The Aurelian Investigation PV Alan Vanes Closed

The fourth year was outside despite the still rather cold weather and the Scottish winds that made many decide to stay within the safety of the castle walls instead. However Alan was not like the others, rather enjoying the outsides. Though he also had a light dislike for the cold, preferring the warmth of summer by far. He was sitting on the stump of a tree not too far from the lake nor the castle, his mind had spaced out as he huddled his cat close to his body, making sure that Tiger would not be too cold. A winter cloak was pulled up over his figure, the fur trimmed hood would sit at his neck, warming his neck and ears without hiding his hair that fell in messy strands, standing out within the snow area.

He had no idea of what to really do this very moment, craving some kind of change of pace having no idea how long he had been sitting there by now. It must have been a while already, though the fourth year was not sure of that. He was wondering whether he could perhaps could start with plans for another s.w.a.g game soon? However he would have to speak about that together with Flash eventually, both of them shared the ownership of the club after all ever since Aurelia had left the school behind, for reasons not entirely familiar to the boy yet.

@Alan Vanes

Kazuo finally spotted Alan sitting on a tree stump not too far from the castle, seeming to be lost in thought. The older boy seemed to be hunched over, huddling in his winter cloak. Was he cold? Surely not. If he was cold, he would have headed inside, wouldn’t he? His footsteps slowed as he approached, footsteps lightening out of habit, though there was so silencing the crunch of snow beneath his boots. Approaching Alan from behind, he leaned over the older boy, peering down at him to see the much smaller eyes of an adorable, spotted cat. Momentarily distracted by the feline, Kazuo let slip a genuine smile.

“Ah! Kawaii!” He exclaimed. “Hello! What’s your name?” It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that Kazuo was addressing Alan but in truth, he was talking to the cat, a fact that would be revealed as he continued to speak to the furball. “You’ve got quite the pattern. Are you a Mau? Or a Bengal?” Kazuo pulled one of his hands out of his pocket with the intent to reach out and pet the cat but he stopped, leaning back instead, eyes shifting away as his expression turned passive, schooled into a polite mask. He ran his hand through his hair,

Letting a cat distract him from his mission, how embarrassing. He mentally kicked himself for his reaction. “Hello, Vanes-senpai,” he continued, actually speaking to Alan this time. “Do you enjoy the cold? Or is it the solitude?” He inquired of the older boy, curious. “If you have a moment, I would like to ask you some questions… about your club and it’s former leader. Well, mostly about its former leader, to be honest.”

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Outfit

Stats Stamina 5 Evasion 7 Strength 5 Wisdom 6 Arcane Power 6 Accuracy 6 Abilities Perfectionist

Alan as he was sitting there, a little spaced out would be called back to where he was when he heard the exclamation of a voice and a word that he would place as Japanese despite not having heard it before. If he did, he would have likely forgotten its meaning but based on the tone of the voice, it sounded very endearing so he would not make it a struggle to find out what it actually meant; though he could not help but be curious. He would make a mental note to possibly ask later but knowing himself he would most likely forget to do just that, so for now he would just focus on what's important. A student wanted something from him and Alan couldn't help but instantly place him into one of the younger years. He would assume that he meant him, or was it his cat when he asked about the name? He would tilt his head and saw how the other student would glance at the cat, which more or less answered the question he was about to ask, so he would just give a slight smile. "His name is Tiger," he would answer the question as he straightened his posture to get a better look at the dark haired kid. With the topic being Tiger he would subconsciously start patting the cat softly, causing a deep purr to rumble through the felines body soon after.

Soon enough Alan realized that the other kid must at least know about him since he knew the surname and would then realize that the boy had some questions for him as well, as opposed to just asking about Tiger. "I just enjoy the outsides and the fresh air, preferably when it is warm though. Uh... You don't have to- feel free to call me Alan, the surname isn't necessary right? Who are you?" he would ask with a gentle tone, curiosity behind his eyes about the implication of further questions. "Would you prefer to sit or walk as we talk?" he wondered, realizing that it might be a little awkward for him to stand while Alan was sitting.

@Alan Vanes

Alan didn’t seem particularly upset or offended that Kazuo had spoken to his cat first. It seemed the fourth year wasn’t a stickler for manners and protocol, at least not in this situation. “Tiger,” he repeated with a grin and a nod. “But he isn’t striped, he’s spotted. Why Tiger?” Thugh he hadn’t come to ask about the cat, names were one of those things he found fascinating about people. Why they chose the names they did for their pets, their children, or even their precious objects in some cases. The meaning - or lack of meaning - behind the act of naming. What would Alan’s choice of name for his cat reveal about him?

