Hogwarts: Year Seven - A New Age [IC/OPEN]

[Britanania]

Caitie
Glacies Estate

Caitie heard a familiar voice, a shock considering how many people were packed into the hall and the surrounding rooms of the manor.

Where are Aunt Cordelia and Uncle Edmund, anyway? They are here, after all... Caitie didn't have the time nor the patience to dwell on it as she stopped and crossed her arms across her chest.

"Funny joke," she returned to Rachel without a hint of joviality or humour in her usual dry and aristocratic tone. "Fancy seeing you here, though," Caitie added. "You can't be fully healed up, after everything that happened. Did you get my gift?"

[Miekzhemy]

Rachel

"I did. Thank you," Rachel said between the bites of her food. She almost choked on a piece of chicken she had voraciously forked into her mouth in her desperate quest to get some food in her stomach and, by extension, a bit more meat on her bones. Judging by her thinness, it was probably the first truly hearty meal she had eaten since before the battle.

"Sorry..." she composed herself in her seat and cleared her throat. "You'd be right though. I'm a--" she shrugged. "I'm a bit out of it..."

Andrew

Andrew held back a chuckle as he imagined the sight of a bunch of South American sailors crashing the party. Caitie would probably throw them right out. Before he could reach for one on his own, Ricardo then handed him a glass from one of the floating saucers.

"Gigglewater, yeah," he repeated as Ricardo came to the conclusion, though with much less enthusiasm. He took a second whiff, before discreetly placing it on one of the plates carrying away empty glasses. The taste of alcohol in general didn't really appeal as much as it did before.

"Thanks," Andrew said on the subject of his healing. "Nice to find something I'm good at, I s'pose. I'll probably keep it up, though. The hospital's nicer than I thought it'd be. The work, I mean...."

A portly House Elf came trotting along with a tray held above his head, holding at least a dozen more glasses filled with various fancy beverages. Noticing Andrew being the only one in close proximity without a glass, it stopped in front of the two.

"Like a drink?" it said in a chippy voice. "Sherries, whiskeys, Simison Steaming Stout--?"

"N-no thanks," Andrew interrupted, giving a little dismissive wave.

"You sure? Berry Ocky Rot, Daisyroot Draught--?"

"Yes. Piss off."

The House Elf seemed used to a response like that. Honestly, given the household and how he just shrugged it off, he's probably been told much worse. It sauntered away with the tray towards the next huddle of guests. Andrew sighed, and looked back to Ricardo.

"Yeeah, probably not drinking nothing tonight. Someone's got to help Rachel get back home. Pretty sure her Mum would skin us alive if we came home plastered."

[Britanania]

Caitie
Glacies Estate

The quarter-Veela caught sight of a house-elf carrying a tray of alcohol. The small creature's eyes met its mistress' and fear shot through the elf as it wandered over to Caitie, muttering out some sort of apology as Caitie took the bottle and poured herself a goblet of the liquid. The elf scurried off as Caitie took the first sip of her drink.

"No, you look like utter shite," Caitie said with a hint of a smile on her pretty--if cruel--face. "Although, considering everything, you are lucky to be alive." Caitie's visage turned serious once more. "You sure you are all right?"

[Miekzhemy]

Rachel

The witch knew Caitie wouldn't believe her, though she wasn't expecting her to be so blunt about it. Rachel slumped forward a bit in the chair, looking up at her with a listless gaze like a child taking a harsh scolding from her parents.

"Caitie," Rachel slowly shook her head. "You have no idea..." she said simply, not even bothering to hide behind the sarcasm anymore. "...how fucking painful this shit is right now."

"I'm weak from being laid up so long, but simply trying to walk is just killing me. I have to wear this shit all over 'till God knows when..." she weakly held up her bandaged arm for indication. "And since I can hardly do it magically, it took me an hour and a half to redress everything today. If I don't, I run the risk of it getting infected and dying anyway. So no," Rachel concluded. "I'd say I'm quite the opposite of all right at the moment."

She took a short breath.

"But enough about me. How are things with you? Done anything terrible lately?" Her voice lowered as she said that, in a disturbingly casual manner.

[Arlye Austros]

Isolde

The girl wandered into the hall, somewhat still bottled in her own mind, wondering what to do.
Yet music and noise brought her out of her brooding. Isolde had walked through what seemed to be the stables of the Glacies family, expecting to see any clue of Derek’s whereabouts. But to no avail, nobody seemed to be tending to the horses or taking care they were alright. And every House Elf seemed to be busy with the overcrowded party. Isolde noticed this was way beyond Caitie’s usual range of social exposition, and looked around for her.

But all she could see where unfamiliar faces. The girl reached out for something to eat, some small pumpkin cake with what seemed like carrots but tasted like grapes, better not to ask. Then she wandered through the crowd with a glass of bubbly butterbeer, Hogwarts’s favourite.

“Have you seen David?” She asked a Hufflepuff girl she stumbled upon, but only got a shrug. Had he even arrived? Isolde had the urgency to act as prefect and stop a couple of boy, by their accent Americans, who seemed to be playing darts on a hovering target. But better not to start problems with MACUSA.


Ricardo

He smiled at the elf seemingly not minding the rough treatment, but inside he was coming to the same conclusion as Andrew, and remembering his own experience as an indentured servant, if only for a night before his scheduled execution. His smile must have vanished quickly from his face, for when the Gigglewater’s effect made a replica up through his neck he felt his lips contorting the smile back into existence in an awkward tremble.

“How’s she been? I recall she was badly injured… Jesus!” he stopped, remembering. How long had it been? “I think I nearly killed her. That bastard used the Imperius Curse on me. Almost roasted Rachel into a crisp.” Ricardo talked while dropping on a sofa that was just freed. “Come to think of it, it probably prepared me for the next time I had somebody take over my head. At least it wasn’t so surprising. Feels as though that night gave me more tools to survive than the whole year at Hogwarts.”
He was clearly joking, half at least, and smirked as he looked up to Andrew, raising his empty glass. “To Headmonster Avery.” He toasted, then placed it on a nearby table

[World Anarchic Union]

Anton Valgerth Hurt

He was late. He had realized that some time ago, but this was clearer the moment he arrived and he saw everyone there. There were many familiar faces, but he wasn’t really in the mood to be socialising. And in reality hadn’t come for any of them.

