A Marauder era RPG

September 13th, 1978 - Narrative

2007-01-05T22:51:54Z

September 13, 1978
7:11 am
east end of London, Bridget's apartment

It was probably safe to say that Severus had had no idea what his note to Varian would bring. He certianly hadn't expected to have his fears confirmed from the source itself. Almost three hours after he'd started the conversation, and he had been sitting here on the floor in Bridget's living room for nearly a half hour after the last message, head buried in his arms on the coffee table as everything that had been said between them ran through his head, over and over.

It was all well and good to be angry over what happened, and he had expected that. But what he hadn't expected was the overwhelming feeling of crushing sadness and hurt and disappointment he felt. Here he had been hoping that, for once in his life, he had been wrong about something, that his fears were unfounded - and then, not only did Varian tell him that he was right, but the man had then proceeded to try and make him think it was his fault it had happened in the first place.

He couldn't even cry over it anymore. Numbly, Severus slowly pushed himself up to stand, shuffling towards the bathroom and tiredly rubbing a hand over his face. How the hell was he supposed to ever make this work now? How could he ever face Varian again, even just for the band? Things were so different now. Everything had changed with that one little thing Varian had let slip. And Severus had no idea how to deal with it. urning on the light in the bathroom, he closed the door softly and then leaned over the sink with a small sigh, hands gripping at the countertop before he finally raised his eyes to look at his reflection. For a moment, he almost didn't recognize himself, and it confused him - leaning closer to the mirror, Severus studied his reflection intently, trying to figure out what was wrong. It wasn't overly noticeable, but finally he realized what was different.

Before, even through everything he'd been through, there had still been some tiny shred of innocence, or naivety, still apparent in his expression. Even with everything he had learned, he'd still stubbornly held onto a shred of hope. Now... now it was gone. That hope had been replaced with the awful knowledge that he truly was alone. Whatever he wanted, he'd have to trust only himself for it. Corinna was still in danger, and he didn't dare help her out any more than he could. Frank was angry with him for the trouble he was in with his superiors in the Ministry - and Severus didn't blame him for that, though he still didn't like it. He had virtually NO pull as a Death Eater, merely because of his association with Varian and because he was positive the others all saw him as a joke. And now, even his confidence in his musical ability was faltering.

Expression screwing up as if he were going to cry, Severus regarded himself and found himself whispering harshly, "I will not fade into the background anymore."

He was tired of being taken for granted. Tired of being treated like a joke. Tired of being treated like he wasn't good enough simply because of who he was and what he did. He would show them all that he was intelligent, that he was talented, and most importantly, that he was useful in his own right. He would show them that he could go for what he wanted and get it.

But first... A furious determination filled him, and he pushed away from the counter, walking into the kitchen and retrieving a pair of scissors from one of the drawers. He returned to the bathroom, taking a long look in the mirror before taking a deep breath, shaking his hair out in front of his face and squeezing his eyes shut. Only one thought filled his mind as he took a hold of the limp strands hanging in front of his face, and made the first cut - 'You all wanted to hold me down, but you didn't think I'd get back up. None of you will recognize me after this - I won't even recognize myself."

September 13th, 1978 - Journal

2007-01-05T17:26:04Z

September 13, 1978
4:20 am
back 'yard' of Bridget's apartment building, London, England

Ready to stop being an asshole and get to work on that music?

~SLS

Tuesday, September 6, 1978

2006-12-12T04:49:18Z

8:55 am

Frank Longbottom walked at a suitable pace as he moved down the hallway and then turned the corner (right) to head towards one of many classrooms this section of the Ministry had. He glanced at his watch, his eyebrows went up slightly as he tried to read it, and then squinted. For someone who was far sighted, Frank only really wore his glasses when reading, or to look sexy for the sexy sexy ladies. He paused at a relfective window of someone's empty office and admired his reflection, sweeping his hand through his longish hair, making the bangs sweep back and stick up a little more. He then licked his fingertip and thumb and swept them across his eyebrows.

"Oh yeeeahh..." he then pointed his fingers like a gun at the window. "Cool!" He said, using, again, that new phrase he picked up from the students in France. That was, before they were attacked, and one died. Frank tilted his head and stared off at a space on the wall as he let his mind wander back, reliving only seconds of that event before he was snapped back into reality.

It was...well Frank didn't know his name. He was an old old old bearded man with a slouch who cleaned the hallways, in charge of the house-elves that helped maintain order in the depths of the Ministry.

"Well, aren't we all spiffy and purty today, Nancy." The old man said, his long white beard dangling to the floor and he laughed a hissing laugh because he lacked teeth.

"My name's Frank-" Frank stated for probably the hundreth time since he started at the Ministry.

"Nancy. What a pretty name. I see your boobies have almost grown in," and the old man took a sweeping look at Frank's chest and then made another hissing throaty laugh as he moved down the hallway. Frank, in the meantime, has consciously grabbed the edges of his work robe and closed them in front, as if protecting his fair-weather chest. He walked away quickly, taking peeking glances down at his front, at his vest and properly done-up tie, at his trousers and semi-scuffed dress shoes. He looked back, eye-balling the old man before yanking open the door of the classroom.

"Sorry sir, the janitor was talking to me and I'm la-" Frank started saying immediatly as he stepped into the room, and then paused. The teacher's desk was empty, and so were the student desks. Even the corner that Ted Tonks sat was vacant, and then Frank noticed the lights were off. "Oookay..." He said outloud, to no one.

September 6 1978

2006-12-11T09:28:11Z

2:00 am

Well hey there, stranger.

-C.B.

September 5th, 1978 - Journal

2006-12-11T08:35:47Z

September 5th, 1978
11:52 pm
Bridget's flat, London, England

I wasn't going to write in this again today. I felt the need to. My week is looking up slightly. All I need to do now is talk to a couple friends and make ~~sure they're ok~~ some plans to get together at some point so we can catch up, and then maybe things won't look so grim.

It was weird, though, even though I know that Frank and Corinna have made it back safely... I'm positive that I heard Frank say that they were attacked. I could have heard wrong with Bridget talking in my ear at the same time, and I hope I DID hear wrong, but even still. Now I'm even more anxious to talk to them and make sure that everything is for sure okay.

I technically shouldn't even be using this journal right now, Bridget said she didn't want any magic in the flat, but I can't wait until morning for this. Of course, she also said I wasn't supposed to go out, but I figured just seeing a movie wouldn't hurt. Besides, I highly doubt Varian would have gone to the cinema.

And this is one of those times where I'm finding myself thinking about what a complete dunderhead I'm being. One would think that it would be easier to get over this whole stupid, depressing situation. I know I was thinking earlier that I wouldn't change anything that's happened in the last few years, but I don't know about that anymore. his is one of those times I wish I could go back in time and just stop myself from giving in to that stupid attraction. I don't know what I was thinking. I mean, was the sex really good enough that I was seriously willing to put up with the moodiness, the times where I was brushed off or ignored until he wanted something from me? Was it really good enough that I put myself through the painful process of getting emotionally attached only to fuck myself over in the end? It always ends like this, and the only thing I can think is that this is all my fault.

Should I have gotten myself involved in this? It wasn't supposed to happen. And then when something DID happen, it was a mutual understanding that it was just... a physical thing. Knowing what I know now about him, what Bridget told me, now I have to wonder whether Varian really cares about anyone but himself.

I don't know how we're going to work the song writing. I hope we can still do this, as far as the band goes. We've made it work with Walden and I being at odds, why not this way as well? Besides, I need to work with Varian on something anyway, I came up with an idea for a new spell, but the way I've designed it, it will only work with music. I've been working on it on and off for the past two months, ever since I suggested it to the guys. Now I just need to talk to him about it.

I don't think I'll contact him just yet, though. It's too soon.

I'm going to owl Frank first thing when I get up, I think.

Tuesday September 6th Early Morning Press

2006-12-11T06:23:27Z

ATTACKS IN PARIS LEAD THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INTO A PANIC OVER POSSIBLE TIES BETWEEN THOSE AND THE ONES RECORDED IN ENGLAND

Yesterday morning explosions rocked the Parisian Wizarding community leaving several dead and countless other injured. One woman reported that it was like the end of days were upon them. It is though that the attacks involved members of the organization known as the Death Eaters who have been illusively terrorizing England. Though no arrests have been made preliminary information suggests that there was possibly an Auror present at the attack. The Ministry had been unavailable for comment, but suffice to say questions will be asked and answered demanded as more of the story unfolds.

September 5th Late Afternoon

2006-12-11T06:17:29Z

Frank I need to know if you're okay, you weren't in class this morning and they said something awful has happened. Please owl me back as soon as you can.

Alice

September 5th Early Afternoon

2006-12-11T06:14:38Z

Gideon Prewett, Fabian Prewett, and Alice Townsend

She kept staring at the empty seat in front of her. Alice didn't hear a word Fabian said, she was too worried about Frank, about why he wasn't in class and she was terrified that something had happened. In fact if anything did she would feel responsible, as she had chosen not to say anything. Fuck now she had to, and she wasn't sure how to go about it or how much trouble she was about to be in. Why did life always have a way of screwing people over?

Fabian had progressed to a stage of actually writing and drawing things out, not trusting charming a quill to write on the large roll of posted parchment to look like a bulletin board (to work commonly like a Muggle dry-erase board), enough to do so as his mind moved far more quickly than his wand could. That day he was lecturing on types of conflicts, motivations for the offensive, defensive, examples of strategies and so on.. The class was doing well so far, and by the looks of it, would get to be released from class on time that day, which it was nearing just then..

Could she feel any worse? Alice sat there still staring at the vacant space and waited until the class was over, not moving from her seat. "Mr. Prewett, may I have a word with you?" She asked, keeping her voice professional.

He turned to look at her, eyebrows raised as the class filtered out. "Yes, of course," he said, walking to his desk to get his wand to send a casual flick to the parchment he was writing on so as to have it disappear in an instant. Too bad for any students wanting to grab some last minute notes.

Alice didn't move from her desk, afraid that she might try to just leave if she did. "I know why Frank Longbottom isn't here," she said after a long moment. "He decided to go on...his own mission of sorts, but he was supposed to be back today; in time for class." There it was out there and Alice pressed her lips together still looking at Frank's empty seat.

Fabian leaned against his desk, folding his arms across his chest as he thought over that. "Longbottom expressed his plans to go on his own.. adventure?" With the last word, Fabian really couldn't help himself. "He told me about this, but you know he's done that for sure?"

She simply nodded. "He said someone was in danger, he wanted me to go but I said no and he said he was going, him and a few other people." Alice looked down at her desk.

"He asked me not to say anything, I...I thought he would be back today like he said and when he wasn't here..."

"As your instructor and member of the Ministry, I can say that this information is greatly appreciated, and it was a very good idea to say something.." Oh Lord, it was awfully awkward talking like that (especially to Alice), but.. it was necessary with the job. "And if you'll excuse me, I need to do a few things in light of this news."

At least he wasn't mad. She was certain he would be since she had known about it for quite some time. This certainly wasn't something she was going to point out to him though, and simply nodded. "See you later Fabian." She stood up and walked toward the door. "See you in a few hours," she said softly and walked out to disapparate home.

Ah home. It was wonderful just to relax as it wasn’t something Gideon did very often. Jenna was away at a Bridge meeting and the dog was sleeping soundly on the rug. Things didn’t get any better than this, which is…why he shouldn’t have been surprised when they got worse. There was a loud tapping at his window and then an alarmed hooting. He stumbled out of the recliner and across the room raising the pane and letting the frazzled creature in his house. It was tired, and thirty as it drank all the water Gideon sat out for it. The owl was an odd one, not one he recognized from those parts. Carefully he pulled open a scroll with official French Ministry heading. Oh God. His eyes scanned the page; several people had been killed in connection with what was thought to be a terrorist attack. The back story or what could be put together so far was that there was a group of rouge agents, something of that sort after something or someone. People were dead, not just one but at least three, possibly more with only who knew how many injured. Gideon rubbed his eyes and then scanned down the list of English Citizens registered at the Hostel.

Frank Longbottom.

The name seemed to jump out at him. That fucking idiot. All of a sudden his conversation with Fabian that morning came back to him. He had simply dismissed what had been said, figuring Frank would be back, perhaps travel problems, but now he saw what was going on, and…Alice had known. She had bloody known what that bastard was going to go do and she had chosen not to say anything. Too bad for her that she was here to be yelled at and he wasn’t for all he knew Frank could be dead; and at this point he was blaming it on Alice. Gideon apparated to Fabian’s flat banging hard on the door, the owl in his hand.

There was the typical unlocking of the door and it opened to reveal a confused looking Fabian. It was the combination of the loud, desperate knocking and the one who'd been doing so that created the confusion. He took it that it meant any news but good news. That's how it ended up being, right? "Yes, Gid'?"

"Where is she?" Gideon asked in a grim voice. He pushed the scroll flat against Fabian's chest as he stalked into the flat slamming the door behind him. "ALICE," he yelled. She appeared around the corner of the hallway giving him a bewildered look. He crossed the living room in four strides, grabbing her by both shoulders and giving her a hard shake. "Can you give me one good FUCKING reason you didn't come say something the SECOND you knew what Frank was doing?! People are DEAD ALICE," he yelled not caring that he was obviously upsetting her.

Alice let out a surprised yelp at being physically shaken. She stared up at him cringing as his voice got louder. She blinked, pressing her lips together but not responding other than the cringing she had already done. "But I--I didn't think.."

He cut her off. "Exactly you didn't fucking think, you're not a child and by god if you don't start acting more like an adult you can kiss the Auror program GOODBYE."

Fabian first looked at the scroll oddly, but his blue eyes quickly went to Gideon in his tangible fury. Fabian glared, widening his eyes a little at Gideon's out of the blue fucking insanity. "What is the problem here?" He asked loudly, walking up to the two. "Longbottom told me he was going to go as well. You got the information, Gideon. What the fuck does it matter?" No one treated Alice like that, especially not Gideon.

Gideon let Alice go, the force of the release enough to send her stumbling backwards. "What does it matter," Gideon stated in an eerily smooth voice. "Tell that to the families who have now lost people in a situation that could have been prevented." He turned back to look at her, glaring daggers. "From now on you had better understand who you report to young lady, shaking up with an Auror doesn't excuse you from the rules." That was probably over the line, but he was furious and distraught, he was going to have to answer for having one of his trainee's in a spot where an incident just happened to occur.

Oh, slowly Gideon wasn't the only one that was at that level of pissed off, as Fabian was nearing it. "You can't possibly think any of that was her fault! Use the bloody brain you have, Gideon!! And I hope, for your goddamn sake, that you're planning on apologizing to her.." He wasn't at yelling just yet, which showed exactly how upset he was. There was no excuse for how rude (not to mention irrational) Gideon was being. No.fucking.excuse.

Alice looked between them both her eyes wide. After a moment they both were nice and distracted and she made her get away, scrambling into their room and locking the door. Gideon heard her move and turned to watch the train of blonde hair that flew behind her as she all but ran. He was starting to feel kind of bad, but not near enough to apologize to her; she was the one who hadn't done her duty of informing him of what was going on.

"Fabian how long has she known about this hmm? And she waits until the day Frank doesn't come back, until it's too late for us to do anything, until there are buildings toppled and people dead. And now she wants to talk; now she wants to spill. I'm sorry if I expect more out of her than you do."

That last statement of Gideon's earned a good glare. "And what exactly was she going to reveal what we didn't already know!?"

"We knew that he wanted a mission, we knew that he said he might have something going down, but then he wouldn't reveal his source, I didn't know he was actually GOING, and she knew details that might have helped Fabian, can you see I can't justify this what are we going to say to the Minister when she asks what an Auror trainee was doing in France and more importantly why didn't anyone know, and I have to say that well one of the other students knew but didn't say anything because he asked her not to?" Gideon didn't even blink at his brother's glare, the last thing he was, was afraid of Fabian.

To ask Gideon to try and put himself in her position wouldn't exactly work, Fabian knew, because the git would probably have gone straight to the Ministry to tell all about his idiot friend. And this wasn't exactly the kind of mistake that Fabian could ask be forgiven.. not when Gideon was reacting to his degree. Not to say that Fabian wasn't upset at the whole thing, but the lot of his anger was waiting for the moment he got to speak with Mr. Longbottom himself. He frowned as he glanced away in thought.
No, of course he wasn't going to admit that Gideon was right. He was, but he was also wrong. "So that earns her the treatment you gave her just seconds ago?"

Gideon shook his head. "I told you this would cause problems. She's an Auror Fabian, not just your girlfriend. I just gave her the exact same treatment you or I would have gotten and not even close to the treatment that I'm going to get tomorrow over this." Oh and Frank Longbottom. He had better bring an armed Guard to protect himself if he made it back to England alive.

Okay, so Fabian knew he was biased in his argument. He'd be stupid to say he wasn't. He couldn't be objective when it came to Alice in that moment even if he tried with all his heart. "That far from makes it right. You have no right to do what you did, and you know it. You should have waited until you cooled off before talking to her." Which was far unlike Gideon, Fabian knew this. But there was still hope. "Not only that, but she isn't even close to being deep into training yet. Where she is now grants her more leniencies. Alice has done damn well so far in this course. It's common action to make a mistake. Would she have been able to predict what scale of mistake by not talking? I don't think any of us were able to guess prior to the event that anyone was going to die, but that he'd probably end up finding nothing if he decided to go, get hurt out of his own stupidity, at most."

"Don't expect an apology from me Fabian," Gideon said calmly. "What I did just guaranteed that it's a mistake that she will never make again. I'm not going to punish her for it and that is more than I would grant most people." He took the owl back from his brother. "I suggest you be in early tomorrow we are going to have to figure out how to explain this and right now I don't have a single fucking answer." With that he gave a nod and then disapparated still furious as he unlocked his own door.

The door to the bedroom opened and a small tear stained face appeared. Alice wiped her nose, sniffing as she walked back into the living room. "I'm sorry," she said sadly clenching a handful of her hair. "I didn't know...Fabian I didn't know it was going to turn into this."

He glanced over at Alice, unsure if he should speak or not as he was very pissed off and didn't want any of that anger directed toward her. So, Fabian just kept quiet, but softened his features so as to let her know that way that he wasn't upset at her.

She sat down on the couch and burst out bawling, burying her head in her hands. People were dead...Frank could be dead, fuck if she would ever keep her mouth shut ever again.

And easily as that, his heart broke seeing her do that.. Fabian quickly moved to sit next to her and hugged her tightly, maybe so as to absorb some, if not all of her sadness.

And miraculously she didn't push him away and actually turned to push against him wanting to be held, wanting to be told it was going to be okay. "I'm sorry I'm sorry," she sobbed over and over again. Horrible Auror; she was going to be a horrible Auror.

Oh, did he ever feel horrible. Fabian never wanted her to feel pain, never wanted her to cry, or hurt, or anything. He wanted to protect her always. "Alice... don't torment yourself over this... you didn't know... you didn't know…"

"People died, they wouldn't have if I would have just...said something I'm so sorry," she crawled all the way in his lap, clinging to him for the moment only able to remember what it was like to be told her father was dead. Was that happening to another girl right now?

He looked down at her, eyebrows pressed together. "You can't possibly blame yourself for their deaths. You can't. It was just as likely that no one was going to get hurt in this."

"Gideon hates me," she said having finally stopped crying. Her cheeks were blotchy and she was sniffing, trying to compose herself. "Has anyone heard from Frank? Is he alright?" She was miserable and simply wanted to sleep, at least then she wouldn't have to think.

Fabian thought that as far as Gideon was concerned at that moment, Gideon could jump off a cliff for all he cared. "No. I don't know." He frowned and softly dried her cheeks with his palm.

She looked up at him, her lips jutted out at a light pout. "Am I in trouble?" Alice asked in a very soft voice.

"Not if I have anything to say about it," he answered. "We'll work this through, Alice. I promise you."

"Okay," she whispered softly, swallowing back more tears. Alice laid her head on his chest, her hands holding onto his shirt.

Fabian exhaled slowly as he held her, leaning back into the couch. He probably wasn't going to go to work the following day, nor the one after that. He was far too upset at Gideon to do so.

She had him, and that was all that mattered. He wasn't angry with her and at the end of the day his opinion was the one that mattered. Alice felt rather silly for having gotten so upset in front of him, though not as much as she would have had it been anyone else. It sometimes bothered her how easily she let him see her cry.

After a moment of peaceful silence, Fabian spoke. "Feel any better?"

"Not really," she said rather dryly though stood up, trying to regain her sense of attitude and power that usually kept her apart from such displays. "But not much I can do about it now." She smiled at him and then turned to go back to their bedroom already feeling the facade start to crash.

Once he was completely alone, he stood and followed into the bedroom. Her being so sad made him feel more attached and protective of her than ever, so he really didn't want to leave her side. He felt as if he did, for too long, she'd shatter, or something similar.

Alice looked up from the bed and gave him a light smile. "Hey," she said softly and then moved over to give him room. Alice found it rather cute that he had followed her and gave him a rather demure look. "You don't have to worry about me, if you have things you need to do I'll be okay." Two tissues lay next to her, and she was working really hard to seem as happy as she felt she needed to be to make him not worry.

He smiled a little and settled into bed next to her, again placing his arms around her, almost acting as if maybe it was he that needed to be held instead. Once getting comfortable, he spoke. "I don't have anything to do, don't worry."

She snuggled against him, enjoying his company and feeling comfortable against his warm inviting form. "I love you," Alice said softly, glancing over at him as her fingers traced A's on the trousers he was wearing.

"I love you too," he returned in a matching tone, and after a moment, faintly smiled at her.

She leaned in and kissed him lightly, her cheeks still a bit damp and hot. Alice didn't want to think anymore, as it served to do nothing but upset her. In fact she had no intention of saying anything on the topic of Frank or his escapades until she was forced.

She snuggled against him, enjoying his company and feeling comfortable against his warm inviting form. "I love you," Alice said softly, glancing over at him as her fingers traced A's on the trousers he was wearing.

"I love you too," he returned in a matching tone, and after a moment, faintly smiled at her.

She leaned in and kissed him lightly, her cheeks still a bit damp and hot. Alice didn't want to think anymore, as it served to do nothing but upset her. In fact she had no intention of saying anything on the topic of Frank or his escapades until she was forced.

He returned the kiss, and rested his head against hers. Thinking on it, he felt more tired than he realized. Hm, some things were far too emotionally taxing than he thought..

Alice pushed against his neck, her arm draped over his chest. It wasn't long before her eyes closed all the way and she drifted to sleep, conflicts forgotten as she inhaled the way he smelled.

Fabian, on the other hand, did not directly fall asleep. He watched her sleep while his mind drifted and eventually got himself to stealthily pull away from her. He remembered that the news should be sent to the Order, whether they already know or not. For, like many other instances, the time called for a meeting. So, for a little while at least, he busied himself with writing letters to send later.

When she finally woke up Alice wondered up behind him wrapping her arms around his back until her fingers were splayed out on his chest. "Hey," she said nuzzling against his back.

Fabian leaned back against her and looked over his shoulder up at her. "Hey..."

"I'm going to try and owl Frank" she said with a determined expression. "Maybe I'll get an answer."

Fabian nodded in understanding. "Alright.. We can go together to send the letters."

She gave him a bright smile, looking for all the world like everything was perfectly back to normal and fixed before sitting down near him and jotting out a note. It was short and sweet and she rolled it up, tying it with a bit of twine as she waited on him.

He finished up in little time, being he had been up writing as it were. He rolled and tied up the letters similarly and stood.

She gave him a look that said ready?" And then grabbed hers as well.

"Meet you at the Ministry owlry," he said before Disapparating. It was going to be a quick trip, for Fabian didn't want anyone he knew trying to stop him and talk to him.

She started to say okay but he was gone before the word got out of her mouth. Alice disapparated as well managing somehow to land with her foot in owl crap. Disgusting. She grabbed the nearest owl and after cooing at it, attached the letter.
He looked over at her while fastening his final scroll. He only carried three, so it hardly took him any great amount of time to do anything with them. He smiled a little. "Alright! Let's go!"

Alice grinned and disapparated back home falling comfortable back on their bed. "Today has officially been one of the worst of my life," she said raising her head up to look around the room. "I guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed that Frank will respond." her tone was far lighter than she was actually feeling.

He sat onto the bed and took off his shoes before sliding into bed next to her. Fabian sighed lightly, not out of sadness but more to simply relax more. "I hope he does..."

"And when he does I plan to tell him that he can shove Paris and anything else he wants directly into his ass," she added firmly before turning to curl against his body.

Fabian slid his arms around her. "Good idea.." he yawned. "You may prep him for what he'll be getting from the Ministry.."

Alice crawled up on him looking down at his face. "Is he in alot of trouble?" She asked, resting her chin on his chest. Well if Gideon's reaction to her was any sign of what was going to happen...she almost felt sorry for him.

"A lot of trouble lightly explains it," he answered.

She was torn. A part of her wanted him to be in as much trouble as he deserved, both because it had caused such a scene and also out of the fear she had over him having done such a thing. But at the same time…."You know he's not a bad person," Alice started gently kissing his chest over the top of his shirt, mainly as a way of keeping the conversation from getting too heavy. "He just did what he thought he should."

"Mmhmm," Fabian said softly. What she had to say would hardly change whichever punishment he was going to get.

Alice looked up from his chest, legs settling on either side of his waist as she pushed up, her weight resting on his groin. "He's not getting kicked out is he?"

He exhaled. "I can't answer that question."

"Can you give me a hint?" she prodded, still trying to keep him slightly distracted just in case her questions might have bothered him.

"No," he answered, hint in the tone of his voice to have her stop looking for answers.

Alice glanced at Fabian and pressed down with her hips starting to rock them. "I just...he wouldn't have done something if he had thought it was going to happen like this."

He placed her hands onto her hips so as to have her stop, for although his body was reacting otherwise, her tactic of doing that with the air of the conversation wasn't a very good idea. "Of course not."

Alice got the hint and stopped, sighing deeply. "Okay I'll shut up now," she muttered trying not to look as sheepish as she felt. Sure it probably wasn't fair but she simply was trying to keep him from getting upset with her questions, even if he didn't want to answer them. Alice reached down placing her hands over his. "Sorry," she said softly rubbing her thumps along his skin.

He nodded, to show he understood, as Fabian wasn't going to get mad at her right after what happened with Gideon. "It's okay," he said softly.

Alice reached down softly running her fingers down his cheek. "I love you," she said feeling even worse that he wasn't even upset. Alice leaned down further to kiss him, her hands resting on either side of his head.

Fabian kissed her back, tilting his head up to do so. "I love you too," he returned sincerely. "No matter what, I'll always love you."

She smiled at him, pleased as always with how freely he said those words. "And I you Mr. Prewett, forever and ever."

He returned the smile and kissed her again. Indeed there wasn't anything that would have him love her any less than he did. There only existed things to strengthen his love, not weaken it.

Alice kissed him again and then started down his neck onto his chest. Her fingers wrapped through his hair affectionately.

His hands left her wait so that he placed his arms around her. Fabian always felt the most comfortable like that - that she was his.. always.

Alice snuggled against him. Being the smaller of the two of them it was perfectly comfortable and easy for her to lay on top of him like this without it being an ordeal. She was particularly fond of touching skin and did just that, her hands sliding under his shirt and resting on his chest as she lay her cheek down over the top of both them and his shirt. "Will you love me even if I get kicked out of the program?" she asked only half joking, at least they would lose the main point over which they argued if that was so.

"You're not going to get kicked out of the program," Fabian told her confidently.

If he told her the sky was purple and talked she would have believed him and she smiled, all her fears instantly vanishing as if he had taken and thrown them away.

Fabian kissed the top of her head with a smile. "But I'd have to find a new girlfriend who was going to become an Auror if that did happen.."

She raised her head slowly, cocking an eyebrow at him. "If you could find one that would have you," Alice said trying to look serious even though she was having trouble not smiling at him.

"Am I that unbearable?" he asked in a cute mock sadness.

"Only when you're awake," Alice said sweetly.

"Then how can you ever stand being around me for this long?" He sweetly kissed her forehead. "Must have been torture, by how you're describing it."

"Probably has to do with being in love or something like that," she closed her eyes as his lips grazed her forehead, raising her chin until she found his lips with hers kissing him deeply. He was most certainly bearable...even enjoyable 99.9% of the time.

Fabian kissed her back, moving his lips perfectly with hers. Oh, how he loved her, every single bit of her, and could never seem to get enough.

Alice opened her mouth further, her tongue shyly pushing against his. She started forgetting about the problems with Frank and even those with Gideon, too caught up in his kisses to care at least for the moment being

Certainly, kissing Alice was near magical. He felt connected, comfortable, and like it was a sign that he was doing something well, that life was working out. Or, perhaps rather.. all his hard work, balancing out everything, fighting the 'bad guys', it was all to protect the one he had in his arms at that very moment.

September 2, 1978

2006-12-08T11:13:26Z

September 2, 1978
6:30 pm
Downtown London, Rodolphus Lestrange's Office

“Bloody christ on a cracker, who’se this!?” Barty said, now out of his chair completly and seemed to hover behind it, his wand going from Pettigrew to Avery. “I’ve never seen him before...I..” He paused and then made a funny screwed up face. “Waaaait a tic..isn’t that..?”

“My name is Peter Pettigrew,” Peter replied, looking rather boredly at Barty and his waggering wand. “And yes, you’ve seen me at Hogwarts no doubt. But perhaps mostly as the pititful tag along to James Potter and Sirius Black-”

“And Lupin.” Barty cut in.

“Yes, him too.” Peter said, and moved to sit down in the chair next to the one Barty was holding behind. Barty cautiousy slid to sit back down in his own chair, staring oddly at Peter, as if were a ghost or some other-worldly being that didn’t quite exist or wasn’t supposed to be there.

Varian Avery started to pull the ledgers out of the box, and placed them down on the table. He stopped only to shoot Peter a ‘shut your mouth’ stare. The reason for Pettigrew’s appearance in the office had not been planned. Varian had simply used the boy for his fireplace, not wanting to travel any other way for fear of further damaging his flora. He had taken Peter by surprise, as the younger boy was enjoying a bit of a light read by the fire, and had lept from his father’s arm chair, giving Varian a bit of a shout for that. Luckily, Peter’s mother had fallen into a deep sleep due to a bitter herb tea Peter had brewed, one with the root of a particular Goblin grown vegetable that, if not thinned out by water, could be deadly if consumed. A eyedropper full in any drink was enough to cause a long bout of deep sleep, slowing the heart to just above respitory attack. Peter either hated his mother, or had taken to experimenture in a sadistic way. He calmed himself after a moment, wiping his glasses off with a hankerchief. Varian stated he had ‘business’ to attend too, and to his annoyance, the horn-rimmed former Gryffindor seemed intent on following.

Rodolphus grabbed Varian’s arm roughly, jerking it one way so Varian had to look at him. “Why?” He whispered in a hiss, meaning Peter.

“Because he followed me,” Varian stated, and yanked his arm back, not in the mood for semantics at the moment. He was on edge and angry over what had transpired at the cottage, and he attempted to keep a semiconductive and cool exterior which was, unfortuntly, quickly cracking. “Not my bloody fault, youre wife’s the one who bloody pampers him-” he continued to whisper back.

“Fucking fantastic,” Lestrange mumbled and immediatly glanced into the box, finding that his breath caught in his throat. “Is that..?”

“Oh yes, yes it is.” Varian told him, lifting out glass container with both hands, presenting it literally to Rodolphus. The blue flower inside seemed to practically glow. “Entire intact specimens, and from you told me about that man, these can be used to drug anyone into a perpetual state of everlasting sleep, simply ont he verge of death.” Varian would of smiled, but he had nothinbg to grin about. His mind was elsewhere.

