As the Night falls

[Gabriella De Conti]

Gabriella smiled as she walked along the darkening streets of Hogsmeade. She was glad to be able to stroll without the burdening thought of a mission. Her last one had been carried out with minimal complications and she had delivered the flower to her superiors still in one piece.

It must've been important because they had not even asked her if Quinn or some other ministry official had managed to catch up with her. The thought frightened her slightly, but she had long ago learned to ignore those fears.

She shook her head and peered into the stores, she hadn't even been in one since she was a student. Being in a closed in area greatly decreased her chance of escape if she was cornered. She smirked, she'd definitely lived in civil war times for too long. It was constantly on her brain, and every action, every step she took, she analysed to make sure she would be safe and that the Rogue Wizards future would also be safe.

She laughed aloud, she certainly thought she would never become as paranoid as she was now.

((sorry it's been so long my life's been kind of hectic as of late. School jsut ended though...so it's not as crazy anymore))

[Gregory Greenwich]

The setting sun silhouetted Greg as he stepped outside, into the cooling air, from the Three Broomsticks. Gently closing the door he looked suspiciously up and down the street, thankfully there were very few people about; he had but half an hour until he met up with Quinn, which he wouled use wisely with a refreshing walk, he needn't to keep in tip-top condition with such a difficult strenuous job, and you never knew, he ngiht even get luck and find a clue as to the whereabouts of the numerous criminals he was currently tracking...mainly mischeveous mad pupils from the school, but nevertheless he had a sworn duty to take them in for questioning.

Strolling down the street for once feeling reasonably confident that his meeting with Quinn wouldn't end up with her berating him the entire time; as he had some vey good news. The trail of that damned villain De Conti had come to Hogsmeade itself, now he just needed to find out which house, smiling at those he passed he saw a woman up ahead and quickly averted his gaze, for some reason they had a knack of making him extremely uncomfortable, maybe it was just bad experiences.

Risking a peek he gaped in astonishment, it was De Conti herself, quivering from head to foot in seconds he reached for his wand, this time he would bring her in...

[Gabriella De Conti]

Gabriella turned around to see the frightened boy and she smirked.

"Locksley's new apprentice I presume," she said walking towards him. She knew he wouldn't be able to fire anything at her, she doubted he expected her to be so forward either. "Put that wand away boy, you and I both know you have no chance to beat me."

She laughed as he quivered in front of her; shaking from fear of her, "Quinn must really detest you. She never had any patience for fools and cowards. Why I'll bet she treats you worse then my organization could ever hope to accomplish. Mental is always worse then physical.

"It's a pity really," She said taking a step closer. "You really are hte cutest thing." Gabriella finished and then proceeded to pjnch his cheeks.

She stood back and pulled out her wand and started fiddling it between her fingers. "So how is life at the ministry these days?"

[Gregory Greenwich]

Greg gaped, open mouthed through fear and awe of his oppenent. Shaking from head to foot Greg began to sweat quite profusely, he hated such intimate situations, a woman being less than a foot away was far too close for comfort. Then her ice cold touch upon his cheek made him recoil, though some reason it reminded him fondly of his mother.

He knew what he had to do, he over confidence would be her undoing, only his lack of confidence made him unsuitable to take the advantage.

"Y..y..y..you c...ca..your tricks won't work with me," he managed to splutter out. It was quite true feminine wiles should in theory fail to work upon a loyal follower of the Ministry, and by God he was one, loyal to the extreme only he was completely petrified.

But the look she gave him sent a shudder down his spine, how was one so young and naive supposed to deal with this? Mind racing he thought feverishly as to how to catch her, but nothing came; it was impossible for him to defeat her in a duel, so what on earth could he do?

Backing away he murmered "s..s..s'ok," he answered eyes searching in vain for a way out of the trap that was forming; keep her talking.

"K..k..cute?" He asked incredulously pouncing upon a rather difficult topic for himself. Changing his mind instantaneously he added defending his mentor "Quinn's the best around." Somehow he even succeeded in conquering his fear when defending a superior.

[Gabriella De Conti]

She laughed at his fear, "Poor frightened boy. You remind me of an eleven year old muggle-born attending Hogwarts for the first time.