When Anton got the invitation, the letter was stuck in his hands for what appeared to be hours. He didn’t know whether to keep it or burn it. After wondering for a long time, he decided to come but until the last moment he was facing the dilemma. An excuse was pretty easy to craft, his arm and the pain being handy getaways for uncomfortable and unwanted situations, and he was certain his absence wouldn’t be felt. But he wanted to get out a little, already so many months in the hospital and then to the orphanage, in an empty room once more, like what seemed an eternity ago, before William became his roommate. And all the books, all the days and nights passing like drops from a leaf, it had become tiring.

He wanted to see some classmates, he wanted to breathe some fresh air, away from watchful eyes and sharp tongues in the orphanage. And in particular he wanted to see a friend. He hadn’t seen Caitie for a while, and after all that happened, a familiar face of a good friend was the best possible thing. He walked through the grounds calmly, enjoying every step, although every second he twitched from a sudden pinch of pain. Less often, he would feel his artificial arm pull and he’d have to stop for a minute. Slowly however it was better, certainly better than the agony of the first weeks.

He continued walking, asking around and passing through all sorts of rooms, wandering to find Caitie or anyone else he was familiar with for the matter. The place however didn’t make it easy to find anyone, resembling a maze, only in its most complicated.

[Britanania]

Caitie
Glacies Estate

The young woman remained silent as Rachel provided an honest assessment of the injuries she sustained during the battle as well as the state she was currently in. Caitie gave her a sympathetic look, but not one mixed with pity. Instead, Caitie gave Rachel the look of one who had also experienced true trauma and tragedy, who had suffered physically, and in the quarter-Veela's eyes, the shared pain shew forth.

"Do you really want to know?" Caitie replied, in a similar tone, as Rachel asked about her recent activities. Now, the girl's eyes glowed with a macabre look. She almost didn't hide the malice lurking under the surface. Caitie opened her mouth up to reply again when she caught sight of a familiar individual.

"Anton," she breathed out in general surprise as she locked eyes with her friend. "I was hoping you would come, but..."

[World Anarchic Union]

Anton Valgerth Hurt

The young man had finally found the way to Caitie. After a bit of wandering around the endless rooms and halls, he had only come there once after all, he came face to face with his friend. She seemed surprised, which was to be expected given everything that had transpired. He also hadn’t made contact for months now, so his absence was expected.
He formed a smile on his lips, a subtle one, before replying.

“I can understand. But it had been far too long, and I wanted a break from the four walls I have been in the last few months. Last time we met seems like centuries ago. How are you, Caitie?”

He hadn’t noticed the other person in the room. Realizing another presence, he turned to greet them, but when his eyes locked with Rachel’s, everything passed through his mind. She was one of the people he didn’t want to encounter, not today at the very least. He turned pale and simply stood there, with an expression that was difficult to describe. Gathering the courage to speak, he took a step forward, realizing that for the past few moments his back was pressing against the wall.

“Rachel... I am glad to see you. How... how are you?”

[Miekzhemy]

Andrew

Andrew followed him to the sofa, but decided to stand. After spending much of his time beforehand sitting on the dock, he felt a strong urge to stretch his legs. He rolled his shoulders and stuffed his hands into his pockets, resigning himself to his apparent destiny to be just another party wallflower.

"She's, erm..." he stopped himself, pursing his lips in thought. "Honestly, mate? I'm not sure. Over the years she's been just...banged up - bent outta shape more times than I can count. But this..."

The boy sighed. "She doesn't really talk about it, but I can tell she isn't taking it well..."

Andrew's gaze scanned the area before them, finding only unfamiliar faces in a sea of people. Where did she go, anyway? He looked back as Ricardo toasted the aptly-named "Headmonster," causing a brief smile to form on his face.

"Still though. I hope to help her out in any way I can. I owe her a lot, y'know?"

Rachel

Caitie's words seemed to chill her to the bone, though this sensation was quickly overshadowed by another searing pain shooting up the witch's spine. Rachel's listless gaze met Caitie's, and saw not the typical look of disdain or pity that she always gave, but an oddly understanding one. Of all the things she hoped would bring them together - to form some semblance of a bond...

It was nothing but pain.

"I probably don't..." she confessed. Her attention went back to her food, which she promptly dove into once more. Rachel took the time Caitie spent speaking to whomever walked up to clean her plate. Though it wasn't until she looked back up that she realized who it was. As Anton spoke, Rachel blinked, almost able to see the raven-black cloak he had worn on that fateful day.

But moments later, she remembered his turning. He had been in the hospital just like her. Regardless, her answer was short and curt - complimenting the steel gaze that bore into the boy before her.

"Death. I feel like death."

[World Anarchic Union]

Anton Valgerth Hurt

The girl’s eyes were steadfast, her gaze piercing right through Anton. He froze, remaining in place, confronted by his actions. He didn’t know where to escape, or even if he should. He simply stood there, not bearing to meet Rachel’s icy look.

“I can-“ He gulped, as he regained his composure. “I am sorry.” he finally muttered out, a look of defeat and regret painted across his face. By now he had turned towards the door before him, his way out, of the room and of everything else. “I am truly sorry. I can’t say much else. Just, sorry.” He removed himself from the wall where he had fallen towards, straightening his back as he opened the door once more. “I shouldn’t have come. This was a mistake. I’m sorry.”

[Arlye Austros]

Ricardo

For a moment Ricardo’s mind travelled through debts. Andrew owed Rachel. He owed Andrew too, after all he had dared to go into his mother’s memories with him, and while he could barely remember the talk they had some months before. He knew it had been important. He owed Raph, though he wasn’t sure that was so simple, and he also owed Caitie, and dreaded talking to her ever again. That reminded him that Jacinto hadn’t come behind them. Perhaps he was exploring? After weeks stuck on a ship no doubt he was just enjoying the fresh air.

“Hopefully you will be able to pay her back.” His hand reached for a snack that looked like a thumb but was just a spring roll filled with diced meat and steamed vegetables. “Don’t fret yourself about it… That reminds me, I could use some notes on healing spells to deal with broken spines, I had to make do with what I could but I fear I left some people without feeling in their t-… Is that Anton?”

He nodded with his head towards Anton, who seemed to stumble back between the crowd and say something. He then noticed Caitie not too far. “Didn’t expect him to come.”

[Britanania]

Caitie
Glacies Estate

Caitie was still surprised to see Anton that she initially didn't reply but finally managed to answer.

"I have been well, Anton, well, about as well as one can be, at least," she told him as he asked how Rachel was. Perhaps it was the frankness of her reply, or maybe some residual shame on his part, but as Rachel told him it caused the young man to get up and head for the door. Caitie glanced over to Rachel quickly before she stood up and made her way over to the Ravenclaw as she heard Ricardo give his thoughts on the matter, namely, his doubts over whether Anton would even show up.

