Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

Quaxo9
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Monkey Kitty
Auror Barclay

Barclay automatically relieved the owl of its message as it flew to bring him the letter... then sighed as he read the contents. Though the woman might not be mentioned by name, it was clear that this matter had to do with Eve Travers. Travers... who had been taking up far too much of his time of late, and was more trouble than she was worth. If it was up to him, the witch would never have seen the outside of a cell again. Surely there were plenty of other witches and wizards sufficiently capable of teaching Potions at Hogwarts. The pupils were mere students, after all, and all among the adults were products of the same education system. Travers wasn't so special. It was only by the demand of McGonagall that she was free - but McGonagall had considerable pull.

Barclay apparated to just outside the Hogwarts grounds, then made his way inside. By the time he reached the Magical Creatures classroom, he'd worked up a good head of steam.

"What is it now, Bain?" he demanded rudely. "This had better not be a waste of my time. Travers is on thin enough ice as it is."
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Quaxo9
Rosemary Bain

While he'd worked up a head of steam, she'd had plenty of time to get hers under pressure. She was waiting for the Auror: jackdaw on her shoulder, broom in hand. Barclay's hostile greeting didn't budge the neutral look on her face.

"Auror, I wouldn't have called if it weren't. I am going to be brief. The real threat here is the guy who got Eve into this whole mess to begin with. My companion here has his last known location and I wanted to have the law on my side when I confronted the bastard. Of course, if he's fled the scene, at least you'll have a place to start from to chase the lowlife down. Does that sound reasonable to you, sir? If so, we' should get going."

Rosemary fully intended to fly the whole way with Lucie on the tip of her broomstick - with or without the Auror on her six.
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Monkey Kitty
Auror Barclay

The look Barclay gave Rosemary was that of a frustrated, long-suffering parent.

"Is that what Travers told you? Once again, she does not fail to be a disappointment. It's unbelievable that after all this time, she is utterly unwilling to take any accountability for her actions. Travers has done monstrous things - and that somehow continues to be someone else's fault. As always. I will make sure to note that in my report. A convict who does not demonstrate any remorse... well, it's certainly a consideration in deciding whether she remains free."

This blow delivered, Barclay had to admit that the idea of catching Darren Forness - presumably the villain in question - sounded like a worthwhile endeavor. The guilt of Travers did not render her partner innocent. Quite the opposite.

"Lead the way, Professor Bain," he said with a small, slightly mocking bow.
Quaxo9
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Quaxo9
Rosemary Bain

Her stoic mien cracked. Ire aroused, she offered a quick retort in reply lest she damage Eve's reputation further. She also felt that, in this instance, to not respond to his statement would have been equally damaging.

"I assure you, sir, that the opinions offered about Eve's past dealings and her incarceration are purely my own. Whether or not she is currently incarcerated, I assure you she is paying for her crimes in every second of every day without you to remind her about them."

Mounting her broom, she didn't waste time getting up to speed. While she would have liked to have left him behind in her proverbial dust, she had invited to Auror with intent that he would capture Darren - and there was no way her old broomstick could out-fly the one Barclay had. Lucie held on admirably well and once over the forest, the bird took to the sky herself. The sun wasn't in the same place, so she couldn't count on the glittering brass to guide her like it had last time. All she had was the memory of where she had flown. Fortunately, the jackdaw had an exceptional memory.

Rosemary caught a glimpse of the little cottage before she ducked into the canopy. Hopefully they weren't spotted. Upon landing, she brandished her wand and began searching for wards. She had to admit that she was somewhat unprepared for this. Rosemary wasn't a member of law enforcement, nor had she trained in any such methods. Belatedly, she realized that all she had to go on were some old police dramas that her parents used to watch on the telly. Little matter. That was why she'd asked for Barclay's presence after all - it certainly wasn't for his company.

When the auror in question landed, she spoke quietly, but her words were measured. "This is the place Darren Forness was last seen, Auror. This next part is up to you. I will assist as well I can."
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Monkey Kitty
Auror Barclay

"Don't worry, Professor Bain," Barclay said magnanimously. "I'll protect you."

Rosemary had not in any way requested his protection - but that didn't seem to have any effect on how gallant he appeared to imagine himself in making the gesture. The cottage was dim and gloomy. A single lamp was illuminated to await the occupant's return, presumably once darkness had fallen.

"There's no one here. This had better not be a wild goose chase, Professor, or... hmm. Alohomora!" He cast the unlocking spell at the front door, and it swung open.

"Well. Perhaps we'll find something useful after all... Argh!"

The cottage was not, as it turned out, totally unoccupied - simply absent of human presence. An acromantula crouched in the gloom, and it began clicking lightly at Barclay as he entered. The creature was not fully grown. It was about the size of a large dog. But even so, it would be able to do significant damage to them if it chose to attack.