Barty looked away from Peter and made a confused look. “Its just a bloody blue flower!” He stated, looking unimpressed as he cleaned under one fingernail with his teeth.

Lestrange stared at Barty, dead pan. “A flower? This is not just a flower. This is our Lord’s newest plan.” He told him, as if dismissing Barty.

“He didn’t tell us-”

“And why would he, Crouch?” Lestrange shot back, and held the glass vile up to Barty as he walked around the desk. “This flower comes from North Asia, in a mountain range that is near impossible to climb or survive. These flower only bloom three times a year, and its chemical properties are more dangerous than acid. When used properly in certain...potions...it can be used to ensare the senses, bewitch the mind-”

“You can basically infect a person with it, especially is used as an airborn agent,” Peter Pettigrew cut in, surprising them all. They had almost forgotten he was there.

“It could be of the Deadly Nightshade family, of which two berries eaten by a child could mean death. However, it doesn’t appear to be woody, so it makes me think of Enchanter’s Nightshade, but that’s of the willowherb family...”

‘What in bloody hell is he rambling about, huh?” Barty asked, confused as hell over this. He looked at the other two, and then back at Pettigrew. “So nancy boy’s a plant man, but you’re not speaking the Queen’s English, chap.” Barty then chuckled, as if he just felt accomplished in making fun of Pettigrew.

Varian and Rodolphus both held equally puzzled yet determined expressions, staring at Peter. Rodolphus ignored Barty and then narrowed his eyes.

“Does it have a smell to it, espeically when uprooted? It could be of the Fumitory familia,” Peter went on, and then turned slightly to Barty as he pushed his glasses up on his nose more with one finger, even though it wasn’t nessesary. His nose was slightly upturned, and he spoke with a semi-nasaled voice, one he did on purpose because he felt it gave him distinction. Or rather, an arrogancey he never was quite able to master like James Potter or Varian Avery. “Which comes from the medieval Latin word meaning ‘smoke of the earth,’ where the endobodies it gives off through the boiling of the sap or steaming gets into the eyes, it causes them to water as if affected by smoke.”

“Why did you say that, just then?” Varian stated, pointing at Peter. “About the smoke?”

“Because you mentioned airborn-” Peter answered.

“Are you some kind of spy!?” Varian flat out accused Pettigrew, and whipped out his wand. “How the bloody FUCK do you know all of this!?” He practically yelled, the vein on the side of his forehead starting to pulsate.

Lestrange shot a look at Varian and immediatly knocked the wand out of his hand. “Shut..UP!” He hissed, and then turned to Peter. “How the bloody fuck do you know all of this?” he repeated the question.

“I read,” Peter simply said, and pursed his lips somewhatm,m giving Lestrange a rather arrogant look back as he arched his eyebrows. This only made Lestrange chuckle. Him chuckling only made Barty start to chuckle.

“You have use after all...what’s your name again?” Lestrange stated.

“Pettigrew.” Peter replied.

“Have you any other special talents that we’ve of yet been privledged to see?” Lestrange added, looking more the calm leader regardless of the chuckling Crouch gave off or the glares and mumbled curses Avery let out as he searched in vain on the floor for his fallen wand.

“Absolutly,” Peter replied, trying to f ight a smile that plucked at the corner of his mouth.

“And I take it you want something from me?” Rodolphus stated, now looking down at the shorter bespecled man.

Peter actually made a small half grin, half frown. “What makes you think I want anything?” He said most innocently.

September 2, 1978

2006-12-08T11:08:37Z

September 2, 1978
6:30 pm
Hogsmeade//East end of London

As it happened, Severus didn't even hear that yell. He had already started trudging down the path to Hogsmeade, stopping and looking back only once, for a long moment, to the cottage. "Should have fucking known this wouldn't last," he whispered to himself, knowing that he was being melodramatic, but not caring in the slightest. With a sigh, he turned again and started walking again, already having an idea of who he would crash with for the night. If she let him, of course.. Upon reaching the village, Severus went straight for the payphone and called a very familiar number, hearing the phone ring once... twice... three times.... and then - "Hello, Bridget?" he said quietly.

There was a heavy breath, and Bridget breathed a low "Hullo??" into the phone. It sounded like she had just run a 5000 meter marathon to get to the phone.

"Is this Pivolli's Pizzaria!? I placed that order over a bloody HOUR ago and you're driver STILL hasn't knocked yet!" She continued to berate into the phone.

"Bridget- Bridget, it's- wait, Bridge, slow down, it's me, SEVERUS,"" he said, trying to interrupt her.

Bridget went silent on her end, followed by a high pitched "Ooooh! Hiiiiii Severus!" She said in all too fake high pitched voice she used when caught off-guard.

"Hey - uh, I was just wondering if I could ask you a small, uh... favour... If you promise not to ask questions..." Severus asked with a small, forced laugh, trying to hide the distress in his voice.

Bridget seemed to be moving around, as there was suddenly a lot of static on the phone. It faded out into the background, which sounded like, if one listened closely, was the strains of a work-out program on the tele. "Oh..right. Sure. I won't ask any." She stated into the phone as her voice became somewhat muffled, like she held the receiver on the crook of her shoulder and neck.

"Right. Um.. would you mind terribly if I crashed at your flat for a night or two?" Was he really doing this?

Bridget immediatly answered that with a question, effectivly forgetting her promise not to ask questions. "Why?"

Severus sighed and just said quietly, "Disagreement with my room mate. I need to find a new place to stay. Is that alright?"

"Oooooh," Bridget echoed into the phone. "That's a real sticky wicket, right there. Did you owe him money or something?" she asked, and started at her wrist watch. "Look, I've got to keep the line clear, as I have a very important phone call coming in," she told him, meaning the pizza restaurant. "Just come on by."

"Yeah, okay, I'll be by in a bit, then," Severus said, suppressing another sigh at that. "See you soon.. and thanks, Bridget." Even though you're not very good at just not asking questions, he thought as he started to hang up.

Bridget hung up on him before he could, leaving a high pitched dial tone in his ear.

Letting out a helpless chuckle, Severus just shook his head and dropped the receiver onto the cradle before taking out his wand and Apparating to Diagon Alley. From there, it was only a short walk to Bridget's, maybe about fifteen minutes, and he managed to get into the building without having to call up to her apartment again. He was knocking on her door about twenty minutes after he left Hogsmeade.

The door pulled open, only to stop quickly, being caught at the end of the chain Bridget kept on the door. "Bugger hell blimey," she cursed and slammed the door shut. The sound of chain scrapping against wood was heard and the door reopened. There Bridget stood, looking right pretty as she wore a rather fancy going-out dress and had her hair done up in some fabcy yet sexy do-half up with curls coming down at either side of her ears. "I saved you pizza," she told him, without so much as a hello. She held a metal pair of eyelash curlers in one hand.

"Oh! Um... I didn't realize you were going out tonight," he said, taking in her appearance, and then seemed to hear what she'd said. "Um - thanks. Can I..." He took a small step towards the door before asking, "Come in?"

Bridget stepped back, making plenty of room to pass. "Hello, by the way," she said to him, looking rather content and had a healthy glow for once. She closed the door behind him, but only after doing a double-take at his school trunk. "I see you brought everything, but where's the kitchen sink?" She replied as she locked the door.

Bridget stepped back, making plenty of room to pass. "Hello, by the way," she said to him, looking rather content and had a healthy glow for once. She closed the door behind him, but only after doing a double-take at his school trunk. "I see you brought everything, but where's the kitchen sink?" She replied as she locked the door.

"At Varian's bloody cottage, that's where," Severus muttered to himself as he passed her, setting his things down just inside the living room, by her chair. "Yeah, hello to you too. You look pretty tonight - someone special?" he asked, not wanting to talk about Varian at the moment.

"Hmm..maybe..." Bridget replied as she followed him into the living space. "Just some, um..Barristers dinner..thing. Nothing special..." She fidgeted with her curling tool and then moved towards the bathroom, padding around in her stocking feet. "You and Daniel had a bit of an arguement?!?" She called from the loo, where she pulled on one high heel shoe and then another while leaning against the sink.

"Oh... Yeah, over his DOG, of all things!" Severus called to her, nodding a bit at her explanation as he fell into the chair. "I told him last week that I can't live in a house with a dog, and he told me to get over it. I tried. For a bloody week. And I'm fucking trying not to have a panic attack every time the animal comes around me."

Bridget came back into the room, holding a shawl in one hand, its ends dangling down to the floor. She started to say something when a sharp tug made it slide out of her hand and she gave a yelp. The cat shot out from under the tv stand and lept up onto the chair Severus was sitting in. The cat sat on the arm, ears back, and then started to lick at its front paw.

"Sounds like you two argue like an old married couple," Bridget mumbled as she picked up her shawl. She wrapped it around herself. She then moved over and sat near him on the couch. "Did you want to talk about it? I have time."

"We don't argue like a - hey! What do you mean?" Severus asked, frowning a bit before he twisted his body around slightly to reach up and try to pet Joey. He missed his cat, especially lately.

"Talk..as if...do you want to talk. About It." Bridget replied as she picked at the cat hairs from her skirt.

"Talk about what, how he was just an incredible prat to me? About how he didn't even take me seriously when I told him I was leaving? One would think that he'd be a little more concerned when his supposedly best friend bails on him," Severus said, sounding grumpy now. He wasn't even hungry, and he had been just an hour earlier.

Bridget glanced over at him just then. She held a confused look. "That..that sounds like him, but not really..like him." She told him in a strange voice, as if she was trying to solve a very complicated puzzle. "Joseph, NO!" She snapped her fingers as she leaned foreward, aiming at the cat, which had started to claw at the material that covered the arm of the chair.

"Hey, Joey, stop that!" Severus scolded, reaching to try and pick Joey up from the arm of the chair. "What do you... mean? About Varian, that is?"

"Just..I mean, he's like that in relationships. Not..not you know..friendships." She stated, and as she said it she started to slow down in her speech. "I mean, I would know, wouldn't I?" she stared at the cat.

Shit. shit, shit SHIT. He'd said too much. Sitting up a bit more, Severus pulled Joey to rest in his arms for a moment before the cat mewed and jumped to the floor, and he sighed. "Well... yeah, you would. I don't know, maybe he's.... changed?"

Bridget actually let out a snortish chuckle and she shook her head, grinning despite herself. "Nope...He's never changed and he's not going too." She arched her eyebrows up and just looked at him as her grin moved into one of her famous puckered lipped expressions as she stared at him, as if curious.

"You're kidding. He's never changed? In all the time you've known him?" Severus couldn't help but feel... kind of sad about that. Look how much he had changed in the last three years. Things he'd never dreamed of doing, of happening to him... and he'd done them. And he didn't know if he would change any of it.

Bridget simply shook her head. "Never," she told him and also looked somewhat saddened by the thought, and then sat back in the seat. she gave Severus a bit of a stair and then narrowed her eyes slightly. "I want to ask something now, but I sort of don't....because I'm right afraid my guess might be correct..." she started to say to him.

"Then don't..." Severus said quietly, looking down at his hand as he slumped down self consciously in his seat.

Bridget seemed to chew on the inside of her lip for a moment and then looked away slightly. "Are you mad?" She asked, whispering it but loud enough for him to hear. It was meant as a rhetorical question, but somehow it needed to be answered.

"You mean at you? No. I just don't want to talk about this," Severus said quietly. God, he couldn't even look at her right now. Why'd he have to go and start complaining about Varian?

"No...no that's not.." Bridget said and looked over at him. She pulled herself up and pushed several decorative pillows and magazines off the other end of the couch and sat back down at that end, putting herself close to Severus's chair. "You misunderstood..are you mad? Have you gone insane?" She said to him, giving him a rather straight foreward look. "You're the new one, aren't you? The one he..Daniel..told me...about..." She said, her vice getting softer as she started to be unable to hold his gaze any longer.

No, no, nonono, don't ask me about this Bridget, don't make me feel worse than I already do, Severus thought, trying not to look at her, though he couldn't look away, his expression growing sadder with each word that left her mouth. "Now what?" he whispered, dropping his gaze once she finally looked away.

"Now...?" She said and seemed to think this over. She looked at him, as if taking him in, or maybe seeing him in a new light. It was uncertain but she let out a small breath. "I don't think packing up your belongings and leaving is really going to do it, if you plan on cutting him off," Bridget stated, going right back into the conversation despite Severus's attempts to weasel out. "You're stupid if you tell me you think its this easy. He'll come after you..again and again and again...and then..he'll be trying to ruin you're new relationship with someone else, and soon the whole school will know and you'd be the laughing stock...of..I mean.." She was blinking fast, as if trying to push the wetness away in her eyes as she seemed to vocally relive the trouble she had back in school that still seemed all too real to her, as if it happened yesterday.

Obviously he wasn't going to be able to deny it to her. Hugging his arms around himself, Severus leaned his head back against the back of the chair, squeezing his eyes shut and taking a deep breath before asking in a somewhat shaky voice, "And if anything like this ever gets out, I think I'd have a little bit more to worry about than him. Are you really... okay... with knowing about anything like that?"

Bridget gave him a saddened look and then reached a hand out to rest on the arm of the chair. "I got over my past with him, so yeah, I am. A..Are you..okay with me knowing?" She asked him, and tried ot give him a reassuring grin, even though she felt a disturbance in the pit of her stomach.

"I didn't want anyone to know," he whispered, almost to himself. "I'm so scared that the wrong person will find out about it, when it never was supposed to happen. I mean.... does he always just... get his own way, with this?" It didn't really occur to him that he hadn't answered her question, and truthfully, he wasn't quite sure where that last thought had come from. Probably something he'd been thinking sub consciously for a long time.

She simply nodded, watching him with wide eyes and a turned down mouth. "Oh yes, always.." she told him. "Well, that seals it then," she said, and moved to stand, intent on getting him some tea or something. Maybe warm milk. It always comforted her when she felt like shite. "You ought to stay here....as long as you need. Just...I wouldn't tell him....if I were you." She said to Severus as she went into the kitchen.

"Don't plan on it," he whispered to himself as she went into the kitchen. This wasn't supposed to happen. He couldn't stop thinking that, but it was true. By this time, he had started to curl up onto his side, always finding that that helped him calm down a bit. Made him feel safe. Comforted. Not much, but it was enough for now, or else he was worried he would have gotten a bit teary.

Bridget came back, a warm mug of milk held out to him. It hadn't taken long, and she sat back down, as close to him as she could without falling off the couch. "Should I cancel...the dinner?" She asked him, one hand on his arm reassuringly. "Are you afraid he'd find you here, hunt you down so to speak? I know I am..I always am. Of Them."

Actually, I wish he would act like he cared that I left instead of just being all 'OH, you'll be back! See you tomorrow' Severus thought, glancing up at her and giving her a small, grateful smile as he took the mug. "No, no, I'm... not afraid he'll find me, I'm just... I don't know. But... don't cancel the dinner just because of me, I need some time to just be somewhere I can relax for a bit instead of on edge all the time."

She nodded, understanding. 'Just be careful..I have my..honestly? I think he's dangerous. He's tied to those..you know whos...that killed my dad." She pushed the mug of warm milk toward shim, as if urging him to take it. "I won't be out too late..unless um...well...that's not important," she blushed a little. The barrister her mother had forced her to talk to had taken a keen interest in her, regardless of Bridget's blurting out about their dog eating its own vomit over dinner one eve not too long ago. The man seemed enjoy her casualness to her speech, and the fact Bridget never seemed to actually think, instead saying whatever came to mind. Besides, the man was quite..yummy, in her opinion, if not alittle...nerdy.

"It's alright, I'm a a big boy, I can handle myself. Nobody's going to come here for anything, I'm pretty sure, right?" Severus said quietly, giving her a weak smile as he finally actually took the mug, sitting up a bit. "Thanks.. I'll try to be careful though. It's cool. You just go ahead, and have a nice date, alright?" It's more than I'll ever get... he thought depressively, taking a sip from the mug to mask the sigh that wanted to escape him at that thought.

"Then don't go out, because I don't have a spare key right now," she told him. "Keep the chain on, and for the love of everything, no funny enchantments, spells, or baracades. This is a non magical home, and I'd like it to stay that way. I've buried my wand away in a very secure and safe hiding spot and the less attention we can draw from THEM the better." She intructed him, as if he were a babysitter of some sort. One would expect her to go over a list of emergency phone numbers, but she didn't. She felt she didn't need too, as all were listed on the side of the refridgerator.

Severus just nodded to everything, looking at her with a slightly wide eyed expression. "A - all right," he said quietly. It was probably this bit more than anything that made him remember that she was older than him. For some reason, he never really thought about it much. "Really, thanks, a lot, for helping me out..."

Bridget yanked a strap attached to something from under a pile of clothes on the other chair. She managed to extract a handbag of sorts, only mildly knocking over some bits of clothes: a sock or two, one nylon, and a crumpled t-shirt. She kicked them to the side. "The sofa pulls out, it becomes a bed. If you don't mind it, really, in here..."

"No, no, I'm okay with it, really," he said, trying to reassure her. "I'll probably just... I dunno, maybe watch the tele a bit, but I'll probably just write or read, or go to sleep soon."

"Alright...well, my house is yours so...wish me luck, right? How do I look then?" She attempted to force a smile, even thought she felt about as rotten as he looked. She did a customary turn-around, having an odd time balancing on heels that she wasn't used too.

"You really do look pretty," Severus said, trying to smile, even though he felt like shite from everything that had happened.

"Good luck, and I hope you have a good time tonight," he added quickly.

Bridget really did grin this time, and moved over to him. She paused once she got next to his chair, and quickly placed a chaste kiss (more of a peck) to his forehead. "Thanks," she said, and then backed up. "Try not to set fire to anything," she said, and then turned towards the door.

September 2, 1978

2006-12-08T09:36:03Z

Septemner 2, 1978
6:15 pm
Rodolphus Lestrange's Office, downtown London

“Here’s to one very long and rediculous task complete,” Rodolphus Lestrange stated as he refilled his glass with scotch, no ice. He then held up his small glass, where it reflected the artificial lights of his office.

“Yes...yes indeed,” Barty Crouch Jr. stated, looking a little fidgety as he poured himself a glass full from the same scotch bottle. He froze when Rodolphus shot him a flat stare, and then seemed to be able to breath again when Lestrange nodded approval. “To the end,” Barty stated, a little more enthusiastic this time as he lifted his own glass as he poured the clear liquid.

Rodolphus moved away from the table and towards the large windows that encompassed 2/3rds of his office. He stared at the Strand below, watching as early evening traffic began with civillans in their motor cars or racing for the Underground. “And I’m bloody pleased, too. No more of this nonsense with the Greek. No more marriage contracts and no more forced cheerfulness.” He then looked back slightly, his profile looking dark against the darkening sky outside. He only had the lights in the office turned on half way, creating a dim atmosphere. “And no more fucking sunflower seed shells in my socks.” He added flatly, referring to the old man’s oral fetish with chewing anything from nuts to M&Ms.

“Oh, right on...” Crouch replied as he settled down in one of the two sculpted black cushioned chairs on the visitors’ side of the desk. He held the brandy glasss (but with scotch) close to him, his elbows pressing tightly against his sides. “Least Macnair’s got to be pleased, getting rid of his cousin and all,” he stated as he sipped from the glass, as if savoring every bit of it.

“Yes...that..too..” Lestrange answered flatly and then turned towards his desk, one hand leaning down to the table top, just his fingertips touching it. “And the object made land fall this afternoon, and is now en route to Potter’s store. You know what to look for, I presume?” He didn’t bother to look at Crouch, but instead sat his glass down and riffled through some papers on his desk.

“Yea, right.” Barty said, clearing his throat as he sat foreward some. “Its in a shipment of Icelandic music boxes, flower vases, and toy trains. Supposed to be delivered withint he next 48 to 72 hours, I’m told. Potter’s only been reminding me every bloody five minutes-”

Lestrange held up a hand, as if to cut Barty off. “I’m hearing a lot of this,” and he moved his hand to mimick someone talking. “And what I want to hear is this,” and he closed his hand to cue silence. This caused Barty to close his mouth and slouch into thge chair more, nursing the drink. Rodolphus let out a small satisfied sigh to himself and picked up his drink, ready to sip it when a loud bang was heard outside of the office door. There were two voices, one of a male and one female, and the door crashed open, revealing Rodolphus’s red faced blonde secretary, looking frazzled.

The crash of the open door made Barty yelp, nearly spilling the entire contents of his drink on himself in the process. He was half risen out of the chair, one knee squashed against the arm while the other stood squarely on the floor. He looked like he was ready to bounce out of the chair like a freightened rabbit.

Lestrange gave his secretary a death-like glare, full of annoyance and hate as it ever could. She held up her hands, palms out, defensivly. “I tried to stop him, sir. but he insisted on speaking to yo-” She started to say when she was pushed out of the way by a rather sizeable box being carried by another person.

“I have every bloody right too. I have an appointment so go look it up!” Varian Avery cried out of her voice, and marched into the office. Weither he actually held an appointment or not, Avery seemed to set down his dreafful looking box on the end of Rodolphus’s desk like he owned the place. He glanced back, seeing the woman staring at them, mouth hanging open. “Oh stop being a bloody school marm, and go let Peter in!” He acted like he was going to raise a hand to slap her, but didn’t, no matter how much the lady flinched.

“P..Pet..Who?” Barty stammered, now practically folding himself up on the chair, crouching in it so his knees pressed against his chest. During the commotion, he had swung back the rest of the drink, abandoning the glass on the floor. Instead, the glass was replaced by a wand. And it was pointing at Avery.

Lestrange said nothing immediatly, and simply waved his hand in a motion to indicate for the secretary to leave them. She moved quickly to the doorway, her shaking hand moving to fix the loose bits of hair that had fallen out. As she stepped out,, she immediatly bumped into a short squat dark blondish person wearing the thickest hornned rimmed glasses she’d ever seen. She made a small gasp and then a grumpy sound, looking back at Lestrange. A small “Humpf!” followed in her throat and she moved away.

Peter Pettigrew simply cocked his head to one side and moved into the warm inner office, and looked back at her. He simply twitched his nose and pushed his glasses up with one finger onto the bridge of his nose. He didn’t bother to close the door physically, but instead pulled his own glossy wand out and made a slow horizontal slash in the air, causing the door to start to close slowly on its own accord. Catching the woman’s wide-eyed alarmed look, Peter simply brought his free hand up and wiggled his fingers like a small wave goodbye.

September 2, 1978

2006-12-08T08:50:18Z

September 2, 1978
5:54 pm
Avery family (re: Varian's) cottage, Hogsmeade

Hanging out with Lily for most of the day had proved to be a welcome distraction from.. certain things, for a little while, but it had also given Severus a great deal to think about. On many things. But what stuck out most in his mind at the moment, as he stepped into the
cottage and immediately tensing up for fear of that runt of a dog running over and attacking him, what stuck out most was the small bit of conversation where the two of them had talked briefly about each other's respective current 'relationships' and the people therein. Mostly about the 'jealous boyfriend/girlfriend' comments, and how he had been feeling in the last almost week he'd felt that that comment wasn't at all true in his situation, and how tense and uncomfortable his living situation had been, and how his self confidence had sunk drastically again...

Something had to change. Severus heard the faint sound of the WWN coming from the kitchen - news - and noted as he slowly closed the door that there was no sign of Varian at the moment except for the fact that his beloved guitar was laying on the futon carefully as if he'd just gotten up and left it just moments before. There were a few hand written pages of something laid out beside the guitar (possibly chords or something), and there was no sight of the dog, either - probably a good thing, because if it had been sniffing around Varian's guitar, guaranteed the man would flip. Without even thinking about what he was doing, Severus went over to the futon immediately and started to pick up the guitar to put it away - just in case the mutt decided it would be a good thing to drool on or chew on - looking over his shoulder in a nervous fashion to keep a look out for said beastie. Call him paranoid, but he had good reason to be.

There was the sounds of creaking from the ceiling, evidence that there was movement in the attic above. The creaking moved along the length of the cottage, followed by the heavy thumps of feet on the spiral wooden steps leading down to the rear of the cottage by the kitchen door. Carrying a box of leather accordian files and parchment rolls, Varian Avery seemed determined to not be so awkward carrying the box down steep stairs as he had been. He moved the few short steps to the table that had been moved out of the kitchen and into the main part of the cottage, laying the box down. Glass bottles rattled inside the box as it hit a hard surface, and Varian wiped his forehead witht he back of his hand. He then turned, intending on going back t the bed when he froze, seeing Severus standing there, and stared.

Watching dumbly as Varian emerged from the stairwell, dropped a box on the kitchen table (and what it was doing in the main room, Severus was very curious to know...), and turned to stare at him, Severus found that he felt very self conscious for some reason and just stared back. A moment later, he glanced down, and then realized that he still held the guitar - right, he'd been about to put it away. Hastily, Severus put it back down on the bed, face flushing in embarrassment, and he glanced around everywhere but at the petite man standing across from
him.

"I, um... Didn't want the dog to wreck your guitar, didn't know how long you were going to.. be," Severus explained quietly, crossing his arms in front of him, an unconsciously defensive, protective gesture. God, this was so.. uncomfortable.

"The ...DOG...is at the groomer's." Varian replied as he moved back to the box and started to pull the ledgers out. He then pulled out a few small bottles, each one containing a small blue flower. If that was truth or false, and the dog was elsewhere, Varian never gave any inclination. As true per British standards, his facial expression seemed a frown, but could of been one of a number of emotions. "I was writing when I was gently reminded about all of this." He then arranged the bottles thus so.

At the moment, Severus was just happy to hear that the dog was away, and a good bit of tension seemed to leave him in a barely audible sigh as he sat down slowly on the futon, arms dropping to his sides to grip at the edges of the mattress. He watched Varian arrange the bottle for a long moment before finally saying very quietly, "I need to talk to you... about that. It's kind of important." Do you think maybe you can spare five minutes for me now that you're not being distracted by that stupid rat-dog? he thought snidely to himself, an obvious frown on his face at that.

"If you mean the dog, I already know," Varian stated, and leaned his hand on the table and stared hard at Severus. "You don't like the dog, you have a fear of dogs, I know. The fact you keep focusing on it is making me question. The dog was a gift, I never was allowed a dog when I lived at Father's house, and it was a dream come true." Varian told him, looking solumn. "So yes, what do you need to talk about?"

Severus looked at him in surprise for a second, and then looked away, biting his lip nervously. The explanation Varian had given sounded painfully like how he'd grown up. Never allowed to have toys, never allowed to have pets. He'd been in pretty much the same boat whenCorinna and Walden had given him Joey - a couple years ago now... But still, one thing about what Varian had said bothered him.

"I don't think you really get it, Varian," Severus said softly, trying not to feel confused and guilty about this. He looked up again then, and shoved down the apprehension he felt, as he started to push himself up to stand, coming to a decision as he started to say a bit more forcefully, "It's not just a fear, it's that it's seriously affecting me. I haven't been here that much lately, and when I am, I'm on edge the whole damn time! Or didn't you even notice?" Shaking his head, Severus tried to figure out how he was going to go about saying this, and found himself starting to pace as he thought.

Varian stood there, his eyes moving back and forth as he followed Severus's pacing. His frown turned down even more, showing tru signs of displeasure. The side of his nose flinched, and he cleared his throat slightly before standing fully and crossed his arms over his chest. "Of course I get it, Severus." Varian stated, partially trying to cut him off but didn't. "You don't like my dog, the dog I always wanted since I was seven. The very dog Walden gave me for free, I may add. Do you even know how much a purebred like this one costs?!? You're on edge, I'm on edge!"

Varian turned his back to Severus and started going through the ledger, cataloguing the floral. "Evan needs me to finish the inventory and I have to transport the box to him within the hour. If I had known, I would of started it earlier...Good thing he messaged me via the fireplace....or else I would of completly forgotten...." Varian was mostly speaking to himself at this point, his hands shaking slightly, not out of his 'medical' condition (even though he had refused to remove the plastic hospital bracelet from Niagara) but out of nervousness. He didn't like talking about.....feelings....and he knew Severus was fed up witht he dog. Any idiot could see that. He wasn't personally ready to confront things, and had such anxiety over 'relationships' that he was rubbish at even attempting to talk about it, even if he did consider Severus his most favourite and precious 'partner.'

"Walden?!" Severus stopped where he was and turned to stare at Varian's back, hoping that he'd just mis-heard. "Please, Varian, for the love of God, tell me you didn't just say Walden gave you that dog." God damn it, Walden knew how he felt about dogs. He KNEW. And still he'd - "God damn him! He fucking knew, Varian!"

That made Varian jump, literally, knocking over several of the small jars at the sametime. One of which rolled on its side until it reached the edge of the table, and the next sound, under Severus's yelling, was the small tinker of the glass smashing. The perserved flower practically fell apart, its petals scattered over the floor. Varian looked un-settled, like he had just jumped out of his skin or was a cat who just lost eight of its nine lives. "Sorry!?" He asked, now having to shout out just to let himself be heard above Severus. When he heard Severus say his name, the now very confused Varian only shouted "WHAT?? Knew!? What?? Yes, he did...?" Varian threw Severus a strange look and immediatly dived to pick up the delicate flower, and immediatly recoiled his hand. A small hiss, a small quick bit of red, and his finger disappeared inside his mouth as he carefully picked up a dangling floral petal from the floor with his left hand.

Oh great - he knew those flowers had been hard to find, and now he'd gone and quite possibly caused one to be ruined because he couldn't control his temper. Which, of course, only made him more frustrated, and he shouted, "He fucking knew my issue with dogs, you idiot, what the hell did you think I meant?!"

Almost immediately afterwards, Severus felt bad for yelling, and he strode over quickly, saying tensely, "Let me see-" as he reached out for Varian's injured hand.

Varian's head jerked up when Severus let out another round of venting, his words flying at the older man like bullets. At the part of "you idiot," Varian's hand pulled away from his mouth and his eyes widened for a second and then narrowed. "What did I mean?" He stated, his voice very flat and hovering on the depth of anger. When Severus reached for him he shot his arm back, as if recoiling from his barely-there touch. "You're thinking he gave me the dog just to bugger you, drive you insane." Varian said and immediatly started to pluck the petals from the floor, his cheek twitching everytime his sensitive skin scrapped a glass shard or bit. The light dust of broken glass sparkled from his fingertips as he dropped the petals into an intact vile. "You think everyone is out to get you, that you are the most popular hated man in the UK, and its everyone's goal to undermine you. To hurt YOU, to ruin YOU." Varian said, blinking rapidly as he swept his arms across the floor, plucking a petal here, there, by his foot, by the bottom of table leg. One last one...next to Severus's left boot. "It was FUNNY in Niagara, it was humourus back in school with Potter and his friends. Now its just down right obnoxious." He then swept up to stand, and placed everything back into the box, neatly. The glass inside chinked as he placed them a little more roguhly than needed.

"It took MONTHS to collect these specimens. Rodolphus spent a lot of bloody money to import them from the Tibetian shrine, and its the task to make sure they arrive INTACT to alchemist. My GOD, you can't even let me do that! And the only reason I..yes I have to do this is because the IDIOT Regulus has decided to practically QUIT his duties."