Caitie frowned as she walked over and grabbed Anton by the wrist before he could quit the room.

"Anton, wait," she told him sternly. "What you did happened, but you have made amends; you can still make amends."

[Miekzhemy]

Andrew

Andrew slowly nodded, paying more attention to the crowds than Ricardo, but still listening to what he was saying. Though it had been years already, despite losing count of the amount of times he had to save her life, he still couldn't help but feel indebted to her. Rachel brought him in off the streets after he had lost Dad. The Acklerleys provided a home to him that even his own family couldn't care to give. Rachel went with him to finally confront Mum. She would run herself ragged, for nothing more than to keep him from giving up on himself. Something he would never expect from even his best friends - she did with no second thought.

A thought stirred in the back of his head as he reminisced, but he seemed too embarrassed to bring it up.

"Yeah..."

Andrew more or less just went back to idly listening to Ricardo. He actually perked up at the mention of healing spells, but before he could explain the all the brain-stretching intricacies one needed to grasp to properly treat nerve damage, the conversation suddenly switched to Anton. Andrew looked over, spotting him just as Ricardo called out.

"Huh. Same," he said. "I actually expected him to be in the hospital a while longer. Poor sod looks like a nervous wreck..."

Rachel

The broken witch at the table bore a tired gaze across the room as Anton immediately tried to excuse himself. Meanwhile, Caitie tried to keep him from leaving. It felt as if their roles had somehow reversed.

Still, though, she probably should've been less direct. Rachel lifted her head up.

"Besides, you aren't the one that left me like this," she said simply. "Don't worry yourself none. I'll be fine."

[Arlye Austros]

Isolde

As she walked down the staircase, having wandered a bit and observed some details in the decoration, Isolde noticed some people around turned towards something. A couple of Slytherins who sat on a bench frowned as they leaned to watch over a corner into the room. Isolde walked towards their observation, and realised what was happening.
Anton had showed up. Something she had slightly thought about before coming.

The witch watched from a distance as the scene unfolded, but looked around again, trying to locate David.


Ricardo

He didn't recall seeing Anton at St. Mungo. As a matter of fact, Ricardo couldn't remember Anton at Hogwarts at all. He heard he had been involved, but that particular set of details was not in his memory. He would come to blame the Imperius Curse William used, as he had discovered a few weeks before that it could have effects on memory. Ricardo simply watched, but also muttered something too low for even Andrew to listen. And his gaze was now fixed on Caitie.

[World Anarchic Union]

Anton Valgerth Hurt

He stared at the two witches that were standing in front of him, but he could hear others around him as well. Being surprised that he’d come, mentioning how unwell he looked. He could feel people around glancing at him, and he had wanted to avoid that. He glanced around, looking as on edge as he was. Finally he turned back to the girls.

“I know what I did, Caitie. Amends? I can try to do what’s right from now on, but the past doesn’t change and it can’t be fixed or forgotten. I don’t know if you can relate.” He relaxed a bit, easing his shoulders, and turning back to the room.

“ I saw what he did, Rachel, that night. I know I was too late.”

[Britanania]

Caitie
Glacies Estate

Caitie let go of Anton's wrist as he turned back to face her, even as she blocked out the words of the others in the room, who was evidently just as surprised as her to see that Anton returned. The witch thought back to their duel in the dungeons, how both of them fought nearly to the death.

"You can try to do what’s right from now on," she mumbled, repeating his words as she took a step backwards into the drawing-room.

Whatever his reasons, him coming here means he's ready to move on, the quarter-Veela reasoned. Redemption or not, his reasons for supporting him are his own, but who could have perceived the depths of his perdition?

Caitie relaxed a bit as she gestured around. The room was still packed, and seemingly more people were arriving at the manor every moment.

"At least stay and have a few drinks. The Elves are brining the absinthe in."

[Arlye Austros]

Grounds of the Glacies Estate

Raphael shrugged at the odd young man before blinking. Curing him? The muggleborn didn't remember helping in curing anyone. However, then he realized and his face darkened with a deep seated anger. "Wait... You're the reason why Ricardo helped Caitie feck my memory?" Raphael asked, his voice shaky, angry and with tears slightly beginning to shed from his eyes, "Five years of my friend, my boyfriend, who died two years ago, nearly completely erased?! An entire life taken and stolen from me..."
At first it seemed as though Jacinto was about back down and run away, but something visibly changed in him. He frowned, not of anger, but in a bit of a surprise. His head tilted over his shoulder and he whispered to the bird perched on it. The black wings spread and soon merged into the ensuing night. He then looked at Raph.

“I don’t know what Caitie did to your memory, but I can assure you, even more than he could, that Ricardo didn’t want for that to happen, and tried to stop it as soon as he could.” Any acute observer would notice his pronunciation had suddenly improved to an impossible level. “But Caitie…” Jacinto stopped, perhaps scared. “I owe as much to her as to you and my cousin. But… I wouldn’t get near her ever again. Not after what she dared to fiddle with.” His gaze rested upon the lights coming from atop the bushes. “He will never apologize, though. I know him better than anyone now. It’s not pride, but its close. So please take an apology from me, and our gratitude, if you can.”
Raphael stared at Jacinto as he explained everything, pain and anger still boiling within him. His tear dripping eyes closed for a moment before shaking his head. "Don't apologize." He merely replied, "Its not your fault and Ricardo was likely simply a pawn in whatever game Caitie was playing. Regardless, we need to confront her on this. I want my memories back. They can be restored, can they?"

The boy nodded while his eyeglobes drifted aside slightly, trying to remember. “I don’t know. The charm he used on me is not actually for memories, but for feelings, and they must be somewhat common. At least that is the main part to it.” He raised his gaze again, and this time he smiled slightly. “When he brought me back a lot of things flowed back with them, memories too, and many from Hogwarts. So yes, maybe something can be done.”
Raph sighed in frustration and shook his head. Why would Caitie mess with his memories anyway? "I really hope so... There just got to be a way to restore memories." He replied, "If a spell can fix feelings, there got to be something for memories... Anyway, we should get going to the cottage... Find something about Derek hopefully..."
Jacinto looked over the bushes to the source of the music and light of Caitie’s party. His gaze was now less confident, as before. But he nodded. “I suppose Ricardo won’t care… If he does. Well, I am not as little as he thinks I am.” He replied with a smirk and looked at Madi and then at Raph. “Want me to help you?”

