The Courtyard
 

https://i.postimg.cc/fLwsJFm4/thecourtyard.jpg

The Courtyard is where many students spend their time between lessons if they're not in their Common Room or in the Great Hall. Its architecture, including watchful gargoyle parapets and real Gothic arches, reveals the Courtyard to be one of the oldest parts of Hogwarts, connecting the castle with the grounds and also leading to the wooden bridge over the ravine. In between lessons, the courtyard is usually filled with students enjoying some sun or gathering around the pear tree before heading back into the castle. Whether you choose to occupy one of the many stone benches or play gobstones on the cobblestone ground, the courtyard is the perfect place to relax with your friends from all houses.

In the middle of the courtyard is an antique ceramic fountain flanked by eagles, perfect for admiring your own reflection or making wishes. Beware though: once your coin has been tossed into the water, you may never get it back as it will continue to magically sink out of dight. Do try not to fall into the fountain, as the staff does not fancy a swim to fetch little students.

Apollo :D
 

Quinn was sitting on one of the benches in the courtyard, poring over Hogwarts: A History. He was learning a lot, actually—the prejudice on blood heritage (which he also learned was mostly diminished, so these Neo-Alliance people were the odd ones out), the founders of the school, and even things about the Second Wizarding War. A lot of this seemed to have ties to what was happening now, specifically the views of the Deatheaters seemingly making a return with the Neo-Alliance. Quinn wasn't as worried about the things he didn't know now, but he realized there was still a lot to learn if he wanted to know everything about the situation he was in.

Quinn also had a stack of books next to him on the bench of various branches of history, types of magic, and even some on magical plants for fun. And Quinn planned on combing through all of them. Quinn shifted on the bench, causing his leg to hit the stack of books, causing the books to tumble to the ground. "Aw, jeez," he mumbled, putting down Hogwarts: A History to pick up the books from off the ground.

Apollo was in need of fresh air more than anything because after only a couple days in the castle, it was feeling very stuffy which was in great contrast to what his family members had talked about when they discussed Hogwarts. Hands shoved into into his robe pockets, he kicked randomly at the grass, trying to make sense of the events. He never imagined that blood purity was still a thing in the 22nd century and yet here they were and it seemed to be quite relevant. How odd.

He frowned when he spotted a young boy, whom he recognized from the sorting ceremony, having dropped his books on the ground. "Hey. You alright?" He asked, taking note of the book titles. Was Hogwarts: A History outdated? Apollo didn't know, as he hadn't read it. All his history and knowledge about Hogwarts came from family and friends, not a book. But he didn't really have the attention span to read either.

Quinn glanced up at the boy, his face reddening slightly. He tried not to face the boy for too long—he still had the "LIAR" on his forehead from the DADA lesson, but it was now just a light scar since Phoebe had given him some murtlap for it. Quinn wondered if it would ever fully go away. "Er, yes, I'm fine, thanks." He vaguely remembered the boy from the Sorting, since he was one of the first. His last name was interesting, and Quinn remembered it sounding like two separate words, but he wouldn't put money on it.

He stacked his books back up on the bench, stood up and brushed off his knees. He wasn't sure what else to say. "Uh, are you... alright..?" That did not feel like the thing to say, since the boy didn't seem to have anything wrong. But Quinn supposed it applied, given the overall situation.

When the boy faced him it was just enough to see the faint words on his forehead, which had Apollo curious some more. "It's been a weird first few days, I suppose. No one told me it was going to be this way." He admitted, trying to recall what the boy's name was but honestly, the only sorting and name he'd been concerned about besides his own was Bella's.

He nodded toward the bench. "May I sit..." He asked, before moving to sit anyway. There was plenty of room, so he doubted it should have been an issue. Unless the other boy was waiting for someone. Perhaps he was trying to study outside while the weather was still somewhat warm. "I'm Apollo, by the way. So what'd ya lie about?" He wasn't about to shy away from being blunt.

Quinn nodded at the boy's response. He hadn't signed up for this, either—he hadn't even known he had magic until a little over a year ago, and this was pretty much his welcome wagon. "Yeah, I know what you mean," he said, sitting back down next to his books.

He was about to tell the boy he could sit when he went and sat anyway. Quinn didn't mind so much. He was just sitting and reading, so... yeah. Fine. He was reading here mostly because no one was out here at the moment, and it was a nice day. He smiled when hearing the boy's name; it was the second boy he'd met in his year who had a name from Greek myth, and it was a nice surprise. "I'm Quinn." When the boy asked about his lie, his face dropped. He looked at the ground. "Um... the forms. From the feast. Blood status confuses me, and I thought was a half-blood, but, um... apparently I'm not." Quinn fidgeted with his hands, rubbing them together nervously. "A-and in the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson the other day, the Headmaster... h-he..." Quinn didn't finish the sentence. Talking about the lesson in any capacity put him on the verge of panic.

Ugh yea. It was rough. Like he knew there were dangers but death of innocent creatures seemed on the harsh side. He sighed.

