No turning back (Open; Death intended)

[Fitz Hargreaves]

Fitz smirked his plans were unfolding almost as he had planned, he was buying valuable time and hopefully keeping his fellow RRL colleagues out of further danger; if Elijah turned up now it would be sheer dumb luck.

Fitz raised his eyebrows at Quinn and stuck his tongue out defiantly, if he was right that woudl surely infuriate her further, and take her mind completely from the task she should perform; putting the nosy reporter straight into Azkabhan, but he had contingency plans, if ever anything happened to him, a series of papers would be posted to various colleagues who could continue his sterling work.

Chuckling he retorted "apprehending anybody for no reason is also a criminal offense is it not? Surely fully grown alpha males can stroll in a forest if they so wish? No I what is this world coming to, there's no freedom at all." Stubbornly Fitz kept his arms at his sides, Quinn knew he was no use in a duel of any sorts anyway, he posed no threat in that manner. Yet he knew the quill was mightier than the wand, what he wrote of these events could tarnish Locksley's reputation completely.

Fitz had quite probably failed at persuading those present that he was the student, but his stubborness kept him prevailing against any odds. He would keep on with his act, until the bitter end.

Scoffing Fitz laughed long, loud and clear "you can handle this forest? Ha, don't make me laugh Quinn, nobody can handle the forest, least of all you, I've a better chance even." Abruptly he stopped his laughter and became deadly serious, "as I recognise and comprehend the dangers, this place is dark and deadly, enter at your own risk really."

Chuckling again he jabbed the thorn into her side further "you're far too foolhardy, really I'm surprised you've not been found in dead in a gutter." His eyes flashed menacingly, he knew the story of her being attacked; she'd barely escaped alive, luckily her hapless apprentice had found her lying prone in the gutter and had called for medical aid before she died. Perhaps that was why he hated him so? She could never take it that anyone was better in any way shape or form.

Flashing a smile he took hold of McNiven's arm and decreed "yes we'll be going and leave you to your petty patrolling, hardly a job for a Hit Witch eh?" He prodded as he began to pull McNiven away, though he guessed he'd barely move a metre, it was still worth a try.
"A plus mon ami," he called over his shoulder as he turned his back from his old friend, he only hoped she'd fall into his trap...

[Quinn Locksley]

Quinn was growing tired of this game. It was always the same thing with Fitz, insults thrown back and forth but never any action. He stuck out his tongue at her, Quinn roared with hatred inside. Her wand hand, still pointed at him, was steady, but her hand at her side was tightly clenched in a fist.

She wanted to retort, scream and shout obscenities at the stupid man, but instead she got a better idea. She lowered her wand, looked at the floor and rubbed her face with her free hand in frustration. She sighed heavily so all present could hear. She stopped listening to the words from Fitz's mouth and began to listen to the words in his head. How fascinating, she thought, Tarnish my reputation, will you? And digging up ancient history? You have nothing on me, fool! She had her eyes closed when she dropped her hand and said, "you never got it, Fitz," she opened her cold dark eyes, "never."

He had his hand on the Scotsman's arm and was leading him away. Quinn couldn't and wouldn't let him leave, neither of them. So she raised her wand again, sighed heavily before saying, "you asked for this Fitz. Stupefy." A red bolt of lightening flashed from her wand and hit Fitz squarely in the back. When he had fallen to the floor, Quinn bowed to Moen and said, "sorry about that. Carry on."

[Fitz Hargreaves]

Completely taken aback by the fact that Quinn wasn't giving snide; ultimately ineffective retorts as he claimed words could never hurt him, Fitz for a moment believed he'd made good their escape. He could sense and visibly see Quinn controlling her vicious temper, she had it on a much tighter leash than she used to, usually he would have felt the terrible lash of her viper's tongue long ago. She'd actually learnt some self-control, which Fitz was quite amazed by.

Smirking he retorted quite seriously "I've always known it Quinn." His eyes sparkled dangerously as he began to pull McNiven away from the grim group.

His reflexes were far to slow for him to utter a counter-curse or even duck. His last thought wasn't an extremity but rather of joy as he fell into darkness she fell for it.