Madi had been silent this entire conversation and just now spoke. “Sure. Although I don’t know what we’ll find there.” She turned to Raph. “Do you mind turning into a bat and scouting ahead, or would you rather walk there with us?”
Raphael rolled his eyes slightly at Madi's request. "I'll go." The muggleborn replied before he shape shifted into his bat form. He flew over the grassy path towards the cottage house, flying around to check for anyone to be there.

Jacinto seemed surprised at the transformation and lashed out his wand, but stopped it halfway towards aiming at Raph, who now flapped his way out of sight. “Animago…” He whispered, then looked at Madi. “I believed he was another thing.”
Madi eyed Jacinto. "What do you mean, 'another thing'?"
He giggled as they started to walk towards the path leading to the cottage. "The Kalku in my country separate their heads and transform in Tuetue birds... It was..." He made a gesture, as if he had been about to vomit. "Imagine a human head with bat wings and spider legs. They patrolled the night sky looking for escaping wizards... We followed and carried their bodies for them." He narrated, trying not to care too much about the memory. "Then they would come back and walk again."

Raphael made his way over the tree-tops, trying not to make too much noise as his leathery wings shadowed over the ceiling of the loose forest. Then he saw it. A faint light gave away the position of the cottage, and the bat dove over a ford and into the formation of trees. He transformed again, and from behind a tree kept watch. Somebody was inside, and didn’t quite want to be seen, as the light must have come from a single candle at best. Best to get closer. Raphael flew once more, this time through a broken window, and hovered in place as he spotted some old guy inside, sitting on an armchair and staring at some papers. That wasn't good at all and would most likely ruin any plans they had to learn of Derek's whereabouts -he thought. Not wanting to linger any longer, Raphael turned and flew back to the others.

"Bad news. The Cottage is occupied. Anything we should do?" He said as he immediately landed and turned back into a human form.
"Occupied by whom?" Madi enruired, then quickly glanced at Jacinto "'Human head with bat wings and spider legs..' Sounds terrifying."
"Some old guy." Raph answered quickly. "I didn't think it would have been right if I simply talked to him. So what should we do?"
Raph then gave an awkward look. "And what do you mean Human heads with batwings and spider legs?“
The other one chuckled. "Oh, just some Dark Magic. Don't worry, I am sure most of them died, they deserve it." Jacinto then paused and thought about it for a minute. "I think we should still go there. Maybe I can talk to that man. I am a complete stranger, so it can't do harm."
Madi nodded and led the other two to the cottage.

It took them little under an hour. Luckily the gap between the trees was wide enough for the three to see under the moonlight. Still, it was Raph’s warning that spared them a deep dive.
“Stay to your left here, the path followed a small river, and from what I saw before it would be easy to fall into it.” He warned, the three leaned on the side as the water whispered beyond the darkness to their right. Jacinto’s foot slipped and he ended up clinging to the rather muddy hillside, but held by Madi’s reaction, who grabbed him by the collar. The boy cursed in Spanish before standing up.
“Thank you. Ugh! Mud…”
“It’s just past that small ford, into the woods.” Raph announced short after. This time they were able to walk over the stones and reach the other side.

Once the three reached the cottage, the 'old man' Raph had mentioned turned out to be Daniel Haverbouch. Once Madi explained what they were at the cottage for, Haverbouch opened the door and let the three enter the cottage.
"Pick somewhere to sit. I know you have questions, I might be able to answer them."

Though he was ready to sneak his way into the cottage or just go there alone, Jacinto was relieved this man simply allowed them all in. In the meantime he had vaguely compared this countryside to the farm he used to live in years before. He followed Madi inside and looked around, then stared at the man, his wand in his pocket, but well noticed by the boy in case he needed it. While Raph and Madi were vaguely known to him through Ricardo's shared memories, this man was a complete stranger, the first he actually met in weeks.
Raphael was also surprised that they were simply allowed in by the old man. He wondered what would have happened to him if he spoke to him earlier. The muggleborn sat down and looked at the old man thoughtfully. "Well, we might as well get to the point." Raph replied with a sigh. "Where is Derek? We haven't heard from him all summer and nor is he here at the party..."

Haverbouch sighed. “Well. Derek worked for several people on the estate for a few weeks. They weren’t the nicest people. One day he snapped, knocked out one of the people he worked for, and ran away. From what Avery told me, the man sent Boarhounds after Derek, he killed a few of them, then returned to the cottage, where he was captured. I was called in, then I brought him to the Ministry, where he was sentenced to spend the summer in a cell in the Department of Mysteries. I do not know his current condition. By my count, he has been there for the past two months.”

Raphael sighed at the story of Derek's incident. Idiot is going to get himself killed some day. At least the old man came clean apparently. It would be strange if he simply fabricated all that. "So we'll at least be seeing Derek again when school starts right?" Raph asked, "At least he isn't going to Azkaban or anything?
“Yes. You should see Derek when the school year starts, I assume he’ll be under guard when he’s allowed to go back...No, he won’t be going to Azkaban. Besides, it’s destroyed, Remember?” Haverbouch gave a sad smile. “I fear for Derek when he returns to Hogwarts. At least he’ll have you and the others.”

During the exchange Jacinto had simply listened. He didn't know who Avery was, but had this vague idea it was not a good name to hear. As for Azkaban, he had been told it was a prison, but he had no clue what the Department of Mysteries was. However he still said something.
"You mean somebody could try to hurt him?"
Haverbouch frowned. "Maybe. Not there, though, from what I understand, he'll have absolutely no human contact until his sentence is up. When he returns to Hogwarts, however...."
The boy looked down, as though something the old man said made Jacinto dive into his deepest thoughts. After a couple of seconds he looked back at Madi. "He isn't here then... Who would try go after him? That Avery you spoke about?"
Haverbouch shook his head. "No, I don't think he would go after Derek. If anything, he'll talk to Derek once the school year starts, assign him a guard or two, what worries me is that Karamazoff seems to be interested in him."
"Then..." Jacinto's tone resembled more that of a younger child as he hesitated. "Maybe we can give him shelter somewhere else, if the school isn't enough." He didn't quite suggest anything, more like talking to himself.

