|
Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Aug 4, 2011 7:14:08 GMT -5
Ralin rapped on the door with his knuckles, adjusting the bag hanging from his shoulder. In it was his essentials for the night, including other things that might amuse Max, such as some joke shop items. Maybe he'd swear Max to secrecy not to tell Curse about those. Especially if the dung bombs went off.
He was a bit nervous about his post guarding the young Kameren. This was his first time helping with the Black Watch after Hogsmeade, and he wanted very badly to prove himself, especially to Reckony, whom he hadn't talked to since the battle. He didn't know how to talk to him, and the distance between him and his friend was an ache inside his heart.
But maybe here was his chance to show he was more than just a werewolf.
"If you knock any louder, maybe the door will just fall down." The other Black Watch member of the guard said drily. She was a clever witch, about the Headmistress's age, named Veronica Aldershafe.
He looked back at her with a wink. "Jus' makin' sure th' laddie is up an' about."
Ralin resumed looking at the door, ready to knock again. They were here to watch the house and the boy. Curse was away, and it was their duty to keep him safe in case of any threat. Ralin squared his shoulders, and waited.
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on Aug 4, 2011 7:40:50 GMT -5
"You're late."
A loud barrage of sounds from the door being unlocked were followed by the young voice of Max Kameren. He swung the door open, precocious emerald eyes looking up at his two guardians for the night. Merlin only knew why he needed two, though his dad did seem a bit peckish about something. Something happened when he went to Hogwarts today that caused him to pick Max up from his mum's house early. He was nervous about something. Or was it just the paranoia? It was getting harder to tell lately.
"Dad's a bit cross about that. I don't know why I need a babysitter anymore, anyways, I'm ten..." Max's slight Irish lilt sounded impatient as he stepped back from the door, Lucy slithering protectively at his feet. He crossed through the living room into the lit kitchen, pulling himself up onto a stool. An assortment of colored paper was spread all around the countertop, with Max's crooked writing and drawings littering the paper. To the side of Max's mess sat a rolled up bit of parchment, sealed by Curse. "He left you a note, too. Dunno what it says, I'm not allowed to read it." Max sniffed impatiently. He was sick of being treated like a child. He could do magic now, couldn't he? Well, almost. He still didn't have a wand.
Ralin,
I have reason to suspect there may be a threat against myself or my family coming soon. My knowledge of the Dark Lady may have been compromised. Don't mind Lucy, she's been instructed the same. Keep Max safe, but for Merlin's sake don't let him have any chocolate frogs. He's allergic to the spell they use and every time he eats them he gets sick. Max has my cell phone number in case a patronus won't work.
Also, if Theo comes round, don't answer. -C
"Can I have a chocolate frog?" Max's eyes were down on his paper, crayon in hand as he started drawing Hogwarts. Lucy found her way up to the counter, coiled patiently next to the boy.
|
|
|
Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Aug 4, 2011 8:14:15 GMT -5
"Also, if Theo comes round, don't answer."
Ralin frowned in puzzlement at the last sentence. What did he mean by that? Why was Curse trying to avoid Theo? But he pushed this to the back of his mind at Max's request. It was clear the kid wanted nothing to do with being treated as a babysitteree. Ralin liked that. Max reminded him a lot of himself at that age. Precocious, curious, and more grown up than people thought. And a troublemaker.
"Nope laddie, no chocolate frogs or ye'll be burpin' all the way to th' hospital. How about somethin' else though, I brought along some fun things with me. Maybe ye can help me figure out which ones might work best for pranks, hey?"
While Veronica seated herself in an armchair and produced knitting, her wand stuck in the bun in her hair, Ralin opened up his satchel and pulled out a velvet bag stuffed full of odds and ends from Zonkos.
"New Beetle Becks, these things'll fly all over the place if ye let them. Trying to eat 'em is a whole different matter."
The red-headed young man allowed himself to relax (after checking that his wand was ready, up his sleeve), feeling more at ease in the boy's company. He didn't know Ralin was a werewolf, and hopefully would realize that the Irish guy wasn't going to be stuffy.
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on Aug 5, 2011 2:05:37 GMT -5
"Nope laddie, no chocolate frogs or ye'll be burpin' all the way to th' hospital. How about somethin' else though, I brought along some fun things with me. Maybe ye can help me figure out which ones might work best for pranks, hey?"
