Only when the Big Man started talking did Nem drag their eyes from the dysfunctional snitch brigade and fix them back on him. Hardly surprising, exactly what had brought this on; it was any wonder that it had taken that absolute disaster at the dragon reserve for him to start putting measures like this into place. Kids had been trying him for months, causing inconveniences. Made a lot more sense to just take them out, but if he hadn't done it so far, then...

When the names were read out, Nem continued to look straight at the Big Man, tempted only once to glance away, but not enough to actually do so. They couldn't claim to know why each and every person was on that list, but they could guess, or otherwise briefly entertain themselves by theorising why based on what the Big Man had just said, and what Nem had heard and observed throughout the year. Ultimately, there were no real surprises. No sign of shock or alarm or even curiosity appeared on Nem's face, they didn't even make the attempt.

Mostly they were interested - that term used loosely - in what was about to become of Williamson. Torture? Death? Torture and then death? Make it something worth coming out here for, at least.

Cal stood still as they waited for the rest to join them in the courtyard, he didn't dare ask anyone else if they knew what was about to happen. But they didn't have to wait very long for Rosier to speak.

So it wasn't just Hogwarts that was in trouble. The whole of Europe was. And so his mam and dad couldn't come save him from this scary scary scary scary place either, Ireland was most likely the same.....
But that wasn't all, some of them would be getting sent...away??? Cal bit his lip, staring down at his feet, silently chanting don't say my name in his head when Headmaster Rosier rolled out the parchment and started listing names. He listened to the names, sorry for whoever was getting sent wherever but VERY happy he wasn't among them. Until he was.

Cal gasped, his eyes stinging with.....were those tears???? Lots of tears???? Where were they taking them????? "Please-" He let out in barely more than a whisper, falling silent when one of the Hooded Creeps grabbed hold of him. Had he mentioned he wanted to go home yet?

Minjae felt a nudge against his arm and looked to his left to see Noah standing next to him. He wished that it would make him feel safer but it did not. He gave a small smile back before nodding at Aboli as well, completely missing that she was holding his friend’s hand.

Minjae registered only half of his *disappointment and defiance* speech which was getting old in his opinion . As long as they had any spark left, they would continue to defy. However when Rosier mentioned that some of them had tried to alert about the happenings in the castle , his breath hitched.

He had told Ministry employee Carson about what was happening at the school during the field trip and his eyes slightly widened. Was the former Hufflepuff OK?! Had he gotten him in to danger in an attempt of freedom?!

Upon hearing his name at the end of the list, Minjae wondered if he was added because he had tried to play hero or because his family was tainted. Perhaps the reason was both of them…

The movement of the Neo Alliance moving forward took him out of his thoughts and his first instinct was to escape. Run away. NOW. But he couldn’t move. His body was frozen on the spot in fear and before he knew it he felt hands taking a firm hold of him.

Out of instinct, the seventeen year old flinched and he wanted to struggle against the grip but knew that it would be a futile thing to do. He did however move his head to the side to glare at whoever had gotten hold of him until Rosier called for Williamson to come forward. He snapped his head back to the front to see what was happening. Was he about to be tortured because of them?! Or worse, killed?!

June was already awake, and in all honesty she rarely slept these days. Stressful dreams did not help matters either. So, she had been awake and quietly pacing her small office when she heard the announcement.

Dread had filled her, but compliance was a necessity these days and so she made her way out to the courtyard as asked.

And dread was right, because this was it. Rosier was becoming more insane and they had no way of stopping him. Standing by Schmoe, the woman watched as they grabbed a hold of all whose names were being called out.

When someone got grabbed right from near her, she couldn't help but give the student a helpless look, "don't worry - it'll be okay, you'll be okay" she whispered but ... simply stood there - unable to do anything.

Aries was HOLDING on to Atlas for DEAR LIFE.

Because nope, no, no, no, no thank you, no.

They were not dying. They will be okay, things will be fine. JUST FINE.

But as the names started being called out, his eyes widened - they were taking away his girlfriend and friends and people he occasionally waved at.

"Will they not be allowed in lessons either?" he found himself asking dumbly - and immediately regretting it because the key to survival was being invisible, yes?

As soon as the Moose saw Professor Schmoe take a place behind him the young Slytherin instinctively grasped onto the sweater vest the Muggle Studies Professor had on. Then quickly let go of it. Anything could draw attention to him and trying to hide around one of the Professors didn't seem right at the moment. These cruel people saw everything. Moose had done as he was told as best he could. The Field Trip he thought was finally the moment they were all going to escape but that didn't happen.

