One moment Gideon was following her, the next she obviously realized he was following her and was waving him off like something was wrong. And then her attitude changed raising a red flag. What was going on here?

"FREEZE!" he yelled out not about to let her out of his sight as he continued to follow her. Call it fulfilling his prefect duties when his fellow students were in Hogsmeade and he was looking out for odd things. And a shopkeeper crying criminals in her shop one moment and hurrying the other way the next was certainly odd.

His wand was now fully gripping his wand though it rested at his side as he was still reluctant to have to use it. He could be wrong about her...someone could think he himself was doing bad things...he just needed to be careful.

Nate walked out of the shop with his wand at the ready to send sparks flying in the air. Once he got to the back alley he saw her, and one of the Gryffyndor Prefects shouting freeze. He sent red sparks flying high into the sky over the head of the building so the people inside would be able to see it. "Don't move Amarantha! Both of us have a wand at the ready. And freezing both me AND another student can get you sent to Azkaban. So I suggest you give up now. We don't want to use our wands against you." He said in a firm authoritive tone

Amarantha DID freeze, her hands floating out in front of her to keep her from falling from the sudden stop. She wanted to RUN, and if given a chance, she could overpower the child. But he had a wand... she'd seen it. And hers was tucked away in the waist of her elaborate skirt.

"You wouldn't cast a spell against me, would you? I haven't done a single..."

And blast. They'd been spotted.

"You have no idea what would send me to Azkaban. Are you an expert on Wizarding law? Freezing? You weren't... you weren't FROZEN." She pulled a face at him, her very pleasant manners disappearing behind fear and disdain.

After all this... did they really not understand what had been happening?

Quote:

Originally Posted by natethegreat

Nate walked out of the shop with his wand at the ready to send sparks flying in the air. Once he got to the back alley he saw her, and one of the Gryffyndor Prefects shouting freeze. He sent red sparks flying high into the sky over the head of the building so the people inside would be able to see it. "Don't move Amarantha! Both of us have a wand at the ready. And freezing both me AND another student can get you sent to Azkaban. So I suggest you give up now. We don't want to use our wands against you." He said in a firm authoritive tone

It appeared his actions had gotten the attention of others. Or rather a young Hufflepuff who seemed to be acting a bit big for his breeches. What was with the red sparks? They were usually used to signal something but for what purpose did they hold now?

"Easy there..." Gideon cautioned him shaking his head as the boy threatened the shopkeeper with Azkaban. Freezing...students...did this woman had something to do with the freezings?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amarantha de Talone

Amarantha DID freeze, her hands floating out in front of her to keep her from falling from the sudden stop. She wanted to RUN, and if given a chance, she could overpower the child. But he had a wand... she'd seen it. And hers was tucked away in the waist of her elaborate skirt.

"You wouldn't cast a spell against me, would you? I haven't done a single..."

And blast. They'd been spotted.

"You have no idea what would send me to Azkaban. Are you an expert on Wizarding law? Freezing? You weren't... you weren't FROZEN." She pulled a face at him, her very pleasant manners disappearing behind fear and disdain.

After all this... did they really not understand what had been happening?

Gideon turned his full attention back to the woman as she actually obeyed his command. "Nae...I wouldn't if I'm not provoked. But seeing as yer acting suspeciously I'm being cautious." Unlike the Hufflepuff boy beside him. Now he really didn have to look out for not only himself for a fellow younger student.

Kurumi had been walking around with Selina in Hogsmeade just doing some light window shopping and getting gifts to bring home to her family and friends when she had heard shouting coming from one of the alley's. Kurumi could blame, or is it thank?, Selina for her reckless curiosity, but without so much as a word she had grabbed her best friend's hand and pulled her into the alley where she saw one of the Hufflepuffs that she was always silencing a young Hufflepuff and Gideon speaking with a woman.

The situation hardly seemed to merit the loud FREEZE that had grabbed her attention, but before Kurumi could say anything or ask what was going on her eyes feel on the red headed woman. "Wait...I've seen her before," Kurumi whispered to Selina. Well, more than once to be honest, but the whole shopkeeper notion had gone out the window at the moment. "Her picture was in that locket Elijah found in Divination..."

Not taking any further steps forward Kurumi gripped her best friend's hand when she heard the woman ask about the boy being....frozen. "Frozen?" she repeated to no one in particular. Kurumi hated that word...a lot...for obvious reasons and her violet gaze turned to find her best friend's blue ones.

