Banishment PV Professors

"I think we are the hunting hounds on this expedition Iwasaki, hope you like going first." Ostrowski said to him, clearly as a joke. Although most of the professors were unaware of Marcus' condition, Aleksander was one of the exceptions.

"I'd rather be the hunter than the prey," Marcus nodded, offering a small grin in response. It was true: they were the ones with the heightened senses and could probably lead the group directly to the hags, since they gave off such a distinct smell. Marcus had never encountered a hag before, but after talking with Nora, he had done a bit of research. He had consulted Solomon Lear's Mothers of Evil book, which had a lot of information that would be useful today. The jokes going around, though, made him glance at Nora warily. Was this situation not as serious as she had made it out to be? Or did the others just not understand the stakes? Perhaps it was just the mix of personalities, though. Marcus was not the most familiar with everyone here, but he considered them all to be colleagues and here for the right reasons. They had to rely on each other down here if they wanted any chance of success. Maybe afterwards, if everyone was in good health, drinks would be a good idea...

As the group continued to gather, Marcus took the potions professor's words to heart and placed himself towards the front, figuring his nose might lead them to what they were looking for. He took a long inhale, hoping to pick up on the scent of something foul and, once he was familiar, he would hopefully be able to direct them towards it.

He expected Ostrowski to be right beside him doing the same, but after his inhale, Marcus glanced back and saw that the headmaster had suddenly attacked one of the other professors. Not a hag (at least, Marcus would think Ivar is not a hag so long as he doesn't smell like he's rotting). Nora had told him the headmaster was unwell, but he hadn't anticipated such a startling attack. There were others handling the situation, including Ostrowski, so Marcus focused more on finding some clue as to where they needed to go. These dungeons were supposed to be very complex.

Action: Actively try to seek out the unhealthy, rotting smell that hags give off to tell if they have been here or what direction they might be using heightened sense of smell.

Reducio

Through their sense of smell a lycantrope would recognize that someone has entered the room. They would not know where in the room, only that someone is in the room that does not belong and if they know the person (as defined as being in a thread where they have posted with this user 20 or more times), who. In addition they might be able to smell a fake. That is if they are familiar (as defined as being in a thread where they have posted with this user 20 or more times) with the person that someone has transformed into or the person who transformed, they would be able to recognize this fact. So if you make yourself look like Professor Lear, yet the werewolf knows your scent (or Professor Lear's), they would be able to identify who you are or that you are not the person that you claim to be.

Racial Abilities: Werewolf Form (Rend, Bite, +10% damage) | Heightened Senses (tell familiar people by smell) | Track Hidden People (within 24 hours) | Wolf's Cry | Predatory Abilities (+25% chance to enter hidden, +2 stealth) | Intimidation (uneasiness, -1 acc, +1 crit fail to all around)
Chosen Abilities: [currently applying] Obnoxiously Strong (+10% strength) | Martial Artist

Stats: Stamina: 15 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 20 (22) | Wisdom: 4 | Arcane Power: 4 | Accuracy: 15

If there was every a time to sigh, it was now. Hjørdis was really beginning to wonder if this was a good idea. In fact, it most likely was not. They had no plan and... as it seemed, no trust between each other. It was understandable, of course. She would be the first to admit that she did not trust most people she met. She fully understood the Headmaster’s behaviour but it was not a good start. Perhaps it really was too soon for him to be out of his wheelchair. But in a few weeks, he would have to be standing tall in front of the incoming students and address them as the Headmaster of Hogwarts once more - a position that most of them had not seen him in for almost a full year.

"Solomon, that’s Ivar Eide. The Care of Magical Creatures Professor that we hired in your absence, approximately two and a half months ago," She stated, looking back at the pair, in her usual neutral tone as she hid her sigh. Whilst Ivar could, most definitely, be a hag... She had a feeling that Lear was just going crazy. Maybe she had overestimated how useful he would be in this situation. At the very least, she would try and neutralise the situation a little with her words. It was not exactly comforting but information that might help to pacify the old man.