Then Rosier began his speech. This was it. This was where they were going to finally correct the Muggleborn mistake wasn't it? Names started to be called and he knew his was coming up. He was obviously in it. See there... Moose Stover. That's who he was. That's him Moose. Wait...Rosier said Moose and not William Stover?

Well if that wasn't the nicest thing he'd done all year long.

And then next he was being held by one the lackeys for the Neo-Alliance and pushed away from the Muggle Studies Professor. He turned his head back to look at Schmoe. Trying to find some reassurance that things would be okay even though nothing would be okay. Would be a nice lie. He'd like that lie very much. There was no anger left for Moose to grasp onto. He just looked scared. Where were they being taken? What was going to happen to Professor Williamson?

Shaking from her to foot, Yoyo clenched her hand tightly around Emmerson's and tried to focus her on her sister's touch. the familiar warmth was not the soothing balm she wished for, not when she could practically feel her little sister's fear through her palm, but it was welcome none the less.

The reminder that they were here together, the illusion of safety that was there bond... Yolanda Luna didn't think she would be standing without it.

She didn't look up as Rosier spoke, fearful that even her hateful gaze might lead to punishment, but his words continued to strike her hard in the chest. Breath. Breath. It was so hard to breath. He was mad. absolutely out of his mind, Yoyo's eyes widened and she looked out into the sea of students and teachers as the list was read off- nonchalant- like he wasn't condemning her friends- her family.

No. No. No. There were too many people she loved on that list- Flynn, Cece, Kale, kizzy and Mavis were only babies- and Yoyo held back a gag.

She did not move. Not an inch as they came to take Kizzy. Frozen to the spot with cowardice and indecision. her stomach turned. Nasty. Evil. Wicked. Her eyes burned with tears.

And then suddenly-

They were grabbing Emmerson and Yoyo's nearly let go of the little pale hand. "Don't touch her!" She screeched, her broken voice painful in her throat. Acid. But Yolanda wouldn't let them take Emmerson... not alone. She looked to the hooded figure, defiant but waiting to be taken along.

In the morning chill, Kale Trent zeroed in on the Headmaster. Rosier had a dumb face, he mused. The fifth year wasn't so far gone that he didn't look at that absolute rodent, trash man and not H A T E his face. Anger was the only emotion that didn't seem impossible to harness lately and it flared up in him in unexpected moments. And it was always, ALWAYS, related to this cow.

The only thing that kept him in check was the promise he'd made all of his friends. Don't die, they'd asked. The fifth year wasn't convinced he had much control over that request, but he would try not to make extra waves. Not that Rosier ever seemed to need an excuse when it came to him.

There was a special kind of bad blood between the two.

Kale lurched to awareness when he felt the steady hand of Cece as she stepped next to him in the restless crowd. It helped remind him of his promise. But only just when Rosier started picking kids out of the crowd. Rounding them up. His friends and sister on the list of the unlucky.

When one of the Hooded Losers grabbed his arm and yanked him from Cece's grasp, he forcefully bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from shouting out in protest. People expected him to act up. Rebel. Heck, maybe Rosier was even counting on it, but he wouldn't. Not here. Not now. Not when other kids could be punished in the crossfire.

The anger that was festering in him, poisoning his lil pink-haired brain, felt fit to explode. Later, he had to remind himself. Pick your moments, Trent.

"It's okay," he managed to tell the people closest to him. "You're going to be okay," Kale singled out his little sister.

Her feet were so cold and she tried to concentrate all her thoughts on that, rather than think about how scared she was feeling. It didn’t help that so many of her friends were standing far away. She wished Moose hadn’t redirected himself toward Ashley. She wished that Cece was standing by them too. She wished—Was Devin in his boxers? Suddenly, Kinsay didn’t feel quite as embarrassed about her lack of footwear. And. Um. She just hoped he didn’t get into any trouble too. In part, for selfish reasons because he was standing near them, but also because he was a housemate and she… She didn’t want anyone else to hurt.

She tightened her hold of Emm’s hand now, wanting nothing more than to return back to their shared bed. This had to be a nightmare, right?