Max sighed. "I figured he would write something about that." It was bothersome how Curse was always a step ahead of him. It wasn't like that with his mum, usually he could sneak around her. His dad always caught him. His ears perked up at the word pranks, however. "What kind of pranks? Aren't you too old for that stuff?" Max's round emerald eyes peeked over Ralin's fingers into the bag, curious. What goodies did this new babysitter bring along?
"New Beetle Becks, these things'll fly all over the place if ye let them. Trying to eat 'em is a whole different matter."
A shy grin grew across Max's face at the sight of the objects. "We give those to Tabby all the time. They drive her mad trying to catch them." He laughed, sneaking a peek at the rest of Ralin's bag before glancing back at his drawings. "Speaking of pranks, I was trying to plan a surprise for my dad. His birthday is the day before we get on the train." The young wizard met Ralin's eyes, flashing mischievously with a bit of his father's crooked half-smile. "He says he doesn't want a birthday party, but who doesn't want a birthday party? You can help me plan it, if you want."
|
|
|
Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Aug 5, 2011 19:07:50 GMT -5
Ralin's green eyes widened as he looked at Max. "Too old for pranks? Lad, yer never too old for mischief, ye just get more clever with age." He winked and smiled, handing the boy some Droobles Bubble Gum.
"Hmmmmm, a surprise party eh? Well, yer dad could certainly use somethin' to loosen him up. Th' man's far too serious sometimes. I think it's brilliant. Now, did ye have a theme in mind? Maybe we could invite some guests over too, make it a dinner party? We'll have to have streamers, confetti. Oooh I know a good enchantment to make confetti that keeps floatin' around and changes color. Pretty flashy stuff." He grinned at Max.
"Yer a clever wizard, what kind o' things were you plannin' so far?"
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on Aug 9, 2011 13:45:23 GMT -5
"Hmmmmm, a surprise party eh? Well, yer dad could certainly use somethin' to loosen him up. Th' man's far too serious sometimes."
Ralin had a point: his father was a very serious person, to the point where Max questioned if this surprise party was a good idea. What if it just made him angry? Since the attack on Hogsmeade he'd been strange lately, it was more difficult for Max to gauge how he would react to things. Eden wasn't allowed over as often, and he spent a lot more time in his office studying. When Max asked him, Curse only said he was looking for someone. But who?
"I think it's brilliant. Now, did ye have a theme in mind?"
"I dunno, but it's got to be something that can be taken up and put down easily. I want to do it in the house, but I want it to be a surprise. Y'know?" Max shrugged, leaning on his elbows on the counter as he glanced between Ralin and his drawings. "For my ninth birthday he drew me a dragon while he was in hospital. I thought maybe I could draw some for him as decorations."
"Maybe we could invite some guests over too, make it a dinner party? We'll have to have streamers, confetti. Oooh I know a good enchantment to make confetti that keeps floatin' around and changes color. Pretty flashy stuff."
Max's eyes lit up at the mention of the spell. "That sounds brilliant! Can you show me?" He reflected Ralin's grin back at him. He was excited to learn more about magic, thus far the only thing he'd gotten down was unlocking doors and setting things on fire. "Aunt Ari's good with parties, I thought we could ask her too. She threw a dinner party here only a couple weeks ago." Max picked up another crayon, absent-mindedly doodling a Norwegian Ridgeback as he spoke. "It just has to be a surprise. I think dad would like a good surprise, for once."
|
|
|
Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Aug 9, 2011 21:57:17 GMT -5
Ralin nodded at the wee lad's wisdom. He saw more than Curse knew, that was for sure. While Ralin himself was still trying to figure out why his friends had all gone their own ways, and hoping he could somehow keep them all together, all friends and comrades, he did know that Curse was doing research on something important.
"Well, if you can draw th' dragons, we can use the duplication spell, and enchant 'em so that they move around. We'll need streamers too. An' maybe you an' yer aunt can cook up some treats? I think bringin' Arianna into our plot would be grand, she can help us get Curse t'take a night off."