Either way, she stated the facts that she knew about Ivar. Admittedly, it was not a lot. But he had been hired by the head of house team and seemed unconnected to the existence of the covens from her knowledge. Hjørdis decided to bite back the last comment she was going to make and simply gave Caradoc a look as though to say that this was his fault. Because she fully blamed Caradoc for not allowing her to veto any applicants that looked weird. The whole ‘don’t judge them by their appearance’ nonsense could only come from him. He was also the main carer for the headmaster.

But... nonetheless, she walked further in some time after Marcus. Others seemed to be helping Lear and Ivar, anyway. Besides, if Ivar could not defend himself from a fragile old man that could barely walk a few weeks prior then... he probably should not be dealing with creatures that were far more dangerous.

"The runes that Doc and I saw were a lot further in. That was where we came across the illusion and the students." She replied - albeit a minute or two later, after Lear had caught both of their attention - towards Gargott, implying that she could lead them to that point - at the very least. Well... assuming there had been no changes since. It was always hard to tell with Hogwarts. There always seemed to be secrets that had yet to be uncovered about the castle itself. Whether that was a new route from her office to someone else’s or a door that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

With that, she fell quiet as she allowed the real trackers to do their thing. Her gaze flickered to every corner she could see, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary. An object that was not there before, something different. She waited for the others to do their thing. Aleksander and Marcus seemed to be busy doing... something. Well, she could probably hazard a guess. She waited, nonetheless, in the hopes that they picked up something. Anything. Every clue helped, at this point.

Raising her wand, she paused for a moment. Light was being cast. Fights were starting. It was clear that their presence would not be hidden here. At this point, they may as well go in with all weapons blazing, “Appare Vestigium,” She would mutter. She expected to see nothing, in reality. But she was curious. The castle had been mostly quiet for weeks now - since the students left. She wanted to know if anything had been lurking this close to the entrance in that time or not. Seeing nothing was actually a blessing. At least, this close to the entrance.

ACTION: Cast tracking spell, Appare Vestigium

Stamina: 15 | Evasion: 9 | Strength: 2 | Wisdom: 20 | Arcane Power: 10 | Accuracy: 14
Abilities: Sixth Sense | Evasive Maneuvers | Perfectionist | Poison Resistance [others pending]

Outfit of the day

Caradoc shot a glance towards Gargott. "It would seem so." He grumbled under his breath. Turning heel, he'd find himself looking at the duo on the floor. He was about to go and grab the old man before he saw a large wooden staff swoop through the air, landing straight upon Solomon's head. His eyes locked onto Beatrice in surprise. It seemed the lady could hold quite a kick. Kateri rushed forward to try and aid in his stead, Ostrowski in tow behind her. He turned around and left Lear in the capable hands of both professors. The headmaster could walk, if he saw no reason, Caradoc would tell him to return to the hospital wing, simple as that. Solomon would have to learn to trust the team in order to get through this. Nora explained what Caradoc was about to. Perhaps the headmaster was still capable of listening if reason seemed to fail. He was about to smirk at Nora when- She gave him a look? What had he done to deserve that?

The head of Hufflepuff followed behind Nora past Artemis' blinding light and went to take position next to Marcus. "I'm sure this'll be fun." Caradoc grinned at the caretaker before noticing his serious demeanour. His smile quickly gone, he straightened his back. "...or not. Just trying to keep things light. Ha. Like Art, get it? Hm... never mind..." He shook his head upon realization he was about to die in a dungeon filled with humourless colleagues. Even that hag in the woods seemed to smile more than this lot. Not that he would prefer seeing that grin on her face again.

Nora cast the tracking spell. If it worked, she would see where they'd need to look out for. "Well then..." He stared at her wand before locking eyes. "DO tell me when something pops up." Winking at her and Marcus as they likely both would follow to give him a questioning look. With a lot of flair and drama, the head of Hufflepuff stuck out his leg before him and let himself drop two steps down. Waiting a second for effect, he turned around and grinned. "I'm sure you all can keep up with this silly old fool." Inside, the man was dying. But if this evil was going to get him. He was going to be smiling as he faced it.

