Winterlands Main Story December Winners PV Closed

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Interacting With: @Piérre Marchonné | @Alan Vanes | @Marshal Mozor | @Evelynn Decipio
Mentioning: @Rafael D'Spacito
In the area of: Anyone outside the train?
Open to interactions!
Hex Color: #FF4080
The 'fit
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For Moderation:

Action: Try into the limo-mobile-mid-life-crisis thing, try to find Rafa (again? If she's still got eyes on him from spotting him last round, then try to get his attention), run to help Evelynn and Elena with Marshal
Health: 400/500
Abilities: Lovely Creature | Fearless | Terrible Presence
Stats: Stamina 5 | Evasion 10 | Strength 5 | Wisdom 9 | Arcane Power 10 | Accuracy 7

Ana's stomach was doing a gymnastic rountine that ought to have qualified for the Muggle Olympics. Her rush of adreline was beginning to wear off and she was realizing just how tired and, yes, scared she truly was.

She heard another student accuse the man of being associated with SCAR. That seemed illogical - who the hell would want to kidnap a bunch of random school children in such a vehicle? If there was actually some plot, hijacking the trail seemed more likely.

Whether or not he was with SCAR, Pierre was in bad shape, and she knew that she and Alan ought to get him somewhere more sheltered where he wouldn't be moved around so much. "Alan?" she said, her voice shaking slightly as she got her fellow Chaser's attention. "Whoever that is, he's Pierre's best chance out of here. Even if the people on the train know we're gone by now, which I would imagine is somewhat unlikely, we can't count on them for help."

As she took in her surroundings, trying to pick something to focus on, she caught snippets of several things, although she wasn't sure what to make of any of them. One - this man was threatening to blow through Hugh. Two - someone here was his son. Three - Scarlett Aden, Ana's all-time least favorite person was screaming like a lunatic about someone being run over with a train. Scarlett wasn't someone that Ana thought of as remotely honest, ever, but to lie at a time like this seemed unlikely and Ana wanted to help whoever it was.

IF ALAN AND PIERRE AGREE TO GET ON LIMO BUS

Reducio

Alan seemed to agree with her and Ana wasted no time securing Pierre in whatever the vehicle was. "Pierre, don't get hurt any further," she instructed firmly as if that would do anything. With a glance at Alan, Ana darted out of whatever it was.

IF ALAN AND/OR PIERRE DO NOT AGREE

Reducio

"Keep him right here then, I suppose. I don't think moving him around this much is beneficial," Ana replied. She understood her companion's reluctance and didn't feel like arguing when there was apparently someone run over by the train. ""I'll be right back.""

She shifted Pierre's weight onto Alan, made sure he was secure, and then darted towards the train.

As she ran, her thoughts went back to Rafa. Where was he? Was he the one under the train? He couldn't be, right? He had still been safely in the compartment when she had fallen out. She reached the train and felt a wave of relief at the sight of the flash of blonde hair. It definitely wasn't Rafa then.

However, her heart lept to her throat as she got close enough to make out who it was. "Good Lord, Marshal!" she breathed, trying to wrack her brain for solutions. "Has anyone tried any healing spells?" She glanced at Evelynn, having not noticed her at first. Her brain wasn't helpful and the only thing that she could think of was to try to levitate Evelynn's coat/sled, but that seemed like it could end badly if Ana lost focus, and depending on her focus right then sounded like a bad idea. Jasmine meowed plaintively behind her but Ana barely registered it as she got on the other side of Marshal and tried to assist. She desperately wanted to ask if any of them had seen Rafa or better yet call out to him again. However, her throat was terribly dry and swallowing, much less speaking seemed impossible.

Scarlett, Elena, Anastasia, Marshall & Evelynn

Marshall was a victim of circumstance. The unluckiest boy perhaps in all of Gryffindor. The pain that was a constant state of being; the bondage that prevented him from even understanding his own injuries; the confusion and the callous, reckless attacks made by his peers. That was no mistake, no error what had almost happened. A wand had to be drawn, an incantation made with a flick of the wrist and an intention in one heart. Waves of pain would overpower his other senses as he tried to wiggle and worm to safety. His protests muffled, all he had besides his agony was a vision of beautiful mercy in the form of Evelynn.