Haverbouch eyed Jacinto with interest. "Somewhere else, you say?"
"Claro." He replied returning to his own words for a second. "I mean... there has to be somewhere safe for him to go if needed, right? I recall the Kalku mentioning something called the Fidelius Charm once, but it was extremely complicated. Or you can make a new shelter, or find something else. Probably she ship my cousin has out of the shore can be an option if needed."
"A ship? Here?" Haverbouch got up from the chair he had been sitting in. "I would like to see this ship of yours if possible." The Auror then looked down at Madi and smiled. "How are you?"
"More or less fine..."
"Well... You would have to ask my cousin. He owns it, and I am not sure you would be able to find it if he doesn't want you to find it." Jacinto said, obviously re-thinking his words. "But probably there isn't any damage in asking."
“I suppose I could ask your cousin, although I’m not too sure Avery would be pleased if Derek disappeared. Although, with how long I’ve been with the Aurors, I might be able to pull a few strings...” Haverbouch got a thoughtful look in his eyes, he then waved a hand to Jacinto. “Take me to your cousin, then.”

As the man spoke, Jacinto frowned, thinking if this was a good idea. But something seemed to change his mind as his grin changed and he nodded. "Sure." He stood up. "I will go back and tell him. I imagine you can meet him in the mue... ehr..." The boy struggled to find the right word. "Where you put the boats..." He looked at Madi and Raph, asking for a hint.
"You mean the pier?" Madi looked around the cottage as she got up from where she was sitting and addressed Jacinto, then addressed the Auror. "Are you sure you can help Derek?"

Haverbouch sighed. "Possibly. I don't think he'll be able to leave his cell early, if he does, I don't know what his mental state will be, being alone for the entire summer won't be good..."
"Then..." Jacinto walked towards the door. "Better to be ready... Meet me in the pier near the estate in about an hour." He stopped and looked at Madi, then at Raph. "It was nice meeting you both. Again, thanks for what you two have done."

Raph shrugged, having been silent throughout much the conversation. "No problem, Monsieur Jacinto." He replied "You go do whatever you have to do."
They got what they came for and then some more -Raph recounted in his mind- , with information on what happened to Derek and his current whereabouts. He wasn't sure who this Karamazoff creep was, but the guy sounded like bad news for just about everyone. At least they will get a chance to do something about Derek being in the Department of Mysteries.

Raph sighed and shook his head. "Anyway, thank you for helping us, Monsieur Haverbouch. I should get going." He told the old man before looking out the window. Noticing a strange sound outside, the muggleborn got up to check it out. It was like a high-pitched whistle, followed by a near-guttural sound.

The boy stood outside, the obvious source of the sound, as it died by the time Raph looked outside. after a second there was a copper light flaring in the night sky. It wasn’t too luminous, like a dim candle through stained glass. It died out to reveal the winged creature landing in the clearing just outside the cottage. It was, to any acute observer, the same bird Jacinto had been playing with earlier. But instead of an almost entirely black cover of feathers it now showed a distinct line of reddish feathers on the underwings, shifting from a opaque tone to a brighter one towards the body. Its eyes where gleaming in red as well and the breast was crossed with green metallic hues. Most importantly, it had grown in size, its height as tall as Jacinto, and its wingspan twice as much.
"What the hell?" Raph blurted as he saw the giant red-eyed bird before Jacinto "Oookay. That's one big bird. Then again, why am not as surprised by it than I should be?"

“Did you eat a car or something?” Jacinto asked the bird, which lowered the wings and looked at the cottage. Jacinto turned.
“I think there is gold or silver somewhere. Alicantos can to find them easy… By the way, what is your name?” He asked the Auror.
Haverbouch eyed the massive bird with interest from the doorway. "Fascinating. I've heard of Alicantos before, but to see one in person is something else." He responded to Jacinto. "My name is Daniel Haverbouch, young mister Jacinto, I have been an Auror for the past fifty eight years."

The boy smiled jestingly. "You won't see another one, I am afraid. See you in a while." Jacinto laid a hand on the bird's moustache and sighed. "Odio esta parte...." He muttered, and then he muttered something else in a different language.
There was another flash, this one bronze-like. Then the bird and the boy disappeared, leaving behind only a crack on the ground the animal stood, a faint red light shimmering through it before vanishing in a few seconds.


Isolde

Where was he? She had decided to tell David that Rachel already knew. But now he was nowhere to be seen. She grabbed a drink and headed towards the room once more.

“I know what I did, Caitie. Amends? I can try to do what’s right from now on, but the past doesn’t change and it can’t be fixed or forgotten. I don’t know if you can relate.” Anton replied to Caitie. Isolde heard with interest that particular sentence. She could. Although she also wondered if Anton was dog-whistling Caitie about something. Finally she decided to approach them, then didn’t.

“I might as well have fun…” She muttered, and waved her wand.
A photographic camera materialized, hovering before her, and the witch grabbed it, passed the stripes around her neck, and checked the lens. She had bought it in Cardiff, and one of the photographers at the press told her a bit of how to use motographic devices. It seemed to work just fine, as she heard the click and the rolling of the film, which she imagined held now the moving registry of gossiping girls at the side of the nearby staircase.

“Let’s see if I can squeeze some Galleons.” Then pointed it towards the trio discussing in the drawing room. Another picture, this one of Caitie and Anton, Rachel hidden behind a couch, then she quickly turned, capturing some juggling teenager struggling to keep four and then five mini-Quaffles in the air, then Andrew standing by Ricardo, who explained something and seemed to crack a joke.

[Miekzhemy]

Rachel

The witch drummed her fingers on the tabletop she sat at, obviously too tired to have stood when Caitie went over. For a time, Rachel more or less remained in an awkward silence, briefly lost in thought as she looked down at her feet. She eventually looked back up as a floating tray passed by.

"What's done is done," Rachel said simply, "Might as well move on."

She picked up her now empty plate and set it on the tray, which promptly floated off to collect what other dishes and glasses the guests had to dispose of. Upon Caitie's mention of absinthe, the witch blinked. Though she showed no real outward emotion at first, it was obvious by her tone.

"Oh God..." Rachel rubbed her forehead. "You're going to try and get me blitzed again, aren't you?"

[Arlye Austros]

Ricardo

Seeing Caitie wasn’t really a surprise for him. After all she was the hostess. But it still unnerved Ricardo. He exchanged some words with Andrew for a few minutes, mostly about their expectations for that year, before he was dragged away by a group that he recognized were part of his little study group. After stuffing a platter with some rolls, sandwiches and Laptev Nuggets (extremely greasy but nicely spiced), he followed them to have a talk.
The group of eight sat on some couches in a room on a wing’s second floor. It wasn’t exactly quite, but the activity in the house had winded down enough for a peaceful conversation to take place.

