed beast involved."

Dumbledore's eyes glittered with something which could have been encouraging. "You do know an animagus can only change its appearance to that of an animal and only this animal, I'm am correct?"

Nott didn't say anything while Fudge went on how he didn't think it neccessary at all and how it was a waste fo time. Blast it. In his position as a Slytherin no matter what he said he was completely sure they would not listen, and his position as son would help in his apprehension to speak what he knew. Or thought he knew -Urganda might not be the responsible, maybe it was another one...

ooc: I'm sorry to say, you are alone Backy. Pity, I really thuoght you had it.

Ron trotted into the Great Hall, scanning the staff table for Hagrid. The latter wasn't hard to find, being a very prominant figure sitting alone to the side. He walked briskly up to him, not really knowing what to do next, or how to say it, but he was going to try. Pity Hermionie wasn't coming...but he could do okay by himself.

"Oi, Hagrid," Ron called as he approached, willing a grin on his face. "Hagrid!"

Unlike Nott, Gideon was not the least bit nervous that he was talking to the Headmaster and the Minister of Magic, something that would have sent the average student whimpering away. He was actually grinning and talking like he would a bunch of his peers.

"Well not to say tha' it would've been Sirius Black or an Animagus, jus' someone on the lines o'that kind of magic. Whatever got in had t'have the brains to know or crack the password, 'cos I didn' see a messed-up portrait or entrance or whatever when I popped o'er there this mornin'. An' if it had the password, it had to be able t'speak it to get in. An' everyone said they saw some beastie, didn' they? An' it was all different. Whatever got in then probably could change shape then, not jus' to one beastie form, but a bunch o'them. Professor McGonagall never said anythin' about them in class, but it was kinda a thought, no, could've been some kind of a Polymagus or shapeshifter, as wooly as tha' sounded."

Dumbledore's eyebrow raised slightly. "Shapeshifter, indeed," he commented. "But I would dare not understimate the use of Minerva's classes, Mr Gideon. Not speak so."

The Headmaster gave the silghtless chuckle. Fudge, on the other hand, was looking at Gideon like some crazy looney. By the look of it, he was barely keeping attention of him.

Dumbledore had risen from his seat by now, pacing the room though empty as it was. He seemed to be muttering to himself, his right hand making all sorts of small gestures and his mouth seemly moving.

"Dumbledore, you will understand that I have better things than stay here to hear this silly students makings assumptions!" Fudge stated (ooc: because Fudge is a very important, very bussy man...). "I want to be there for when the raid - when it starts, and you know, I should think this students should be in classes, should they not?"

"Why, I think this young students had brought up a very enlighting possibility, Cornelius, do you not? Something that had slipped my mind. Must be the old man in me."

Fudge smiled sardonically. "Well, of course nothing I wouldn't have thought of," he answered smugly. "Animagus, yes, maybe a team! I did thought of it and I need not of some foolish students, encouraged by your misguiding attitude, to be stuffing their noses where they are not called!"

"A team? Oh, no, that was not what I had in mind," the Headmaster sat himself down once more and ignoring Fudge's irritated tone. "It is quite unneccesary as I see it. Though I still have problems finding out how this - person or persons - managed to fool the passwords security. Surely no beast could have."

"Yeah, the portrait was in perfect conditions, and so was the rest of the room," Theodore popped into the chat, "the entrance was not forced, plus somebody might have let her - er, it in," Nott said rather clumsily but his speech skills were overpowered by the growing anxiety.

~*~

"Wha' -"

Hagrid turned his head to the source of the voice calling him. Cracking his neck to spot him and about to raise from his seat only to remember last time he had tried stood that fast had caused the table to almost fall forwards. Wasn't neccessary after all when the person in question came to his meeting,

" 'Ey Ron!" Hagrid waved at him, feeling like standing again on the relief of seeing a friendly face. McGonagall was just by him, to whom he had been talking with minutes later with a worried expression. Much different from now that Hagrid had a brightness in his eyes as if the trio was visiting him to drink some tea on his hut.

"Jus' in time yeh're! 'Been thinkin' on mah next class, someth' in-doors." He paused to look around, the smile lingering in his face "- Where's Harry an' Hermione?"



ooc: you know, you are aiming right but missing the word. And I don't know why that is. You from all people should have already figured out that one, B. Or maybe I'm just confusing you with my comments... I should probably shut up.
Oh and if I got your question right: it is cannon.

"Yeah, tha's another thing, and this Gryffy kept yellin' at Theo 'ere caus' he thought that he was---heeeeeyy," Gideon interrupted himself suddenly, getting struck and run over by a sudden inspiration. "Never mind Animagus, wha' if the bloke or beastie or whatever could pretent t'be someone else? Like another Slythy, or even Professor Snape? Then, then," Gideon's voice became excited again, "then not only could 'e get the password, 'e wouldn't look suspicious no, 'cause 'e's a Slythy. An' Draco wouldn' know wha got him, 'specially if it were his best bud or 'is Head of House. An' then 'e changed what he looked like loads of times, so ev'ryone who saw 'im saw somethin' different, so it looks like a whole buncha beasties instead of one or two fellas! Tha' means it was a Metamorphamagus, not an Animagus, don it?"