[Nicholas McNiven]

Nicholas could not believe it when Fitz showed up, he had learnt from experience that this man had a problem of being unable to hold his tongue and let again it seemed like his inability to know when to shut up was costing them vital time and also the chance of escaping with out anyone getting hurt. Nicholas knew that things were turning from bad to worse when Fitz started to chatter away with the one member of the Ministry that seemed to pose the most threat.

Making sure his wand was close by McNiven tightened his grip around it and waited patiently for the first move to be made. He would only give a few glances over at his fellow Red Rose League member but kept his gaze on the witch giving the occasional glance at the others. However as he fell to the ground McNiven shock his head and looked down at the stunned man on the floor. Out of every member of the league who could have come to him it had to be Fitz.

With a calm breath McNiven looked back at Locksley and raised his eyebrows at her, then the mans thin lips creased into a small smile as he gave his wand a small flick and the stunned body of Fitz shot off to the side giving McNiven plenty of space to move. Then gently the man put one foot in front of the other and moved closer to Locksley his typical frown filling his face once more. Clenching his jaw so that his muscles tighten around his square jaw McNiven raised his wand and pointed it directly at the chest of the witch.

“I would like you remember that you made the first move by attacking one of my men.”

Nicholas cold Scottish voice slowly floated around the clearing, his gaze did not waver and his wand arm remind straight. Years of practise and cool headedness came into play. It was time to give this witch a taste of her own medicine, however he would use a very childlike and simple spell but would do the task he needed.

“Petrificus Totalus”

[Quinn Locksley]

Quinn laughed cruelly as McNiven shot Fitz's body aside. She enjoyed other people's pain but above all she liked it when someone could so easily discard someone who had stood up for him, just as Hargreaves had done for this mysterious man. It amused her and had circumstances been different, Quinn surmised that she and this man might have gotten along well. But circumstances were not different and he was still suspect.

She stopped laughing abruptly. She looked at the other two Ministry officers and rolled her eyes as they did nothing to apprehend the suspece. Turning back to the nave as he spoke, Quinn smirked at him. "And now you have men? Mr McNiven, you are full of ..." she trailed off.

McNiven had shot a spell. Her first instance. Quinn whirled her wand arm in a wide circle and yelled, "Protego." It formed a wide shield that deflected the spell towards the two apprentices. Quinn lowered her arm and said, "surprises." She grimaced at him. "That was not so courteous," she said, stretching her neck. "I want you to remember you made the first move on me! Expelliarmus."

[Nicholas McNiven]

As his spell was deflected McNiven could not help but smile. He did not expect anything more then that from Quinn, she would not be in the ministry if she was not skilled and the other two men seemed to be rather scared of her. Locksley however did not seem to want to give up and as he listened to her calm voice he guessed that she would soon attack him back. Slowly rising his wand McNiven got ready to attack.

“Expelliarmus."

However as the same time Locksley cast the identical spell on him, Nicholas watched with wide eyes as the light from each of their wands met and then with a sudden force he was sent flying backwards in the air. The next thing he could remember was pushing himself back to his feet making sure his wand was still in his hands. McNiven could not believe that the witch before him had such good reactions, he understood why now she was so important to the ministry and deserved great respect. With a small nod in his opponents direction McNiven began to brush himself down, getting the dirt and leaves off his coat.

Once he was convinced that he looked respectable once more, just like before he took a few steps forward so that he was standing only paces away from Quinn, keeping eye contact at all times. Although this time he did not raise his wand at her, if a move was to be made he would make it or if he was to go first an unexpected attack always worked wonders.

[Quinn Locksley]

Quinn was surprised to hear McNiven's voice ring out along with her own. The spells hit with great force and the two, witch and wizard fell back. Quinn flew back and landed on an upturned stick. It punctured her love handle and she gritted her teeth in pain but she didn't cry out. She stood up and pulled the stick out of her side. It bled profusely so Quinn transferred her wand to her other hand and put the hand to steady the bleeding.

She faced McNiven, composure cool and calm. "Truly surprising," she said softly. He was walking towards her and their gaze on one another was locked. She glared hotly at him and waited for him to make a move. Instead, he merely stood, waiting. He clearly wanted her to make the first move. A trap? Quinn thought, always. She felt her hot blood on her hand but she never winced.