"Cool name," he said upon hearing the boys name. He hadn't met too many people with a name that started with Q. Plus the one syllable thing made for an easy name to remember. Wait what. So if he wasn't a half-blood ... did that make him muggleborn? But he didn't seem like he was stupid or any of the other lies that these people seemed to be spewing about muggles and muggleborn. He didn't seem less deserving of a magical education either. Apollo rubbed absently at the back of his hand. "So uh... you don't have any ... witches or wizards in your family?" He frowned when the boy trailed off about the Headmaster. "He doesn't seem like he really ..." Apollo found himself gazing around, wondering if anyone was listening to them. "If he really wants to be here." He whispered.

Quinn smiled a bit at the compliment. People didn't usually think one way or the other about his name. "Thanks."

Quinn shook his head. "No, I do, my aunt's a witch! But my dad's a Muggle and my mom's... a, um... Squib? Yeah, a Squib. So I thought I would be a half-blood because of her, but..." he sighed, not finishing the statement. His forehead finished it for him.

Quinn made a concerned face, looking around. "I... I don't know. I don't really understand... who he is, or the other people in that... group." Quinn was still really new to the whole wizarding world, and he was trying to read up about everything he could so he could get some sort of grasp on the situation. But he still hadn't read much yet. "What do they want?"

Apollo & Quinn - Permission to crash :)
 

Dahlia needed some fresh air. Some time out of the castle away from everything. Just a little bit of time on her own so she could lose herself in all of her thoughts. When she was by herself it was easy to feel however she wanted and not have to worry about effecting how anyone else feels. She was free to feel sad.

Cradled in her arms was Sir Frederik Puffington the Pink Pygmy Puff. Carrying him around with her anytime that she could gave her a sense of comfort and security that she normally felt when around her siblings and friends. The poor little thing was getting rather old but that was okay, it meant much more cuddles for her.

Lia hadn't gotten very far in her walk when she spotted a familiar face and a... well a not so familiar one. Without even thinking about it her feet were already heading straight towards the boys, a small set lightly on her lips. "Enjoying the sunshine and fresh air while you can?" she asked quietly by way of greeting before adding, "Hey," along with a wave of her hand.

Quinn looked up from his whispering as Dahlia spoke. "Oh! Hi, Dahlia." He glanced down at her arms. "And Sir Frederik! Very nice to see you both," he grinned, then nodded. "Yeah, I just thought it was nice out, so I could get some reading in out here. Oh, this is Apollo, by the way." Quinn gestured to Apollo. "And Apollo, this is Dahlia. We're Housemates. And in her arms is Sir Frederik Puffington the Pygmy puff." Quinn wasn't exactly sure how he should, er... segue the conversation he and Apollo were having to include Dahlia—it wasn't the lightest of subjects—so he figured he would let them have his introductions and see where things went, for now.

The little smile that had been on her lips slowly grew as Quinn introduced her to the other boy. "Hey, Quinn." She turned towards Apollo and nodded slightly in greeting. "Hi, Apollo. Like he just said," he being Quinn obviously, "I'm Dahlia but you're welcome to call me Lia if you want and this is Sir Frederik Puffington the Pink Pygmy Puff. He's super friendly." She had started adding that last little bit whenever introducing her companion to anyone.

"That's why I'm outside too. The fresh air and sunshine always helps clear my head... and well... I'm much more of an outdoorsy type of person." Lia giggled softly. "Do you mind if I join you two?" Since they had been talking already before she had joined them, it was only fair to ask.

There it was again. When Dahlia referred to Quinn as "he"... it made Quinn feel all gross inside. Quinn still didn't understand why that happened—she wasn't wrong, he was a boy.

It's just an acquired taste, Quinn. Like that fizzing popcorn... that you still think is gross. But it'll get better with time. You're fine, Quinn.

Returning from his thoughts, he shook his head. "Oh, no, you're alright, Apollo. This..." he looked down at his books, closing the one in his lap, "this isn't really for class anyway. Just, y'know, personal reading. B-but you're welcome to join us, Dahlia." Quinn scooched to make room on the bench for her. "I'm definitely a fan of the fresh air, too, though. it's... much better than being inside," he said, knowing they both knew what he meant.

Dahlia's gentle smile never wavered. Despite all the going-ons around this place, she was doing her best to attempt to remain positive whenever she was around others. Attempt being the important word there. It wasn't always easy being her usual cheerful, adventurous self lately.

"Thanks," she nodded, sitting down on the bench beside Quinn. She really hoped that she wasn't intruding but it didn't seem like it, since they told her she could sit with them. Sir Frederik Puffington made himself comfortable on her lap, puffing himself up so that he would look larger but all that did for him was make him appear to be a giant pink cotton ball with a face. Lia was more than content to pet him though. "Do you want to hold him?" she gestured to Sir Fredrik. She knew that Quinn liked the pink fluff ball and Apollo was welcome to hold him too if he wanted.

A simple nod of her head was all that was given. Neither boy had to be more detailed on what they had meant. "What's your favorite thing to do out here?" Dahlia was attempting to change the subject a little bit but if it didn't work she would deal with it. They had been talking before she showed up and maybe they weren't finished with their discussion yet.

