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Post by Curse Kameren on Sept 9, 2011 18:37:54 GMT -5
"So, when's the wedding?"
"We're thinking December."
"Think it'll all blow over by then?"
"Well I hope it'll all blow over by tomorrow, but I'm used to not getting my way."
Curse Kameren shifted uncomfortably in the chair opposite Karen's desk. Karen Odinsen was a long-time friend of his, also an ex-Head Auror and now Head of Magical Law Enforcement. She eyes him with cool grey eyes, though her gaze was ever sharp. She wasn't one for nonsense, much less the nonsense provoked by the Kameren brothers. The attack on Godric's Hollow had been a nightmare for Law Enforcement. After the action, of course, there now had to be clean-up. Meaning: those who had committed misdeeds needed to be brought to justice. Unfortunately, Curse was one of those Dark Wizards responsible, regardless of what side he was fighting on.
"Rosier's family has already approached Magical Law Enforcement to bring her killer to justice. We have witnesses, Kameren. Lots of them."
Curse straightened, rubbing the scruff on his chin as he thought about it; this wasn't like last time he had gotten in trouble with the law. Last time, he actually hadn't done anything wrong. He had killed someone, regardless of the situation he had done it. The trouble, however, was in finding the balance; she had aided in the kidnapping of his son, and had possibly killed some herself in the process. Curse had killed her trying to extract information about his son. Who here was just?
"I don't regret it."
"Don't tell me that sort of thing." Karen hissed through her teeth at him, setting her cup of tea roughly down on her desk and spilling a bit on some paperwork. "I'm in charge of your bloody case, Kameren! Friends or not, if the Wizengamot asks me to speak, I have to tell them the truth!"
Curse's head drooped downwards with the reprimand; it was like he was a Junior Auror again. That was the trouble, though. He still acted like an auror. He was a professor. Even if he had the ability to apprehend criminals and deliver justice, he no longer had the right.
"What should I do?"
"Wait it out, for now. I'll get Tynan on your defense if he has the time. Are there any aurors besides Kameren who are in your little Watch? We can get stories from them if they were there the night of."
"Talk to Ferguson and Stark, they'll both stand for me. Does Alex know?"
Karen sighed, and that told Curse what he needed. Alex did not yet know, and she was dreading telling him. The longer she could put it off, the better in Curse's opinion. Alex would not be happy about it, especially about the fact that he wouldn't be allowed to help the case. Curse and Karen both knew the damage he could cause; instead of one brother being sent to Azkaban, there could very well be two.
"No, Kameren doesn't know yet. Don't tell him, either, that's my job. You should keep this close for now, don't tell anyone but Arianna until the prosecution goes through. In the meantime, gather up some defense. And take care of your family, you might have to do time away from them for a while."
Curse nodded, standing up and turning to go. It was a lot to think about, a lot of worry. What would Arianna say to this? Would she stick around if he had to go to Azkaban again? Oh, Merlin, what about Max?
"And Kameren?"
Curse stopped with the door halfway open, turning back to Karen, his old friend. "Yeah?"
"How's the boy?"
He shrugged, his expression bitter. "I don't know, I lost custody."
The halls of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was a bit brighter than Karen's office had been, and the tall ex-auror squinted at the change. He kept his head down, stalking quietly toward the lift with his hands in his pockets. He didn't want to be noticed here, lest there be questions as to what he was doing.
With his stature and reputation, however, it was difficult not to be noticed.
ooc: just a random rp, bringing up a sub-plot for after the kidnapping that I'd like to work through. This is only the beginning, though, and it can literally go anywhere from here. So come join and give me your ideas for it!
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Post by Eoin Tynan on Sept 11, 2011 1:15:54 GMT -5
A messenger bird of folded blue paper fluttered within an inch of Curse's nose, demanding his attention. On it was a brief note, an invitation to Eoin Tynan's office immediately.
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"Ah Curse, thanks for dropping in. I was hoping my message would find you before you hopped out of the Ministry again." Eoin Tynan, Head Auror, beckoned the lanky ex-Auror into his spacious office. Sitting on the desk was a complete tea service of dark green and white china. Steam gently curled from the spout of the teapot.
"Come on, sit down for a bit. I hope you'll join me for tea." It wasn't a request, more of a firm order from a friend to make Curse actually stay put for a while and not dash off.