As Alan continued, eschewing the use of his last name in favour of the more familiar first name, it further confirmed in Kazuo’s eyes that he wasn’t a particularly formal type. In that case, he could adjust his behaviour to whatever made Alan more comfortable. It was still strange to him, even after months, to use first names so freely but he had come to accept that it was the better choice when dealing with some students here. “Yes, the fresh air is nice. Despite the towering ceilings, the castle does feel stuffy, doesn’t it? And crowded.” There was a hint of distaste in his voice at the last word. “My name is Kazuo Shimada and I am attempting to investigate some of the strange things that have been happening here, in the school. One such incident that has been brought to my attention is the disappearance of Aurelia Bezu- Ahhh… Bezu-” Kazuo sighed as he stumbled over the complicated and foreign name. “Heinrich’s older sister.”

At the offer of walking or sitting was made he glanced around then shrugged and settled into a cross legged position on the ground in front of Alan. “She went missing and even her parents don’t seem to know what happened to her. You’re in her grade and you took over her club so it stands to reason that you knew her before she disappeared.”

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Outfit

Stats Stamina 5 Evasion 7 Strength 5 Wisdom 6 Arcane Power 6 Accuracy 6 Abilities Perfectionist

"Well he is a Bengal, isn't he? Like a tiger," Alan would explain with a playful smile and mischievous sparkle in his eye. For Alan it completely made sense, in a out of the box way. "He also likes to go for a swim, so I'm sure he is basically just a miniature tiger rather than a cat," he added, this time it was even less serious as a response, with Alan actually grinning at the other boy. Alan would agree with a nod, he didn't like how small the castle sometimes seemed despite of its colossal size. But being outside, breathing the fresh air and seeing the wide fields of the grounds just was better in a million ways some beyond explanation.

"Weird things, huh?" Alan repeated, his brows furrowing in wonder. He was wondering how much Kazuo knew about those weird things that have been happening, but in a way he was happy to hear that the students showed some curiosity and resistance. It was exactly how he assumed, that the things were getting way out of hand and that things had to be done. However something about his words confused him. "Aurelia disappeared? What do you mean? I thought her parents pulled her out of school, it sometimes happens because of how dangerous this school can be... I wasn't aware that she actually went missing?" Alan knew her of course, but he only knew her on a surface level, he had never interacted much with her aside from the club activities. "What about her house elf friend, shouldn't they know something? But yeah, I know her... just a little bit?"

@Alan Vanes

Kazuo listened to Alan’s explanation of Tiger’s name with amusement. Bengals did tend to be more like their wild cousins than other breeds of house cat so it did make sense in that way. “A swimmer are you? You sound like an adventurous one.” Kazuo addressed the cat with a smile. “When I get a cat I hope it will be an adventurous one too.”

His smile disappeared, replaced by a frown at Alan’s answers. He didn’t know Aurelia was missing? It confirmed one of his theories that the students thought she’d simply been pulled out of the school but he was hoping that the older students that had been in her class might have been suspicious. So far it seemed no one had really thought anything was out of place. “I don’t understand.” Kazuo’s eyes narrowed as he pulled a small journal and a brush-tipped pen out of his pocket. He opened it, flipping to a bookmarked page and scanning the neat rows of hiragana. “How can students go missing without anyone seeming to notice or even care? Did anyone tell you that her parents pulled her out? Do you know Heinrich? He’s a first-year badger and Aurelia’s little brother apparently. He told me that she went missing and that her parents have been trying to find her without luck.”

He made a few notes in his journal then looked up at Alan, absently chewing on the pen lid. “Who was this house-elf friend? One of the elves here at the school? Or one who worked for her directly? I didn’t think you were allowed to bring your personal house-elves with you to Hogwarts.” A sigh and a few more notes made. “What do you know about Aurelia? I suppose I’ll just have to start there…” Though he tried to conceal it, there was an air of frustration about Kazuo. The more he dug into things, the more he felt that there was some conspiracy to keep the students from seeing the strangeness going on around them.

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Outfit

Stats Stamina 5 Evasion 7 Strength 5 Wisdom 6 Arcane Power 6 Accuracy 6 Abilities Perfectionist

Alan's eyes basically lit up when Kazuo disclosed that he was going to get himself a cat at one point. "You will get yourself a companion? We'll have to let them meet, I hope they and Tiger will get along splendidly!" the fourth year chirped excitedly before turning to face the spotted feline. "You hear that, you will get another friend hopefully," the boy cooed with one of the warmest grins on his face the other boy might have ever seen; probably not but it definitely made a good challenger.

"I think it just happens too regularly, a lot of people leave due to family emergencies or because the parents move or deem the school too dangerous; sometimes the students switch schools or show up again a few months later," Alan explained, having heard of many such cases and he had found it odd at times too, but it just happened so regularly that the boy often just could not really worry about it too much, especially if he didn't even know the student in question. Sure he knew Aurelia, but her... cousin, he thought it was her cousin if he remembered right, never really mentioned anything. He was sure it would have been addressed more openly if she had actually gone missing, right? But soon he was corrected, or his mind was, that it was her little brother but Alan struggled to see many similarities. "I haven't heard anything from him, no one ever told me and I am not even sure if staff is aware," he admitted thoughtfully, eyes narrowing in wonder and perhaps something that could be defined as worry.