At Varian's refusal to let him even attempt to make up for his yelling, Severus stepped back a bit, opening his mouth to protest Varian's accusation. He knew Walden was petty enough to do something like that. He had always been like that. But no, his lover didn't even give him a chance to try to explain, and at hearing that the man thought he was obnoxious, all desire to try and make it up to the other man flew out the window. "Fine, then!" Severus spat out, spinning on his heel and going over to grab his trunk and shoulder bag, opening both up on the floor and stalking around the room to start gathering his things. "Fine! Do your fucking job, then, don't let me stop you! Oh, and since I'm being so fucking obnoxious, here's a solution, then! I'll just LEAVE!" The last was said as he threw the last article of clothing into his school trunk, and he grabbed a spiked collar he owned (and hadn't worn for a year or so) from where it had been hiding under the futon - and dropped it with a grimace a second later. It looked like it had been chewed on a bit.

Varian just threw Severus a rather cold glance and then rolled his eyes. He chocked it up to another one of Severus's 'acts,' being a highly emotional unstable person. "So you're leaving, I see." He made the cool yet obvious observation as he stood there, watching but not really watching. "You'll be back, in what, a day. Maybe two. You always come back." He added and started for the fireplace to put something behind the loose brick, a hiding place.

"NOT this time," Severus snapped, slipping the strap of his shoulder bag over his head before he stood up. He threw Varian an angry look, and stalked towards the door, gathering up the jackets he'd left by the doorway, and going back to lay them carefully in the trunk, slamming the lid a moment later. He pulled his wand and flicked it towards the trunk, shrinking it to a comfortable size before standing up again. "You go ahead and think that, love," Severus said angrily, a hurt under-tone running through his words as he started back out the door, yanking it open roughly.

Varian barely watched him as he settled the small pouch behind the brick and re-placed it, setting it in its mortar bed. He then picked up his box and flicked a handful of floo powder into the fireplace, causing the flames to rise up. "Right. See you for breakfast," Varian stated, and glanced over. He seemed unconcerned, or at least, tried to keep that impression. He did glance over the packed trunk. "Hrm," he snorted.

"Fuck off," Severus said quietly, almost to himself, as he shot a hurt glance back at Varian before stepping out the door, a feeling of depression welling up inside him at the fact that Varian wasn't even taking his announcement seriously. He fumbled around behind him for the doorknob with one hand, a fierce frown on his face as he slammed the door behind him.

Varian, almost the sametime Snape escaped the cottage, stepped into the fireplace, calling out the name of his destination. He turned to look back, and glimpsed the very last bit of Severus leaving, dragging his trunk behind him. Varian felt a jolt of paranoia sweep over him and he let out a yell, mostly to say "Wait, stop!" only his voice wobbled and drowned as his visual of the cottage melted away in the same wobble.

5 September 1978

2006-12-05T07:34:29Z

When:10pm
Where:
Train Station, Paris, France

Dubois Estate, London, United Kingdom
With:

Frank stared at the umbrella stand. They were on the edge of the concourse, their train had come and gone. It had been nearly four hours since Frank changed his mind about going after their newfound enemies. However, his newest conclusion was that Paris had lost his mind. "This is our portkey?" He asked, looking past Corinna (who was also staring at it) to look at Paris.

"A portkey can be anything stationary," Corinna replied and tapped the bottom of it with the toe of her shoe. It rocked slightly and settled back in its place. "Does it go to London?" she took looked over at Paris.

"It does," Paris said, staring down at his watch intently, counting down the seconds until the Portkey activated. "It goes to an empty room in my mother's summer home in London. I know for a fact the house will be empty as I visited her a week ago here in Paris."

Frank sniggered lightly. "Mother's summer home." He looked at Corinna. "Did I mention my summer home in Jamaica?" He eyed Paris, arching an eyebrow.

"Will you stop?" Corinna hissed at Frank. She looked back at Paris. "Will you stay? In London?"

"Mock me all you like," Paris said with a sigh, and then held up a hand. "Thirty seconds." He glanced at Corinna and said in an apologetic tone, "I wish I could, but I can only stay for a few hours. Better grab on, or you'll be left behind," he said to Frank, as he reached out for the stand.

Frank shot him a stare, making a show of being annoyed at his rebuttle and grabbed the top of the umbrella rack. "Corinna...now!" He hissed.

Corinna, who had been watching a mother and child across the way, realized quickly and grabbed both the umbrella stand and Paris's arm. She felt a pull in her stomach, and then she squeezed her eyes. In a quick second, all three were pulled into some sort of void and popped out of space, leaving the lone umbrella stand where it was.

Frank felt the hard floor first, and then let out a groan as his shoulder seemed bruised. He opened his eyes, closing them was always force of habit when using a portkey, and found himself staring up at a mural of animals and a forrest. A few blinks he realized it was on the ceiling. "Wow," he murmured, standing up as he stared upwards.

Corinna found herself sitting on a comfortable couch, although covered in the same plastic it was originally purchased in thirty years earlier. She opened her eyes and looked around, seeing a lavishly decorated room, even a grandfather clock ticking away. "P..paris?" She called out, looking past the gilded tea tray on the oak table.

Paris stepped away from a painting he'd been staring at wistfully, and turned around, smiling ruefully at them. "Welcome to the sitting room of the famous Dubois Estates manor," he said in a quietly dignified voice, spreading his arms out as if to legitimately welcome them. "You may perhaps have heard of it, I'm sure."

Frank, who was rubbing the back of his head, walked in from the other room, one of many that displayed artworks. "Dubois Estates?" He said, his voice echoing off the walls. "As in, patron of the Royal Museum of Art Dubois?" He stared at Paris. "And the music scholarship I had when I was eight?"

Corinna moved to stand, and started to touch the dainty tea set when Frank walked in. "Wooow..." she breathed in quietly.

Paris' eyes lit up at that, and a wide, delighted grin split his face as he said, "You DO know of us then! Yes, that would be it, quite right! Wow, you got the scholarship? You must be very talented." Walking over, he beckoned to both of them and added, "Follow, I'd love to hear you play something, if you're up for it.."

Frank sniggered a laugh. "We just traveled thousands of miles and you want me to play piano?" He followed him anyways.

Corinna immediatly put the tea server down and followed them, leaving her white jacket behind. "Don't...suppose you have anything I can change into?" She asked as she followed them past an elaborate dining room. She stopped, stared, and then quickly followed. "It was raining."

"I'm sure he has a mink fur coat or two," Frank joked, actually more out of a light heartedness for the man. "I was chosen from 1200." He started telling the sotry of his auditions for the scholarship, a story he's told hundeds of times.

Paris let the man talk, and led them into a large room with a grand piano, and a few other instruments, including an impressive collection of violins and cellos locked away in various display cases around the room and then said, "Wait here, and I'll find you something to change into."

Frank let out a laugh, more impressed than anything. "This is..incredible," only he said it French without thinking of it. "This isn't real..." he laid his hand on the white grand piano, and lifted the keys cover. As he did, he let out an orgasmic breath.

Corinna immediatly started to chuckle. "Frank, are you going to get off on this?" She said, arching an eyebrow as she walked towards the piano.

Frank opened his eyes and stared at her and then rolled them. "You have no idea." He sat down, cracked his knuckles, and pressed the keys, hearing the chords vibrate. "beautiful," he breathed and played a climbing ladder in chords before starting a Bach piece. "beautiful," he said again, eyes closing as he played. It had been...too long.

Within two minutes, Paris was back in the room, holding out a few different items of clothes to Corinna. He himself had changed, too, into something more befitting the elegant surroundings, but still a little bit casual for them as well. "I figured you might want a selection," he said softly to her, not wanting to interrupt Frank's playing. He smiled, nodding a bit to himself and set a separate bundle of clothes down on a chair, going over to one of the display cases of violins and pulling a key from his pocket to open it, selecting the smallest one in the case and testing the strings carefully. He then picked up an unstrung bow, and strung it, making a few testing passes over the strings before starting to play quietly along with Frank's, frowning to himself until he found a good harmony for it - and then he let the sound soar over the rest of the room, mingling with the sound of Frank's piano.

Frank had been staring up at the guilded muraled ceiling when he heard apiano sing out. He arched his neck and turned, staring at Paris, his eyes wide. He then made half a grin, as if approving of his violin. Frank asked him if he wanted to play something, speaking the french title, and changed the tune half way to something else, this time by George Bizet, a 1th century composer who composed 'Carmen' and "The Pearl Fishers," both tradgesiues but had many uplifting complicated numbers.

Corinna picked through the gowns, and held them each up to herself, holding the skirt from herself. "Gorgeous!" She cooed, and stroked a fur mink coat. She laughed at Paris taking Frank's comment literally. "Where can I change?" She asked.

"Out the door I came in through, the next door on your right, it's a lavatory," Paris said with a small grin, and nodded at Frank, listening for a moment before he recognized the piece, and started playing along with it. "You, my friend, deserved that scholarship. Magnifique! "

Frank chuckle dlightly. "No, I mearly play what's already written. I can't compose anything." He watched Paris, playing without even looking at the keys.

"I was going...going to talk to Severus. She about recording but...well...I guess you can see what happened." Frank added, switching to a faster tempo, a bullfighter's song from "Carmen!" to test Paris.

Corinna slid out of the room, and emerged a few short minutes in an chocolate silk toupe gown, 1940s in style with a square cut neck and high waist. She tried to walk daintly, and then spun around. "What do you think?"

Paris shook his head, chuckling to himself as he switched up his playing as well. They went on like that the whole time Corinna was gone, and then when she came back, Paris glanced over his violin at her when she spoke, and laughed delightedly. "Beautiful, ma petit, you look a masterpiece."

Frank was determined now, and kept changing the song something more complicated, darker, lighter, or even sad. He was changing it every ten minutes now, and was standing. "Yes, pretty," Frank replied and smirked. "Paris, you sure you can keep up?"

Corinna rolled her eyes. "Do you have any wine?" She asked, feeling she should live up to how she looked and drink wine like a proper lady at a party.

"Ah! Alas, I must admit defeat for now," Paris said, laughing a bit as he put up his violin and shaking his head. He went about unstringing the bow, and making sure everything was in it's proper place in the display case before turning to Corinna and grinning slightly as he made a rather formal looking bow, reaching out for her hand. Yes, he knew it was corny, but he sensed delight in the trappings, and desire to play it out somewhat - and besides, this was what he did best.

Corinna laughed and took his hand, letting him guide her.

Frank shook his head, and turned in his seat to watch them. "Should I play a waltz?" He asked and started plucking at the keys with his right hand, soon joined by his left as his foot tapped.

"If you like, my friend," Paris said, a hint of smugness to his tone as he lead Corinna towards another doorway. "Or if you prefer, you can always... come along."

Frank dropped the top of the cover down and stood up. He flexed his fingers, rubbing them as he walked towards them. They felt numb but he felt his heart pound inside his chest, excited at just being able to play again. And on such a grand piano. Frank stopped and looked back at it, the white waxed finish, the gold accents. It was definatly French, making him think of Louis XIV's court. He grinned and quickly covered ground to come up behind them. "Have you any...sisters?" Frank asked, half joking. "Single sisters?"

"Frank! That's rude!" Corinna shot back, looking behind her at him.

"One older half sister, who is already married, so no," Paris said, glancing back at Frank, even as he stopped in front of an open doorway. "It is quite fine, I am not offended. She is not such a big, aaah... connoisseur of music, though, so your interest in her would probably be less than for a music lover. My oldest brother is - sorry, half brother - is quite talented at piano, as well, and quite famous around London for the rare performances he gives nowadays."

Frank froze and then arched his eyebrows. "Do I know of him?" He then stepped foreward again. He felt himself being drawn more and more to Paris, an opposite reaction to hours earlier when Frank was ready to run away.

"Frank, thought you were already romantically involved," Corinna replied.

"Ended, just like everything else did." Longbottom replied in a mumble to her.

"He's divorced, too." Corinna told Paris.

"You're a hopeless romantic, Cor." Frank told her. "Always have, always will be. I am just hopeless. I'm giving up on women all together." He joked, but he didn't sound too joking.

"That must have been hard," Paris said quietly, leading them down another hallway now. "However, I would advise you to never give up on women or love altogether. You have far better chances of getting back on your feet and finding the love of your life than myself, anyway."

"Paris...have you.." Corinna started to say, looking at him with her wide green eyes.

Frank stopped in the hallway, staring out a large window. "Cor...maybe that's not something he wants to talk about." Frank said, trailing off. He saw the illuminated buildings of London, Big Ben, and the bridge not to far off in the distance. He followed the dotted lights, looking in the direction of his mother's house, his home. He looked back, only to see them further down the walkway.

"It is alright. What were you going to ask me, cherie?" Paris asked, stopping now outside a locked door.

"Have you been in love?" She asked him, and stood by him, but glanced back down there at Frank, who seemed to be staring out a window.

"Once," he said quietly, fishing another more old fashioned looking key out of his pocket and inserting it into the lock. "But I fell for the wrong woman. And I paid for it more dearly than you can imagine." Opening the door, he watched her with sad eyes now, and beckoned her in, then looked down the hallway towards Frank.

Corinna stared at him, and then a saddened expression crossed her face. She opened her mouth to say something, to ask, and she found herself staring at his pale hand, long fingernails. She then looked back at him, an almost odd sense of..familiarity come over her. "I'm..sorry" She said quietly.

Frank took in a deep breath and exhaled. He turned from the window. "Its getting late," he told them, his voice echoing off the wall. "Maybe I should...call the boys. Let them know I'm back, we're back. Safely." He started to walk towards them. "Then we can continue to celebrate?"

"There is a phone in here, feel free," Paris said, as he reached out to place a hand lightly on Corinna's shoulder, a small smile on his face to show her he was alright with everything.

Corinna stared at Paris, looking him over. "Are you..?" She asked and then stopped.

Frank walked over to where Paris pointed and icked up the guilded receiver. It was a Victorian style, witht he mouth piece mounted on the wall and Frank had to lean into it, jamming the ear piece to one ear with his hand. He heard an operator's voice, and he asked to be connected. In the far off distance, he heard the phone ring. He glanced back at Paris and Corinna briefly.

His eyebrows raised slightly, and then Paris' expression became slightly more serious as she hesitated. "Yes?" he prompted quietly.

Corinna felt slightly embarassed, so she leaned up on her tip toes, placed a hand on his shoulder, and whispered her question into his ear, regarding if he was a part vampire or not.

Frank leaned his forehead on th e mounted box, hearing the phone ring now six times. He counted.

The phone was answered by a tired sounding male voice - older, with a faint hint of a French accent. "Hello, Lupin household, may I help you?"

Frank's head shot up. "Yes. Hello...Bonjour!" Frank tried to sound happier than either he or the person on the other end sounded. "Is..Can I speak to Remus please?"

That came as only a bit of a surprise to Paris, and he pulled back to look at her appreciatively. "You are very perceptive, my dear," he said with a rueful smile. A sigh escaped him in the next second, and he said softly, "Unfortunately, no... No, I suffer from the full disease."

"May I ask who's speaking? He's finishing his dinner," the man said, sounding mildly curious now.

She stared at him, her jaw going slack. She raised a hand and placed it against the base of her neck, protectivly. "You aren't going to..to.."

Frank grinned slightly, forcing himself too. "Longbottom. Frank, sir. He went to France with me and Dearborn." He started twisting the cord in his fingers.

"No, no, absolutely not," Paris said, shaking his head. "I've learned to control it. You are perfectly safe."

She ducked her head down, and then looked back at him. "He was one," she told him, not saying who he was. "Only..I don't know..he said he isn't but."

"You are speaking of Severus, non?" At her reaction to that, he smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes... it's possibly confusing to explain, but I did feel a... a familiarity... the first time I saw him. He can never truly be fully human again, but the part of him that was poisoned with it before has been... neutralized, I think is the best way to put it."

Frank waited, pressing the earpiece more, trying to distinguish if he heard Remus in the background. "Could I..speak to him?"

"Yes, forgive the wait, he is coming to the phone now. Yes, Remus, Frank Longbottom - here." There was the sound of rustling and voices speaking for a moment, before Remus' voice came over the line. "Frank? Are you back? How did everything go??"

Corinna looked from him to the open door and back. "So it is...a disease and not welcome immortality." She stated. "What do oyu mean, not fully human? He can...hurt me again...or whoever he's with?"

Frank grinned. "Hi..Oh yes! Just a little while ago. Look, I got Corinna back too." He said, and then swallowed hard. He hadn't exactly given either men details, nor had they parted on extremly friendly terms.

"Well, there is much speculation as to the true nature of vampirism, whether it is in fact a disease, a medical or genetic condition of sorts, or some sort of transitional state to true immortality as some believe, but in my experiences over the last... eight years of dealing with it... I see it as a disease much like... consumption, or laryngitis, to name a few. Something contagious." Paris shook his head and added, "Don't get me wrong, some people choose it willingly, but not everyone. And no, please do not misunderstand me. He can never hurt you again the way you mean. I merely mean that he cannot be considered truly human after having lived as part vampire. The disease changes the biological structure in profound ways, and the change back, as he obviously found a way... it cannot be perfect." Paris frowned a bit to himself, thinking over what he'd just said, and then asked, "Does that make sense to you?"

She simply nodded her head. "Wine. I think I need wine." She said and stepped into the other room. She did look back at him. "If he did find a cure...as you said, then maybe he can help you?"

"I don't know if that's possible for someone who has died to be.. cured," he said quietly, now coming in behind her and walking over to a small wine rack. "Choose your favourite, ma petit."

"Really? I thought you.. hadn't found her yet, you were only there for an extra day," Remus said after a long moment, trying hard not to sound skeptical and wary about that.

Frank forced a laugh and then frowned. He turned so his back was to the open door. "Look, I found her at a student hostil. We...we were attacked." He kept his voice low and glanced over his shoulder a few times. "Two men, older. They...they tried to kill us, Remus." He whispered into the phone.

Corinna had no idea. She randomly pointed to a bottle. "Are you really..dead?" She asked him. "Was it a woman named Burke?"

"Burke?" Paris frowned as he took the bottle from it's compartment, and then shook his head. "The name.. no, it is not familiar to me. Why?"

"That's the name that...of the one who..did it to him." Corinna told him as she leaned her head against the wine holder frame. "She was a teacher, potions Professor, and she poisoned him somehow. I don't know what came of her."

"A hostel? You were attacked at a hostel?" Remus hissed, having to keep his voice low. "I thought there wasn't going to be that much risk! Do you know who they were, where they were from, why they attacked you? Anything? God, Frank, that's - that's serious stuff!"

Frank breathed hard into the phone. "They wore all white...and one..black hair..other..brown..And they had wands. They..she..threw a fireball at one. I saw..green hexes. Almost like the killing curse. We only escaped because the fire escape fell, and I apparated us to the hotel. Then Paris told us they were after her, and about the Object I told you about." Frank was rambling, hardly making any sense. The more he talked the more scared he sounded. "I almost went back after them. I could of died."

Paris nodded, and then said, "Perhaps someone else knows. Who knows, oui?" Pulling a wine cork from a small hidden space, Paris moved away to set down both that and the bottle on a small table, and then looked to Corinna. "Glasses, or non?" He seemed to have picked up on her penchant for drinking straight from the bottle, and was just giving her the choice.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't, sounds like they were probably worse than the... uh..." Remus' voice got even lower, almost as if he were huddling into the phone and near whispering at the same time. "The Death Eaters. But you two are okay? Where are you?"

Corinna laughed. "Non," she said and grabbed for the bottle.

Paris laughed at that, trying to ignore what he could hear of Frank's conversation.

"Maybe they WERE," Frank said, his brows furrowing. "I have learned of a great deal of information from a new source. Like always, I can't reveal who..but he's let us stay with him. In London. And we're fine. Fine. I need to speak to you and Caradoc immediatly. Do you know where he is?"

Corinna took a swing of the bottle and then handed it to him. "Its very sweet, i like it a lot."

"Oh, um.. he's actually.. supposed to be coming over in a bit - should be here any minute, actually," Remus said, sounding a bit odd, like he'd been put on the spot or something.

Frank arched his eyebrows. "Excellent, I'll come right away. Alone." He glanced over at the wine room.

"Yes, this is a particularly good wine, if I do say so myself," Paris said, finding it rather endearing, actually, that she was so enthusiastic about drinking. He only took a small pull of the wine, and then handed it back to her. "I should let you enjoy it. Too much wine right now will not be good for me."

"Wait, you're leaving Corinna alone?" Remus asked, eyes going wider at that.

Frank paused and stared at the phone box. "She's with someone. Its safe...." He then stopped himself and realized what an idiot he sounded like. "No you're right. Then...we shall meet some other time then?"

"Why, you can't get drunk can you?" She asked and took a few more sips fromt he large bottle.

"Not as fast, no, but I CAN get drunk," Paris said, settling down into a chair and leaning his chin against his hand in somewhat of a feminine seeming way. "That isn't even it, though. If I'm at my full strength, gotten the rest and nourishment I need, then there's nothing wrong with drinking a few glasses. But if my energy and nourishment levels are low, drinking too much will make me lose the self control I do have, and I don;t want to hurt a delightful person like you."

Corinna made a snort laugh, and then slapped a hand over her mouth to cover it. Her cheeks were pink partially from the wine, partly from. She leaned foreward slightly. "Do you really think I'm delightful?" She asked, grinning more. "I think I'm just obnoxious."

"All - uh, alright. Tomorrow? I don't have to help at the store tomorrow, if that works," Remus said, finding himself overall confused and trying to figure Frank out. He'd never really been this spacey.

Frank swallowed hard. "Sounds like a plan. Tommorrow." Frank quickly hung up, his knuckles white. He took a breath. He had ot be careful. He didn't want to tell them anything about Severus's involvement, or Paris. But Frank had to sort things out. He then picked up the handset and had the operator dial another number.

"You think badly of yourself, and that will only make other people think badly of you," Paris said, a surprised expression on his face at what she'd said. "Surely you know many people would find you beautiful?"

Corinna stopped making a funny face and then shyly grinned. "I've heard," she said and then put the bottle on the table. The green glass matched her eyes. "Its just been a long time since I...well he was in Paris briefly, but it wasn't for very long. Maybe I'm just lonely." She looked back at Paris and gave a small half grin.

Frank drummed his fingers on the wall. He listened to it ring.

"Bridget Jones speaking, goddess of everything Bridget." Came her voice, cheerful, ont he other end. This made Frank's head perk up. "Bridge!" He said into the phone.

"Frank!" Bridget exclaimed. "Are you still in Paris? One sec.." She put the phone on her shoulder and threw a bit of pizza crust at Severus, who had parked himself in front of her tele, playing with his cat. "Severus!" She hissed.

"What? I miss my kitty, let me alone!" Severus complained at her, ducking the crust she'd thrown.

Bridget rolled her eyes. She pulled the phone back up. "So how's the rain over there?" She joked, turning her back to the living room.

"No rain, we're back in London." Frank told her.

"Oh Lovely...was it you and the boys, right? Did you bring me anything?" She went about pouring herself some orange juice from the fridge.

"I'm sorry," Paris said quietly, reaching out to her and resting his hand over hers again. "No-one should have to feel lonely. I'm sorry that you do."

"No...look, the boys went back before me. I found her though. I found Blackwell. She's here, with me." Frank said, scratching his head.

Bridget froze, overfilling her cup and then let out a loud curse, moving her cup to the counter.

She moved her other hand to cover Paris's. "I bet you are." She said quietly, watching him. "Tell me you aren't."

"Bridget?" Severus pushed himself up, and scooped Joey up in his arms (who promptly protested and climbed up to half lay on one of his shoulders), appearing in the doorway to the kitchen a moment later. "You okay?"

Bridget stared at him, her mouth moving but nothing coming out. "Its...Its...Frank.."

Frank pressed his mouth to the mouth piece. "Hello? Bridget??"

"I never said I wasn't," Paris said, and shook his head slightly. "I never said I was. I don't tell people the truth about that, generally."

"Frank? From Paris? How is everything?" Severus asked, eyes widening as he stepped forward, reaching out with one hand. "Is it okay if I talk to him??"

Corinna tilted her head slightly and stared down at his hand, and lightly rubbed her thumb on top of iit with her other hand. "Because you'd think someone might want to change that?" She looked up at him, her eyes staring at him, but softly.

Bridget gave Severus a funny look. "Frank's in London." She then handed the phone out to him.

"Briiiiidgeeeeeet..." Frank groaned into the phone, and could be heard.

Paris just looked at her for a long moment, eyes fluttering half closed as if they wanted to close all the way at the unexpected feeling of a soft touch on his hand. "Perhaps because I'm afraid of doing to someone what was done to me," he corrected quietly, finally finding the will to speak it. "I couldn't bear the thought of hurting you in any way.. quite possibly the one thing that makes me different from the men I work with."

"Fraaaaaank," Severus mimicked, leaning against the counter and unable to quash the hopeful feeling that went through him at the fact that Frank was apparently home.

"You have self control," Corinna said quietly, now looking down at their joined hands and then back up at him, her eyelids partially closed as she watched him. She swallowed hard. "But that's very nice of you to be..concerned." She already knew in her head, or rather, convinced herself nothing would come of it, and once again she would be alone. She gave him a small reassuring grin and squeezed his hand with her top one gently. "If you ever change your mind..."

Frank's eyes opened. "Severus. I got her!" Frank said as fast as he could, his words running together. "ifoundherandbroughtherback to LONDON." Frank then back a huge heaving breath of air.

"Right ON," Severus said, heaving a big sigh of relief. "Are you guys okay?"

Frank made a confused sound and then stared at the earpiece for a moment. "Wait..Severus..did you not hear what I just said?" Frank scratched his head.

At that same moment, Bridget started talking to Severus, asking him.

"I fear that I wouldn't hold your true affections, ma cherie," Paris said quietly, giving her a half smile. "No-one can take that spot, no matter what. I've known this for years now, many encounters, all of them less meaningful simply because they are devoid of any real affection. I wouldn't want to do that to you."

'Maybe love isnt what Im looking for,' her thoughts came to her as she continued to grin and nod like she was understanding him. 'Its not. Just want to be held. To be kissed.' She moved her hand from his and took the bottle, bringing it up to take a long sip.

"Severus, I really think you should let me keep the cat," Bridget was saying to him at the sametime.

"What? Hang on Frank - Bridget, what?? No, I - Sorry, Frank, what was that?" Severus said, trying to talk to both of them at the same time.

Frank sighed. "I said I brought her back to London with me," Frank replied flatly, rubbing his hand over his eyes.

"Yeah, okay, that's awesome- Bridget, why do you want to keep my cat! I never get to see him as it is," Severus said to something else Bridget had said.

Frank forced a small grin. "Yeah...Hey..I have to go.." Frank said and hung up before they could say anything else. Frank moved away from the phone and back towards the window. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared out, thinking.

Bridget laughed at him. "Let me talk to Frank again," and tried to grab the phone.

"Ah... he just... hung up on me," Severus said in disbelief, staring down at the phone, then handed it to her anyway. "There you go. Come on Joey, let's go back and watch the telly."

5 September 1978

2006-12-05T06:25:43Z

When:8pm
Where:Train Station, Paris, France
With:

Frank tapped the train tickets against the counter and nodded to the cashier behind the glass. "Thank you," he said, in English. He stepped away from the line and shuffled them in his hands as he walked back to a long row of hard wooden benches. His shoulder bag was slung over one side, bumping as his legs moved. Frank stopped and stared up at the large electronic board detailing arrivals and departures, and watched people as they walked around. He saw a couple hug and kiss each other, lovers reunited after many months. This made his stomach turn and he moved away quickly. He weaved between people, passing some windows that showed the sky growing dark, the lights of downtown paris lighting, including the Eiffle tower in the far distance. It was a breath taking sight, and Frank had to stop and stare.

Corinna approached him, seeing him come around the bend of the corridor. She held onto her white jacket in one arm, her bag also drapped across her shoulders and closed in the space towardshim. "Pretty isn't it?" She asked him, looking at the window over his shoulder. She turned her green eyes up to Frank and then back at the glass, and her eyes went wide. There had been a shimmer in the glass, a strange reflection that made her step back and look around. There was no-one behind them, but her heart was pounding. She looked to the left and right.

"Corinna...wha...?" Frank said, looking at her and then glanced back, seeing travelrs walking along, with luggage or jackets for the rainy weather.

It had taken him forever to find the girl, this Corinna, and he felt a stirring of relief that she hadn't left yet. Thankfully, he'd remembered to dress in something a little more fitting for a person traveling, and had even donned a hat to hide his... rather distinctive hairstyle... before leaving the hotel. Now, he stood against the wall very near where they were, seemingly perusing an abandoned newspaper and checking the white gold wristwatch he wore (he had a newly developed allergy to silver, unfortunately), looking like any other tourist as he watched them discreetly. He needed to find a way to initiate a conversation with them, but he'd much prefer doing so out of major public view so that it wouldn't cause an uproar if they immediately became defensive.

Frank glanced around, momentarily looking at a tourist in a hat nearby, and then placed a hand on her arm. "You're doing it again," he told her, more like a warning.

Corinna held her hand to her cheek and then looked at Frank. "I don't mean too. I thought I saw him. Again." She sounded alarmed but kept her voice low.

"Let's get you something to eat. Maybe something more than crackers." He gave her a tug on her sleeve, wanting her to walk with him. He refused to call her crazy, as much as her mentions of this 'shadowed person' she claimed to have seen several times.

Corinna stared around and then turned to follow Frank. "I know what I saw..." she told him, as she walked along side him, tugging at the leong sleeves with her fingers. Her hair had finally stopped dripping from them rushing there in the rain but still hung in damp tendrils around her face and shoulders.

Paris snuck a glance off to the side in the direction the two were walking, and was relieved to see that there was a small tourist cafe. He glanced up at the board with arrivals and departures, and then checked his watch again before carefully folding the paper and setting it back down on the bench, starting off after them at a leisurely pace for now.

"Look, here's a nice cafe. I'll get you some tea..a sandwhich." Frank told her and placed a hand lightly ont he small of her back to direct her to sit down at a table. "And then, very shortly, we can leave this place forever." He grinned at her, wanting desperatly for her to smile back. She hadn't smiled since he first arrived and found her. And now, her saddened look haunted him. "I'll be right back," he said softly, and resisting touching her any more, turned and walked up to the counter to order.

Corinna stared down at the table, with its fake flower in a glass vase, and pictures of France stamped on the metal table. Her hair had made the shoulders of her shirt damp, and she drew her hair onto one shoulder, raking it with her fingers. Her white coat, the one she wore for the photographs she, in desperation, signed away to be sold for something or another, laid like a limp fish on her lap.

Only a moment later, a shadow fell over her, only to pull away as Paris pulled up a chair and sat down beside her, looking at her and already saying quietly, "Before you panic, please try and stay calm, I don't want to hurt you... Just talk to you."

Corinna's chin came up and she stared, her mouth opening and made a small start of a sound and then went silent. Her wide green eyes said it all.

Frank read over the menu, and then made a horrible attempt at reading the french as he ordered, oblivious to what was going on behind him.

"You are... Corinna Blackwell, am I right?" It was obvious from his accent that Paris was a native of France, and he tilted his head slightly at her, silently willing her to hold his gaze, if only to keep her calm. He wasn't trying to bespell her, after all.

She stared at him, her eyes moving from his for mearly seconds until looking back. She silently nodded. There was a strange sense of...familiarity. As if meeting him before, but not in a fearful sort of way.

"Este....este el say poi-sson?" Frank asked, squinting at the menu. "Je..je no vou...pas..le..le..sandwhich..a..de...poi-sson." He pointed to something else.

"Before I say anything else, I need to give you this," Paris said, willing her to understand that he was trying to help her as he pulled the postcard Daniel had given him from his pocket and put it on the table top, picture up, showing a beautiful shot of the Niagara Falls, all lit up at night.

Corinna hesitated, and then picked it up, staring at the photo of the falls. The back had Severus's tight cursive handwriting, and she ran her fingers over the glossy front. She then started to put it back down when she saw the reflection int he table, causing her to turn it over. She gasped, her green eyes reading.

