Where only fools dare venture (CLOSED big plot)

[Fitz Hargreaves]

Keys jangling at his side Fitz strolled further and further downwards into the dungeons. He had the irresistable feeling that he was walking headlong into the very jaws of hell itself. Coming abruptly to the end of the corridor he drove the ancient keys into the equally ancient lock rust encrusted and dirty. So far into the bowels of the castle few people had rarely been judging by the thick layer of dust and grime, he knew for a fact that house elves kept areas sparkling clean if they were seen even once a month. A large clanging noise resounded throughout the corridor as the door clicked open. Giving it a heave he pushed the door slowly upon its hinges, emitting a squeal from lack of use the door opened begrudgingly.

A lantern hung upon a hook just inside lighting the way, wondering why it lay there when people could so simply use magic he found in his answer when he muttered lumos and not a jot occurred. This place clearly wouldn’t allow the use of magic, it must have been integrated with a far deeper and stronger magic than most possessed; the perfect place to stage a little interrogation. Slipping the lantern from it’s holder he surveyed the scene lifting the lantern high to enable it’s piercing light to strive through the perpetual gloom and deafening darkness; deeply battered stone steps lay immediately beyond the door, an unwary walker would slip and fall with ease. Gingerly descending with the aid of a stout walking stick he had brought for the purpose he easily skipped onwards, though felt ill at ease without the security of magic.

Abruptly the steps came to their end, in a vast underground complex he half expected the tell-tale drip of water whether from sewers or underground streams, yet there was total and absolute silence, chilling him to the core. Though by no means adept at magic he still yearned for the comforting touch of his wand, or perhaps his dear Illy.

Peering into the gloom he realised the darkness seemed to be increasing, whether his imagination or no it left him with little visibility. Edging along more carefully now without the faintest idea where he was going. He could so easily trip over a protruding rock, slide over some gravel or simply fall directly down a crevice.

Thankfully his luck was with him thus far, though he only managed what seemed like hours which was in fact less than a minutes travel further along.
With no magic to aid him he breathed in deeply steadying his nerves, thankfully they remained steadfast though his vivid imagination conjuring up all kinds of horrors didn’t help matters.
Perhaps I should turn back? Yes that’ll be for the best. Turning a complete circle he began his retreat, but on his first step his nose encountered a sharp object, crying aloud in pain he thought that wasn’t there before. Did the walls move? What in God’s name was this place of horrors?

[Loren Hayes]

'Down there?' Loren muttered to herself as she stood a few feet away from the open door, the reporter's dusty foot prints leading in an even stride down through the dungeons and into the black doorway, the evidence of his entry immediately stopping short as his prints disappeared over the threshold. How had no dust fell in such an old tunnel? Loren raised her lit wand above her head, leaning forward to get a better look.

Loren gasped as her wand suddenly went out. What on earth? It's a magic light - nothing can put it out! she thought angrily, leaning away from the passage only to have her wand flicker back to life again. Huh? Leaning forward again, it went out once more. 'Oh... oh wow.' Loren muttered in surprise, looking from her wand to the passage. 'Weird magic...'

Plucking the parchment from her pocket, Loren checked the map that had been left for her that morning during breakfast. Hargreaves signature sat proudly at the bottom, but she wondered if she were being led into a trap. Why not an empty classroom? Why not outside in the cool weather for Merlin's sake?

Swallowing, Loren stepped into the passage, her wand going out once more. Steep steps descended before her, and Loren pocketed her wand, walking slowly so as not to let her shoes echo too loudly on the stone. A loud grinding behind her made her realise the door had shut by it's own accord. 'Hello?' she called out quietly, although it seemed to echo on unnaturally clear...

[Fitz Hargreaves]

Fitz felt just a little bit trapped, though he wouldn't let it show to even his own mother let alone a student hallooing from above. The strange thing was his eyes were becoming no more accustomed to the dank darkness.
This magic controlling the underground complex gave Fitz the heebie jeebies, he was completely unnerved by the lack of magic especially ash he had no idea what was out there.