Selina wanted more than anything in the world to go into the small Quidditch shop that had recently taken up recency in Hogesmeade. In fact, her and Kurumi had decided to take a small trip into town on the Hogesmeade day, which was a nice break from all of their studying, to walk around and window shop- and maybe look around at some Quidditch supplies. But her dreams were cut short just as Selina started to make her way over to the shop. Kurumi, who Selina had spent years instilling some backbone into, had suddenly decided at THAT MOMENT WHEN QUIDDITCH STUFF WAS SO NEAR that now was the perfect time to enlist some of her backbone and yank Selina down an alleyway. Her fingers grasped at straws as she was dragged away from the store. Alas, why did this always happen to her?

The loud redhead was in the midst of complaining when they suddenly happened upon a very interesting scene. Interesting still, a scene that involved her boyfriend with his wand held tightly in his hand. What had they just walked into? It did not take long for this question to be answered because Kurumi, who was always on the same wave length as her best friend, gave her some insight. So THIS was the lady who was in that ruddy, old locket that everyone was looking at. Wow... she was MUCH prettier in the picture. Kind of scary looking up close. So leaning her head over to Kurumi she added, "She was better looking in the picture, don't you think?"

That was when Selina finally asked a certain curly haired prefect, "What's going on?" Because if it was nothing serious, she had some shopping she wanted to attend to.

What? She was on a mission to get some polish for her beater's bat.

"You accuse me of acting suspiciously? I found you lurking in an ALLEY way. I know why I lurk, but your motives are suspect. No one spends time in the dark unless they have secrets to keep out of the light," she sniffed at the boy and turned her back on him.

He still had that wand, but he was easy compared to those who started accusing and didn't even wait for an example.

"NOT frozen," Amarantha stomped her foot in a little fit of temper. WHY were they all being so dull? Did no Ravenclaws attend the school anymore??

"You actually ceased to exist on this temporal plane. Or... something like that. It's very complicated. But not frozen. I think I deserve more credit than that. What good would you be frozen?" She wouldn't admit that she didn't quite understand the magic behind it, but she WOULD admit... well. She'd sort of admitted to everything else.

"You're a fool," Amarantha snapped. "I look exactly the same. I've avoided the sun, drank plenty of water, eaten my vegetables. Merlin, once they came out with moisturizer potions..." She sighed happily. "I might be taller. This past year has been... rough on me."

Kurumi hadn't even noticed the wands out until Selina had spoken again, asking what was wrong. And no, sorry Selina, but we were not going to talk about the woman's appearance even if the question was true and she looked better in the locket picture than now.

Her attention, however, snapped back to the woman when she got...offended? Really? About the frozen comment? "I was just using your word..." she repeated with a characteristic bow of apology. She HAD just told the Hufflepuff he had been frozen, using THAT word specifically...no need to get so offended...

And then she kept talking...and Kurumi's eyes widened. Cease to exist on a temporal plane? Kurumi's jaw dropped and she sort of gawked at Selina and then back to the not as attractive in person woman...but ultimately went back to Selina. "Is that....is that what happened with me? With us?" she asked, pointing her question more towards Selina because, well, Selina had actually seen Kurumi when she had been FROZEN as everyone had called it.

Her gaze did turn back to the woman now, the woman who was heavily implying that she was the one who was able to perform this magic - and didn't really know what all it did. Wasn't that what they learned in school? To NOT mess with things that they didn't fully understand. "The orb...."

Nerida and Sarah had decided to head down to the back alley she had slipped out of her shop so the back alley was there first guess. As they walked down the back alley whos ugly red hair should they see but the evil shopkeepers. Hearing Kurumi's words she asked "Wait she was the one that froze us?" Gosh the shopkeeper that she had liked so much had become so mean. She had her wand out and had it pointed it at the shopkeeper but didn't feel like it was necessary since she was surrounded with Sarah and her behind her.

She looked at the people that were also in the back alley, there was the other Hufflepuff boy who had froze along with her. The young Ravenclaw pushed her hair out of her face with the hand not pointed at the evil ugly red haired shopkeeper. She had thought she was going to get away with a village full of Professors and students. Though there were no Professors here just yet.