DADA Lesson 2
 

Where was this place? What a magnificent castle. If they weren't in such a huge rush to book it out of here, the muggles may have stopped to admire the architecture. As it stood, they wanted to be AS FAR AWAY as possible.

That was what took them to this...courtyard of sorts.

On the other side was a castle. Perhaps someone inside would help them. Only one way to find out.

DADA Lesson 2
 

Fiona had her wand out and was looking for the Muggles when sure enough, she spotted some in the courtyard. Ducking behind the fountain, Fiona aimed her wand at the group and said clearly, "Repello muggletum!"

"Hope this works," she thought to herself.

Dada
 

Aboli fell in step behind Valencia and Fiona, aiming her wand at the muggles as well. "Repello Muggletum!" she cried, feeling like it might be overkill for all three of them to repel them, but then again...one of their spells might be weak, or if any one of them had failed to produce the spell correctly, it would be good to have the backup.

She felt like she couldn't breathe. Placing a hand on Valencia's shoulder, she took a deep breath and dabbed at her eyes with the end of her sleeve.

The spells had done a great job. A great job of alerting the muggles to the presence of the children with intimidating OBVIOUS MAGIC WANDS. What sort of nightmare was this anyway?? Given the required raised position for the spell to be cast, when the small crowd turned, all they saw were wands being pointed in their direction while crazy words were being uttered.

They had to get out of here!!!

The group continued to run but found themselves stopping as they hit the invisible barrier. Something...there was something, much more urgent than going this way.

Ah, that was right, escaping!! They needed to go. "This way!!!" One insisted, no longer heading in the direction the spell was cast but to the other side of the courtyard from where they could see another entrance. "We can't let them take us!!!"

Violet got to the courtyard just in time to see the crowd of Muggles turning to the entrance at the other side of the courtyard. She hurriedly skirted around the edges of the courtyard, keeping behind pillars and shrubbery as much as possible, until she was just at the edge of the other entrance. Leaning out from behind one of the pillars of the archway, she raised her wand and cast, "Repello Muggletum!!", concentrating as hard as she could. Then, just as quickly, she withdrew back into the shadows, hoping that the spell would work.


OOC: Sorry if I disappeared for a few days, my power has been out, and is not that reliable now, so if I start something I can't finish, I apologize in advance.

Adam and a brief mention of Kinsay and Em
 

Never in all of her life had she had to muster so much effort to simply run and yet, it was odd because she knew that none of the pain was actually real. She wasn’t even tired from the run. No, the pain was from something else. She knew what. Could feel it tugging on the edge of her consciousness, threatening to bring her to her knees again just like it had a few minutes ago.

Ingrid tried her best to drag her brother and to keep up with Em and Kinsay as they all ran away from Rosier. Taking a deep, she pulled Adam into the crowd, losing the other two girls in the process but that didn’t matter as much now. They had a crowd and she had her brother. “Adam, we need to find the others. To make sure they’re okay”. She’d never survive if something had happened to any one of her family.

Taking a deep breath, she loosened her tight grip on her wand before casting a glance around. She may have had her wand in her hand but she had no intention of casting any charm towards the muggles. No. Instead, without really looking, she pointed her wand randomly out of the throng of students and away from the muggles “Repello Muggletum”. Let it not be known that she did at least try.

Mention of Adam and sorry Muggles
 

Fiona gritted her teeth in frustration. She was very good at Charmwork so why didn't the spell work? She felt the need to obey Headmaster Rosier's orders but her moral compass was plaguing her mind. Then a thought came to her as she watched Adam cast his spell near a Muggle. Aiming her wand at the Muggles she cast, "Stupefy!" Fiona wasn't going to miss not even by a millimetre when there could be repercussions if she did.

hi everyone! we're here physically but uh maybe not the other ways???
 

Blocking Fiona's Spell
 

Honestly, she really had no clue how she was holding herself together. Her body was acting of its own accord with her mind only slightly tethered to it, enough for her to think about her family and the poor muggles that were around her. That was it. She was not strong enough to think about other things. Casting a small glance at Fiona and her inch perfect spell at the muggle, she scowled and turned back to her brother, all the more appreciative that he’d missed.

“I…I haven’t seen any of them Adam. Not Vi. Not Thess. Not…not Leighton”.

Her voice shook as she looked at him, hoping that he’d come out with some amazing answer to all their problems but she knew there was nothing that could be done. They had to stay here. She knew it.

“Stupify!” she yelled, her spell slightly closer to one of he muggles this time but still not hitting the mark.

Oops.

WHY WERE THEY THROWING MAGIC AT THEM????

The obviously frightened muggles scrambled and tripped over each other in an effort to get away. They didn’t know what the strange spells did and were not interested to find out.

...So close, almost there.

A flash of light (a spell being deflected by a shield—how did all that get there) caught their attention. They looked back at the kids, only long enough to realise it must have been their doing. They had their wands out and LOOK one was trying to cast at them again. Once again, it bounced off a shield they could hardly see.