Eoin conjured two comfortable chairs and a small table for the tea to rest on. While he poured them both a cup, the handsome blonde man eyed the tired professor.
"I heard about Max. Bloody custody laws. Any chance of fighting it at this time?" He tapped the kettle with his wand. "Feel free to make coffee instead. Or have a smoke. Seriously Curse, when was the last time you actually stopped to take a deep breath?"
Friendly concern was shelved for the moment as Eoin turned on his Auror mode. "I got a message from Odinsen. She asked me to take your case. My reply? 'Send that man to my office right away before I have to drag his butt in myself.'" Tynan smiled dryly. "Well looks like it was option two. Anyways, seriously, I will take your case. We'll win this one, because this is a war and I'm not about to let you get locked up in Azkaban when your family needs you. You won't get sent to that hellhole if I have anything to say. So, will you let me help you out?"
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Post by Curse Kameren on Sept 11, 2011 17:59:18 GMT -5
"Ah Curse, thanks for dropping in. I was hoping my message would find you before you hopped out of the Ministry again."
Curse nodded, awkwardly entering his old office and standing with the door to his back. He had hoped to slip out quickly, possibly head down and see his fiancee before heading back to Hogwarts. He was tired of Ministry politics. Working out strategies and defenses were the reason why he hadn't come back. Curse nodded curtly in greeting. "Tynan." Curse made sure to give a distinct feeling that he didn't want to stick around.
"Come on, sit down for a bit. I hope you'll join me for tea."
Apparently he didn't catch it, or maybe just didn't care. Curse stifled the impatient sigh in his throat as he obeyed the Head Auror, taking his seat in the chair opposite him. He crossed his arms, green eyes meeting Tynan's blue but not returning the cheer. A murder accusation was hardly something to be cheerful about even less something to be chatting about over tea.
"I heard about Max. Bloody custody laws. Any chance of fighting it at this time?"
"I'm allowed to see him when his mum's present. It's just waiting until she comes back round and lets me have joint custody again." Curse shrugged. Losing custody sounded much worse than it really was, the trouble was trying to schedule a meeting with an over-emotional, hormonal, and grudge-holding Amelia. Yet another thing Curse hoped would be over soon.
"Feel free to make coffee instead. Or have a smoke."
"Trying to quit."
"Seriously Curse, when was the last time you actually stopped to take a deep breath?"
Curse shrugged, but didn't really reply. He was used to living like this, bouncing back and forth from multiple issues. He was just born this way. He didn't know anything else. Even with his lack of custody, he was happy; he was getting married to the love of his life. His son, though he couldn't always see him, was safe and presumably happy. Alex was Alex. His family was safe, healthy and happy and that was all he needed. Now it was time to answer for the wrongs he committed keeping them that way.
"I got a message from Odinsen. She asked me to take your case. My reply? 'Send that man to my office right away before I have to drag his butt in myself.'" Tynan smiled dryly. "Well looks like it was option two. Anyways, seriously, I will take your case. We'll win this one, because this is a war and I'm not about to let you get locked up in Azkaban when your family needs you. You won't get sent to that hellhole if I have anything to say. So, will you let me help you out?"
For the first time in the conversation, Curse gave Tynan a legitimate reply. He arched a brow, leaning back slightly. "What is this for you? You're laughing and joking about a murder case over tea. A woman is dead. You're Head Auror, treat that with the amount of respect it deserves." The authoritative tone Curse had once had as Head Auror came back into his voice as he looked his friend over. He wasn't upset, but he wouldn't let Tynan joke about getting Curse off with no charges. This used to be his department, after all; there was no joking about getting away with murder, not when he was there.
"I expect I'll go to Azkaban for some time, hopefully not much since it was a war crime." Curse continued, stopping himself as he reached for his pocket where his packet of cigarettes usually was. He truly had been trying to quit; Arianna didn't like it, and if he didn't want to be sleeping on the couch it'd be better if he came home without the smell on him. "I'd prefer St. Mungo's, however, if we can use insanity. That way my family can still see me. I have quite a history, pleading insanity should be the easiest option." He met Tynan's eyes, his voice blunt like their head of department's. It was obvious Karen had taken part in bringing him up as an auror, he had every bit of her seriousness when it came to the case.
"As for the war, I've done my part. My family has suffered enough. I'm done fighting."