"Come down." He commanded sternly keeping his voice firm and level. Keeping low he crouched and moved further along believing the student, ,Loren he surmised it to be by the tone of voice, would enter and follow his dimly shining light. Shuffling along he preceeded further into the cave barely dodging the sharp protruding rocks, which seemingly sought his tasty flesh out.

Stumbling through he was suddenly dazzled by a clear shining light appearing from nowhere and beckoning him onward
"get moving," he summoned his companion further on. Was the light drawing him ever onwards or was it just his imagination. Arriving within moments at a bolted door, seemingly made out of the very earth and rocks compacted togther it creaked open allowing his entrance, but first he waited for Loren calling "hurry along there's nothing to fear dear, just a nice little interview."

[Loren Hayes]

Loren jumped, nearly screaming, as a man's face appeared out of nowhere, illuminated by the dim glow of an old oil lantern. The wry grin and arching eyebrows were distinctive, and she knew from Daily Prophet photographs that this was Fitz Hargreaves, the man she was supposed to be meeting. At least it's not a trap, she thought, but it only gave her slightly relief. She was still put out by the fact that he had chosen this place of all to have their Quadwizard champion interview.

'Is this dark magic?' Loren asked tensely as she shuffled down the low tunnel toward him, her heart slowing down as she too was bathed in soft light. 'Why would there be a place in Hogwarts where magic can't work?' she asked, her eyebrows knitted.

Wishing she was in control of the lamp, Loren unwilling moved forward into the new room. She stopped dead however to see that the contents were no more than a table and two hairs - made of stone. With raised eyebrows the Ravenclaw turned to look at Fitz. 'Why?' she asked with a disbelieving frown, as if the word alone explained everything.

For a moment she went to retrieve her wand from her pocket, only realising it would not work. She walked over to the furniture, sitting down carefully. 'This is completely unnecessary...' she mumbled disagreeably.

[Fitz Hargreaves]

Believing he was to be the one to ask the questions he arched an eyebrow as the inquisitive youth approached, seemingly not too earnest about the interview. Directing her towards inside the smaller cave he grinned this could prove interesting.
"How should I know," he answered believing it to be just some uncommonly strong magic, and old, very ancient in fact. Whether for good or evil he couldn't fathom.

Gesturing for her to seat he took his own stone chair, believing the hardnes would keep his wits about him; necessary nay vital in such a place. Siezing her up and grateful the light had brightened somewhat he looked curiously into her eyes especially and saw the grim set of her features on an otherwise marginally pretty face. Swiping out a camera fromm his satchel, he instantly took a picture catching her in a surprised state "wonderful" he said simply, desiring such an action to put the girl on edge at first.

He believed it necessary with her type to gain and contain the upper hadn from the outset.
"On the contrary it's completely vital, I need to test you, don't you agree the quadwizard tournament will test you to your very limits, if not further?" Setting quill and parchment upon the stone table before him he began to scribble down preliminary notes.

cautious to the extreme, unwillingness to cooperate, pointedly fires many questions, arches eyebrow too frequently.

To coax her along and aid the questioning he gave a reassuring smile and added "there's nothing to fear, the sooner you've answered just a few basic questions, the sooner we can get out of this disturbing place."

Clearly ill at ease with her surroundings, how will she cope with the true challenges of the tournament?

[Loren Hayes]

'Uuh...' Loren blinked quickly with an absent expression for a moment as the camera's flash blinded her. Where did that come from?! she wondered, perplexed. Squeezing her eyes shut in an attempt to get rid of the large white blob sitting directly in the middle of her vision, Loren tried to see Fitz more clearly in the dim light - which to her, now only seemed dimmer.