She represented more than safety and freedom from restraint as she tore away at his muffler. Sweet cold air would fill his mouth and all he could do was beg. Confused, disoriented, in terrible pain and able to do nothing.

"E-Ev...

It was hard to talk. It was cold, he had been laying out in the snow injured and bound.

"Please.

Was she about to leave him too? She turned away to call for help. To summon someone, something but the others had their own worries, their own injuries, missing birds, want to defeat the obviously evil wizard that was offering them a ride. Marshall was hardly a passing thought for most of them. When he was no longer an interest, became troublesome, it stopped being about them, they were content to leave him. The burden was Evelynn's alone.



No one.

"P-please don't leave me!"

Leave him like everyone else has. He was desperate and without her alone. Terrified and in a state of panic that would leave him reeling.

"I'm here."

She assured him but being present was not enough. He was critically injured. How could she leave him as easily as the others have... she could not. She would not.

"I'm here"

She repeated. Words that might have seemed hollow to the boy considering the circustances but she meant what she said.

"I'm not going anywhere. Alright?"

"Please make it stop..."

The pain. The bondage. The silence. The cold. The helplessness he was experiencing as he begged her to stay. She would start to talk, ramble really. Something to fill the silence, to avoid another heart-wrenching plea. She tried to place him on her coat, a crude slead to drag him.

Evelynn Strength check.
Roll: 14

Evelyn was not known for her physical might but she was determined. The sorting hat recognized it. Anyone that had a conversation with her would recognize that her stubbornness allowed her to defy science and in this case the burden of mass of a teenage boy. It would hurt, the roll with a crushed leg. The bruises and the tight bandages. Still, some unpleasantness was required.

A throb would follow once he was secured. The pain would never have a chance to subside, rather she would start pulling him. The ground was uneven and rocky. It would hurt but he was being brought towards the others. Others he might come to hate considering their indifference.

"Keep talking, Marshal"

Beter than yelps or cries, sniffles and muted yells. Not that he can help himself.

"You're going to be okay. Just keep talking."

When things seemed hopeless. That Evelynn and Marshall were on their own, Elena, accompanied by Flutters would offer a hand. Nobody else had stepped forward and Evelynn streggled to drag Marshall over the frozen earth.

"He'll be alright. We're here."

Elena claimed. Yes, Eve was not alone. Marshall was not entirely abandoned. They could work together. An extra set of hands would make moving Marshall faster but no less painful. The uneven earth would torment Marshall as they made their way to the plane.

Elena lacked the history with Marshall to make meaningful conversation but there would be an opportunity for a meaningful connection between her and Marshall as well as her and Evelynn if they gave it an opportunity. Her assistance would set her apart from her peers. There was no glory in helping. No drama. No opportunity. She helped because she could. She helped when nobody else would.

"Good Lord, Marshal!" Anastasia would loudly announce as she came close enough to the scene to see the battered youth dragged towards the plane. [color="Has anyone tried any healing spells?" Well, the bandages kind of worked out, he was erm. bandaged well enough. Bondage, bondage... some difference really. In fact it was somewhat difficult to see the degree of his injuries in this particular state. [Unknown if Alan and Pierre are near or in compliance]

Those that have posted have reached the plane.

Raine Sage

Raine was inside the plane with AJ when things went very wrong. It was nothing like the movies, it was more akin to a horror movie where a subkect was posessed. AJ's eyes would glaze over, appear lifeless and then roll back. His battered form would shake violently on the floor. Galton engrossed by dished of candy. The woman on the plane was the only one that appeared to react to AJ's perilous condition as Raine turned the boy onto his side and ran back out of the plane.

"Boy? ...BOY!" A shake, an attempt to lift his head. A shaky voice as she attempted to hold the boy and prevent further injury. What in hell's name is wrong with thee kids.

