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Post by hohum on Jan 20, 2008 0:21:31 GMT -5
Lucinda pulled on her robes over her school uniform and sped out of the Girls' Dormitory, jumping the last few steps. A couple stragglers were left in the Gryffindor Common Room, but Lucinda paid them no attention as she clambered out of the portrait hole and bolted down the seventh floor corridor. Dinner had already commenced, no doubt, and Lucinda was instructed to meet her headmaster down in the courtyard during the beginning of the feast.
Lucinda herself had been immersed in a book, attempting to take her mind off of what was to come. She had to admit that she wasn’t exactly tuned into the story she was reading, for her thoughts carried her elsewhere - to places she dreaded to go and visions she dreaded to see. Never once had she been so nervous. No, nerves weren’t the only thing that was biting at her psyche. A little guilt, tinged with anger were running through her veins as well.
She hopped carelessly over the trick step as she made it down the seven flights of stairs in record time. How she managed this was beyond her, but Lucinda knew that she was a little on the late side. Not by much, but she had never been late for anything in her entire life. She was either early or right on time. She wanted to kick herself, but tried hard not to think much about it.
As she reached the Entrance Hall, she was nearly out of breath. She forced herself to continue on, despite her physical limits. Some of her Gryffindor buddies waved to her, calling her into the Great Hall to join them. She did not stop as she ran passed them, but shouted that she might be late for dinner that night. She hadn’t exactly told anybody that she was going to see the Headmaster, nor did she think he would want her to.
Bursting through the giant oak doors, Lucinda could not help but to pause for a second in order to catch her breath. Panting, she could see her breath, a cloud of steamy smoke emanating from her mouth. It was not completely night, but the darkness was beginning to fall, taking its toll on nature. There was a dim light still being cast upon the grounds, enough for Lucinda to make out Headmaster Daylor’s form in the courtyard.
She narrowed her eyes at him, standing up straighter and walking toward him. Each step she took toward him was another step toward what she did and didn’t want to know. She had heard rumors about what happened to her father. Some say that he perished and his body was simply hidden from view. Others say that he was being tortured every day by the Death Eaters, either in compensation for those he had killed or captured or for Ministry information. These thoughts were what taunted her day and night. She could barely sleep over them, because either of them could easily be true. The Slytherins especially enjoyed the vision of her pain in such ways. They promoted much of the jeering and it took an incredible amount of strength (strength that Lucinda didn’t even know she had) from cursing the lot of them.
Lucinda walked straight, her breathing coming back to normal pace. She approached the Headmaster finally, looking back at the castle once. There was a small silence as she approached, so she thought she had better say something.
“Sorry I’m late, Headmaster,” she mumbled, a little sulkily. “Lost track of time.”[/size]
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Post by Headmaster Brendan Daylor on Jan 21, 2008 9:45:20 GMT -5
Brendan turned around and saw the Gryffindor girl coming up his way. Brendan just stood smiling and watching her reach him. "Oh, you needn't hurry so much. We have still ten minutes to spare." He began walking forward. "Come." As they walked for a few moments in silence he spoke again. "I have decided we will apparate to the ministry to meet Jerran there. We can have all this settled then." He walked to the end of the gates. "Lucinda are you sure you want to travel with us? It could be dangerous in case any--- thing--- could possibly attack while retrieving your er.. father."
He walked and stood. The gates in front of him. He raised his left hand at the gates and they began to open. Lucinda was on his left side so he hurried and retrieved his hand so she could not see. It was completely red and had been like that for nearly two and a half weeks. He and Lucinda walked to the middle of the prairie with the gates closing behind him. "Are you ready Lucinda? Side-by-side Appirition is sometimes not fun to those who've never appirated which I've heard from your father you never have. When your ready just grasp my cloak." He waited for Lucinda to respond.
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Post by hohum on Jan 21, 2008 10:02:42 GMT -5
“Now you tell me,” she muttered as Headmaster Daylor told her that they had a few moments to spare. She put her hands on her knees and breathed deeply in until she could breathe normally again. When she looked up, he was already a few paces ahead of her. So much for a few minutes to spare, she thought, and decided that she better loosen up on the sarcasm - even if it was only in her head.
She walked quickly to catch up with him. He told her his plan - how she would travel alongside him while he Apparated to the Ministry of Magic. From there, they would find the Minister of Magic and her father’s best friend, Jerran Maladene. Something he said struck her by surprise. He said that this could be dangerous. How so? How could simply going to the Minister to talk with him be dangerous? Then he mentioned traveling and everything began to make sense.
“So you are taking me…on this mission….to find my dad?” she asked slowly. What about Kat! she wanted to scream. Her grandfather is missing, too! She was a bit shocked at the fact that they were letting her do anything dangerous at all, that she couldn’t exactly find the right words to spit out. “W-what about Kat? And her grandfather? Are we searching for him too?” She couldn’t help but to feel a bit guilty about all this. But she vowed silently to herself that she would put just as much effort into finding Arthur Caldwell as her own father.