'Oh, yes... I suppose...' Loren admitted dumbly as he shot at her a comment about the tournament challenges. 'I think how I was treated at the Ball should be considered a task all by itself,' she suddenly said bitterly, paranoid that he was suggesting she was not capable. 'I bloody hate Professor Hubbles. He attacked me, you know.' she added matter-a-factly, wondering if this was a chance to create dirt on the awful man.

Looking up, Loren saw that Fitz was scribbling away on a notepad. She craned her neck slightly, trying to nose in on what he was writing, tutting as he pulled the paper a little closer to himself so that she could not see. I expect he'll be nice, she thought hopefully. I've refrained from commenting on that dreadful jumper, after all...

Clearing her throat and sitting up in her seat a little straighter, Loren tried to compose herself. 'Well fire away,' she said a little impatiently, raising her chin in an attempt to be taller than him, although she was nowhere near achieving this.

[Fitz Hargreaves]

A dazed, far off expression in her eye, unsure of herself, creates gossip about a Head of House one Daniel Hubbles esteemed Professor of Charms, supremely well qualified and a well valued member of the teaching staff here at Hogwarts
or so the reports decreed
but I'll have to look into the dealings of my old pal a little more closely he thought with a smile, he's made a fearsome enemy of this young lady.
utters vociferations in front of elders
though "bloody" could barely count he admitted wryly.
detests Hubbles
he frequently jotted down such notes, manipulating what she said for his own means. Words could be twisted and turned in such ingenious ways if one knew how.

"Could you please elaborate upon the assault by that vile man? Though I hear your dancing was quite sublime before he so rudely and for no reason disrupted and physically asssaulted a number of students. Including your good self, your boy friend Dax Simmons and a good friend Baggleworth?" He used flattery with dazzling smile, remaining careful not to allow her access to his precious notes. Though his sources weren't the best he believed he had the information relatively correct, though the youth's appalling accent had hindered his hearing somewhat.

[Loren Hayes]

'Boggleworth,' Loren corrected him with exaggerated pronounciation, wondering who Fitz could possibly have been talking to. 'Well Professor Hubbles has been victimising me ever since a detention I had with him a very long time ago. He never used to be all that bad, but when he realised I was going out with a boy in Hufflepuff - who happens to be good friends with his little sister, favouritism if you ask me - he's been very threatening towards me.' Loren explained with a serious nod. 'I accidentally spilled a drink on him at the ball and he went absolutely ballistic. He actually knocked me to the ground, can you believe it?'

Loren noticed a wry little smile on Fitz's face as he focused on his parchment, his hand moving swiftly across the page as he jotted down everything Loren was saying. Of course, it seemed a little inappropriate that he was smiling of all things at such a story, and Loren cleared her throat violently, causing him to look at her. 'I'm alright though.' she added testily, annoyed that he had not sympathised with her right away. What an odd man, she thought suspiciously. He reminds me of Starsmore.

'Erm, will this definitely be in the Daily Prophet?' Loren asked with a hopeful gleam in her eye. She had never been in the paper before, let alone interviewed, and she had promised to send her parents a copy when it came out.

[Fitz Hargreaves]

Smiling at the juicy gossip and stories he was unearthing, and the way Loren allowed him in under her guard he wrote in his swift and elaborate hand;
Victimising pupils reaches new heights at Hogwarts
Love crushed under the brutal iron foot of authority, a young couple torn apart by their elders, relationships torn asunder if seen as unfit.
Stopping himself from continuing onwards scrawling notes up upon the passionate love portrayed or rather his own fierce love; he glanced up at the girl, surprise and anguish written upon his face.
"Love," he murmered "what are men without love?" Distractedly he frowned and preceeded with this line of enquiry which touched his heart most profoundly.
"Hubbles has drove a wedge between a young couple has he? What a surprise," he muttered sarcastically "it isn't like him at all."

