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Post by Gideon Conleth on Nov 25, 2014 20:40:56 GMT -8
Radio silence, wasn't that the muggle term? There had been nothing, nothing at all from SAVIOR in over a month. It wasn't for lack of trying either. Gideon had sent at least one encrypted message a week to get nothing in return. The group was falling apart, shattering under the weight of the government closing in and many of their number being arrested.
Gideon didn't even know how many of them were left now. That was why he'd snuck from the castle, face hidden in a deep hood. After slipping out of the castle (there was no safe way to do so within the castle after half the guard had shown up) he'd sent encrypted letters the last few agents hoped had escaped the hands of the government. This was his last hope. If no reply came? Well... He'd have to assume he was one of the last.
The cold seeped into his bad leg bitterly. Dresden had patched him up as best he could, Gid had just taken to long to get seek help. It was, for the most part, fine, but the deep cold always caused an ache. Perhaps it was the pain which had thrown Gideon of his watch, or maybe was just the cold, but he missed the member of the night guard, hidden in the shadows of an archway.
"Stop! Stop or I'll stun!"
Gideon froze, his hands itching to reach for his wand.
Well, shit.
---
"I told you," Gideon flexed his wrists against the summoned cuffs. He sat in a dimly lit office in the dungeon of the castle, 2 guard members looming down over him, "I couldn't sleep. I went for a walk is all..."
" Professor Conleth..." The first guard member stepped forward, hands pressed against the table. " You were caught sneaking into the castle. We have no records of you leaving. How did you leave the castle? Where were you?"
Gideon cracked his jaw, " Grounds..."
" The problem with your story, Professor, is there have been multiple patrols covering the grounds. Not one has reported you. So I will ask you again..." The man leaned into Gideon's face, " Where were you?"
When the man was met with Gideon's stony silence he continued on.
" What concerns us, Professor, this is not you first time your where abouts has been unaccounted for," Gideon masked his face, attempting to hide the fact his heard was racing.
"Missed breakfasts, dinners. Empty quarters while on guard duty."
"I didn't know I was being watched."
"Not at all Professor. Your actions are what brought you to our attention. It may have escaped your notice, but there is a killer on the loose. When a prominent member of the staff has so many unaccounted hours? Well it leads us to be concerned."
Gideon's mouth dried, "And what exactly are you implying?"
The guard member spread his hand's wide, in mock surprise, " I'm implying nothing. Aren't we just having a chat?"
"If that' the case undo the shackles."
"Now Professor Conleth, I'm no idiot -" The man was cut off mid flow by a curt knock from outside. Gideon's eye snapped to door. Who the hell had been summoned at this late hour?
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Post by Dresden Faust on Nov 25, 2014 20:41:25 GMT -8
The message about a possible professor being caught out on the grounds this late at night for whatever reason was the only reason Dresden had even contemplated coming down to where the guard was currently questioning whoever it was. The professor supposed staff and all their issues directly fell into his new job description as Deputy Head, but honestly couldn’t they wait for a more reasonable hour to cause trouble? Dres smirked at the thought knowing full well he was just as bad as everyone else at playing by the rules.
Still, it wasn’t like he could just brush this off and wait until morning. The guards that had penned the letter seemed rather insistent that there was reason to think catching a staff member warranted both the Deputy Head & the Headmasters attention. Dres sighed as he quickly penned his own message to Rufus in hopes the man would come and do his Headmastery things so he didn’t have to. Honestly he’d much rather be tinkering away in his office on one various dark arts project or another. Why had he taken this job anyway? Oh, right…. A favor…
In a not so hurried pace, Dres made his way down into the dungeon and to the office that was mentioned in the message the guards had sent, slowed only by the fact the small courtesy of a knock was in order before pushing the door open and entering. Dres wasn’t sure who or what to expect but the site of Gideon sitting there with the two guard members had a flicker of confusion and surprise cross his features before finally settling in a hard to read mask.