“Don’t kill us!” One begged, falling and nearly being trampled by those who once again began running. Thankfully, someone helped them up and together they all got to the castle corridor and RAN LIKE MAD even more.

BbBbbBbyyYyyyYyyyEeeEeeEe!

Kinda steamed at Valencia...
 

Violet had thought for sure that her Muggle-repelling spell cast from the other direction might turn the Muggles away from the castle, but either she hadn't done it right or it had deflected off something...what in Merlin's name was it? There was a shield blocking the Muggles from spells--the spells that were supposed to be keeping them from entering the castle.

She looked in dismay at the pack of frightened Muggles rushing into the entrance corridor and could not think of a spell that would stop all of them, even if she could reach them with it. Frustrated, she ran out and confronted Valencia. [b]"Well, that's kept them safe, all right--safe from anything anyone could do to try to stop them. And now they're running loose in the castle and who knows what will happen to them. Any bright ideas now?"

Fiona is very livid!
 

Fiona was livid at Valencia for blocking her spell and therefore letting the Muggles inside the castle corridor. It was time for a drastic move on the Snakette's part. She moved closer to the Muggles and screamed with venom in her voice, "FLIPENDO DUO!!" Once that was done she whipped around and headed for Valencia who was being confronted by her fellow Snakette, Violet.

"Violet is right. They're not safe whilst Rosier and those hooded figures are around. They're most likely going to be sacrificed anyway."

"We need to find them a clear path away from the castle--they'll just keep running in panic if we keep firing spells at them from every direction. They need to think that the direction toward the castle is less desirable than the path away from it," Violet added. But which direction would be safe for them? She wasn't sure how to get them out of the castle to safety, when the students couldn't even rescue themselves right now. After the deadly incident she'd witnessed back at the class site, she wasn't very optimistic about the fate of these people.

The shield charm in place, the Slytherin's knockback jinx had little effect--not that it would've helped much considering it would've only knocked them further away from the group of children and further into the castle.

Nothing mattered.

While the students decided what the best plan was, the muggles scrambled to the end of the corridor and took a turn vanishing deeper into the castle. Uh...that...that might be a problem....

While you work at your muggle wrangling, a piece of parchment comes floating by. It's size is not much to take note of, but soon enough it speaks and when it does it is the voice of your Headmaster.

Returning to class (aka DADA #2 thread) and slight rearranging
 

Fiona was ready to say something to Valencia when a piece of parchment cascaded and then she heard Headmaster Rosier's voice instructing them to collect their belongings. Obeying his orders, she headed for the gate.

Uhhh back to class
 

As Ingrid’s eyes moved around the courtyard in search of her family, a piece of parchment floated nearby. What did it mean, they were going to be taken care of? No. Looking up, her eyes lingered on the muggles as they wandered into the castle. Away from her and some of the other children who were actually trying to help them and most likely to their death.

Eyes watering, she ignored the rest of the students, some who were arguing, and wandered back into the classroom to get her things. Every step that she took seemed to be so heavy and yet, she knew she had no choice but to go back to where that poor muggle man had been murdered. The tears were now streaming down her face as she entered the castle again, even forgetting to drag her brother with her.

She felt dead inside.

~ New Timeline ~ Come one come all
 

Lucien had stewed over the field trip for the last two days. His attitude toward the children had darkened further, his demeanor in general had grown darker and less tolerant after what he had heard. Not only had it not been the great success he was hoping for, the children had clearly still not learned enough of...anything.

What was left to do? Killing them all would be the easier route at this point. The alliance had spread throughout Europe. There were other wizarding schools, the future was no in jeopardy of losing just the Hogwarts brood. In fact, he didn't even have to kill them all, just the ones that had proven time and time again they refused to adapt and would be of no use in the new world order they would create.

They would not survive anyhow.

But no, he had better ideas for the moment. At 4:30 AM, bright and early, the Headmaster walked out to the courtyard, followed behind by the squad and his followers. They lined the corridors that bordered the courtyard and waited.

Suddenly, a LOUD alarm went off. One that would be shockingly loud and clear no matter where you happened to be sleeping.

Seconds later, his voice boomed through the entire castle, as loud as the alarm:

"Everyone with any will to live will report to the courtyard. I don't care to wait for you to get properly dressed, we have enough charms to handle the weather. This is not a request. I'm quite done making those. You have ten minutes." Gracious allowance for those in the towers.

Summoned (Fiona felt it was best to wear her uniform)
 

Fiona had just managed to get to sleep when she had heard the announcement by Headmaster Rosier. As quickly as possible, she had changed from her PJs into her school uniform which consisted of her shirt, trousers, robes, tie and socks and shoes before quickly making her way to the courtyard. She had practised the art of being prepared over the past few months but this announcement did throw her off a bit so she wasn't as immaculately dressed as she would normally be.

She had arrived less than five minutes after the announcement, quickly straightening her tie and smoothing down any creases and looked at Headmaster Rosier and his entourage. The Snakette stood still and uttered not a sound.