He drew his wand. "So, here's the spell for fun confetti: Glitterius parchment!" He flicked the wand's tip while saying the spell and a poof of brightly colored confetti burst from the tip. Instead of hitting the floor, the pieces scattered all through the air, bouncing around haphazardly.
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on Aug 14, 2011 23:56:45 GMT -5
Thus far, Max liked Ralin. It was nice having a cooler adult around for once; Alex did his best, but very obviously had no idea what to do with a kid. Aunt Anna was always great, but since she and Curse started officially dating, things were shifting and she was moving from a cool aunt to more of a mother-figure. Ralin seemed more easy-going than any of his magical family members, and he knew better what a 10-year-old liked. A grin grew across Max's face as the confetti spell burst around the room and floated around. Mrs. Aldershafe looked up at the spell, but didn't voice an objection. These were the babysitters he liked.
"I can't wait to get a wand. Mum and Dad said I can't get one until my Hogwarts letter arrives. Can't come soon enough..." Max leaned on the counter, leaning in towards Ralin with a mischievous smile. "I watch my dad, though, with his wandless magic. He gets mad when I try, but watch this--" He sat back in his chair, closing his eyes and wrinkling his freckled nose in concentration. Disappear. Blend in, come on... He focussed with all his might, aiming for one thing: Blending in. Invisibility. That feeling of being around, but no one notices you. He felt a cold rush through him, and he opened his eyes with an unseen grin as his body faded into invisibility.
"See! I can do it!" He laughed, his excitement canceling out the spell and bringing him back into visibility. "I can't wait to start Hogwarts, I'm already learning the spells. I can do that one, and Incendio, and Alohomora..." Max prattled on, Lucy's bright yellow eyes watching intently behind him. They focussed knowingly on Ralin for a moment before darting back to the boy.
|
|
|
Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Aug 15, 2011 0:32:28 GMT -5
Ralin was impressed. Not even in school yet and the lad was doing wandless magic. Of course, coming from Curse's family, this didn't really surprise him too much. Brilliant wizards, the lot of them. He liked Max a lot. Once the boy realized that Ralin wasn't a stuffy adult he'd warmed up to him. Ralin found himself to be quite comfortable around young people, since he was a kid at heart too. Maybe it was his size too. For a moment he looked at the big snake coming up behind Max, and he thought he saw an expression in her eyes. Watchful, and protective. He nodded respectfully at her.
"Now that is something that'll impress the ladies. Ye learned that all by yerself? That's awesome! My first spell was this one." Ralin folded his arms and studying the lad. "If ye won't tell anyone, here..." he placed his wand in the lad's hands. "Now, careful with that, but try this."
He pointed to Lucy. "Point it at her, swirl the tip in a circle like this and say wingardium leviosa. Just like that, with th' accent on th' "oh". Don't worry, it won't hurt her. Just focus."
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on Aug 16, 2011 20:09:51 GMT -5
Max smiled with pride at his newly learned magic. He couldn't wait to take his place amonst the Wizarding world along his father and his uncle and Ralin, doing magic like a proper wizard. He wanted a wand so he could start. But, knowing he would start immediately, Curse was holding off until Max's Hogwarts letter. Any day now...
"Now that is something that'll impress the ladies. Ye learned that all by yerself? That's awesome! My first spell was this one." Max's round emerald eyes watched as Ralin readied his wand, then faltered. "If ye won't tell anyone, here..." His round eyes widened as Ralin placed his wand in Max's hand, showing him the proper way to grip it. "Now, careful with that, but try this."
"Ah--" Max hesitated, locking eyes with Lucy before glancing uneasily at Ralin. Max had difficulty when learning new spells, and things didn't come very easily. Even worse, when he had difficulty his magic tended to either burst into a Battering Curse, or default into Incendio. Tabby was still recovering from the effects. Lucy wouldn't be too pleased with him if he tried on her.
"Point it at her, swirl the tip in a circle like this and say wingardium leviosa. Just like that, with th' accent on th' "oh". Don't worry, it won't hurt her."
"I don't know," Max met Ralin's eyes warily, gripping the wand in two hands, "she'll tell dad..."
"Just focus."
Max sighed, looking at Lucy with focus in his eyes. "Okay. Win--"
Suddenly, the house quaked.