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Post by Eoin Tynan on Sept 18, 2011 22:56:36 GMT -5
Eoin waited patiently while Curse spoke, his manner just as he remembered. Coarse and blunt. The lanky ex-Auror didn't suffer fools very easily, but he could be too bull-headed sometimes. But instead of letting his hackles get up at the man's admonishing tone, Eoin simply nodded, his expression blank.
"As for the war, I've done my part. My family has suffered enough. I'm done fighting."
This time it was Eoin's turn to sit up straight and match Curse's authoritative energy. He might be young for his office, but it was his ability to lead and command that was one of the qualities he'd been appointed for. His expression was no-nonsense as he replied.
"I'm not laughing or joking about any of this. It's a serious matter, and you can bet that I'll treat it as such. You think that me being cheerful about offering you tea means I'm not recognizing the gravity of the situation?" He shook his head. Sometimes the man could carry a chip on his shoulder, and everyone got to feel the weight of it. "This is war, like you said. And I'm not just a young man carrying a title around. You of all people should know that." He hinted at their past work together.
"Anyways," Eoin waved his hand and the tea disappeared. "You want to get out of here I'm sure. But I needed to touch bases with you, and you're a hard man to pin down. I'd like to avoid incarceration if possible, but I agree, an insanity plea might go down better, and I suppose Mungos is a slightly better alternative to Azkaban. We'll need witnesses, do you have any in mind who saw you interrogate and then kill the woman? I'll need all the details, but most of it you can send me by owl."
He ran a hand through his chestnut hair. "Also, I want to offer the help of the aurors for your family. Do you think that they're in danger at all from Mosrael's followers? I know you like to do things yourself, but if it does happen that you're put away for a bit, I can select several people I trust to keep an eye on things. Up to you." He shrugged and waited for the man's reply.
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Post by Curse Kameren on Sept 19, 2011 9:08:15 GMT -5
"You want to get out of here I'm sure. But I needed to touch bases with you, and you're a hard man to pin down. I'd like to avoid incarceration if possible, but I agree, an insanity plea might go down better, and I suppose Mungos is a slightly better alternative to Azkaban. We'll need witnesses, do you have any in mind who saw you interrogate and then kill the woman? I'll need all the details, but most of it you can send me by owl."
"There were several, though some of them I'd prefer you 'missed' in questioning." Curse sat back in his chair, his hand grazing his shoulder tenderly; beneath his shirt the bandages were still thick on his wound, and his shoulder often hurt even from simple movements. "Arianna and Alex, namely. I don't want any punishment brought down on either of them. Especially Alex. Merlin only knows what they'd find out if they started digging. Ferguson and his Junior, Stark. They were there. Ask around Hogsmeade and I'm sure some Watch members will step forward."
"Also, I want to offer the help of the aurors for your family. Do you think that they're in danger at all from Mosrael's followers? I know you like to do things yourself, but if it does happen that you're put away for a bit, I can select several people I trust to keep an eye on things. Up to you."
"I've already spoken to the aurors I want keeping an eye on my family." Curse met Tynan's gaze a bit apologetically. Eoin was the Head Auror now and had been for a while, but many of the aurors were still Curse's men. He had simply spent more time with them. They had seen him grow and mature, rise high and fall into nothing. Many still considered him an auror, though he no longer bore the title. The wizards and witches in this department were his family.
"I was just protecting my son," Curse pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly, leaning back on his chair. Unfortunately, that wasn't all the justification he needed. He needed much more than that.
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Post by Eoin Tynan on Sept 21, 2011 2:52:22 GMT -5
Eoin nodded curtly as Curse discussed witnesses, his expression conveying acceptance of the lanky ex-Auror's requests. He was right, the Aurors worked from the same department, but their motives, their place in the constant tug-of-war of right and wrong, dark and light magics, could be all over the place. This sort of situation needed iron control and careful tactics. Nothing to break the law; the Head Auror held to the honor of the laws, even if it meant that Curse would have to face charges. What he had done was inexcusable, yet understandable as well. It was the witch...or his son Max.
"I've already spoken to the aurors I want keeping an eye on my family."
Tynan wasn't terribly bothered by the inferred claim that Curse knew many of the Aurors better and longer than him. He was a fairly recent addition to the department, and was also aware that some of the Aurors even doubted his right to the position, due to his age and apparent inexperience. But Eoin didn't need to step out and set them right. He'd do better by proving himself through his actions, how he led them, not by some self-righteous act of laying claim to his position.