But Yoyo’s melodic voice pulled Kinsay out of her thoughts and she looked at the girl with fear written plainly all over her face. Was she alright? It was a complicated question. Still, she nodded. She’d be alright as long as she had her friends. That’s what mattered. That's all there was left. That’s what was most important.

She stepped a little closer to the girls, snapping her head back up only when Headmaster Rosier began his reprimand. What happened next, happened too quickly for her to process. There was a list. And it had her name. Her name, but not Teddy’s not Phoebe’s not Emm’s. Her entire world was turning upside down and the only thing she could do was cling right back to Emm. Emm who was protesting. Emm who was going to get herself into trouble for going against direct orders. She gave her friend a panicked look. Emm, stop! Emm they’ll take you too!

And then they did.

At the same time as she felt a hand grab her own arm, she saw a man take hold of Emm’s. And then she heard Yoyo's screech. And then the brain fuzz was taking over once more. Everything was happening so much. Kiz tugged the collar of her shirt, suddenly feeling very restricted and crowded by the fabric.

Not again. Not again. Not again.

Eden was still just feeling...cold. Cold, tired, and nothing else. Even as Rosier began to speak she felt not much of anything - interest, of course, as well as a self-preserving need to stay silent, but otherwise? It almost felt like she wasn't there at all. Like she was watching someone else's life. Surreal.

Later, she'd chalk it up to her brain protecting itself. She knew this was bad. If she let herself feel, she wouldn't be able to stop, and she'd be killed for whatever silly useless rage explosion inevitably occurred.

Only when Rosier began talking of "new quarters" did something pinch inside Eden's stomach. She knew her name would be called. She hadn't done half of what others had at the dragon reserve, but she'd dug her grave long before that - on the first day of classes, even. As Rosier went down the list and she waited for her name to be called the pinch in her stomach got worse. Ash's name was a given. Kinsay's made her jaw clench. Quinn's was a but of shock - he'd done nothing, but his muggle heritage must've come to bite him. It was twisted, but Eden was secretly glad her friend's name had been called, too. Moose, Mamie, Minjae - yeah, they were really coming for the muggleborns today. At least she'd have her pitchfork gang with her in jail.

And Eden's name came, just as she knew it would. And a hooded figure appeared behind her, tall and ominous and grabby. All this brought back horrible memories of the Events Which We Do Not Speak Of But Apparently Flashback To At The Most Inappropriate Times. Yeah, those.

Eden would've looked around, but the Hood blocked her peripheral and kept her looking at the courtyard. She heard Williamson's name called. Something stirred inside her - fear? anger? - but her mind was already somewhere else.

Mamie had been absolutely certain Rosier had brought them out here to kill them. That was what he had said before, when he got mad those Gryffindors they were trying to contact somebody through the portraits. Kill the Muggleborns in the courtyard, he'd said. Or...something like that. The stress of this term was wreaking horror on Mamie's memory.

But no? They were just...getting new dorms? Not being allowed to leave said new dorms?

Mamie would have danced, if one of the Neo-Alliance scary people hadn't already grabbed her arm. She gave them a...passive...look. A look of acknowledgment, and a little resignation. Not being allowed to roam the castle was not that big a deal, to her. They still had to feed them, right? And they hadn't taken their wands yet, so they could at least still practice magic. And she'd do jumping jacks. They had already taken away flying, and writing home, and their holiday break. They'd tried to have them eaten by dragons. This? This was fiiiiine.

She stared at the ground, trying her best not to make eye contact with anybody, students or teachers. Didn't want Rosier thinking they were plotting trouble or anything. There was no defiance left in Mamie. She just wanted to survive.

Alexandre was there. Standing in a plain white shirt and flannel pajama bottoms. He was too scared to be tired, despite the early hour. When he had heard the announcement he had found Willow as fast as he could. He barely let her out of his sight these days, and that certainly wasn't about to start now. In the courtyard he had spotted Aboli first, so that was where he now stood as he waited to understand why they were there and what was going to happen.

And then names were being called, and people were being taken away. To where? Rosier had said to other quarters, so hopefully that at least meant they were being kept alive. Alexandre was just grateful that his sister's name was not on that list. If it was he certainly would have fought whoever he had to in order to keep her from being taken away. And he knew that wasn't actually a fight he'd be able to win. Instead he stayed put, not calling attention to himself, the strategy that he had been using all year and that had kept him safe so far.

