Main Story News of Theft PV Professors Closed

Gerald knew to expect a hodgepodge of questions from the Hogwarts staff. They had every right to be concerned about safety at their school. History had not recorded any known uses of the mask so no one could know what to expect either. It was simply a black mask with the word 'Dominum' inscribed on the interior. Knowing its true powers was impossible, but accidental experimentation showed that it functioned similar to an Imperius curse. That was all anyone really knew so far. The Ministry takes care to guard their artifacts and although he understood their annoyance with security, he was frustrated at their accusations.

"These are all that were stolen, and we are looking into how such a thing was possible." he said, a rather flat tone in response. "The thief is not identified but they used muggle techniques which caught security off-guard. The muggle wards are in place so it was not some lost sheep.., and our team is trying to find documentation on where the portkey goes."

It had been decades, maybe centuries since the Ministry had touched most of those old portkeys. They went out of use as other transportation methods improved and a secure floo network was established. No one remembered where it went and documentation did not seem to list the exact exit point. Just that it was Hogwarts... somewhere. As he surveyed the group of Hogwarts staff he decided to add another point to perhaps ease them slightly.

"How you inform, or if you inform, the students is up to you. But I will say one more piece," he started, his tone more friendly now. "If you need support, call for us. We will continue our investigations at the Ministry itself for now but are just an owl away if you need us."

I will have to make sure the team increases defenses.., the use of muggle technology to break in... unexpected and brilliant.

"Ministry of Magic." Gerald spoke loud and clear as he tossed the floo powder into the fireplace behind him.

With little more than a final wave to the staff, he stepped into the newly opened portal and vanished from sight. Gerald had little interest in having a drawn out debate or sticking around longer than he had. There was work to be done at the Ministry. If the teachers wanted to sit around and debate, they didn't need him there for it.

Galim's brown eyes immediately glared at Saiseri Blevins. Her idea to have the students go home was the worst idea possible. The school had just opened, stating how safe it was years after the Battle of Hogwarts, and here she was coming up with the idea that the children would go home, worrying families about Hogwarts' overall security. It would backfire.

The worst part of it all was that Sergei Yornikovych agreed to such a monstrosity of an idea. Out of all the people here in this room, he should have sided with her. Coming from Durmstrang, he was a man of war and knew the politics behind it all. No one was on her side in having the kids work together with the adults and train them to defend themselves. It is what her people would have done.

"If you send children home, the overall security and reputation of Hogwarts will be diminished. It was a miracle we have this many members join after the Battle of Hogwarts years later," she said, her accent thick. She looked around at each professor, her eyes jumping from one person to another until she held her eyes still on a professor who was very familiar to her, Rosemary.

It seemed that she had already spotted her as she felt the Potion Professor's stares looking back at her. Ugh, she agrees with Blevins, too. ...Why did we have a falling out? she thought, thinking way back in her Hogwarts days as to the reason. Unfortunately, Galim did not care too much to think about that now as the students were in trouble and her focus needed to be on them. She looked away from Rosemary and back towards the Minister who was making his leave.

As if we need your help, she thought to herself. She assumed that having the government intervene is never a good idea. All they do is micromanage every aspect of an investigation and when they find anything of importance, their ability to keep information hidden to the public was scarce.

"Our students need to know; they need to prepare. If you leave them in the dark, it will be too late. They need to practice how to defend themselves and practical attack spells." she paused, and looked at Sawyer. I've seen your lesson plans for your first years. So when were you going to teach your students the defensive spells? Second year? They need to start now," she said, her voice stern.

Galim took a deep breath and eyed each person, validating that she got their attention. Her heart, pounding faster and faster from her confrontation and passionate statement, she looked calm and collective on the outside. No one, unless they knew her well, would know that she was nervous about how she outed another teacher in front of the Deputy Headmaster. Maya straightened her pose and held her head high, trying not to think much of it.

"Go study your muggles, witch. I'll teach my students what I need to teach them," Mellowrose whipped back, his voice irritated but still dreary. His fuse wasn't short enough to blow after one shot. He put his back to the pillar and looked at her, his bagged eyes staring at her. He lacked insecurity so much he could maintain silent eye contact for an eternity. 

He thought to himself on how his first years could manage escaping an approach. Their spell library so far could manage an escape, and defensive spells were past their capabilities. They were only children, there was no way he could prepare them for a possible adult attacker before summer. Some of them were still struggling to get a red flash from Periculum to come from their wands. 
After going mentally through how it'd be a waste of time to try teach eleven year olds magic they couldn't control, he thought about Maya Galim. He held back commentary on how he wasn't surprised that she'd try bring her militaristic ways into the school, staying silent after his reply for now. 
Mellowrose didn't want the school to close, they needed a way to settle the situation into Hogwarts without causing panic. He knew one thing, the thief would inevitably begin his work before getting caught. 