SPOILER!!: Kurumi, Selina and shopkeeper

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Kurumi had been walking around with Selina in Hogsmeade just doing some light window shopping and getting gifts to bring home to her family and friends when she had heard shouting coming from one of the alley's. Kurumi could blame, or is it thank?, Selina for her reckless curiosity, but without so much as a word she had grabbed her best friend's hand and pulled her into the alley where she saw one of the Hufflepuffs that she was always silencing a young Hufflepuff and Gideon speaking with a woman.

The situation hardly seemed to merit the loud FREEZE that had grabbed her attention, but before Kurumi could say anything or ask what was going on her eyes feel on the red headed woman. "Wait...I've seen her before," Kurumi whispered to Selina. Well, more than once to be honest, but the whole shopkeeper notion had gone out the window at the moment. "Her picture was in that locket Elijah found in Divination..."

Not taking any further steps forward Kurumi gripped her best friend's hand when she heard the woman ask about the boy being....frozen. "Frozen?" she repeated to no one in particular. Kurumi hated that word...a lot...for obvious reasons and her violet gaze turned to find her best friend's blue ones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fanficfanatict

Selina wanted more than anything in the world to go into the small Quidditch shop that had recently taken up recency in Hogesmeade. In fact, her and Kurumi had decided to take a small trip into town on the Hogesmeade day, which was a nice break from all of their studying, to walk around and window shop- and maybe look around at some Quidditch supplies. But her dreams were cut short just as Selina started to make her way over to the shop. Kurumi, who Selina had spent years instilling some backbone into, had suddenly decided at THAT MOMENT WHEN QUIDDITCH STUFF WAS SO NEAR that now was the perfect time to enlist some of her backbone and yank Selina down an alleyway. Her fingers grasped at straws as she was dragged away from the store. Alas, why did this always happen to her?

The loud redhead was in the midst of complaining when they suddenly happened upon a very interesting scene. Interesting still, a scene that involved her boyfriend with his wand held tightly in his hand. What had they just walked into? It did not take long for this question to be answered because Kurumi, who was always on the same wave length as her best friend, gave her some insight. So THIS was the lady who was in that ruddy, old locket that everyone was looking at. Wow... she was MUCH prettier in the picture. Kind of scary looking up close. So leaning her head over to Kurumi she added, "She was better looking in the picture, don't you think?"

That was when Selina finally asked a certain curly haired prefect, "What's going on?" Because if it was nothing serious, she had some shopping she wanted to attend to.

What? She was on a mission to get some polish for her beater's bat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amarantha de Talone

"You accuse me of acting suspiciously? I found you lurking in an ALLEY way. I know why I lurk, but your motives are suspect. No one spends time in the dark unless they have secrets to keep out of the light," she sniffed at the boy and turned her back on him.

He still had that wand, but he was easy compared to those who started accusing and didn't even wait for an example.



"NOT frozen," Amarantha stomped her foot in a little fit of temper. WHY were they all being so dull? Did no Ravenclaws attend the school anymore??

"You actually ceased to exist on this temporal plane. Or... something like that. It's very complicated. But not frozen. I think I deserve more credit than that. What good would you be frozen?" She wouldn't admit that she didn't quite understand the magic behind it, but she WOULD admit... well. She'd sort of admitted to everything else.



"You're a fool," Amarantha snapped. "I look exactly the same. I've avoided the sun, drank plenty of water, eaten my vegetables. Merlin, once they came out with moisturizer potions..." She sighed happily. "I might be taller. This past year has been... rough on me."

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Kurumi hadn't even noticed the wands out until Selina had spoken again, asking what was wrong. And no, sorry Selina, but we were not going to talk about the woman's appearance even if the question was true and she looked better in the locket picture than now.

Her attention, however, snapped back to the woman when she got...offended? Really? About the frozen comment? "I was just using your word..." she repeated with a characteristic bow of apology. She HAD just told the Hufflepuff he had been frozen, using THAT word specifically...no need to get so offended...

And then she kept talking...and Kurumi's eyes widened. Cease to exist on a temporal plane? Kurumi's jaw dropped and she sort of gawked at Selina and then back to the not as attractive in person woman...but ultimately went back to Selina. "Is that....is that what happened with me? With us?" she asked, pointing her question more towards Selina because, well, Selina had actually seen Kurumi when she had been FROZEN as everyone had called it.