He looked at Dumbledore, Fudge and Nott, blue eyes sparkling, quite sure he had nailed it this time. It would certainly explain why Ron the Gryffy saw Nott and Nott insisted he was nowhere nearby...

"They...were busy," Ron said, rather dissapointed that they weren't onto this as he was. "Anyhoo...bummer isn't it? I was..er...really looking forward to today's class...er, what was it on again? Too bad we're not allowed outside anymore...I wonder if Quidditch practice would be cancelled."

Curse it, Hermionie was probably better at this than him...

ooc: OK, the colors are a little messed up, but I'm basing them in points of view or something...


Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed. That would explain it all, no, Cornelius?"

Fudge was flabbergasted, looking around as if being the centre of a clown circle.

"It does explains how this person made an entrance, how he managed to remain unidentified, and... guess that means Mr Nott was never on that scene isn't he?"- here Theodore gave a proud smile -"It's quite a convincing theory."

Seemly tired of opening and closing his mouth like a goldenfish, Fudge spoke though not that coherently. "Now, wait a minute," he said. "There can't be that - not possible -"

Suddenly his eyes popped open in a 'aha!' gesture, "Of course, of course... but how to explain that the beast was seen alone and not with Draco Malfoy on its back - on any of its backs? Unless, of course, you are ready to say Mr Malfoy was the metamorphmagus himself?" He had the most smug smirk ever seen by now. "Must I remind you that you cannot force another person to apparate?"

"Yes, yes," Dumbledore said, "and we cannot apparate in Hogwarts, I must remind too. But that could easily be figured out. A Portkey maybe? There's many ways to trap a person and not been seen. Then the attacker run to the forest desguised as some kind of larger beasts, whichever it was."

Fudge opened his mouth again, then closed it.

"Well, that settles it," Nott popped in finally.

"I beg your pardon?"

Fudge had the wildest most confused expression. Nott leaned on a nearby desk lazily, "You said earlier than we would have the Ministry permission if we could come with an answer your Aurors couldn't."

"Oh but... You were taking it seriously, d-did you?" the Minister said with a very silly, very nervous laugh behind his eyes. They were teary and he was sweaty, his face was growing red.

"You did promised that, Cornelius," Dumbledore popped in as if it didn't matter.

"But - Albus! How can you," there was the smallest laugh in his speech, as if expecting someone to step and said all had been a joke. "Wha- you..."

"However," Dumbledore added as he cleaned his glasses, "though it is true you received permission from the Ministry, this is still school. And I'm afraid that at school, I am the authority, and I can't let you out."

The smile in Nott's face disappeared.

"But what do you - you promised us!" he said outraged.

"I must once again point out that was a promise from the Ministry, I personally didn't participate in that promise." Fudge smiled once more at this, though it was plain by the look of him he was more ashamed and uncomfortable than happy, though still the idea that this kids wouldn't get away with it made up for it. "My deal is that I will let you out, after 10 pm, and since that pass cue, it means not until tomorrow. And of course, nowhere near the Forbiden Forest that, you must know by now, is forbiden."

Nott's closed and then opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.

Dumbledore continued. "I suppose that I own you a small explanation, though, before you decide that the permission from the Ministry exceedes that of the Headmaster - which can be argued as well." He paused. "I cannot let you out on concern for your own safety. Not the forest nor its surroundings are safe right now -"

"And I suppose Draco Malfoy's safety doesn't matter?" Nott scathingly questioned.

Dumbledore nodded. "As I see it, Malfoy could not be safer right now than he could be in his own home."

"But how can that be -"

"The forest," he continued, "is about to be raided, as soon as we can notify the inhabitants the best we can." There was a small interruption as Fudge asked "Notify?" totally bewildered, but he was ignored.

"Needless to say the creatures of the forest aren't that happy, but hopefully they will be able to seek refuge in time. Besides, Cornelius here seems to think a raid is just what's needed."

"That's an official secret -" Fudge gaped, and Nott's frown deepened. "What kind of raid?"

"The same kind which is taking place right now in Mr Malfoy's house," Dumbledore responded. And Fudge turned to him so fast his neck seemed about to crack. Dumbledore, however, was looking very calm as he blabbed that information.

"So as you see, you are safe, while you remain in this castle walls, and so I can't possibly let you out. Unless you want to stop the raids, Cornelius?"

Cornelius' expression from outraged to stuborn-serious. He said nothing but the answer to that question was plain and obvious, even in his sweaty face.


~*~

Hagrid's bettle eyes shone at the mention of the subject. "Ah, jus' bin told 'bout Quidditch! Good news! 'Won't be cancelled after all," he told brightly. "Oh and don' yeh worry 'bout the murtlaps - their better off inside anywor'."

He practically chocked on his juice when McGonagall had elbowed his arm rather forcefully to let her be, err, felt.

"Er, right. So I've planned this 'nd I think studen's'll like murtlaps. I wanted to do tebos but, nevermind. It'd've bin difficult to catch 'em anyway. If they turned invisible in the rain of bombs, those nasty things. Think ter harmless, they do as well as kill those poor -"

It was McGonagall's time to choke. Hagrid had been talking despite her attempts of subtly quieting him; she had been trying to step into Hagrid's foot under the table without much success until now.