For whatever reason she decided to approach the small group that had conveined about Thaddeus Athantos. The older, well-dressed man back to her, she would see the larger teen in front of him - Hugh Lowe. The part giant towered over the wizard and in his hands the mangled remains of a boy she might recognize, Vladamir Athanatos.

She could not hear what was said but she was somehow able to glean mounting tension between them so she decided to intervene against the unknown man.



Starlee and Xailah

There were others hurt, like AJ who was having a sezure on the plane. Marshall whose bones were broken, he was bound and being dragged across the snow by Evelynn and Elena. Vladimir was unconscious, held by Hugh Lowe in the midst of a confrontation. Starlee would look on, her feet glued to the ground as she fruitlessly looked on. No step towards the plane. No step towards the unstable situation. No step towards Evelynn as she desperately tried to saved a pained and panicked Marshall.

Xailah would react with a Protego.



Hugh & Meenauh

There were a great many things Hugh could have done at this moment. Denying a man a dying child was on the list, buried somplace between handing him over, rendering aide and getting the boy onto the plane. Rather an interrogation, a confrontation. A consequence.

"What?"

Yes, that was what happens.

"You-"

He what? He did not want to answer questions. He did not want a this for that when a life was hanging in the balance. They all wanted everything, for him to help. For him to give. Yet suspision. Denial. His son.

"But I didn't-"

"Hugh..."

The youth's name, Hugh Lowe a part giant Hogwarts student in his second year. He had not made himself particularly well-known beyond his unusual size and his short stint as a Prefect that came to a quick and quiet end. Hugh's youth betrayed by his size, the form closer to that of a man rather than a child. A massive, imposing form holding a man's dying child that he stubbornly refused to hand over.

"I think you should return Vlad to his father," Meenauh tried to reason. She did not have much time, the boy might have already been dead. What could Hugh do but ensure the boy's demise? "He's the parent."

"You're right. Of course." The tense moment was far from over. That did not mean that he was going to give him back his son, only that he had the right to him. There was a distinction.

"A-alright sir... I'm going in. Just... I'm going, look."

That was when he saw it. Not Thaddeus' grip slackening on the spear, a moment of cautious hope coupled with impatience. Past the older man and his stovepipe pat he would see Raine leave the limo jet, leave the warmth, safety, security and side of a seizing friend. Her wand drawn, this meant trouble. A sudden step to the side, a touchy and agitated old man. A verbal protest might be soon followed by Hugh's skewering had it not been for the incantation he heard.

"Slugulus Eructo"

The Slug-vomiting Charm (Slugulus Eructo) was a curse that forced the victim to burp up slugs. They may also have taken on a sallow complexion as a side-effect. It was described as a green jet of light. Treacle fudge can cure the effects in a few seconds, although it will eventually wear off on its own.

Raine was perhaps saving Hugh's life, the slug-vomiting curse might... deter the man who was demanding his property be returned to him with a blood-borne spear in hand that he had no hesitation in losing. If there was a decision to be made between some part-giant or his own son, the stranger's life would be forfeit every time. A lifetime in prison as a consequence for ending the life of the person that ensured the death of one's son seemed like a fair exchange.

He would kill them all if he had to. What parent would do otherwise? As he turned to see the source of the words he would be faced with the part giant.

The creshendo of a tense moment. Of Hugh's moment, of what would later define him as a man and as a giant.

"Nooo!"

Meenauh scremed. In defense of the older man or in response to the potential consequences of her success.

"Expelliarmus!"

Meenauh cast Expelliarmus at Raine.
Attack 2 + 8
Evasion 3 + 8

Meenauh would fail to knock the wand from Raine's grip, not that she would have prevented Raine's attack would go off without a hitch. Out of seemingly nowhere, a girl that was on the outskirts of the standoff between them attempted to intercede. Just jump in the way, in front of Lowe, ripping from him his moment as the dramatic girl played meat shield.

Raine cast Slug Vomiting charm at Thaddeus Hugh Katrina.
Attack 18
Evasion 5 (none, standing in the way)

"Protego!"