Her gaze did turn back to the woman now, the woman who was heavily implying that she was the one who was able to perform this magic - and didn't really know what all it did. Wasn't that what they learned in school? To NOT mess with things that they didn't fully understand. "The orb...."

They were joined once more, by two more familiar faces, Gideon noting the arrival of his girlfriend and friend. At least they were both people that he didn't think were going to do anything stupid. He did notice how his fellow prefect had picked up on the frozen bit which made some sense seeing as she had been one of the people to fall victim. "I don't know really," he answered Selina, hearing her question and looking to her," I just met this woman in the alley, reconized her as the bookseller and felt like something was up."

Gideon sighed softly, the shopkeeper turned back to him and making it out as if HE was the weird one. "Ye was the one lying about being concerned about yer shop and then nearly running away from it," he remarked as the woman commented on each of their appearances in the back alley. "I had just stepped into it momentarily to avoid a rush of students." As if he had to defend his own actions...to her especially.

And then there was more talk...not about freezing but about what had supposedly actually happened. Ceased to exist on this temporal plane...deserved more credoit then that. So she was involved. "Regardless of what it was, ye just admitted to doing...whatever it was."

Cue wand raising slightly. There would be no ...ceasing to exist today.

Though the appearance of at least one more girl meant he either had more back-up, or more he needed to watch out for.

Was Kurumi seriously just going to BLOW OVER HER QUESTION like she just had? Seriously, of all of the bloody questions that this lady was going on about the only one that was of any consequence was the decieving nature of this lady's photograph. She had half a mind to chew her best friend out about how she was getting off topic with the whole freezing or dimension plane nonsense and the orb stuff, when she remembered that they were in public. This was a dorm chat that would need to be had later. Because Kurumi was already on a roll with her off topic nonsense.

But then Gideon replied to her, which distracted her from Kurumi completely IGNORING her question. The curly haired prefect cleared up a few things for Selina and then she said, "Okay..." So Gideon basically pulled a James Bond? That was cool. Go Gideon!

The redhead stared down the other redhead as she snapped about her looks. If the locket lady didn't like the fact that Selina was just being honest then that was her own fault. There was no reason why she had to be so angry on top of being homely looking. Merlin, it was just a comment. And besides, who was SHE to chime into a comment that was reserved only for her best friend. Was this lady rude too on top of EVERYTHING else? Well, it seemed that she needed to check herself because if she wanted to get in a verbal sparring with the fifth year, Selina would be more than happy to oblige. This woman was being a right awful jerk. Even though Selina herself had called the lady indirectly ugly, but still...

Throwing her hands up in defense at the woman, she said, "Oh hey, I'm so sorry ma'am. Next time I make a comment to my best friend, I'll be sure to send it through you to analyze and pick apart even when it isn't directed toward you." Merlin, this woman had to calm down. Some people were attractive in person and others were not so attractive in person. It was a way of life.

Since Hogsmeade opened at the last minute, the Slytherin decided to go down the village and see if he could find something for Ethan, since his plan of taking Whiro home has been burned to ashes. Literally. Mordred decided to invite Gary, his house mate in Slytherin to hang out in Hogsmeade since the both of them haven’t talked in months. As they made their way to the village, Mordred took mental notes on the things that he needs to get. One would be presents for his visitors over the summer, and books about dragons. He observed that Williamson wasn’t too sure about his answer during their last CoMC class about Dragon Tongue, so he made sure that he will drop by an old bookshop and see if he can find anything about the creature.

“So, how are you and Zhenya? Everything okay?” The Slytherin asked the older student casually. The last time they conversed about it was before heading home for the holidays. He wondered if Gary’s “problem” was solved. He knew too well about dealing with a girl’s family. “Look, I hate to drag you in there, but I’d like to look for a book about dragons. I’m curious about…” Mordred trailed off as he eyed a long haired woman dash out of the shop in a hurry and went for the back alley. He nudged Gary on the side and gestured his head toward the shop. As they reached the shop, he took a peek inside and there were students on the floor, frozen. “Oh not in Hogsmeade too…” the boy murmured to himself and turned to Gary and pointed at the scene. “I have a bad feeling about this…” The Slytherin continued to look at the students and eyed the Back Alley. What was that all about? If the lady who ran out of the shop was to get help, then wasn’t it odd to go for the dark and creepy street? Something was definitely amiss. Students started to come out of the shop and the boy picked up words such as search, frozen, capture and shopkeeper and something about the Pereculum Charm. “Gary, I think we’re on a hunt. We need to get that lady with the long hair. I think she’s the one responsible for the frozen students.” The Slytherin silently made his way to the dark alley where the woman went, and gestured Gary to follow.


