Waiting..

[Professor Zoe Black]

Once Zoe had left The Leaky Cauldron, she walked along the street and turned the corner. She came to a tube station.
She entered the station and walked over to one of the many benches dotted around the platform.
She sat down on the bench furthest from the entrance.
She looked to her left and saw a newspaper laid on the bench. She picked it up and began to read.

Prime Ministers' Mental Health Questioned

Yesterday, during a meeting with the PM, we asked him about the events in which he seemed to be going mad.
The Prime Minister told our reporters that, "he was acting completely normal and that our reporters are the ones who need their health checking."
When we asked him about this comment, he told our crew that he would not say such a thing as he was a kind and polite man.
He also says he does not remember the beginning of the interview and that the journalists are trying to confuse him.
We then questioned him, for a second time, about the events in which he seemed to be going mad.
He says that it is his family tradition to acted like a squirrel when they meet new people.
We then asked him why he had not done the same for our crew.
He told us that we are not important enough.
That, then, brings us to the conclusion that our Prime Minister is going mad, or he has a secret case of alcoholism.

Zoe chuckled, "oh, those Death Eaters do make me laugh, sometimes." She put the newspaper back on the bench. "What a cliche, putting the Prime Minister under the Imperius curse, yet again, as if we didn't expect that."
Zoe fell silent again and looked over to the entrance to wait for Hermione to come.

[Headmaster Brendan Daylor]

Brendan came wondering by as the Ministry just sent him off. He had been down visiting the ministry discussing a matter with the Department of Underage Sorcery. He stopped as he found one of his teachers yet also Order members. "Good evening Zoe." He said as he walked out. He saw she was holding the daily prophet. "I believe you read about the Prime Minister as I assume?"

He looked at her as she sat there reading the newspaper. "Might I just ask why you're here? I'm just curious." He sat next to Zoe while holding his wand in his hand as he sat talking to her. She seemed as though puzzled in the news.

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe saw the Headmaster approach her.
"Hello Professor," she said, politely, "yes, I did read about the Prime Minister. I wonder what the Death Eaters are plotting, putting him under the Imperious curse."
She paused for a minute to let him think, then she replied to his question.
"I'm waiting for Hermione, she should be here soon," she said, checking her watch, "we're just going to do a bit of shopping, it's much more fun with your friends." She smiled and then went back to her thoughts.

[Headmaster Brendan Daylor]

Brendan looked at her. "First off, Zoe you don't need to call me professor here, really." He pulled his wand and watered the grass by saying the simple words of "aguamenti" Water sprang from his wand giving the grass a little wetness. "Dear, it seems that Hermione is right now down visiting Paris with her husband Ronald and their two children." He paused.

"I believe one of them will be starting next year at Hogwarts." He jabbed his wand which stopped it from pouring water. He looked at Zoe. "I believe Bellatrix Lestrange is your cousin correct?" He asked. He pondered at his wand. The tip seemed a little bent.

"I... encounted her yesterday in the meadow near here. She seemed well happy. I believe the death eaters are forming again." He sighed and paused for a while. "I best suggest we keep close watch on Mr. James Potter while at Hogwarts this year!"

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe listened. "Hermione is Apparating here while Ron and the children go skiing in the French Alps. She always said she didn't like skiing.
"You are correct in thinking that Bellatrix Lestrange is my cousin, but I prefer to think she is not related to me at all.
"I suggest that Potter is kept under close watch, but do not tell him. I have heard the stories of his father and grandfather and it seems curiosity runs in the family. If you do tell him I believe he will only go looking for trouble."
Zoe watched a woman struggle to get two screaming children onto a train.

[Professor George Weasley]

George Weasley strolled by, reading the paper. He really should have been at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, but the Daily Prophet was revealing some... intriguing information. He'd been out of touch with the Order for a very long time - Fred's death had dislocated him from the society, which he partly blamed for his murder - but the Prime Minister's behavior was something they should know about.

George rounded a corner and, as luck would have it, Professors Black and Daylor were sitting by the Muggle train station, cold looks on their faces. George could only imagine. He walked up to the two of them casually. "Headmaster, Professor Black." Then he shook his head. "I know I'm not really supposed to be involved, but... um... the PM. He's... clearly under the Imperius Curse, if this article is remotely true. Just... just thought you should know."

George felt ridiculously awkward. He knew that he should just keep his nose down, but he didn't realize things with the new breed of Death Eaters were mounting so rapidly.