Action: Step down the stairs and laugh at the others.

They were too many to form an efficient hunting party. One to startle the prey, another two to herd into the arms of the hunters, no more than three to take it down. With this many people, more than half of them untrained, their trip was as likely to succeed as it was to end in a disaster.

Another day, Elaine would have cared more. Today, with the taste of iron in her mouth and the memories edging her own, she was restless instead. Find the threat, destroy it. Her single-mindedness was a good mindset for a hunt and a terrible one with as many people as they had now. Keep the group together. Eyes open for stragglers. The untrained and weak ones in the middle, the fighter in the front and back. She'd done it enough times to know how this was done, to drive an enemy out of their lair to kill them.

"Feels just like a lesson, Professor Pendrast."

With half her mind focused elsewhere she turned to look at the man beside her, the Potions Professor. She remembered him, a younger face on a boy, his expression less serious, his face less handsome – it was sobering to look at him now, a Professor in his own right, when she remembered him as a student in her classroom. How far he had come while she had stood still, sitting protected in high castles and lamenting the demise of a husband who'd been marked for death since birth.

Elena smiled at the man at her side, teeth bared.

"Might as well make one of it," she acknowledged and let her cherry wand slip from her sleeve into her fingers. If there was a touch of madness in her words, a gleam in her eyes that was not entirely sane, then the flickering torchlight would hide it if she was lucky. She gave the man a nod. "Professor Ostrowski." She'd always had a soft spot for werewolves.

There was no time to get lost in her mind, however. Brining the Headmaster along had been a bad idea, but leaving him behind would have been a worse one. Elena had seen him, well, after... he had been a wreck of a man during Summer Camp, but his sanity had slowly returned, his mind recovering from what had been done to him. It was Nora and Caradoc Browne who had taken to the task of caring for him, of helping him get back on his feet again, and so she left it to them – and Beatrice Lydursdattir apparently, who for her age handled her cane quite well – to try and calm Solomon Lear down when he suddenly jumped at their newest hire whose eyes were almost the same blue Barnaby's had been.

The eagle wound itself tighter around her forearm, and she could have sworn this time there was actually a small, sudden feeling of pain associated with it.

With a whispered incantation, she twirled her wand around herself one in an arc, her dark eyes watching as her body's coloring merged with the long shadows created by the various Wand-Lighting Charms. She was ready to see what this shade was capable of.

"Fools rarely become old, Professor Browne," one could hear her disembodied choice echo through the corridor. There was a hint of mirth behind it that was unlike what one would normally expect from the Gryffindor Head of House.

Action: cast Disillusionment Charm on herself.

Reducio

Stats: ♠ Stamina: 12 ♠ Evasion: 10 ♠ Strength: 4 ♠ Wisdom: 20 ♠ Arcane Power: 12 ♠ Accuracy: 12

Abilities: Fearless ♠ Perfectionist ♠ Sixth Sense ♠ Non-Human Enthusiast ♠

Where were we? Ahh yes, how beautiful the world could be with a plethora of colourful characters coming together to do some neighbourhood watching. While intentions were good, actions spoke louder than words. One such action involved the school's headmaster. None other than @Solomon Lear. A seemingly old man that had fought this fight longer than any other in this hallway. And one that had paid the price for it tenfold. His sanity left shattered, he was still midst process of slowly regaining the already feeble mind he had before being snatched away from his duties. Attempting to rally his colleagues, he offered them a brief sense of heroism. Until he decided to mistake @Ivar Eide for one of the hags...

As we continue through this story, imagine the scene. Old man in armour has not been seen in a year and finally is able to stand back on his feet. Armoured and armed, he stands at the head of this band of misfit teachers that all look towards him for guidance. He gives them hope as he warns them of dangers to come. Things look brighter than they did without him and then... the old man decides to lose all sense and lunge at the crazy smiley dude in the back. In his defence, Ivar is a creep. But he seems like a gentle creep. Perhaps it was their rivalry of moustaches that caused this dispute.