The windows and doors of the Kameren home slammed closed and locked, a silver forcefield falling over the glass as they locked. In Curse's office, various auror detection objects came to life, spinning, whistling, and setting off alarms to alert those around. A roaring red fire started in the fireplace, shooting high enough to come out of the chimney outside. Outside, the bricks on the walls were reinforced with the same forcefield as the windows. The grass in the Kameren's lawn suddenly withered and died, where poisonous acid took place of the water in the soil. Lucy reared upwards, bearing her fangs. She circled around Max, her body tugging at him to get up. She hissed furiously at Ralin, informing him of the threat. Curse's spells had detected an attack on the house.
Max whimpered, looking terrified in to the eyes of his protector and handing Ralin back his wand. There was an attack. Curse wasn't here. What were they going to do?
|
|
|
Post by Mosrael//Ranna on Aug 17, 2011 2:44:44 GMT -5
[[ This is a good song for the battle: LINK ]] Five dark figures stood in front of the house, their faces lit by the shimmering shield over the house. There was a crack of displaced air and Mosrael stood in front of them, Krellith by her side. More snaps of air and then they were surrounded by ten additional wizards and witches. Wearing a mask of deep red with cruelly slanted eyes and no mouth, Mosrael completed the ensemble with black corseted dress and cloak. "Is the floo network rerouted?" She rasped. A witch with blonde hair nodded. "Yes mistress, no one's getting in that way." "Excellent." Mosrael lifted her wand and whispered a spell. Over the top of the shield spell appeared a shimmering red dome. "That will keep anyone from apparating." Her voice grew darker. "They have no where to run." A man with shaggy black hair and a scarred face walked up to her. His expression was almost feral. "What are we waiting for then?" "The boy is not to be harmed. Leave one of them alive. Alkins, Lestrange, focus on that shield. I want it down as soon as possible." The blonde witch and a black-haired man raised their wands and pointed at the house. Twin streams of dark energy shot towards the shield causing it to shiver and shake as the counterspell began to destabilize it. "Burn away the lawn!" Mosrael ordered, waving her wand at the dead grass. A large fireball exploded from her wand tip and splattered into the ground. The acid hissed and bubbled as it burned up. Soon the air was full of smoke and fire.
|
|
|
Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Aug 17, 2011 3:03:55 GMT -5
Ralin shot a glance at Veronica. She was already on her feet, wand in hand. Nodding at Lucy, the young man first went to the window. The sight of a large group of dark wizards and witches shocked him, but it was the sight of a woman with a blood-red mask that caused ice to pour down his spine. Mosrael.
"Max lad, I need ye to stay calm." Ralin turned around, hiding his shock as best he could. He strode over to the boy and placed his hands on his shoulders. "Th' house is under attack, but yer clever dad's got a bunch o' surprises for them." Seeing the fear in the lad's eyes, Ralin patted Lucy's muscular body wrapped protectively around the boy.
"I need you t'be strong, okay? No matter what happens, stay with Lucy. I'm not leavin' ya either." He gave him an encouraging smile and checked in the next room. For a brief moment he allowed the panic to set in, taking several deep breaths to control it. How could he and Veronica hope to stand against almost a score of dark wizards? He knew that they would just have to hold them off until Curse arrived, hopefully with back up.
"Come on, help me get this table on its side, away from th' windows. We'll make ourselves a nook to hide you in." He started tipping the heavy table over, leaning it against the wand.
"Oh and Max? If you want to use magic against them, you go right ahead. But hopefully yer dad'll be here before then."
Veronica moved to the door while Ralin started scattering his joke stuff around. The more chaos he could create, the more confused the enemy would be.
|
|
|
Post by Mosrael//Ranna on Aug 17, 2011 19:58:33 GMT -5
Ralin ran to the window and opened it, hoping that the shield was only one way. "STUPEFY! EXPELLIARMUS!"
Jets of green and red light slammed into the two closest wizards, knocking them over. Just then several wizards from the Black Watch - Ralin barely recognized them from Reckony's pub - apparated on the other side of the lawn.
Mosrael smiled beneath her mask of blood-red calm. A cold whisper escaped the unmoving face. "Come...dance with me."