[Headmaster Brendan Daylor]

Brendan smiled as George came upon them. "I assume the Imperious Curse would most likely perhaps." Brendan stood showing gestures to have George sit. "Professor Weasley, I had the pleasure of someone telling me you had known Prime Minister Dugller am I not certain?" He had heard it from a friend of Percy Weasley, George's elder brother. "They said that his disappearance could be a portrayal of a Death Eater named Velagote Merdokke, the elder brother of formally Order member Arasol Merdokke, also an auror like your brother."

[Professor George Weasley]

George blinked. He hadn't remembered telling Headmaster Daylor that he knew the Prime Minister... but when the Headmaster mentioned the Merdokke brothers, George bit his lip and closed his eyes. Now wasn't a good time to get emotional... Arasol got a nice scar on his right cheek after insulting Fred to George's face. It was as if Headmaster Daylor knew the right thing to reel him in.

"Yeah, I know Prime Minister Dugller," George finally murmured to both Professor Black and the Headmaster. "A friend of my wife's. He's been acting... really odd lately. My wife thought it was just drugs, but... this article just cements it." George smacked the newspaper before turning his face away.

"...Those two left the Order, then? Or just Velagote?" George inquired. "...Never really liked them anyway."

[Professor Netta Barton]

Netta grabbed a butterbeer from the bar, paying the inn keeper with some of her smaller coins. The really were weighing down her purse. She had been meaning to put a feather light charm on it but she kept running out of time or forgetting about it when she did actually have time. It was ridiculous really. Some foam sloshed over then edge of her glass, spilling a small amount on the bar. Netta would have had something stronger, but it was too early for her to start drinking. That, and to honest, she wasn't that keen on alcohol. Butterbeer was far nicer.

She wandered across the room when she spotted a table of several Hogwarts teacher. Netta decided she might as well join them, it would be more interesting than having a drink on her own. "Having a staff meeting I didn't know about?" she asked. "Mind if I sit down?" She caught the last snippet of their conversation and frowned. "Talking about the PM?" she asked. Three questions in a row. How wonderful.

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe watched George closely.
She knew that he was still shaken up about Fred's death, after all, who wouldn't be, Fred and George had never parted.
She listened to his and the Headmasters conversation, but then was distracted as Professor Barton came over.
"Please do sit down," Zoe replied to her question, "yes, we are talking about the Prime Minister, we believe he is under the Imperious Curse."

[Professor Netta Barton]

"Thanks," replied Netta smiling. She thought briefly about what she knew of the situation with the Prime Minister. It wasn't a lot, only what could be gleaned from newspapers. "That would make sense, and it fits what I know," she told the others. "Any other issues?" Netta asked the others before taking a long sip of butterbeer. She hadn't had any since her last visit to Hogsmeade in the last Hogsmeade weekend of the last school term. And then it wasn't for enjoyment. She was keeping an eye on some of the rowdier students, they'd got it into their heads they could get away with it. She was glad that she'd proved them wrong.

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe nodded.
"James Potter," she said, "he's starting his first year at Hogwarts this year," she thought for a moment, "we think it best to keep an eye on him, with Bellatrix Lestrange sniffing around," she mentioned Bellatrix's name with utter disgust. "I believe it will be best not to tell him, however, as he will only get curious."

[Headmaster Brendan Daylor]

Brendan also nodded at Netta as to what she had asked and what Zoe had said. "I ran into her yesterday not to far from here. I believe the Death Eaters are going to try and attack soon. That is why with your specialties at charms. Zoe's specialty at dragons, George's at jokes and pranks and mine at dark arts defense and transfiguration, I believe we could have the school well protected." He looked around for anyone coming by.

"I believe..." He started. "that it would be best to start the Order meeting and perhaps prepare ourselves against Death Eaters with spells and other stuff." He looked at George. "We could really use you in the Order Weasley. It'd be great to have you."

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe surveyed George.
"Maybe it's best from him to come to us in his own time, Headmaster," she said, wisely, thinking of Fred.
Zoe wasn't even born when Fred died, but she knew that George was still troubled by it everyday.
"I'm sure the Dragons will be happy to help, but, I must warn you, if they refuse, there is nothing any sane person can do about it."

[Professor Netta Barton]

Netta nodded. She hoped Brendan was right about the school being protected. It wouldn't do any harm to fix up some extra defences though. You could never be too careful. Netta was rather sad, all this war, it was all happening over again. She'd picked up some interesting spells recently so she could use them. They might need a bit of refining but that should pose no great challenge. She'd worked in Charms all her life, although some of them may be more difficult than the initially looked. She'd found that repeatedly in the past.

She looked expectantly over at George. It was true. They did need him. They needed all the help they could get. Tis war was going to get harder and the Order would have to start working much harder than they were. Netta hoped they could manage but any extra help would be greatly appreciated in her mind.