6 Aug 2021, 22:57
Finding Finlay
Stepping out of the old telephone booth along with @Hjørdis Jensen, Caradoc watched the red box ascend back to its earlier position. The place was crowded as always, Caradoc himself had very rarely found business here. But over time, he assumed any wizard would find themselves forced to mingle with the undoubtedly boring routine of the ministerial systems. Part of him wondered if Nora had been here before. She was involved with other ministries, though she would have likely had to come down here to register her new residence. Doc buried both hands in his pockets and looked around a few seconds before finding a gap in the masses and following the stream of people inside.
His sunglasses were unnecessary inside, still, he decided to keep them on. Along with his beige chequered suit, he was standing out even amongst the extravagant types of old-fashionably robed dust-breathers. He was also considered young to many of them, though the students back at the castle would have laughed at that notion. Even his own father had begun to notice the hairs on his sides had turned a little more white than usual.
"Caradoc Browne, Professor at Hogwarts." he announced himself to the check-in station. "Head of Hufflepuff, in fact." His eyes would lock, but remain hidden, with the person greeting him. "I've come with an inquiry about a former staff member. "Finlay Vancleaf? He was our school nurse for some time. He was arrested and sent off to Azkaban for his supposed involvement in the murder of Dolores Umbridge." That last name sent shivers down his spine. It had been Doc's first year at Hogwarts when the rise and fall of Umbridge's tyranny fell upon Hogwarts. Of course, the year after that, the Dumbledore got murdered. So things weren't going great anyway back then.
He turned his face towards Nora, who would be standing next to him, waiting. "Are you okay?" He'd ask her in a hushed voice as he let the person behind the counter do their thing. They were not in a hurry.
If you're reading this... You're awesome.
Calming Presence/Healing Sage/Wandless/Non-Verbal
STA - 16 | EVA - 6 | STR - 15 | WIS - 16 | ARC - 8 | ACC - 4
6 Aug 2021, 23:06
Finding Finlay
"Caradoc Browne, Professor at Hogwarts... Head of Hufflepuff, in fact."
A glorified babysitter would have been a more apt description of his role. A bespectacled woman would look up at him impassively and adjust the bright red glasses on the bridge of her long, narrow, crooked nose. "Congratulations," she would reply in a monotone, nasally voice.
""I've come with an inquiry about a former staff member. Finlay Vancleaf? He was our school nurse for some time. He was arrested and sent off to Azkaban for his supposed involvement in the murder of Dolores Umbridge."
A whistle through her narrowed nares she would shift through a tower of paper. She was familiar enough with Finley VanCleaf for a number of reasons. It was publicized in the papers, Potter had a man on the inside. That his own brother had to deny any brotherly pact they might have made in their youth and turn his own flesh and blood over. Not that VanCleaf would ever go to trial, that just was not possible. "What do you need from me then?" An update? A tour of Azkaban? "If you want my opinion on the matter (he probably did not) -- good riddance to the sort. A dangerous man like that taking care of all the little chillen" children. She scoffed a bit and continued with her complaint. "If he ever gets his wits about him, I can only hope he suffers however many days he has got left."
A glorified babysitter would have been a more apt description of his role. A bespectacled woman would look up at him impassively and adjust the bright red glasses on the bridge of her long, narrow, crooked nose. "Congratulations," she would reply in a monotone, nasally voice.
""I've come with an inquiry about a former staff member. Finlay Vancleaf? He was our school nurse for some time. He was arrested and sent off to Azkaban for his supposed involvement in the murder of Dolores Umbridge."
A whistle through her narrowed nares she would shift through a tower of paper. She was familiar enough with Finley VanCleaf for a number of reasons. It was publicized in the papers, Potter had a man on the inside. That his own brother had to deny any brotherly pact they might have made in their youth and turn his own flesh and blood over. Not that VanCleaf would ever go to trial, that just was not possible. "What do you need from me then?" An update? A tour of Azkaban? "If you want my opinion on the matter (he probably did not) -- good riddance to the sort. A dangerous man like that taking care of all the little chillen" children. She scoffed a bit and continued with her complaint. "If he ever gets his wits about him, I can only hope he suffers however many days he has got left."
Some stories should never be told...