Frank started for the table holding two to-go cups and a paper bag when he saw another man sitting there. "Hey! HEY!" He called out, and dropped the cups, starting for them. "Corinna!" Frank pulled out his wand, dropping the sandwhich bag at the sametime.

Corinna yelped when Frank was between them, his and pointing at the young man who just handed her the post card. "Frank..Frank no.." She said, holding up the card. "Look! LOOK! Its Sev..Severus's handwriting! He's...he had it..." She waved it to him.

Standing up slowly, Paris said quietly, "I'm here to help. That will do no good with me, anyway, all you risk is exposing yourself to these... people. Please, put it away."

Corinna stared at Frank, her eyes wide. "Frank..people are..staring!" She hissed.

Frank looked around, seeing one or two people looking towards them. He let out a breath and pulled the wand back, and then stuck it up his sleeve. "Its gone.." he told her, showing empty hands. He then leaned down. "Man...I lost the tea.." he picked up the bag, shaking off the spilt tea on it.

"I will buy you more, you have my word," Paris said, reaching out a hand to Frank, as a way to show that he was willing to put himself at possible risk, even though there was very little this Frank could do to harm him unless he knew how to harm or kill a vampire.

Corinna sat back down, looking a little wide eyed, but at least she was attempting to keep control ofher feelings.

Frank furrowed his brows and looked at her. "Do you trust him?"

Corinna twirled her hair around her finger and blankly nodded, staring at Paris.

Frank hesitantly took his hand, shook it loosely before pulling an empty chair up. He sat down, and gave Corinna a cautioned look. "Who are you?" He asked, looking dorectly at Paris, and wondered why he didn't look wet.

Sitting down again, Paris took a deep breath and let it out, closing his eyes for a moment, going utterly still for that same moment. "Paris Dubois," he finally said, and then looked up at Frank again, staring levelly as he reached up and tugged his hat off, revealing the unorthodox white blond and black streaked hairstyle he'd managed to mostly conceal. "And truthfully, you have on reason to trust me. Except for this. I know who came after you two tonight. I know why all this is happening. And quite honestly, I wasn't entirely sure what to do about any of it until this afternoon, and by then, I was ordered to stay out of everything and leave it up to the big boys, in a manner of speaking."

Frank wrinkled his nose, not at his haircut but at what he said. "And what is exactly going on?" he asked, not actually believing him. Frank was a skeptic.

Corinna looked remorseful and leaned in. "Why are they trying to kill me?" She asked, her voice sounding like it was going to crack.

"Kill you? They aren't trying to kill you, dear, though I would think you would probably prefer that to what they plan for," Paris said quietly, shaking his head. "You see... I found out tonight that they were going to essentially kidnap you. Originally, it was to take you to Greece to marry my... uncle.... as part of a deal to give someone an object my uncle possesses, but it seems that between when I saw them this afternoon, and when they showed up back at the hotel, that changed to a plan to hold you for ransom in order to get a settlement from my uncle."

Frank was the one who blurted out. "NO!" He stood, looking ready to attack. "I mean, we thwarted that. The marriage thing. And..and.." he couldn't bring himself to say how he knew or why, and instead sat down. "We are leaving. NOW." He stated and grabbed his and Corinna's bag.

"Corinna, would the initials L. S. happen to belong to a Severus Snape?" Paris said quickly, standing up and spreading his arms to the side, as if to prove that he wasn't armed in any way.

Frank froze, his eyes wide and he looked at Corinna. "Don't say anything." He told her.

Corinna held a breath. "Oh god...how did?"

"I saw him recently, probably before your friend here knew to come find you," Paris said, eyeing Frank for a moment, studying him. "He told you what was to happen to her, didn't he?" He directed the question at Frank.

Corinna started to ask him again about severus and stopped, turning to stare at Frank, her eyes wide still.

"He's the one who wanted this stopped, wasn't he?" Paris asked quietly.

Frank unset his jaw and then glanced from him to her, and then down at the table. He inhaled sharply and looked back at Paris, just giving him a hard stare. He knew Paris was right.

Frank sniffed in some air and arched his eyebrows. "He told me." he finally said.

"You saw him? Frank, you...he told you to come for me??" Corinna said, starting to look upbeat ofr the moment. "He wanted to rescue me after all?? Is he meeting us?" She still remained slightly clueless.

"I imagine he didn't tell you everything, did he, Frank? Told you he wanted his involvement kept a secret? Did he tell you why?" Paris pressed it, knowing that he was getting through somewhat.

Frank grit his jaw more. His hand slid over and draped on Corinna's, and squeezed it tightly. "Because he's helping us. Because," he looked down and then nodded, looking back at him. "Because he's being forced into something against his will and wants to do the right thing."

Corinna grinned slightly. "He's so brave," corinna said quietly, looking at Frank. "He's helping the Aurors stop the bad people," she added, looking at Paris. She only knew what Frank had told her.

He wasn't about to shatter their illusions. he'd seen the young singer in the company of the very 'bad people' he was trying to stop. He knew the boy was a part of it, whether he liked it or not. But he also knew... "He still cares very much for you," Paris said quietly. He pointed to the postcard and added, "That proves it. That is what decided it for me. Before I could not figure him out. Now I think it is wrong to separate you two, whatever happens. And believe me, my uncle would not let you have a life outside of him once he got his hands on you. I've personally seen it, in his past three wives, and in his hirelings. I merely wanted to speak to you both to let you know that the men you stopped? WILL come after you again. Ma petit, you are going to need to keep a low profile once you get home." The French endearment was a little strange coming from him, considering he was shorter than both of them, but it seemed to fit well enough. "Frank?"

Frank was staring at Corinna during all of that and then shot a look over at Paris. He arched his eyebrows up, looking helpess.

"Do your best to keep her safe." He pulled out a slip of paper with a mailing address on it, and seemingly random initials. "If either of you ever are in need of help, write me there, and I will be ready to help out in any way you require. Now, I believe I owe you two replacement teas?"

Frank took the paper, and read it upside down. "Wait," he said, before Paris could get up.

Corinna looked heart broken. "Severus did want to rescue me, right?" She asked.

"I believe he feels trapped by his situation... from the little time I was able to observe him," Paris said quietly. "I sensed a great deal of frustration and worry, and helplessness from him, and I got the distinct impression they were not new feelings."

"How is THAT going to help us get home? I can't even get us a portkey back, and we are forced to travel by boat. That could take days." Frank said to him, partially ignoring Corinna even though he was tightly holding her hand.

"He sounds so depressed," corinna said, and then nodded. "I'm..I used too..know..sense something." She said quietly.

"I am positive that from what I know about him, that he would have wanted to be here if he could to 'rescue you', ma petit," he added with a small, reassuring smile, wanting more than anything to make that heart breaking expression go away. He glanced at Frank and held up a hand as if to try and calm him. "Look at it this way. If he had said nothing, Frank would not be here. If he had not tried to help you, you might have been on the streets, or worse... on your way to Greece. Perhaps that is the case, but he still did something. And that is why I am helping you. Now tell me, how much do you require for a Portkey to leave tonight?"

"That isn't something you can buy, at least..not legally." Frank otld him, wondering if he even knew what one was. "But thats besides the point. Are you saying...Severus did this..out of his own selfishness...and desire for her..and and not to help me and the Aurors?" Frank asked rapidly, as if the heartbreak expression transfered from Corinna to him.

"Oh my god..that means...that means he still loves me!" She squeaked, her hand flying to her chest as she smiled wide. "Oh! Thank you!" She said to Paris.

Paris didn't know what to even say to that. He smiled at Corinna and nodded before looking at Frank and studying him for a long moment. "That is not what I'm saying at all, and if you truly call yourself his best friend, you wouldn't immediately assume the worst about him," Paris said quietly. "I get the sense there's more to it than that, but I did not spend enough time around him to know every detail of his motives, so I cannot tell you anymore than I see now."

Frank repeated what he had said, mostly saying "best friend?" mutely to himself. He then looked confused, embarassed, and slid down to sit ont he chair. Corinna had long wiggled her hand free and seemed absolutly delighted, hugging the post card to himself. "I'm going home, I'm going to tell him..Ooo. I just can't wait!" She said, the more joyful she got the worse Frank seemed to be.

Paris kept studying Frank for a long moment, slowly coming to realize just what he'd done. All he had wanted to do was help. "Ma petit, excuse us for just a moment, please?" he said quietly, touching her arm lightly.

Corinna looked at Paris. She nodded.

"I'm not letting her out of my sight," Frank stated harsher than needed, and grabbed for her hand. "Corinna..."

Corinna gave Frank a "stoooop" look. "I'll just be over there..." she pointed at the counter.

"I just want to speak to you privately for a moment," Paris said, a hurt expression on his face.

Frank furrowed his brows. "Its nothing..its nothing personal." He told him, holding his palm out.

"Well, I'm going to get a brownie, so.." Corinna said, turning her nose up. "I'll be right there Frank." And she turned, still clinging to the postcard, and walked the few feet away, out of earshot but stayed with sight.

Frank watched her go, his jaw seting and resetting as he did. He seemed to stare more at her hair.

Paris held up his hands as if to indicate surrender and said very very quietly, but still loud enough for Frank to hear him, "I know you probably hate me right now, but I truly just want to help. I don't need any sort of recognition if that is any comfort to you. Please just let me help. I can get you both home tonight with your pursuers none the wiser, and all I need is the knowledge that you two have made it safely."

"Its not you I'm close to hating," Frank whispered back, leaning in towards him, one hand on the table. "You're simply the messenger." He glanced back at Corinna, who was looking back over her shoulder and grinning. Frank took a deep breath and looked back at Paris. "Get her home. To England. And get her home safely." He grabbed her coat, shook it out and handed it to him, with the train tickets.

Paris just looked at him, his young seeming face twisted in a confused expression. "And... you are not going with?" he asked skeptically, fearing the man would try to do something stupid.

Frank held out Corinna's bag. "Nope." He then pushed his hand towards him, as if wanting him to take it.

"Why?" he asked sharply, brows coming down sharply at that and stepping back.. He refused to take anything until he knew what Frank was planning.

Frank tightened his grip on the strap. "I'm going after those men," Frank told him, looking serious. "I have to do fullfill my duty."

Corinna came back, and made a funny look at Frank holding her bag up. "Frank..?"

"NO, you are NOT," Paris said, frowning hard now as he reached out to grab Frank's arm with a surprisingly strong grip for such a small person. "You do NOT know what you are dealing with. You were lucky to get away last time, but to go against them by yourself is suicide! You do no good if you are dead - and they will kill you with absolutely NO remorse."

Corinna gasped, and grabbed Paris's other arm. "Whats going on!?"

Frank tried to jerk his arm away, finding the man, who he guessed had to be his age or younger, had an immense bit of strength. Also, staring at his eyes, Frank felt something..something inside of him telling him to let go. "Are you lieing to me?" Frank asked, his held arm shaking slightly.

"Lieing?? Whose lieing??" Corinna asked, confused and grabbed her bag.

"I am not lying, what reason would I have to lie? If you go after them, you stand no chance of ever defeating them, they are older and much more experienced than you, and they could hex circles around you, I swear this to you on my very honour," Paris hissed, a thread of very real fear in his expression now, willing Frank to let this go and just go back to England while he had the chance.

Frank stared hard at him, and then his gaze seemed to jerk to the side, noticing Corinna. "Then..perhaps..I shouldn't." He said, feeling uneasy but his mind changing. "I'm sorry Cor. I must of ...been.." He didn't finish his setence but moved away, running his hands through his hair as he stepped away to breath.

Corinna looked at Paris, her eyebrows up as if asking what was going on.

"Your friend almost made the stupidest decision of his young life," Paris said, the only hint of explanation he would give her, putting a hand to his chest as if just getting over a scare.

Corinna looked concerned and quickly moved over to Frank, putting her hands on his shoulders. He shrugged them off, instead pointing back at Paris, as if motioning for her to go back. She turned and came back to Paris. "He said you're finding us a portkey?" She looked hopeful.

"Yes," he said simply. "But first, I made a promise. What do you want to drink, ma petit?"

September 5th, 1978 - RP

2006-12-03T08:20:21Z

They made all the correct turns, crossed the right streets, and made it to the small squat building just as the sun was starting to set. "Wait, do we..go in? Or wait out here?" Jackson aske,d not fully comfortable with going INSIDE.

Daniel looked at him, and blinked, not expecting him to get weird about something like this. Looking down for a moment to think, his eyes fell on the bottom of the jacket, and he realized that they didn't exactly look like they belonged there. He looked back up at Jackson, and then eyed a couple students coming out who gave them strange looks. Hmm.. well, he knew he could pass for a teenager sometimes, and he DID always wear a t-shirt as an undershirt because sometimes the fabrics that their suit jackets came in affected him oddly if he wore them for too long... Making a decision, Daniel reached out and grabbed at Jackson's wrist, tugging him along as he pulled him away from the entrance and into a more shadowy area. Holding up one finger, he then tugged off his jacket and held it out to his friend, as if expecting him to take it, extracting a small notebook and pen first from the inside pocket.

Jackson took it, pressing himself flat against the wall. "You saw her?" he hissed and peered around the corner. He saw a red haired girl and a girl with a shaved head milling about. "Nah, neither." He looked back.

Motioning for Jackson to come closer, Daniel waited until he'd leaned down enough, and then leaned in to speak in his ear, a low rasp as he mumbled, "I'll go in... ask for her... pretend I'm a friend? Maybe?"

Jackson snorted softly. "Sounding like that, I'm sure they'll believe you," he stated. He stood back and nodded. "You go, I'll wait here, ready in case she comes out."

Daniel smiled, even as spots of colour appeared in his cheeks again, and he shook the notebook and pen at him, then pressed his long fingers to his throat again and said, "That's why I have this. Pretend I'm.. mute. Worked before." With a wink and a grin, he unbuttoned the long sleeved button up shirt he wore, and tugged the bottom out of the waistband of his slacks so he looked a little more like a teen instead of an adult in a teen's body, and then ran his fingers through his hair a couple times to make it flop down in his eyes more - he had seen many teens with similar hairstyles lately. Nodding at Jackson, he then grinned again and stepped out, the notebook and pen clenched casually in one hand as he passed a couple kids and stepped into the building, looking around for some place where a clerk or something might be.

Inside the building, which was two floors, an old house turned into student living spaces, a fat middle aged woman sat behind a counter speaking angrily and quickly in french on an old fashioned telephone. She ignored the newcomer, and continued to smoke her cigarette and speak into the mouth piece. Just as Daniel entered, another young man, a good couple of years younger but slightly taller came by and leaned his elbow on the counter. "Marjorie? Have you any post?" The bespectacled young man, no more than 18 or 19 with a dignified British accent asked, pointing to the overloaded mail boxes behind her. He wore a bright Hawaiian shirt, slacks, and also carried a newspaper, the same one Jackson had had earlier, which was a telltale sign of what sort of person this bloke was.

He drummed his fingers like a piano on the counter and glanced at the new person. "She's a bit gossipy, but a good sport," he told him and glanced back at 'Marjorie.'

Oh good God. Another wizard. Taking this time to study the man, Daniel came up slowly to the counter, sneaking glances every couple seconds as he waited for the annoyingly gabby woman on the phone to shut the hell up and do her job. He tried to make it seem like he was just a kid curious about the man in the tacky touristy shirt.

Frank looked amused, and then shrugged. "Are you new, pal? One of the Armenian students? Your friends checked in about an hour ago, headed up the hill to the museum." He told him and slid the paper under his arm and nodded "good bye" before turning to go back down the hall to the back steps.

At the bottom of the steps, a dark haired female, whose face was hidden by shadows of the cramped hallway, seemed to be waiting for him. She seemed to speak to him, but he simply patted her arm and motioned for them to go upstairs.

Daniel's eyes widened at that, and even had he been able to speak, he wouldn't have been able to think of anything to say to that anyway. His eyes narrowed at being blown off by this man so quickly, even though he had had no intention of talking to him. Turning back to Marjorie, he banged on the desk a bit to try and get her attention, then frowned and glanced back towards the two people down the hallway. He couldn't get a good look at the girl...

Marjorie put the phone down, blew smoke out at him. "Vat?"

He looked back quickly, affecting a surprised look, and then motioned for her to come over, putting on a pleading look as he tried to motion that he couldn't speak, holding up his notebook to show her.

Marjorie came closer and tilted her head, looking somewhat sensitive to him. "Ah, you cant speak. Poor thing," she cooed.

Giving her a seemingly grateful, and shy smile, he then wrote down quickly in easy to read hand writing, "I'm looking for a friend, she said she was staying here for a bit. Can you help me?"

Frank had altogether disappeared upstairs, closing door number 5 tightly and locking it. He handed the paper to her, whoever she was, and explained that no letter had come.

Marjorie clucked her tongue and stroked the 'teen's' smooth cheek with her fat pudgy ringed fingers. "Oui! Marjorie help, yes? Who es Mademoiselle?" She pulled out a book, a sign in book with room numbers.

Jackson, who was getting antsy outside, pulled out a fag and started to smoke it as he paced the outside of the building.

Daniel forced himself to give the woman his most charming smile, making a strong effort to not shudder at feeling her fat fingers on his cheek, and quickly wrote down two words: "Corinna Blackwell??"

"Ahh... hmmm..." she started to look when the phone rang. "Just a meenute!" She sang and moved over to the phone, leaving the open book. "Oui!? Ah..... oui!" She started ot fan herself, as if her lover were on the phone, ignoring the counter.

Making a conscious effort to not scrub at his cheek, Daniel kept an eye on the woman as he reached for the book, carefully turning it around so it didn't make any noise, and lowered his eyes to the register to quickly scan the names listed. While doing that, he thought to himself, 'Woman, if you ever touch me again, I will take great pleasure in cutting off your fat fingers and force feeding them to you before I kill you."

"..noooo.. noooo! That's hooreeble!" Marjorie cooed, breathless into the phone.

In the small cramped room, Corinna sat on the edge of the cot, staring at the paper. "Frank... what does this mean?" She asked, looking up at him, her green eyes dull yet wide.

"It means... it means a lot of things. But without that.. THING, that's all they are limited too. I know that much," he stated as he cleaned his glasses.

As he scanned the names, one last name immediately jumped out at him. Daniel didn't see the name Blackwell anywhere - and flipping to the next page, he saw that it wasn't that full - but the name Macnair. THAT was instantly recognizable as one of the idiots they'd dealt with in Niagara Falls, and he vaguely recognized the name Amara, too. That was her, no doubt about it. In room... 5. Good, now to go get Jackson and go get her. Glancing up, Daniel then moved the book back as close to where it had been as he remembered, and then left quietly, going over to Jackson and lightly smacked his arm as he furiously scrubbed the sleeve of his shirt against his cheek, making a disgusted face.

Jackson puffed smoke out without thinking. "Sorry," he mumbled and waived his hand to get rid of the smoke, knowing Daniel neither liked nor cared for it.

"Frank, how do you know for sure that's what it is?" Corinna asked. "WHO told you?"

Daniel breathed out a sigh of relief, both at Jackson's actions, and the fact that he could no longer feel the sensation of fat on his skin. Giving one last scrub for good measure, he then looked up at Jackson and slowly smiled, giving him a thumbs up, as if to say, "Got her."

Frank glanced at her half packed suitcase. "I told you, its something the Aurors have known about for a while." He chewed the inside of his lip, not wanting to say anymore. "Look, let's finish packing your things, love. Hopefully we can still make use of this plane ticket I still have." Like a dummy, Frank hadn't brought enough money to buy all new tickets, and hoped he could trade his in for train tickets or boat tickets.

Jackson stared at him. "You're fucking pulling my chain. Green eyes, hair?" He asked, flicking his cigarette away, making sure it was far away from where Daniel stood.

Daniel shook his head, and then brought his fingers up to his throat, saying softly, "Register. Different name. Knew it right away - her mother's name." Coughing a bit, he held his hand to his throat and grimaced. Yes, this was one of those times he really wished he had been able to get his throat healed up some way before now. His throat hurt already. Probably partly because of the residual smoke that he could smell on his friend.

Jackson looked pained. "You're getting that fixed." He told him and then started for the hostel, but not before handing Daniel his jacket.

Corinna, reluctant to do anything, having grown more and more depressed and used to the dark surroundings, let out a long sigh and put some clothes slowly into her bag.

Frank watched her, worried. "I'll get you home, I promise." Frank told her and gave her a half hug with one arm before going ot toss his own belongings into his own satchel from the floor he slept on.

Biting his lip, Daniel looked down as he pulled his jacket on, then grabbed at Jackson's arm, though he ended up grabbing his hand due to his friend's movement. Without saying anything, he tilted his head back towards the alley, and pointed to himself, the the alley, as if to say he'd go around the back.

Jackson breathed out and seemed to be sizing up the building. "She better not make this hard, I want to do nothing but drink tonight," he moved away, his hand releasing Daniel's. He motioned his wand for Daniel to go around back and started for the front. "I HATE teenagers," he hissed.

At that, Daniel smirked a bit, keeping his thoughts private on that out of habit. He started to go back down the now completely dark alley, not even pulling his wand to light the way in case he was discovered. He'd almost made it around the back when he noticed a small dot of orangey light bobbing up and down and occasionally flaring up a bit at the far end of the alley way - and he smelled it, wafting towards him as he got closer. Marijuana. Ugh...

Frank seemed to get impatient with her snail's pace and started chucking her things into her bag. "Sorry, but we have a schedule to meet, and I want to check with Marjorie to see if Severus's letter made it." He told her.

"He.. he wrote again!?" Corinna asked, looking shocked as she all but stopped packing.

"Pack and talk, pack and talk!" Frank told her, pulling his bag on his shoulders.

Jackson strolled in, and was about to step into t he hallway when the fat lady cleared her throat and ordered him to stop. "Dis is private propertee. You haf a reservation?" She demanded, not liking non students in this place. Too many police seemed to think she harboured illegal activities here.

Jackson stared at her. "Yes, in my pocket.." he said and pulled out his wand, and pointed it at her.

"AYEE! No! Nun! Git OUT!" she cried, but her voice went silent as after a quick flash of green light, her large body fell back onto her chair, her head falling against her chest so she looked asleep.

Wrinkling his nose in disgust, Daniel hung back a bit, squinting to try and see how many people were down there. It seemed to be only one, which meant that he'd either have to brave the smoke, or wait until the person finished and went back inside, or whatever. He made a quick decision, knowing he didn't necessarily have the time to waste waiting for buddy to finish killing his lungs, and marched deliberately right down the alleyway and paste the delinquent, pulling his wand and using a wordless charm to cause a quick flash of light to illuminate the area. Once he saw that it was just some punk kid, he aimed the wand, and in the last remaining nanoseconds of the flash, had cast another spell, a flash of green light shooting from his wand to the girl, who didn't even have a chance to cry out before tumbling to the ground in a lifeless heap. Daniel saw the joint spill from her fingers, and immediately stepped on it, crushing it beneath his boots before continuing on out to catch sight of the back steps.

A sound outside in the alley way made Frank move over to the window. He separated the old blinds just as a green light illuminated and disappeared. He saw the girl tumble down to the ground and Frank's eyes widened. He then caught a quick glance at someone in white, and he snapped the blinds closed. "Corinna! MOVE! NOW!" He called and yanked for her arm, grabbing her bag and shoving it at her.

Corinna didn't ask, but let herself be pushed out of the door. "What did you-"

"If you don't want to DIE, i suggest you move faster!" Longbottom hissed to her and grabbed her arm to pull her down the back steps.

Jackson walked into the hallway just as he heard s door bang open from above. He looked up, illuminating his wand. He saw a dark haired girl and a fair haired boy running to the steps. "AH HA!" He yelled, sending a hex flying at them.

Corinna felt it sting her shoulder as it whizzed by. "FRANK!" She hollered and pulled him away from the steps and they ducked down.

Frank hit his head on the wall, and groaned a little. "Jesus..." he mumbled.

Daniel was already moving quickly towards the back door after that little bit of fun, thinking he heard some yelling from inside of the building. He ran up the steps, casting a quick Illusion spell to change his features into something more grown up (not that it would be as noticeable in the dimness of the hallways, and it wasn't that different really) before running around to the hallway Jackson and the other two were in.

Jackson spotted him and held up his hand for him to stop. He then pointed upwards and to his lips, as if to be quiet. he then let his wand light go out.

Daniel nodded only seconds before the light had gone out, and still he saw Jackson at the other end of the hallway. These damn white jackets... he'd always hated them. But then, it kind of made him feel ghostly. Angelic. Like he couldn't be touched. So that was a good thing. Holding his breath, and his position, he awaited Jackson's signal to move, already guessing which one his friend would use.

Corinna let out a breath and pushed away from Frank. "I know a spell..." she whispered. "Its a fire spell. I read about it."

"This isn't a time for experiments. You just.... stay alive and follow me," Frank whispered back and moved, slowly, on his knees and hands towards the end of the upper hallway to the back window. He thought there was a fire escape there.

Jackson turned and started up the stairs, and randomly shot out a few green shots of light, not aiming for anything. He signalled for Daniel to go back to the back, as he was going to corral them.

Without doing anything at all to give away his position, Daniel quietly crept back down the hallway, heading the way he'd come as he moved into position to catch them up.

Frank pulled Corinna along until they made it to the back window. Frank hit it with a spell to open. A flash of green light shot close by, and he panicked. "OUT!" He hissed and tried to get her to go through the window first.

Taking off his jacket, Daniel stashed it right near a ladder that seemed to be a fire escape - and was directly beneath the window correlating to the hallway the girl they were after was in. Lucky he was wearing all black now - lucky he had decided to dye his hair back to a dark colour on coming to Paris, or he would have been spotted. He pressed himself to the wall right beside the ladder, keeping his eyes peeled upwards as he waited as patiently as he could.

Corinna ducked her head down and pushed one stocking leg out of the window, and then pulled the rest of her out onto the rusted creaking fire escape landing.

"Frank," she hissed,a nd reached in to grab him. She dug out her wand and mumbled something, and a medium sized ball of flames shot out from her wand and sped into the darkness, bumping off of walls.

Jackson launched himself against the wall as a flame THING came right at him, clipping his shirt sleeve. "Fuck.." he hissed, and waved his smoking arm.

He shot the instant death curse again, the beam hitting an old painting, which fell to the floor with a crash.

Frank scrambled out with her, the fire escape creaked under the weight, having not been used in years. Frank wrapped his arms around her. "I got you," he cried, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to pin point exactly where he wanted to apparate them too.

Staring upwards, Daniel squinted, confused as to why the two of them weren't climbing down the ladder. What in the bloody hell was going o- he wasn't going to try that instant disapparition, or apparition, or whatever thing, was he? Oh HELL no. Without even hesitating, Daniel aimed his wand up at them, and heedless of who it hit first, fired off a couple stunning spells in rapid succession.

Corinna screamed just then, and Frank immediately turned his body and shot some spells back, and then shouting something and the two disappeared with a small pop. Just then, the entire iron works of the fire escape became un hinged and collapsed, creating a large amount of noise as it fell two stories.

Jackson's head, marked with a bleeding scar along his right eyebrow, appeared from the same window. He saw that and screamed. "FUCK!" And slammed his hands down on the window sill.

Eyes going wide at that, Daniel quickly scurried aside, trying to get out from under the collapsing structure. Unfortunately, he wasn't QUITE quick enough, and while he managed to escape any major damage he would have taken, he didn't escape getting scraped up quite a bit, mostly on his back and legs, by flailing iron. A pained, high pitched sound tore itself from his throat at the first deep scrape, though after that he only whimpered, pulling himself away from the wreckage and huddling against the wall as he shivered, wishing he could will the pain away.

"DANIEL!" Jackson shouted out the same instant the structure collapsed. His head disappeared and he emerged a moment later, rushing out towards the courtyard, tripping over a piece of railing.

Jackson, catching himself, ran to the far wall where he caught a huddled thin figure that was Daniel by the shoulders and slid his hands down to hold him up by his arms. "Daniel," he breathed, his chest heaving. Blood dripped slowly from his cut forehead onto his white sleeves.

Daniel didn't even respond. He was too preoccupied with trying not to hyperventilate, feeling every little scratch and scrape and gouge bleeding on his back and legs. His t-shirt was soaked already and the button up he wore was slowly becoming the same way, already sticking unpleasantly to his back, and the backs of the slacks he wore were starting to feel disgustingly slick, too. A moment later, almost as if it were a VERY delayed reaction, he reached to weakly grip at Jackson's arms, but that half assed attempt failed, and he couldn't even speak to tell him what was wrong. How the hell had this gone wrong??

Jackson tried to pull him from the wall, but the man wouldn't move. He paused and grit his teeth, like a grimace. "FOCUS," he hissed. He snapped his fingers, trying to draw Daniel's attention. Most times it worked but Daniel's eyes were rolling everywhere. "You don't feel any pain, you don't feel any pain," Jackson told him, his voice wavering but he tried to keep steady. He placed his fingertips on Daniel's face, a thumb on his cheek, two fingers on his forehead, another on his lips. "I will take your pain," he breathed, closing his eyes. He squeezed them shut. "Paris said it would WORK!"

Daniel could feel his body starting to shake, probably from the shock, but he felt strangely numb and detached now, like it wasn't HIM feeling the pain, but something else. He watched that something else open his eyes, weakly trying to focus on Jackson's face, on the feeling of fingertips against his face, soothing, even if the tone of voice wasn't. He felt his body take a shuddering breath, and another, and found himself crying out soundlessly, angrily, about not being able to communicate. That was the big sore point for him.

Jackson felt Daniel fidget, and opened his eyes slightly. Daniel's mouth was open, gaping, and his eyes were rolled back. He squeezed his own eyes shut and moved his arm to hug the man to him, keeping his fingers pressed hard against his face. "That's right... let it take your pain away." He breathed half in Daniel's ear.

Daniel found himself thinking numbly, 'Oh God, I'm going to die. I don't want to die, please don't let me DIE, nonoNO-' and almost immediately, that numb, calm feeling came over him completely, his whole body going still and he let out a long sighing breath. It was an eerie feeling, because he could feel that his body wasn't moving, or taking a breath for a long moment before something else seemed to take over, drawing a deep breath for him and gripping weakly at Jackson's arms again as it tried to pull his body up carefully into the other man's arms more. He marvelled at this, wondering if maybe God had sent an actual angel to keep him alive for now, and he wanted to shout at Jackson to get him to someone who could heal him up quickly - and immediately, the other... entity was using the little strength it leant to bring fingers up to his throat and rasp out a weak, "Get me... to... healer, Jack.. please."

Jackson didn't know any healer, but he did immediately think of Paris. "Yes.." He said quietly and pressed Daniel to him as he focused now on the scrawny hotel they all stayed at and apparated both of them, disappearing in a small pop. They resolidified in their shared hotel room, and Jackson immediately shuffled Daniel down to lay on the bed, not once removing his hand from his face. "PARIS!" He yelled, loud into the thin wall separating rooms. "PARIIIIIS!" He screamed, and moved his other hand, which was dirt covered and scabbed already and pounded his fist on the wall.

Paris was instantly there by his side, having moved too fast for normal human eyes to see, and had started to say in an annoyed voice, "You're late and now you're yel- dear sweet Jesus, what happened to him?!" The smell of blood was making feel light headed and heady with hunger, but he also smelled the distinct odour of infection causing bacteria and particles, and he pulled back, hissing, "Fucking hell, he's going to die if that's not treated!" Practically flying out of the room, he ran to find anything to do with first aid that he could, knowing quite a bit about it from his mother. Finally, he was able to find what he needed and rushed back up to the room.