"You're right, Minerva?" Hagrid asked concerned patting her back.

Gideon made a little noise of both amusement and triumph. "You're a tricky one, Headmaster, if I'm allowed to say it." He grinned anyway. Dumbledore seemed half on their side, and half not, and being as vauge as possible to prod them in the right direction. He rocked in his heels, looking a bit cheeky. He didn't think the centaurs in the forest would like the idea of a raid at all...not to mention a whole bunch of other things in which he knew better to ask right now.

Ron cast a glance at his Head of House before deciding that it would be okay to continue. "Yeah, um...I guess not, they like eating your feet, don't they? Tebo-things would be cool...you mean, they can be invisible? Like Thestrals?" Ron decided not to ask about the bombs part. It seemed like something Hagrid had slipped, hence McGonagall's choking. He forced some enthusiasm in his voice. "Where'd you find one anyway? Sounds like it would make a pretty good lesson..."

At the same time McGonagall could stop the coughing fit, though still unable to talk, Hagrid had said, "Oh, don' worrie, you'll do fine, Ron." He had moved to pick bread near the centre of the Staff Table.

"Their foun' near the Congo," he said enthusiastically taking a bit of bread to eat. "Yeh'll love this class, jus' wait 'till four today."

"Rubeus," McGonagall had said, gesturing him to pass a plate with apples and Hagrid complied. Soon he was back at looked at Ron, seemly happy that he was taking so much interest in his classes.

~*~

Again the amused light in the Headmaster's eyes. He only nodded calmly and moved to stand.

"If you excuse us, gentlemen," he had said. Fudge was right at his tail, looking like an outraged puppy. In the back of his mind, Nott thought he might be muttering to Dumbledore about telling the Aurors right away. The exited the deserted classroom without as much as a farewell sign.

Nott turned to Gideon, "Now what?"

"Er-really? Uh, I can't wait," Ron said, grinning yet half-wondering if the creature in question was deadly or had a taste for fingers. Something suddenly came to mind, and he lowered his voice a bit so that students passing by wouldn't hear. "Ah...Hagrid? So, how's your..er...little brother doing?"

The change in his expression was sudden and impossible to miss. Those eyes just before filled with excitement and delight had become to express a sudden lots of oppossite emotions; disappointment or maybe worry, pain or just sadness. He was undoubtly anxcious, that was no doubt, because next the globet on his hand had slipped from his grasp and the pumpkin juice soiled the table. She didn't quiet react to it, more like he started after the mess at lost of what to do.

"Err," he stammered with a pale face though those rolls of heavy, bushy facial hair, "Ah, err, the-the things've gone fine, fine," he lied and his eyes dropped to the table, avoiding those of Ron's. "He's bin - v-very energetic. 'Bin behavin' more..."

At this moment his jaw gave an unvoluntary movement. In trying to keep his voice low, lower it had become until he was left with no speech and gaping. He had become mute, and it was obvious by the look of it that he couldn't supress the fear in his eyes. Concentration had left him. His lips quivering a little, he uttered an inaudible appology, not sure if even spoken and stood from the table. Minerva's eyes were on him now, too, as it was difficult not to when having a massive body like Hagrid's, and so were his saddened eyes.

He moved rather clumsily and trying to not to trip in his feet, rounded the staff table and started outside, with tears coming from his eyes.

ooc: ... I'm too angsty lately, aren't I? *pets Hagrid*

The thing with Hagrid was that you could smell a lie like the reek of Stinksap. Ron got up and struggled to catch up with Hagrid without looking too suspicious, meeting him down the hallway.

"Wha--hey...Hagrid? What's with...he's not met that thing that took off Malfoy, has he?" It might've happened, the thing was huge and Grawp could get mean when grumpy...

Gideon cocked his head to the side, thinking. "How many secret passages d'yathink them Aurors and Fudge know about?" He said finally.

Nott eyebrows dissappeared behind the mass of hair. Well, he was already linking this guy's mind. "To be completely honest, I know of none. I can sugget, however, to go to the source directly. You have heard of the Weasley Twins I pressume? Ah, yes, I remember you mentioning meeting them -" he was moving outside the classroom and leaning to whisper just slightly, not turning to Gideon so not to arise suspicion.

"Well, they aren't here any more, that's the sad news. But if somebody boasted about getting wherever they wished were those two... Only thing missing is finding out how and use that." He paused, his stare hardening. "Seems only link we have are... the same Weasleys."

ooc: Hagrid tomorrow. I'm exahusted. And not fearing getting redundant: Didn't sleep all day and night before *pff*

"Maybe they told Ron or Ginny...I only know o'one, 'cause they let me tag along that time. Leads to Hogsmede...tho' really, where t'go from there..." Gideon looked thoughtful for a moment. "I wouldn' put it past them that they knew 'bout more..."

Nott crossed his arms and leaned on a wall in a pensive matter.

"We saw it in the map you got from that auror: the entraces and exist of Hogmeade seems to be blocked or guarded. Guess we could risk to try the passageway, then try to fool the Ministry Aurors and get to the forest, though needless to say it's risky. We don't know what kind of security this people have put."