6 Aug 2021, 23:23
Finding Finlay
Charming. Caradoc raised one eyebrow at the lady as she spoke in her gravelly voice, like sandpaper rubbing against his skin. Clearing his throat, he readjusted himself and leaned forward. "I would like to arrange a meeting with him." He announced dryly. There wasn't much to say beyond that point. They needed to talk and get answers from him. Sooner rather than later. And the way things were moving here in the ministry, people could get forgotten quite easily. You just had to look at Potter's situation.
A hero of the century, defeated the dark lord himself, and now he was imprisoned for a murder and left to rot. To Doc's memory, the famous Gryffindor was many things, but not a murderer. So many of his older housemates did not fight or even die for someone like Potter to commit a basic case of spiteful revenge. It made no sense that it happened in the Gyrffindor common room, either. It was to out in the open, so open, everything looked framed. But who was the culprit?
Not only those answers were things he needed from Finlay. There was much more going on in the world than just the death of that miserable old toad. Caradoc wanted to know what Finlay knew about Hogwarts in its whole. Whether there were more cogwheels turning in this plot device. The castle had become a centre of murder. Students being attacked and a former headmistress killed.
"Could you please make sure me and Professor Jensen can speak to an official that could arrange this for us? "
If you're reading this... You're awesome.
Calming Presence/Healing Sage/Wandless/Non-Verbal
STA - 16 | EVA - 6 | STR - 15 | WIS - 16 | ARC - 8 | ACC - 4
6 Aug 2021, 23:53
Finding Finlay
"I would like to arrange a meeting with him."
Sunglasses announced. "You are looking to arrange a meeting with a known, violent criminal?" She parroted what the man said with a poorly quirked brow, the sort of brow that moves unnaturally about ones face as if it was partially frozen. A poor attempt at concealing age and maintaining youth with a shot of snake venom. How utterly vain, shame it would not spare the world from the race of her face.
"He aint taking callers, not that anybody does," she claims. A truth, two decades ago when the place was overrun by dementors to ensure that the residents of Azkaban endured a hellish remainder of their existence. A cruel fate. In the modern era wizards did not suddenly become merciful in a mere handful of decades, there was still terrible cruelty and unfairness inflicted upon-- "And he is not there," she concluded as her long, manicured, talon-like ruby red fingernail traced to the end of the list. "Not in Azkaban," she clarified in case he lacked understanding.
"Could you please make sure me and Professor Jensen can speak to an official that could arrange this for us? "
She rolled her eyes and took her sweet time standing up. An extra few seconds to straighten the piles of papers left in front of her, rosters of various wizards. "Fine, I will see what I can do." She would walk away from the desk, leaving both Nora and Caradoc alone in the dusty cubicle of an office.
"Arrange
Sunglasses announced. "You are looking to arrange a meeting with a known, violent criminal?" She parroted what the man said with a poorly quirked brow, the sort of brow that moves unnaturally about ones face as if it was partially frozen. A poor attempt at concealing age and maintaining youth with a shot of snake venom. How utterly vain, shame it would not spare the world from the race of her face.
"He aint taking callers, not that anybody does," she claims. A truth, two decades ago when the place was overrun by dementors to ensure that the residents of Azkaban endured a hellish remainder of their existence. A cruel fate. In the modern era wizards did not suddenly become merciful in a mere handful of decades, there was still terrible cruelty and unfairness inflicted upon-- "And he is not there," she concluded as her long, manicured, talon-like ruby red fingernail traced to the end of the list. "Not in Azkaban," she clarified in case he lacked understanding.
"Could you please make sure me and Professor Jensen can speak to an official that could arrange this for us? "
She rolled her eyes and took her sweet time standing up. An extra few seconds to straighten the piles of papers left in front of her, rosters of various wizards. "Fine, I will see what I can do." She would walk away from the desk, leaving both Nora and Caradoc alone in the dusty cubicle of an office.
"Arrange
Some stories should never be told...
7 Aug 2021, 02:44
Finding Finlay
Caradoc frowned. "What did she mean that Finlay was not in Azkaban?" He turned to Nora. "If he's not there, the only known prison we have, then where is he? And how is he not 'taking callers'" His gaze flashed down to the queue behind them. He wanted to be careful to not have any of them listening in. Wizards could be too curious for their own good.