“What’s going on here?”
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Post by Gideon Conleth on Nov 25, 2014 20:42:22 GMT -8
The sight of his old friend walking through the door was unexpected yet wholly welcome. Of course, as depute headmaster, they would have called him. Gideon raised his cuffed hands and make small waving gesture at Dresden, in an attempt to alleviate the tension. In truth? His nerves were high, but he'd be damned if he would let it show.
But he had to play this carefully. Gideon was almost positive Dresden would lie for him. He knew full well where Gideon had been during all those unaccounted for moments, but if they appeared to familiar the guard could easily dismiss Dresden's defense as friends covering for each other. Which of course, was exactly what would be happening...
That was if Dresden caught on. Gideon could only hope we have feeling sharp, even if it was the middle of the night.
"Forgive the intrusion on your night, Deputy Headmaster," The guard member inclined his head as an apology, "But a member of your staff has necessitated your attention."
Gideon took the moment both guards' attention was on Dresden to mouth something at his old friend. They don't know... They had no real idea why Gideon had been missing so often in the passed months. There had to be a convincing way to explain his absences without suggesting he was either the murderer or traitor against the ministry. He and Dresden weren't idiots. Surely they would work together and think of something, even without talking to each other.
"Professor Conleth came to our attention some time ago. Your staff member has a habit of disappearing for periods of time, such as tonight. Yet he refuses to provide us with any credible story of his whereabouts."
"Walking apparently isn't credible..." Gideon muttered, though it came out louder than he'd meant. He cleared his throat "Professor Faust. They seem to be accusing me of something although they refuse to tell me of what. Perhaps you could convince them to enlighten me?"
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Post by Rufus Camoynes on Nov 25, 2014 20:44:06 GMT -8
The killer was still out there, at least so the latest news were saying. The whole thing was getting a bit bothersome, especially with the guard sneaking around everywhere and all the time. Not that Lord Williams' goons were really good at what they were doing. Getting in and out unseen was still not really challenging. Then again, that was hardly a surprise. They didn't even know who or what their mysterious killer was. The guard and all their additional minions were completely in the dark.
Curious, really. Admittedly, it was quite amazing to watch all these people spending so much time and discover absolutely nothing.
Then again, the quality of staff had been dropping for quite some time, so Rufus wasn't really surprised.
The only really surprising thing at this time of the night was a sudden message from professor Faust. Its arrival made the headmaster look up from his study. Wasn't Faust supposed to keep such trivialities away from him? What did he have him for if not for that?
“Fine,” Rufus said to himself. Maybe it was time to put Willams' toy soldiers in their rightful place, but ultimately it was just an unnecessary bother. Part of him wished they had found the killer already, because then these thugs would have disappeared a while ago.
Perhaps their mysterious killer could make a few of them disappear? Though, that would likely attract more of them.
Oh well, he could just as well tell them to sod off and leave his teachers in peace, not that he really cared about the teachers, but having more bodies to shield his own activities with was always a good thing.
Robes fluttering behind him the headmaster left his office. |
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Post by Dresden Faust on Nov 26, 2014 22:05:53 GMT -8
Dres raised a brow at Gideon’s explanation and was hard pressed not to chuckle, though he made no indication that he saw the words his friend had mouthed. They didn’t know…. Didn't know what? That he was SAVIOR? Well that was a good thing then. The professor was well aware of the trouble the younger man was tangled up in but if the guard didn’t know then why were they keeping him detained?
”Well gentlemen, it seems our professor here has asked a valid question and I’d like to hear the answer. The staff is well known for popping in and out of the castle when not teaching or attending to other duties, and the professor here certainly is correct when he said walking the grounds is not a crime. Surly you have better reason than this for dragging me down here and possibly the Headmaster as well if he decides to act on the message I sent him.”
Dresden crossed his arms loosely in front of him, fingers absently drumming against his arm as he waited for whatever excuse the guards through at him. Hopefully it would be useless drivel that was nothing substantial and then they could all get on with their lives and Dres wouldn’t have to worry about his friends being accused of being the murderer or something else entirely.