Jackson kneeled down by the bed, pressing his fingers against Daniel's face, making marks in his skin but didn't care. His forehead had long started to clot, and his sleeve smell liked smouldering linen. He was only a quarter of scratched up as Daniel. "How the fuck do TEENAGERS do this to us?" He growled, and then turned to Daniel. "Okay.. its going to be fine." He smoothed his shirt down with his other hand. "Take away his pain," he squeezed his eyes shut, chanting it. "Take away his pain, take it away... PARIS! PARRIIIS!" He screamed over his shoulder. "HE'S NOT MOVING!"

While he was gone, Daniel had already practically become sluggish in the warmth of the hotel room. The lacerations were starting to feel hot to him, and while his mind gibbered fearfully, that other entity that seemed to be in control of his body merely lay there, not moving, and barely breathing, conserving the little energy his body had for something else.

"Daniel.... I'm not fucking ready for you to die," Jackson stated without thinking, in a hissing voice as he was starting to be overcome by all of it. It had been like this before, but he never took this long to respond. "PARIS! FUCKING HURRY!" He screamed, letting himself sound scared.

"Relax, move away from him, I need to turn him over and clean out his wounds - tell me what happened, Jackson," Paris said as calmly as he could as he stepped back in and shut and locked the door. Pushing Jackson away from the man on the bed, Paris first ripped both shirts open, peeling them back from the front of Daniel's body before carefully lifting the man and turning him over on the bed.

Jackson sat down on the opposite twin bed, and calmly started to tell Paris from beginning to end, of the hostel, of there being a man and a woman, but he described them as much older than they probably were. When he got to their escape, he seemed somewhat dumbfounded. He then explained how the rusty iron fire escape fell. "And then I found him by the wall. Looking like... that."

"Our employer has tricked us into engaging an enemy, not finding some helpless twat," Jackson concluded. "There is no way she could put up such a fight. And for what purpose?"

During the entire explanation, Paris had been paying very little attention, instead focusing on peeling away the bloody clothes and cleaning the gouges and scrapes all over Daniel's back, and making sure there was enough medicated disinfectant to treat every wound. Especially on hearing that Daniel had been scraped up by RUSTY iron. He paused, and interrupted Jackson at that before he could say anymore. "I'm going to have to take off his trousers. If you could help me, by making sure that he doesn't fall asleep?"

Jackson made a funny look, having never personally seen Daniel in nothing, and then made a small cough. "Yes," he said and moved over, kneeling down on the bed where Daniel was on his stomach. "Daniel," Jackson said, using an authoritative voice. "Daniel, talk to me."

"I think that may be a little hard for him to do, considering, he may need all his energy to just let his body heal this up for him," Paris said, already tugging the trousers off of the small man on the bed and surveying the damage. Not as bad as his back in most places, but still. "Maybe help him out a bit?"

"I thought you told me to keep him awake!" Jackson stated, and slowly stood. He paused, making a funny stare at seeing Daniel in partial boxers, partial trousers. "You want me to get him.. naked??"

"How does he usually make it so he can talk? He's breathing, he's awake, he just can't move," Paris explained, trying to hint, managing to get one pant leg off completely. "His body is conserving energy."

Jackson tried to say something and then moved to yank the other trouser leg off. He stared at Paris. "I'm not a fucking queer, so shut up." he snapped.

Daniel felt his head move slightly at that, turning his head very slowly and slightly to expose the mangled part of his neck where the scarf had slipped down. He couldn't help but feel horribly hurt by Jackson's words, what he could understand of them, and at that point, he just couldn't bear it any more, letting go of consciousness - so far as he knew, anyway. His eyes still stared up at his friend, devoid of any emotion whatsoever as he breathed in and out, working his mouth as if he wanted to speak.

"You idiot, when did I say anything about you being queer? TALK to your friend! Help him talk! You've seen what he does, just keep your fingers to his throat, or make sure that his are, and he'll be able to talk!" Paris almost yelled, so angry by Jackson's ignorance that he failed to sense the subtle shift in emotional output from Daniel. "Look, he even wants to say something! I need him conscious, or he may die!" With that, he began his work on the backs of Daniel's legs.

Jackson, actually floored by Paris's ability, volume, and sheer ballsiness to talk back to him made Jackson back off. He moved and kneeled down by Daniel and, his fingers shaking slightly, pressed them to the scarred and soft flesh on his punctured neck. "Speak, please.." He said softly, and narrowed his eyes, and then opened them wider, hopefully.

At that, Daniel (or whoever it was) took in a slow, relieved breath and closed his eyes, rasping out quietly, "Guess that will... teach me to... stand under... broken fire escape... Am I going to die?"

Jackson sniffed hard just then, not wanting to betray his own emotions. "Yes, fucking idiotic, standing under broken fire escapes." He answered him, not knowing the difference between multiple personalities or auras. He simply knew it was Daniel, his partner, his best friend, his brother in arms. "No, not today. Remember that gypsy woman predicted I'd kill you by my own hands?" He forced a chuckle.

"Or Paris here will suck your blood dry if you're a prat," he forced a joke, making only himself feel better, and shot a look at Paris.

Paris rolled his eyes, and muttered something under his breath about poison and 'not his cup of tea' and kept working, checking up on the man's back to make sure the wounds had clotted - and to his relief, they had. And luckily, he was nearly done with the ones on the backs of Daniel's legs. "You really did a number on yourself," he said softly to Daniel's back as he starting dressing the wounds as well he could with gauze.

"Daniel..." Jackson said, almost in a warning tone to snap his attention back.

"... What? You afraid for... ME?" Daniel said after a long moment, eyes still closed as he took a deep sighing breath. His voice sounded slightly... different than it usually did. Eerily calm, soft even through the rasp, and almost.... affectionate? Maybe, maybe not.

Jackson paled, and moved his gaze to Paris. "That doesn't sound like him," he said in a hushed voice. He then wet his bottom lip and spoke directly to Paris again. "I'm.. concerned. I will make those two suffer for this," he stated, feeling a lump in his throat.

It was probably a good thing he hadn't spoken loud enough for the person laying on the bed to hear. Because that would have just made him angry. As it was, he actually found himself coughing slightly as it felt like there was something tickling the back of his throat.

Paris hadn't heard any difference, and just looked at Jackson strangely. "What...?"

Jackson gave Paris another long look. "If you cure him, I'll give you what you want," he told Paris, attempting to negotiate.

Jackson felt Daniel cough, and started to pull his fingers back. "DANIEL, wake up," he ordered, speaking loudly, as he noticed Daniel's eyes start to close.

"I'm ...." His eyes seemed to roll up in the back of his head, and there was a sound that was very similar to, if not ACTUALLY, Daniel's snores a moment later.

"NO!" Jackson screamed out, and grabbed Daniel's arm. "WAKE UP!" He panicked.

"Wake him the fuck up, NOW!" Paris commanded, eyes going wide,and he stood up quickly, ready to go get changed and run down to the store or a cafe and get some coffee or something for him. And some food.

Jackson pressed his knee to the side of the mattress, and literally shook Daniel. When that didn't work, he threw his arm back and slapped Daniel across the cheek, leaving a red mark.

Daniel's body didn't move except when he was shook, until a sharp sting penetrated the darkness that was Daniel's consciousness, and he cried out, all the pain coming right back full force as his eyes flew open. He stared wide eyed up to see Jackson looming over him, and found himself squeezing his eyes shut, pain of a different kind coursing through him now, and he started to shiver again, whimpering a bit. He'd never been in this much pain before, and it wasn't even bad anymore.

Jackson breathed out hard, his bottom jaw protruding out as he held Daniel up. "I'm sorry," he breathed, and wiped his fingers across Daniel's damp black hair. "Speak to me." He commanded. He looked back to see Paris start to move back for the door. Jackson held his wand out in an instant, pointing at him. "Is he healed!?" He growled, a desperate look in his eyes as his wand shook.

"He needs food, idiot, don't you know anything ABOUT healing?" Paris retorted, overly shaken by this and surprised at his own reactions. Without a word, he unlocked the door and started to pull it open.

Jackson's chest heaved, and he opened his hand, causing his wand to drop to the ground.

"Thank you," Jackson stated, and then turned to stare at Daniel, letting his gaze wander over him, seeing bruises and cuts that made his stomach turn.

Daniel shivered and shook, eyes wide and staring down at Jackson's still slightly outstretched hand, feeling over all confused about what had gone wrong, and why Jackson had made those comments and then was turning around and holding him to him like this. It was enough to make him want to cry, and it didn't help that every time he moved, his back and legs stung from numerous cuts. He brought one hand up weakly, trying to lift it so he could speak, his fear and frustration multiplying each time. He wouldn't, though - no, COULDN'T - let himself cry.

Jackson glared as paris disappeared out the door, and then looked back at Daniel. "What?" he asked, and then pressed two fingers to his neck, ignoring the softness of the open skin and the flap it created, and the darkness of the hole. "What?" He asked again, feeling tired and overwhelmed.

A feeling of gratitude swept through him at that, and he closed his eyes again, speaking through the rasp, a barely restrained quaver to his voice that was uncharacteristic, but understandable, considering what he'd gone through, as he said quietly, "Y-you... you saved my life... you and.. Paris.."

Jackson held his chin up, sniffed slightly. "You were damaged during battle," he stated, not sure how to vocalize what emotions he was having. He sat back, sighing out, leaning back against the wall, Daniel leaning on his chest as he kept his arm around him. "You fucking scared the shit out of me, you and.. you sounded so weird." He rambled, glancing downwards and eyes widening, seeing Daniel was in.. and only in.. boxers.

Sniffling a bit himself, Daniel didn't really notice his state of undress, nor would he have cared at the moment. He was just glad to be alive, glad that someone had cared about him enough to want to keep him alive. "When did I... sound weird?" he asked, throat starting to hurt again from speaking. Closing his eyes a bit as he just let himself lean heavily against his friend, Daniel said quietly, "Thanks Jacks... Jackson."

Jackson arched his eyebrows. "Doesn't matter. Paris is bringing you food." He attempted to lean forward to grab the sheet to cover him.

His head fell back slightly, and Daniel found himself looking up at Jackson through eyes that were heavy lidded from pain and exhaustion, though the pain itself was starting to fade to a dull throbbing ache. Since he couldn't speak at moment, he didn't speak his gratitude for the blanket (he'd been starting to get a bit cold), though he couldn't help, as sometimes had happened when he looked at Jackson lately... he couldn't help but want to kiss him, but mostly at the moment just snuggle against him and feel safe. It felt good to have someone to turn to right now, even if Jackson obviously only thought of women that way.

Jackson managed to slip his arm out from under Daniel, and laid him back against the pillow, pulling the blanket and sheet up on him. He then ripped the blanket from his own bed and laid it on it. Not satisfied, he pulled out his cloak and bunched it up, putting it under Daniel's head. He sat on the edge of the bed, shifting so he be more parallel to Daniel, putting a leg up on the bed over the blankets. He sighed out and picked at his burnt sleeve. "I hate this mission," he told Daniel.

Jackson managed to slip his arm out from under Daniel, and laid him back against the pillow, pulling the blanket and sheet up on him. He then ripped the blanket from his own bed and laid it on it. Not satisfied, he pulled out his cloak and bunched it up, putting it under Daniel's head. He sat on the edge of the bed, shifting so he be more parallel to Daniel, putting a leg up on the bed over the blankets. He sighed out and picked at his burnt sleeve. "I hate this mission," he told Daniel.

It had to be his brush with death, because otherwise Daniel wouldn't have bothered to be disappointed to have someone pull away from him - in fact, if it had been any other situation, or any other person, he probably just would have gone after what he wanted long before now. But for now, Daniel just settled gingerly back against the bed, watching Jackson curiously as he started acting possibly self conscious.

Jackson stared at the door, watching and waiting for Paris to return, not knowing how long it might be. He heaved a sigh and glanced over, catching Daniel watching him. His eyebrows arched up, as if expecting his partner to express some sort of thought or command to him.

He didn't even flinch or react in any way except to tilt his head as he continued to watch his friend. The expression on Daniel's face was the one he usually wore when deep in thought, or just Curious about something. And he really wasn't even aware of it.

Jackson grew concerned, and it registered on his face. "Damn you, I can't tell what you're thinking," he muttered loud enough for both to hear. "But I'll have you know, she escaped with some stealthy wizard. He burned my sleeve." And with that Jackson held up his arm, his badly smudged white linen shirt was burned at the sleeve. "Nearly took my hand with it." He held up his hand, palm towards Daniel, to show his skin was burned in some areas, but not badly.

Daniel's gaze shifted to take in the sight of Jackson's hand, and the burnt sleeve, though he found that he could half focus on it. Reaching out weakly, he gripped his fingers weakly around Jackson's hand, a bit awkwardly, and pulled it more towards him so he could study the burns. He ran fingertips lightly over the skin, eyes drifting in and out of focus now as he found himself wanting to sleep.

Jackson's cheek twitched, but he let his arm go limp as Daniel held it. He also made a small funny breath at feeling Daniel's fingers ran over his skin, either from Daniel's hands being cold, his own skin being sensitive, or a combination of all or something else. "This is nothing compared to how your back looked," he added and then turned his hand over so his palm pressed down on Daniel's fingers.

With a small sigh, Daniel closed his eyes, a pained expression crossing his face as if something were bothering him right then. In reality, there WAS, but it was more the fact that his emotions and physical triggers for everything were so out of whack. He didn't pull his hand away from Jackson's grip as he shifted as much as he could onto his side so that his back wasn't stinging from all the cuts.

Jackson felt Daniel move, and didn't even flinch as he actually moved closer to him, practically hugging his hand and arm. Jackson get a determined look. "I'm going to find him. And I'm going to kill him, this.. whoever he is." He told Daniel, thinking of this great wizard who managed to thwart them. "You sleep now. Regain your strength."

September 5th, 1978 - RP

2006-12-03T08:17:48Z

September 5, 1978
5:52 pm
a small roadside cafe in Paris, France

Paris sat at a small table on the outside patio of a nice little coffee shop in the heart of Paris, the prearranged rendezvous point for their little operation, sitting in the shade of his ever present parasol and lounging back in his chair as he sipped on an over priced espresso. He had been feeling a little over tired in the last week, what with not being able to get much sleep - his uncle's bodyguards/lackeys had required his presence here in Paris (how fitting, he thought with a small grin to himself) on their mission to find this Corinna Blackwell, and while he knew that he COULD operate during daytime hours (he had found out to his surprise and delight that the accepted view of vampires only being able to operate at night was, in fact, false), he also knew that if he didn't get a day off from this soon, he would have to take someone off the streets to feed - to get his energy back up, really. "Come on boys," he said softly to himself, as he glanced around lazily for Avery or Rippner to show up, crossing one black trousered leg over the other as he waited still.

Jackson followed Daniel as they walked down the narrow alley to the main street, already both of them lost. Jackson stared at the French wizarding paper, his lips moving as he read. "Seems... some bloody no name squib was killed in London. By this so called terrorist group called Death Eaters," he stated, as if it was a joke. "Isn't that the blokes we met before?"

Daniel stopped, and let out a breath that would have been a sigh if his vocal chords hadn't been screwed up. Turning to look up at his rather tall friend, he gave a short nod, and then frowned and pushed back the newly dyed black hair that fell into his eyes. Reaching out to smack his friend lightly on the elbow, in an attempt to get Jackson to LOOK at him, he nodded again once Jackson's attention was on him, and made a motion as if to say, "Maybe you could help me here?"

Jackson folded the paper and shoved it inside his summer suit jacket, one made entirely out of linen and was white, matching Daniel's. Egyptian cotton, although expensive, did well to make them look like rich tourists. "We have two more buildings," he stated, as if for the third time. He stared at Daniel, more so at his dark hair. He admitted it with himself he liked it better than the blonde. "And then I'll buy you a stiff drink as promised."

Smirking slightly, Daniel then shook his head, finding it rather amusing (and flattering) to catch his friend still staring at him, and he turned back around to head back out into the main street again, turning left and getting possibly two streets down before looking at the little slip of paper again. Why was he always so bad with the locations of streets here? Anywhere else, he was a pro at navigating, but here... they should have dragged the nephew along, he knew the city much better. He glanced at the street sign again, and then let out a small, distressed sound to see that it was very similar to one of the names on their list. Why did the names all have to be so SIMILAR?

Jackson came up behind him, shielding his hand over his eyes from the sun. "Shit... I hate the bloody french, as bad as canadians," he muttered loud enough for Daniel to hear. He arched his neck and glanced to the side. Down the small paved hill, he saw a cafe, with outside tables and a white fluttering awning. "There, that's the fifth cafe. If that's not it, I'm going back to Greece." He stated, pointing his wand.

Without even caring if Jackson was paying attention or not, Daniel gave a nod of agreement, and immediately started heading that way. Who cared if they still had two more buildings to look for? He needed a break from this, or he was going to get overly angry and do something stupid. (Yes, he got that frustrated over this.)

Jackson took off after him, awkwardly walking down the steep slope, his sandals making weird noises along the cobblestone surface. He jogged down, beating Daniel, and stopped short, letting out a laugh. He slapped Daniel on the arm. "We're here." He pointed to the large french sign, and then to their partner. He could spot the kid anywhere with hair like that.

Glancing around at his partner, and then at the table Paris was sitting at, Daniel felt the beginnings of a sneer creep over his face before he stopped himself. If there was one thing he'd learned, it was that Paris had an uncanny habit of knowing when someone was thinking about him - and there he was, turning in his seat to look straight at him. Daniel adopted the blank expression he usually wore, and nodded to the young... well, he could hardly be called a man anymore. With a glance to Jackson, Daniel stuffed his hands immediately in the pockets of his suit jacket and walked over to stare down at Paris for a moment.

Jackson followed behind, and didn't even give a hello as he dropped the folded paper on the table.

"Your intimidation tactics don't work with me, Avery," Paris said quietly, not even looking at the man as he set down his cup delicately and reached out one white gloved hand to pull the paper towards him, unfolding it carefully with one hand and scanning the headlines. "Hmm. Interesting. Sounds like our friends from Niagara have been busy."

Jackson didn't say anything, but merely sat down, welcoming himself to the coffee menu. "There are 12 cafe's all named the same thing," he stated.

Paris's assertation did absolutely nothing but piss him off, and Daniel stepped back and moved to the lone chair remaining, dragging it as close to Jackson's as he could before he dropped into it. It looked like he was... sulking?? Or maybe he just hated being here in the reputed 'city of love'. He leaned over a bit towards Jackson, looking over the menu in his partner's hands instead of just getting his own.

"Don't look at me, I had no hand in naming them," Paris stated, hiding the small, tired smile that wanted to show at Daniel's behaviour. He could literally FEEL the hate and frustration coming from the man in hot waves, and though he normally wouldn't have been overly thrilled over someone feeling that way, at the moment, he was just glad that none of them were overly thrilled with the current situation. "I'm guessing you've had no luck with finding her in this beautiful city, then, hmm?" he asked, picking up little bits and pieces from Daniel as he studied the man.

Jackson inhaled slowly and then slid the menu to Daniel and leaned forward, pressing his hands on the table. "Two days and nothing. We searched the train station, the Eiffel tower, even the louvre. Every place you told us too. What have.. YOU.. been doing?" He looked the boy over, even though he was no boy. Or even human, rather. He narrowed his light eyes at the odd hair, black slick down over one eye and teased in the back. Like a rat's nest, he thought to himself.

Paris shifted his study to Jackson, and blinked, pretending to be surprised by the accusation, before bringing one hand up to his chest as if hurt, pursing his lips slightly in a pout as he widened his eyes, making his youngish appearance even more pronounced. "Oh, Jackson, dear, how could you accuse me of frittering my time away?" he asked innocently, trying his best not to swallow hard at the disapproving gaze. "I'll have you know I've been collecting information from other sources. My mother happens to have known many top designers and I happened to get a little tidbit from one of our musical friends that the girl did a bit of modelling here a little while ago."

Daniel snorted slightly, still leaning over a bit as he had been studying the menu, and looked up slowly, staring hard at the vampire. He knew well enough to not look Paris in the eye, but he found himself growing angrier at the fact that Paris had withheld information from them.

Jackson's expression seemed to soften almost immediately, arching his eyebrows. He seemed to have a momentary look of approval and appreciation for his employer's nephew. "Were there any beaver shots?" He asked, and held a finger up to motion for a waiter that was nearby.

Paris' whole expression changed to one of amusement, and he threw his head back and laughed, his normal charming musical laugh, before saying with almost a giggle, "No, sorry for your luck. No, I finally found the photographer who took the pictures. He sold them to a perfume company selling a new line. Apparently she was rather modest." Pausing, he then added, "But he did give a description of where he first saw her, and apparently he saw her around an area filled with student hostels. I think we should extend our search to include them."

Daniel just shot Jackson an annoyed look and settled back in his chair, pulling the menu up in front of his face. Normally he would have been interested as well, but since finding out who exactly their employer had been after, he had felt nothing but distaste for anything concerning her. And he still hadn't told Jackson that the girl was a cousin.

"We have to now move through dirty muggle areas with unwashed and smelly teenagers?" Jackson asked, trying to ignore what Daniel was doing. "She probably would be an ugly shot anyway," he added, mostly for the sake of saying so, to show he wasn't disappointed. He was still trying to get Lestrange's wife's picture from his partner, but he hadn’t yet won their bet. "How many are there? Hostels that is." He took the cappuchino from the waiter and sipped it. One thing he privately admitted to himself about the French, he liked their coffee. "Daniel, have you seen any perfume ads lately?" He asked as he side glanced.

Daniel signalled for the waiter, and pointed at what he wanted, then grudgingly gave up the menu, adopting his stock bland expression as he looked at his friend and partner, arms crossed in front of him. He refused to give any answer whatsoever.

Paris glanced back and forth between the two men, and then spoke up in a bored tone, "No, he hasn't. I don't think he cares, either." HE knew what Jackson didn't. And he also knew that Daniel would much rather knock her off than deliver her to his uncle, which he would most definitely not allow to happen. "If you're curious, though, here it is. I did some research." And he reached into the inside pocket of the longish white jacket he had worn today, pulling out a pristine looking magazine and opening it to a certain page. On it, a beautiful girl with black hair and vivid green eyes stared up from the page, in a white jacket. The ad was bare of any extraneous clutter, and simply featured a bottle that was supposed to house the perfume it advertised.

Jackson's breath literally caught in his throat and he touched the magazine enough to pull it closer. He stared, transfixed by the green eyes, matching the green bottle. He then made a forced chuckle. "No... you fool. That's not her. What's the right page?" He had been expecting the girl to be ugly, or common, like most pure blood witches were. Or sport warts, or anything. He seemed to hog the magazine.

Paris glanced at Daniel for confirmation that he was right, and smiled delightedly at the recognition in the man's eyes. "I'm positive that's her. Look, even Daniel recognizes her. Right Daniel?"

Daniel looked up quickly, and shot Paris a look of pure venom. Stupid brat! Yes, he recognized her, he had never known anyone else with eyes like that. Corinna, the little annoying girl who had always pestered Varian to play with her when his stepmother had HAD to have her family over to visit. The girl had always seemed to be scared of him for some reason, and it had been another sore point for him.

Jackson hardly glanced at Daniel, and instead tried to get Paris's view back. "Shame, such a delightful piece of work be wasted on our Employer. I mean, how do we know she's not.. diseased or slept with mud bloods?" He asked, and tried to pull the magazine closer to himself, almost hoarding it.

At that, Daniel couldn't stand it anymore, and as Paris started to speak, he grabbed the magazine right from Jackson, and tore the page out, crumpling it up in a fit of anger.

Paris stopped mid sentence and stared at Daniel, open mouthed, too shocked to say anything.

Jackson's nostrils flared and with a flashing look in his eyes ripped the magazine from Daniel's hands and shoved back, knocking the metal chair to the ground, right on the waiter's foot that carried Daniel's drink. "Fucking bastard," he muttered, and shoved the waiter as he stormed off to the cobblestone street, ignoring an old lady and an automobile that honked.

Dropping the crumpled paper on the table, Daniel nodded at the waiter, who shakingly set the drink down and told him in a bewildered voice that he would refill his drink. Daniel nodded again, but grabbed the cup and gave the waiter a Look as he tried to take it back. Without arguing, the young man left, and Daniel turned to glare blankly off to Paris' left somewhere.

Paris finally said quietly after the waiter had gone, "Why do you hate her? You DO realize that you just made this a lot harder than it should have been?"

Daniel just shot Paris a look that said, "Shut the hell up, or I will hurt you severely."

Jackson blew off his steam, having walked down the street and back, trying to remember where the hostel was they passed. He cursed the task, wanting nothing more to go home with Daniel, and forget any of this happened. He thought back to the photo in the magazine, the green eyes haunting him. He swallowed hard, finding his throat dry. He came back and stood by the table, ignoring the way both men were glaring at each other. "I want locations to these hostels. How many are there?" He ignored the crumpled ball of paper on the ground.

Hearing Jackson's voice, Daniel immediately lifted the cup to his mouth and took a large swallow, not caring that the drink was a bit too hot. He didn't look at his friend, feeling uncharacteristically betrayed by the man's obvious attraction to his COUSIN, of all people.

Paris shook his head and sighed, then looked up at Jackson and made an attempt to smile at him, standing up and reaching out to pat his arm soothingly. "There are far too many to name all the locations. I know the one he described, though, and I can take you there."

Jackson didn't change his stance, but simply nodded. "Then let's go. Now." He stated.

He glanced over at Daniel, noticing the man wasn't meeting his gaze. This made Jackson grimace, even feel slightly hurt. He lifted his chin and stared at the fledgling vampire. "Now." He stated again.

His expression hardened slightly at that, and Daniel looked off at something else completely as if spacing out. There was nothing about his posture or appearance that would indicate displeasure, unless one knew him well, as his shoulders were hunched slightly, back stiff, and jaw set as if he were bracing himself to not say anything stupid.

Paris looked down at Daniel, and back to Jackson before starting to say, "Avery, come on, let's ge-"

Jackson immediately cut Paris off. "Why don't you just tell us. I'm not going to follow you around like a puppy and neither is he." He stated, already deciding to inquire to Daniel on what his grief is from. Jackson knew that if he didn't keep his thoughts clear, Paris would likely either not leave, or simply laugh. He looked right at Paris. Instead he made a bright grin and held out his hand, palm up towards Daniel. "Show him the postcard."

Daniel tried to ignore the conversation, but at the mention of 'postcard', he had to look at his friend. When he saw Jackson's familiar grin, he looked away again, then sighed to himself and stood up, fishing the postcard from his jacket pocket where he'd been carrying it around, and handed it to Paris. He half wished he could just go back to the hotel and go to bed, or maybe find some unsuspecting person to take his anger out on...

"Tell me that's the same address." Jackson stated. "If so, just give us directions and we'll meet you in an hour." He acted like he had something else to do first, and made his thoughts act like it was urgent, having to do with t heir employer.

Paris glanced over the writing, and nodded, then his eyes caught the initials "L.S." on the bottom. "Do... either of you happen to know who this 'L.S.' is?" he asked casually, already knowing that it came from Niagara Falls. Which meant it had to be from either Varian Avery, or Severus Snape - and he was willing to bet it was the singer, considering the information he'd picked up from those two.

Daniel immediately frowned, not even giving any kind of answer at all, sneaking a quick glance at his friend.

Jackson snorted, almost laughing. "Who’s L.S.??" He acted like it was funny. "He's a no body." Jackson added, his expression turning dark. "He's dead." He yanked the postcard back and held it up, tapping the badly written French address. "Where is this?"

Paris' expression twitched, barely noticeable, and he found himself silently expressing regret over that. It was a shame, really. If they knew, then that meant that young man was in danger. And he felt more of a connection with that boy than he'd felt with anyone else for a long time... though it was probably just the fact that they both had shared vampiric traits at one point, even though HIS were irreversible. With a small half smile that showed he wasn't thrilled about something, Paris gave them directions as clear and concise as he could and then said, "Meet back at the hotel, or back here?"

Daniel shook his head slightly to himself, lips moving as he mouthed the directions over and over, committing them to memory so he could find the place easily.

"Hotel. No more sitting outside, open to any sort of attack. We have to go." At that he grabbed Daniel's sleeve and yanked for him to stand. "When we find her," he added, skipping 'if,' "You're buying us dinner. AND enough alcohol to make Daniel think he's an Angel." Jackson flicked his wand, setting the cup of coffee on fire.

Paris nodded silently, watching the two men as they started off down the street. Without a word, he went inside the cafe to pay for the drinks, catching the young waiter on his way back out with Daniel's... cappuccino, it smelled like. The same kind Jackson had had. As he paid for everything, he found himself thinking, "I really hope that girl has already left the country by now. My uncle isn't worth all of this." He left a generous tip for their waiter, and set off through the streets, keeping any exposed skin under the shade of the parasol, glancing many times at the postcard as he walked. Such a shame, breaking those two up..

Daniel huffed as Jackson gave him a shove to start him walking, and grudgingly started off, wishing that he was already back at the hotel, drinking himself into a euphoric state. The only times he really felt good about what he was doing was when he was drinking, especially with Jackson.

Jackson moved quickly and grabbed Daniel's arm tightly with his hand, and swung him back to face him. "WHAT?" He said loudly, and then curled his fist up and back, as if ready to punch him, glaring hard.

That was a completely unexpected move from his best friend, and Daniel just stared up at Jackson levelly, not letting himself show any nervousness, eyebrows raising up as if saying, "What?"

Jackson sniffed in hard, his nostril flaring as he did. He lowered his fist and then brought his hand up, giving Daniel a mild slap on the cheek and then pointed at him. "You know something." He licked his bottom lip and then grasped both hands on his jacket lapel. "You know something Paris doesn't, something the Old Man doesn't." He actually cracked a grin, licking his bottom lip again in a twinge of excitement. "Are you going to tell me? You are."

Daniel continued to stare at Jackson, cheeks pinkening slightly as he realized that his little bitch fit was being called on. Raising his hands to wrap long fingers around Jackson's, he slowly pulled his friend's hands from his jacket, keeping eye contact as he tried to figure out a way to explain without making himself sound like a jealous teenager or something.

Jackson was breathing a little harder than needed, and for a brief moment he let Daniel literally hold his hands before yanking them out and throwing them down. "What is it?" He demanded again, only now speaking softly.

He pressed a hand to Daniel's shoulder, and wet his lips again, squeezing his shoulder. "Are you scared to tell me?" He asked, his nose close to Daniel's.

It didn't bother him that his friend was so close, and Daniel had to look down slightly before he glanced back up to look Jackson straight in the eye, shaking his head slightly in answer to the question. He brought one hand up to carefully press it to his neck before saying in a near inaudible rasp, "... Blackwell... my cousin." There. Simple. Little explanation required.

Jackson stared at him, his eyes widening slightly, making his blue eyes lighter. A raspy chuckle escaped his throat and he tossed his head back, letting out a hollering laugh. He then wrapped an arm around his friend, his partner, his best comrade and closest person in the world, and half hugged him. "That is.. that is fucking it." He laughed and pulled him along as they walked. "So... that means you're going to be related to the Boss." He had forgotten about his earlier sexual comments about the girl, finding this event more opportunistic. "Imagine.. we could get millions." He was referring to money, of course.

Hmm. He'd never really considered that. His hatred of the girl had kind of blinded him to anything that could benefit him. Daniel looked up at Jackson as they continued on their way, and found himself smiling fondly, all of a sudden very grateful to have a friend like Jackson. With that thought in mind, he didn't even question the 'we' part of what his friend had said (he'd always shared almost everything with him, except a few certain things that were better left unsaid...), and instead started watching for the right landmarks and street signs.

