Hogwarts: Year Five - The Calm Before the Storm [IC/OPEN]

[The Flutterlands]

Alexander Markus

After Alex signed his name on the paper, he listened to the others give their own thoughts. He frowned a little as there was lot of criticism about the idea of this army, especially from his friends. Looking down in thought, Alexander realized that many of them were right. This was a dangerous game they were playing that could get them killed. It required secrecy, selectiveness and cunning.

"Considering all that has been said, many of you have point." Alex said calmly, "First off, allowing first years should be out of the question. I dont think we should exclude muggleborns, that would be stupid. However we need to be careful with age. The minimum should at least be third year at bare, but even that's stretching it. Not to mention only our most trusted friends should be allowed."

Alex looked around the room and took several steps. "Second, this can't be like a one night stand." He continued, "The first army had the Room of Requirement that offered training sessions that they spent nearly the whole year using. We don't have a lot of time, yet we are going to need something similar to work with. We are going to need to work hard to make sure we can defend our selves in every way possible.

Alexander then sighed as the idea he had weeks ago came back to his head. He still didnt like it, but thought he should share it anyway. "Third, and finally, and I have been thinking of this for a while, we are going to need to know who our enemies are." He concluded in a mist caustic voice, "I have had thoughts of planting a spy in the Muggleborn supremacist groups. Someone to get involved in their activities and report back to us. Yet to do that successfully, we may have to break every rule written since the days of the Orginal Hogwarts Four. It will be also the most dangerous task that I cursed myself for even having it. ...Thoughts on all that?"

Raphael Raymond

Raph signed his name after Alex did and watched as students began to bicker among each other. They were all right with their criticism of this stupid army. This is not like the days of Umbridge with a single known enemy aside from Voldemort. The muggleborn terrorists extended across all houses and some might even be what few friends he had. Which was actually why he stopped seeing them to begin with. However, some of them had weird thoughts, particularly Isolde.

"I don't actually have any relatives here, Isolde." He said, giving her a look, "I'm muggleborn, remember? As for going against my own kind, I have lost all sense of kinship with the terrorists, whoever they may be. They have attacked both my boyfriend and myself. That is enough to not give a fuck about what relations I have with them. They are my enemies and that's enough for me. The same could be said by all muggleborns affected by the attacks."

[Skylus]

Madi

Madi listened to Alex and then spoke.

"Nobody goes near the cliff. You know, the one that overlooks the lake? We could meet there next, I guess. About the spy thing...you do know that it could go very wrong, right? I agree with limiting the entrance year to third and up, but we've got to protect the younger ones, too. They didn't ask for this. None of us did, but we need to deal with it now before it gets even worse."

Madi nodded as others began to sign the paper and walked over to it again.

"Problem is....Just how far are we wiling to go......"

[Arlye Austros]

Isolde

She listened to Raph and Alex, noticing they were calmer than she got to expect at some point.

“I am not really talking about you, Raph, but of others who might find themselves in such predicament. All those who are targeted by this violent group will find it easy to stay on this side, I think. The others will at least be approached and tempted to betray us. I would bet all will at least once be called out. I don-t doubt your commitment to this cause. However you have to admit I have made my point as to why we have to be selective.”

A bit tired about the topic, she switched. “And yes. I would say younger students will be a burden rather than an asset. I am sorry, boys and girls, but I suppose it’s better if you stay out.” She said looking at the younger students. Her eyes landed on the beaten up Quidditch player. “Want to do something useful? Stick together and make sure others won’t feed the ranks of whoever attacked us.”

With that, Isolde’s eyes passed by David’s. She then walked towards the front, and signed the paper. As she passed by Alex and Raph, she forced a smile. “Again, I don’t doubt your loyalties. But you all have to be ready to question everything, and have it put to the test.”



Ricardo

Ricardo walked to the paper and signed, returning to his seat, but as time was made he made an intervention.
“Younger students could be useful as well. They could make good spies, if they are smart. I agree they can’t be left aside just like that, and we will have to help them protect themselves.”

He looked at Madi. “While Older students get ready for whatever fight may ensue, some should also prepare the younger ones to fight back. While it may take time and resources, it can’t be counterproductive. However they have to stay out of any fight they can walk away from. As for the cliff… Is there any chance we can carve a cave beneath it? Perhaps an underwater entrance, you know, through the lake. I think it can be done and could make it less obvious to the naked eye.”

[Skylus]

Madi

"Uh...The cliff has an overhang that juts out over the lake a bit...We could try carving a room into it....Yeah, that could work. If need be, we could also some how carve an underwater entrance too."