A foreign voice would intercede just in time, protecting the quartet from Raine's wrath. Saving Katrina from the curse Raine had inflicted. This would be followed by a speech.

"Would you all just stop and thing for one second?!You’re all acting like idiots! Lives are in danger for Merlin’s sake!Just help the people who are hurt and get in the stupid plane thing before we all die! I’m sure Mr. Magic Dude over here isn’t planning on hurting or kidnapping a couple dozen students and if that is his plan its not going to work well anyway. So can we just assume for a moment he’s not trying to kill us and try to get back to the castle instead of sacrificing each other?"

The scene merely erupted with yelling and with words. Katrina demanding a cease-fire and Scarlett expecting help?

"THERE IS BOY WHO HAS BEEN RUN OVER BY A TRAIN. I GET THAT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO DEAL WITH AND OTHER INJURIES TO TREAT, BUT ARE ANY OF THEM WORSE THAN A BOY GETTING RUN OVER BY THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS? I THINK NOT. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS BOY ALIVE I SUGGEST YOU ACT FAST AND YOU ACT NOW."

Yes, ignore the unconscious one in front of him in favor of the conscious one being dragged towards the plane. That was her expectation in the aftermath of someone attacking him. It would be like stopping at the side of the road to assist in a motor vehicle accident only to have the driver attempt to stab you and then have someone else demand that you render the hurt one thrown from the car in the second most perilous condition first-aide. Yes, that was pretty much what was happening here.

All Thaddeus had to say was -- "you have to be kidding me." At the site of an accident with numerous injured students, his son withheld, himself attacked, then defended and for what? For showing up. For offering to assist. For performing the worst kidnapping in history by exploding a train with random children that left his own son at death's gate as they entered the gaudiest windowless white van in history with all those non-descript frills. "I honestly no longer care. Get in the train or stay. You're giving me my son," there was no humor in his voice. There was no, let me abandon my dying son to render aide to the incompetently treated youth that was being brought to the train instead because some shrieking child decided to reinvent triage. He just watched multiple students break laws - underaged magic - to attack and subsequently him, render treatments, attack another student (Marshall) and yet they had the audacity to make demands!

Yes, this was the face of indignance. There were consequences for their choices, there was going to be consequences for the decisions that placed Vladimir in this perilous state also. "A final time. Plane, now. I am leaving. My son is coming, you do not have to accompany him. If you deny me, I will gladly take him and enjoy my time in prison for saving my son's life." What parent would do anything different in this scenario. Have tea while attempted to interrogate him and demand his services while his son continued, no continues to deteriorate. Their selfish dramatics. Their paranoid presumptions that only hurt them both. They treated him like an enemy but they were going to expect help or stubbornly await rescue by Hogwarts.

He was frustrated, infuriated and indignant. The spear in his hand would dissipate into smoke, leaving no evidence of a weapon in its wake. He would reach out for Vladimir, attempting to take the boy into his arms. Away from the reckless chaos, the dangerous behaviors of children that seemed insistent on playing games that would prove fatal for some. He was returning to the plane, if they followed or not that was on them at this point.

This is the ending of this thread. You can state you are on the plane if you are coming, you can choose to stay behind. If you stay behind it takes a few hours before someone can come and get you. The Professors had to be notified of the situation and then they would have had to of traveled to this site because they would not know exactly where you are to envision it to get there in the blink of an eye.

For those that got onto the plane. There was a reporter there, she was treating AJ who was left alone seizing on the floor. She would get statements from some of you. Perhaps complaints about how mean the old man was because he was not nice about his dying son and being attacked. Thaddeus would tell the Professors on arrival what transpired that he knew -- he was attacked, there was a fair amount of spell usage. Yes, there was likely some offscreen detentions that happened but the Ministry was not involved (thankfully) but he threatened it. Yes, you guys made an enemy with -maybe- the big bad.