You thought Moose would be sleeping!? What little sleep the Second Year could get was clearly and constantly restless all term long. Even so the BOOMING voice of the Headmaster still tossed him right out of his bed.

It was a fast path from the Dungeons to the Courtyard, but still Moose wasn't going to show up at the last minute. Not even if he could help it. He tossed on his shoes while still in his Pajamas and threw his Slytherin Robe over them as a means to keep himself a bit warm in the Courtyard.

It took him 5 minutes tops to make it to the Courtyard. In his sleepy state yet awake enough to know his surroundings. He spotted Emm there with Kinsay but also so Ashley as well. He wanted to go stand beside Kinsay. Even turned to face their direction but corrected his course and walked toward Ash instead. After a while it just felt like a better idea to stand with the other Muggleborns. They were being forced to in all their classes so why not here as well. Shows that he can follow even unspoken commands.

It had been a rough week, for several reasons. News of happenings traveled fast and Finneas was just about reaching his breaking point. The only thing keeping him going was keeping outwardly focused on his students. That, and the adrenaline.

Coincidentally, the adrenaline is also what got him out of bed this morning (rather clumsily, mind you). In his haste, he managed to get dressed, putting on a pair of khakis, a button up, and a sweater vest (which he may have put on ... backwards). Then, after he had slipped on his pair of trusty loafers, he quickly made his way out the door and towards the courtyard as fast as his twitchy body would allow. Upon arrival, he noticed two of the muggleborn students (Ashley and Moose) sticking together on one side of the gathered crowd. And so, instinctively, Finneas bumbled his way over towards them to stand just behind.

Whatever this could be, it would not be good.

Huh?

Kinsay was, by all means, a morning person. She was always one of the first to wake up in the dorm no matter how late she had gone to bed the night before. This, unfortunately, meant that she cherished every wink of sleep she could get. And because her internal clock wasn't meant to wake her up for another 1.5 hours, she woke up to the blaring alarms in a state of pure panic.

She didn't even have time to rub the sleep out of her eyes when Emm jumped out of bed, signaling that Kizzy needed to do the same. Luckily she managed to grab her wand, but didn't even have time to put on a pair of slippers before she was pulled out of the room. Still half asleep, she stumbled alongside the best friend as they made their way to the courtyard, where ... Headmaster Rosier ... and the Hoods ... and the others were waiting for them. Kiz felt a drop in her stomach and though she had been pretty sleepy before, she was wide awake now. And because she didn't want to look over at the Headmaster, she looked everywhere else instead: at Moose who she wished would stand near them, at Hufflepuff Cal who was wearing just one sock, at Ashley Fox whose gaze she would rather avoid, at one of the older students, and then at her own, bare feet.

Eden went on a run every morning. Today was no exception in that regard - although normally she ran across the grounds, not out of her common room and down a million stairs to the courtyard.

The Neo-Alliance Army, the morning chill, Rosier's positively thunderous expression - Eden found it all surreal. She couldn't manage a single emotion other than tiredness and the ever-present fear caution she always carried around these days. She noticed Mamie, Ashley and Moose already stood apart from their magical blooded peers. Eden went and stood next to Mamie and Moose; she kept a bit of distance between herself and Ashley, however, since she didn't want Rosier to think she was trying to stand next to the other "troublemaker".

The first year had been wearing an oversized black t-shirt and a pair of pink sweatpants when she was woken up by the chilling sound of Rosier's voice booming through the castle. Afraid of being late, she hadn't changed, just hurried into trainers and gotten on with it. Now she stuffed her hands under her armpits for warmth, wishing she'd brought gloves or a jacket. This wasn't really the outfit she imagined meeting her maker in. At least she wasn't Kinsay James (thank the deities every day for that, amirite?) who'd come barefoot!

Feel free to say Professor P hustled your brain baby along
 

If Neva had been caught off guard by the alarm, it didn’t show. The Charms Professor arrived quickly and quietly, her coat buttoned up to the cold. She noted the children already in attendance, relieved to see some of the ones she knew Rosier had a particular dislike for had already arrived. Tardiness was not going to be accepted, she was sure, and she just hoped the others would hurry along. She’d already shooed as many sleepy children through the corridors as she could on her way here, reminding them to stay silent and do as they were told. That was the best way for them right now and the clock was ticking..

Standing at the edge of the crowd, she continued to usher the children towards the group. She was just hoping none of them pushed their luck today. She was hoping they were too tired to. Fingers crossed.

———

She’d fallen off her bed, Cece had. Her dreams had been vivid and scary, which only added to the fear she felt when she found herself on the floor in a tangle of blankets, alarm blaring. Rosier’s voice was worse, though. That voice sent a shiver up her spine and she was on her feet in a flash, pulling a heavy jumper on over her pajamas, a knit hat over her tangle of blonde hair. She’d just had time to pull on her boots before she rushed out the door. Sleepy who? Any sleepiness she’d felt was long gone now.