Madi then stopped talking and turned to Rachel.

"Sorry if I've been deciding everything for you. You want to say something?"

[Halonica]

Alteran Ashfield

All the Brigadiers signed their names on the paper, one after the other. Afterwards, Alteran looked at Madi strangely as she insisted they carve a room into the side of the cliff that overlooked the lake. In response, he spoke, "That.... sounds like a bit too much work, and I doubt our carving would go unnoticed. It's not exactly a clean or soundless process, no matter what magic you use. Why not just find a nice little spot in the Forbidden Forest and put up a camp there? Stick up some wards to keep creatures away, put up some tarps and tents to keep the rain out, and keep a few Cold Fire torches lit, and see where thing go for there. We'd have much more space to work with, concerning practicing spells and such." Adelaine, on the other hand, addressed Alex, "Putting a spy into the ranks of the supremacists would be... difficult. Dangerous is nothing; we've all signed up for this, we already know the danger. But to get a spy, or multiple spies into their networks......" She paused for a moment, then switched tracks, speaking up loudly, "Um.. I'm sorry to interrupt! But, well, while I agree that the first and second years can't fight alongside us, I don't think that means they shouldn't be able to join the Army. The younger students are inconspicuous; as long as they're careful, they can overhear lots of information from people in public, and relay that information to us. When they aren't doing that, we ought to be teaching them spells to protect themselves, in case the supremacists try to attack them and none of us older students are nearby to help." Having said her spiel, the young teen looked about the room to see if anyone agreed with her sentiments.

[The Flutterlands]

Alexander Markus

Alex turned to Madi and smiled. "The cliff by the lake could actually work, yeah." he said enthusiastically, "I agree as well that we need to protect the younger students. So we may need to triple the prefect duty. I have already suggested each having a partner. As for my spy idea, I need to work it out. We may not need spy, but rather someone to interrogate. I have a number of troublemaking names we could look into for that. We need to do something ether way. As the saying goes knowing your enemy is crucial to defeating them."

Alex glanced at Ricardo and Alterian as they suggested using the kids as spies. He thought about it before sitting down and sighing "That idea is among the ones I fear most considering how dangerous these terrorist are." Alexander replied, "The Muggleborn Supremacists must be really organized with how good they are and they have been acting. I had my friends throughout the houses try to pick stuff up, but I think they wised up to it quickly considering how little I got. Mmmm... Maybe we could use the younger kids if we keep watch... We could also use the forest if not the cliff. Ether or is good..."

Alex glanced at Rachel. "What do you think, being our leader?" He asked.l calmly.

Raphael Raymond

Raph continued to listen to Isolde and sighed. "You're right. We should be selective." he sighed before thinking, "Perhaps we could go with Alex's idea of only letting our closest friends join. It will be a friend of friends sort of club, like the last Army. That way we would already have reason to trust one another. We just got to watch out for each other..."

Raph turned to the others. They were talking about espionage and searching for a base of operations. "I know a couple places we could check out." said the Muggleborn, before pondering for a moment, as if out of reluctance, "There are quite a few caves around the Hogwarts grounds and close by Hogsmead. I know one in particular I found flying around and like to hide in from time to time... Could we use that?"

Marcus

As the students talked among each other, the door opened as a late-comer finally walked in. Marcus heard about a meeting, but he didn't know where it would be in Hogsmead. For a couple hours he wandered around the village till finally checking out the Hog's Head. Feeling embarrassed about arriving so late, Marcus merely waved to his friends while sitting in the very back. As the chatter continued, he didn't say a word.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

Celene

when all your friends were murmering about a meeting, it wasn't hard for someone with at least some form of brain in her head to get the jist of what was going on; and Celene knew before she was properly told that it needed to happen. Most days now it felt like she was the one person with the shield charm between groups of warring muggleborn supremacists and pureblood supremacists; or more commonly between groups of muggleborn supremacists and groups of innocents who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She was very good at her shield charm, and had somehow, managed to hold quite a few of the fights apart until a member of staff could show up and end them once and for all.
In addition, she was pissed off. If the name 'burnside' meant anything apart from her sisters extracurricular activities, it meant quiddich...now she couldn't even do that. At least at the moment she led the team, possibly the school, in goals and would probably be given the captaincy next year; now nobody had a chance to beat her. But still, not being able to fly was annoying to say the least.