He would be treating Vladimir with obvious blood magic of some sort. he would not regain consciousness the duration of the trip to Hogwarts. They would not go straight to Hogwarts however, he would be prioritizing a trip of St. Mungos. Marshall is also free to get healing there also -- it would involve Skele-gro and basic healing of his injuries. A couple night stay at most. He can also insist on staying with Eve and being treated at Hogwarts.

Galton would survive the candy, they were just expensive candy.

By the moment the spell left her wand, she didn't have to care whether it would hit or not. The others came to help just in time. And Xailah's perfectly cast Protego (wow!) save them all. Watching the old man's spear dissipating, she sighed with huge relief and collapsed into the snow.

The sky was... she couldn't even describe the colour of the sky as she was lying on her back, staring into the depth of the aboveness. She heard the man speak, muffled for her, but she didn't have any power left in her to stand up.

The fact that they had tried to protect him didn't matter much, but in the back of his brain she thought that he couldn't have been kidnapping them at this point. Not with Vladimir almost dying. Not now, at least. If he'd be taking them to Hogwarts, it would probably be faster than waiting for the adults to arrive. Not to freeze in the cold snow. If he'd be taking them... Well, there was no way he'd be alone on that thing, there must be some sort of a crew. Would they really try to kidnap them all? No. He must take care of his son. Why caring about a bunch of young hot-headed students, when your son's life was at stake. He was definitely taking them to Hogwarts.

But she did not have anything in her to make her move.

She just stared at the sky. Just like she was staring at the sky, while she was inside the train, pointing her wand through the broken window to cast the spell.

She raised her wand and pointed at the grim sky and whispered:

"Periculum..."

At least to mark the place for the adults to come to.

She would just lie there, waiting for someone, or Xailah, or really anyone to help her. She would not oppose getting onto the flying machine — it all seemed stupid now to not get on it. But lying in the snow was also... okay. She closed her eyes. And smiled in a painful satisfaction.

Action: Meenauh would accept any help — either helping her to get onto the plane-limo, or staying by her side in the snow until the adults arrive.

Not fully realizing yet what had just transpired around him, the part-giant opened one eye after wincing in the expectation of a spell hitting him. Someone had managed to prevent a disaster. With a grim look on his face, Hugh would look at the old man. Whether he'd look back or not, it did not matter. He didn't want to be near him. People like him were not welcome in most parts of wizarding society, even after all this time. Something made him feel the same after his interaction with Athanatos senior.

Stepping forward, boarding the plane, Hugh looked around and found Galton inside. He made sure to quickly place Vladimir somewhere open and safe. He'd make it easy for the boy's father to reach him. Look after him. It was more than his own father would have done, so it couldn't be all bad. Even though the man's threats had not seemed hollow. If Galton gave him a look, Hugh would nod in return before turning back to the exit. Alone or not, he did not want to be in here. He could walk the distance if he had to. Hell, maybe even carry one or two people along the way. The rest of them were so small, and brittle.

Hugh's heavy footsteps would thud on his descend. His towering figure, tall and decisive. Wading through the snow, the part-giant took in the scenery. Classmates either hurrying to the plane, or staying behind in the aftermath of this... attack. Because that's what it was. Hogwarts had never been safe, at least not for as long as he'd been wandering the school grounds. But they hit pretty close to home this time. There were tales of what happened in Hufflepuff and Slytherin, and now this.

His eyes fell on a girl, @Meenauh Silmataurea he believed her name to be. Lying in the snow, taking in the evening. It seemed calm and quiet. Something he desired after such a ruckus. The sound of his body hitting the floor would have caused some attention, likely. At first, he was of a mind not to say a word. Just to... sit there and wait. After a few seconds, though, his voice would rumble out. "Mind if I sit here for a while? I'll just... You know."
He figured she'd understand.

"Protego!" There were few logical thoughts behind the bellowed word. It was mostly fueled by empathy and adrenaline; the wish for an end to... whatever this was to be called. Xailahs chestnut wand curved through the icy winter air, slicing it straight down the middle. There was a tiny problem with the spell Protego. See, it is one of the few spells that does not produce a light of its own. So, the only way to know if a cast was successful, was to wait for the offensive spell to hit. A confident wizard, bearing a strong connection with their wand, might have been able to detect success. That being said, Xailah wasn't exactly confident or connected, when it came to her defensive spellcasting capabilities.