“I will save it to the last. It’s a long story.” He replied to a Slytherin called Stephen, who said he was a brother of one of the students who survived alongside Ricardo the fight in the Potion’s room.
“Well, guess I will go then.” He began retelling his vacations. An average tale of a family trying to get some kind of rest after what happened. Ricardo looked outside, wondering where Jacinto was. He looked once more through the window. The silhouette of the Alicanto appeared in the night, hovering above the fields. A fleeting bronze reflection of the moonlight that soon vanished. At least no tremors for now. He also thought of Raphaël, had he even come to this party?

Ricardo’s Non-Summer Non-Vacations.

“Alright, your turn.” They told him.
“Very well. Let me quickly finish my drink.” He replied and soon left his glass dry on the table.

>>“I suppose it starts when I cross the Atlantic. I reached Buenos Aires through regular means. Immigration and all. But I was afraid the Kalku would come after me, so I quickly vanished into the countryside. If you need a notion of what a Kalku is, think of the Death-eaters. Except without a leader. They are still dangerous, and I had reasons to believe they would try to get me if they knew I was coming. So, I apparated here and there, until I got to the footing of the Andes. Got myself a horse and made the crossing.”

He paused, remembering the details of what followed. It felt so long ago. “After a couple of days I entered Chilean territory and found myself captured, just like that.” He snapped his fingers. “Turns out one of the wizarding families of the country was guarding the passage. Was their guest for a night. Odd people. But they helped me with supplies and some advice on how to go. Then I rode south, to my home. Barely apparating. Some days later I made it.”
“So, found your family?” A girl asked. He nodded.
“Nope. The house was burnt down and abandoned. I thought of setting base there, but they quickly got me. The Kalku, that is. I fought back, but it was fruitless. So they captured me and took me to the Lucerna.”

Stephen frowned. “The what?”
“You see… in that area there are two legendary ships. The most well-known is called Caleuche, and a minor one called Lucerna. Muggles call them ghosts ships, but they are much more. My people used them as detention vessels. If some kid misbehaved too badly for their parents to deal with them, they would just send them to sail. But the Kalku took over and used them differently, as schools. Lucerna for the younger students, Caleuche for older ones.“
“Doesn’t sound so bad.” A Ravenclaw said.
“On paper, no.” He interrupted him with a smirk. “But once I got into that ship I saw what it really was. They put me to scrape the main deck along with other students who were on detention. They told me most of them had to be overworked or were forced to exercise extreme cruelty on Muggle communities they sailed by, including using the Unforgivable Curses. Those students who failed in doing so would find themselves in some kind of lower category, and eventually they would become Invunche.”
Most in the group that listened to him were confused. However, a girl that was a friend of Ginny and had been part of his study group seemed to understand.
“That’s horrible…” She said with a hint of sadness.

“I am sorry… what is that?” Stephen asked again. She replied.
“An invunche is just a child that’s mindless, or at least unable to use their will. A slave in every sense of the word.”
“A battery too…” Ricardo added. “Much in the way William Darkenstone used his followers to power himself, a Kalku can use an Invunche to become more powerful. That is why they are so keen on getting their own.”
“But why make a school just for the sake of making those things?” Ginny’s friend said.
“Control…” Ricardo shrugged. “There is a theory that says Hogwarts was built to allow young wizards to explore their power without feeling outcasts and neglected. Otherwise they would risk becoming Obscurials. I believe the ships were used on the opposite way, to make sure they turned into Obscurials, and then trapping them into the Invunche state.” Ricardo recounted his theory before moving on. “I only spent a night there before they brought me down. And I had to stand trial to them, to the Righteous Province, as they call themselves…” He interrupted himself. It was a rather dark moment for him to remember, especially since it was the first time he saw his mother in years. “A part of them wanted to just kill me, saying I was a traitor. The other wanted to kill me slowly.” Stephen chuckled but Ricardo didn’t stop. “The latter were led by a man called F- …Ortiz. Turns out he was the man who took my brother as a baby and made him into an Invunche. And I believe he would have got his way was it not for a volcanic eruption.”

He quickly explained that a group of runaway students of the Lucerna who had been hiding in the wilds managed to gain a weapon. “It allowed them to manipulate the earth, unleash earthquakes and lava flows. And they used the smoke to conceal their attack. As I was still under the Imperius Curse I saw them taking the ship and storming the shore on which the trial was taking place. They knocked out the man holding me and then apparated me and others on board the Lucerna, then managed to escape with it.
So now they had a ship, but they couldn’t quite take control of it. Luckily, they had a Hogwarts student now.” He said praising the school “So I helped them sever the Province’s control over the Lucerna. In a few days we returned to their base, a cave in which their weapon was stored. And now we had to work on reverting the Invunche curse. Again, I helped them at this, as that is something I had been working at Hogwarts. It took some time and creativity, but a group of us managed to break free a boy from being an Invunche.”

Ricardo leaned back on the sofa, reaching for a glass that magically refilled with some sweet transparent substance. “So you and that people saved them all, right?” Stephen enquired.
“Nope. Not just like that. Maybe we could have done something right then, after breaking the boy free. I did believe that for sure…” He hesitated, seemingly ashamed. “I left them. I thought they were done and would win. But in reality the Province was looking for them, and for a way to control the weapon themselves… you see, the boy whom we rescued did say some things when he woke up, and he knew my mother and Ortiz. He told me where to find the man, and I wanted to get back at him for destroying my family… So I left to Isla de los Muertos, an island. There I found him being taken care by my own mother.”

“Sounds convenient.” The Ravenclaw rolled his eyes.
“I believe it was intended. Sergio, the boy, says he doesn’t recall saying that to me, but I do believe it was a memory implanted by my mother. She suspected something was to happen. Though she didn’t expect her own son to show up. She nearly strangled me to death. To be honest I did try to burn her.
Anyway, I digress. Ortiz had been wounded in the eruption, and my mother was already taking her revenge by keeping him barely alive. She had been inflicting pain on the man for two weeks by the time I showed up. In the end we had him eaten alive by maggots.”

He recalled the earth tore apart, vomiting legs and stings that quickly reached for the screaming old man. He couldn’t contain his lips from drawing a faint smile. “My mother was a part of the Province. She joined to stay alive, and she told me what they planned. They would find an artifact that would allow them to control the weapon the students had and bring the mountain on top of them. The students knew too, and one of them, Julia, left with the ship Lucerna to stop them. But the other ship, Caleuche, chase her back into a bay. I left my mother and went to help them. From there we snuck into the island they looked for the artifact, and only got out alive thanks to my mother showing up, creating a distraction and being captured for us to leave.