So Celene had entered the hogs head with the rest of them, bought a butterbeer and sat down, keeping quiet; mainly trying to keep away from Derek and Madi. Whether Derek knew that she was never fooling around and that she actually loved him she didn't know, however to be thrown away like that had hurt her more than she was willing to admit; it made her wonder how much Derek had always seen her sister when he looked at her. But she couldn't think of that right now, their was an army to form, and she had to make her point...if it embarrassed Derek, so be it.
"Myself and Derek know all too well that their are some...unsavery individuals who seem to be making their camp in the forest," she spoke up. "But I agree we need to find somewhere to base ourselves. I like Raph's idea...a cave, or a place in hogsmead. I know that their are places that are for sale around here...houses and things, I'm sure we could afford between us to purchase one. A few protective charms and we have our own purpose-built headquarters."
Marcus spoke up then, he was speaking from the back but his voice carried well, due to its strange, forceful and clear qualities. He was shaking his head and looking towards the younger students, evidently having an idea.
"Regarding the younger students," he spoke up. "They are not as well-trained as we are, and that is precisely the problem. When we were their age, we had Professor Gleen risking our lives every few weeks. If we didn't learn to fight quickly, we'd be part of the colatoral damage of Gleen's personal war with sanety.
But I agree that we can't have them fighting on the front line. I do not mean to offend, but the shield wall is only as strong as its weakest member; when we are fighting we have to be absolutely sure that none of us are going to forget how a basic shield charm works. What I propose is we form both an army and a militia; the army is us...I'd suggest 4th year up, and the militia is everybody under 4th year as well as anybody who doesn't feel comfortable with offensive fighting. They could learn defencive spells." He took a look around the room, nodding at a few people as he did. "Can somebody tell me why, in a period of instability, this school thinks that it is acceptable that people don't learn the basic shield charm first? It's absolutely ridiculous, it's as if they want to make easy targets."

Celene nodded her approval to Marcus' comment. "I agree," she told the room at large, "Wemay not want the first and second years fighting, but we can make sure they can protect themselves and not become easy pickings. Now...I've gotten quite good at shield charms and defencive magic over the last few months, because I don't want you killing one another. I'll be joining the army, of course...but I also volunteer to instruct younger students on self-defence so they can at least get away without having their faces rearranged."

[Miekzhemy]

Rachel

Whatever she said, she must have said it right. One by one, everyone began lining up to sign their name on the paper she had set out. A smile crept over her face, hardly even responding to the discussions going on around her. When everyone (who was willing to) had signed the paper, it came back to her. Taking up a quill, she signed her name - 'Rachel Ackerley' - in large but eloquent cursive at the very top. McGonagall's Army.

"Don't worry," she said to Alex. "I've thought ahead."

"In fact," Rachel said, raising her voice as to get everyone's attention again. She sat back down. "I've taken the majority of what you lot have brought up into consideration already."

She waited patiently for everyone to quiet down.

"I don't want this group to be centered around simply fighting anything that causes trouble. We are to be keepers of the peace, working to solve our internal issues in a dignified manner. If we rush to resort to violence, we run the risk of becoming the very thing we strive to stand against."

"However!" she added. "There are times when negotiation isn't possible. Which brings me to the mentions of age restrictions."

Rachel gave a quick glance to each of the more older students in the room, including the prefects. "I will not force anyone to fight. This is a school-oriented group, not an army of conscripts. Our primary focus is the well-being of the children and of one another," she continued. "The notion is simple - look out for your youngers and for each other. The only way we can persevere through times like this is to work together and watch each other's backs. With time, we may gain the reputation among our peers and encourage more to join in on our efforts."

"Also, you lot may have noticed the rumors of a certain 'study group' being held in this very room. I didn't mask this meeting as a study session for OWLs simply to be discreet. Just as I expressed the importance of looking out for one another, this includes making sure every one of us has the capabilities to protect themselves and those around them. Simply put - work on your shield charms, your DADA spells. And share your ideas. Use your talents for the good of your peers. If I have the time, I'm more than willing to help any of you in your work. I hope to host study meetings as often as my schedule would allow me to."

"Which brings me to what you lot mentioned as a designated meeting place," she said, leaning back in her chair and clasping both hands together. "Since I'm obviously not rich, using places like these is out of the question for me. I paid enough galleons getting this meeting together anyways. But I'll keep you informed when I can get an official place for everyone to gather, either for study sessions or whatever demands our attention."

Rachel kept speaking. It was as if she was going off a mental checklist. "And finally," she started up once more, her voice lowering to that of a much more serious tone. "And I want to make this crystal clear..."

"Not a single mention of this meeting is to be brought up outside of this room. I cannot stress the importance of discretion any more than I am now. Should the staff of the school get word of what we're conspiring, they would have all of our heads."