“He never wanted me to use Side-by-Side Apparation,” she said quietly. “Thought it would ruin the experience.” She wanted to smile, but couldn’t exactly do so. He told her that by doing Side-by-Side Apparation, you don’t get the full feel of Apparation. If absolutely necessary, he would have. But since that time never occurred, he never did so.[/size]
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Post by Headmaster Brendan Daylor on Jan 21, 2008 10:34:21 GMT -5
Brendan did not smile but however spoke. "Oh, Mr. Caldwell has already been found. Ministry found him 2 days ago. He is currently safe by the Ministry. Apparently he used to be in the Ministry and wanted information. Your dad, however, used to be with us in the er--- certain business 12 years ago before you were born. Apparently they want information on us."
He stopped pacing. He looked at Lucinda. "Are you ready? This will be fast and a little uncomfortable OK? Grasp my cloak and be ready!" As she did he spun on the spot. Everything went black then they appeared in a deserted Ministry of Magic. "Ah, now let's find the Minister." He began to walk with Lucinda behind him.
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Post by hohum on Jan 21, 2008 10:46:35 GMT -5
Daylor said that Arthur Caldwell had already been found two days ago. Was he lying to her? It wasn't in the Daily Prophet this morning. Lucinda would know, she had stacks of them from every single edition hidden under her bed as she hoped her own father's reappearance would be on it. At least Kat would be safe now, and their adventure was not required. She had to admit that she was a bit dissappointed. She wanted this adventure with Kat. Lucinda knew that she wanted to prove to everyone that a Hufflepuff was more than what they appear, or how stereotypical people viewed them. Lucinda thought she was amazing, whether she was a Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Gryffindor. Slytherin would be going a bit far...
Daylor explained how her father had been on Ministry business since before she was born. She knew this. He was an Auror before he met her mum, and still when Lucinda and Carisle was born. He became the Head of Department of Mysteries after her mother died, shortly after the birth of Carlisle. Their motive gave Lucinda the chills. He was probably suffering, in great pain, as they torture him for information. The image came on so fast that she had to physically shake it off.
He told Lucinda to instantly grab onto his cloak, for the Apparation would be uncomfortable, but fast. No kidding! The moment she did, he Apparated and it was like swirling in a dark hole. She clutched on harder as she went spinning with him. He seemed comfortable enough. No wonder father never wanted me to do this! This sucks! It was finally over and she staggered as she hit solid ground. She felt her head spinning, and stood still until she could see straight. Daylor gestured for her to follow him. So much for time, for he seemed like he was in a rush. Lucinda walked behind him, getting familiar with the already familiar surroundings.
The Ministry of Magic wasn't as boisterous and busy as it normally was. Many officials had gone missing, but it appeared that there were more that just didn't come. This was slightly unsettling to Lucinda, but she followed the Headmaster through anyway, having no idea what she was going to say to Jerran. Thinking about him made her feel guilty for her explosion the first time she had come to talk to him.[/size]
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Post by Jerran Maladene on Jan 21, 2008 13:31:00 GMT -5
Jerran heard someone getting into the Ministry and they told him the Headmaster wanted to see him. He walked to the place as he opened his office looking to his assistant. "Let them enter when they are here."Jerran said. He then walked back into his office.
He grabbed some stuff signed some papers and trew them away as they went flying into the elevator. He grabbed some drinks and put two chairs waiting for them to enter.
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Post by Headmaster Brendan Daylor on Jan 21, 2008 13:36:59 GMT -5
Brendan entered without a knock on the door. He looked solemn at Jerran and saw the chairs and drink. "I don't think we have a moment to spare Jerran. We are journeying remember and I must be back by no later than 4:00 A.M. it is right now 10:47." He looked stunned. Maybe they did have time. "Maybe we do. Thirteen minutes won't hurt. Lucinda please sit. Jerran we best discuss our way of finding er you know!"
He didn't sit but merely summoned the cup to him and began to drink. "I believe portkey would be best to travel. We will be way far out you know. I've checked the Shrieking Shack, Godrics Hallow, and Midst of London so those are out of the question. We're on a tight schedule so best drink fast Ms. Chaplin."
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Post by hohum on Jan 21, 2008 13:50:07 GMT -5
Daylor shuffled through the familiar oak door that led into Jerran’s office. Lucinda had been there many times. Jerran and her father were good friends and he as over their house often during the summers. Lucinda smiled slightly at the memories, but was interrupted by Daylor’s babble about how they didn’t have much time. He glanced down at his watch, correcting himself as they apparently had thirteen minutes left. Why must grown-ups be so precise?
Daylor told her to sit down, but drink quickly for they were on a tight schedule. Everything went so fast that Lucinda had to catch herself, not bothering to sit down or take a drink. He was keeping something from her - she wasn’t that oblivious. She liked to pride herself in her sharp mind, but had to admit that she was confused as to what was going on. He immediately babbled on about where he had checked. Those were such idiotic places to look, considering that Kade Chaplin didn’t disappear anywhere near there.