Respectfully, despite his grey hairs and aching back, the headmaster was still quick on his feet. With remarkable speed he managed to tackle Ivar to the ground. A badger that was dutifully looking around and trying to find anything out of the ordinary. He found nothing, as he got distracted by the cries of an old man jumping towards him. The Norwegian fell to the ground, his strength however, saving him from being held down by the other. As Ivar shuffled back against the wall, Solomon would look up and notice a large staff smashing down towards his head. Staggering back, the wood would swing through the air, finding no head to tap. Though @Béatrice Lydursdattir could still have been able to get through to the man's sense, whilst she kept ignoring poor @Gargott Dunaid's advances of course. It did not take long before she was joined by others rushing to either separate the two men or try and help Lear back on his feet and make him see reason.

Not a moment too late, @Kateri Karr and @Aleksander Ostrowski were two of these professors. Whilst the Astronomy professor helped Lear up, the potioneer fiddled with a cigarette and sniffed around the place. Must have been a weird sight for Karr and @River Jemari who were both standing close by. The latter having lit his wand and not really knowing what to do with all that was happening around him. @@Maya Galim wasn't impressed with anything that was transpiring either...

Expecting the worst, another bystander would have been @Boniface Murtagh MacTavish. Professor of Herbology and handsomely late. But who could blame a pretty face like his. I bet @Rosalind Kibitzer didn't mind trailing behind him as she would have enjoyed the best view. Finding herself a spectator to Hogwarts first prof-off, she was even in that good a mood to settle any bets for the night. Poor old @Zahid al-Benghazi ibn Masoud expressed his shock towards the woman's quip.

Darkness still waited and @Artemis Vernatis, he had a totally different idea on how to approach this whole thing. Lighting up his wand with ease, the entire hallway almost turned bright white before he tossed the light in front of him. A white hall stretched itself out before him and anyone looking down the stairs. As the light fell to the floor, a light skittering sound could be heard. When Artemis narrowed his eyes, he could make out a small rat skittering away from what seemed to be a... skull. Neither Nora nor Caradoc mentioned any of those on their path last time they roamed these tunnels. As their eyes would confirm, so would @Marcus Iwasaki's nose not betray him by pointing out the obvious fact that the place smelled like vermin.


Yearning for relief from this stench, the caretaker had @Hjørdis Jensen and her perfume to take away a larger deal of the horrible smell he picked up. She on the other hand decided to use her wits. Casting a very useful tracking spell, her wand exploded before her eyes as it released a stream of golden dust blowing around the place as if a soft breeze was carrying it away. Magic left traces. And as her golden dust began to slowly drop all the way down to the bottom of the stairs, her eyes would flicker over to the banter between her two colleagues. As her tante @Elaine Pendrast rendered herself practically invisible, Caradoc would already be down a few steps from them as he would taunt them all to be slow.

Over the years, he had never been fearless, but there was bravery to be found in his smiles. Alas, bravery often went paired with foolishness. For a man that had been victim to two curses already, it seemed the Head of Hufflepuff was a slow learner. The light that had been cast from Artemis' wand would start to flicker on and off before it eventually fizzled out. Right as the hall was about to turn dark once more, her dust would reveal several footprints as it did before for Caradoc. They led down to the stairs and then... stopped at the bottom. The stairs had gone completely dark, the torches being snuffed out along with Artemis' fizzling light. Caradoc would find himself almost engulfed by the dark, only the light of Jemari's wand would still break through from behind the professors that were standing by the door opening.

Under the cloak of darkness, his breath would become louder as the Head of Hufflepuff would realise too late he was trapped if he did not act soon. But before he could make any move a barely noticeable whisper would sound as something latched onto him, tightening around his waist and chest like a whip, his breath was taken from him. As his face soundlessly screamed in pain, something else took hold of his leg and tugged hard. With a loud whack, his head bounced off against the stairs as his arms tried to find something to hold onto whilst he was dragged to the bottom. In a split-second, the other professors would see Caradoc Browne disappear in the darkness.