"But!" Rachel said sternly before anyone in the room even had time to respond. She held up a finger. "I am not forcing any of you into anything." She picked up the paper displaying the list of signatures. "This is a sheet of paper. Not an Unbreakable Vow. If anyone decides that they no longer want to associate themselves with such a group for any reason, you are free to leave whenever you wish and go about your business. Trust is a two-way street, and I am more than willing to place my trust in all of you. I only hope that you can do the same for not just me, but for each other."

"You - all of you - are an amazing group of people. And I couldn't ask for anyone better to stand with and protect, even if I run myself ragged in doing so. Before I entered this school, my dad would tell me jaw-dropping stories about his time here. I want us to be able to reshape this school into the amazing place that it was in years past. And if you're with me, it's your choice."

With that, Rachel leaned back in her chair again, letting out a single sigh.

"And it always will be."

[Greater vakolicci haven]

Celene

"Let me volunteer to fund our meeting places for at least the first few Sessions," Celene spoke up, softly but with a definite certainty in her voice. "Despite what some of you may believe...with different degrees of reason...I am not my sister. If I can, I avoid fighting wherever possible...but even I realise that their are times, like now, when we may have to fight."
She took a long swig from her butterbeer and placed it down on the table with a loud clunk. "Being a pacefist at durmstrang was not easy, as you can probably imagine...I'm probably the best of us at strictly defencive spells. Not going to lie," she laughed, "I'm shit at offensive stuff, and I mean properly shit...but I'm happy to teach all the younger students how to do things like shile charms and the like."

[The Flutterlands]

Alexander Markus

Alexander listened to Rachel when she spoke and smiled. Ether the girl was a mind reader or great minds truly do think alike. For they both seemed to have the same ideas on this army. However, there was still some questions to be answered. "What about the Muggleborn supremacists?" asked Alex, "Our mission against them should be at least to find ways to counteract them. We can't allow another incident like the Qudditch match to happen again. Stop the damage before it happens. Suggestions?"

Alexander then turned to Celene and gave her a rather plain look. Truly he did come to recognize the witch as a completely different person than her sister. However, the similarities still creeped him out. " We could use every once of help we can get from our volunteers." Said Alex, the more people keeping the little guys safe, the better."

The Slytherin then blinked in remembrance before turning to Raphael. " Hey, Raph, you're good at curses and jinxes." he said, "Think you could help out Celene in teaching those moves to the kids? We have worked hard on the patronis as well since third year... Also, that cave, perhaps if you show us, we could use that as a good hiding place for operations."

Raphael Raymond

Raphael nodded at Rachel's suggestions, blushing slightly at how pretty she was. He kept most things to himself in his privacy. Thus the Muggleborn had no issue with keeping the whole army thing as secret. So along with having little interest in actually fighting despite his talents with dark spells, everything was good. This whole army thing might actually prove to be fun. Still he was disappointed no one yet caught on to his cave idea.

At least no one except Alex. Raphael smiled weakly at him, blushing at his handsomeness with hands clutching a now completed Rubic's Cube. "U-uhhh... Sure, I could help teach kids about my magic. Not exactly a great teacher though. " said Raph, "We could check out the cave too, unless others have there own ideas."

[Arlye Austros]

Ricardo

The idea of the cave actually cought his mind. It could be harder to make it so, but it would also be easier for anyone to simply walk into their camp in the forest, regardless of the protection.

“I think even both can be done.” He said as the discussion over the meeting place happened. Ricardo looked at Raphaël. “I I am up for checking that cliff, see if we can do something. In any case, I need to rust-out that home-magic. If I can make it right, I can give us some advantage in the meeting place, and even conceal it in a way most people would be unable to undo.”

However he frowned at Alex. “That reminds me I don’t even know the Patronus. But I am uncertain how useful it will be, I don’t imagine Dementors siding with Muggleborn extremists.”

Isolde

Answering to Alex’s inquiry, Isolde crossed her arms again. “I suppose keeping four eyes open. A network of intelligence. Not necessarily spies, but just people willing to report anything odd. Sounds unspecific, but without risking anyone’s neck, that’s the best I can come up with.”
She thought about it for another second. “Perhaps something more oriented to quick response. Find a way any attack can be countered almost as it starts. We can’t apparate in Hogwarts, that’s the main issue. But still, there must be ways we can intervene against them before they can make terrible damage.”

Her argument about Muggleborn was seemingly lost, and she was doubly frustrated. First for losing it, secondly for even bringing it up. It was wrong, she knew. But it also seemed wrong to her not to do it. “I must go back to study, Rachel. You have my support, just so you know.” She said before turning to the exit, and crossing the door before shutting it close. She then sat nearby, on an abandoned chair, thinking.

