Waiting ((For Vandesar, kinda open as well.))

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

He stood waiting in a rocky outcrop not too far from the edge of the forest, his silloute against the moonlight casting a deep shadow across the clearing floor before him. He had his arms crossed, and eyes closed, waiting for the one man who would recognise the sign that only he knew of.

Leigh heard the wind whip the leaves into a fury, his hair flying furiously into his face, but not even the severe tickle could make him flinch, such was his determination to see the look on Vandesar's face when he realised that Addis was alive and well. He knew that the Ministry patrolled the forest at night, he knew that they patrolled the corridors at night, allowing him to leave a not so obvious call sign, a drawing in ink of the sprawled figure of a vampire covered in his own blood.

Hearing a hushed voice, Leigh smiled before slipping into his tiger animagus form and slinking off into the shadows of the nearby trees, where he saw a lone figure wander into the clearing, knowing undoubtedly that a trap would ensue.

Leigh felt the presence of Shiela not too far off, her own interest in what was happening would soon coax her into coming, but for now Leigh commanded for her to remain, in fear of drawing Vandesar, or whoever it was into fear of attack her.

Not able to see the man clearly, Leigh moved stealthily towards the person, remaining on the fringes of the forest until he could move in close enough to see who it was, but he remained where he was until he let off a low growl, alerting the person who was there of his presence. The person slowly turned towards him...

((Made this up on the spot ))

[Gabriel Vandesar]

Vandesar stopped in the clearing, lowering his last footfall gently so as to make no sound. Tonight had been his night of rest from patrolling the grounds and guarding the Vault, but as he had prepared for bed he had glanced only for a moment out of his window, spotting something drawn in the sky. A vampire, plain and clear. Although ruined by exhaustion he had fled from his quarters down into the grounds, barely breaking as sweat as he galloped at full speed through the forest.

The moonlight was weak tonight, but Vandesar's eyes were accustomed to working in darkness. The Hall of Prophecies had seen to that.

He stood now, watching and waiting, his wand still inside his robes. Why had he chosen to follow that symbol? Why had he not just closed the curtains and let it rest? A trap or not, Vandesar was too thickly injected with nerves and adrenaline to honestly care. Long ago he had adopted the idea of whatever happens, happens. What Unspeakable was afraid to run into any battle, let alone ignore it?

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Reverting from his animagus form, Leigh stepped into the moonlight and smiled, crossing his arms. HIs eyes stared at the man who had appeared to rush from nowhere, obviously ready for battle as he was, what he was.

'And how did I know you'd come?' Leigh said, asking rhetorically. He saw the man turn around in sudden shock, only a mere moments worth before Vandesars composure returned in full. 'If you can believe like the few others, I am alive and well, well enough I should say, but this is not a moment for remorse nor revenge, but of a deal involving you and me, as well as the artifact.'

Leigh had put an emphasis on artifact, for that is what he knew the Ministry was after and if they had gotten it yet, everything he planned for was ruined.

'As a Ministry lapdog, you obey every order without question, but I'm asking you as a man, do you crave the power?'

[Gabriel Vandesar]

Addis. How predictable.

Gabriel remained silent as the other man spoke, his eyes passive and indifferent. Lately he had been letting his more sour emotions get in the way of his job - the side effects of being around so many children no doubt - and he knew that it would eventually have to stop. A position as an Unspeakable was not only difficult to maintain task wise, but it was also very volatile. There were always eyes watching in the Department of Mysteries, the Minister's face plastered on nearly every surface, reminding you that he always had his eye on you. The smallest betryal on one's face was never missed.

Once an Unspeakable, always an Unspeakable. Or death.

Gabriel pulled his thoughts from the image of that cold room and its dark veil, dismissing the fuzzy memory of so many expired or traitorous Unspeakables being sent through (not before their minds were corrected of course. The Ministry took care of everything).

'Power?' he chimed after a while, his crystal clear eyes burning into Leigh's. 'Why, I do think I already have it, Addis. My job - my life - is this government's top priority. As long as I obey every order without question, I'm as good as immortal.' For the first time since entering Hogwarts, a smile that vaguely resembled something that wasn't vindictive graced his face. 'But go on. I daresay I don't have enough. Tell me...'

(( Hehe, I don't know if anyone who reads this has ever read 1984, but if you have I hope you like the whole Ministry of Love touch! ))

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Always the one to be so loyal. Pathetic... Leigh thought to himself as he stared at Vandesar.

'Before you became what you are now, weren't you your own man? A man who chose his own decisions and made up his own mind without being fed too by a person who thinks they know better? Come on, Vandesar, a man like you should have at least one of his own wishes... Maybe to see his family again?' Leigh said, taking his wand out of pocket and throwing it into the ground so the tip dug into it. Leigh put his hands into his pockets and sighed.

'What I'm saying is, isn't it time you broke away from the Ministry? Or at least make your own decision or have your view and opinion on what's happening to the school? The children?' Leigh said, continuing on from before. 'I know you're capable of free will, as you came tonight at a sign that only you and I know of... No one else is here except you and me.'

[Gabriel Vandesar]

Gabriel smiled slightly to himself. Always that same assumption, he thought to himself while looking at the ground. That I am the one who follows the orders... his kind are always such simple fools...

'My will is golden, Addis,' Gabriel informed him softly, bringing one hand up to inspect the skin that had once been smooth, but was now scarred gently with age. 'I am an Unspeakable because of my will - surly you would know that as an intelligent being? I am my own boss. I make the rules. Those aurors back there?' He gestured freely with both his hands to his surroundings, a pleasant, almost happy look on his face. 'Mine.'

Once again Leigh chose to attack Gabriel with the reminder of his family, but this time Gabriel had been prepared. His heart beat did not pick up pace with the dead man's emotional intrusion, and nor did his face show any signs of disturbance. 'Long dead.' He stated simply, the two words enough to tell Leigh that there was no hope in the Unspeakable of ever gaining back such a thing.

'You would be wise, Addis, to forget trying to sway people with vague promises and theories. Just because you died does not mean you understand death.'

With one last glance into the man's eyes, Gabriel turned silently on his heel, beginning to walk away from Leigh.

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Leigh had to close his eyes and hid a smile. 'Being an Unspeakable means you give your life and loyalty to someone else. You live your life for someone else. You slowly begin to become someone else.' Leigh said simply at the figure of Vandesar walking away. 'You're right, I don't understand death, but I know what it feels like to feel the coldness of the shadows wash over you, killing you slowly before you are left with nothing... And what you and the rest of the Ministry are after, I cannot allow you to get!'

He opened his eyes, opened a hand as his wand flew back into it and took an offensive stance towards Vandesar, his wand aiming for the back of the man. 'I've already tried the subtly of being in the shadows, but now is the time for me to rise and show my face again, to show that the Ministry and you, Vandesar, are dealing with a power far greater than even you could comprehend, let alone the Minister of Magic...'