His gaze lowered, his hairs covering the most of his eyes.

"Whatever we do, we must do it immediately. We have eight hours, or less, to reach the forest, supposedly find Mafloy and warn him to get the bludgers out of there, before returning before the raid starts."

He paused for a minute to look up at Gideon, then his features turned into a smirk. "That is, if you are in this for Malfoy's security."

Theodore had the slightless impression this kid was only doing it for the fun of it. Well, people's interests are everywhere, and while they had an interest of some sorts in common...

~*~

Hagrid turned to Ron who had followed him outside. He was half way whipping what looked like a giantic tear out of the way, but Hagrid was soon to try to hide it.

"What? Oh. Oh no, at all," he said. "Not at all, ther monster... ther monster sur'ly wouldn' go fer Gawp." He cleared his throat. "I mean, it really has no reasons ter go fer Gawp, righ'?"

He gave a sudden pause in which his expression betrayed the feeling as if a weight had added over his shoulder. He sighed rather audibly, showing exahustion like never before.

"Haf to talk to Dumbledore," he said finally quickening his pace - the hadchief he was using to clean his tears now on his forehead sweat. "'Must ask fer him ter stop this," was the last he said before quickening his pace, with even a more panicky expression.

Quote:

Nott crossed his arms and leaned on a wall in a pensive matter.

"Yeah, tha's one thing. Tho' ya know, it's hard ta think they've got any sorts of security at all..." Gideon tapped his chin and scuffled the ground a bit with one shoe. "Headmaster said he'd only let us out after the raid, tho' technically we're still up an' about the castle 'till curfew, which is 'bout nine..."

Quote:

"Whatever we do, we must do it immediately. We have eight hours, or less, to reach the forest, supposedly find Mafloy and warn him to get the bludgers out of there, before returning before the raid starts."

Quote:

He paused for a minute to look up at Gideon, then his features turned into a smirk. "That is, if you are in this for Malfoy's security."

Theodore had the slightless impression this kid was only doing it for the fun of it. Well, people's interests are everywhere, and while they had an interest of some sorts in common...

"An' tha's supposin' the git who took your pal in the first place'll let 'im go without a fight, whatever the bloke is tryin' ta do to your pal Malfoy," Gideon remarked pointedly, meeting Nott's smirk with a wide grin.

"Ah com'on, would ya'even have gott'n this far without my help? An' since when did Slythys worry about why people do stuff for 'em? Thought you guys jus' wanted wha' you wanted, dun care how you got it. 'Course there are exceptions t'every rule..." Gideon's grin grew a bit wider and his tone turned slightly teasing. "Unless you're tellin' me you're a Griffy in Slyth robes..."

He then paused and wondered to himself about Headmaster Dumbledore. There was probably a point, a point he had been trying to make to them when he specifically barred them from following Fudge until the raid was over...

"He wants us to stop it," Gideon said finally, more to himself than anyone. "The balmy old codger wants us to stop it..."

-------

"Stop what, Hagrid?" Ron called after the gamekeeper, but Hagrid was moving to fast for him to catch up.

Ron let Hagrid go, a new thrill of fear rising in his chest. So it was that serious...if the thing wasn't going for Grawp (and he wasn't convinced by Hagrid's tone at all) then whatever...didn't Hagrid mention something about bombs? Something was going to happen or was happening in the Forbidden Forest today, which had Hagrid all shaken up wanting to stop it...he couldn't figure out what though...

He probably should track down Nott and Gideon, who weren't back yet, maybe they were still with Fudge or Dumbledore, in which case they might catch what Hagrid had to say...

The red-haired boy spun on his heel and pelted down the hall towards the library to find his friends.

Hermione jumped as Ron almost crashed into the study table she was at, knocking over her sizable stack of books on Advanced Potions. "Ron!" She gasped in shock. "What--"

"Grawp's in trouble," Ron said quickly.

"But how do you--"

"Talked to Hagrid, he seemed all scared about something...it's got to do with the beastie in the Forest, I'm quite sure..."

"Ron, calm down first and start from the beginning!"

Ron sat down opposite to Hermione, collecting his thoughts together. "What's a Tebo?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Hagrid was talking about them, something about wanting to show them to us but he couldn't...they sounded dangerous or something, you know Hagrid, the only time he thinks a creature is interesting is when it has six-inch fangs or something--"

"A Tebo is a warthog-like creature, ash grey in color," Hermione said, sounding like she was reciting from a book. "It has the power of invisibility, which makes it difficult to evade or capture, so yes, it is dangerous. Honestly Ron, that was in our textbook." She frowned slightly. "So Hagrid's got Tebos in the forest?"

"He could have Norbert in the forest at this moment, I doubt it would make a difference," Ron spat sarcastically. "So would those Tebo things attack Grawp?"

"I don't see why they would unless Grawp was trying to eat them," Hermione said reasonably. "Was there anything else Hagrid said?"

"Something about Tebos and them running away from bombs, didn't say anything more about that, because McGonagall started choking and he changed the subject--"

"Bombs?" Hermione suddenly got a lot more severe. "Fudge and his team of Aurors are going to use bombs?"