"Although I admit I am impressed at your tracking ability. I applaud your skill, it's quite an art form. When you're older, stronger you might not be such a liability to the ministry." She said laughing. She looked at him smirking; certainly in a few years, maybe after his first kill or capture, he would be strong. His tracking skills would aid him greatly. This frightened her slightly, no longer would she have the long intervals it took for Quinn to find her. She didn't show any emotion on her face however, she'd learned long ago to refrain from doing so.

She quickly put up barriers around her mind and glanced around, her paranoia kicking in. The thought of it being a trap was quite likely.

"You know normally I would try to get into your mind but I have no need for that with you. I can read your emotions on your face. Here's a tip; in this buisness never keep your emotions on your sleeve.

"You are quite enamoured with your darling mentor aren't you? But of course Quinn is good, one of the best the ministry has to offer. She's the only one they send after me who actually provides some level of dificulty. She makes my life interesting for sure, adds some excitement. A struggle for my freedom is always a fun one, especially since I always win.

"So what do you say we take a little walk around Hogsmeade before I bring you in to my superiors hm?"

[Quinn Locksley]

"How about you leave the torturing of the poor frightened boy to me," Quinn said. She had her wand on the rogues cheek and was smiling for once. She had come out of the book store just as Greenwich confronted De Conti. That would have made her proud had he not lost the situation entirely as he began to spoke.

She felt a very weak throbbing of admiration for the rogue. She just yanked the rug out from under the boy in one fowl swoop and kept hacking at him. A woman after my own heart, she thought. She grew tired simply watching for she had little patience for watching excitement and not being in it.

Quinn had waited for the right time to make her move and it can sooner then she expected. She could not let her apprentice, however pathetic he was, be escorted into enemy hands. She then advanced on the two and with much satisfaction, yanked the carpet out from under the rogue. "Take her wand, Greenwich," she said coolly.

[Gregory Greenwich]

Greg recoiled in further paroxysms of fear and revultion, the thought of being with such a woman for any length of time was more than his wits could take, hardly daring to breath as she spoke he blinked feverishly wondering quite what she would do to him, let alone her superiors who were ultimately fabled to be far worse.

But then his saviour appeared, ready to deal with any situation as usual, he would have given her a tiny appreicate but the look upon her stony features waylaid him. Gulping sweet fresh air and finding his voice back at last, his mentor gave him an obvious source of comfort, even though she was nearly as bad as De Conti in reality. Perhaps she despised Gregory even more? Who knew?

Only problem was the inevitable order came, this was his chance to prove himself, worthy of at least a little recognition, all he had to was simply take her wand; easy, in theory for a capable wizard yet he knew he wasn't one; or rather other people had persuaded him of the fact over the many years of his degredation.

Looking once at his superior he gaped all the more, his face somehow turning even paler, a deathly white, hand trembling he looked back at De Conti completely mortified; but this was the plan, act now, she would be too preoccupied with the far superior Locksley of course, and wouldn't even give a thought to him.

knowing the correct procedure he began to declare in a wavering voice still
"y.y..y..you're under arrest," with the tiniest of smiles he dived for her wand his grasping fingers locking upon her hand and dragging it away.

In theory he should have utilised his own wand, but he knew the lack of skill he had with it, De Conti would easily have thwarted his attempt to disarm her; so he went for the old fashioned way. Grappling with his enemy...

[Gabriella De Conti]

Gabriella was knocked to the ground as he dove at her wand; his hand grasping hers. "Feisty are we? Funny, I never expected you to be so forward." She said with a slight smirk.

Bloody woman. Always showing up where she's not needed.

Gabriella aimed a bunch at his nose and smiled as it actually connected. She was never one to approve of brute force over using one's wand.

Her breath was getting shorter as she struggled more and more.
"What are we muggles?" She said glaring at the boy. The testerone and the fact that he was a trained hit wizard, no matter how pathetic of one, was definitely giving the lad the upper-hand. He knew how to play his strengths; it surpriosed Gabriella that he actually had the intelligence to do so. The only thing she could do know was try to unnerve.

"You know I was never one for public displays of affection but if you inisist...I won't say no." She said smiling at the boy...at least attempting too. She hated fighting...it was so ridiculous. Gabriella shook her head and immediately started using occlumency. She wasn't about to give away anything while her concentration was elsewhere.