Realising his questions were loosing the plot he reformulated
"he had the audacity to knock a pupil to the ground? Tample them under his feet? It's a disgrace you must be stricken my dear, to think tyour teachers, the models of society, those you look up to with respect and admiration, who should formulate a good example, and he treats you with disdain and cruelty." Shaking his head he made to firmly side with Loren; that way she would let out even her darkest secrets, if he acted wisely and carefully.

Remembering her question concerning the Daily Prophet he answered heartily with a beaming smile
"of course my dear; front page news if we're lucky." He neglected to mention his necessity to unearth dirt of all the champions, he needed a good story, and he would go tom any lengthes to achieve one. But upon seeing the gleam in her eyes, the yearning for fame or else merely having an article in the paper, his heart softened somewhat, this interview meant an awful lot to her, perhaps he had best not slander her too much.

"You do realise I'm sure that Hubbles will do everything in his power to hinder your winning the tournament? Isn't this an unfair advantage?" He posed a deliberately outrageous question; desiring a response which he could manipulate effectively to his own advantage.

[Loren Hayes]

'Professor Hubbles hates that Dax and I are together,' Loren replied with a sagely raise of her eyebrows, leaning close and whispering as if the two of them were surrounded by eavesdroppers. The room was so empty that the lantern's still flame could not even push through the gloom to find the walls and ceiling. In the drama of their conversation Loren had quite forgot how unnatural the place was. 'At the ball he wouldn't let us near each other. He actually black mailed me into keeping away from him... did I already tell you that?' She added with an investigative frown, entirely unsure whether she had or not.

Loren quickly reverted back to her normal self with a beaming grin as Fitz confirmed that it would be published - and even better - might make the front page. She thought about how her photograph would look and realised the one Fitz had taken ago might look at little off-guard. She would have to ask him at the end to take another, of course.

'I know!' Loren suddenly erupted with raised hands, her face stricken with indignation. 'He is trying to hinder my winning, isn't he? I'm so glad someone agrees! He's terrible with favouritism, Professor Hubbles is,' Loren bought back her hushed, gossipy tone. 'He never stops handing out points to Hufflepuffs, and he always makes sure they get to respond first to questions in his lessons. I swear he must tell them the answers before hand!' Loren crossed her arms angrily, shaking her head with narrowed eyes. 'He tried to beat me up, but oh no, wouldn't touch Dax! I'm actually quite paranoid he'll help his sister cheat in the tournament.' Loren tutted. 'Did you know she's a werewolf? He doesn't even care.' Loren added, prompting Fitz to be as shocked as she had originally been at the news.

[Fitz Hargreaves]

Fitz had his big story and more, such juicy gossip was perfect, Loren was playing directly into his hands, but aiding herself simultaneously, or so she believed. Fitz would manipulate every word supplied to the extreme, but thus far he wouldn't particularly need to. Such passion was perfect to portray in the Prophet, precisely what the people demanded.

"Good Lord!" He exclaimed in shock "a werewolf, I knew it," he said smashing his hand down upon the stone table for effect. Slightly injuring it in the process, but it had the desired effect. Loren was dishing dirt so speedily he barely kept up the steady stream of naughty notes. Thrilled he smiled coaxing more out of her, by agreeing entirely with her, in this instance it wasn't even a lie he expected the exact same.

Reeling off the complaints against Hubbles he smiled; perfection
"favouritism, cheating, blackmail, it's quite outrageous, you could report him for that, hindering a love so dear is disastrous to all. Damn his breeches," he breathed with a dark look pushing away the equally dark memories.

"It's despicable but I wonder is he the worst teacher about? I've heard terrible things of Starsmore, linked to a werewolf cub no? Total proof that Hubbles junior is a werewolf eh? Quite disgraceful, no competition at all I presume?" He coaxed further pushing with more outrageous comments.