Tadhg was really trying to control and contain his anger but he was failing miserably, as names of people were read from the list his eyes darkened in anger. They did nothing wrong, they were just trying to get the help they needed. Besides this whole place was like a prison to them all, and on top of not able to write or see their families was torture enough. When will this mandess end? It was getting rather tiring very quickly and annoying.

As one by one his friends were taken, Ash, Eden, Quinn all the ones he was close to and cared about as a friend or best mate should. Taking his hoodie off he gave it to Devin who was in his boxers, that had to stink like dragon dung so he decided to help a brother out. His blood was boling and he was shaking in anger over all this. He couldn't bit his tongue any longer, Lia forgive him but this was wrong.

"No, leave them alone don't touch them!" He didn't know what was going to happen to him but at this point he didn't care his friends could be in danger if they weren't already. His parents always taught him to stand up for what was right no matter what, if they were going someplace different so was he.

The cold didn't bother her as she stood there among everyone else. When a warm hand slipped into her own, she visibly jumped in surprise, her heart racing until she realized it was Tad. Small fingers tightened around those of her besties as they waited side-by-side to find out what was going to happen to them all.

Only when Tadhg pulled off his hoodie and handed it to someone, did she realize that someone was Devin clad only in his boxers. Dear Merlin what was that boy thinking?! Good going Tad for helping him out like a friend should. She even gave him a tiny smile to show she approved.

What came next... well none of it was approved of.

NONE. OF. IT.

As Rosier began to speak about how disobedient they all were and how none of could do as they were told, she unconsciously stepped closer to Tadhg. When the list of names was read through with the order of the evil hooded minions to take them and anyone that spoke out, her grip on her friend tightened. With each name her fear grew, those were almost ALL of her friends, her housemates and dorm mates... this was... it was... she didn't even have words for it!

Then things got worse. Something deep in the pit of her stomach told her things would get worse. And worse they did. She even lifted her hand to press it against Tadhg's mouth in an attempt to stop him but the words were already out. He had already spoken up. A part of her was proud of him, another part... completely broken hearted. She knew they were going to take him and she wanted to go too... she wanted to yell at him but she couldn't. If she did she would be taken away from her siblings and they needed each other.

Blue eyes locked on matching blue ones and pleaded with him silently, how could he have broken their promise? Small hands clung at his, her nails likely digging into his skin in hopes that he wouldn't be pull away from her. The tears were already filling her eyes and threatening to fall.

Plus Williamson too?! Who else were they going to lock away?!

She'd expected this. Not the setting or the circumstances that lead up to it, but the more permanent separation of the children into two groups. The anger of Rosier. The revelation that this movement stretched far and wide. None of it was right, but it wasn't surprising, and she felt her grip tightening on her wand as she watched the crowd of students react to the news. She found herself looking for Williamson, wondering what was going through his head. She'd heard about the field trip and he'd been brave to do what he did, but there were consequences for going off-book and she didn't want to know what the headmaster had in store for him. Was he scared?

When the kids started crying out, Neva moved in. The nearest one to her was only a first year and merlin knew what Mr. O'Neill thought he was doing telling these people what they could and could not do. Before he would know what hit him, the charms professor sent a well intentioned Langlock in his direction, trying to quiet his protests. "Enough." She understood his feelings. His anger was justified. But was she going to let him get himself killed if she could help it? No.

___

Yoyo's look had not been missed and Cece was grateful for it. She didn't even know how she'd be standing right now if it wasn't for her friends. They gave her strength just by being there, did they know? Like, it made her want to be brave and strong and it kept her from falling apart the way she wanted to. She'd never be able to thank them for it properly, but if they managed to make it out of this mess somehow, she was sure going to try.

And then Rosier was speaking. And with every word that he said, Cece felt the fear in her bubble to the surface. You won't survive the new world and there's no longer reason to keep trying with you. She searched the crowd for Sammy again. For Cappi and Phoebe. Meeks. For Catherine and Noah. The other stark kids. MF and Auggie. If this was going to be the end, she wanted to see them. Make a memory of their faces. She wished she could hug them all one last time because she was pretty convinced this was the end. She gave Kale's hand another squeeze. And then several things happened that brought Cece back from her spiraling thoughts..

The list was read and she was on it. A list that would separate her from friends. That marked her as different. Less. She felt an emptiness in her stomach realizing that this also meant more danger for her, for her little brother, for the friends who were going to be stuck with her.