The smell of floo powder had not even left his nostrils before bickering had begun in the room. Sebastián was reminded of the fact that sometimes the professors could be very similar to their students. Now was not a time to blame or fight over action plans. They needed to quickly be of one mind and act on it. Whether or not Sebas agreed with that plan, they needed a leader to enact something for them. In that case he looked to Blackburn, the highest official ranking in the room. He would need to make a plan for the group or agree to one before the fighting tore them apart.

"Okay, what we need is a plan not an argument," he said to no one in particular, but clearly referring to the two who had just spoken. "Deputy Headmaster, I place my trust in you to set said plan in motion. What do we do from here?"

Si fuera yo, diría a los estudiantes que hay un problema...pero eso no es mi decision...

Professor Cazarez was more than just a book reader. He could fight or investigate as well. As a curse breaker in Gringotts he saw plenty of dark magic. Defending against it was right along his line as well. Sawyer probably would know that in case help was needed. Sebas felt a bit lost as there was nothing they could really do beyond wait. He hoped Professor Blackburn had some ideas.

The tension was thick and heavy. To stop herself from snapping, she gripped at her arms tightly, and sharply inhaled. She doesn't understand where the tension was coming from, they all wanted the students safe - protected. But perhaps they all have different interpretations of protection.

"If..." She stressed, glaring back at the Professor. "it gets dangerous as is suggested. This is what I said. I refuse to put the safety of these students beneath saving the reputation of Hogwarts. The suggestion was that this mask puts the students at risk and there is need to inform them. If we are really looking out of them isn't sending them home better if it becomes too dangerous? If the target is not us, then surely all of us can stop the masked student and the glove bearer?"

"The battle at Hogwarts is precisely why I would rather send them home." She took a deep breath before continuing, much calmer than a few moments before. "Teach them what they must learn to be able to protect themselves, this I agree with.  But panic will not do us good." 

"The students were used as frontlines before, shall we do it again? If the situation gets dangerous, why keep them here? Where are the aurors? If the news gets out that there are dangerous items here, and we have not sent the students home, how does that protect our reputation?"

She wasn't looking for arguments, nor did she want to build sides between them - that would be counterproductive. She nodded politely towards the leaving minister, her eyes sharp. He was no help at all, no information, no motive, no suspect. Nothing to draw any concrete plan from. 

"I also agree with Sebastian," She nodded towards the Professor, "Arguing solves nothing. Our objectives remain the same - protect the students. We need a plan... one that makes us one step ahead of this threat."

She gave herself a few moments to think. Dominion mask, was it? It puts the wearer under a curse to do all biddings of the glove wearer. And there was one of the clues - the snowglobe portkey to Hogwarts. 

"Professor Blackburn, what do you know about these items?" She pleaded towards the Deputy Headmaster. We need a motive, we need potential scenarios - who could be the potential targets? What is the worst that could happen?

The worry of himself being placed under control didn't worry the Bulgarian one bit, if not at all. He was an occlumens and he wouldn't simply give the reigns of his mind over to just anyone. Yet he still had to be careful just for cautions sake, he knew better than to underestimate someone he's never seen. As the discussion grew on and Gerald began to take his leave, his blood boiled a bit as he watched him toss the floo powder. "A mess of theirs for others to clean up, of course." he muttered to himself. It was hard for him to get along with the organization, perhaps it was a natural disdain from just his experience.

But that didn't matter now, not with something looming over their heads. He fell silent for once, letting the others speak and letting his expression do the talking. It didn't exactly dawn on him on how easily each of them turned on each other, he didn't expect it. It was reminiscent of his time in Durmstrang, memories of being stuck in a room and being yelled at in various Slavic languages while trying to enjoy his coffee was still fresh in his mind. But this wasn't the Scandanavian school, it was one of the most respected school in the wizarding world and right now it seemed that it was being plagued by sudden disagreement.

Quarrels never happened between him and another teacher, except Maya. He knew that she wouldn't be happy with his answer and expected something to happen later. In his current mindset, the proposed ideas wasn't too radical to execute. His brow arches as the tension escalates, simply glancing between the soldierly figure of Maya and the sleepy form of Sawyer. A part of him wanted to jump in, yet refrained as Sebastián and Saiseri began to talk.