"Even better...." and this Jackson slapped his hand against Daniel's chest, then smoothing it out. "We hold her for ransom." Jackson was so excited he could barely form words, and he was practically drooling. "We don't NEED him anymore. Not when we have what he wants."

Daniel grinned finally at that, liking that idea more than anything else Jackson had suggested in the last two days. And he showed it by reaching up and patting Jackson's hand instead of pushing it away from him. It was great seeing his friend get so excited about something when he really hadn't for a long time.

"Just think... no more living in fucking GREECE. We can go... we can go to the Bahamas, to Miami, to that villa in Italy your family has. I want to open a casino, and I want to tell those snot-nosed so-called musicians we had the unpleasure of meeting in Niagara to go stuff it." He started saying, sounding even more excited, practically giddy as they walked. "No more of this shit. No more picking up peanut shells and M&Ms for the old man. No more of his whining and stupidity, no more cunning plans and abuse. And you... we can find that Naturalist I read about to fix your throat, at that Spa in Los Angeles. Money is no object now!"

It was interesting. Sometimes Daniel felt bad for being left out of conversations, and he'd already started feeling that way again now, when Jackson mentioned that naturalist. And more than ever now, he found himself wishing that he COULD get some kind of windfall of money to pay for it, especially on finding out that he had been disowned and stricken from the family tree.

"Whose going to be SENDING who to the authorities?" Jackson prevailed, as if it had already happened. "Imagine, we will be able to eat what we want... wear what we want." He poked a finger at Daniel's sleeve, at the Egyptian cotton. "We can have our own servants, our own air planes, and we can kill that bitch who stabbed you with that pen. I haven't forgotten her hotel in Miami." He added, and squeezed Daniel closer to him in a one handed hug. "And all the girls.. well, in your case boys, that we want!" He moved his hand across the air, as if imagining a sign to them.

A raspy snickering was heard in response to the last statement Jackson made, even if he felt the need to keep his eyes trained on where they were going and NOT glance at the man hugging him, and Daniel brought an arm around Jackson's waist to half return the hug, and then patted his friend's arm before pointing up at one street sign in particular.

Jackson pointed to it, as if to say "Straight ahead," and so they walked. When an old man stepped out in the middle of the road, Jackson unlatched himself and purposefully shoved the old man for fun. "What's WRONG Grandpa!? Can't you move?" Jackson ignored the old man's French remarks, and strolled back up to Daniel, chuckling. He then spun around on the ball of his foot and zapped the old man with his wand, aiming in such a way his wand was laying over a bent arm. A green light shot out and hit the old man, causing him to keel over, sputtering, and crash down to the sidewalk, his cane falling on top of him. The old man's oranges broke free of his bag and rolled down the sidewalk to the street, and someone's dog ran up and started barking. The old man was dead, and Jackson put his wand away. "Practice makes perfect," he jeered, grinning.

Daniel watched the spectacle with no expression on his face save a small half smile that hid more excitement at the scene in front of him than was proper. Once the dog started barking, Daniel grabbed at Jackson's arm and started walking away to get them away from the scene of the crime. His cheeks were now a bit flushed, and he kept glancing back and wetting his lips as if excited about something.

"What, we aren't staying around to watch his widow cry?" Jackson joked, and limbered along side of Daniel, whistling to himself.

He stooped to scoop up a loose orange and started to peel it.

Daniel started snickering again at that, glancing at his friend again before copying him. Hell, that man wouldn't miss the oranges. In fact, he wouldn't miss anything now. Daniel shook his head slightly at Jackson, though, and tilted his head down the way they were heading, sighing a bit as well as if to say, "We have a job to do."

Flashback....August 18 1978

2006-12-02T08:09:59Z

August 18, 1978
Virgin Flight 1807 from Buffalo, NY to Heathrow, London
11:00 am

Daniel Avery, II, sat in his seat uncomfortably, trying to ignore the couple sitting right beside him who seemed to INSIST on being disgustingly 'cute' and 'romantic' with each other. He'd been watching his baby brother and brother's 'boyfriend' since the seat belt light went off, just to see how they interacted in public places. It amused him to no end that Varian seemed to be uncommonly jittery and annoyed right now, and he had already attributed it to baby brother nearly missing the flight. Of course, the couple beside him chose that moment to start giggling about some stupid, insipid, obviously private joke one of them had made, and he couldn't take it any more. It was perhaps fortunate that he'd started to feel like he might need to use the loo, because he had to get away from them. Letting out a wheezing snort, Daniel unbuckled his seat belt (he'd been too lazy to before)and pushed himself up to stand, smirking slightly at the twin blank stares he recieved as he stepped out into the aisle and started down towards the loo.

Varian Avery glanced around, and once the seatbelt sign went off he immediatly yanked his off and scrambled to stand, ducking slightly to avoid hitting his head on the air conditioning valve. He arched his neck and stared back at the plane, only to see the second half of coach, partially blocked by the stewardesses. "Fuck," he muttered, and looked to the side, staring as his eyes moved around, wide. "Fuck!" He hissed and then his chest started to heave, as if he was breathing hard.

Severus Snape looked up at Varian as he man stood up, and frowned, still confused as anything about what had gotten Varian so worked up. Ever since they'd gotten on the plane (and he had to admit to himself, it had been extremely nerve-wracking for him, as well, to find out at the desk that they had two minutes to get to the plane before they shut the doors to passengers), and he didn't think it was just that, or the check up he'd secretly requested of the hospital nurse. "Varian?" he asked in a carefully quiet voice, reaching out in an attempt to grab his lover's wrist. "What is it?"

Varian yanked his hand away. "I know he's here," Varian replied and sat down, looking uneasy. "And he fucking made me almost miss the flight, the bastard." He added in a mutter as he sulked.

Keeping his eyes peeled straight ahead of him, Daniel found that, try as he might, as he moved down the aisle, the only thing he could hear was laughter and good natured joking from the other passengers, and people comfortable with their friends, families, loved ones... and as always when he travelled alone, it made him angry. Like he wanted to just do something to disrupt their happy little bubbles for whatever reason. Or maybe it was just when he travelled without Jackson around, he found himself admitting silently to himself. Why that horrible Greecian insisted on continually separating them, he didn't want to even contemplate - the man knew they worked best when together... Not to mention he just missed having Jackson around on these stupid solo jobs.

Daniel made it three rows from the very back of the plane when someone grabbed him, a hand slipping up and pressing around his mouth while the other grabbed his chest, and shirt. There was a forced pull and he was down in an empty aisle seat. The hand moved from his chest to cover his eyes.

".... WHO'S here?" Severus asked after a moment, watching Varian carefully. He was still slightly paranoid that Varian was going to have another episode like the one he'd had at the concert, even though the nurse had said his blood sugar levels were stable and all. But he didn't have a clue who Varian was talking about. He'd never heard any outright mention of anyone in the last couple days, in particular, he should watch for, not from Varian. "What are you talking about?"

Varian stared out the window and then back at Severus, his eyes still wide. "Him. The Angel of Mercy and the Angel of Death. Maybe both, maybe one. I swear I saw him right after we boarded. He's going to kill me." Varian breathed, never sounding as paranoid before.

Even if he COULD have spoken, his silent attacker had moved too quickly for Daniel to react anyway, and once he got over his surprise (much quicker than the average person, thanks to his training AND his cautiousness regarding his particular... history), his hands were already shooting up to grab for both the hand covering his eyes, and one hand heading right for where he presumed the attackers neck to be as he let out a muffled noise, trying to draw attention this.

The 'attacker' made a choking noise, and the hand moved itself from Daniel's eyes and went, instead, to grip at his wrist on his neck. "D...Daniel..." Jackson sputtered, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Angels? Does this have anything to do with the day you said an Angel or whatever had tied you to your hospital bed?" Severus asked quietly, hesitantly. He immediately hated the way it had come out, and gave Varian a sheepish expression, not wanting to make it sound like he was mocking the man, especially as that hadn't been his intention.

Varian shot him an insane looking stare and then leaned away from him, his shoulder hitting the window. "Exactly..." he breathed, looking paranoid. He then brought his fingers p and seemed to tap the, against his lips. "He's here." He trailed off, trying to stare back over the top of his seat.

Shit - Jackson?? Daniel immediately let go, leaning his head back against the man's chest and craning his neck to look upwards. His eyes widened as he recognized that distinctive jawline, and a smile grew on his lips, even hidden as it was beneath Jackson's hand. He couldn't help feeling a bit of relief, but mostly a childlike contentment at seeing his best friend and partner here instead of on whatever job their employer had assigned to him.

Jackson gave him a small light shove, making him stop leaning on him. "You have ...some grip." He said, clearing his throat as he rubbed his hand on the red mark along his neck. He turned his head and coughed.

"I wish I knew who you were talking about, Varian..." Severus said, frowning as he glanced around for anyone who might look familiar, aside from Evan, who always seemed to be off by himself writing something in the last couple days. He glanced back at Varian, and found himself once again debating with himself for the millionth time in the last couple days on whether or not to mention to Varian the man he'd seen that day, the one he'd thought looked like his lover - but then he reminded himself that he had probably just been hallucinating from worry/lack of sleep or something, and that mentioning it would just distress his lover more.

"You want to know who?" Varian said, looking at him, the rim of his eyes red. "This man..he's...he's my brother." He stated in a quiet voice, and slumped down in his seat as someone passed by their seats.

Daniel's grin grew even wider at that, and a slight wheezing snicker escaped him at Jackson's reaction. Turning a bit in his seat so he faced forward and slightly facing his friend, Daniel shrugged and tilted his head curiously, staring intently at Jackson, as if waiting for an explanation.

"Your... brother?" Severus looked surprised at that, and suddenly looked away uneasily. "I... don't remember you telling me you had a brother. Unless I was really drunk or tired.."

Jackson looked back at him, and then rolled his eyes. "I um." He started to say and straightened his shirt out. He lacked the usual suit, instead with a t-shirt and jeans. "I...shut up." he stated, speaking to Daniel's expression.

That caused the snickering to start again, and Daniel's expression turned to something of a smirk, a certain smugness to it that only appeared on his face when he was about to make a joke about a person either 'wanting' him, or liking his company well enough to be unable to stay away... well, back when he didn't have to do some freakish thing to be able to SPEAK..

Varian gave a small shrug. "I probably didn't." He said, mostly to the window. His hand gripped their shared arm rest, his knuckles turning painfully white. Not only did he have problems with the preflight, he was on edge with the shakey takeoff. "Just a secret." He added softly, his eyes watching the ground a million miles away.

"I.. take it you don't like him, considering?" Severus asked, not sure if Varian really wanted to talk about this. He glanced around, and then carefully reached out to lay his hand over Varian's lightly, watching to make sure that no-one looked over their way.

Jackson saw that look and crossed his arms as he sat back in the seat. "That's right, you go on thinking that. However, whatever reasons *I* have, its purley for the good of our Employer." He insisted, not wanting to say anymore or less.

Daniel just gave a nod, the smirk fading a little bit, even though he'd known it couldn't just be because Jackson had felt like keeping him company. As far as he knew, anyway.

Varian lowered his dark eyes from the window and yanked the shade down. He looked at the back of the chair in frotn of him and seemed to take forever to reply. "I'm afraid of him," Varian replied honestly, his hand shaking under Severus's. "Can you beleive...me..afraid?" He stared at Severus, looking out of sorts.

Man. If it weren't for the fact he already felt a deep kinship, almost, to Varian, that admission would probably have sealed it for him. "I know the feeling, believe it or not," Severus said quietly, glancing quickly at his lover. "I've got a similar reaction to any... mention... of my father, so..."

Jackson avoided looking at Daniel, because he knew the truth would only reveal itself. He HAD been ordered on a different mission, which involved spending another week in Canada, following up on a lead on one of their Employer's many enemies. But the task was so remedial, so utterly boring and useless that Jackson had arranged for another hirling under him to take care of it. He used an old boarding pass to board the plane, but found the fiasco with one of the band members, one paramedic, and three muggle police men provided enough of a distraction to sneak on unnoticed. Jackson swallowed and finally did look back at him. "Where are you sitting?" He asked, casually.

"You're father isn't HERE," Varian hissed, and tried to not let it be heard. Rosier was looking over at them at the moment. Varian stared back a him, and arched an eyebrow, as if questioning him, acting overly defensive.

Still watching Jackson, Daniel caught every little inflection in Jackson's actions, expression, and voice, and found himself smiling secretively as he shook his head as if to say, 'Not telling'. What he didn't make clear in any way yet was the fact that he had decided to sit with his friend for the rest of the flight. Maybe he wouldn't have to gag at the 'cutesy' couple anymore. Tilting his head a bit towards the aisle, Daniel started to stand up, gesturing vaguely off towards where the plane's bathrooms were.

Jackson settled back in his seat, yanking out a small ledger he kept, and started to jot something down. He looked over and nodded. "Right, have fun, Watch out for balsy birds with pens." He grinned, an old joke.

"Yeah, no shit, I know, but is it a crime to try and sympathize or empathize, or whatever the hell it is, with you on something?" As he spoke, Severus caught that look, and started to turn to look where Varian was, discreetly pulling his hand off Varian's, acting casual about it.

That cause Daniel's expression to twist, half a grimace, half a smirk, and he just waved a hand at his friend before casually strolling down the aisle to do his business.

Varian chewed on the inside of his lip and snuck a glance at Severus. "Well, then I appreciate it," he whispered, moving his head slightly towards his ear, moving so Rosier couldn't read if lips in case he could read lips. He then settled back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the arm rest. "But I'm still going to die on this flight." H said sharply.

"No, you won't," Severus said simply, giving Evan a small, reassuring smile, hoping that the man wouldn't come over. Luckily, Evan turned away after a moment and went back to whatever he was writing.

Once Daniel was gone, Jackson smirked and slipped out the photo of Lestrange's wife, having taken it from Daniel one night in the hotel. He made some notations on the back and slipped it between the pages of his ledger, before putting the whole book back in his pocket. He then closed his eyes, letting his head tilt backwards, lips puckering slightly, as he rested.

"He's blonde," Varian stated. He briefly described him, leaving out a certain obvious physical flaw, and made Daniel sound more cuniving and dangerous than he probably was. "And I saw him on this bloody plane!"

"Varian, Varian, calm down, it's alright, he's not going to come after you on the plane," Severus murmured as he leaned over more towards his lover, partly so they could keep the conversation private... and partly just to try and hopefully lend a little comfort to Varian without having to actually touch the man unless he had to (which he actually really hated having to do... it was unfortunate that doing anything like that would immediately make people uncomfortable around them, IF they were caught).

Varian breathed out, and felt like he was going to hyperventalate. "I.I'm going to the Loo." He announced and stood up straight, knocking his head on the low ceiling due to the baggage storage. "Move."

Daniel came back a couple minutes later and sat down calmly in the seat next to Jackson, hiding a small smirk as he pretended to stretch, deliberately stretching one arm over across Jackson's line of sight. It was a little game they played sometimes, just to bug each other.

Jackson frowned and shifted, moving his hand up to slap Daniel's away. Even with his eyes closed he sensed this sort of reaction from him. He turned his head, keeping his eyes closed, towards Daniel. "I haven't slept in 24 hours." He told him.

Severus just stared up at his lover, briefly debating on refusing until he was polite about it, but then he remembered how much he'd always hated it when people did that to him - not to mention he didn't feel like making Varian angry with him in this particular situation - so he frowned hard, but didn't say anything as he stood up and stepped out into the aisle to let Varian out.

Varian slipped out and started off for the restrooms in the back of the plane. He made a quick glance back, catching severus's eye before he stepped away. Varian got maybe a few feet before a stewardess rolled into the aisle with her serving cart.

Daniel gave a quiet, wheezing laugh at that before standing up and going back to his original seat to get his things.

Sighing, Severus just looked away and sat back down, moving over to the window for now so he could watch the 'scenery' - not that there WAS much, just clouds, and the glimpses of land below them.

Jackson moved out of the middle area of their seats and stood up in the narrow aisle, stretching. He then pressed the button release for the overhead storage, reaching in for his leather carryon bag.

Varian, already annoyed at the stewardess, came barreling down the aisle, in need to spend some quality time alone with himself. He narrowed his eyes when he saw the last bit of his aisle blocked by some bloke. Varian stepped up to him, the obviously older man doing something with the overhead storage. "Oh bloody hell man, hurry up!" Varian exclaimed in an annoyed tone.

At that, Daniel leaned out in the aisle slightly, smirking to himself when he saw his baby brother sniping at Jackson. This he HAD to see.

Jackson paused, leaving his bag where it was and glanced over, his gaze moving to a shortish man with funny two-toned hair, giving him the evil eye. "You can wait," Jackson replied, and then reached a hand back up, carefully extracting his dark colored wand, and then grabbed the handle of his bag.

"No I can't. Move." Varian stated, and then attempted to climb around him, thinking he could brush by. he was three steps from the loo.

This made Jackson almost snap, being touched by someone he wasn't familiar with, even though that HAIR made some sort of bell go off in his head. Jackson spun around and grabbed the younger man, his wand moving to his throat and both of them fell into the lavatory. Jackson kicked the door shut, and then there was silence. Passengers nearby seemed to not notice, were asleep, or talking to each other.

A fourteen year old boy sat across the aisle from him, and was staring. His hair was shaved almost to the top of his ears, the top of it normal in length and seemed to flop into his dark eyes. He was still youthful in looks, having the appearance of one in the midst of puberty, a fuzzy begings of a mutasche on his upperlip. He leaned into the aisle, and rolled his music magazine in his other hand. "Pssst," he made thenoise, directed at the slender man who had moved towards the window. "Pssst."

Hmm. Interesting. Personally, Daniel didn't much care what happened to his brother at the moment, the arrogant little BOY deserved it for acting like that towards his best friend. So he just turned around and finished gathering up his things before sitting back down, positioning himself in such a way that he could watch that Snape boy. Very easy to spot.

It was a blur, and Varian felt the sharp pain of his head coming into contact with something hard and cool. The mirror. His hand came up to feel the back, thinking only of blood. Jackson was a blur to him, and the last thing he remembered seeing was Jackson raising his arm and swinging it back before it went dark.

Severus ignored the first noise, assuming that it was meant for someone else, and leaned his chin in his hand, elbow against the armrest closest to the window. At the second time, he looked around curiously to see who was being annoying, only to see a youngish looking teen with odd punk-ish hair watching him, leaning into the aisle. "What?" he said quietly, directing it at the boy.

Jackson let go of the front of the younger man's shirt, letting his unconscious body slip down to sit on the small toilet. He yanked his hand from the man's now loose grip, and poked his head, making it rock back before the man's chin touched his sternum again. He twirled his wand in his hand and pocketed it, and whistled to himself lightly. He ran a hand down Varian's side, extracting what looked like a wallet. Inside, he found nothing but receipts for food, no money nor credit cards. Something gold caught his eye, and he pulled out a card similar to something else he's seen before. A memory flash came to him, and he was in the Buffalo airport holding a card from the now pathetic Lestrange. Jackson's eyes widened and he grinned, pocketing the card. "So you're one of them," he told the lifeless person. He reached into his other pocket and pulled out a velvet pouch, which contained money, both muggle and british galleons. "You just paid for my travel." He then chuckled to himself, and ran his hands into his hair in the mirror. There was a trickle of blood in the sink, and Jackson stared at it. He glanced back, and saw a small cut along the side of Varian's forehead. Using the tip of his wand, careful not to touch him, he flipped some of his disgusting blonde hair over to cover it. And he pocketed his wand again and stepped out, shutting the bathroom door behind him. He slipped back into his seat after pulling his leather bag down into his lap. He looked over at Daniel, and nodded in greeting.

"Are you...?" He asked, moved a hand into his jean jacket to produce what appeared to be a folded album 45 album cover, which he unfolded and pointed. It was a black and white photo of the band.

Wow, how random, Severus couldn't help but think, eyes widening slightly as he nodded slowly on recognizing the picture. "Yes," he said, mouth starting to twitch into a half smile. "Yeah, I am." How many guys do you know of who've pierced their lip, man? he found himself thinking as he moved back into the aisle seat.

The boy seemed to smile and even said a small "yesss..." as he nodde dhis head. "Alright man. Excellent! No one is going to believe me though!" He handed him the album cover and a marker. "Could you um.." he licked his bottom lip and started to point, and then recoiled into hsi seat as a stewardess passed by. "Could you autograph it?"

On seeing that Severus was occupied, Daniel shrugged to himself and just stood up to head back to where Jackson's seat was. Frankly, he didn't care THAT much about the kid to bother with anything right now. Nodding to his friend in response, he tilted his head a bit, arching his eyebrows in question.
"I - you want - seriously?" Severus asked, watching the stewardess for a second as she walked towards the back of the plane, then looked back at the kid. (For a second, he'd thought she looked vaguely like Corinna.) "Yeah, sure, I can. Do that." Man, how awesome.

Jackson unzipped his bag and deposited the money bag into it and the held out the card between his fore and middle finger to Daniel. "Loosk familiar?" He asked, without so much of any other word.

"Yeah! Only..make it out to by..she's my..."the kid floundered, and then licked his bottom lip again. "April. My..she's going to be my girlfriend now," he said, staying quiet due to his sleeping mother next to him, but he sounded excited.

Taking it, Daniel glanced over it and arched both eyebrows, nodding in recognition. He handed it back a moment later, not bothering to ask. It had to have come from his baby brother.

The stewardess with the long curly black hair and hazel eyes, the kind that looked sometimes green and sometimes brown, grabbed a handful of peanuts and napkins from the small kitchenette in the back between the lavatories and then made her way back towards the aisle she came up. "Napkins? Peanuts?" She asked as she passed by passengers.

"Took it off the punk kid before escorting him to the lavatory," Jackson mumbled and placed it in his own wallet, his right hand looking bruised.

"April, huh? That's a - oh, sorry," Severus said hastily, pulling out of the pretty stewardess's way, picture and pen in hand. He found himself staring at her again for a moment, knowing that she was too tall to be Corinna, but still marveling over the similarities.

The Stewardess stopped two rows ahead of Severus's and the boys, and handed a package of peanuts to an elderly man. She spoke spanish to him and reached up to grab him a pillow from the upper compartment. She glanced back, mostly letting her gaze run over everyone, as if checking for anything out of the norm. In the light, her eyes looked more green than brown.

“Yeah, pretty name huh? Her parents are hippies. She's got a sister named Moonbean." The boy snickered. "That lady is hot." He pointed at the stewardess not too far up ahead.

Daniel looked back over at Jackson and snickered, merely nodding. He eyed the other man's fist, eyebrows raising again at that, and debated on whether or not to tell Jackson who it was. It wouldn't change anything on his end, at least.

Jackson caught him staring at his hand and covered it with his other hand. "Bastard made me slam my fist into the wall, ducking. But he's out light a baby, probably in that happy place between life and death." He smirked and wiggled his fingers to show it was alright. "So...do we get to visit your infamous parents?" He joked, which he always did whenever they had to go near or in London. "Wouldn't it be nice to bring me home to dinner."

"She looks like my ex-girlfriend," Severus said quietly, an almost shy smile quirking his lips as the stewardess looked at him, and then past him. "Hippies, huh? Yeah, I don't know about a name like Moonbeam, but then, I can't really talk." He had almost forgotten about the request for an autograph as he watched that stewardess still.

The woman looked back up front, distracted now by another red haired stewardess, who was having difficulty with the wheel of her serving cart. The dark haired stewradess moved way, and helped her.

Love to, but I don't think it would go over well, Daniel thought, eyes flicking quickly over Jackson, as if sizing him up. He made a smirk, and then shrugged. Who knows... perhaps this time he WOULD stop in for a visit.

The boy looked back at him. "Luckyyyy...I mean, April's cute..but still. Hey, you gonna sign that?"

"I'm thinking of looking Elizabeth up," Jackson stated after a moment. He spoke of an ex-girlfriend, one of whom seemed almost elusive as he was. A librarian, she had no inkling of his true nature or employment. She was more like an old fling than anything. "I wonder if she's still married to that jerk off politician."

"Huh? Oh, shit, I'm - yeah," Severus said, letting out an embarrassed chuckle as he looked down, jotting down a short note before handing the pen and picture back. "Hey, you never told me your name."

"William," the boy told him. "Mum calls me Wills, but only the Americans call be Bill. I hate Bill." He took the thing back, and with pride, held it up to look at.

The smirk disappeared, and Daniel merely rolled his eyes before leaning back in his seat, slumping down slightly and closing his eyes in a pretense of being tired.

Jackson gave him a long glance and then leaned in towards him. "Maybe she can call her brother for you..." he suggested, even though he knew Daniel would most likely hurt him for it.

"Yeah, I know the feeling, I hate it when people call me by my middle name, and I hate it even more when people call me by a nickname when I don't know them," Severus said, half grinning at William. "Of course... most people don't KNOW my middle name, so that's how I avoid that one."

"What, is it something stupid like Horatio?" William asked, grinning. "That's mine."

The seat belt sign lit, and the dark haired stewardess picked up the hand held phone to use the intercom system. "Dear passengers, the captain has put the seatbelt sign on due to some turbulence. Please be advised and keep your belts on while sitting. We also have extra pillows so feel free to request one." She then repeated the message in spanish, not a airlines requirement but since she was bilingual, she did it anyways. The plane swayed as she spoke, and she found herself watching in Severus's direction for most of her message.

Sure enough, as Jackson had figured, Daniel's fist came flying up towards him, not particularly aiming for anything. He didn't put too much force behind it.

Jackson felt it hit his cheek, and he let out a gasping breath, tilting his head away. "Ow..." he mumbled and rubbed his cheek. He moved his jaw, as if it had rattled his teeth. "Sorry.." he mumbled.

"Nah, thank gods, but I think my mum might have wanted a little girl, because I think she kind of made it up... Guess she wanted to name me after my grandmother..." Severus said, snickering a bit, and then looked up at the announcement to find the stewardess glancing over in his direction. His stomach did a funny little flip flop that probably had nothing to do with the swaying of the plane, and he hurriedly put on his seat belt, finding that his face felt a little too warm now.

Daniel smirked, and opened his eyes enough to glance over at his friend before reaching up again and patting his shoulder, as if to say, 'There there...'

Another stewardess, younger then the other two with bouncy brown hair came trotting up the aisle, grabbing the backs of chairs as she moved. Her face was pale and her eyes wide and she rushed up to the bilingual one and spoke in her ear, motioning towards the back of the plane. The stewradess who had been eyeballing Severus grew concerned and told her to go alert the captain. The younger stewardess pointed a finger towards the seat, and pointed in severus's direction. The taller of the two, the one's whose eyes studied Severus, looked back at her and nodded. The younger one moved off to the front of the plane.

"Whats your middle name?" William asked and made a gasp as the lady of his dreams appraoched them.

Jackson slumped in his seat, and glanced up as a young stewardess moved towards the back, and reached for the door the lavatory. There wasn't a scream, but a loud gasp before she stepped back. Jackson glanced up partially from his bag and then held out a chocolate cherry candy bar to Daniel. "Here, does this make up for it?" It was Daniel's favorite.

What the hell...? Now, seeing the expression on the woman's face, Severus wasn't sure he wanted her to come over. And it suddenly struck him that Varian had been gone an awful long time.... Oh shit, what was going on??

Glancing down, Daniel's eyes widened, and he grinned and grabbed the candy bar, nodding in approval. He made only a cursory glance at the stewardess as he started to unwrap it.

"Hi," she said quietly, and kneeled down to belevel with Severus, as all stewardesses do. "I'm sorry to bother you...but um.." She stared at him, blinking slowly as her eyes seemed more brown now than green.

Jackson pulled out an inflight magazine and flipped through it, ignoring the fact that the stewardess looking nervous and started to jog up the aisle.

"Is something.. wrong?" Severus asked in a similarly quiet tone, looking her right in the eye so as not to be rude.

She had a gentle look and gave him a somewhat concerned look, her eyebrows knitted together. "Your seatmate...what is his name?" She asked, her hand gripping the arm rest, mostly blocking any sort of exit out of his row.

"Whoa....." The kid across the aisle said and quieted down, not sure what was going on.

"V-varian. Avery," Severus said in a small voice, eyes widening as he craned his neck up to try and see if Varian was coming back yet. "Why, where is he, what's going on?" It was all he could do to keep himself from betraying the panic he was starting to feel as he started to unbuckle his seat belt.
"Please...please...its important you remain calm," said. "We are calling air traffic control as we speak. The captain is requesting paramedics to meet us as soon as we land-"

"Oh my god, is there a dead guy on here!?" William called out, and shot outof his seat and leaped to land intot he aisle by her. "Let me see!" He started for the back of the plane.

"Don't!" She called to him, and reached to grab for his shirt.

Oh god, did he have another attack?? "Is he okay?? Why do you need the paramedics, did he - what happened?? When are we - WHERE are we landing?" He didn't even care right now how his reaction might look.

"Sir..we are already over the water. We'll be landing as soon as we have clearance. I just need to know...does he have any medical conditions? He's passed out in the lavatory. Bibi is going to help him, she's a registered nurse." The lady calmly said to him, perfectly trained for this.

Two sewardeses came back and seemed to fret over the bathroom, which still went ignored by Jackson and Daniel. "So...did you hear about how the girl is missing?" Jackson asked Daniel and showed him a map of France that was in the travel magazine. "Paris told me she's supposedly here." He pointed to the capital city dot on the map. "Seems our Employer is quite mad about it."

"He's diabetic, that's all I know for sure," Severus said promptly, sinking back into his seat without even trying to go check. He didn't think he could handle this. Leaning over, he put his head in his hands, feeling a bit faint himself, and then said in a near whisper, "He doesn't like to advertise medical conditions, so if there's anything else, I don't know it.."

She continued to watch him. "Its not your fault," she reassured him, her name tag reading her name as Maria. "Would you like me to remain with you or go check on him?"

Daniel looked over the map, munching on his candy bar as he listened to Jackson's explanations, and nodded slightly in understanding. Reaching out to place the tips of his fingers against his friend's arm, he then pointed to the map and raised his eyebrows questioningly. What he meant was, 'Is that where we're going?'

Maria seemed to understand. "I'll get you some water.." She said, scurrying off.

"Are you feeling okay?" One of the woman asked him, as one stood outside the loo while the other handed him a bottle of water.

"Will you LEAVE me alone?" Varian growled, having regained consciousness but swatted away the water. "I just want to go back to my seat."

"Do you have a medical history? You fainted and hit your head." She was trying to press a cloth to his cut on his forehead.

Severus glanced off after her, not really understanding why she seemed embarrassed. Of course, he was a little preoccupied with the information she'd given him, and wouldn't have even known the rules for the staff, anyway, so he was left to call after in confusion, "Okay..."

"Paris is there. Why should we go." Jackson stated and flipped the page to show an enlarged map of Paris, listing its prominent attractions. "I don't fancy running around after some sixteen year old girl," he didn't know how old she was, but if she was like any of the others, she was young.

"Maria, you weren't supposed to do that," Jessica, the blonde, told her as she appraoched.

"I couldn't..he looked so...needful.." Maria said, glancing back at him down the aisle. "And he reminds me so much of Pasquale," she refered to her husband who had passed in ana utomobile accident a few months earlier.

"This guy is insisting he be allowed to go sit back down," Bibi, the nurse/stewardess, stated as she stepped out from the lavatory. "We're still a good five hours from land. Maybe we should. And have him checked out after landing."