-----


Mordred hid behind crates as he heard voices from afar. The boy peeked at the crowd, and saw Gideon, Kurumi, a girl about Gary’s age, a Ravenclaw and the shopkeeper. The boy eyed Gary and gestured him to hide and listen to what was happening. As their conversation progressed, the boy saw that wands were drawn out and was pointed at the woman. This signaled the Slytherin to slowly withdraw his wand from his sleeve and held it tightly in his hand. “Wand at the ready Gary…” Mordred whispered to his companion as he eyed Gideon who was facing him, while Kurumi and the rest of the students, including the shopkeeper had their backs facing the two snakes.

Actually Gary was not in a good mood to have a walk in Hogsmeade even it was opened to students. Those place was so much memorable for him and Zhenya, since they had their first date there. Somehow he need to push away his mind about her just for a while in order to make himself focused on OWLs. Since christmas, they hadn't seen each other anymore. But today, he had to. Mordred asked to accompany him to look for a book about dragons and he couldn't refused it.

Damn, The blonde guy remembered that Mordred was the person who knew about his problem about being invited to Burton's home at Christmas. And he started to ask about his relationship with Zhenya again. "Me? Well.. We're fine." said him shrugging. "Honestly I haven't seen her anymore since that, due to her personal reason." Oh, please. Could you stop asking about her? Gary didn't want to look like a weak boy who missed his girlfriend so much. (But honestly, he is.) They headed to the bookshop since their first mission was to find a book about dragons (For Mordred, but not for him.) He noticed there was a lay ran away and looked in a hurry. Gary just frowned, why people should be in a hurry, nowadays?

"What's going on?" suddenly he asked Mordred. Seemed like that woman was not in hurry. But.. she was escaped! Sigh. He lurked into the shop and saw students were frozen. Oh Merlin. Again?! He'd ever watched a Gryffindor girl was frozen in History of Magic class. "Was it related to the frozen students in Castle a few months ago?" asked him. Now, he and Mordred decided to hunt the lady.

"Let's go!"

----------------

Gary and Mordred chased her until they'd arrived at the back alley. Merlin! This place looked so dark and creepy. Now they hid from the people there; The Gryffindor prefects and captain, a Ravenclaw girl and.. THAT LADY! The blonde guy shoved his hand to his pocket and grabbed his wand. Was she related to the frozen students too in Hogwarts a few months ago? Who was she actually?

"Do you think that she was related to the frozen that happened in Hogwarts?" he whispered. "And now, What should we do here?" Seriously, he didn't have any idea about this. Gary took a very deep breath and exhaled.

Sarah mad eher way into the back alley, don't dark creatures like dark places. Then Nerida pointed her out. Her red her made her stand out in the crowd, Sarah sprinted up to the lady who was already surrounded by a few students "You! You tried to get away - sorry you won't find the healer here! Now I want answers..." Sarah said. She pulled out her wand and sent red spraks into the air, just in case no one had already. Spotting her two prefects she said "THIS LADY IS ACCORDING TO MY ASSUMPTIONS THE CULPRIT FOR ALL THE FREEZINGS! She even today froze Nerida and him" sarah said pointing to the once frozen boy. "I am so happy my mother taught me to never trust strangers- thankfully I never had the tea". Where were the teachers? turning to nerida she said with concern "you still up to it? not feeling worn out?". Sarah unconciously put her hands on her hips. "Now Amarantha de Talone, you are outnumbered here, own up. How much more damage do you want to cause to others to make up for your lost days at Hogwarts?"

"I said he wasn't frozen." This one was hard of hearing. Obviously. She scrunched up her nose at the girl and made faces, an obviously mature response.

"Orb? Is that what you lot have decided to call it?" Her tone was mild, although there was an attentiveness to her stance that suggested she might run in a moment. "I used a potion last time, but they moved that blamed book from the castle and I had to make due. The vessel was subpar, admittedly, but at least I got... some good out of it."