River Jemari watched in shock as the Headmaster attacked one of his colleagues. It was a sight to behold, two grown men, old and scary, wrestling on the ground like kindergarten children who both want to give a flower to the same girl, a girl who would promptly reject both of them and start dating David Jones, David Jones, leaving the two in the dust with their bruises and- Stupid brain- now's not the time. Embarrassing memories that are usually kept for night time self-loathing aside, River briefly wondered if he should do something to help. However, he soon came to the conclusion that the other professors had it covered, and so as Caradoc approached the stairs he turned his gaze back through the passageway. Focus on the danger.

It was probably a good thing that he decided to change his focus back, as it also allowed him to watch Caradoc fall and be pulled away by the darkness. For half a second he stood there, brain screaming at his limbs to move. Then, move he did. As River Jemari raised his wand towards the darkness, Aiming low towards where he estimated Caradoc would be, a yell came out of his mouth- words spoken so fast that they all sounded like a single long string of sounds: "SUMBUDYHOLONTOME!" The professor of flight'S wand was slashed down and up- a V shape= and screamed: "CARPE RETRACTUM!". As this happened, River raised his other arm as far back behind him as he could, holding the broom Horizontally in the hopes that if he was pulled through the entrance, the broom would be too wide for the entrance and hold him in place. At those exact moments, he may have prayed to Quiddo (god of quidditch) that the spells placed on brooms to protect them from breaking when flexing would hold.

It was shocking that although Solomon Lear looked the way he did, he was still just as strong. Him in his armor, fighting Ivar Eide. A peak of interest filled Maya, but she knew that Solomon was not for her. She failed him by not even looking for him during his disappearance. Though, she could, however, enjoy his strength from afar.

After what seemed like a minute, the fighting between the two was getting old. Already there were a few professors that were getting into the middle to try and stop the fighting from occurring. It was obvious that Ivar was not a hag, but rather a hideous looking man. In a way, Maya felt bad for him. It wasn't his fault that he was so hag-like. Genetics are what they are.

"DO tell me when something pops up."

Maya noticed that Caradoc Browne was the only one of the professors to take a step towards the darkened hallway. Everyone else stayed close, but he was willing to be the first to enter. He, in some sense, separated from the pack. It was obvious that taking the first step on his own was a mistake. It was common knowledge. And even worse, to laugh about it... It reminded Maya of the muggle movie, The Lion King, where Simba went closer to the elephant skull in the Elephant Graveyard. He went as close as he could to the mouth's entrance and said the following to Nala, "I laugh in the face of danger. Ha, ha, ha, HA!" and instantly, the hyenas appeared. If only Caradoc and others would fancy a bit of muggle movies from Disney, they would learn what not to do.

Alas, it was exactly what Maya feared. The minute he went down the stairs of the darkened hallway, he looked as though he was grabbed and being pulled further. His screams were frightening and made Maya's 'fight and flight' response turn on. For most, flight would be the stronger result, but with her background in military fighting, fight was her go-to.

Although her wand was unnecessary, Maya still had it tight in her hand and she pointed it into Caradoc's general direction down the hall. She heard River Jemari cast a spell, but Maya did not need to use words to cast her own. She needed to, however, focus as much as possible. It was faster to state the incantation in her mind than it was to speak it. She decided to use the freezing charm. Her hope was to freeze whatever was pulling him away.

Immobulus, she thought, her wand pointing towards the general area. She had no what the outcome was to be. Was she going to hit the creature grabbing him? Was it going to be strong enough? Will it even work? One thing was for sure, she had to try.