Tugging his little notebook from his jacket pocket, Daniel reached for his pen and flipped it open, writing something down as he seemed to ignore Jackson - but the illusion was broken a moment later when he passed the book over, bearing a note that read: "Three pairs of eyes are better than one. Besides, maybe we can just make Paris do all the work and hit the bars instead." There was even a tiny evil looking smiley face at the end. Daniel had a penchant for those.

Jackson read it over and glanced back at him. He seemed to think it over and then spoke. "If we do find her, then our Employer may be very...grateful. Might even...give us a well deserved raise. And I could come back from the supposed exile he sent me to in Canada." He alsways did have a plan, any sort of way to advance them and get money. "What do you think?"

"Then let him...we can't keep him in the bathroom." Maria told them, as the most senior of attendants, it was her call. "Bibi, you will watch him?" Bibi nodded. Laura looked less than pleased.

Severus sighed, huddling back into his seat and leaning his head back against the seat, eyes closed as he took slow, deep breaths, trying that technique to calm himself down.

Varian stood up and wobbled his way into the small hallway. Laura immediatly placed a small bandage on his forehead. "You shouldn't be in small spaces," she told him.

Varian smirked. "Next time join me," he stated and, with Laura behind him and Bibi taking his hand, lead him back to his seat. Maria stayed behind, and tried to compose herself.

Jackson glanced over, seeing the dark haired beauty standing there. "Can I have another ginger ale?" he asked her, holding his empty can up.

Maria's light eyes moved and she looked down at him, and then at Daniel. "Do I know-?" She started to ask.

"No...no you don't." Jackson told her with a grin, his blue eyes staring at her. "Just some ginger ale."

Daniel just nodded absently to Jackson's idea, keeping his eyes down. He kind of recognized that voice... but it couldn't be who it sounded like. So he just pretended he was deaf, and went on to doodle randomly in his notebook, seemingly content to amuse himself that way.

Maria tookt he can from him, and continued to stare, not at Jackson, but Daniel. She lightly touched her own hair, and then pressed her fingers to her mouth. "Of course sir." She said, and stepped back and away.

Jackson looked over at Daniel, staring at him.

Varian slipped down into his seat, and stared up at the stewardesses. He didn't like them staring at him, and he instead looked away. Bibi motioned to Laura, and both walked away, but already decided to check on him often. Varian breathed out through his nose.

Daniel ignored the feel of Jackson's stare, and continued to doodle, and the drawing, if one cared to look, seemed to be a stick figure in a car that was on fire and crumpled up. Kind of morbid, if you thought about it.

Jackson said nothing, even arching an eyebrow at the drawing and reviewed the map. He drew out the card again, turning it over and over, seeing his reflection it its gold surface. "The last one didn't reveal anything. This one's probably the same. I wonder if its a key...or an address. It won't reveal itself."

Severus let his head tilt to the side, glancing sideways at the figure in the seat beside him. Seeing Varian, he could only stare, but he found that he could breathe a bit easier now at seeing him awake and all.

Varian stared at the seatback in front of him, and then turned his head to the side to glance at him. "I told you," he said in a quiet tone. He turned his head away and leaned it back, closing his eyes.

Daniel just shrugged, and wrote a tiny note under the drawing. 'Maybe Paris knows how to break it. If it's anything.' He tore the page out and handed it to Jackson without even looking, and started doodling some more on a clean sheet.

"You didn't die. But... what happened?" Severus asked, keeping his voice very low.

Varian just breathed and closed his eyes. "Angel of Death," he mumbled and let his head slump down onto his shoulder.

Jackson read the note and started to speak when a shadow fell on them. Maria held out a can of gingerale, only now it was shaking. Along with her hand. "Here..." She said quietly, and stared at Daniel, her face pink. "I know...I remember who you are." She said over Jackson to him. "Pasquale.."

"Thank you." Jackson said, taking it from he rhand and standing up, and hovering towards her, blocking her from Daniel's view. "And my friend...is busy. And we..are busy. Maybe you should ...go."

William held pointed to the magazine the sixteen year old girl held. "And that's David Cassedy." He explained, which made her grin back at him. He charmed her, knowing it had to be the British accent. "Of course I know all about him. He's quite popular with us too." Her blue eyes and blonde hair made her look pretty. "So, you said your name was Allison?" He half blocked the aisle.

Severus sighed, glancing down at Varian for a long moment before lifting his gaze to see William talking to some girl. Thank goodness... but then, it was hard to care if someone saw this when Varian didn't. "You'll be okay, alright?" he said quietly.
"I'll be okay." Varian replied, his head rocking as the plane swayed somewhat.

September 5th, 1978 - Journal

2006-11-30T21:27:25Z

September 5, 1978
4:35 pm
a movie theatre lobby, London, England

Newsflash, to anyone who reads this, or cares. I am having the world's worst week ever.

And the worst part of writing that is the knowledge that no-one is going to bother reading this, or they'll go, "OH, he's just complaining again. Baby." Fine. Call me what you want, that just proves that people fucking suck.

*

Frank isn't back from Paris yet. He said he'd call, or send me a note or whatever to let me know when he got home. He was supposed to be home yesterday. I'm starting to get worried, because I saw Lupin at the grocers when I was on my way here, so I KNOW either he didn't go, or he's already home. Which means either Frank missed the flight, or something went wrong, and he couldn't find Rinna.

*

I need to find a new way to occupy my time. That movie was ridiculously stupid.

And I hate that stupid woman who just bitched me out for 'upsetting her precious puppy'. I didn't do a goddamn thing to your little monster, bitch, the thing is a TANK - and it came barelling straight at me the minute I stepped outside the theatre! Put it on a fucking LEASH and it won't run into the door, you stupid entitlement TWAT. And yes, YOU deserved being bitched out. Your excuse of, 'He's only a puppy, he doesn't know any better!" is lame, and inexcusable. Train your fucking pet before you bring him out in public WITHOUT A LEASH. This is not a park. Fuck you, and have a GREAT fucking day. ~~I should have called the cops on you for not having a huge dog like that on a leash.~~

*

Speaking of dogs, that's part of what's making this the worst week of my life. Varian and that FUCKING dog. It's like I cease to exist now unless he wants something. Yeah, love, thanks. I can see that you really care THAT much, considering since I stopped living there, you've barely actually SAID anything to me. I can see that you were really SO worried about me going back to Corinna when you can't accept the fact that I have a deep rooted fear of dogs (YES, any dog) and tell me TO my face, "Oh, well, you can just learn to get over it."

No, I can't, Varian. I've never had to deal with this before now. I'm not going to just magically 'get over' it just because you want me around to play with. I do not live with dogs. Period. I will not allow a DOG to invade my safe space. You want a dog, fine, but I told you when I packed up my shit that I'm not compromising my sanity, no matter what you want me to do. Thank goodness Bridget still cares about me. I need to pick up a part time job or something so I'm not just living off of her...

It's weird but I actually wrote some more lyrics (not very much, really, it's just a rough idea) about that.... and the thing is, the idea I have for it in terms of vocals... I already know it wouldn't work that well for my voice, if it ever leaves paper. I think I might talk to Frank eventually about it when he gets back, see if he wants to work on it. I don't know. I want to make sure everything's okay with Frank before I do anything like that, anyway.

*

Hey, check out these lyrics I ~~wro~~ found.

---------------------

startling words that mock my pain
hurt me more than a whisper
any sudden movement of my heart
and I know I'll have to watch it pass away
(just get through this day)

"give up your way,
you could be anything"
give up my way
and lose myself

not today - there's too much much guilt to pay

sickened in the sun
you dare tell me you love me
but you held me down
and scream to get your own way

honey, you know I'd never hurt you that way
(you're just so pretty in your pain)

"give up my way
and I could be anything"
I'll make my own way
without your selfish ~~ways~~ lies

so run - run away
and hate me if it feels good

you lied to me, but I'm older now
and I'm not buying baby

demanding my response, don't bother justifying yourself
I found a way out

---------------------

Just curious what anyone thinks...

Yeah, I have nothing more to bitch about... ~~Partly because I don't want to dwell on fucking everything right now, I'm upset enough as it is.~~

"It was all just a lie." ~SLS

September 5th Early Afternoon

2006-11-18T05:12:51Z

Looking puzzled James closed down the shop and checked his watch. It was only 2 and Lily wouldn't be done with her dance practice for another four hours. Frowning, a look that was quite foreign on Mr. Potter, he walked hurriedly to his flat, his mind working over all it had processed in the last hour or so. The attacks had started again, which in his mind ment it was only a matter of time before the got worse. Reaching his flat, he tapped the door knob and then unlocked it slinging his coat onto the coat rack absent-mindedly before falling down on the couch.

September 5th early morning

2006-11-16T02:44:08Z

Darling, you continue to forget your lunch at home, I'm starting to think you don't like my cooking, or rather that of the house elves. Should I have one of them killed every day until it improves?

Ah, and look to the West, another initiation is finished. We grow stronger.

See you for dinner my love.

Bellatrix

September 5th Late Afternoon

2006-11-16T02:40:56Z

Hey Lils,

I just wanted to check and make sure you're okay...you are okay right? I don't know if you read the article in The Prophet but well it was scary.

~~Scared me at least~~ I am closing the shop early and I thought maybe I could stay with you tonight? Sirius needs some space occasionally. ~~And I don't like the idea of you being alone, not one single fucking bit~~

So, I'll come to the studio around 6 to escort you home. Sound good?

I love you,

James

September 5th Late Afternoon after the paper is published

2006-11-16T02:36:57Z

~~FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK~~

I urge you to remember ministry protocol. You are not to speak with the Press, I repeat NOT to SPEAK with them, on or off the record. If Rita Skeeter is seen by anyone by all means, bring her to me at once. There will be a meeting tomorrow morning 8am to discuss the events that took place early this morning, everything is to be there and we will go over the information offered by all branches involved in the investigation.

I know everyone has questions, I don't have all the answers but I will do my best to adress them all tomorrow afternoon. Further inquiry can be forwarded to my office.

Gideon Prewett

September 5th The Prophet

2006-11-16T02:18:29Z

ANOTHER DEATH LEAVES THE MINISTRY PERPLEXED

And it has happened again, though there are many who said it would be just a matter of time. Ernie Smeltzerwich was found dead this morning from an aparent attack of a group known only as Death Eaters.

The tears glistened in the eyes of his anguished neighbors all of whome remembered the good natured squib as a dear friend who always had good advice.

"His son moved away to the states for college a year ago, but Ernie was such a good father, there was always hot apple pie and milk waiting for him when he got hom from school, and he and his father seemed to have such a good relationship," Said neighbor Trudy Crumbrolt. The son could not be reached for comments as he is at Band Camp somewhere in the Rocky mountains, they are working on finding him as we speak.

The questions are starting, the biggest one being who is responsible and when are they going to start responding to our terror? Do they refuse to relieve it, or are they afraid of making it worse?

28 August 1978

2006-11-15T08:08:36Z

28 Sunday 1978
6:00 pm
Lestrange’s backyard/Avery’s cottage in Hogsmeade

Regulus received the owl during the most unlikely of times. He had been in the middle of a croquet game in Rabastan's backyard against son and father. He had just struck Rabastan's ball away from the whisket, preventing him from striking. Regulus, for someone who had never played before, had sported beginners luck. Regulus was just making a celebratory toast to his croquet genius when a large barn owl swooped down, knocking his beer from his hand. Regulus, angry, threw the can at the bird and kicked the house elf, and then yelled because it knocked his last cigarette into the grass somewhere. Ignoring the laughing he received, he yanked the letter from t he bird and literally threw it off his shoulder. He then swiped at with his mallet for good measure.

After he spent a good twenty minutes running around the yard waving the mallet and screaming at the bird, Regulus took all of three minutes to read the note. Once he did he grew angry, balled up the note, and threw it at the bird that had taken root in a nearby tree. Ignoring the fact it wanted to be tipped, he tramped through the grass towards Rabastan. "I have to go," he told him, and without waiting for a reply, he turned and marched off, swatting at the bird that followed.

Sometime shortly later, Regulus marched up the path to the small cottage, still being followed by the barn owl. Regulus threw his wand out and made several shots at it with a hex, only missing. Satisfied in thinking the bird was gone, Regulus ran up to the small porch and started to bang on the door.

Varian looked up the moment he heard the banging, the first thought coming into his head that Severus was back, but that thought was quickly stifled. Severus would have just walked in, not knocked. Lyland was off the futon like a shot, little tail wagging furiously as he yipped and barked excitedly, dancing around in front of the door. Setting down the record and the note he had been reading over and over, Varian stood up and brushed the longish blond hair out of eyes as he started for the door, finally calling out in an imperious, annoyed voice, "ALRIGHT! ALright, I'm coming!"

Regulus continued to bang his fist on the door, and then stopped long enough to try to shoo the bird away again. "God, can't you GO away?" He called to it, and grabbed a rock from the side of the steps. He threw it at the bird.

Yanking open the door, Varian looked at Regulus with all the appearance of being extremely annoyed at being interrupted. "What do you want, Black? I'm busy," he said arrogantly, successfully masking the fact that he was actually still quite on edge.

Regulus was just tossing another rock, only this time the rock hit the side of the cottage, followed by the smash of glass. Regulus immediately grimaced. "There's an owl-" he stated, pointing upwards, and then looked up. He stepped back onto the dirt trail and spun around. There was no bird in sight. "There was an owl... Was that your window?" He squinted upwards, his mouth slightly open, curiously.

Hearing the smash of glass breaking did absolutely nothing for Varian's nerves, and he stepped outside quickly, peering up at the attic window. Sure enough - there was a big jagged hole in the glass. "You're going to bloody pay for that!" he hissed, whirling around and grabbing Regulus' arm, the look on his face far more angry than a simple broken window should have caused. "What the fuck are you on about, coming here and banging on my door, breaking my fucking windows, huh? SPEAK!"

Regulus's eyes bugged out, growing wide as serving platters as he was yanked. "It was an owl..." he continued to protest, and out of the corner of his he SAW the brown beast flutter from tree to settle on the roof of the cottage.

"I don't care about your bleeding issues with some stupid OWL, tell me what the fuck you want and get out of here!" Varian demanded, his body language making it clear that, if he had the height to do it, he would have been all up in Regulus' face about this.

Regulus looked down at the shortish elf man, and arched his eyebrows up, as if unsure what he was yelling about. "But the owl. Its on your roof now," Regulus replied dumbly, and then winced at the fact Varian was trying to get into his face. Regulus pushed back against him, as if trying to knock him away. "Listen, I need to see Snape." He replied.

"Well, he's not here right now!" Varian spat out, backing off immediately and turning around. "He took off a half hour ago!" He was not about to discuss Severus's whereabouts with Black, and he was not about to get into a fight with someone twice his size.

"Where!" Regulus called out to Varian's back. "Where did he go? Why? Why WOULD he go when I was coming here to look for him?" He called out, and found himself staring upwards. The owl now looked dark and sinister looking on the roof, letting out a deep hooot that seemed less like owl and more nightmarish. Regulus immediately scrambled, his mind racing, and actually overtook Avery, getting to the door of the cottage and slipping in.

"Why do YOU care?" he called back, raising his eyes to look up wide eyed at the owl sitting on the roof of his cottage. Okay, that was creepy, why was RODOLPHUS'S owl sitting on his - his blood ran cold as he remembered how much time Walden and Rodolphus had been talking and plotting together for the last little while, particularly about this plot to get Blackwell out of the country for good. An involuntary shiver coursed through him and he shook himself, running into the cottage and slamming the door shut, leaning against it and demanding dangerously, "Black, WHY are you looking for Severus?"

Regulus stood there, in the center of the cottage, staring. He stared at the fireplace, and then the piles of objects and antiquities. He found himself staring at a life size Knight's Armour set in the far corner. "I.. huh?" He said, looking over his shoulder and then down at Varian.

Taking a deep breath, Varian felt his heart pounding hard inside his chest, as if he'd just run a marathon, feeling more nervous and even worried now. He prided himself on the fact that his voice didn't waver or shake in the slightest as he drew himself up straight, folding his arms in front of his chest and said imperiously, "I SAID - WHY are you looking for Severus Snape? You never came by for a chat before."

Regulus arched his eyebrows and turned to face him. "Ah well... beautiful home you have here," he replied, scratching his middle finger along the side of his nose. His stark white shirt and trousers and loafers made him look strange in the dim dull light of the cottage. "Uh.. right. Well I have to chat him up for a second. Personal matter really."

"Well, I TOLD you, he's NOT here," he said tersely, growing even more suspicious as the conversation dragged on. "And DON'T ask ME where he is, do you think he tells ME where he goes? 'Course not!" At this point, Varian didn't care where Severus was, just so long as it was far from the reach of someone who would hurt him. He didn't want to hurt the boy, he wanted to keep him close, and didn't want to share him with anyone.

Regulus blinked slowly at him and then backed a step away from him until the back of his shins hit the bed. He winced, not expecting it to be there. "Okay.. Okay... You're PMSing, I got it. Just... be cool, man. Breath." Regulus stated, not really sure how to handle an over emotional person like this.

"PM - PMSING?!" Varian yelled out, eyes going wide for a second before immediately narrowing dangerously. He dropped his fists to his sides, and started towards Regulus as he snapped out, "DO I LOOK like a bloody WOMAN to you!? Don't you EFFING tell me I'm... PMSING!"

Regulus leaned back on the futon, mostly to get away from him without having to physically get up to get away from him. His eyes shot up into his hair. "Are you.. sure?" he said back quietly.

"YES!" came an aggravated cry, and then Varian turned and slammed his fists down into the thin mattress on the futon beside Regulus and glared. "Why don't you go bloody FIND him, if you need to speak to him SO badly, huh? And leave me alone! You and your bloody owl!" There was a small yip, and a moment later, Lyland had jumped onto the futon again, coming over to sniff at Regulus and look at Varian with head tilted curiously.

Regulus's eyes widened. "That's not MINE! Its the DEVIL!" He cried, hands swiping out in exaggerated motion, which also resulted in him knocking the dog off the bed. The dog fell to the floor with a whine, and then scrambled up on its feet.

"Lyland!" Varian yelped immediately, scrambling to make sure the small canine was alright, picking him up and holding the wiggling animal close to him. "You better not have hurt him, or I'll bloody well hurt YOU, Black," Varian grumbled, sitting on the futon facing AWAY from Regulus, petting the dog soothingly.

Regulus blinked, finding that he had no idea there WAS a something called Lyland in the room. He sat there staring stupidly before looking over his shoulder at Varian's back. "I didn't see him. It was an accident."

"That's RIGHT!" Varian declared, turning his head slightly when the dog leaned up to lick at his face. After another minute, he turned around slightly and arched one eyebrow beneath the fall of bleached blond hair. "Well, aren't you GONE yet?" he asked haughtily, seemingly over his little hissy fit from before.

Regulus glanced back over his shoulder at him, arching his eyebrows. "Obviously I'm still here." He turns more, eyeing the dog. "When did you get that?"

"Yesterd- what the f- why are you STILL here? You were the one who needed to see Severus, so go away and find him!" Varian said in annoyance, turning back around in a show of ignoring the younger man.

After a moment, without turning around, Varian added, "And when you find him, tell him to bring me something to eat, I'm hungry."

"I was ORDERED too, doesn't mean I wan-what? Pardon?" Regulus said, his jaw dropping. "You better give me money then."

"ORDERED? Who ORDERED you to talk to Seve- just what in blazes WERE your orders?!" Varian demanded, twisting around again on the bed, the menace in his expression rather offset by the fact he was still hugging his dog, who's tail was just a-wagging from the attention.

"Why, you want them?" Regulus asked, smirking now. "You better give me money or you'll starve. And have to eat Skipper here." he pointed at the dog.

Varian shifted back away, as if to shelter his dog from Regulus' view, and turned his head just enough to catch Regulus' gaze as he said warningly, "You lay one finger on my dog, and and you'll be eating your own finger! Just tell me what they were. Now."

"Maybe." Regulus said and pulled himself up from the bed. He stretched his arms up and scratched the top of his head. "Do you have any chocolate?"

"NO, I don't," Varian said, sounding incredibly pissy yet again. He stood up, letting Lyland down onto the futon before walking into the kitchen and opening up the ice box on the off chance that there would be something in there that he'd be able to eat without having to cook.

The moment Avery walked away, Regulus leaned down and scooped up the dog. Ignoring its small growl, he started to pet its head heavily with his hand. It took only a minute, but the dog started to lick his fingers. "Why don't YOU tell ME why I'd be ordered to speak to Snape?" He called out into the kitchen.

"HOW the hell should I know?" Varian called out angrily, knowing that it was likely his own fault. He just... had to keep reminding himself that he'd done the right thing. He HAD. So long as they didn't do anything to hurt Severus. He knew he could... get the younger man to come around. Whenever Severus came back, anyway. "I'm not the one who gave the orders, AM I?"

"Right, how the hell would you know?" Regulus said, and attempted to slip the dog in his oversized trouser pocket, and then made a face when the dog wouldn't fit. "So if I say, seal him up in the cave, you wouldn't be.. you know... upset by it, would you?"

"WHAT?!" In an instant, Varian was at the doorway, staring at Regulus in close to horror. That was NOT what he'd wanted to happen when he gave Walden that information. "WHY the hell would you do that? I ne - what the fuck will happen to the band if you do th- WHO gave you your orders??"

Regulus, who immediately pushed the squirming dog behind his back, plastered on a fake smile as he looked at Avery. He was okay until the dog peed, dribbling liquid down the back of Regulus's trousers. This made Regulus's face twist oddly.

"You aren't answering me!" he groused, then frowned at Regulus and took a step back out into the main room. With a suspicious expression at the look on the younger man's face, Varian demanded, "WHERE is my dog?"

Regulus blinked. "What dog?" He felt the wiggling animal in his now slick hands.

Letting out a rather frustrated wordless yell, Varian finally gave up trying to bully Regulus with words and marched determinedly to where he kept his wand, picking it up and whirling around, stalking back over to shove it right up against Regulus’ nose. "ANSWER. MY GODDAMN. QUESTIONS!" he yelled.

Regulus tilted his head back, feeling the pressure of the wand against his nose. His eyes were wide and staring at him, and he opened his mouth to say something when there was a small whine. Only the whine didn't come from him, it came from Lyland, who wiggled out of Regulus's hands and dropped to the floor. He shook himself out and started to sniff around.

"LYLAND!" Without a warning, Varian pulled back, and went to inspect the tiny dog, making sure that the creature was alright. When he'd satisfied himself that nothing untoward had happened to his dog, he turned back to Regulus and said snidely, "You're DAMNED lucky you didn't hurt him, or I would have had to curse you. Now. WHO gave you your orders, and WHY?" He just needed to make sure it wasn't Walden. Though how he would deal with that if it HAD been, he didn't know.

Regulus wrinkled his nose and tried to step away, which resulted in him falling down onto the bed. He threw his hands up, mostly to cover his head. "LeSTRANGE!" He called out, fearful that Avery would shot his balls off, and pushed his hands down to cover his groan. "NOT MY BALLS!" He cried out.

Varian let out the breath he'd been holding, only finding relief in that news for a moment before anger filled him again. This had to be just another plot against him and Severus, he found himself thinking . It had to be, there was no other explanation, Rodolphus Lestrange had been absolutely horrid to the both of them for nigh on a month now, and this was just the last straw. "I'm not going to hex your balls off, you idiot!" he snapped in disgust, holding Lyland closer to him in one arm and murmuring to the dog in an attempt to calm himself down a bit. Not bloody likely.

Regulus let out a breath, a loud one, of relief. "And you're not going to blow my head off either, right?"

"NO!" Varian snapped, trying to decide what to do. On the one hand, he really didn't know where Severus had gone, so he wouldn't have been able to help Regulus much anyway. On the other hand, he didn't WANT to help, and he also didn't want to be seen as impeding the boy in his search... Maybe give him false information, but there was always the chance that wherever he suggested Regulus look, Severus MIGHT actually be there. But... well, it was a chance he was going to have to take, and just hope that Severus didn't get caught. Taking a deep breath, Varian turned his face away, stroking Lyland behind the ears as he finally said in a somewhat snippy tone, "I told you before, I don't know where he is, alright? But he might be... he might be... oh blast, what's the name of that club?"

"Club?" Regulus said, and then randomly picked one. "Spartan Club?" The name of a well known underground queer club.

"A music club, you idiot!" Varian shot Regulus an annoyed look and set Lyland down before standing back up, snipping out, "He goes to this club that houses concerts for underground bands, I just can't remember what it's called - the 100 club or something, look it up. He might be there. Just get out of my bloody cottage!"

"Why would a band be under the ground?" Regulus asked, trying to pull himself up from the bed, avoiding the wand that's still pointing his way. Not one to take chances, Regulus lounged for Avery, tackling him at the waist, knocking him down to the floor. He then went for the wand.

"What the f- AAACK!" Varian let out a rather girlish scream as he was caught off guard, finding himself almost pinned to the floor under Regulus' weight. "GETOFF!" he screamed angrily, immediately starting to kick at the bigger man as much as he could, twisting and wriggling as he tried to get free, and stretching as much as he could to keep his wand out of Regulus' reach. No way could he cast anything to actually hit Regulus right now, unless he was willing to risk hitting himself.

Regulus pushed his shoulder down against Varian, putting as much weight on him as he could and reached for the wand. "Let go... of it!" He cried out as he attempting to shove his hand in Avery's face and fingers up his nose.

Varian let out an angry, incoherent cry at the added pressure put on him, rendering him incapable of getting free, and the sudden fear of being rendered immobile once again made him struggle even harder, shoving at Regulus as hard as he could with his free hand while attempting to bite hard at the other man's fingers. He wasn't going to just let Regulus take his wand, not without a fight. Even though he was so tiny Black could have snapped him in two easily.

Regulus let out a scream and his body shifted but his hand remained steadfast in Avery's mouth. Regulus twisted himself until he was sitting on the wooden floor nest to Avery and yanked his hand from him. Once free, he cradled his hand against himself, seeing Avery had in fact broken skin and there were signs of bleeding in every other tooth mark. "Are you BLOODY INSANE?" Regulus cried out, mostly yelling, and proceeded to make a half-powered side kick at Avery's knee, connecting with his chin. The dog was hopping and yapping at him, attempting to grab his shirt sleeve with his small mouth. Regulus heaved another side kick with his heel, connecting with Avery's knee. "Idiot!" he breathed and pressed the back of his hand to his mouth, sucking on his wounds like a child.

"I know," Regulus said, in-between sucks on his hand. He then reached over and ran his fingers through Avery's hair, intently messing it up even more. He then chuckled, like it was some sort of joke. The more he touched Avery, the more the hobbitish man seemed to curl up in a ball. "I'm not hurting you NOW, you know." Regulus announced, and continued to noogie him.

"STOP. TOUCHING. ME," Varian practically wailed, cringing away from Regulus, and... really making more of a big deal about it than he likely should. Why was he always getting beat up? Sucking in a deep breath, he gingerly tested his knee again, another whimper escaping him from the slight pain, and he groused out, "The FUCK was that for?!" An unintentional echo of something Severus said sometimes.

"I'm NOT, Touching. YOU!" Regulus echoed, and then snickered when Avery tried to move away. He leaned over and playfully poked Varian right in the middle of his back. He then grabbed Varian's belt to drag him back, forcing the smaller man to half sit in his lap.

"LET me GO, Black, I mean it!" Varian yelped, eyes widening as he half twisted around to smack at Regulus, trying to squirm AWAY from him. What the fuck was going on? He wasn't up for this... what EVER it was.

Regulus attempted to wrap his arm around Varian and proceeded to give him a hard noogie, scraping his bruised knuckles against Varian's sensitive scalp. "No." he said simply.

"What the fuck is your problem?!" Varian grouched at him, still attempting to wriggle from the younger man's grasp, as well as trying to push Regulus' hand away from his hair. "I thought you had bloody ORDERS!"

"And i thought you had a vagina, so we're both wrong." Regulus announced playfully and gave Avery a strong shove towards the futon, since he was trying to go that way anyway.

Not expecting Regulus to let go, and more, not expecting him to SHOVE him towards the futon, Varian went sprawling headlong into the floor with a yelp. After he'd pushed himself up, he looked back at Regulus with wide eyes before loudly saying, "I don't have a vagina, you little twat!"

"I don't know, you might be lying." Regulus said with a grin and grabbed Varian by his front and half lifted him from the floor, where he had been crouching. "Let's find out!" And pushed him onto the futon.

Before Varian could even react, very faintly, there was the sound of a rather ominous sounding 'hoooooooot', and then a voice speaking loudly through the door, "Get lost, you freakish excuse for an owl!" And the door opened a moment later, only to show a tall figure appearing in the door, tugging off a long leather trench coat without even looking around at first.

Regulus was poised half over Avery, one hand clenching the waistband of his trousers, his other hand back in Avery;s hair, clenching it. His head lurched up, and he stared wide eyed at the door.

Lyland, the dog, immediately started to bark, keeping his distance from Severus this time.

Varian, hearing the voice, and the ensuing noise from Lyland, found himself panicking internally, even more than he had been before, and he immediately tried to shove at the younger man again as he yelled, "What are you DOING, fucking LET GO OF ME!"

Regulus flinched at Varian screaming right in his face, the man's voice piercing his ear drums in an unpleasant way. He had yet to remove his hand from the other man's waist, but he draw a hand back, pressing his palm on Varian's front. Regulus let out a soft "Shhhhh....." as if trying to calm him down. "Shhhh...."

Severus, already turning to glare at the dog, instead whirled around to where the yell had come from, and found himself staring blankly for a moment at the scene before him, not fully comprehending what was going on... he kind of recognized the man leaning over the bed, but - oh fuck, was that what it looked - "What in the mother FUCKING HELL is going on?" he said loudly, a frown on his face as he started to stride over to the futon, anger starting to slip back into him at this.

Varian, by this point, was staring wide eyed, eyes darting around frantically for a way to escape even though he knew instinctively that there was no way he could overpower Regulus. The kid was practically a GIANT, and he'd always been tiny. His panic was altogether complete, and he tried to bring his legs up so he could kick at the younger man, still shoving and now punching at Regulus, not even really seeing REGULUS, but... his brother.

Regulus jerked back at seeing and hearing Severus come towards them. Releasing Avery, Regulus stumbled back, knocking into a pile of things, practically sitting down. He then, in a panic, pulled himself up and attempted to dart into the space between Severus and another pile of junk.

The dog was barking like mad, and ran right up to start snarling and tugging at the bottom of Severus's leather coat. Once he had the hem in his mouth, he shook his head back and forth, growling.

"Hey - HEY!" Not this aGAIN - he was going to have a heart attack if he had to stay in this house with a DOG. Dancing back a bit, Severus tried to control the initial panic trigger as he grabbed a handful of the coat and yanked, trying to get the dog to let go of it. He glanced up helplessly at Varian's slumped (and thankfully, fully clothed) figure on the futon before glancing down at the dog, dancing back aGAIN as the animal refused to let go.

Varian turned onto his side, curling into a protective ball as he shook uncontrollably, finding that he was starting to feel light headed as he tried to control his breathing. A small whimper escaped him as he tried to convince himself that nothing had happened, nothing had been GOING to happen - it wasn't all of the things he had done coming back to haunt him, after all.

Regulus, feeling cornered and unable to run for the door, immediately twisted back around and made it back to the futon. Between the barking dog and Snape's yelling, he was confused and lost/ Regulus literally jumped onto the futon mattress, feeling the thing shift under his heavy weight. Regulus got two steps when he stopped, and looked down at Avery. "Whoa.. wait, you alright?" He asked, right before there was a "SNAP!" and the entire bed caved in and fell to the ground, buckling in on itself.