His hand came up to rub the side of his face, in thought with what he should say - if anything at all. In order to let Blackburn take the stage, the man took a step back from where he stood beside him. The posture remained however remained strong and firm. There were things he wanted to suggest, yet with the response from the others, he did not know how well it would be received. "Perhaps we all need to be delegated on some aspect of maintaining and strengthening the security of the school and its students - whatever that may be of course, Deputy Headmaster. Hopefully, immediately." he spoke. There was a bit of apprehension in his voice, not normally heard from the older man. He didn't speak his mind as to what bothered him in that moment; most of it was better left unsaid.

Being called to the Headmaster's Office. Had Solomon been a bad boy? Yes, of course he had been. Life was not worth living if someone was not doing something bad. Just this morning he wore boots without socks when he went to the barn to feed Old Bessy, his favorite Nundu... well, his only Nundu. They were pesky creatures to catch and getting one to Hogwarts was pretty darn close to a miracle, getting a second one here would require divine intervention. He wondered why he was being summoned but he would not have long to ponder, by the time he received the correspondence. The message was left under his office door, it had went unnoticed until this morning. The manila envelope  
matched in an unsettling way to the beige carpeting of his office. 

There it was, a muddied footprint on the back of a crinkled letter. They should have just had one of his Prefects drag him to the meeting, that would have ensured that he showed up on time. He would step on it assuredly a second time as this time he would hear the crinkle of paper underfoot and take notice this time. He would lean down and pick up the envelope, his hamstring would stretch and his lower back would ache. Internally the good Professor cursed those heavy textbooks, it could not possibly be the eighty pound bags of grain but the over-sized textbooks prescribed to the students and by extension the Professors.

He would traverse the halls with a brisk pace, not that he wanted to face his fate with any sort of haste if he was about to the rebuked for... his dashing good looks, his zeal for adventure becoming contagious among the student body, his daring choice of attire betraying the education system's adoration of conformity. Whatever it was, he did not wish to add tardiness or truancy to the list. He would still be late but he made a token effort as evidenced by his heavy breathing and the sweat on his brow. Solomon was not nearly as intimidating as he was in his youth but the grizzled Head of Hufflepuff had not doffed his armor. His buttery leather breastplate and heavy pauldrons made from the hide of a Selma. At least that was what he claimed it was, in truth he bought it in a flea market in Serbia. he had no idea what it really was but he had a cool story about it all the same. 

"I... am... here..." Solomon huffed, about to apologize for not making it on time when he realized that many of his contemporaries had already gathered. He would let out an embarrassed coughed before recovering flawlessly. "You can start the meeting, I was" quick think of a responsible-sounding lie "grading papers and time got away from me." This was of course after Gerald DeMarcus had made his announcement and likely introduced himself to the professors, but Solomon would at the very least know that DeMarcus was not one of theirs. A disgruntled parent. Possibly. A potential janitor, they really did not need one since there were a number of remedial spells that did that well enough but anything was possible. 

He would of course hear the Professor's disconcerted replies. He would remain quiet as his peers questioned the representative from the Ministry. It was quickly apparent that this was one: not about him. How that was even possible was beyond him but he was not complaining much. His face might have had a slight pout, something a cute girl might get away with. But he was sad. Yes, sad that whatever concerning thing that had happened was... uh... happening. He took a deep, soundless breath through his nose. It was not a staff meeting either. Shame, he would have taken a seat next to Professor Blevins or Galim. Attractive company always make good or bad news better. Yes, he might be an old hound but at least he was not dead.

The story was that muggle techniques were used to steal some artifacts that did something but they were not entirely certain exactly what they did. He had one question, a rather dumb one. "Do you know who stole it?" Muggle wards would have prevented the non-magical from stealing, however they would not prevent a fellow wizard. A wizard that was obviously familiar with Muggle technology and techniques. In this modern age that was becoming increasingly common. Kids and their eye-notebooks and their prison telephones. Still the thief required connections. A history. A name. The thief was likely young, younger than him considering their employment of muggle techniques that are still a mystery to many Professors including himself but also old enough to know what those techniques did. 

Whatever, or rather whoever it was had a connection to Hogwarts. A graduate perhaps? There were thousands of graduates, the pool was simply too large. A disgruntled former student? That would be rather obvious but there were no notable potential Dark Lords in Hogwarts reasonable past. Were there? Probably not. 

The representative did not know who did it. If they knew that they would not be here. It was indeed a silly question to ask he concluded. If the man replied, his answer would be utterly irrelevant if it did not satisfy his want for an answer. In fact, he looked around the room. It could be one of them.