[Britanania]

Some Time Later in Early April

Matters seemed to have quieted around the school, an almost unnatural quiet that would make anyone instantly cautious. It was clear that this was not a regular peace, but one manufactured. Yes, part of that was in part because for upperclassmen end of the year exams were rapidly approaching. Still, the miasma of doubt lingered over the entire student body and the staff as they continued their days in the semblance of normalcy.

As Caitie walked from her class to the Dungeons, her mind turned to the uneasiness in the air.

This just feels like the calm before the storm, she mused grimly and tightened her grip on her books.

[United Democratic Christian States]

[Colab post between me and Arlye Austros]

David & Isolde

Army Meeting

He saw Isolde leave just as it seemed tensions had been resolved, which gave him the opportunity to quickly sign his name and his farewell to the group.

Once he walked out he was slightly surprised to see her in a seat right outside of the room.

He walked up to her and took a seat besides her.

"Interesting meeting huh?" he said trying to make some conversation.

"Yeah" she replied almost grumpily.

Curious, David persued further.

"W-what's wrong?"

Isolde quickly faced David.

I-"Back there, in the meeting, why didn't you support me?"

D-"O-oh erm...I uh don't exactly agree with banning muggleborns from joining."

I-"After everything? Including the bombing on the both of us?"

D-"We both know those were extremist."

I-"Sure, but those same extremist could infiltrate and destroy the Army if we allow them!"

D-"So forcing them to the sideline is the sideline is the answer? No! If these people wanna help the cause then they should! Hell we are outnumbered anyway!"

I-"How could we trust them!"

D-"I-I don't know!"

I-"Well then why should I?" Isolde concluded before storming off leaving David dumbfounded in the Hogs Head.

[The Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune]

Henry

Henry shivered. Though it was April, this corner of the dungeons always felt cold. Rumor has it that this is where the Hellsturm, a rarely seen hogwarts ghost cloaked in shadow and smoke, had been murdered one Samhaelin night centuries ago. Regardless, no one came back here, except with secretive intentions, and there was a thieve's agreement not to talk about what went on. Though his limited informants in Gryffindor were fairly confident on the leadership of the MBS, Henry wanted a second opinion. Plus, it couldn't hurt to know how Ackerly operated in the near future. It might even be of use to him some day. That brought a small smile to Henry's face.

He leaned against a wall, crossed his arms, and waited for Rachel to show up.

[Miekzhemy]

Rachel

The first Army meeting proved fruitful almost immediately. However, everyone could agree that the peace that followed, if it deserved to be called that, was tense. For Rachel, it was nearly impossible to focus on her own studies over the next few days. Not simply because of of the dangers that may lurk around every corner, but the well-being of everyone else. Perhaps it may be one of those animal instincts Derek spoke about in animagi, but she couldn't help but feel wary.

There was a storm coming, and she could practically feel it.

Currently, Rachel marched through the dungeons and past the old Potions classroom. Henry had wanted to speak with her about something. But about what, specifically, she had yet to find out. She turned at a fork in the hallway and found herself feeling frigid.

And there he was, leaning against a nearby wall, like some street dealer. The atmosphere more or less complimented the occasion. If they were to be secretive, this was the place.

"This better be good," she said curtly, arms hidden beneath the warmth of her cloak.

[The Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune]

Henry

Henry reached into his cloak, it's silvery insides briefly flashing as light hit them before Henry took his hand out of it's depths, a small piece of parchment in his grasp. Holding it out to Rachel, Henry said "This is a small list of people who are likely the upper leadership of this damned movement. Most of them are ignorable, like Dunston, Reynolds, and Barklay. What little information I am getting seems to point towards Fowler being the head of this whole operation, but, given that these are fanatics we are dealing with, Info is hard to come by and anything we do have could be a frame job. That's mostly why I called you here today. Compare notes and stuff."

[The Flutterlands]

Alexander Markus

Alex was walking out of potions with Raph in tow. His eyes kept on the crowd of students, the prefect had his wand ready in case the worse came. Despite long eerie peace this whole month, Alexander was not one to get complacent. The Army was made to avoid complacency after all and Alex was determined to be ready to protect the younger students at all cost.

Can't let my guard down. thought Alexander, eyeing a couple familiar muggleborns known to cause trouble, These attackers have become unpredictable…

Alex bit his lip with a small scowl as he made his way through the crowds. As he walked towards Slytherin Dungeon, Alexander looked at his notes and sighed remembering that OWLs were getting closer and closer by the day. He looked around and smiled brightly upon seeing Caitie. Tapping Raph on the shoulder to make him follow Alex walked towards hid fellow prefect. “Caitie, how are you doing?” he greeted the witch in a friendly manor, “Think we should could and together revise
each other’s notes for the exams coming up?”