ACTION: Cast Immobulus towards the creature pulling Caradoc Browne using non-verbal magic ability

Reducio

Stamina: 11 || Evasion: 7 || Strength: 7 || Wisdom: 20 || ArcPower: 15 || Accuracy: 10

Currently applying/pending for:
The Muggle Condition
Wandless Magic
Non-Verbal Magic

Hjørdis narrowed her eyes at Caradoc, who attempted to make... some sort of joke. Like Art... Really? Of all of the jokes he wanted to make, that was what he going with and right now? Right after he threatened Artemis with a hag kiss. Sigh. Men. He even had the audacity to wink. To wink. His demeanor had changed from earlier. Most likely overcompensating, in a way. She sighed. Gosh, she wished he would be more careful. Walking off ahead was not a great idea, "Wai-" She started to call out, trying to stop him from going ahead as the dust from her spell started to move. Her eyes fell onto the golden dust, searching for any clues amidst the spell. The spell moved down to the bottom of the stairs.

Taking a few steps, she started to follow it - silently hoping to see if there was anything. Her attention shifted though. The light started to flick. The stairs ahead... everything was going dark. The torches, the light on the end of Artemis' wand, everything was starting to go dark ahead. Her eyes widened.

WHACK. The sound of something hitting the stairs. Him? His head? His body? She had no idea. Everything happened so quickly. No. No. NO! "CARA-"

The normally neutral and blank expression turned in an instant. Her hand stretched out before her words could even leave her mouth but it was to no avail. Her heart beats quickened, nothing but panic set over her. She had no idea if those behind her were still joking around, fighting or coming up with a plan at this point. Nor did she care. She mentally cursed as her legs instantly moved beneath her. Shit. Not again. How many times... Her brain was no longer thinking. Hjørdis sprint down the stairs, "LUMOS SOLEM!" She screamed as she pointed her wand in the direction that she had last seen him being dragged into.

No. No. No.

Her tone of voice was louder, slightly angrier than anyone present had likely heard it before. She was not the type to yell at students, no matter how much they irritated her. In fact, she was not the type to raise her voice or lose her temper. But she was not angry, per se. She was scared. It sounded angry, perhaps because she was more mad that this was happening, that she was unable to stop it.

After what happened to the light Artemis was holding, she did not even know if her own would work. But she did not care. It was a risk she was going to have to take. They needed light, it was the only known thing to destroy the darkness. They needed to see where he was being dragged off to and without thinking, she was going to follow - even if that was a horrible plan that she would later scold herself for.

The panic was evidenced on her expression, bearing widened eyes and a worried expression. Her heart pounded loudly, echoing in her ears. Hjørdis followed her brain. Usually. This was different. She was panicking. This was not happening... not again. Of course, she had expected things to go bad. She expected there to be no cause of celebration afterwards. But this? Right from the entrance? The darkness had gotten stronger over the summer. The enemies had gotten closer. This was awful.

The strategies that her colleagues were creating around her were likely far smarter. If she was thinking for a moment, she would likely have adopted a similar plan. But... she was not. She could not think. She did not process the words Jemari said nor even register him talking in her brain. If anyone else was, she had missed it. There was not a single smart strategy in her mind. She just... needed light. Even if it was only a flicker. She needed to know where he went. If he was still nearby. If he was okay. That was all that mattered to her.

ACTION: Cast Lumos Solem

Stamina: 15 | Evasion: 9 | Strength: 2 | Wisdom: 20 | Arcane Power: 10 | Accuracy: 14
Abilities: Sixth Sense | Evasive Maneuvers | Perfectionist | Poison Resistance [others pending]

Outfit of the day

Professor Lydursdattir didn't give the poor Keeper the light of day. She had not even made any eye contact or reaction whatsoever. Just ignoring him and walking away from him by trying to break up the two fighting Professors. Shocked by the audacity Gargott stood there as if he was nailed to the ground. "Did I say something wrong?" He thought to himself. "Was I too direct?" The large man wanted to try a second attempt at it, but before he could the Professors were already screaming some spells.