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Post by Gideon Conleth on Nov 26, 2014 22:07:35 GMT -8
Oh Gideon did love his Dressy. The man could be so quick on the uptake when he put his mind to it, which had been oh so useful back in their school days. In those days it had been the pair against the professors, strange where they'd ended up in time. Had a seer told the pair of their future back in school Gideon would likely have laughed in their face. Yet here he was.
Still in Hogwarts, still being scolded, only this time a pair of shackles were involved. That, and there was more at stake than a Saturday detention.
The senior guard member bristled at the deputy headmaster's curtness, "Now Professor Faust, our top priority here at Hogwarts is to catch whichever monster is responsible for these murders, and to keep all staff and students safe until we do. All staff have been asked to aid with this, so when our requests are ignored I can't help but question why..."
Gideon bristled, although kept quiet the Guard member flipped a small file open. He turned back to Gideon, fixing the flying professor with a cold gaze.
"Now Mr Conleth, do tell. Why would a prominent high flying Ministry oblivator up and quit one day to become the flying coach at a school. You arrived, 6 months?, before the killings began? Enough time to insert yourself into the school culture, make friends? You are the newest member of staff, these death pnly began after your appointment."
Surely this man couldn't be serious! Gideon had expected the guard to suspect something like this, but to come out and assure him with so little evidence felt like a knock in the stomach.
"What exactly are you accusing me of? Being out late does not make me a murderer!"
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Post by Rufus Camoynes on Nov 26, 2014 22:08:16 GMT -8
He did not knock. He did not bother with it. Why would he anyway? The guard was nothing else but hired thugs. They weren't even remotely on the level of the ministry's aurors, though that had its positive aspects. Had they been as good as the aurors, Rufus' own little exploits would not have gone unnoticed. After all, the ministry had managed to catch him once before.
To be honest, Williams' rule, even though the headmaster had no respect for the man or this new generation of Death Eaters, had been quite advantageous for Rufus so far. Odd, really. But then again, the incompetence of others could easily be positive for someone like him. The muggle aurors -police, or whatever they were called- had failed to catch him, and only by sheer dumb luck -at least that was how Rufus saw it- had the ministry been successful.
The headmaster opened the door and was just in time for professor Conleth's outburst. He noticed professor Faust already being there. Good, so the boy kept proving himself to be useful. Excellent.
He had a quick look at the situation. This was ridiculous. Conleth was many things, but one thing he wasn't: a killer. It took a killer to recognize one. Conleth could kill, just like anybody else under the right circumstances, but he wasn't seeking it, that much was clear to Rufus.
“What kind of nonsense is this?” he said with his best headmaster-y voice. |
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Post by Dresden Faust on Nov 27, 2014 10:32:19 GMT -8
Their first priority was to catch the killer? Dres could barely keep from rolling his eyes. What a bunch of bumbling idiots. Of course he knew that’s why they were there though he was of the opinion that they were so useless they may as well be back at the Ministry pushing paper. The nitwits didn’t even have the brain capacity of one of his first years, any of which, with a little nudge in the right direction could probably tell that whatever was lurking in the castle wasn’t human. However, when the guard all but outright accused his friend of being the murder a look of disbelief flitted across the professors face.
Dres was about to instinctively jump to his friends defense but was cut off by the door swinging open and what appeared to be a not very happy Headmaster walking in. Thank Merlin.
”It appears, Headmaster, that our friends here are accusing the good professor of being the Hogwarts murderer based off of some rather flimsy evidence and the fact that he left a Ministry job for a teaching position. Never mind that any of my first years could probably have figured out by now that whatever is doing the killing is more than likely not human.” The last was said in perhaps a more hostile tone than Dres would normally use but damnit, no one threatened or accused those he considered family, especially without good cause.