Her heart was racing in her chest as she neared the courtyard, her stomach FILLED with dread. This was really bad. She could feel it. And she felt scared. It made it worse that she couldn’t find Sammy in the crowd and she just hoped that he’d get here fast. Surely Coop or Catherine would help him along. She trusted them to.

Through the crowd she spotted Kale and a whole new wave of fear washed over her, especially after they’d talked. She knew what he thought was going to happen to him and she knew how he was struggling and she was going to stick by him right now, hand reaching down to squeeze his, eyes filled with fear. He’d made her a promise, did he remember? To try and control his own actions. To try so he’d be okay. She was holding him to that right now.

At the courtyard in 10 minutes...

Had this been for lets say, a class, Minjae would have turned around and slept for another 5 minutes but the tone in the Headmaster's voice automatically made him move out of bed as if under the imperius curse.

The Hufflepuff got dressed in his uniform with his tie hanging loose around his neck, spend a few minutes trying to locate his shoes before remembering he could do magic and took one quick look in the mirror and grumbled knowing he could do nothing about his bedhead hair.

Reaching the courtyard with a slightly puffy face he had eaten in the middle of the night , Minjae's unease heightened upon seeing the Alliance surrounding the courtyard. He held his alder wand in his hand yet concealed under his Hufflepuff robe sleeve and quietly waited.

Shreya didn't know if she should be concerned that the sound of the alarm hadn't exactly surprised her. Startled, yes. But she had been filled with so much doom-and-gloom lately that she figured it would only be a matter of time before the Neo-Alliance started taking more drastic measures. Perhaps 4:30 AM meetings were the first step in that direction.

Still dressed in her sleeping attire, she pulled a long, heavy cloak over her shoulders as she hustled toward the Courtyard, ushering a few students along with her as she did so. This was certainly not a time for dilly-dallying.

She was anxious, that was certain. And it disturbed her that she knew as little as the students did about whatever was about to happen. But Shreya didn't let it show. She steeled her resolve and took a stand near the perimeter of the group, keeping a side-eyed gaze on the students. Just in case.

Avalon didn't know it was humanly possible to wake up with more dread in the pit of your stomach. She decided that Rosier's blaring voice was absolutely the worst possible alarm clock. The Ravenclaw rushed down the stairs from Ravenclaw Tower and into the courtyard, fearful of what was about to happen, but knowing there was no use in trying to stay behind.

It wasn't until she arrived at the meeting spot that she realized she wasn't wearing shoes. Ohhh, this was bad. She crossed her arms, both because of her nervousness and to generate warmth, keeping one hand secretly tucked into her robe—where her wand was. Her eyes flicked around the area anxiously, suddenly feeling very alone.

Being woken up at 4:30 am wasn't terrible. Being woken up by the insane alarm along with the evil man's booming voice wasn't terrible either. Neither was having only gotten maybe an hour of sleep, if she was lucky. No, all of these things she could've handled under more 'normal' circumstances.

The circumstances weren't normal though. It hadn't been since day one here at Hogwarts. So when she had finally managed to fall asleep sometime around 3 am that morning, the very last thing she had wanted was to be woken up so soon. She was still very much recovering from her injuries from some previous lessons she didn't want to mention. Not to mention the reoccurring nightmares that caused her to wake up drenched in sweat, tears and sometimes screaming. Sorry dormies.

There was an immediate panic that flooded through every inch of her small body at the sound of the alarm and Rosier's voice. Dahlia practically tumbled out of her bed, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she tugged on a pair of socks and a pair of boots. Yawning widely into her arm she grabbed a waaaaaaay to large hoodie from her trunk which most definitely wasn't hers, thanks Tadhg and tugged it on over her pjs.

Messy hair, don't care, that's what the hood was for. Another yawn and more rubbing at her tired eyes, Lia made her way from the dorm, into the corridors and alllllllll the way out to the courtyard as fast as she could without completely falling down any stairs.

Probably looking even tinier and very much unlike her happier self, the young Ravenclaw joined the growing crowd. Blue eyes only searched for a couple of people... none she saw as of yet. This only made her heart race in her chest and her breath quicken. Merlin help them all if they didn't get here real soon.

Sleep what was sleep? Tadhg doesn't think he had a full good night of sleep since the Headmaster took reign. Although Tadhg just gotten to sleep not too long ago when he was awoken by the alarm and the booming voice of their lovely Headmaster. Letting out a groan and rolling his eyes he gotten up and gotten dressed. In his pajamas bottoms and shirt he grabbed his slytherin green hoodie putting it on along with his socks and shoes slipping them on.


His blue eyes were filled with worry about Lia and his Claw and Lion friends in the tower, it was a long way. Biting his lip he walked towards the courtyard not saying a word. His blue eyes looking around he sighed in relief seeing Lia there, but what about Quinn and them? Walking towards Lia he let out a small smirk like smile seeing her wearing one od his hoodies.


Taking her hand in his he squeezed it in comfort to calm her down the best he could. He wasn't going to let go, they would have to make him do so. Besides having his hand in hers calmed him down from everything that was going on. Standing beside Lia his hand in hers he waited.