[Loren Hayes]

'Uh, don't get me started on Professor Starsmore.' Loren rolled her eyes in disgust. 'Professor Hubbles at least keeps some professionalism during his lessons - but I think Professor Starsmore just wants to see some blood, I really do!' Loren said earnestly. 'He bought a werewolf cub of all things to a lesson, then got Girty to hold it because she couldn't be affected I presume, but he always has this mad look in his eye like he's just waiting for something nasty to happen!'

Loren realised the interview was straying a little too far from the subject of the Ravenclaw and the upcoming tournament, and she was pleased when he jumped onto the suggestion of competition. 'Well... Girty may be a werewolf be she's too kind natured to make herself an obvious threat.' She informed Fitz with a generous smile. 'Things will get tough and I don't expect Girty will be the one to bare her teeth... well, if you know what I mean.' She added with a mischivious raise of her eyebrow. 'Jac and Zachary... I'm not sure. I haven't ever met the Slytherin champion, although he seems too interested in keeping his robes spick and span to pay attention to what he's meant to be doing. I think Jac will be my biggest opponent... but I still think I might win.' She nodded confidently, drumming her fingers on the table in thought.

[Fitz Hargreaves]

Jotting down in shorthand all that Loren uttered Fitz smirked still further, nodding in encouragement.
Tutting Fitz exclaimed "your teachers all seem rather...extragent, to say the least, is there really a sane one among them? I begin to wonder." He sighed the school could easily go to the dogs, with such bad examples set by many teachers and the Ministry and such journalists such as himself digging dirt and finding any way possible to shame the school I wonder how much longer they can all cope.

Starsmore was apparently another man to look out for, strange having such a lesson, and very dangerous
Parents terrfied as their children suffer horrors. nice, that'll do well as yet another article, they just keep coming. Resisting the urge to rub his hands in glee he added
"Well let's hope you win eh? You've a natural talent methinks, perfect for a winner in fact." He beamed at Loren deliberately siding firmly with her for now.
"Any ideas on how you'll cope with the various tasks? What could they be I wonder? All you can do is your very best mind." He finished wishing her to divulge more secrets if possible.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren pondered, tapping her bottom lip with her fingers. 'I'm really not sure... I'd have expected Starsmore to have told me at least one by now, but he's either being very moral or very mean. I expect Girty would know through her brother though, of course,' she huffed with an upturned nose. 'I don't doubt there will be a flying one. I'm Ravenclaw quidditch captain so I reckon I'll be alright with that one... not too good with fire though.' She admitted with a worried grimace. 'Do you know any?'

There was a strange rumbling over their heads now, one that made Loren flinch a little, covering her head. Surly students passing overhead to lessons couldn't make such a racket? It sounded like something big and slow rolling along stone, and it traveled from one part of the ceiling to another before disappearing entirely. 'I'm half thinking this is one of my challenges!' she joked nervously. 'Any minute now you're going to turn into a troll and I'll have to get out of this labyrinth!'

The same hint of a smile still rested on Fitz's face, and Loren wondered what he was really writing. The Ravenclaw read the Daily Prophet plenty of times but she never took the time to note which reporters were responsible for which articles - what was Fitz's style? There were more writers who were good than bad, but what was Fitz...?

[Fitz Hargreaves]

Fitz tapped his nose in a conspirative manner, and smirked all the more
"perhaps I do know more than I'll ever let on. Telling you the challlenges would ruin the entire thing, you don't need an advantage." He used flattery, designed to make her blush; perhaps that would make a good photo too, not flattering of course, but that wasn't required.
Raising his eyebrows he added "not scared already are we? Tis only a little noise." Fitz was a reasonably hard man to scare; life and death situations were the upper limit, but he tried to make light of most circumstances.

"Anything further to add?" He asked nonchantly beginning to tire somewhat from the interview, he another three which would like as not roll out precisely the same; but of course he didn't let his true boredom show
"hmm how would you cope with a troll I wonder?" He mused aloud imagining the hapless girl thrown about the room by a rampaging troll. It wasn't that he disliked her, rather his vivid imagination took control.