The boy's immediate attempt to assure everyone he wasn't up to mischief in the dark alley made Amarantha bite back a smile, and she tossed her long hair to hide the reflex. "There's no point in denying it, is there? I'm fully guilty of... whatever it was. That'll stand in the Wizengamot."

"You're a Gryffindor. I have an eye for it, you know... lots of brass, very little brains. If you don't have something to add to the discussion, take your temper tantrum back to the castle." And now there were far too many people to turn her back on them all in a huff. Amarantha turned a full circle before deciding that crossing her arms and sulking was the better way to go.

"I've been considered a great beauty since that picture was taken over 300 years ago. You, on the other hand, are merely bratty. I have a feeling my infamy will outlast your bad mood." So says Amarantha... keep your sulking to yourself, pathetic lion cub.

Another loudmouthed lion cub? She feared for the future... a future she full intended to enjoy as an 18-year-old. Forever.

"No one was FROZEN. Merlin. You have the vocabulary of a toddler." And she was standing too close and speaking too loud and her WAND was pointed. Rude.

"I never lost a day at Hogwarts. To the contrary... I gained days. No one got hurt, no one missed what was taken, and I... well. I'm here." And they weren't, those once vibrant and interesting friends of her youth... now long dead and buried.

So this lady was a grandma? That explained SO much. I mean, from what she was getting from all of the overlapping conversations was that the picture that Selina had seen was from over three hundred years ago. Honestly, this lady should have been proud of her looks. For an old lady she looked pretty good, not great from her obvious comments, but she looked okay. Not bad for an old lady, but, merlin, this woman did not like hearing the truth. Not that Selina's comment was even directed at the old lady. But still since she felt like adding in her two sense, she had some SERIOUS anger issues.

However, when she snapped back in Selina's face about her being stupid the redhead nearly went off on the grandma. Unfortunately, she had left her beater's bat back at the castle. THIS IS WHY THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE SHOPPING TODAY, KURUMI! Because if this ancient artifact thought that she was going to call Selina stupid and get away with it she had another thing coming. Because if she was going to say that Selina had brass she was going to show the other redhead just how much brass she had.

The fifth year bit her tongue a little while longer until the lady said that she was a brat. The redhead crunched down on her jaw and tried to keep her temper in check because if the lady thought THAT was her temper she had another thing coming. She was going to really, really go off if Kurumi or Gideon or even any of the other students around her did not stop Selina. Brat? OH REALLY?!?! That was real rich.

Tightening her fist she snapped back, "Hey listen here grandma, watch your mouth. I'm a brat? Really? Well you are an angry, old bat who thinks that they are so much smarter than everyone else here. You're just a stupid old crook who got caught by a seventeen year old boy. Wouldn't three hundred years give you a little more wisdom than that?"

...let's go old lady.

Nate watched as the many many people arrived. "Ceased to exist on this plane? Whaaaaaaa???? Now I'm officially confused." He replied to the shopkeeper. He then turned to Kurumi. "Kurumi do you know what she's talking about by not existing on this plane when we get all in a transe like." He asked. And ha shopkeeper! You can't yell at him now because he didn't say frozen!

"Ok this is a bit to many people. I guess I should send sparks more often." He said aloud.

Gideon fought the urge to roll his eyes at the woman as she responded to his own words, being all smart about it. But he couldn't allow her to see him ruffled, for that would be the first step towards her slipping past them to Merlin knows where. He should have stepped in then though...when the shopkeeper started mouthing off to Selina...knowing it would set his girlfriend off in response. But he hadn't, paying more attention to the even younger students including now Sarah the first year Gryffindor currently trying to be all mature and in charge. Gideon looked to Kurumi for assistance but she seemed more interested in the freezing mention and the orb usuage not exactly the task at hand. So it seemed it was up to him at the moment.

"Selina...cool it," he remarked to her, trying to keep it quiet so she heard...she alone and no one else. "Yer not helping." Troublesome 300 year old redhead sparring verbally with a feisty 16 year old red-head was only asking for more trouble then they needed to deal with at the moment.

Turning his attention back to the ever-enlargening group of onlookers, Gideon was debating what to do about the situation. "Lower yer wands...and stand down" he told the group using a tone of authority, his own wand still in his grasp but not higher then waist. The last thing they needed was untrained witches and wizards throwing spells everywhere. And angered words were only getting similar remarks from Amarantha which was bound to turn wrong at some point. The prefect then turned to his fellow Gryffindor "Aye Sarah I believe we figured that out. Just waiting on assistance."