And then Emmerson was speaking out and being grabbed. And Yoyo yelled. And Cece's eyes were the size of saucers as she watched, fear rooting her to the spot. She felt like a coward. The worst kind. But she didn't know what to do! This was so bad. So, so bad. Squeezing her eyes shut, she felt tears work free, spilling over onto her cheeks. And then she'd been grabbed by one of the hooded horrible humans and she went along quietly, trying to make eye contact with her little brother. "It'll be okay." They were going to be okay. They had to be okay.

Valencia had arrived on time in her uniform and hair firmly pulled back into a ponytail, fully expecting today to be the day where they picked sides. Instead, today was the day that someone decided that the appropriate and manly thing to do was pick on a group consisting majorly of first years. It was a typical tactic used again and again in history.

She took a step forward. "Headmaster, Sir, surely these students would need someone their own age to reeducate them. Someone familiar with how children think."

Not that she expected reason to work on the man, such was the danger of madmen. But, if there were any way she'd be permitted to visit those that were being taken away...

Claudine had been there all along, having reluctantly brought herself to the Courtyard {having been hurried along by Peralta}. There had been enough motivation for her to get there, anyway; she was not playing around when it came to Rosier. There was a horrible, sinking feeling lurking about her. Whatever they’d been summoned for, it couldn’t be good. Instinctively, the fifth year looked around for Heath and the few others she actually cared about. Her eyes came upon him standing with some of his housemates. Claudine made the quick decision not to go to him. Heath would be all right among his housemates.

There wasn’t much more of a chance for her to dwell on the topic for Rosier happened again. Her blood ran colder with every word uttered by the man. Claudine’s heart felt like it had dropped out of her chest. There were a handful of persons she cared about on that list: Violet, Ashley, Curtis, Morgan, Avalon, Minjae, Bernadette and most of all.... Heath. “No, no, no. Leave them alone,’’ came her sudden words through gritted teeth. They were said none too softly and she was glaring at The Hoods there.

Finneas twitched uncomfortably, glancing over at Gabi when she joined him behind the muggleborn students. The larger the group became, the more Finneas worried for their safety. They were the ones at risk here and as a Professor, he had done nothing but fail them. It was only when he felt June's presence that he felt some sense of ease return to him. A very small sense of ease, but it was something at least.

He tried to give Moose a reassuring look, "It'll be okay." He desperately wished there was something more he could do, but he knew anything he could try would only put the students more at risk. And so instead, he stood silently trying to give the muggleborn students (and the others) a sign that their professors were standing with them, though all he could do was hope they understood even with his silence.

AnYwAy.

Things just went from bad to WORSE. And when children started protesting, the best Schmoe could do was silently direct a stealthy silencio at Ms. Blaze. Of course he felt the same way, but to tell these people what they could or could not do was asking for a death sentence.

So that's what this was about. Separating the children. It's not like Shreya hadn't seen drastic measures like this coming. It was clear that Rosier and the Neo-Alliance were planning something bigger—and the man's confirmation that they were already making a stand around the rest of Europe was proof. But something about hearing him say the words out loud was jarring. She clenched her teeth together to avoid crying out in protest. This was how things were going to be.

Still, Shreya felt a pang of guilt in her chest. Whatever these new quarters were, they couldn't be good. She couldn't help herself from imagining that if she was a student, she would be sent to them as well. Would staff members with Muggle heritage be next?

Worst of all, she felt like she had failed to protect the students. Shreya stared at the ground, her eyes cold, as the Inquisitorial Squad began taking the students. It seemed it was too late.

Avalon was standing quietly, still shivering in the cold morning air, when Rosier began speaking. Her mood first turned to annoyance, as she wondered if he had really awakened the entire castle at the crack of dawn simply to berate them for defiance. But her brief irritation was replaced quickly by fear as Rosier kept speaking, ending in full-out panic as her name was announced.

At first, she wondered why she had been included. As far as she was concerned, she had been following all of the orders. She hadn't spoken out or tried anything stupid. Perhaps one of the hoods had seen her practicing her Patronus charm in the spare office? But no, then Aboli would have been on the list too. It took a moment for it to dawn on her that it was because her grandparents were Muggles.

Tears pricked her eyes as one of the hooded figures grabbed her forcefully by the arm. Avalon blinked them away, attempting to keep a brave face...especially for the younger students. She threw glances over her shoulder in fear, wondering why the professors weren't doing anything to help.