Raphael Raymond

Raphael left potions class, stifling through his book of messy notes taken during the two hours. The continuing peace since the Hufflepuff attack felt more ominous than actually peaceful. To the muggleborn, with the formation of the second army, the peace felt more like a deep breath before the plunge. Something was bound to happen sooner or later.

Alex is right. If only we could get more involved in these terrorist organizations. We could stop them right there and then. thought Raph, before frowning at his notes, Damn my writing sucks. Got to stop making my Ss look like 3s and vice versa.

Raphael sighed, putting his notes away so to play with his Rubik’s cube on the way. Getting close to Slytherin Dungeon, Raph looked up with a jolt upon the sudden tapping from Alex. Following his boyfriend, the Muggleborn flushed deep red upon seeing the beautiful witch. “Y-yeah… Sure… we should revise” said Raph nervously, “Want to do so at the Common Room or the library?”

[Britanania]

Caitie

The quarter-Veela witch stopped and turned to the two characters hailing her from afar. She blinked a few times before replying in her crisp upper-class accent.

"I was just on my way to revise myself," she said with a nod. "I don't see the harm in doing so with you two. All right, then, let's make our way over."

Of course the OWLs were on everyone's minds, although Caitie was still preoccupied with other matters. She hadn't been sleeping well and was relying on potions to put her out, plagued by reoccurring dreams of her time imprisoned.

The bloody Muggle Borns here stirring up trouble for everyone, she silently mused as they made their way to the Dungeon.

[True Christopia]

Nathaniel Bulmer

Three fifteen. Package. Hogsmeade. Pruneberries.

Those were the things Nathaniel had swirling through his head over and over, buzzing like bees as he stood beside a pole, tapping his foot impatiently. Of course, he wasn't without back-up - but that was just the thing. He hadn't been told how many people would be protecting him, but he recognised at least twenty standing around. What was so important about this package?

Eventually, the time came. Nathaniel began his pre-planned walk, taking several loops around the town before arriving at the small alleyway behind the Hogs Head.

Standing there was a man in a long robe, his wand sticking out from behind it. He stood there holding a package.

Eyeing up Nathaniel, the man asked a simple question "What do the Mug Trees grow?".

"They grow pruneberries."

The simple exchange was all they said, and the man quickly shoved the package into Nathaniel's arms, before disapparating before his very eyes. The package was in his hands now. Now it was time to begin the next stage.

[Arlye Austros]

Isolde

She had avoided David since the meeting. Out of necessary prefect coordination, which she preferred to do by letters, they barely saw each other.
But it was not necesarilly against him. She was still embarrassed at her posture on Muggleborn. Once, Isolde considered quitting as prefect for not stopping Muggleborn from going to Hogsmeade, now she considered it over her stern view on them after the attack.

As such, she also avoided the Army meetings. Caitie’s house in the town was useful, but still she didn’t like feeling too comfortable there, and returned to the Common over and over when the time seemed to drag on beyond what she liked.
It was after such visits that she stumbled on David. She entered the Common Room thinking about the team, when she lost balance, pushed to the side by David.

“Is? I am sorry.” He said while helping her up to her feet. “Are you alright?”
“I am.” She tried to sound not too cold, but not too warm.


Ricardo

It wasn’t perfect. But Caitie’s home would do for now. He had taken the task of looking for a place to stay, and had checked the cliffs of the lake. But he would have to work a way to avoid detection. He suggested himself a mist spell would help. Otherwise, digging it from the upper side and not from the lake seemed like another alternative.

However in the house at Hogsmeade he took another task, teaching a small group of students some advanced defence. Of course he taught them basic defence charms, but this particular group had shown interest in native magic. He decided to give it a shot, so instead of heading to Caitie’s he met them by the edge of the lake, not far from the place Isolde’s wand broke once.

“So when are you teaching us some American stuff?” One of them asked.
“Right now, Cornwell.”
“It’s Cornfall.” He replied.
Even worse. He thought as he stepped over the shore rocks.

“Alright. Here it’s fine. Find a spot to seat. Look around and get as comfortable as you can.”
That was the first thing his grandmother told him years ago.

“This spot will be special. The magic I practiced at home worked on land, and unless you are really good, it won’t work at all away from certain places. Of course my house was such, and places of some importance. Schools as well, as we tended to stay there long. Even the mere fact of being in a place for a long time will allow Mapuche magic to work. This is also true to many forms of magic in South American cultures. ” He started. Ginny Reaver raised her hand. She was a third year student.