[Gregory Greenwich]

Gregory feverishly grappled for control of De Conti's wand, yet he was driven by something far greater and more powerful than her desperation at escaping; fear of losing, he needed to show to his mentor and even De Conti that he had some strength within him, even if it was only small and nearly insignificant.

Fear drove him to greater mental and physical strength, he barely felt the pain of the vicious blow to his nose; which promptly began to bleed freely. Having no time to staunch the flow Greg began to slowly pry her fingers from the wand a fierce expression of concentration etched into his brow. Sweat trickled dampening his otherwise pristeen hair as he desperately fought for control; knowing that Locksley would be watching with an analytical eye, she'd be analysing his every move, to show up his every weakness.

Saving his breath for the fight he completely ignored her words, knowing he couldn't retort effectively, not just because of his stumbling stammer, but also due to his fear of her. Eyes lockedupon the struggle Greg began to feel a prying into his very thoughts; she was using occlumency. A fresh wave of panic flew through him; one she would doubtless take strength and joy from. What to do? His brain went at ten to the dozen, utilise your strengthes that's what Locksley would say. Instead of trying in vain the defend his own weak mind, he would further the offensive. Grimacing he took a great surging breath and brought his head down upon hers, spinning dizzily his poor forehead splitting, Greg used his last dregs of strength to pull the wand away, stumbling backwards into a large mucky puddle behind him, which splattered his freshly ironed robes, completely ruining them; but he didn't notice, he'd succeeded and taken her wand. Jubulation soared but he kept a reasonably cool head, and began to awkwardly stumble to his unsteady feet, but his vision was impaired drastically from the pain in his aching head, he didn't dare risk a shot as he'd like as not hit his own mentor than his prey. Bringing a hand to his side splitting head Greg brought De Conti's wand up into a duelling position.

"G..give up." He commanded his voice remaining relatively steady, only then did soemthing connect with him; promptly knocking him to the hard ground once more...

[Quinn Locksley]

Quinn slapped a hand to her face and sighed heavily as the idiot attacked De Conti. Have I thought him nothing? she screamed in thought. She slowly, painfully brought her hand down her face and shot the apprentice a hateful glare. Idiot!

He head-butted the Rogue, practically knocking her to the floor, but he got the wand. He looked very proud with himself but Quinn was fuming. She hated using brutality in such a physical way but it would get her message across. She moved her wand from the one hand to the other and formed an angry fist with her now free hand. Though she was not a particularly brawny lady, she put every ounce of anger into her swing and punched the idiotic apprentice on the cheek.

He fell to the ground and Quinn quickly stood over him. "You stupid boy!" she cried, pointing her wand at the boy, "what do you think you were doing? I meant take the wand from her as in Accio it to you. She could have done you a lot more harm if she had felt up to the challenge." When Quinn said 'she' she pointed her wand at De Conti. She remembered a time where they had brawled. Quinn had lain a few good hits but De Conti had broken two for Quinn's ribs and given a swollen eye for four days.

[Gabriella De Conti]

She rubbed her head as she stayed on the ground. "No wonder you're so idiotic." She said scathingly. "You're all bloody skull. Thanks to you I'll probably end up with a concussion or a hidious bruise on my forehead.

"Don't know why I was surprised you had to use brute force to get my wand away from me. I doubt you even have the intelligence to use 'expelliarmus' or a smiple summoning spell."

Gabriella sighed and noticed her spare wand lying in the dirt ten feet away. The likelihood she could actually retrieve it was slim to none. Quinn was too smart to let that oppurtunity pass her by. All she had now was her wits and some meagre hope that another Rogue would come by and help her.

"Fool," she said scathingly. "Why on earth would I ever give up. Quitting is not something I shall do until my last breath leaves my body."

Gabriella stood up slowly; her head still pounding. She glared at him. Next time Quinn would have no chance to intervene.

She smirked, "Foolish, foolish stupid boy." She said and made a dash for her other wand.