The moment the incantation left her lips; she immediately felt her heart clench. It was as if a large pair of hands had clasped around the beating, thrumming muscle, and squeezed. Squeezed with the intention of popping it. Her eyes squeezed themselves shut- but only for a dreadful second of anticipation. She waited for the impact of Raines spell. Waited. Waited... A vibration could be felt at the tip of chestnut. It slithered down the length of wood, disappearing once it reached the wands base. Xailahs eyes flickered open, just in time to see a pale green light pool in front of her. It dissipated, as it made contact with a shield unseen. It worked! Her spell worked. The hand around her heart released its grasp. She exhaled quietly.

Maybe her wand understood the urgency of the situation. Knew that someone needed to be protected. The reason for her wands cooperation did not matter. She was simply relived that it had cooperated. Xailahs arm remained frozen in the air, as if attempting to maintain the barrier she had created. She stood there for awhile, motionless; listening; hoping; waiting, for the climbing tension to die down. For that small while, her head was completely empty. Thoughts quiet. Static- nonexistent. There was calm. Thaddeus voice sparked movement in her head. Production of thoughts resumed. Fleshy gears turned, warming themselves, spinning until they fell back into their regular pace. The static returned, filling her head with the sounds of an angry beehive.

Her wand arm lowered. Slowly, she turned on her heel to look at the elder Athanatos. Observed him for a moment so she that might learn his face. She made note of the weapon- (had it been a weapon?) that faded into nothing more than a tendril of smoke. She traced the lines on his face. Smoothed over his wrinkles with her dewy golden hues. How old is he, she wondered. Were his wrinkles a product of advanced age? Or stress over having a child that everyone wanted to hurt? Her attention fell to his hands, as they slipped beneath Vladimir; lifted him from Hughs tree-like arms. Vladimir was a very lucky boy. He was lucky that there was at least one person in this world that loved him- or at least did a damn good job of pretending to. Xailah wondered; would someone do that for her, if she were hurt? Was there anyone- be it here, or there, or anywhere- that would ever care for her like that? Hold her like that? Nurse her back to health? Kill, if someone tried to take her away? No. Probably not. Certainly not. She looked at the man and his dying son one last time, before making her way over to the remains of the Gryffindor car; where she would find a warm spot to curl up in. She felt hollow. So hollow.

She observed her surroundings briefly; watched Meenauh wander to a pile of fluffy snow, and lay down. The tall boy- Hugh- who had been holding Vladimir, followed and did the same. They laid alongside each other, not speaking a word. Meenauh looked so small in comparison to Hugh. The difference in size was almost funny. If the events that led up to the nap session, had not happened; Xailah might have chortled at the two of them. She watched both for a moment-their chests rose and fell- watched them breath. Watched to make sure they didn't fall asleep in the cold bed that they had made for themselves. She would not move them, or coax them onto the limo-jet. Sometimes, the best thing to do, was absolutely nothing. Besides, there was someone else right now, who was the most in need of the Metamorphs care. Xailah heard a soft sound from nearby- the soft crunching of the ice crystals that coated the ground, as something weighty padded across the earth.

From the ledge she had perched herself on, she could see a small bob of grey, flicking to and fro- it was Schrödinger looking to reunite (for the third time) with his mistress. The lioness propped herself upright against the mouth of the train car, and stretched downwards to retrieve the feline. She would feel something move in her sleeve. It slid down her arm; its smooth shape gliding down clothed flesh. Oh. The glass. She shook her arm gently. With a free hand she parted the space where the cuff of her sleeve met her flesh. She let the shard of glass- which had been taken as an alternate means of defense- fall from her sleeve, and into the blanket of white below. It was invisible when it hit the snow. Huh. There was relief in knowing that she did not have to use it. This time. It felt nice to not have to hurt something for once.