"I have a bad feeling about this." He hissed through his teeth. While he might have looked cool in his current outfit, his head sure wasn't. "They can't just claim that he got arrested and imprisoned for being an accomplice in a murder and then not have him be there." His eyes would dart across the hall, looking for the elderly lady.
His head would sneakily try to peek at the desk, maybe there would be some papers scattered around the little table, things he could learn from. Alas, he found nothing too noteworthy at first sight. He'd have to be patient for the lady to come back. Maybe then they could finally get some answers as to what is happening in and around Hogwarts. If Finlay was even alive still, which Doc began to question more and more the longer he had to wait.
If you're reading this... You're awesome.
Calming Presence/Healing Sage/Wandless/Non-Verbal
STA - 16 | EVA - 6 | STR - 15 | WIS - 16 | ARC - 8 | ACC - 4
7 Aug 2021, 10:33
Finding Finlay
Well, Caradoc had decided that he had failed before he tried. Thank lord he was not playing DnD.
Caradoc would see Finley's name on the papers left still somehow askew on the desk. The paper conveniently on the top of the pile. The header however did not say Azkaban but rather St. Mungos. Nothing more, nothing less, just a name among the masses, the otherwise pristine sheet creased on his line in the dual columned list.
As Caradoc looked back behind him, he would see a slowly growing queue of other wizards seeking the receptionist. No, his words to Nora were not silent nor were they unheard when he mentioned terms such as "accomplice" and "murder." The Ministry had ears everywhere but so did the vestiges of the public. The receptionist had not returned as of yet, her voice far away and muffled in another room, what she was saying to those in the room adjacent was unknown.
The plaque on the desk, simple burnished brass plate held a name. "Natalie Leach", not a particularly pleasant name. Other objects of interest on her desk were rather limited, a moving photograph on her desk, a moving portrait of a former minister smiling behind a podium. It had to be the 1960's with the garish choice of coloring.
Caradoc would see Finley's name on the papers left still somehow askew on the desk. The paper conveniently on the top of the pile. The header however did not say Azkaban but rather St. Mungos. Nothing more, nothing less, just a name among the masses, the otherwise pristine sheet creased on his line in the dual columned list.
As Caradoc looked back behind him, he would see a slowly growing queue of other wizards seeking the receptionist. No, his words to Nora were not silent nor were they unheard when he mentioned terms such as "accomplice" and "murder." The Ministry had ears everywhere but so did the vestiges of the public. The receptionist had not returned as of yet, her voice far away and muffled in another room, what she was saying to those in the room adjacent was unknown.
The plaque on the desk, simple burnished brass plate held a name. "Natalie Leach", not a particularly pleasant name. Other objects of interest on her desk were rather limited, a moving photograph on her desk, a moving portrait of a former minister smiling behind a podium. It had to be the 1960's with the garish choice of coloring.
Some stories should never be told...
7 Aug 2021, 23:37
Finding Finlay
Dressed in her witch robes for once, she accompanied the Hufflepuff Head on the search for Finlay. Hjørdis had been relatively quiet the entire time - which was not really unusual for her, in fairness. She accompanied him out of concern and curiosity. There was an underlying need for her to know something. Not a question she had to ask but something she had to figure out for herself. She needed to know. Perhaps they all did. Her mind was flooded with thoughts and memories of the man they were trying to find, trying to piece together every bit of information she could to get a whole picture. "Of course," She responded to his question, in a low volume. She almost went without bothering to respond but she was aware that there was a reason he was asking.
Luckily for her, Caradoc had far more patience and was far better at socialising. The woman at the desk was irritating her straight off the bat. She did not want her opinion. Hjørdis was about ready to say something rude if he had not stepped up to answer the lady faster. With a neutral expression, masking her emotions, she looked around.
Her blank expression flickered once during the conversation. He was not in Azkaban. Those words made her eyebrows raise ever so slightly. How could Finlay not be there? Her patience - which was wearing thin already - had been paid off when the lady left. They would wait for her to return. She made no response to his words, agreeing with them entirely. There was something off about the whole situation, there always had been. That feeling was why they were out here in the first place. It did not feel right. She trusted this place as much as she trusted Hogwarts to be entirely safe - which, if it was not evident enough, meant she had no trust for the place. "We'll find him," She muttered back in the lowest volume she could manage as she looked over her shoulder.