"I donno, I--" Ron was smacked upside the head with a sudden thought. "You don't think they're trying to drive the beastie out of the forest that way, do you?"

"That's horrible! I can't believe Fudge would--where's Dumbledore? We're going to have to speak to him too--he can't let this happen," Hermione threw her books haphazardly into her bag as Ron looked around.

"Where's Harry?"

"I don't know, but we can find him later. Where's Dumbledore?"

"Nott and that Ravenclaw Gideon took off after them earlier, I donno where they are now..."

Hermione sighed. "Which way did they go?"

The two Gryffindor prefects tore out of the library and down the corridor, weaving their way amongst the daily traffic of students...

Ak. Just when I make up my mind about starting a new RPG I change my mind again - because! It doesn't help that you had put effort in the last responce. Poo. Btw, you make a cute Hermione ^.^


"What's the use of it if we go at nine? Malfoy will be dead because of the raid by that time!" Nott fumed, clenching his teeth. Again it was enquired if these people cared about the selfish prat Malfoy at all. Theodore himself had a very inconsitent reason; the excuse of the closer-to-friend he has ever had mixed with curiosity. But still he didn't want the guy to die. He had shared a room with the guy for over 6 years to just swallow the notion of them dying!

Nott shook his head.
Wonders...

Theo rolled his eyes to the only companion he had in all this. He payed little to no attention to the guy's teasing while he had a nagging feeling on the back of his head. He thought he might need to keep him entertained at some point but then convinced himself he was not THAT desesperate for help.

"Done?" he asked with no emotion and looking ahead. But before speaking it did wonder him that this 'beatie' was interested in Malfoy and if they indeed did not know...

"Wait, did you say let him go?" Theo inquired, frowning. "I supposed the two of then remained in the forest, both Malfoy and this, err, guy. Or so it seems if the Ministry is making it look the supposed menace is still in the forest to raid it."

He too had went silent for a bit though for a differen reason.

Quote:

"He wants us to stop it," Gideon said finally, more to himself than anyone. "The balmy old codger wants us to stop it..."

"Wha?" Was he speaking of Dumbledore? Theo grimaced at the idea. "Well if he thinks I will go though all that much trouble to stop the Ministry doings - I mean, we are only teens! We already gave Fudge an excuse to stop the raid, what else can we do?"

Nott rubbed his temples rather exahustively. Not that it wouldn't resolve his own troubles, but how in the name would they do it?

Don't tell they expect us tampering with the Aurors bombs? Is it even needed to say 'danger'! that he thought wanting to pull his hairs out and while reaching the main entrance, place where they were supposed to meet with who remained interested in helpin. Though, at this point, he was not surprised to find none of them were there.

"OK, let's at least do something. Anything. Do you or do you not know about a secret entrance to Hogsmeade?! Nott said, a hiden fire in his eyes.

~*~

ooc: well, guess that makes me into Harry...
Library: third floor me thinks. Lol, a two-people RP.


Bad day to suddenly decide to help the greatest blood bigot in history. Not only he had lost Ron in the way to speak to Hagrid, he was pretty much stalked all the way by Collin Creevey who just happened to pass by. With the amateur photographer following him everwhere, Harry concluded it was better that Ron dealt with this alone than bad escorted.

Not that it was difficult to spot Hagrid, and as one would lead him to the other, Harry followed the massive back though the crowded Great Hal all the way back to the corridors.

But then, he was lost again, and Collin's constant questioning was driving him insane. So he abandoned the search, sent Collin off with the lamest excuse, then went to meet with his other best friend, Hermione. They had parted ways in the last minute since she seemed to want to make her own investigation at the Library while he and Ron resolved this part of the puzzle. Now it seemed Harry's staying there was pretty much useless and in top of it all supremely annoying!

And indeed, when Harry was on his way to meet with Hermione, climbing the stairs, there and then -bless the child- [/sarcastic] he found both her and Ron.

"Well, hello!" Harry said rather scathingly. "Please don't tell me we are still going on about this whole Malfoy-dissapearing thing?" he practically begged.

[quote]"What's the use of it if we go at nine? Malfoy will be dead because of the raid by that time!" Nott fumed, clenching his teeth. Again it was enquired if these people cared about the selfish prat Malfoy at all. Theodore himself had a very inconsitent reason; the excuse of the closer-to-friend he has ever had mixed with curiosity. But still he didn't want the guy to die. He had shared a room with the guy for over 6 years to just swallow the notion of them dying![/quote]

"Yeah, we've established that point," Gideon said, now frowning slightly. It was a bonus to Nott that Gideon, having spent most of his time at Hogwarts causing random mayhem and paying for it, hadn't run into Malfoy ever, even during Malfoy's stint as part of the Inquisitor Squad when Umbridge had taken over the school. He was too busy with other things that particular year, with a record number of detentions.



"Well there isn't much o'a point in pretending they're there when they're not..."

Gideon was hit over the head by a sudden wild thought that scattered the cogs of his brain all over the place. Figuratively, of course. But there was still a sizable mess to clean up.