Part of her wondered if the Neo-Alliance was taking her to die. Would this be the last time she ever saw her friends? Her school? She bit her lip—hard—trying not to let the tears spill over.

Yawning and stretching, her wand held loosely in her hand, her eyes were roaming around her, taking in the faces of her friends but they were mainly looking for her family. Where was Adam and Vi? Thess and Leighton? They must have left the dorm room before her because it wasn’t like them to be late. Quietly, she shifted closer to some of her other house mates (Avalon, Ivy and now Heath) almost instinctively as the headmaster began talking.

He sure seemed to like the sound of his own voice but that wasn’t exactly something new. No, what was new was the list of names of children who were…what exactly was happening to them? What did he mean new quarters? Jumping, Ingrid backed off as one of the headmaster’s cronies barged past her in order to get to one of her friends. Her wand might have been in her hand but her body was frozen to the spot, unable to move or really process anything that was happening.

She watched as one after another, they were taken, some going peacefully and others a little less so, her body tense as though she was about to be snatched but her name hadn’t even been called out and neither had anyone in her family. Still, the relief of that was small. So small in fact that it has wandered out of her consciousness entirely as the scream of an older Hufflepuff girl (Yoyo) echoed through the mumbling and tears. She couldn’t see what was going on but somehow, she knew she had to!

Tentatively, she pushed her way through the crowd without much trouble, her small frame finally coming to use for a change. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have guessed that her heart was trying to pop out of her chest and escape this nightmare of a situation but like, her it was stuck. Trapped by the very thing that was meant to protect her. As she got closer to the action, she couldn’t help but hope against hope that Valencia’s idea would somehow sway the headmaster because it sounded super smart. Kids knew how kids thought, right? Adults forgot when they grew up. “I think umm…maybe Valencia is right Professor. Kids do know kids. I’d be happy to try and help because uhh…I’m not trouble at all. Or at least that’s what my father tells me” she mumbled, her eyes down on the floor now as she addressed the headmaster, too scared to actually look at the man directly but she simply had to say something to try and help her friends. The guilt she already felt was eating her alive but if she didn’t help, well, there’d be nothing left of her.

Williamson had been here all along, of course, lurking in the shadows and eating an apple. He was already an early riser; blame it on the old man problems or the fact that he CONSTANTLY had to care for fifty animals and children AND himself. But to hear the call to the courtyard and ignore it? Well that simply wouldn't do, even if his will to live, as Rosier had put it, was questionable at times.

So here he was, cooly stepping out from behind an arch when he heard his name called, casually tossing the apple core behind him without even a glance back. What, these were HIS grounds. He could litter on 'em with an organic substance if he wanted to.

"Yes, Headmaster?" William was careful to keep his face blank and his voice level. Whatever did the man want him for now? Hadn't he done enough already for the greater good?

WWW was decent at playing the dunce, though some might not call this talent 'playing' but rather 'a state of being.' He hadn't a clue in the world what had set Rosier off THIS time. Not even a spark of an idea, gosh. Not even a hatchling of a hint. Not a bit.

Lucien did not react when the children began to react. It did not move him, it did not anger him. It did nothing to him. Nothing at all. He trusted his men would handle it and would continue on as if he didn't see.

He waved off the children who offered their questions or opinions. (Aries, Valencia, Ingrid). In fact, it was so blatantly obvious he was ignoring them. The man made it a point to look at each of them for an unsettling moment before simply looking away. They weren't listening. He was done. He didn't care for suggestions. He did not care to be questioned. This was the end of the road. Why they thought this was up for negotiation was further proof they truly were not paying attention.

The man fixed his gaze on Williamson when he stepped forward. "It would seem I was wrong in expecting quality work from you. You could not even control the students. You could not get it done. Any of the children gathered here can tell you I don't do half baked. You either get it done, or you don't." There had been enough essays in the last few months for the students to vouch for this. SORTA done was not done.

"You will join the children in their predicament." Another example of actions having consequences...or in this case a great deal of inaction.

"Crucio." The man said, raising his wand without hesitation.

Aboli listened with a couple of grimaces as Rosier went on a harangue. The tirade for the tyrant he was. She couldn't help the unimaginable bout of hatred erupting within her - she had thought, all these years, she was the child, spawn, born from hatred and cruelty himself, but no. No no no. Her father was not even as mad, demented, and evil as this man. Mr. Sartorius may have been a murderer, but she refused to believe he was as awful as this guy.