Noticing Caradoc trying to look at the papers, she took a different approach and looked around the room a little more. Her gaze was focused more on the others around her and what they were doing. If any of them heard what the conversation was - or more importantly who - she wanted to see their reactions to the situation. She wanted to see if there was anything out of the ordinary around them, anyone behaving weirdly.
This is my former staff account.
I also play: Serena Towers (Graduated PC), Arjan Oberoi (Graduated iNPC), Xiomara Torres (Current Student)
I also play: Serena Towers (Graduated PC), Arjan Oberoi (Graduated iNPC), Xiomara Torres (Current Student)
8 Aug 2021, 02:46
Finding Finlay
Caradoc's eyes locked onto the name of the hospital. His old workspace seemed to call him back once more. It's where he knew @Elliot Price to be as well. That should count as at least one more ally if they were to enter there. Though, the old man left in a pretty similar manner to Finlay himself. Quiet, no fuss, immediate. Caradoc had his answer, yet there was a curiosity that caused him to linger a little longer.
Titling his head to the left, his eyes wandered to look behind him. Using Nora's figure as cover for his own actions, the badger's arm swiftly reached out for the paper, folded it in half and stuffed it in the inside pocket of his suit jacket. Clearing his throat as he turned his heel, he gave Nora's shoulder a little tap before loudly announcing his departure. "Sadly, we have no time left, professor Jensen. The school is waiting for our assistance in organizing the new school year." He cleared his throat yet again as he nodded his head towards some others waiting in the queue. "If you could please let miss Leach know, that we understood how silly the inquiry actually was. Thank her for her dutiful services from me, will you ol' chap?" He patted the man that had been waiting next in line to them on the shoulder as his other hand slipped a galleon in his hand.
Without further ado, Doc would march out of the office, beelining towards the same exit they had come out off. As he walked, he'd remove his sunglasses and stored them in his pocket. Pulling off his jacket, he turned it inside out, so the black coated fabric inside would be turned outwards. Snapping his fingers and twirling his other hand around, he conjured a head-sized round bundle of dark cloth, which he unfolded into an oversized top hat.
"Time to go, are you ready?" He asked Nora if/once she caught up to him. "We'd best head for Mungo's right away." Doc added in a hushed voice as they left the way they came.
If you're reading this... You're awesome.
Calming Presence/Healing Sage/Wandless/Non-Verbal
STA - 16 | EVA - 6 | STR - 15 | WIS - 16 | ARC - 8 | ACC - 4
8 Aug 2021, 10:58
Finding Finlay
The cranky old woman would return, a pair of bookish sorts flanked her on either side. Well, booking in the regard that they wore thick-rimmed glasses and were holding clipboards. They were too well-dressed and their face too covered in carefully applied make-up to be the conventional sort. Thin, tall, more a runway interpretation of what a secretary should look like. "Yes, a Caradoc Browne," she announced simply only to see that the two of them -- Caradoc and Nora both had departed. Her eyes would glance down at the convenient pile of papers on her desk and with a quick movement of her hand she would flip the pile over.
"Well, I guess they won't be needing anything after all," she shrugged and gave the pair of ladies a thin smile.
"We will--"
"Don't you see I have a line," the older woman complained as she made a shooing motion with her hands.
"We will follow-up after close," she looked somewhat exasperated but her face betrayed no emotion as she said that.
"Next!" She bellowed, never answering the tall brunette to her left. They would linger for a few moments, their eyes scanning the queue as if they were looking for something or someone. If found or if not, they would not tarry long, departing with only the sound of their heels clicking the floor in near unison.
"Well, I guess they won't be needing anything after all," she shrugged and gave the pair of ladies a thin smile.
"We will--"
"Don't you see I have a line," the older woman complained as she made a shooing motion with her hands.
"We will follow-up after close," she looked somewhat exasperated but her face betrayed no emotion as she said that.
"Next!" She bellowed, never answering the tall brunette to her left. They would linger for a few moments, their eyes scanning the queue as if they were looking for something or someone. If found or if not, they would not tarry long, departing with only the sound of their heels clicking the floor in near unison.
Some stories should never be told...