When we returned with the ship to the hideout Julia was dying from her wounds and the Province chased us all the way there. When she died I took control of the ship and we made a defense, keeping control of the artifact and the weapon.
I swear, all those things that happened in Hogwarts taught me how to survive in what came then. Our cannons could barely hurt the Caleuche, and the Kalku were able to apparate on the deck, each one harnessing the power of three or four Invunche. Each one taking at least six of us to fend off. We managed, still, to lure the ship on to a cliff, and the leader of the students, Oscar, used the weapon to bring it down on the Caleuche. Then we turned and shot every shot we had on it. We boarded the Caleuche and killed or stunned every Kalku we could find, confused as they were, then broke free every captive still alive and every Invunche we could control. Then we pulled back to the cove.”

“And now you were trapped like mice…” The Ravenclaw once more interrupted, but once more, he was somewhat right. Ravenclaws…
“Yes. Our ship was badly damaged, the Caleuche was still more powerful and now we had to deal with a dozen furious Invunche that we couldn’t just kill because that would be wrong.”
There was a general laugher, if somewhat awkward.
“Not to mention that Oscar was killed in the action. So now we were leaderless and the uncontrolled weapon was tearing down the mountain on our heads. Luckily some of us were able to keep everyone calmed. Then the Province offered to parley. We boarded the Lucerna and escaped the cove, then faced the Province.”
“So? What did they offer?” The girl asked.

“Nothing, really. They demanded the ship, the artifact and the Invunche back, the rest would be allowed to live… We didn’t have much of a choice, really, but many of the students had just gained a glimmer of hope of recovering some of their brothers and sisters. So I had to go and figure a way out. Then they sent their emissary: My mother.”
“She said she had to come back with the artifact at least, as they had forced her to take an Unbreakable Vow. I couldn’t refuse now, so I gave it to her. Then she… She destroyed it. I am still not sure how she did it, but it just burned on her hands. Then she collapsed on the side of her boat and into the sea.”
The group was silent, Ricardo just realizing he had narrated his mother’s death for the first time in... perhaps ever. He decided to interrupt it. “Somehow that made the Caleuche unresponsive to the Province, and we managed to sail the Lucerna away. For a while we wandered the sea, trying to figure out what to do next. Finally, we buried those we couldn’t save. I still was in control of the ship, and made sure the weapon wouldn’t be used ever, then we headed north, to the Guatemaltecan coast, and used the ship’s abilities to travel to the Atlantic ocean. Then back here.”

“So…” Stephen interjected after a while. “Are you planning to fill Hogwarts with dozens of people like you and sit a ship at The Lake?”
He smiled. That had certainly been the plan at some point. “And let Avery have my toy? No, the ship will sail around Britain for the time being. Only I will go to Hogwarts. And I am thinking of actually becoming a professor.”
“Lame…” Somebody joked.
“Sure. But I believe the Kalku were almost entirely wrong. A school will be good to fix our country, make the Invunche unlikely to be made again, and maybe even dispute Castellobruxo’s hegemony in the region. Besides, I think I am not half-incompetent on that.”

There was a general chuckle as he finished. “No… you were a mediocre teacher. Still better than some.” They replied. But then Ricardo’s attention went elsewhere, as he looked over the window.

It looked almost as a flash from a photographic camera. But it had a differing tone and lasted slightly longer. All too familiar for him. Ricardo leaned on the window and looked down, at a garden between the lake-side wing of the house and a group of bushes and separated it from a road leading to the outflow of the lake.

“¡Jaz! ¿Hiciste a Weñü escurrirse?” He asked at the figure that crossed the garden. His cousin looked up.
”Jaz. Did you have Weñü squeez through?”
“Hmmm…. ¿No?” ”Hmmm… No?”
“¿Y que te dije? Podí dejar la caga’a. ¿Dónde está?””And what did I tell you? You could mess it up. Where is he?”
Jacinto pointed to the sky, and Ricardo spotted the blacks shadow eclipsing the night sky. “¡Sube!””Come upstairs!”

A minute later a frantic Jacinto started explaining he had found Raph and Madi, and that they had gone to a cabin in the woods to find Derek. That is when he stopped his cousin, as they talked in a corner.
“No me importa si te poní a wevear. Pero escurrirse puede dejar la grande. Ahora tengo que decirle.””I don’t care you messing around, but squeezing through can make a big mess. Now I got to tell her.”
“¿A Catie?”
Ricardo nodded, but Jacinto didn’t stop and began retelling what had happened, and explained a man called Haverbouch would want to talk to him on the pier. That was unexpected. But he cared about Derek, and Jacinto revealed he was imprisoned short after the fight.

“Stephen…” He interrupted a chattering going on at the sofas.
“So, who’s that?” He asked, eyeing Jacinto.
“My cousin. Would you mind keeping an eye on him. He’s done enough stupid for the night and I need to go do something. Will be back in a minute.”
“Sure… Just don’t leave me to babysit all night.”
Jacinto protested. “I’m fourteen!”
Ricardo left his cousin to explain, leaving the discussion and going downstairs. Caitie… He needed to avoid her at all cost. Now what had he read about Occlumency in the ship? Empty from emotions, right.

[Skylus]

-

[United Democratic Christian States]

David

Why do I always end up with the overly drunk friend at the parties?

”Yeah Gray can be a lot to handle, but I have got to say there ain’t many things better than having a rager at Avery’s mansion!” he said, gesturing to a house elf to pour him a shot.

”However you my friend, need to slow down on the liquor before I have to carry you to St. Mungo’s myself” he said trying to grab the firewhiskey out of Ed’s hand. And please stop calling me Daniel, he thought before seeing Isolde with a camera.

Hoping Isolde could help him escape Ed he tried to gesture for her with a “help me” look on his face.

[Arlye Austros]

Isolde

She had been clicking through the party, taking random pictures. Most of the time she stealthily snuck up to a group of students who were only aware of Isolde’s presence after the flash stun them for a heartbeat. But after a couple of friends smiled as she took the picture of the girls did she notice David.

“Finally…” She muttered, and pointed the camera towards him just as he made a gesture. She then walked up to him. It seemed he was stuck with Ed Wilson, who seemed well beyond his healthy dose of Butterbeer.
“Hi Dave! I was wondering if you would show up.” She said before hugging him. “Ed… you seem like you are about to collapse.” Isolde smirked. “You might want to take things more easy.”