The Part-Goblin was smaller than any of the other guests and thus had some difficulty to understand what had just transpired. "Trigger happy wizards probably saw a rat..." He muttered in Gobbledegook. Until he heard Hjordis call out to Caradoc. "By Urg!" His friend had been taken by the darkness, the one person on this expedition that he would've cared for was the first to be taken. Nervousness once again set in and his left hand once again brought the very first galleon he had ever earned to his lips and he licked it. Thinking on his feet he tried to form a plan. How could he quickly close the distance, yet not make the same mistake as Caradoc did? The broad man had a plan, yet it was a dangerous one. "Ragnuk protect me!" Quickly the galleon slipped back in his pocket and held his Warhammer in front of him.

"Seems we'll have some work to do Bernice!" With a snap of his fingers, the Warhammer was suddenly floating mid-air. With agility, most wouldn't have granted him the Part-Goblin mounted Bernice, like he would've done his Bluebottle. But his Bluebottle would've definitely been more comfortable. As quick as possible he flew after Caradoc down the stairs and through the passageway. No matter what would happen next he wouldn't let his old friend... No. The Keeper shook his head he wouldn't go down that thought. Every second counted and with it, Caradoc's life hung in the balance.

Action: Used the Flying Charm on my Warhammer (Bernice) and Gargott is now flying after Caradoc.

It is time., Jean-Papi thought to himself as he put the ruff around his neck. Merely accepted as Hogwart's new nurse and already it seemed he had stepped into something far more dangerous than he could have anticipated and at the very same time it had confirmed what he was told. After two years of running around in search of his children, he had finally learned they were in the UK. Could they be here? This close? Maybe a couple of floors away?, his mind started to wander to dangerous assumptions. JP reigned himself in. No! Focus Dupont! Hope was a dangerous tool. He would not allow himself to dwell on this possibility. If it proved not to be the case he would be devastated and he couldn't afford it. He was fighting against time itself and for two consecutive years he had fought a losing battle, but now things seemed to have changed. Now there was a shot to be reunited with his children. That was the mission. However, the head of house Slytherin had asked to help eradicate a den of, wait for it, hags! HAGS! The very monstrosities he had been studying and chasing ever since they had tricked him into killing his wife. It didn't stop there. Oh, no. That wasn't enough. No, they required more pain and suffering from him. They had STOLEN his children! Anger flashed through him and he hit the mirror in front of him.

CRACK!

That wasn't all Professor Jensen had told him. She had asked JP not to move into Hogwarts until the day they were supposed to get rid of these monstrosities. He had literally spent the days training. Going over every lore book that even slightly mentioned hags. Drilling himself practicing all the offensive and defensive spells he knew. The burning hatred for these creatures had fuelled him to go far beyond what he was used to and he was ready. He was prepared.

As he glanced one last time at the broken reflection, which resembled him more accurately than ever before, he turned on his heels, took his umbrella and descended towards the dungeons. Finally reaching it, he faced the darkness that was illuminated by some dimly lit torches. The closer he got to the end of the stairs the cooler the air became and harder it was to see.

Out of nowhere he heard a man screaming. Immediately he pulled out the cherry wood wand from the umbrella and leaped down the last couple of stairs only to be met by his deceased wife, Claire de Bois. The hairs on his arms and neck rose and a shiver went down his spine, his breath stocked and his stomach turned as he faintly spoke: C-... Cherie*? Quickly he rubbed his eyes and when he looked back at where his wife stood she had vanished. Am I dreaming?, he silently wondered. No, that can't be. I gave you peace. The French man pinched himself as to convince himself he wasn't dreaming. It seemed he wasn't. Though this meant that his wife wasn't solely haunting his dreams. She now was haunting him whilst he was wide awake. JP shook his head. Troubles for another day. Focus on the problem at hand first. Help your colleagues.

As fast as he could, he went over to the group wand still in his hand. The widow didn't knew anyone here except for two familiar faces. Well, he had seen them once to be specific. Hjordis Jensen and Marcus Iwasaki. Quel est le probleme, mes amis?!**

*Cherie means sweetheart.
** Quel est le problème, mes amis?! means What is the problem, my friends?!