“So what’s it’s use if we cannot use it everywere?”

“Well. We developed it mainly for utility and defence. That way families wouldn’t attack each other. Going on the offensive will work for the worst most of the time. As for why we could use it here. It will not be as strong as it would be in South America, but it will always be unexpected. Using it with some sort of wise balance with more traditional magic could work on your advantage.”

He walked around as he spoke, feeling a bit ridiculous.
“Give me a minute now.” He raised his wand and aimed softly at the floor, moving it around as he spoke, or rather sung.
”Mew fachi hue küpayu, inalmew calafquen. Allkütun küpayu. Epeo ka ül, rangi kura kay curico. Piuke kvtu piuke. ” He spoke raising and lowering tone and tune, and changing the speed.

“I don’t expect you to learn a new language. But you can grasp the method and use it with specific charms. You probably noticed I sung. That allows this kind of magic some sort of… personal touch. The tune can mark the force, the nature or the depth of the spell we use. The most classic example…”
He raised his wand and sung softly. “Tüfa mew.”

A pebble in the floor of the lake leapt up and out of the water. It fell between the shore and Ricardo. He aimed at it again. This time his tune was more aggressive, probably closer to Heavy Metal. The same enchantment. This time, the pebble rushed in the air towards Ricardo, who had to move aside. The stone fell well beyond the beach, on the grass. “Spells can be faster, stronger, softer, changeable. You can do something like this with Indo-european magic. In the case of Mapuche magic, it depends on the singing.”

Some of the students seemed uncomfortable. Probably the idea of singing. Ricardo smiled. “You don’t have to actually sing. Just add a really soft tune. Creativity works well here, so it can be yours. In time you will not even realize it.”

He carried on. “Another aspect you need to understand is the communal aspect of this magic. This is also related to the defensive nature of Mapuche magic. Families would often protect themselves together. This works similar to rituals, although its much simpler than that. Essentially, they pass on the spell as if they passed a ball. Emotional attachment and knowledge of each other affects it, forcing the spell to evolve, or something like that.”

For the next two hours they practiced with pull and push spells on pebbles, skipping communal magic. Ricardo also explained the spell he used first was intended to make magic easy for learners, making it clear and obvious when used. The chanting was also modified, using words like <<water>> instead of <<branches>>, as it was in the original form of the spell.

After that they tried some defensive spells. It was surprisingly easy for them to grasp Mapudungun pronunciation, and by the end of three hours, Ricardo was rather pleased.

“We will meet soon to continue defensive spells. I suppose we can try Mapuche magic again in a while. In the meantime try to find your tune. But also, don’t make it obvious what we are doing.”

[The Flutterlands]

Alexander Markus

After much productive studying with Caitie and Raph, Alex thought it best to head to Hogsmead to give help for the army. The idea to use Caitie's house as a secret meeting place was certainly a much better place than the forest or a cave. They even had a system of passwords to use as to make sure the unwanted stayed out. It was also warm and toasty and a place for actual meetings. However, once again, with the ban still in place, Alex had to smuggle Raphael in his pocket once again.

Alexander walked through the streets of Hogsmead, making sure not to bring any attention to himself. Arriving at Caitie's house, the prefect Slytherin looked around for a moment before making a special knock only known to members. "Ricardo, it's me Alex and Raph." Said Alex clearly, "Thought we could help our with 'revising' for OWLs..."

Raphael Raymond

Alex and Caitie proved to be much helpful in revising his notes and books. With OWLs getting ever closer, Raph was getting more stressful by the day. He knew how extremely hard they would be and the muggleborn wanted nothing more than perfection in what he was doing. Nonetheless, the hour-long studying proved very productive.

Later, however, Alex wanted to go to the meeting house to help out with the army. Raph wondered why Caitie was so quick to offer them her house for something she didn't know about, but it proved quite useful than a cave or a forest. Having wanted to do some relaxing, however, Raph was quite reluctant before agreeing to go.

Hidden in Alex's pocket at the door of the meeting place, Raph waited. The animagus poked his out a little to keep a look out. Don't know why I agreed to this. thought Raph, I'm horrible at teach things that I know. Yeah, I'm good at answering questions, but this... this feels different. I'm not a teacher...

[United Democratic Christian States]

David

Over the next few weeks David saw very little of Isolde, it got to the point he was worrying if they were even a couple anymore. Even worse was that she wouldn't show up at any of the Army meetings, eventually, feeling he just had to talk to her he decided to skip the Army meeting in hopes of running into her in the common room.