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Post by Gideon Conleth on Dec 3, 2014 22:52:08 GMT -8
Were the Guard that desperate to look competent that they would rail road any old wizard so they looked as if they were doing something? Gideon's disbelieving stare slide from the guard who held his file as the door slammed open (yes apparently a door could be slammed open) to reveal the Head Master.
Really? Rufus was here too? Gideon wanted to groan out loud. His leaving the castle was meant to be under the radar. Dresden knew, but that was it. Now the guard was breathing down his neck, his employer had been summoned because they suspected him of murdering students.
This night was going to hell in a hand basket...
"Professors, we would not be fulfilling our duty here to ignore such suspicious behavior -"
Gideon's fists slammed down on the table, the sharp noise bouncing around the small room. This was ridiculous! The cuffs, the thinly veiled threats. His temper was hanging on by a bare thread.
"Suspicious behavior? You pretentious, ministry lap dog. You -"
"Mr Conleth I hardly believe throwing insults around is in your bests interests at this moment!"
((Bit of an awful post... I shame myself and my family))
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Post by Rufus Camoynes on Dec 3, 2014 22:53:08 GMT -8
Professor Faust's explanation of the situation almost brought made him snicker. They truly believed that professor Conleth, out of all people, was somehow involved in the murders. It was quite amusing, really. But of course it also showed how lost this guard unit, this merry band of miscreants put into action by their so called lord, really was.
“Calm down professor Conleth,” Rufus slightly raised his right hand. “There is no reason for outbursts.”
Not that it would have any influence on this. Pointless emotional outbursts were really just that, pointless. Sometimes it was possible to use them, but now wasn't really the time for it.
He focused on the guard goon. “Your accusations are utterly ridiculous. Going by this sort of argumentation you'd to arrest all teachers, and probably some of the older students as well. Not to mention some of your own. A lot of people sneak around at night. This is Hogwarts. People have been doing this for centuries.” |
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Post by Gideon Conleth on Dec 3, 2014 22:54:31 GMT -8
Gideon felt much the chastised school boy as he was silenced by the head master. Rufus was right. Getting angry and snapping at the Guard Officials would solve nothing, even if it was hard to resist. It took a a great deal of effort, but Gideon forced himself to relax, his fist relaxing finger by finger into an open palm.
"Sorry Headmaster," Gideon muttered, " I often loose myself with too much stupidity in the room."
The Guard stiffened and shot a look of distain Gideon's way, though on the whole ignored the flying professor in favour of the Headmaster. The man was most disagreeable! He should be thanking them for doing their up most to protect the Castle and it's occupants. Any threat, no matter the size, was still a threat and needed to be treated as such. Even cocky run of the mill professor could be easily hiding something.
After crossing his arms over his uniformed chest, the Guard surveyed the two Professors who were not shackled. Were they truly foolhardy enough to let their trust of this man cloud clearly suspicious behavior.
"People may have perhaps been flouting the rules for centuries, but to do so during times such as this is either reckless or menacing. Tell me, which category does your professor fall into. Is he an idiot or a traitor?"
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Post by Dresden Faust on Mar 18, 2015 16:38:59 GMT -8
”Idiot,” Dres said without missing a beat. Never mind that in the current regime’s eyes Gideon was a traitor. ”As the Headmaster has already stated, people have been sneaking around Hogwarts for years, and I can attest that it happens during such times as these. For instance the other night we had two students out on the Quidditch pitch well past curfew, one muggles studies professor that traded his guard shift so he could go socializing with friends, a couple of the staff that ended up stuck in a secret passage way that had them appear out by the Forbidden Forest, and a deputy headmaster that was out tossing a quaffel around at 4am because he couldn’t sleep. By your very definition then we should all be under arrest for simply doing things that are very much normal by Hogwarts standards.”