"Kinda funny they'd still be in there on their own, doncha think? If it were me, I'd snag the guy and run off wi'him, not hang around an' wait for a buncha Ministry idiots t'stomp me flat. Makes y'think that the other guy, or whatever whomever's makin' that racket in t'Forest right now, is just fakin' it, or playin' around to make us all think they're still in there, so when Fudge an' his buddies run in there with whatever weapons they got, and burn the place down, ev'ryone will think Malfoy was done in for good, when actually..." Gideon paused, looking at Nott. "Am I makin' any sense, or are you convinced I'm a nutter?"


Gideon shrugged with a lopsided grin. "Cause a bit of unscheduled mayhem? An' yeah, the Hogsmede entrance...I *think* Fred an' George only told me 'bout it, but ya donno with them really." He shrugged. "Only thing is, accordin' to the map, they're blockin' the road to and from Hogsmede too. There's gotta be one closer to the grounds..." He scratched his head. "Shouldn' we wait t'see if Weasley Prefect comes back?"




Ron and Hermionie almost ran smack into Harry as they pelted down the stairs.

"Harry! Good, we were just looking for you--" Ron said, then stopped as Harry started impaling words on his sharp tongue again. Looks like he was having one of those days. In all honesty Ron thought that he would be used to this by now, but then again...

Hermionie had taken a subconcious step backwards from Harry, as if half-afraid he was going to explode right there and then. "Actually Harry, it looks like Fudge wants to raid the forest now to get to whatever's in there, with or without Malfoy. Ron talked to Hagrid earlier--"

"--He wouldn't give me a straight answer, but he was all worked up about something, and I think Grawp's in trouble too--something about bombs and whatnot." Ron looked at his friend somewhat confused and desperate for Harry to understand. "I don't care much about the Malfoy bit, to be honest, but Grawp..."

"And the centaurs, and everything that lives in the Forbidden Forest! I can't believe Dumbledore would allow that--come to think of it maybe he didn't have a choice--but Harry, this is much more serious than just Malfoy dissapearing." Hermionie looked rather angry that Fudge would have the nerve to even think up of such a plan.

"I lost Hagrid somewhere out of the Great Hall, but the Ravenclaw Gideon and Nott are--were--talking to Fudge and Dumbledore, so they should be around there I guess. You think you could check?" Ron was referring to Harry's all-important Maurauder's Map.

Nott was actually half listening, half not paying attention. "Eh?" he asked, blinking. "Well, yes, you are probably insane. But if they're still in the forest, well, yes, it is probable that's because they couldn't escape from there. I can't imagine other reason why they would be hidding in the forest, from all places!"

At ending this statement, Nott shook his head, rubbing its back. "Sure, I wouldn't wait to be murdered in the forest either." He frowned. "I guess it can happen, that they are not in there to start with. Which would make all this a pointless activity." He frowned, a furious hint in his voice. "Honestly, what's Fudge thinking?"

Didn't Dumbledore said something about raiding the Malfoy Manor the same as the raid in the forest? Wait a minute. Did that meant the place would be bombed?! A shiver run up his spine at the idea. That settled it, they wanted to get ride of the Malfoys as well. Sure, there was no one in the manor by now, with Lucius imprisoned and Narcissa disappearing from society. But.

"This is a cold-blooded murdering," he said in a furious whisper and as if he wasn't surprised by it all. Wonder what kind of bombs those were actually... M-bombs, he thought he remember someone calling them.

Quote:

"Only thing is, accordin' to the map, they're blockin' the road to and from Hogsmede too. There's gotta be one closer to the grounds..." He scratched his head. "Shouldn' we wait t'see if Weasley Prefect comes back?"

"Huh. Oh yeah them. Yeah, whatever," he said waving it off, not really believing they would come. "If they come you can ask the Weasley lil brother about that passageway." In all truthfulness (sp?) he was much more concerned about the mayhem part. What was this guy thinking and should he really risk his own safety in this guy's perturbing activities? These were Nott's thoughts.

~*~

Harry watched Hermione step away from him, and he could have rolled his eyes but instead just shruged it off and listened as a whole bunch of dizzing information was being thrown at him.

"Bombs?" Harry frowned trying to take it all in. "What kind of bombs - Does wizards have bombs?" He shook the frown off his face to go, "Oh. Gawp."

Well, if is him they were talking about, then there was a whole new perspective to it all. He went all again disoriented because of something Hermione said but was soon on track again to hear Ron. Without giving other word, his hands reached for his pockets, for the Maraunder's Map and check there. He found the item in the inner pocket of his robes.

Harry unfolded it, for his friends to peek at it as well. He went directly to search for the Great Hall inhabitants. They have said they would meet in there after all, right? Well, if this people were as interested as they said they were...

"Here they are," Harry said observing two spots labelled how ron has called the Ravenclaw and the skinny Slytherin Nott. Frowning at those spots as if considering it all a bad idea to team with Slytherins. "They are already there," he finally said, "we should probably be going. Come on."

He started to re-fold the map at the time he moved to climb down the stairs to meet with this people.