Then she exploded into action, striding forward, her wand spitting explosions of purple and black that coalesced into murky dark tendrils. The first Black Watch wizard screamed as the spell hit him, wrapping his body in darkness until he lay unmoving on the ground. Another wizard tried to swing his fist at the Dark Lady, but she danced around him with a graceful spin, coming up behind him. A wave of her hand froze him entirely and he toppled forward.
A woman from the Black Watch barked a spell command and several gold-edged wolves appeared. With a collective howl the spirit beasts charged at the group of dark wizards. The front lawn burst into action, the grass still smouldering and smoking. One dark witch dodged a spell only to stumble and fall on a patch of un-burnt grass. She shrieked in pain as the acid began to devour her.
Ralin and Veronica were both at the windows now, shooting spells into the group and doing their best not to hit any Black Watch members.
The clock-work creature stood next to the two that were focused on bringing the shield down, blocking anyone who tried to disrupt them.
Mosrael laughed.
|
|
|
Post by Max Kameren on Aug 17, 2011 20:55:17 GMT -5
Why was this happening to them? Curse was a good man, using his gifts to save lives and prevent bad people from hurting others. He'd given his life for it, and now that he wanted to stop fighting people were fighting him. And Max, Max was just a kid. Why did they want to hurt a kid? He hadn't wronged anyone. They must know Curse isn't home, why are they attacking him? Why did they want to hurt their family? All of these questions battered Max's mind as he hid beneath the table Ralin had propped against the wall, covering his head in case the shields were broken and stray spells came through. He wanted to move to the study, where there were fewer windows, but he was afraid. Lucy wrapped herself loosely around his shoulders, tugging at him before slithering quickly into the next room. She was beckoning him over as well, into Curse's study.
An auror's study was a stronghold of its own. The objects in Curse's room whirred and squealed at the action going on outside as Max heard duels commencing. The Black Watch was here to save the day. Was his dad outside? He hoped so. He hoped Curse would find a way inside to take Max away somewhere safe. He heard the walls of the house make strange thnk noises, as bricks ripped themselves off the walls and flew out at unsuspecting Death Eaters. Curse had spelled the house to defend itself well, duelling almost as a wizard itself. If only he had taught Max such things.
Max ducked under Curse's big desk, tipping over the desk's chair and barricading himself inside. The auror objects congregated on top of the desk, protecting the living thing that was hiding near them. Curse had charmed much of the house to protect Max if there was ever an attack. Lucy curled herself in the corner, hiding in case they did break in so she could take them by surprise.
"Dad..." Max wimpered, curling up under the desk in fear. He wanted to be big and strong, to stand and fight like Curse, Alex and Ralin. But he couldn't he didn't even have a wand. He closed his eyes, focussing on a Battering Curse in case he needed to use it. It would need to be a big one, to knock a fully grown wizard off his feet. Hopefully he could give Mosrael a surprise if she wanted to hurt him.
|
|
|
Post by Echo Ashaelyr on Aug 18, 2011 17:38:09 GMT -5
Echo was sitting on the railing of the balcony attached to her flat, gazing out over the quiet streets of London as the city slept. Her mind was on distant thoughts, trying to solve a puzzle, but so far nothing fit right.
A whisper of movement, and then a silvery light caught her eye. Turning around, the woman saw an owl of silver light gliding towards her. And when Curse's message issued from its mouth, Echo was on her feet in an instant and vanished into her house. Quickly buckling her sword on, then grabbing her wand, the witch took a deep breath and focused on Curse's house. But the spell wouldn't take. Not to be stopped, Echo instead focused on the street near Curse's home, as she'd been there once or twice.
Turning on her heel, she was swept up by the spell and thrown in to the midst of chaos.
Spells ricocheted all around her, fire smoldered on the lawn, and the house was glowing. A dark wizard turned and saw the tall, scarred witch and screamed a spell at her. Rolling to the left, Echo drew her sword and wand, shouting her own spell back. Green light burst from her sword as she swept it in an arc, colliding with the man and sending him flying.
Soon Echo was engulfed in the madness, her only thought was to get to the house and whoever was in it. She wasn't certain who was leading this rabble, but if he or she got in Echo's way, she would not stop.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Echo yelled, pointing her wand at another witch. "That that you overgrown cockatrice!"
|
|