"Waaaaow", Schrödinger cried. Xailah reached over the lip of the car, and lifted him by his middle; folding him into her arms. They both looked truly ridiculous. Like with Meenauh and Hugh, there was a noticeable difference in size. A girl with such a dainty build, shouldn't have been able to carry a feline of such gargantuan mass. And yet, in her arms he was cradled. Like a large baby. Xailah held the grey cat close to her, to keep him warm. Hummed a lullaby, while she rocked him. She hoped help- not in the form of a shady limousine- came soon. The sooner help came, the sooner she and Meenauh could get out of this frozen hellscape.

Closed to Interactions

Luckily, it seemed fate was on the injured boy's side, as the prefect who had cast the protego did so flawlessly. Starlee just stood and watched in awe. Awe both because of the insane events unfolding before her, and awe in the prefects spellcasting. She was obviously older than Starlee, but it was something to aspire to, no doubt about that.

Almost as quickly as it had started, the chaos quickly resolved itself. The man with the blood-smoke spear dissolved it, realizing the threat to his son was over. The giant handed the unconscious boy over to the man, and the man retreated into the plane, going on about how he didn't care if any of them got in the train or not, they would be leaving.

Starlee didn't care to stay in the cold any longer and, for what she thought was both her and her bird's best chance of survival, she entered the limo-plane. Who knows if those guys from earlier would come back to try and steal their wands again. She would much rather be in the warmth and safety (or what she hoped was safety) of the man's limo-plane. She didn't care her belongings were still on the toppled train; it seemed like some of the students stayed behind anyway, perhaps the professors that found them would bring everything back.

There were already some students on the limo-plane, but none of them she immediately recognized. She quickly passed by the reporter, numb both physically and mentally. She sat down next to a window, holding her bird's cage tightly to her chest. For a few moments, she stared out into the snow covered lands, attempting to relive and analyze everything that had just happened. It all had happened so fast; the train toppling, throwing her and several other students around like ragdolls. Managing to save one bird, but shoot her own through the window of the toppled train with a poorly cast flipendo. Finding Borvo, and then watching a student attack a man who said he was there to save them.

Her owl was flapping around like mad inside his little jail cell, but she wouldn't dare let him out. Not until they reached the safety of Hogwarts. There she could release him and finally show him his new home, assuming he didn't just fly right back to her parents, or even the Magical Menagerie at this point. He certainly wouldn't be inclined to be anywhere near Starlee for a while. She tried to shhh his cacophony of hoos, absentmindedly trying to pet him as she bit back at her fingers. He finally got one, and a short, squeaking "Ouch!" erupted from her. She tried not to be mad, but it was hard when you couldn't explain to a bird your reasoning. It's not like he would understand that her spellcasting failed.

Sighing, she put him down in the empty seat next to her, attempting to buckle him in safely before they left. Any questions directed toward her by anyone or the reporter she would respond with a simple "Mmm..." not elaborating or saying anything further. She was lost within her own thoughts, good and bad.

The side trip to St. Mungos hadn't been expected, but she enjoyed seeing it, or at least the outside of it, all the same. Perhaps that would be the future place she would work.

When they finally arrived back at Hogwarts, she would leave the plane-limo, gripping Borvo tightly again, and make her way up to the owlery to show him his home. Upon opening his cage, he would fly out spectacularly, right out one of the windows to who knows where. She would notice his wings weren't in the best of shape, but there wasn't anything she could do about it now. She would lug his cage back down to the dungeons, flop down upon her dorm bed, and fall asleep within moments - entirely exhausted.

Starlee leaves the thread.

A furious Thaddeus would be the least of Vladimir's woes the weeks to come. It had come to light that he was cursed much like his peers, a closely guarded secret he had foolishly kept from his father. Weeks in St. Mungos yielded nothing but an agitated parent, his heir apparent would likely wither and die in a matter of months, perhaps years if he was fortunate. His second son, but an infant still would serve as an unfortunate spare. A knowledge that had sat poorly with the Ravenclaw who had concluded some time ago, upon the announcement that his father's lovely 'young' wife was with child: Medeia.