"I think it was one who worked worked for her family, her name started with E, I think.... as for Aurelia I don't know too much. She was the leader of S.W.A.G and part of the duelling club.. she was basically known for hosting events and being quite inquisitive," he explained and then tried to jog his memory, "She attracted trouble, I saw her get bit by a dhampire before and I think that it wasn't the first time, she always seemed to look for news as well, but that's about all that I can tell you..." Alan had gotten a bit insecure, nervous even as he began to think about Aurelia simply because he felt put on the spot as his memory never really served him well when he needed it, so subconsciously he would pull Tiger a bit closer, hugging the cat.

Kazuo’s eyes also lit up at Alan’s suggestion of introducing the cats. “Yes, I asked my parents and they agreed, I just need to find time to go cat shopping.” He confessed with a grin. “Probably over spring break since that’s the next chance I’ll have to get away from Hogwarts. Too bad there isn’t a pet store down in Hogsmeade. I bet it would do really well with all the kids here that want pets.” He watched Alan coo over his cat with amusement, knowing that he often did the same to the cats he had met around Hogwarts.

As Alan returned to the topic of missing children Kazuo let out a sigh. “Do you really think it’s that simple?” He asked with a frown. “Maybe some kids leave for those reasons but the number of kids who seem to leave…” He trailed off, thinking of his own class and how many students who had arrived with him seemed to have gone missing over the months. “I think it’s strange. And I don’t understand how the staff wouldn’t know that something strange is going on.” He pressed a finger against his lips as he considered whether or not Aurelia’s parents would have told the staff. He listened as Alan spoke of what he did know about Aurelia, nodding thoughtfully. He made notes in his journal: duelist, SWAG, inquisitive, Headliner?

“Yes, I’ve heard that she was quite a troublemaker. Apparently, she liked to bait the dhampirs. Rumour says she might have been interested in other nonhumans as well? I can’t help but to wonder if that is somehow related to her disappearance. I wonder if Aurelia didn’t perhaps bite off more than she could chew while messing around with nonhumans?” It had been a theory he had been developing, one that seemed to fit her disappearance the best from what little he had been able to learn so far. “Looking for news? Did Aurelia work on the newspaper? What kind of news was she looking for?” Had Aurelia been asking questions that got her in trouble? As much as Heinrich wanted to believe the best of his sister, the picture that was forming in Kazuo’s mind made Aurelia out to be more than a little troublesome.

“If you weren’t close with her, do you know who was? Did she have anyone she was really close to? A boyfriend or girlfriend?” He needed more leads but he felt like everything he was chasing just led to dead ends.

@Alan Vanes

Alan nodded in shared enthusiasm. "Yeah! That sounds like a great plan and true, it is kind of sad, but probably for the better that not every kid can get a pet without their parents around to tell them no," he hummed thoughtfully. While pets were great and all, a lot of the students were too young to take such a responsibility, at least mentally, the Gryffindor prefect found. In the end it had to be the best decision for the pet. But for Kazuo he could feel that he would be a great pet owner, he seemed to have a good way with cats and despite sharing that attribute, Alan could only admire the younger student for it. Instinctively, he would casually pet Tiger who was back in his arms.

"I'm not sure if they don't know or try to cover it up to not make anyone panic," the fourth year admitted, after having to agree about the points the Hufflepuff brought up. "I mean us prefects we're just kids like anyone else, we help, but that doesn't know we necessarily know; like when the Headmaster had went missing and then returned with everyone now acting as if it had been a casual occurrence," he explained with a sense of helplessness. The fact that Aurelia enjoyed to blood bait dhampirs, sickened Alan. He had friends who were dhampirs and knew how much they tried to have a sense of normality in their everyday life. He remembered specifically Howard and how mad he had gotten over the article, an attack on a student. The fourth year hadn't connected those dots yet, but he sensed something was up, like a can of worms he wasn't sure he dared to open. "She did? Bloodbait I mean, I had no clue; that's serious..." he muttered, perplexed and perhaps a little stupidly. However he had to narrow his eyes slightly as Kazuo's trail of thought continued, "I wouldn't make such accusations or be careful of them, they are in theory still partially human, at least everyone in this school is so," he said, perhaps sounding a little firm, because the issue was close to his heart. He wished for the non-humans to live without fear of discrimination. He wouldn't want to accuse them if there was no such proof. He wasn't angry by the thought, he understood the worry, but he couldn't let him think this without evidence.

"I don't.... I don't think I have seen her much with anyone really, I'm sorry I am not of big help here," he admitted, once again having no real answer the Hufflepuff would want to hear. He felt bad that he could only feed him bread crumbs, but he just knew too little of this.