[Jake Gobien]

Gobien yearned to stay hidden in the shadows, yet he couldn't stand to see the Ministry attacking another person; and if he wasn't mistaken that was no ordinary person either...De Conti. Keeping to the shadows Gobien moved steathily closer watching the scene unfold with avid interest, the scales tipped one way sharply then the other, but Gobien knew De Conti couldn't keep it up. Her luck would dry up and her wits wouldn't suffice against two members of the Magical Law Enforcement squad, even if one was a mere apprentice he coudl still pose a threat; he acted quite randomly, not sticking to form or protocal at all, and that made him dangerous; yet Locksley was clearly the worse of the two, she was experienced beyond belief, but had a major flaw; over-confidence. He found the irony highly amusing as one stuttered away whilst the other acted rashly even smacking him to the ground; now was the prime opportunity.

Gobien sprang from the shadows, in an ideal world he would have obeyed protocal and challenged Locksley to a duel, that he wasn't entirely sure he could win anyway, yet time was pressing and he needed to survive this encounter.
"Stupefy" He murmered his voice as cold as steel, he aimed directly for the small of Quinn's back, it was point blank range...

[Gregory Greenwich]

Greg had foolishly believed he'd done well, and proven his worth for once; apparently not though, about to deliver a knock out blow to his worthy advesary he received a knock out blow to the chops, went sent him sprawling into the dirt; his jaw was clearly dislocated, blood now began to spew from his opened mouth too.

He believed, and still resolutely half-did, that he had used his strengthes wisely, in a duel he would have been soundly beaten by his opponent. He was youthful and realtively strong so seizing her wand by force had seemed a good idea at the time; only now did he realise how stupid he had been. Struggling to hold back the tears, he clamped one hand over his jaw, trying in vain to staunch the blood nearly foaming in his mouth, spitting he still held the Rogue Witch's wand aloft, and surprisingly relatively steady too. Tears stung his eyes; partly from pain but mostly from failing so miserably. Lowering his eyes, he caught movement from his peripheral vision. Without thinking his instincts lept into control; as the spell flew from the wand he dived into its path...trying to be hero...flung aside Greg swiftly lost conciousness, prone upon the damp ground...

[Quinn Locksley]

When Quinn heard De Conti's voice, Quinn looked at the Rogue with every ounce of hatred she possessed. This is all your fault, she thought, everything! All the hassle and trouble she had gone through in the past few years had all been because De Conti could keep a low enough profile for Quinn not to be sent after her.

She glared at the rogue and followed her eye line. Quinn suddenly remembered De Conti's second wand. No! she gasped. "Accio wand!" Quinn cried and the wand shot to her open hand. "Nice try, De Conti," she spat, "but you can't get it so easy -"

Suddenly she caught the sight of movement out of the corner of her eye and the next thing she knew, Greenwich was hit by the Stupefy spell that had been aimed for her. Quinn spun around to face ... "You!" she said, disbelievingly, maliciously, "no!" Getting over her momentary shock, Quinn quickly shot "Stupefy!" back and it hit the wizard in the chest.

Satisfied that he was properly out, Quinn turned to De Conti. "I thought you were a woman of class," Quinn growled, "so why are you hanging about with lowlife scum like him?" She inclined her head towards the wizard she had just stupefied and she could not believe ... She didn't care much but she knew that De Conti was better then that.

[Gabriella De Conti]

Gabriella's hand gripped the dusty wand. The distraction of the boy diving in front of a spell aimed for his master had allowed her the time needed to reach the spare wand. She thanked God once more that for the second time the Red Rose's wand ahd saved her life.

She smirked at her adversary; surprised her mind was still functioning at this point. "Two against one Locksley. You might as well surrender as my apparent ally isn't an idiot." She said with a slight sneer. "A loyal idiot though I'll grant him that. Pity though; otherwise he would've been easier to sway."

Her head was pounding and it was taking all her strength jsut to remain standing up. She knew it wouldn't be long before Locksley noticed that and it wouldn't be much longer till she would start showing it on her oputwardly appearance. She glanced up at the guy who had essentially just saved her life. She assumed him to be Jake Gobien for she doubted any other would have helped her out of her predicament.

Now not only was head damaged but so was her pride. The last thing she needed was to be in debt with a fellow Rogue Wizard.

"Let's face it Locksley: you will never be able to capture me so why don't we jsut call this whole charade quits and we can both carry on with our lives yeah?"