As luck would have it he quite literally ran into her,

Helping the beautiful girl to her feet, he decided to confront the situation.

"S-so, about the night of the first army meeting. I'm sorry. It's pretty clear I've offended you. I should have supported you no matter what. I-I hope you can forgive me, because you're everything to me."

[Britanania]

Caitie

The House Elf entered the Slytherin Common Room where Caitie was revising her notes. Womky carried a pot of tea and refilled her mistress' cup promptly. The young witch gave her servant a slight nod before testing the tea and put the cup down.

"Wonderful as always, Womky," she said drily before she picked her book back up. "Now, do you have anything else for me?"

Womky nodded and handed Caitie a note. The young woman read the note quickly before she incinerated it with a simple utterance of Incendio.

"That will be all, Womky."

[Arlye Austros]

Isolde

She couldn’t help feeling a slight feeling of tenderness somewhere. But it got mixed with some anger. Being reminded of that meeting always made her a bit mad.
“Well… Maybe you should have.” She started. After all, in her mind she was still right. “At least give your honest opinion. But you were just silent...” She stopped. Looking around. Was it the right place to fight? Especially about that?

He was giving her his support, right there. Isolde sighed. “I am sorry. I just need to calm down. Besides, I think you stomped me a bit hard.”

Ricardo

He was practicing the disarming spell with one of the students of his group. Others loafed around, studying for their own exams. That’s when the door knocked. It was Alex. Ricardo walked towards it and removed the locks before opening it.

“Alex… Come in. Nobody followed you?”

[World Anarchic Union]

William Darkenstone

The Forest seemed quiet, a whisper coming seemingly from the trees occasionally heard. The birds were chirping almost silently and the wind occasionally dropped some leaves from the trees on to the ground. Inside this peaceful sanctuary, a dark cloaked figure was standing over a cauldron, two more behind him. He was shaking, some could say from fear, others from excitement. In his left hand, he held a knife and in his right, his wand. He could feel it. He could feel that this time he would be successful.

On his feet lay carefully placed two bodies. Covered in a blanket, they were decomposing but they could still do the part they were meant to play. The dark cloaked figure looked at them and a combination of emotions bursted from inside of him. For the first time in a long while, for a fleeting moment, he questioned his actions. For a brief moment, he considered ending the whole attempt, the whole ordeal. But, such thoughts of shame that emerged in a moment of weakness soon withered. He felt nothing for what he would do. He felt nothing...

William removed his hood, as he raised one of the bodies. The blanket fell beside the male figure, now very different to the last time the boy had seen him. But he still knew it was him. He placed the body of his father on a wooden table beside him and proceeded to raise the other body. A woman was revealed underneath. No matter how different, William would always recognize her. Following the same procedure, his mother now lay by his father. With a swift slash of the wand, a fire emerged under the cauldron and he placed the ingredients necessary for the spell to work.

A grey substance now boiled in front of his eyes. He raised the two bodies and threw them on to the cauldron. Heat and smoke filled the atmosphere, as he looked away. No... Look...
He turned his sight back to the cauldron. As the smoke started to disintegrate, he put out the fire and made a step back, raising his wand towards the cauldron. After a brief moment of uncertainty, he heard two outworldly growls.

From the cauldron, emerged his parents. His soldiers. His Inferi. He waited should they fall apart like the ones before. But they didn’t. They remained still, kept at bay by the wand in William’s hand and from their creator’s presence.

“They are alive. They are alive, they are alive!” He stepped towards the two figures that once held him in their hands.
“Mother, Father, I did it. At last, I brought you back. I defied death. And, you now have the honour to help me rid this world of those that unjustly walk it. “

The creatures growled and attempted to approach the wizard. With a slash of the wand, they stepped back and were kept immobilized as he chained them up, tying them to a nearby wall.

He could hardly contain his excitement, thinking of all that would follow this victory, as he turned to the Ravencloaks standing behind him. They were masked and seemed to have taken a step back, at the sight of the Inferi.

“Lord Valgerth, Lady Vis, inform the others. Let them amass in the clearing, in front of the settlement. I will speak to them in a short time. My friends, this is the start of a new era for us. For us and for the rest of the world.”

The two cloaked figures bowed and uttered “Yes, Lord Nihilus” as they left his presence. He turned back towards his Inferi; or were they his parents? Realizing what this success meant, he smiled. An army of Inferi is now within my grasp. And seeing that these instructions were correct, then the ones for the Horcrux must be too. Power and immortality are closer than they have ever been. He turned his back to his creations, and put on his mask once more. With determining, he headed up the stairs, to greet his followers, his Ravencloaks...