Absently Dres wondered if Rufus would hold it against him if he turned the two idiots in front of them into piles of dust. Probably not if the headmasters mood was any indication, never mind the guard probably wouldn’t take to kindly on professors thinning the heard more than it already was. But in all seriousness this was just wasting everyone’s time. The guard had not brought a single lick of evidence forward that would warrant then holding his friend. Besides, Dres already knew the killer wasn’t human and that his family and the killer had history, and that the killer wanted something it seemed only the professor could provide… hence the unexpected visit and desire to make a deal of some sort… |
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Post by Rufus Camoynes on Mar 18, 2015 16:39:22 GMT -8
“So the evidence you have is professor Gideon running around outside, at night.” The headmaster put the tips of his right hand fingers against the tips of his left hand fingers. “Yes, that makes a lot of sense. Though,” he paused for a second. “I find it quite curious that, after all the weeks, months even, of you people being here this is all you have managed to do.”
He took a step forward. “Let me get this straight. The killer is still out there. The other killer, if certain theories are taken into consideration, is still out there. Lord Williams' daughters are still missing and, as far as I recall, the only person within a thousand miles, who managed to find new hints regarding the whereabouts of the girls, is Hogwarts' own new professor of transfiguration. Never mind that they both disappeared on your watch in the first place. But you,” He detached his fingers from each other again and raised his right index finger like a teacher lecturing a class. “You managed to capture professor Conleth on the school's grounds at night.”
Rufus lowered his right hand again. “Well, take him to Azkaban right away. You have stopped a terrible threat. Flying professors running around outside at night are clearly a menace. Congratulations.”
Leaning forward a bit he focused on what seemed to be the leader. “Or you could stop this nonsense and do your job the way you're supposed to do it, while we are doing ours.”
The urge to transfigurate them into something uncomfortably different was big. Human to cup, maybe? And then accidentally drop it? Reducing them to dust would have done it too, but dust was useless. If anything, it would have to be done in a way that would not harm their bodies, too much. |
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Post by Gideon Conleth on Mar 18, 2015 16:43:23 GMT -8
Gideon couldn't help but let out a chuckle at Dresden's quick response. The situation was pretty dire, but he knew Dresden would never pass up an opportunity to insult him. Hell, they were practically brothers - that was what brothers did, right?
Rufus and Dresden did seem to be winning the argument, however, which was doing wonders for Gideon's anxiety level. True, he was full of quick witted comments but under that thin layer he was actually nervous. The Guard pair would probably be high fiving each other, full of congratulations and fast transfers to Azkaban if they knew they'd caught one of the last, active, SAVIOR members.
Too bad they had no idea. Only one person other than Gideon knew the true nature of his knocktornal antics, and he trusted that man with his life.
"Well Professors, if you are willing to vouch for this man and his questionable behaviour, we will have no choice but to release him..." The man's voice was pleasant enough, though the look he shot Gideon was anything but. Gideon's face set itself in a hard line, refusing to react to it, "Though it is on your heads, Professors. I would hate for you to put your names to a man who has been anything less than completely honest with you."
"Does that mean these can disappear?" Gideon raised his wrists, the shackles clinking as they slid down his writs. "They're hardly my colour..."
The Guard's lip curled as he wordlessly flicked his wand. The shackles dropped with a resounding clatter to the table, much to the professor's satisfaction. |
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Post by Dresden Faust on Mar 18, 2015 16:45:40 GMT -8
Of course they were vouching for the man, while else did the guard think they were even down here in the first place? Gid’s quip about how the cuffs weren’t his color and the one guard’s expression had the professor openly smirking. Served them right for trying to arrest someone with no proof what-so-ever other than the fact that Gideon had been out on the school grounds.
Dres motioned to the door once his friend was released and nodded his thanks to Rufus, hoping to slip away and back to his office without any further issue. “Thanks you for your time Headmaster, I’ll make sure this knucklehead stay out of further trouble.” Turning to the guards he added, “Gentlemen,” before stepping outside, hesitating a few moments in case Gid was right on his heels or the Headmaster required either of them for anything further. |
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