Now where was the response to those red sparks sent up earlier? Were there no professors, staff or other adults alarmed by the action?

Grandma? Amarantha did sneer at that, but she didn't comment immediately. She wasn't old. She wasn't anyone's mother or grandmother. Obviously... she had an excellent figure. Everyone said so.

And she was smarter than any old Gryffindor, in spite of the snark. "I am caught, it seems. And by a group of school children. Whatever shall I do?"

Not a clever one either. Amarantha smiled pleasantly at the young boy. He'd tried hard to avoid saying the dreaded word, which... showed some gumption.

"Yes... Kurumi, is it? This little boy thinks you can explain it. Please do."

And just because... she could, Amarantha stuck out her tongue at the boy.

The redhead was about to snap back at the old coot when she heard a very soft Scottish drawl tell her to cool it. Her blue eyes flickered over to her boyfriend and she opened her mouth to protest but promptly shut it. He was, unfortunately, right. She wasn't exactly helping the current situation. Seriously though, could anyone disagree that maybe after three hundred years the lady had let herself go? Was that SO hard to admit! Merlin.

And as to the freezings, honestly Selina did not think that was exactly on topic. The most poignant question was the one that Selina herself had brought to attention, but since everyone felt like blowing off her question she just crossed her arms with a huff. Maybe one day when everyone wised up they would see that on this day the only thing of consequence was that this lady was deceitful... With her image.

No one else thought that was important? No? Fine then. Just her. Ugh.

Nerida looked around as everyone was tlaking and Amarantha was trying to push off the insults that everyone kept saying. It was hard trying to keep up. Hearing a familliar lion's face she looked at her as she spoke. She had forgot the red sparks!! Would she get in trouble? EEP! She nodded "Yeah I am okay."
She looked back to Amarantha just in time to hear her response to Sarah's retort. "Just because we are school children doesn't mean we can't kick your butt!" Hmm, plus there should be Professors coming soon right, so that would help there standings. This evil shopkeeper wasn't going to get away with it! Hearing the Gryffindor Prefect, Nerida lowered her wand but it was still raised just enough so where if the grandma witch tried anything she would be ready.

Saul coulda just hung out in th' street all day, not havin' noticed anybody doin' anythin', and then... then he saw them, with his eagle eye. Red Sparks. Emergency. Come Quick. It was like th' wizard version o' 9-1-1.

So off he ran, his cowboy cap staying firmly in place as if by magic. Saul Bunyon wasn't one ter use wands (ever), but by Merlin if he didn't use magical hair potions and beard products. When he skidded into the alley and saw the culprit pinned at the opposite end, it was obvious that his an' Emerald's suspicions had been 110% correct.

"You stop right thar, misseh," Saul drawled, stretching out his long arm of the LAW toward the ancient ginger. He was surprised with how firm and un-stuttery his voice sounded. Heck, you couldn't even hear an accent in there! Almost! "You've been bewitchin' these here kids fer over a year now, and there's no tellin' how many other kids you've done gone and harmed in yer quest for byoootee."

He cleared his throat and hooked his thumbs into the loops of his denim pants. "Thar's no excapin' this time, Amarannntha."

What in Merlin's mother's sweet shoes was going on today?

Hops had been taking out the trash through the back door of the pub when he heard a jumble of voices, kids voices, causing all sorts of racket. Why were there kids in the Alley?! They had better not be kicking over rubbish bins.

Just as the Three Broomsticks owner was ready to go give those kids a good talking to, he saw his friend Saul come running down the alley like he had some business to take care of....something Hops wasn't likely to miss. Dropping the bags he was carrying, Harold took off after the other shopkeeper.

They finally stopped at the crowd of people standing around...Amarantha, that red headed lass from the Bookshop. So the rumors must be true. Everyone was trying to kick her age-defying butt out of town, eh? Good riddance. He stood and watched, arms crossed, willing to take out a few bets had their not been kids standing around.

Hearing Nerida's question, Kurumi turned her attention to the younger Ravenclaw and simply shrugged her shoulders. "It...seems that way..." at least from the way the woman was confessing things. Tampering with magic that she didn't know everything about on top of it all...and she was insulting THEM for using the word freeze? Whatever, now wasn't the time for name calling...