But she wasn’t about to babysit a drunken student. She looked back at her boyfriend. “I spoke to Rachel…” Isolde muttered.


Ricardo

She wasn’t around to be seen. Ricardo couldn’t decide if that was good or bad. Upon stepping on the entrance of the main hall there was a flash. But he didn’t pay any attention and walked outside, looking around before moving on to the direction of the pier. His cousin would have to explain later on. He looked up, still mildly furious. The shadow hovered above, eclipsing stars as it passed by.

“Come down!” He commanded before walking towards the lake. Weñü came down and flapped its wings before standing on his shoulder. It had recently shrunk, and it was again darkened with soft emerald hues. It was also warm, almost hot, as if the metal had been bent several times. An Auror! Nothing less than an Auror! The last thing he needed was the government sniffing into the Lucerna. He felt frustrated as he reached the sight of the lake and looked down at the pier.

[Sarenium]

---

The Alathors
Summer 2023

---

Anthali Alathor sat in the living room, looking up at the wall with anxious calmness. It had been two weeks since the one-year anniversary. The Alathor Estate was a warm place, normally, in the past year it had fallen into relative disrepute. The once lively party scene now silent. What was once home to four people became home to two. His grandmother didn't wear anything other than black anymore. He himself looked at the Prefect Badge in anger and frustration. Professor Longbottom's decision to give it to him was an honor as much as it was a burden. He watched the fire crackle gently as he looked up at the moving image of his whole family from three generations ago. Taken a few days before his grandfather had died at Grindelwald's hands.

He heard a familiar noise behind him as his grandmother walked over. Lady Purple was an old nickname, now she was far too dark in clothing for it. Anthali had spent the summer in isolation from his friends and classmates as he set to rebuilding the poolhouse by hand. The family's wealth could have done it, his grandmother could wave her wand and fix it, instead Anthali fixed it himself, by hand. With brick. And mortar. Two days had passed since the completion of the poolhouse. It had fallen in due to age. Anthali said nothing as his equally silent grandmother sat besides him. As she sat he heard a familiar crunch. She stood abruptly and frowned, grumbling, "again."

Anthali swiftly stood, calmly and raised his wand, "Oculus Reparo," he uttered with boredom as the glasses mended. His grandmother placed them on and sat down.

"I could have done it myself," she said with a sense of cruelty in her voice.

Anthali sat back down, lifting the book from it's place on the coffee table, "probably," he replied curtly.

The two returned to their sheer solitude, Anthali reading and Lady Pitch as the Daily Prophet had called her two weeks ago when they reported the 'tragic joint suicide last year', simply stared into the fire, raising her wand and seeming to move thin animated fire figurines into some sort of action. Anthali paid no attention to it, an old woman's amusements did little to bring anything but annoyed distractions to Anthali. He much preferred the book. 1984, some muggle concoction, alas it served as productive entertainment. Then the fire calmed down, and Anthali turned, whatever was played out ended in a solitary Phoenix made of fire, then it collapsed into the fire and Anthali turned to his grandmother, she had fallen asleep mid-spell. Anthali's lips showed the gentlest of smiles at the edges as he closed his book, he whipped out his wand and the blanket lifted from the couch arm and landed gently on his grandmother as he turned to the fire, whipping his wand again and in one fell motion, extinguishing it at once.

[World Anarchic Union]

Anton Valgerth Hurt

After Caitie had spoken to him he had simply nodded, and waited as more and more people arrived, seemingly half the wizarding world were pumping into the Estate. He hadn’t drunk absinthe before so he had no idea how the drink would affect him. To be fair, he hadn’t drunk much at all so the sensation was mostly unknown to him. Also mostly unknown were the people that had gathered in the room, many of them students at Hogwarts that he had seen once or twice in the past but hadn’t interacted much beyond a meeting at a corridor between classes. He hadn’t seen that many new faces in a long time.

[Segral]

Ed Wilson

"Naaaaaaaaaah..." Ed drawled out as Daniel pulled the bottle out of his grasp, feeling the world tilt on its axis as he leaned forward with an unsteady lurch deep enough to force him to grab the edge of the drink's table to prevent himself from falling face-first onto the hardwood floor. "I'm -hic- fine, I'm fine! I could probably -hic- fly a whole Quidditch game right now, I could score with three Quaffles in one hand, and fffffffour in the other! Grey could never..." he trailed off, before immediately grunting with effort as he attempted to push off the table and right himself on his feet. The move was successful, even if it left him queasily rocking on his heels somewhat as he watched Darren and the crowd swirl all around him. He didn't feel that nauseous, but maybe Demeter had a point. Too much alcohol would make him drunk, and wouldn't that be a disaster! He had never really gotten drunk in his life! Tipsy yes, but never drunk. Besides, alcohol was no delight at all when you drank too much of it, he should slow down, relax, watch the crowds of people. There was someone juggling Quaffles over there, another person dancing on a table...and a camera?

He only caught a brief look at the mechanical camera before a stray beam of light reflected off of the lens and into his eyes, causing him to spew out a string of curses and instinctively scrunch his eyes closed, balling his fists and furiously beginning to rub them as he hunched over. His eyes felt hot, and the greenish spots behind his lids kept dancing and dancing in circles, causing his head to spin even further than it already had. He could vaguely hear someone saying his name in one ear, but Lord above if he could recognize who in His name it was. It sounded like a girl, it held very soft, feminine tones...but it could also be a soft, feminine man. Maybe it was both? He had to open both of his eyes to see if that was true.

Finally peeling his eyes open at last with a slight grumble, he was met with the familiar sight of the party, and somewhere to his right, the somewhat blurred forms of Daniel, and his girlfriend...Isabel? Isabel. She had the camera...UGH, that damn camera! He wanted to smash that camera into a million pieces, scatter every part across the United Kingdom. How easy would it be? He was having trouble speaking much, but he could do non-verbal magic very well. Or perhaps he could act like a Muggle, make a valiant slap at the camera instead. One swat, and he would send the camera flying into the drinks table, and smash the drinks too, and create one massive heap of wreckage! If he couldn't take care of Grey, he could certainly take care of this.

And yet, as he stepped forward towards Ishtar to take a swat at the camera, a word caught his ear, causing his senses to stir. "Rachel". Rachel, Rachel, Rachel...

"Rachel?" he piped in confusedly, stopping in his tracks to look back and forth between Delgado and Isla with the slightest hint of recognition on his face. "Where's Rachel? Where'd she go? Why didn't she say hello to me?"