Quote:

At ending this statement, Nott shook his head, rubbing its back. "Sure, I wouldn't wait to be murdered in the forest either." He frowned. "I guess it can happen, that they are not in there to start with. Which would make all this a pointless activity." He frowned, a furious hint in his voice. "Honestly, what's Fudge thinking?"

"No idea there," Gideon shrugged, looking around the hall absently. He figured he must've missed all his morning classes because of this stint...then again, History of Magic and Care of Magical Creatures. Binns wouldn't notice, and Hagrid wasn't teaching right now, so...he was safe. No more owls from his aunt or his mother, not if he could help it. He blinked and looked back at Nott when the boy muttered about this all being cold-blooded murder, looking maybe slightly interested that he'd just heard those words from the son of a Death Eater. The latter fact having just occured to Gideon, but he let it slide for now. Nott looked like an okay chap.

"By 'unsheduled mayhem' I wasn't meaning anythin' more serious than maybe the fireworks incident back two years ago," Gideon grinned, sensing Nott's apprehension. "Either that or...I donno, fliching all their bombs or whatnot they've got."

"But what about Dumbledore?" Ron asked, not particularly keen on talking to the liar Nott again but he supposed he would have to at one point or another.

"I guess we'd better see if they came up with anything first," Hermionie said, looking at Harry and Ron in turn. "I'm not sure about either of them really. Who's the Ravenclaw again?"

"Gideon. I saw him working for Fred and George over last summer in Wheezes," Ron explained, "but that's all I know about him really."

"Well if Fred and George trust him, I don't suppose he could be all bad," Hermionie reasoned as she and the other two made their way to the Entrance Hall.

"Yeah, but Nott...as far as I'm concerned he's hiding something. His father's a Death Eater, remember?"

"We can't judge someone just because of what their parents are like."

"Malfoy--"

"Until we know more, we have to give Nott a benefit of a doubt," Hermionie said fairly. She stopped, looking at Ron's perplexed face. "Remember what the Sorting Hat said about Inter-House unity? This is the time to do some of that."

------
"Hey, look, they're back," Gideon pointed at the prominant trio working their way towards where he and Nott were. "Guess we're on a roll then. How'd the talk with Hagrid go, Gryffy?"

"Brilliant," Ron said with an edge of sarcasm, "and you managed to talk to Fudge or what?" He addressed the duo as if Nott wasn't there.

"We figured some stuff tha' clears Theo from all charges," Gideon replied a bit smugly. "An' Dumbledore reckons we're right--"

"I don't think we should be talking about this here," Hermionie said, cutting Gideon off and looking around cautiously. "Maybe an empty classroom..."

"There was one over there," Gideon said, pointing and leading the group back to the classroom where they'd initially all met up. Only after everyone was inside and Hermionie locked the door with a charm did she turn back and ask Gideon to continue. The Ravenclaw retold fairly quickly and accurately his and Nott's hypothesis and the talk between Dumbledore and Fudge. Ron just frowned.

ooc: I forgot to PM you about that. The m-bomb (magical bombs) are supposed to destroy all non-living things and leave the living alright. However, in a ecosystem like the Forbiden Forest which depends on the inert matter as well as living, if one dissappears the other is tamptered. In a house, like Malfoy's Mannor, it would make the place itself come down to pieces and finally, despite its purpose, everything alive in it would be flattened by the falling roof and die crushed underneath it. It's, whatever they say, a bomb. Hermione most probably knows this (or could try find something in the Library).

Nott looked at Gideon thinking he might have a point. Mayhem, however, wasn't his second name. If he could, he always prefered cleaner work. Besides what kind of mayhem, that was his question. Maybe he himself could come up with something but in all honesty all his plans mentally ended in disaster as it was. They two alone... they just didn't stand a chance against the Ministry Aurors...

Harry heard about this Gideon completely aprehensive to cooperate with him. Because, come on, if he so easily can team with a Slytherin like that, the Weasley Twin's judgement didn't seem like a reliable point...

He didn't get to speak this and didn't, not even when Hermione went about Inter-House unity. Repeat the usual mantra 'not even in dreams' looked quite redundant, not to mention unneccessary. Harry had to remind himself he - they were doing this for Gawp and not for Malfoy. Otherwise he would have thrown an due tantrum, thank you very much.

Nott looked up and watched as the Golden Trio of Gryffindors were approaching them. It was, to say the least, surprising to see them there. Still interested. In what? Nott had no idea. He had a feeling he was missing a couple or dozen things up there.

He watched the interaction silently and frowning every now and then, following the group to the deserted classroom as it went on mainly on the Ravenclaw speaking. Dear this guy seemed to be having fun no matter what he was saying. It was the 'Look, Hogwarts' getting on fire, let's dance!' type. Or so Nott thought (it was freaking him out) while the boy spoke and until getting to butt in,

"So in short we know it was an metamorphagus, it took Malfoy and the Aurors are convinced they are in the Forbiden Forest, therefore are going to blast the place apart. This should take place at some point at 8pm today, and now's --" he checked in his watch, "3:12 pm. CoMC probably already started."

"And what do you want from us," Harry finally asked in this small opening.