4:30 AM! What on god’s green earth had made the headmaster decide to get them up at this hour Ingrid did not know. What she did know was that the pyjama top that she had on over her hoodie and the fluffy magnolia pyjama bottoms she had on were soooo comfortable, even as she wandered through the halls at this time of the morning. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea but she was way too sleepy to do more than that at this point. After all, she still hadn’t had her morning cup of tea and shortbread biscuit yet! Times at Hogwarts were indeed getting darker.

Wand in hand, she wandered out into the courtyard and blended into the crowd near Avalon and Ivy – her fellow Ravenclaw - or rather, behind her because she for sure didn’t want to be seen at this particular moment in time.

Violet had more than enough reasons to hate Rosier already, but waking them up in the middle of the night was definitely right up on the list. She'd pulled on her school robes over her nightgown and woolen leggings and thrust her already-stockinged feet into her outdoor shoes and hurried out to the courtyard. But not before grabbing her wand, too--just in case. Violet never went anywhere or did anything without it nowadays.

Lurking in the back of the growing crowd of students, she began looking around to see who (and what) was there and trying to get a sense of her surroundings (though that was hard since it was still dark). The stars overhead seemed brighter than usual, and in unusual formations. Violet guessed it must be very early in the morning, a time that she had seldom observed the stars.

Ten minutes to get to the Courtyard!!

He had a will to live.

Noah quickly got dressed in his robes, splashed some water on his face to look relatively awake (or as alive he could possibly present himself), touched up his hair with a brush, and then skedaddled all the way down the stairs and out the door.

Phew. He made it. Just on time. He saw his peers waiting all quietly and thus he walked quietly over to stand next to Minjae. He gave his friend a small smile and a nudge before looking over to see what was about to happen.

Noah + Minjae
 

Well.

This was it.

Aboli thought so, anyway. It was in the middle of the night, the alarm...had sounded angry, and she was just so so so so so scared. She spoke to no one as she ascended to the courtyard besides the spare younger Slytherins here and there, brushing her gloved hand against one every now and again in comfort.

Or maybe it wasn't comforting at all, but she did it anyway.

She fell in line next to Noah, slipping her hand into his, her heart beating so quickly that she hardly acknowledged Minjae who was standing nearby. But she did give him a nod. Gosh. They were both muggleborns, too. She was fearful for them. What was Rosier about to do?!

all sorts of brief references and acknowledgements here
 

quickie with a few mentions
 

Mentions of Kinsay and Emmerson
 

making my triumphant return with.... a very shaken Quinn; mention of Eden uwu
 

Quinn was much more than disheveled this morning.

Ever since the absolutely nerve-wracking chaos that was the field trip, he had been extremely worried about... well, everything. And especially now that he'd finally had The Conversation with Bernie, he was especially on edge. He was honestly worried that he was going to get killed by coming here, that somehow Rosier had found out they'd had one single conversation and everything was over with. But he would definitely die if he didn't go, so... what was he to do?

Quinn stumbled out into the courtyard in his pajamas and that was it. He immediately regretted this, but he was in such a rush to make sure he didn't die that he hadn't thought about it. Now he was walking across cold stones barefoot, shivering from cold (and nerves, but you wouldn't know it) and trying to catch his breath while the frigid air stripped his lungs raw. His bedhead and the bags under his eyes only heightened the visage of an absolute wreck.

He went and stood wordlessly next to Eden, waiting for Rosier to Avada Kedavra him out of existence.

Norman didn’t mind waking up at this hour. He was an early riser by nature and would’ve been awake about an hour from now for his morning run anyway. What he did mind was waking up to Rosier’s voice (aka the most irritating sound in existence) blaring through the castle. At the sound of that alarm, he sprang into action. He practically leapt out of bed, tugging on his shoes and a sweatshirt over his pajama top. Grabbing his wand on his way out the door, he ran down the flights of stairs as fast as his legs could go, ushering along any students he saw on the way.

He made his way into the courtyard, standing in the spot that gave him the best vantage point to watch the students, Rosier, and his followers all at the same time. Despite his nonchalant outward appearance, he had a bad feeling about this. He’d encountered dark wizards before, and all of those encounters eventually ended one way. Was this the time? Merlin, he hoped not! If what he expected did happen now, these children were in very real danger!



These days, Heath wasn’t sleeping much. He had been lying in bed, tossing and turning in a vain attempt to fall asleep, when he heard the alarm. Suddenly wide awake, he three the blankets off and got out of bed. He was able to get his shirt, trousers, and shoes on in under a minute - thank Merlin he was used to quick wardrobe changes! For once, his theatrical experience actually came in handy this term! He pulled his school sweater over his head as he rushed out the portrait hole. There wasn’t time to put on his robes and tie, but half a uniform was better than none at all, right?