Which only escalated when Sarah arrived as well and essentially plowed through the scene in a very Gryffindor fashion. Or, well, at least in a Gryffindor like fashion like her brother would do. Which wasn't exactly a compliment. "Sarah," Kurumi hissed, simply shaking her head back and forth. Yes, this situation was less than pleasant, but honestly they were all the ones being more hostile than she was. The woman didn't even have her wand drawn...

Which brought Kurumi's attention back to the wands...and how Gideon was now telling people to lower theirs but wasn't doing so himself. Um... Kurumi had no intention of drawing her wand on someone who didn't have theirs out - although hers was still within quick reach should the woman move to grab hers. Based on what she had just heard, Kurumi highly doubted that the woman was proficient in wandless magic...so were the wands really needed? "You should do the same...," Kurumi whispered. It was only making everyone tense and, well, not everyone had really lowered their wands. Besides, the moment he started casting spells chances were that everyone else would just start doing it anyway, right?

Or, well, the woman actually seemed amused by the whole thing...which was sort of...odd.

And yes, Selina, we are somewhat ignoring all your ramblings for now. More complicated and concerning thoughts were on the sixth year's mind besides the woman's appearance.

Only Kurumi's mind was back on all the information that had just been spouted out. Kurumi shifted her position a little to form a sort of line with her Selina and Gideon to block the alley a little more, but her full attention was on the red head in front of her. "If it's not an orb then what is it?" she asked in return, her violet eyes darting around at the crowd of students that had gathered. And a Potion? Make due? Kurumi's eyes narrowed. "You got something at the expense of others...and you are wrong about people not missing what was taken." Because Kurumi was missing some very important memories. VERY important ones that she wanted back desperately.

But before she could go on Nerida was shouting threats at the woman again and Kurumi shot the Ravenclaw a pointed look. "Not helping," she said with a firm shake of her head. Then Nate was asking her what all was going on and Kurumi wasn't entirely sure what to say since her thoughts were just swimming in a giant mess of information and confusion. What was going on? Yeah, Kurumi would like to know that too...and the only one who had concrete answers was the woman in front of them.

Yeah...the one that everyone kept threatening. Kurumi hated confrontation...so this was way out of her comfort zone right now but she wanted answers. No, she needed them. And now she was being asked by the woman herself to explain. Oh, yeah, thanks a lot for that.

The wheels in Kurumi's head began to turn as she looked at the loony OLD woman. I never lost a day at Hogwarts. To the contrary... I gained days. "Gained days..." Kurumi repeated under her breath. She gained and they lost them. "You stole time from us...to keep yourself young," Kurumi replied, sort of feeling as though she were just stating the obvious now. This whole temporal plane talk was giving her a headache though and was sounding like something from one of the video games that her brother designed. Dimensions of reality...existing on planes... Merlin what sort of magic was this woman dealing with?! "You...removed us from the fourth dimension...time...an object must occupy time to move...and we didn't..." Occupy time that is...or move...hence all the frozen comments...

DID THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?!

Before Kurumi could even attempt to sort out her thoughts more or ask more questions or really DO anything else, the booming Southern drawl? voice that clearly belonged to an adult arrive and Kurumi spun around on the spot - removing her gaze from the woman for the first time since she had arrived. And he didn't have his wand drawn either - then again, judging from his bulging muscles and overall I MEAN BUSINESS aura...he probably didn't really need a wand. "More like two years..." Kurumi muttered. It had been two years since that bloody orb had first appeared at Hogwarts at least.

And what was byoootee?

*frown*

Silly little pygmy puff, always running off and misbehaving. He was really going to get it this time. She had, had enough of he's games and in this dark alley she really wasn't happy at all. "Oh...erm thanks." she began pouting trying to think of anywhere Puffles would have wanted to go, but nothing came to her.

Lure him with food? Hmm...that was actually really clever.

Whilst still pouting, Ness nodded at this girl. She walked over closer so it would be easier to talk to this stranger, that did oddly familiar, but not someone she remembered seeing at this school. Maybe her mind was just playing tricks on her, it was more possible.

"Good thinking." she nodded some more. The red head reached in her pant's pocket to find what she always carried with her. "The only thing I've got is a chocolate frog though, and it's not one of he's favorites. I guess it's worth a try." Nessie opened the chocolate and then extended her hand, wishing Puffles would smell the chocolate and return immediately.