The dog was gripping to the jacket by way of his teeth, and growled even as Severus yanked it from him. When the jacket lifted, the dog came with it until he was half dangling from Severus's coat.

"Varian, your fucking dog is trying to kill me!" Severus found himself exclaiming as his expression twisted oddly. It would be hard to tell just what was going through his head as he hastily lowered the coat where he gripped it, and tried to shrug out of the jacket quickly. Yeah. He was THAT scared of even such a small dog.

Just as he heard that, Varian felt the extra weight on the futon again, and started to scramble out of the way as much as he could before he heard a SNAP! With a high pitched, girlish scream, he, Regulus, and the entire bed collapsed, and he found himself laying sprawled out on his stomach on the only part of the futon that wasn't completely destroyed, Regulus' weight once more on top of him.

Regulus's head hit the wooden floor with a sickening thud, one that sounded like bone and meat crunching. Regulus's body was heavy on Avery's back until it rolled over onto the floor thanks to the weight of the mattress knocking it just so. Only his shoulder was on Avery, but Regulus wasn't moving. Nor was he making any noises.

As the jacket fell to the floor, nearly on top of the dog, Severus turned in time to see the bed collapse. What the FUCK was going on? Everything was just going crazy today, he found himself thinking, more than a little overwhelmed by everything as he rushed over to check on both Regulus and Varian. When it was clear that Regulus was out cold, Severus said hurriedly to Varian, "Man, what the HELL is going on? Are you okay??"

Varian, who felt the mattresses' weight on his legs, let out a small pained groan. He tried to push himself up, and stopped to push Black's shoulder off of him. "Get it OFF of me!" He growled, and made a weak swipe at the mattress, hitting it instead of pushing it off of himself. "Don't just STAND there!"

The only thing Severus could do was stare, trying to sort through his own feelings at the moment, and after a moment, he moved slowly to move the mattress off of his lover, hardly able to believe he had actually been considering letting Varian try and do it himself. It wasn't like that would do anything but piss Varian off, anyway. "Fine, but don't expect me to try helping you if you won't answer me," he said quietly, not even looking at the petite man as he pushed Regulus over a bit more so not even his shoulder was pinning Varian down.

Varian rolled over onto his back, letting out a loud breath of relief, and then sat up to run his hands over his thin legs. When he saw his foot rotate by the ankle, he pressed his eyes closed, and mumbled something to himself that could of been a prayer of thanks. He then opened his eyes and looked upward, seeing Severus staring down at him, his hair dangling limp over one shoulder and in his eyes. Varian nodded slightly. "I'm fine," he said and then looked ot his side and poked Regulus, who remained motionless. "Him... he.. he came to.. hurt me." Varian said, not quite looking his lover in the eyes. "He's crazed!"

At that, Severus sighed, feeling overall drained by everything. He kept his eyes on Varian, not entirely trusting him now, considering what the man had said before Severus had left, and he caught the fact that Varian wouldn't quite look him in the eye. He didn't call the man on it, though, merely holding out a hand as he stood, to help Varian up. "Then what are you going to do? Or we, whichever... you prefer."

Varian rolled his eyes up to him, looking for a moment annoyed. That disappeared as he slapped his hand into Severus's and pulled himself up to stand. "Besides killing him, you mean?" He stated flatly, and then delivered a sharp kick to Regulus's backside, and then again, his face boiling red with anger. "THAT'S FOR TRYING TO RAPE ME YOU SICK FUCK!" He screamed mad, like he became a different person, and started to stamp his foot on Regulus's unconscious body, causing him to turn over.

It was when Varian saw the blood seeping from a large cut on the unconscious man's forehead Varian stopped, frozen. It was seeing blood that made his knees start to buckle and he felt faint.

As soon as Varian began kicking at Regulus, Severus reached for him, attempting to pull him away, and thankfully, Varian stopped after a moment, though he seemed to grow heavy in Severus' arms almost immediately. "Varian! What-" he started to ask as he glanced down, alarmed by the seemingly violent mood swings he'd just gone through. He cut off abruptly, though, at seeing the bleeding cut on Regulus' forehead. "Shiiiit..."

Varian leaned back against Severus. "Blood... I can't.." he mumbled, feeling his light-headedness return.

That was when there was an odd groaning sound coming from Regulus, who seemed to be moving. His movements were nothing more than his head rocking one way than the other.

"So don't look," Severus said quietly, feeling scarily calm about all of this as he wrapped his arms tightly around his lover, making sure he didn't fall or anything. "What do you want to do - and DON'T say kill him yet." He didn't want to kill anyone right now, thanks.

"I want.. I want... I'm going to vomit," Varian said quietly, feeling his body shiver with just THINKING about blood. On anyone. He huddled against Severus, any thought of the earlier argument pushed away for now. "Fucker broke my bed.." he mumbled.

"Varian...." Looking down at the petite man nestled in his arms, Severus felt the need to keep his expression carefully neutral (he didn't want Varian to see anything of his conflict about all of this) as he said in that same quiet, calm hush, "What do we do about Regulus?"

Varian took several short breathes and seemed to be trying to compose himself. He slowly found his footing and was able to stand on his own, and separated himself from Severus slightly. Varian didn't say anything at first, and then pulled away from his lover completely, only to kneel down by Regulus. Leaning on one knee, Varian's gaze swept over Regulus and then he looked back over his shoulder at the taller man, his own wide eyes staring up at him, bloodshot as if from crying, which he wouldn't admit to either way. His blonde hair fell into his face, some caught in the corner of his mouth. "We tie him up." Varian stated, not as a question.

Regulus's eyes moved under his heavy closed lids, and he let out another throaty groan, feeling pain somewhere.

"Before he wakes up," Varian added.

Severus finally glanced to Regulus, then back to Varian as he asked in a bland tone, "With what, do you suggest?" Perhaps a too bland tone, as a slightly arched eyebrow gave away that he had an idea of what Varian would suggest.

Varian was staring at Regulus again, taking strides to not look anywhere near the now dried bloody gash on the man's forehead. He seemed more lost in staring at the body, as if spacing out slightly. Severus's question brought him back and he stood up slowly. "With our rope." He stated in the same commanding voice. "And get me those handcuffs of yours, too. I'm going to make sure he can't run away. After what he pulled." And Varian delivered another sharp kick at Regulus, nearly knocking himself off balance as he did.

Severus just looked at Varian for a long moment, watching as the man delivered another kick to Regulus' side as he debated silently with himself whether to just do it or refuse and make Varian do it instead. Finally, he DID go to retrieve the 'requested' items from where they were generally kept, coming back and depositing them right beside Varian. "You know what you're doing more than I do," he explained when Varian looked up at him again.

Varian blinked slowly, and then the muscles of his jaw clenched and relaxed. "You did pretty well yourself the other night, with those handcuffs that is." Varian stated as if teasing him, but managed to keep a straight face. He yanked the rope, and, half straddling Regulus, facing the man's feet, Varian started to hog tie him, or as best as he knew how. Varian didn't have a whole lot of experience with this. "Get his hands, handcuff them," he ordered as he worked on binding the legs and feet.

Severus looked away, cheeks burning hot at the reminder of that night - not that it had been bad, quite the opposite, but he wasn't exactly secure enough in himself to take the teasing in stride. Yet. "Right, then..." he mumbled, shifting to more readily reach the young man on the floor, and picked up the cuffs with a sneaking glance at Varian. This would be a first, not using the cuffs during - yeah. His face burned even hotter at that as he frowned and ducked his head, first unlocking one side of the cuffs, and then lifting Regulus' upper body up a bit before reaching around awkwardly to grip at Regulus' wrist and pull his arm under his body, giving him the opportunity to snap the cuffs tightly onto that wrist. "This just feels odd," Severus commented quietly as he unlocked the other side.

"So was having this ass on top of me trying to rip my trousers off." Varian replied flatly as he shifted to squat by Regulus now instead of over him, triple tying the rope, or trying too. One thing was proved that other night, Varian couldn't tie tight knots if he tried. On top of it, out of both frustration, anxiety, and probably tiredness, Varian's hands were shaking. "GOOD LORD FUCK!" He screamed, his voice pitching high and he slammed his fist on Regulus's thigh. "I CAN'T FUCKING TIE THIS!" Varian felt so aggravated that tears were actually forming in the corner of his eyes,, and he sniffed loudly, rubbing his nose on his shirt sleeve. He tried the rope again, mostly fiddled with it.

By that point, Severus had finished his task, and found himself moving over to Varian, wrapping an arm around his lover and reaching out with his other hand to still Varian's fiddling, fingers curling around his as he murmured, "I can do it, it's alright."

Varian blinked, and then let his eyelids drop down and leaned his head back to rest against Severus's body as he felt him move up behind him. He didn't say 'thank you' or any sort of anything, except a breath of air escaped his mouth, like a sigh of relief. When his lover's hand came over his, Varian felt the shaking steady out for the moment, and he swallowed hard. "S.. stupid rope.. won't tie right," he finally said quietly.

Even despite his torn feelings on this whole situation, at that moment, the only thing Severus really felt about this as he looked down at Varian was sympathy for the man. It was so strong that not only did he have a lump in his throat that made it impossible to respond, but he felt unusually guilty about his resentful thoughts, even though he knew Varian wouldn't be able to read his thoughts. So he just didn't say anything, merely leaning down slightly to press a light kiss to Varian's temple, uncaring about the strands of hair that were in the way, and pulled his lover's hands away from the rope. He didn't even make Varian move, either, as he began to tighten up the knots Varian had been trying to make.

"Nice.. and tight..." Varian mumbled, watching his lover work the knots with heavy lidded eyed. "Tighter," he stated, almost like an order. Varian moved his chin up and licked his lips, staring at Severus's jaw line. He then murmured that again: "No.. tiiiighter," he cooed and lightly kissed his strong jaw line.

Swallowing hard at the light brush of lips against his jaw, and the way that tone of voice sent a thrill through him, Severus glanced down at Varian before looking back to what he was doing, hands almost fumbling over his work for a moment before he steadied his hands. He should have realized that by working around Varian, he would have to deal with being distracted. He should have known that by now. "That... good?" he murmured as he finished the last knot, trying to keep his voice steady to hide his reaction a bit.

Regulus let out a groan just then, feeling the rope dig into his skin. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing the whites of his rolled back eyes. 'What... what's going..."

Varian squeezed his eyes shut and mumbled "Make him shut up," as he proceeded to drag his tongue across Severus's jaw line up to his ear.

Considering Regulus was waking up, Severus hadn't been expecting Varian to do anything like that, and he let out a startled gasp, and his body gave a slight involuntary jerk, hands dropping to grip tightly at the younger man's leg without even meaning to.

Regulus rolled his eyes forward and lifted his head, finding himself both disoriented and confused. He went to move his arms and found his hands in metal. He then stared at Severus. "Oy, get yer HAND off of my LEG!" He growled.

Varian pulled his head back enough to glare at Black. "Shut UP," he stated, and then pointed a shaky finger at him. "Gag his mouth!"

"Maybe -" Catching his breath, Severus found himself giving Regulus an annoyed look, though he did quickly remove his hand, not wanting to touch the kid any more than he had to. "Why do I have to do it?" Yeah, here it comes, the excuse of 'you can do it better'.

Varian rolled his eyes back up to Severus and delivered a flat stare. He took a long moment and then replied: "Because I'm going to kill him if you don't."

Regulus immediately let out a shout and tried to rock his body to get away from them. That was when he realized his legs were bound. "WHAT THE HELL?? LET ME GO!!" He screamed bloody murder.

Shit. He was way off there. With a flat tone, Severus said, "Shut the fuck UP, Regulus." And with a similar expression to Varian's, he added, "You're going to have to MOVE if you really want me to do anything."

Varian cocked an eyebrow and pulled himself up and away from Severus. He took his precious time, daintily moving over to the kitchen, where he dragged the old chair in and sat on it. He sat on it in a slumped manner, spreading his legs out in front of him and rested his hand nimbly by his crotch. He tucked his chin down to his sternum, and seemed to watch his lover under the curtain of blonde hair.

Regulus made gurgling noises and tried to slither away, managing to scoot his body across the floor awkwardly. "No... nonono... nononono...t his is not fair!" he cried out.

"Yeah? You know what? I got news for you, kid, life isn't fair," Severus said, now feeling angry again, and making an extreme effort to ignore the feeling of being watched as he grabbed at the links on the cuffs, tugging Regulus back a bit as he glanced around for anything to use as a gag. A second later, he shook his head at himself and drew his wand from a thin pocket on the side of the leg of his jeans that he'd modified specifically FOR that purpose, and shoved the tip against Regulus' neck before uttering a sharp, "Silencio!" Once he was satisfied the spell had worked, he leaned down over the boy, one hand resting against the floor at Regulus back, still clutching the cuffs, and the other clutching his wand as he pressed it palm to the floor on the other side of the younger man's body, leaned over him and brought his mouth right up close to his ear - close enough to feel the slightest breath, but not close enough to touch the other man - and Severus whispered to him, "I've had to find out the hard way. If you haven't learned that by now, you damn well better START learning."

Regulus attempted to scream again, but he only made a gagging noise from his throat. His eyes were wider than ever, and his he was already sweating. He jerked his head away from Severus, and caught sight of Avery watching him. Regulus immediately narrowed his eyes at the other man, and attempted to make a growling noise, which only came out as a small cough. Regulus then shot a look back at Severus, and felt his heart pound in his chest. He realized then that this had all been a play against him. Obviously Rodolphus KNEW Snape would do this to him, and ordering him there had been him nailing the coffin lid shut on Black's funeral. Overcome now with anger at Rodolphus, Regulus did the one thing he could think of to retaliate. He spat at Severus's face.

Varian let out a lazy chuckle at that. "He's a live one, he is." He stated and stroked his fingertips lightly over the bulge in his tight jeans. It was obvious he had a partial hard-on for some reason, and his slender fingers dragged along the sharp line. "He's... pathetic." Varian cooed, edging Severus on.

Sitting back, Severus didn't say anything as he wiped the spit from his face, not overly surprised by it. He had to steel himself to NOT look back at Varian, though - he KNEW that tone of voice. "I'll... have to agree there, coming into someone's house and then trying to MOLEST them is about as pathetic as it gets," he announced loudly, looking down at Regulus with a curious expression - both disdain and... slight skepticism? Well, he only knew what he saw, it was most likely the truth...

Regulus opened his mouth to protest, wanting to yell "I was ORDERED to Find YOU! Avery LED me ON!" But nothing came out but gasping noises. Regulus furrowed his eyebrows and closed his eyes, slamming his head back against the floor, letting out a long breath. He then shuffled his hands in the handcuffs, thinking they were too tight.

"Only one person has the right to molest me..." Varian replied, now rubbing his palm over his bulge, working it in a stroking manner but had yet to unbutton or unzip his jeans. "Why don't you huuuurt him for trying to molest your property?" Varian was trying to edge Severus on.

Hearing that came as such a surprise to Severus that he had twisted around to gape at the man, trying to figure out why the hell Varian seemed to be choosing NOW to say and do this. What had happened to keeping it a SECRET? "Varian, what the - fuck," he finished weakly, looking away. Yep, he'd been right - what the fuck was going ON?

Regulus was breathing hard, and made a few movements with his feet and hands. He brought his joined hands up to scratch at the side of his nose and then started to stare at Severus, almost pleading.

Varian stopped in his movement and leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his thighs and watched them. "We aren't going to let him go." He stated. He then gazed at Severus, eyes flashing annoyance. "Everything I do HAS a REASON!"

"Hmm," Severus murmured noncommittally, looking back at Regulus, now unsure as to what exactly was going on. He frowned when he saw the boy's pleading expression, wishing that he could have just a minute alone with Regulus now to get HIS side if the story. This whole thing... didn't sit right with him. That had partly been his reason for being so loud about his opinion on the molestation issue. "I realize this, Varian," he said in an annoyed tone of voice, deliberately keeping any hint of affection (or anything else like it) OUT of his voice.

"I'll have you KNOW, Black here was ordered to come here." Varian stated, but didn't state why. He then noticed his wand laying no more than foot away on the floor and picked it up. He whimsically waved it in the air and immediately shot a non-verbal hex at Regulus.

Regulus was just trying to sit up with the beam hit him, and his body flailed, shaking and he gurgled. His entire body shook like he was having a seizure, to the point his eyes rolled back and drool dripped from t he corner of his mouth.

Severus had only just started to ask why he'd been ordered here, since Varian had failed to mention that when he'd given Severus an explanation, when he saw Regulus's body convulse - it really DID look like he was having a seizure, and in an instant, he was by the boy's side, eyes wide as he looked on helplessly. He didn't have training, he didn't know what to do - and he'd failed to notice the faint beam that had struck just before Regulus' reaction.

Varian flicked his wand upwards quickly, and then rested his wand hand in his lap as he looked away, over at the fireplace, sighing through his nose.

Regulus stopped shaking, his head laid back on the floor with his eyelashes blinking fast. He groaned and raised his handcuffed hands, red marks already starting to form as the metal shifted across his skin, towards Severus as if beggingly. Regulus's eyes started to close, and his mouth worked but nothing came out until he dropped his hands on his chest, breathing hard. His nose was stuffed up from all the dust in the cottage, and he breathed out through his mouth, making a sickening gasping noise, coupled with coughing.

Without looking at Varian, Severus leaned back over Regulus again, a strange expression on his face as he studied the younger man. After a moment he eased back away, knowing he couldn't do anything for Regulus right now, a carefully blank look on his face. How the hell was he supposed to find anything out with Varian hovering around? "Hmm.."

Varian looked back over, a blank look on his face as well. "What?" He asked sharply, looking Severus over. He sat back in his chair, letting his hand rest limply by his groin again. He wasn't touching himself this time, but he made enough movements with his fingers, like strumming a pretend guitar, to draw his lover's attention there.. or tried to. "Well, I asked you a question."

Regulus decided to give up trying to speak or even look at Severus, already thinking it'd be useless. He laid there, staring out blinking slowly just trying to breath. He began to regret everything, once again. In that moment he thought back, way back, to Lydia, to his first kill, to the ghost in the attic-He regretted ever listening to Rodolphus's instructions, to joining the Death Eaters, to everything. He sighed out, silent tears already rolling down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry..." he breathed out almost inaudibly, still looking at Regulus. It may have been a useless gesture as he had to be careful Varian didn't hear him, but it was the best he could do for the moment. Pushing himself up, Severus turned to look at Varian finally and said testily, "I KNOW you asked me a question. But here's a question for YOU - can we possibly take this somewhere else for the moment? Like AWAY from our guest's hearing range?"

Varian stared up at Severus and then, without even glancing at their captive, slowly stood. "Alright by me!" He stated, but made no movement. He had no idea where Severus wanted to go.

Regulus closed his eyes, trying to let himself zone out. But he still listened.

Muttering under his breath, Severus rolled his eyes slightly and came over to grip Varian's wrist. "You find this amusing, don't you?" he asked quietly, working to keep his tone even as he tugged at Varian's arm to get him moving, starting off towards the kitchen.

Varian had been resisting cracking a smile until Severus yanked him tot he kitchen, at that time he did grin, but amused only to be asked such a question. "No....." Varian said, taking one last look back at Regulus. It thrilled him to see him on the floor and immobile. Once in the kitchen, Varian licked his lips and arched his eyebrows, looking at his lover. "You don't, obviously."

Severus had to grit his teeth as he moved over to the small radio, turning it on loudly and placing it near the doorway before pulling Varian further into the kitchen and pushing him up against the wall, a bit rougher than he would normally. "NO, I do NOT find this amusing," he hissed in Varian's ear. He had no intention of hurting Varian, of course, but he was confused, angry, and altogether unhappy with the situation in general, and if his lover THOUGHT he might hurt him... As long as he got some answers, he could live with that.

Varian's eye brows shot up the moment his back made contact with the wall. He stared hard at his lover, and regardless of what he said, Varian smirked slightly. "Never though you did." He then brought a hand up to run over Severus's jaw line.

"Wha - Jesus, just -" Severus reached up and took hold of Varian's hand, finding that it annoyed and confused him more than anything right now. Dropping his lover's hand, he then pulled back a bit to stand straighter as he reached to grip at both of Varian's wrists, bringing them up above the man's head and pinning them there before pressing close to him under a guise of it being something sexual. He brought his mouth to Varian's ear again, and deliberately nipped at it before whispering harshly, "What the fuck IS this? You fucking do everything you can to keep this - US - a secret, and then turn around and flaunt it in front of Regulus BLACK??"

Varian narrowed his eyes. "Nothing a simple memory charm can't cure." He replied, which wasn't an answer per se. He then let out a sharp breath, finding that the movement of control from himself to Severus was exciting, but not nearly like it was the other night. "You're grip is too tight," he added, meaning the grip on his wrists.

"This is NOT a fucking game, Varian," Severus murmured in his lover's ear, transferring his grip so the he held both wrists in an even tighter grip, pressing his now free hand palm to the wall by Varian's hip and shifting his position enough to press one knee in between the smaller man's knees, forcing them apart. "You've never acted like that with me around people before, not that FUCKING blatantly, so why NOW? Are you just THAT anxious for sex? Fine!" Pressing his mouth to Varian's neck just below the ear, his free hand moving now to press against his lover's side to hold him there, Severus deliberately scraped his teeth along the sensitive skin hard enough to leave a faint red mark behind, hard enough to cross Varian's comfort zone and let him know that he really WASN'T 'playing around'.

Varian started to say something, probably sarcastic, when he let out a small pained cry, and actually attempted to shift his body away from the source of teeth against skin. His reaction overqualified for the small amount of pressure, but Varian was on the verge of panicking. "N... No.. Stop!" Varian cried out, in the past him saying that meant not to stop. This time, it was an unsure order.

Severus heard that note of panic, and squeezed his eyes shut, feeling like a part of him had died almost at the fact he was deliberately scaring someone he cared about. Keeping his mouth pressed to the man's neck, he backed off a bit on the scare tactics, brushing his tongue against the sensitive skin for a moment before finally pulling back and said in a flat tone, "Not so fun when you don't know what's going to happen, is it, love?"

Varian tried to speak, his bottom lip quivering slightly. "I... I don't... maybe...?" Varian replied, and let out a shaky almost nerve drenched breath. He attempted to jerk his hand from Severus's stronger grip, wanting to know if that's blood or saliva on his neck.

Keeping a strong grip on Varian's wrists, he brought his other hand up in front of him to gently wipe away the dampness on his lover's neck, pulling his hand back to show the man that it wasn't blood he'd wiped away. Severus had no way of knowing what Varian had been thinking, he just wanted to make sure Varian didn't freak out over something minor. "Let me explain. The fact that you would so blatantly try to use sex to distract me around another person not only bothers me, but it makes me wonder what exactly you're hiding to risk people finding out. Not such a fun feeling."

Varian was breathing hard through his nose and his gaze went from Severus's hand (blissfully blood-free) and to his dark eyes. Varian shook his head, biting his bottom lip. "I'm not hiding anything," he stated, looking like his wide eyes were started to grow wet. "He.. He tried to hurt my dog, and then it turned into..." He choked on his words, and ducked his head down, pressing his chin to his chest.

Despite himself, Severus found himself softening at that - and more importantly, believing Varian, mostly because of a remembered incident involving one beloved pet he'd lost a couple summers ago. "Then what was all of that about?" he asked in a softer voice, loosening his grip on his lover's wrists as he pressed his fingers to Varian's cheek, brushing his thumb across the skin as he stooped down slightly to look up at his lover.

Varian let out another breath, more out of relief. "For the most part," Varian replied quietly, and rotated his hands to make sure they still worked. "One thing.. led to another..."

Varian tilted his head to one side, feeling a shiver run down him at Severus's fingers running over his skin. "I'm right.. angry at him. And He's not leaving here... with his memory intact." Varian seemed to be getting overwhelmed by what Severus was doing, and his cheeks turned more pink as his pupils dilated.

It wasn't really an answer, but Severus could tell that, for whatever reason, it was all the answer he was going to get. "You have a strange way of showing your anger sometimes, you know," he said finally, straightening up. "I mean... were you trying to get back at him for what I walked in on? By trying to SNOG me, no less? Are you really telling me something like that wouldn't throw you off?"

Varian shot Severus a look, and then looked away. He wanted to tell him, wanted to tell him Rodolphus sent him there, but it would mean showing and admitting to betrayal. Varian stared at the cabinet, trying to make up his mind what to do. He then looked back at him, his eyes squinting half closed, as if he was crying. "Severus," he started to say and then stopped. "I just.. I don't want you to leave me. For her." He said it before realizing the logic of it, and soon he immediately liked his little alternative reasoning. Obviously, he thought, he became over aggressive in being physical because of the all to real threat Severus was going to leave for HER. And Varian wanted to show him how much of a better lover he could be. Yes... yeah, exactly, he thought to himself. "I.. thought.. if I did that, it'd show you how much you're needed here. Me."

Severus found himself frowning at that, trying to find the logic in Varian being open about their.. relationship (whatever that term defined in this instance) in front of Regulus because he ... didn't want Severus to go back to Rinna? The whole thing made his insides twist funny, and he wasn't sure whether he wanted to laugh, or cry, or just stand there and stare. Twisting his hands together in an unsure manner, Severus finally asked tentatively, "You thought that would.. that you doing that would... um, well... really?" He wasn't about to ask what he really wanted to, because he wasn't sure how to phrase it.

"The question is rather, did it.." Varian said, now making himself look even more saddened and hurt and dropped his head down. "Did it work?" He looked back up, the only eye not covered by hair stared at him, hopeful.

Severus found that he couldn't stop the overwhelming feeling of amazement at the thought that Varian had actually done that just to try and get him to stay. It was actually almost romantic, when he thought about it. He didn't reveal any of this, and in fact, didn't even think he'd made a conscious decision until he found himself hugging the petite man tightly, affectionately.

Varian had no idea what or how Severus would react, but the next moment he found himself warm, being held in a bear hug. He let out a happy sound, not quite a word and not quite a cry. His hands come up and pressed against Severus's lower back. He nuzzled him until a loud thump, loud enough to overpower the news broadcast on the WWN. This made Varian pull back. "What was..?"

Regulus, in the time they were gone, had managed to crawl to the chair and pushed himself up to stand. In a hopping awkward motion, he had attempted to get to the front door, until the dog got in the way. Lyland had taken the end of the rope and tugged it playfully, causing Regulus to fall, with a heavy thud, half against the door and half to the floor, knocking the knight's armour over.

Severus looked at Varian with wide eyes, and without a word, turned and hurried to the doorway, looking into the main room to see what Regulus had done.

Varian was right behind him, and the moment he saw Regulus slumped there, he let out a sharp loud laugh.

Regulus groaned, and then struggled to get up, before tripping again and falling back to the wall.

Sighing, Severus looked down, then glanced back at Varian. "What are we going to do about him again?" he asked, trying to come to terms with his apparent decision.

Varian was still laughing. "Besides... besides killing him?" His laughter became more hysterical when he acidic smell of urine wafted through the room as Lyland had raised his leg and piddled on Regulus's leg.

This only made Severus sigh, giving Varian a small smile as he said, "Or not? Do we really need to do that - oh, that's just disgusting." And he was glad it wasn't HIM the dog had pissed on. Which reminded him... but no, Regulus first, and then he would try and bring up the dog issue.

Varian still snickered, and he walked over to regulus, scooping up the dog. "We can keep him here," he stated as he cuddled the dog to him. "Up in the attic, I can use the Imperius on him, have him do whatever we want-"

"Varian!" Severus cut in, avoiding looking at the dog as much as he could. "Come on. Let him go. What if people wonder what happened to him?"

Varian furrowed his brows and kneeled down to Regulus. He reached out, taking a handful of hair and pulled Regulus's head back. "Wonder if anyone cares enough about him to notice." Varian said, his nostrils flaring as he spoke.

Regulus stared up at Varian, trying to speak and only managed to make small gurgling sounds as his jaw worked. All the poor boy could think about was Rabastan, and how he would receive the news of him not coming back ever again.

"Varian..." The word was said simply, quietly, and then Severus' hand fell lightly upon one of Varian's shoulders.

Varian froze, and then looked upwards, seeing Severus. He stared at him, and then dropped his gaze. "A simple memory charm, and I'll dump him in the woods and that's it." he stated, like a reprimanded child.

Steeling himself, Severus swallowed hard, closing his eyes as he sunk down to a crouch behind Varian. When he could, he laid his cheek against Varian's shoulder and sighed, keeping his hand on Varian's shoulder before he said softly, "Much as I don't understand being able to say this... that could have been me in his place."

Varian made a confused look but didn't move anything but his hand. He brought his hand up to curl around Severus's neck, fingers going into his hair. "Why?" he asked softly.

"Why do you think like that?" he added.

"I'm just saying, you may not think he matters much, or that no-one will miss him, but... you might be surprised," Severus murmured, tilting his head a bit into the touch. After a moment, he opened his eyes and glanced up, asking, "What do you mean, what do I think like?"

Varian moved to sit down fully, moving his hand into Severus's hair more. "Why do you think for others so much. Instead yourself?" He answered him, and then put the dog down, purposefully shoving it away to the side as far as he could, wanting to avoid another problem.

"I.... don't know. Defense mechanism, I guess.." Severus sat down as well, shifting his position to lean a bit against Varian's back, arms now around the petite man's waist from behind as Severus leaned his cheek against Varian's shoulder again.

"It's a long story," he added, gaze moving to Regulus' face.

Regulus cocked his head, watching them, eyes moving from one man to another. Had he been able to speak, he would of held no comment. It was as if the two other men had forgotten him.

Varian snorted and grinned. "Then tell me later, after we've got rid of the brat," he said and reached a hand out to touch Regulus's handcuffs. This only made Regulus flinch and move his hands away.

"Let him undo the cuffs, Regulus," Severus said, voice holding a quiet authority about it for now, as if he were just tired of the whole situation.

Varian rolled his eyes and then reached again, grabbing the links of the handcuffs. "Do you have it. Do you have the key?" He hissed, looking back over his shoulder.

"Always do," Severus said, pulling one arm from around Varian's waist to pull the tiny key from... somewhere. He handed it to Varian, and then reluctantly pulled himself away from his lover for the moment.

Varian took it and yanking Regulus's hands to him so he can unlock them. "You better behave," Varian told him, and then gave his cheek a small pat. "Or I'll kill you. With or without his approval." he added bitterly.

Regulus wrinkled his nose at that, and then the moment his hands were free he started to tug at the knot of rope.

Severus pulled his wand from it's pocket and murmured a quick counter spell, surreptitiously pointing the wand Regulus' direction.

Regulus felt his voice come again, and the first he said was "...you both are wonky." As he yanked the rope loose. "And you tie loose knots. Work on it." He then leaned over and grabbed for Varian's hair, but missed.

"Yeah, yeah, back off him, Black," Severus said, returning the favour as he leaned towards Regulus, only HE reached to attempt to slap him upside the head. Not hard, but still.

Regulus whimpered at being hit and then shrugged away the rope. "You aren't really going to mess with my memory, are you? Mates?" He made a nervous grin.

Varian made a snort chuckle and pulled out his wand. "Yes. We are," he nodded and then pressed the wand tip to Regulus's forehead. "Say good-bye to your memories, Black." And the end of the wand started to illuminate.

Severus didn't say anything, keeping an eye out more for the dog now. He didn't have a clue how much Varian meant to erase, though, so he DID say after a moment, "You know what you're doing with this, Varian?"

"Not a bit," Varian replied with a straight face.

September 2nd 1978

2006-11-12T08:05:04Z

Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix, you will be notified of when the next meeting is. We are so very glad to have someone like yourself join our ranks. I or one of the Prewetts will be in contact soon.