Probably Mellowrose -- he fit the usual tropes. Dark. Dreary. A Slytherin. 

He agreed with Blevins. She was as beautiful as she was smart.

"We should send the students away," Lear announced. "It would be a gross display of incompetence for us to keep the students here with a known dangerous artifact and the thief on the grounds," he explained. "As Mellow said about the first years... defensive spells are above them. We literally have a barrel of fish and an unknown potential madman with a boomstick." That was how the saying went wasn't it?

"As for telling them..." It went without saying that the children should be informed. But there was a potential danger in telling them. "What if the students try to look into it themselves?" Or worse yet find something. "Whoever did this, they had the power, information and cunning to break into the Ministry of Magic leaving behind almost no evidence of who they are while using techniques we hardly understand. This is beyond the students. Frankly this is beyond us." Solomon debated. He had spent his youth adventuring, he had come across some of the most dangerous creatures in the world but there was nothing as threatening as a man in all of this world. 

He would look towards Sawyer and then Sebastián, they seemed calm. Too calm. He did not like that. He did not trust that. Darn pretty boys trying to act cool... they are going to get themselves or these kids killed. He shook his head with annoyance. "The Ministry should be here investigating these missing artifacts and the thief that is somewhere on our grounds. What are WE going to do if we find them. Mellowrose looks like he is ready for another nap. Cazarez looks like he needs more hairgel. I nearly got a hernia putting on my armor this morning. What do you think WE could do against this unknown threat even if we found it. Merlin forbid cornered it." He did not like bringing this sort of thing up. It made him look scared. But fear is not the mindkiller that people like to claim it is. Fear is reasonable. You do not look for peril. You do not ignore danger. You do not allow an unsafe situation to remain ongoing. "You don't allow defenseless children to remain adjacent to a known threat."

His sentiments continued to mirror Saiseri, except he took it a step further. He felt that the threat was beyond them.

He let out a sigh. A part of him expected someone to give him a speech about the bravery of the Griffendor or the cunning of the Slytherin. About how these students were being underestimated. "We are taking a risk that we do not have to take. We are more likely to lose the support of the public if there is a loss of life or function for a student or perhaps even several... and they find out that we knew there was a risk and remained idle." He was threatening them, it was likely that one of them would notice. He would 'spill the beans' that was the correct turn of phrase wasn't it? Sounded right.

Sergei suggested changes to security.

"Whoever this person was, they were able to break into the Ministry of Magic. How are we supposed to outdo the Ministry?" Solomon's voice was raised as he made his point, his hand clenched into a tight fist. 

"I am going to do a headcount and make sure that I have all of my kids and no masks." He glowered at Sergei, a touch of paranoia was wrapping around the mind of the Professor. "Unless one of my kids is transformed." He did not trust any of them at the present time. He wanted to trust the women, they were fun to look at but there was something about them at this moment that unsettled him as well. They wanted to simply carry on and perhaps warn the children of the potential peril except for Professor Blevins. Some of the Professors were more concerned with the schools reputation than the safety of the children. He would start to back away from the group, his back never to them. He was too old to play the hero any longer.

"After I know that I have all of my kids, I am going to get them far away from your kids. Preferably back in London." He assumed that a student either already had this or would soon, there was only two reasons a student would be targeted.

One -- a Professor was seeking a malleable youth to control or place blame upon.Two -- a child with a distinctive power or pedigree is and always was the target. Considering the number of pureblood heirs in the houses, they had no shortage of self-proclaimed celebrities but no true VIPs.

"And I recommend that all of you do the same."

Being the newest Professor at the School, he just finished putting his things away in his classroom and office when he received the note to come to The Headmaster's Office 'Did something happen?' he thought then grabbed his black and crimson lined duster and put it on already having his wand on his right arm via a holster

Arriving at the office a few minutes later he notices the other teachers there bickering "Sorry I'm late, just finishing putting my office and classroom in order, so what's going on?" He asked curiously then waited to speak as he hears what is going on "Parents should probably be informed, they would probably think clearer than the students" He said sliding a hand through his hair as he thinks "Does anyone have access to the Hogwarts Wards? We could use those to see if anyone who shouldn't be here is here" he informed the others "If the wards are similar to Ilvermorny then we shouldn't have much to worry about unless the person is a ward-breaker of legendary status" he added "Now I should probably introduce myself, I am Magnus Rosier and I will be teaching Ancient Runes" He smiled and bowed slightly

A petite golden brown haired woman was the last to slip into the Headmaster's office. Already, there seemed to be bickering going around with her new colleagues. Why had she even agreed to take a position at this blasted school again? Even the professors were immature, it seemed. Stiffing a sigh, Sorrel walked to a spot in the back of the crowded room, muttering her apologies for being late to whoever would listen.