He sprinted the rest of the way to the courtyard, his heart pounding faster with every step, though he wasn’t sure if that was from the exertion of running the whole way or from the sense of dread creeping over him. What was this about? Was this a mass execution? Were they being summoned in the middle of the night to die? Feelings of fear and impending doom overwhelmed him, emotions that he hadn’t felt this strongly since that night two terms ago when he thought he was going to fade from existence. Just like that day, he hoped that if he did die here, he’d go before…

Heath’s dark eyes searched the courtyard for the girlfriend, but he didn’t see her anywhere. Please let her make it here in time, he thought frantically as he stood near a group of his housemates (Avalon, Ivy & Ingrid).

Rosier stood in stone silence, watching the students and professors enter the courtyard. He half expected their to be grumbling, questioning, protests about the ungodly hour. To their credit--and perhaps to avoid certain death, none did. In fact, the only to speak had been Nemesis Upstead and while the man needed a word with that one, he did little more than nod in his direction, his lips still pressed into a hard line.

As the last of whoever had a grain of common sense trudged in, he got right into it.

"I've tried with you. Merlin knows I have. Disappointment and defiance after disappointment and defiance. Your inability to adapt is telling. It says to me you won't survive the new world and there's no longer reason to keep trying with you." He wished he could say he was surprised by the outcome but these children...even the staff. It had been a long term thus far.

"It's been brought to my attention that some of you..." He paused, taking a leveling breath to remember the patience he had decided on. His voice carried in icy calm fashion. "Decided to try alerting the outside world to the happenings of the castle. Did you really think it would work? Did you HONESTLY think that if you could have made ANY difference at this point, I would have let you leave? You don't get it, do you? A new world is coming whether you like it or not. We're already all over Europe. Do you think this is the only school? Do you think we haven't gotten everything figured out?" This movement went far above them. "Actions have consequences. You are fast outliving your usefulness and have lost your privilege of freedom."

At his next pause, he rolled out some parchment. "The following students will be escorted to their new quarters, no longer allowed to roam the castle. You have your friends who decided to play hero and deviate from what they were brought there to do to thank. Some of you have your tainted families for that."

"Williamson, step forward." He called the man. He had a few things in mind. "Men, secure the children. If any give you trouble, take them, too." He was not fussed. There was enough room, even for those who had not originally been on the list.

couple mentions but uh...her .5 braincell she shares with Kizzy is acting up
 

Being awoken at the crack of dawn by the alarm and voice of headman Rosier had not been what Bella had been dreaming about that this day would start with. Tumbling out of bed she had sleepily put her robes on and hastily pulled a comb through her hair, and made sure her dormmates we're up before she left for the courtyard; being ushered there by Professor Recard.

Bella was scared and worried for what was to come. Entering the courtyard she only caught the tail end of headmaster Rosier's speech as she silently made a beeline for Apollo's comforting and safe figure noting who was there and who wasn't in her year and house. Coming up beside Apollo she slipped a her left hand into his as she whispered to him."What's going on? Who are being escorted where and why?"

When the headman gave the order, those lining the corridors moved forward through the crowd of teachers and students, roughly pushing anyway who stood in their way before latching on to those who had had their names read.

They took firm hold of the children, ready to drag them away. After. They were not done here, afterall.

The utter defiance of the pureblood child (Cambridge) did not faze them. One simply grabbed her, too. Resistance was not advised, but it was expected. For that reason, extra space had been made.

And another who clearly did not take the Headmaster's ten minutes seriously (Connolly). To arrive at the end of his speech meant she would have been late. One grabbed her. She would learn today.

Did any others dare defy?

Did she see this coming? She wasn't sure, but it didn't shock her either. She couldn't help the relief sigh when she didn't hear her own children in that list, but she didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad at this point. It meant that these people thought her own children would work for them and she really thought they wouldn't until she heard some of the things that went on at that trip. Did her own child really help?

Cassie couldn't think further that that thought because there were many names on that list that worried her, all of those names really, but Bernadette was one that really worried her. Could the girl just please do what she was told so she could survive this? Cassie wanted to beg her, but dared not to move. Curtis was the other name, her god son, she wanted to grab his arm and protectivity place him behind her.

She moved just a bit, but she stood still and didn't make another move. She just bit her lip hard and stood watching everything going on.


Gemma had been standing quietly, she had been doing what she was told for awhile, but it seemed that her efforts at the trip to let dragons free so the ministry would come were failures. It seemed by the headmaster's words that they already had control in those places. She felt the tears in her eyes as the realization that this was never going away, that her dad might be in danger or they might not ever see him again hit her.

She wanted to run to her mother, but she stayed still. The only thing that came from her was a whisper, Not Curtis no, no, they couldn't take him. They couldn't hurt him or any of her other friends.

Please don't hurt them.

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?!

CAAATCHING up. Feel free to be the student standing near June <3
 

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?

Mention of Schmoe
 

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?

uh.....
 

I'll be back with a Schmoe whose heart is breakin
 

mentions of some fellow jailbirds
 

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.

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.

Mentions here and there, Ash, Eden, Quinn and Devon!
 

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?!

Lots of mentions!
 

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.

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.

A few brief mentions throughout and then Valencia and Rosier at the end
 

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.

do as u wish, headmaster
 

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.

welp
 

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.