Weeks would pass peacefully without him at Hogwarts. Indeed, he was one fixture that would not be missed.

----

It was an hour and twenty minutes later that a vehicle would arrive. It was a far cry from the limo jet that had offered to whisk the students away over an hour earlier. It was a mini van, yes the sort that soccer moms use to bring their kids to and from extracurricular activities. Of course it was a wizarding device, bewitched to fly and driven by the headmaster. A gaggle of house elves would spill out of the vehicle, they would offer the chilled students safe passage back to Hogwarts with the *snap* of a finger. Returning from the site of the accident to the familiar school was an elementary task. Those that chose to travel in the company of a house elf would experience the stomach-twisting, disorienting experience of apparation. For those that feared splinching, feared the house elves, simply preferred the familiarity of a mini van could pile into the modified vehicle and slowly make their return to school grounds.

Worried faces would meet them. Those that had taken the limo jet would have been the first to return safe and sound. The injured among them already escorted to the infirmary from the front gate where the jet had landed. The second to arrive were those that were apparated there by the house elves. They would find themselves in the most familiar of settings for the house elves, the kitchen. For those that did arrive, they were offered a sweet - cupcakes with sweet blue frosting dusted with a luminescent purple powder. It was lemon-blueberry but that was not the point, the cupcake was dosed with a forgetfulness potion. The dire circumstances of the evening forgotten with a couple of bites for those that chose to partake. They would sleep well, unworried and unstressed. They would not be traumatized. They would not harbor grudges for an incident that they cannot even recall. For those that did not, they would be plagued by their memories. A secondary offering of sugar cookies offered and if accepted would have the same forgetfulness effect. As for the rest, well they remembered this evening for now.

The house elves would escort the students to the medical wing regardless of their apparent injuries. They needed to at the very least get looked over. The elves would be insistent on this point if nothing else and leave a plate of milk and cookies at the children's bedsides. The only assurance they made was that it was in a flavor they presumed the nurse reviled.

The final arrival was the mini van, this would land in the courtyard. The Headmaster would go on about the fact that he needed help, the sort of help that came from Professors and fellow Heads of House. While it is possible that not every Professor heard or responded to the summons as they were perhaps otherwise occupied be it with their lessons, their lesson plans, their daily lives or contending with the first two waves of injured and traumatized students. For those that did answer the summons, they would escort the students to the Medical Wing.

The unfortunate school nurse, he was likely going to be doing an all-nighter. No wonder he decided to start an internship for healer hopefuls. One would think the Headmaster was the busiest man in the school but in truth it was the school nurse.



OC: Feel free to continue to post until completion. This is my last post in any account here.

The limo has left. A few remained. Oh, just... few? She didn't count. She just hoped the spell would bring enough attention to their saviours.

She turned to Hugh, who parked nearby and tried to speak, but completely failed. But she understood him anyway. She just smiled and turned her gaze back to the infinite sky. It was getting cold and the initial warm shock from the seemingly inevitable catastrophe was dying out. The winter was winter.

That hour was long. A very long hour was spent in almost complete silence, as no one seemed to have enough power to speak. And what could they say anyway? The warming spells seemed to be enough to last, but the repeated casting was slowly draining their magical battery away. There were moments of weakness when she was breaking inside — maybe the limo wasn't a bad idea. But then she would look around to see the faces of those who stayed and strengthened up to keep casting the warming charms.

When the help arrived, it arrived in the most unexpected way. She expected brooms, as adults couldn't have just apparated to an unknown place. But it was... a van. And the driver was no other person than the Headmaster himself. She stood up, rubbed her eyes and stared at her Headmaster rather in... puzzlement. A bunch of house elves scattered from the van and offered their help, which Meenauh had kindly refused. She didn't have enough life juices inside to be apparated. It was not the fear of splinching but rather a fear of being turned inside out as they would arrive. She entered the van and took a seat not far from the Headmaster, and fell into a nap as soon as they launched.

Action: getting a taxi to Hogwarts, napping, after arriving — meeting with Pericles. Leaving this thread.