She stood there, simply twiddling her dirt covered thumbs as she listened to the conversation. Sorrel had been dealing with a rouge Venomous Tentacula, that had been quite adamant it in it's efforts to bite some of the poor sixth years. The young professor of herbology was covered in dirt and scratches, but didn't seem to mind as she absent-mindlessly stroked the rather ugly looking green bird on her shoulder. She had been rather late to the meeting, having missed most of the conversation and Gerald DeMarcus's declaration completely.

The other professors seemed to be having quite a tussle over something. Listening closely to the conversation, Sorrel caught bits and pieces of whatever was going on. There was something dangerous going on in Hogwarts, and some of the professors wanted to send the kids home, and the others were arguing against sending the students home. For a minute, Sorrel wished she was at Castelobruxo, where the runt of student's problems were the furry guards of the school acting up and having a food fight. She had to admit that the conversation wasn't something immature, as Sorrel had assumed it would be. No, this was far worse. The students were in danger.

Honestly, Hogwarts was so dangerous. Why did people even send their kids to the school? Especially after the Battle of Hogwarts. Sorrel, of course, didn't voice this out loud. She was dreadfully shy around her new companions, only trusting herself to talk freely around Rosemary. She would have to try and speak now though, if only to protect the children of the school and their futures. Wiping her dirt stained hands on even more dirty robes, Sorrel took a step forward, bird on her shoulder letting out a piercing cry at the movement, before burrowing it's face into the professor's hair. Presumably to go back to sleep. Lazy Rhys. Closer now to the group of professors, Sorrel decided to at least state what she thought in the moment. If it went badly, there was no need to ever talk to the group again. At least, until the next disaster.

"Sending the children home is a far safer option. Would you rather have the school close, or let innocent children die?" Sorrel said rather quickly, attempting to stare down each of her colleagues in the face. Her shyness got the better of her, and Sorrel ended up looking down at her feet instead of staring strongly up at the other Professors.

What she said was true though. Who would care about a school's reputation when children's lives were on the line? There had been far too many tragedies in the wizarding world. If Sorrel had any say in things, and could get over her shyness, there would not be another one. Not while she was a professor at this audacious school. Wishing again that she was back at Castelobruxo, Sorrel walked back to her position by the wall, evidently done speaking for the time being. Rhys, being abnormally quiet on her shoulder, allowed the woman to pet him as she waited for someone to start talking again.

"I will take care of this myself," Solomon growled. It was his intent to be unsettling, he was known more as a gentle old man. The years had worn away at him, like centuries of water wear against a stone. Deep creases distinguished his face from years of sunlight and hardship, something he did not like talking about. He much preferred regaling them of his victories, of better gilded days. "These kids will not be here by the week's end," he declared. It was not a threat, but a promise he was making to them.

He would lie.

Cheat.

Mislead.

It did not matter, the ends always justified the means as far as he was concerned. He would not wait for them to stop him, they could not without force. They don't have it in them to stop him. They had ambitions of their own that they would have to betray for the sake of an idea. Most were not willing to put themselves second to anything. "I wont be responsible for any more deaths," he announced. If only they knew the irony of his statement as he stormed out through the Headmaster's door. The door would slam behind him unless he was somehow prevented from doing so and the pictures on the wall would rattle in agitation.

There was not much he could do, he would sound like a madman if he went to the press. If he went to the parents alone he could cause an incident. Still, he had to send them away somehow.

But how?

His access to the student body was rather limited despite being the Head of Hufflepuff as it was a rather new station for the Professor. Many of the upper classmen were in his Care of Magical Creatures course. It was a rather popular course and he had more authority than credited because of that. Not as much as D.A.D.A. or charms, they had access to pretty much every student in the academy, but he had a foothold and he was going to use it. 

He was going to send them away.

He would pick up his pace, there was some concern that he might be followed. He would look back behind him and probably see nothing. He would round the corner and descend the flights of stairs, looking back periodically. The paintings could see the worry painted on his face but he dared not admit his fears, not even to them. Most of them could not keep a secret anyways.

He would if not otherwise prevented find himself back in his office. [Continuation Post] -- Huffle eyes Only.

[Topic Left unless prevented]