“Hold on!” she interrupted. “What…is going…on?” She hated being left out in the dark. She looked from Jerran to Daylor and back again. “Where are we going? Why are we on such a time crunch? Finding someone takes time! I’d be out there for as long as it takes!” All this secrecy was irritating, and she waited for one of them to respond.[/size]
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Post by Jerran Maladene on Jan 21, 2008 13:55:55 GMT -5
Jerran looked to Brendan as he entered. "I will help you don't worry Brendan everything will be alright."Jerran said looking to him. As a young girl entered into the office it saw it was Lucinda again. "Oh great not again ok."Jerran said looking to Lucinda.
He heard her questions as he looked to Brendan. "Will you tell it to her because the last time you got a bit angry that I told about it so it is your turn now to tell."Jerran said taking something to drink. He hate it when something happened like this but now it was his time for Brendan to tell.
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Post by Headmaster Brendan Daylor on Jan 21, 2008 13:56:14 GMT -5
He looked at Lucinda still not smiling. "We have thoughts of your fathers whereabouts. We have found clues and ways to find him. Just this morning we recently discovered he is near Azkaban outside that is. We have no sure where. I and another Ministry employee searched. We believe it's got the Vanishing Spell on it."
He sipped and shewed the glass away back to the table. "Jerran I think it's time to go. I will set the portkey. It will leave without us in 5 minutes if we don't hurry." He turned to the trophy on the case. "Gemino!" He figured this would give ideas for Lucinda to learn spells. Portkey's however take time to master. The trophy copied itself. He pointed his phoenix wand at the copy and whispered, "portus!" It glowed bright blue. "Ready?"
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Post by hohum on Jan 21, 2008 14:06:57 GMT -5
Lucinda instantly felt the guilt rise in her face as Jerran asked Daylor to explain the complications. Last time their encounter wasn't so hot. Lucinda looked down to avoid his eyes and shuffled her feet a bit. She took out her wand and began to twist it in her hands.
"I'm sorry about that," she mumbled to him. "I didn't...I just..." she sighed, finding nothing that she would say to make up for her bad behaviour.
She kept her head bowed as Daylor explained that they had certain clues as to Kade Chaplin's whereabouts. Apparently he was somewhere outside Azkaban prison. This new information made her feel a bit uneasy, and she shifted from side to side for a moment. She had never experienced what the Dementors' wraths could do, but her father told her that it wasn't pretty.
The Dementors were not behaving themselves, as she read in the Daily Prophet. Many turned against the guards, using their malicious powers against them. Lucinda took a deep breath. Great, they probably had some of their Dementor buddies sucking out her father's soul. She shuddered.
Suddenly, it was time to go. Daylor made a random Portkey, stating that it would leave in a few minutes. Lucinda immediately stepped up and touched the Portkey. She was not missing out on this.[/size]
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Post by Jerran Maladene on Jan 21, 2008 14:08:11 GMT -5
"I will come later Brendan it will be done later but first I need to take care of something else."Jerran said. "Goodluck with what you can do I will come soon after you guys."Jerran said. He drank some more as he looked to Lucinda. "Grab the Trophy and follow Brendan I will meet you soon."Jerran said pointing to another Trophy that was for him. "You also don't have to be sorry Lucinda everything is fine."Jerran said smiling.
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Post by Headmaster Brendan Daylor on Jan 21, 2008 14:17:02 GMT -5
Brendan gave a look at Jerran. "We agreed 11:00. I will not leave you. We agreed Jer. Remember our bond in our sixth year? We stick together no matter what. Friends wait with friends and stick side-by-side. We have 2 minutes before it leaves. Grab now and we go! Besides you know not which place near Azkaban I ported it. Perhaps, hundreds of miles right next to it you never know. A minute 30 are you ready or not?"
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Post by hohum on Jan 21, 2008 14:27:44 GMT -5
"What? You have to go!" Lucinda looked up at Jerran suddenly, as he proposed that he would meet them later. Lucinda did NOT want to be left alone with Daylor. Most importantly, she couldn't help but want Jerran there more than anyone else.
Daylor seemed to be on the same side as Lucinda, except for different reasons, no doubt. He was extremely impatient, Headmaster Brendan Daylor was. He argued that he wouldn't leave without him. He started going on about how they made a friendship-bond of some sort during their sixth year at Hogwarts. This struck Lucinda as odd. She didn't know that Jerran and Daylor were friends in such ways. She must have missed it before, because it made more sense that way, considering all the stories Kade used to tell her.
Lucinda dropped her hand from the Portkey trophy and looked up at Jerran. She was NOT leaving him behind, just as much as Daylor wasn't. He made a few valid points, and Lucinda nodded in encouragement.
"Please?" she pleaded quietly. "Please come with us. We need you now. I need you now." They say that her guilt trip and sympathy eyes always did the trick, but she had never tried it in full force before with Jerran, especially since this time she really meant what she wanted.[/size]
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Post by Jerran Maladene on Jan 21, 2008 14:27:45 GMT -5
Jerran put a note for his assistant that he needed to cancle everything for him as he was going away. He send it to him as he looked to Brendan. "I am done."Jerran said closing his office and everything. "Now let's go."Jerran said ready to leave this place going with Brendan and Lucinda. He smiled to Lucinda as he saw her look. "I will come as you can see it is better not to leave you guys alone and not you Lucinda you know I always saw you as my child."Jerran said.
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