Closed A Dark Ritual and Its Un-Waking Affect PV Jack Burnett

Date: September 12th, minutes after dinner started in the Great Hall

One minute Alec had been in History of Magic with Opeila. It wasn't as if it had been an average day, but considering that she was unwell the last time he'd seen her, her being unwell almost seemed like the new normal. She was getting progressively worse in such a short amount of time and Alec worried for her. His voiced concerns were met with her agreeing, to think he thought it would take more convincing, perhaps it was the fact Opeila still insisted on attending class when she looked worse for wear. She looked to be on the verge of breaking down. Opeila admitted she didn't think she'd be getting better. She couldn't eat properly and she was sleeping for hours on end. Worried that one day she was going to fall asleep and not wake up again. Opeila told Alec everything. A boy had asked if she trusted him, he asked for her blood. He was going to use the blood for a ritual a hag told him to do. It was to save one of her best friends. Her words alone had Alec piecing together a conclusion, how many students at this school could possibly have been performing rituals? Opeila mentioned something else the boy needed, a scream of terror. The information was what sealed the deal. This involved Jack.

If Alec was being honest, he would have to admit to the fact he at first had planned to leave the situation on it's own. Surely Jack knew what he was doing, surely the ritual mess would result in an okay end. Opeila said she had a feeling that when she gave her blood to Jack she would be trading her health for her friends. Alec worried, though there wasn't much the Gryffindor could think to do. Or, at least, the only options he had weren't unlocked just yet. Alec told Opeila that Jack had his scream. She- er- fled. Maybe he should have gone after her, he didn't think it was his place. On his way to his next class, he'd happen upon a scene in the corridor like no other. A group of people crowded around a girl passed out on the ground. The girl wasn't just any girl, the girl was Opeila. As the day went on, her still not waking up he realized it was a problem far more serious than passing out. Hours had passed since, and the rest of the day had gone by in a blur, the event still fresh in his mind. The afternoon rushed by all too quickly, evening was here.

It was dinnertime and the smell of food wafted through the air making its way out of the great hall and throughout the castle. Alec was a man on a mission. When Opeila had passed out, certain avenues of hope dimmed and new options were unlocked. If Alec hadn't already distrusted what staff in the hospital wing were able to do, the notion was instilled in him now. Having been so blatantly disregarded when he had concerns for Opeila's safety. Alec might have been overreacting, however, it was concerning to help the nurse carry a girl that looked so heavy for him that he always seemed to be on the verge of dropping her. The nurse had also almost tripped over his own feet on the way over, it didn't make Alec feel great about the situation. If a professional couldn't do anything(even though ooc we have the foresight they can do something in the end), clearly the next option or next person to turn to is Jack Burnett. He was the one doing the ritual, it made sense to go to him instead of trusting professionals... Yes... Right.

The young teen was running as fast as his legs could take him. A man on a mission to the great hall. Everybody ate, Burnett had to be there. Arriving, Alec burst into the great hall in a hurried air. Pausing for but a moment in order to give his eyes enough time to skim the Slytherin table. There he was, “Burnett!” His name would slip out of Alec's mouth in a shout as he rushed over. Alec stopped to catch his breath from all the running, hands on his legs to steady himself. So much for not making a scene. “We need to talk,” Alec would then remember he was interrupting precious mealtime. “You can eat later. This is important.” One way or another, an impatient Alec coaxed Burnett from his seat and out into the corridors. Away from prying eyes and a place so loud it would have been impossible to hear one another anyways.

In the corridor, seconds of silence went by as Alec collected himself. The least Alec could do is think through what his next choice of words were. Alec folded his arms across his chest, in the end, all he came up with was, “Burnett, what did you do?” Opeila gave Jack her blood for the hag ritual, she wasn't dead but she wasn't waking up either. “What are you doing- that ritual, did you know she was going to get sick?” Words tumbled out of Alec's mouth faster than he could control. Non-specific as they were, it made sense in Alec's head. He was both flustered and panicked, and coming to the realization that he had not thought this through.

@Jack Burnett