"This is your area of expertise, Bain," Barclay said... trying to sound suave and unconcerned, but not quite managing. "What's our move?"
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Quaxo9
Rosemary Bain

As Barclay charged past her, she gave Lucie a significant look and rolled her eyes. The jackdaw chortled briefly in reply before Rosemary could shush her. The bird ducked her head and flew into the branches above, not wanting to be collateral damage in the possible wizarding duel to come. Rosemary was more relieved to see the bird move into safer territory than she was to hear the auror's pronouncement that the cottage was empty.

But of course, it wasn't. She peered past Barclay's shoulder and found a sudden smile dancing across her face.

"Oh how lovely!" she exclaimed under her breath before she could catch herself. It wasn't her human companion she was worried about thinking she was odd - it was the acromantula thinking her rude that she was more concerned about.

Sweeping the auror behind her with her left hand as she made a little bow toward the spider, her mind raced with possibilities. Of course, she only had a second to pick one...

"Greetings. Pardon our sudden intrusion. We had rather hoped to catch Master Forness at home. Would you know when he might be returning?"
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Monkey Kitty
Auror Barclay

"Bain, you idiot!" Barclay exclaimed, stepping from behind Rosemary and drawing his wand. "Very well. It seems I must protect you from this monster..."

Barclay wasn't being particularly observant, however. The acromantula was responding to Rosemary, clicking peacefully at her, making uncertain motions to indicate it did not know when Forness would return, but behaving in an entire calm and peaceful manner. Rosemary was saving the day. But Barclay seemed determined to undo her good work. He pointed his wand at the spider and prepared to cast, while the spider wheeled on him, the clicking turning harsh and angry. It stood poised, an instant away from leaping at the Auror.

"You will die, beast!" he growled through gritted teeth.
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Quaxo9
Rosemary Bain

She had been so pleased with the acromantula's response. Truly, the creatures were a marvel and she sincerely hoped that her next step could be to coax the dear away from service to the Dark Lord and into her classroom. Of course, that idea evaporated with Barclay's explosion. The man was going to get himself killed - or worse - injure the acromantula. Perhaps it wasn't her best idea, but it was the first thing that came to mind.

"Incarcerous."

She spoke the word calmly even as the jute rope shot out of her wand to wend toward the auror. If not totally wrapping him up, she hoped at least to throw off his aim and get him out the door. One hand shoving Barclay back toward the opening, the other depositing the wand back inside the folds of her cloak, so turned a contrite eye back toward the spider.

"I apologize for the rudeness of my companion. I assure you, we do not run in the same circles. Will you allow me to escort him out so we might continue a more civil conversation?"

The 'we' being her and the acromantula. Why did she even bring the Auror along? Oh right, because she needed him to take in Darren Forness if he had been there. Too bad. She certainly wasn't going to be regaining any respect from the man with this little escapade.
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Monkey Kitty
Auror Barclay

Barclay gasped a muted word that was almost certainly 'Azkaban!' as he was dragged out of the room. With him out of the scene, the tone began to shift dramatically. The acromantula was - it seemed - rather lonely. Darren Forness was not an affectionate master, and paid the creature little mind. He had plucked the spider from the forest when it was scarcely more than an egg, but it had vague memories of living in a family group, and an equally vague longing to socialize. Until Rosemary, no one had ever attempted to interact on a pleasant level.

The acromantula clicked in a friendly way, then beckoned Rosemary down a set of stairs at the back of the house. The stairs led to a crude root cellar - where an even cruder hole had been blasted out of the earth, seemingly by the work of magic not accustomed to the task. The acromantula gestured proudly to the hole with one downy limb. Although the spider was just pleased to be providing something shiny to Rosemary, the professor would likely recognize that the eclectic hoard had far more significance. With each item, Forness was able to track a witch or wizard... piles upon piles of them. Rosemary had inadvertently discovered how Forness had been able to evade everyone so successfully for all those years.
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Re: Start of Term (Hogwarts) (beginning)

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Quaxo9
Rosemary Bain

It took almost a full minute for Rosemary to grasp what exactly she was looking at. On the surface it looked like someone was either planning on having a rummage sale or starting an online antique sales business. But when she focused on the individual items, she realized that they were so much more than objects. One could almost feel the web of connections.

"Oh, wow. Thank-you so much for sharing this with me. You've been a great help." She spoke lightly, but carefully. This acromantula had really come through for her - but that small act put the creature at risk. She turned and ducked her head toward the acromantula. "Let's go back upstairs. The other man needs to see this and you and me need to have a talk about what comes next."

Returning the way they'd come, she motioned for the acromantula to stay out of sight. She nearly walked out into the next room, but paused just before she walked through. Auror Barclay was very angry with her. He was also not likely to remain bound for very long. Standing to the side, she spoke around the door jamb.

"Auror? Our friend here has given us an amazing find. It showed me Darren Forness' trove of tracking items. I'll direct you there, but you need to promise me that you won't harm the acromantula. It has been our ally."
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