Besides, Eoin trusted Curse, and therefore the men that Curse called on. He held a great deal of respect for the man, and hoped to one day gain his respect as well.
"That's fine, I understand. But I'll need the names of them; it'll be confidential, my eyes only, but I'll need to adjust their assignments temporarily to fit, and I'd like to just keep an eye out for them in case they meet up with trouble. You know, a back-up of sorts." The shorter man met Curse's eyes firmly, showing him that at least in this he wasn't going to negotiate. He wanted to be informed of both the safety of the Kameren family, and the status of his own Auror crew.
"I was just protecting my son," Curse pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly, leaning back on his chair.
For a moment Eoin was silent. He knew if he tried to comfort the ex-Auror by any conventional means, such as consoling words, a hand on the shoulder or - heaven forbid - a hug. Besides, it wasn't Eoin's way either. He studied the man in those short moments of silence, catching the tired slant of his shoulders, the way his whole frame seemed to hunch over his repairing wound, unconsciously protecting the injury. The pallor of his skin. And overall the man had lost his Curse Kameren energy, that intense, focused aura he seemed to wear around him like a cloak. This was a man who had been through hell and back in love's name. Eoin's admiration for him rose.
"I know, Curse. Maybe it's not enough for the Wizengamot, but for me, I can understand in a way. You know I don't have kids, or even a girlfriend. But I know family all the same. I've watched you and yours. It may get worse before it gets better." Tynan pursed his lips in thought. "I can't just throw a cloak of invisibility over this whole matter, as much as I'd like to, so you'll have to go through the hoops. Lots of angles to examine, but I'll pursue each one. Hey," he smiled slightly, a wry expression that wasn't merry, just blunt. "you know me. I'm stubborn as a bear. Even if that means we have to indict you, or lower your sentence. But what you need to know is,"
This time Eoin's pale blue eyes grabbed Curse's green gaze, held him there firmly. He knew the man wouldn't want any corners cut.
"I will see this investigation through. Properly; in line with the law. So you'll get treated fair, but you won't get special treatment either. That's all I can give you right now my friend but, better a fair defense than something someone like Daksmer could cook up, eh."
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Post by Curse Kameren on Sept 23, 2011 0:08:40 GMT -5
"That's fine, I understand. But I'll need the names of them; it'll be confidential, my eyes only, but I'll need to adjust their assignments temporarily to fit, and I'd like to just keep an eye out for them in case they meet up with trouble. You know, a back-up of sorts."
Curse shook his head. "Nothing stays secret at the Ministry. I mean no offense, but I've had friends betray information to the enemy before." If Curse had kept his mouth shut and kept his theories to himself, the nightmare with his son might never have happened Theo Bowre wouldn't have betrayed Curse's knowledge to Mosrael. His son wouldn't have had to go through the trauma of the kidnapping. Curse would actually still be able to see his son. "If they need your help for something, they'll let you know. They won't need to step in until I'm imprisoned."
The strangeness of that sentence suddenly struck Curse. It wasn't unless or if he was imprisoned, it was when. This was very real. He was going to Azkaban or back to Mungo's, leaving his family behind him again. "I was just protecting my son," Curse pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly, leaning back on his chair.
Tired. Curse was so tired of the struggle. At twenty-eight he felt the fatigue of an old man, too exhausted to keep pressing on. He saw how it affected his family, especially Max and Arianna. He tried to take the brunt of the troubles his family, but he looked into his son's and fiancee's eyes and saw his pain hurt them too. He wasn't sure how much more he could take. Tired, so tired.
"But what you need to know is," Curse locked eyes with Tynan, his expression remaining solid. He didn't like showing weakness in front of the Head Auror; as much as he liked him, Curse was still not quite sure if he could trust him. He was always that way with Ministry members. "I will see this investigation through. Properly; in line with the law. So you'll get treated fair, but you won't get special treatment either. That's all I can give you right now my friend but, better a fair defense than something someone like Daksmer could cook up, eh."
"Thank you." Curse nodded, rolling his shoulder a bit uncomfortably with the motion. Something in the neck movement had twinged at one of the healing muscles, but it was fine. He would live, and according to Mungo's he would eventually regain full use of his arm. Eventually.
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