"Well, what do you want from us?" Nott retorted. He didn't wait for an answer as his eyes lowered from this small glaring contest. "It doesn't really matter. Right now all I want is to do something. And it seems to me for some reason both bands want this raid to be stopped."

"If you have a plan, I'm all ears," Harry retorted, crossing his arms.

Despite all good judgements in him, all coherent thoughts, every fiber of his being telling otherwise, he broke a question that made no sense to him whatsover and in blinds hopes not to receive a 'no',

"What do you think about teaming up?"

ooc: 3:12pm already?! Time flies when you're saving people...

"Bludgers," Gideon muttered to himself. "Three already? Potions' startin'..."

"Wait a moment," Hermionie said after Nott had summerized Gideon's speech. "Are you sure this raid's going to take place at eight tonight? Where did you hear this?"

"Positive 100%," Gideon replied without a hitch. "Headmaster Dumbledore said it. Or let it slip. Hard to tell with him."

"Dumbledore said that in front of Fudge?" Hermionie frowned and lapsed back into silence, for maybe the first time in her life not commenting about how they should all be getting to class right now, since they were late. Then Harry and Nott talked--more like, confronted each other a bit, before Nott dropped his bombshell of a question. There was a few seconds of silence.

"Team up? Are you kidding me? You, out of all people, want to team up?!" Ron blurted in disbelief. What he'd consented to before was only a temporary thing, he had thought, something he could easily walk away from if it got messy. But now, this could bind them all into trouble, since who knew what Nott was up to? Why would a Slytherin try to save someone, if it wasn't to cover their own behind?

"I don' see why not; we're pretty much workin' together right now," Gideon said with a shrug.

"I still don't believe it could've been a Metamorphamagus. Only an Animagus could've changed into what I saw, and that's that," Ron crossed his arms in front of his chest, still not willing to drop his accusation of Nott being a liar.

"Actually, Ron...it's possible. Though it would take a really, really skilled Metamorphamagus to pull off something like that, and change his or her appearance to resemble multiple animals at once and maintain it. It would explain why you saw Nott running away from you, when Nott says that he wasn't there in the first place..."

"So you're saying you're going to believe him? For all we know he could be covering for Malfoy, or some other of You-Know--"

"Ron," Hermionie cut in, too far away from Ron to kick him under the table (if there was one), "we don't have any proof of that at all. As Nott said, if we're going to do anything to stop this raid of Fudge's we only have five hours or less to do it, and while I'd like more time to think over this, Fudge isn't going to wait." Hermionie seemed to be particularly pained in concluding that they were going to dive into the issue. The last time that had happened...it had not been pleasant.

Ron still looked indignant, and probably Harry too--though not another word was spoken the unstated exclaimation was very clear--"He's the son of a DEATH EATER, for Merlin's sake!"

"Y'know," Gideon said lightly, "there's a black sheep in ev'yone's family, some blacker than others. But i'doesn't mean the whole family's t'same. Y'can't visit the sins of t'father on t'son, so to say."

Another lapse of silence, this time more baffled than angry--Gideon didn't come off as someone who would be capable of such depth.

"And how would you know?" Ron demanded.

"Look, let's just say I know the feelin' firsthand, alright?" Gideon retorted, with a slight edge of defensiveness for the first time in his casual manner, and though he was still grinning easily it seemed to bare a somewhat dangerous hint. "If y'got anymore doubts y'could always ask Nott if 'e's got a Dark Mark."

"Um, okay then," Hermionie said in an attempt to break up what might be potentially another verbal duel which they had no time for. "Everyone here except Gideon has got CoMC next, and we shouldn't miss that, because Hagrid, being the Gamekeeper, should know something about what's going on."

Nott chose to ignore Ron's incredulous outburst, then frowned at Gideon's response as saying 'you are better silent', Granger's little defense on his rearback produced something akin a proud smile. He remained silent and expressionless as the two kept going about deciding if he was a good, tame Dead-Eater.

And when the question about the dark mark arose, she just pulled his sleeve up rolling his eyes as he said, "Yeah, why don't you ask."

"Potions can wait," Nott said rather offhandly. "And CoMC."

Harry pffed. "It sounds like a Slytherin to know that they can get away with missing one of Snape's classes so easily. We are not Slytherin, you know? I don't see why anyone would want to get a week worth detention with Filch over Malfoy."

"The raid will take place way too soon. We -have- to act right away if we want to stop this -"

"We don't even know that is really happening. What would Dumbledore say something like that in front of you? Like he would trust you."

Nott sneered and reached for Gideon's coat, pulling a paper out from his pocket. "The raid is taken place, we have 'found' an auror map who says so," he said waving the map for emphasis. "Happy now? Well then."

He moved to the side to stand in a way where he could see them all. "Since we are already making plans on how to act, I will suppose this is a 'yes' to my previous question. So, we can officially call ourselves a young witch & wizards' sabbath." He put the map away in his pocket, then added,

"Welcome you all."

There was this moment of silence where Harry could only stare at the sardonical face of Nott wondering what in the name of Merlin he had got himself into...


To Be Continued...

(ooc: I will ask Kris or other to move this RPG to the finished stories section, if you agree, and then we can pick the RPG from where we left it - either if they go to CoMC or not. Like?)