As he spoke, her hand clenched more tightly around Noah's. So tight, in fact, that she thought she might hurt him.

And then, the list.

Noah's name. Bernie...Cece...Minjae...Quinn, CURTIS?, Mamie.....so many she cared for. Avalon?! She didn't let go of Noah; in fact, she squeezed his hand even TIGHTER.

NOnooooononono no nono on nooooo no no.

She wouldn't even GET TO SEE Noah outside of lessons, now? Aboli was terrified. All of the things she had taken for granted all these months - it would be gone. And not to mention talking to any of her muggleborn / "rabble rouser" friends? Who was there LEFT for her even?! Royse????

"It'll be okay.." she whispered in Noah's ear. Would he hear the fear in her voice? She was trembling.

Many of the children were not putting up a fight. Good. It was too early to start hurting children. Those who did not resist were secured. They waited for further instruction.

Of course not all were so well behaved.

"Quiet, you!" One barked at the boy, slapping him hard upside the back of his head. This was not the time to speak. He would do better taking a page out of the books of the silence once.

This one got a fist jammed right into her jawbone for daring to tell him what to do. He was taking Cambridge. He would touch whoever he liked and right now, he was prime to break her jaw.

Hoping she learned, the man then grabbed. She had earned herself a stay as well.

Another to defy.

The follower punched the boy right in the gut with every bit of annoyance he was feeling. This pint size speck of dust thought he was enough to stop what was happening.

Well, now he would be coming, too.

Heh. He was so scared. Terrified. He would definitely have to listen.

Or not. The girl received a firm backhand to the cheek to silence her before now taking hold of her as well. She wanted to be involved. Now she was.

"Shut it! No one asked you anything." He said, grabbed a fistful of the girl's hair and giving her a FIRM shake. "He doesn't need anything from you."

If she wasn't careful, she would be end up with the less fortunate.

And another who thought their great leader was in need of any advice from children who couldn't even follow orders.

Much like some of them, this one got a firm punch to the gut to silence her. "Your input isn't needed." He informed, straightening after the blow. Did she want to join them?

Violet was shocked when she heard her name called out at the head of the list. What in Merlin had she done? Granted, she was not a fan of the Neo-Alliance, but she hadn't gone out of her way to annoy them, and she certainly hadn't tried to talk to anyone during their field trip (not that she wouldn't have if she thought she could manage it). She thought she had been successful in doing her schoolwork and trying to avoid trouble, but apparently that was not enough. Unless they could read her mind! But probably it was just that these people were totally devoid of rationality, and there was no predicting what would annoy them.

As one of the hooded goons grabbed her arm, she found herself foolishly thinking that she wished she'd brought more clothes with her. At least she'd been wise enough to burn her diary at the start of term, instead of trying to hide it in her dorm--now that would have been enough to get her in real trouble!

Violet wanted to protest the unreasonableness of this, but figured there was no point in engaging these people in any sort of reasonable conversation. She was very, very frightened, but also relieved, in a way. It was getting to be a strain pretending to go along with these people. At least now she needn't bother trying to placate them so much. She hoped the rumors about her formidable grandfather having dabbled in the Dark Arts in his youth were true, and that he would come after these people with a vengeance some day.



OOC: So, do we still go to classes now, or what?

If she’d actually been looking up at the headmaster when he’d been staring at her with his cold, dark gaze then she may have sensed the danger she’d been in but her eyes were firmly planted on her own slippers, only for her to finally look up at his words condemning Professor Williamson, the teacher who taught her favourite subject in all of the world!

“But…but..” stammering now as her gaze turned towards where the professor was just in time as he got hit with the crucio spell. Even before she got punched in the gut, Ingrid’s cheeks had warm tear trails down them but the after…it was more like a dam had exploded.

It was hard for her to tear her gaze away from that horrifying scene but the sound of the Neo Alliance member who was next to her made her skin crawl so much so that she simply had to turn towards her or rather flinch away in fear. At the sound of his words, she was about to stammer out that she’d only been trying to help when the punch that connected squarely with her gut sent her flying over to onto her back, her head hitting the floor as she did so.

Semi-conscious of what was happening, she lay there, blinking the stars and tears away as she looked up at the at the figures of the people around her wishing that one of them was her father, gasping for air as if one of her lungs had just been punctured.