She took a deep breath and a step back. She was unaccustomed to having her wand in her right hand but nevertheless she would make it work. She would have to. She could feel the gaze of not only her apprentice but also another apprentice. It was almost unnerving but her face showed no outward impediment, as usual. As usual she showed that nothing was wrong. "Petrificus Totalus," she said as she quickly raised her wand to the man.

[Nicholas McNiven]

Nicholas looked on at Quinn, he was trying to steady his breathing and keep focused and ignore the throbbing pain that was spreading from his lower left leg. With a slow blink he listened to their silence and the deadened movements of the people around them. Quinn was a formidable foe and in a perverse way McNiven was enjoying it. His fingers tightened around his wand he watched as Quinn started to move her wand ready to cast.

With his quick reactions McNiven dived to the right and watched the silvery jet of light fly over the top of him by inches. As he landed on the ground with a thumb he fumbled to pull his wand arm from under his body and pointed it directly at Quinn.

“Stupefy”

A grin spread across the Scottish mans chiselled like features, his greying beard became noticeable and his long eyebrows were fixed in a frown. He knew that by lying on the forest floor he made himself open to attacks from the other people in the clearing, but at present his main target was Quinn, once she was down then he would move onto his lesser opponents.

[Quinn Locksley]

This game was becoming tired. Quinn had to render this man unconscious so that he could be transported to a more suitable location for questioning. She knew she had to question him, he gave her every reason to, and to do so she first had to overpower him. A task easier said then done, however, as she was steadily loosing blood and it would soon render her the unconscious one.

The confounded man dodged her spell, as she knew he would but she was ready for it. She took aim again but was surprised by his agility as he too took aim. Quinn was prepared, as usual, and stepped backwards, arching her back backwards, ducking out of the way. She stumbled backwards slightly, having leaned a little far, but managed to get a foot under her before she fell. She stood up, whirled her wand arm around and aimed for McNiven.

"This is the last straw," she said, "Petrificus Totalus."

[Gregory Greenwich]

Knowing it wasn't his place to interfere Greg remained silent throughout the exchanges between his esteemed mentor; who naturally took the lead, and her old acquaintance Fitzgerald Hargreaves, they definitely knew each other and from the conversation he obviously listened intently to, he realised they had known each other from school; though it didn't sound much like they'd been friends from what he could piece together.

Shocked that the man believed he could simply walk away he was grimly satisfied to see his mentor deliver a sound blow to knock him unconcious; and cease his jabbering. Resisting the urge to clap on seeing the perfectly cast spell, from which the ill-trained reporter had no chance of escaping, he turned his focus upon McNiven, wand pointed threateningly towards the older man. About to disarm the man he was beaten to it by the Hit Witch yet again. Gobsmacked when both combattents sailed through the air to land awkwardly, he quickly moved away moving into a duelling stance. Upon seeing the look in Locksley's eyes though he decided not to intrude; knowing for honours sake she would wish to finish him. Though inexperienced he could tell that the two were very evenly matched, and the duel was likely to continue in a stalemate unless he intervened. But as the they moved about quickly to dodge flying spells he didn't dare shoot off any spells.

After moments of indecision his eyes narrowed, he'd have to take the plunge and just cast a spell. "Expelliarmus" he cried in the general direction of McNiven; he'd never been very good at aiming...

[Elijah Ellerby]

One would’ve though that, being possibly the only person in the whole of Hogwarts with a working time turner, that Elijah would’ve mastered never being late.

Despite the slow day, Elijah's evening had bought shocking news from Lance. Having had a brief but traumatic meeting with him and Aurélie in the Three Broomsticks, Elijah had seen no other choice but to send a message to McNevin insisting that he meet him for some vital news immediately. Of course, due to complications, Elijah had left McNevin waiting a very long time.

Now he was pelting out of the entrance hall doors, a rather shoddy concealment charm cast on himself. For a couple of moments he feared that McNevin had already given up and left, but by the echoes of spells, shouts of people fighting and flashes of light occurring within the trees it seemed McNevin had probably met someone else instead.

Time turner bouncing around his neck precariously, Elijah produced his wand and rushed into the darkened trees, almost immediately being blinded as a disarming spell flashed passed his face. Elijah had run dead on into the middle of a duel – two ministry officials against McNevin, who was lying on his back.

‘Fitz!’ Elijah said, spotting the reporter and fellow League member stunned.

The two ministry officials couldn’t see Elijah, and so he quickly cast a silent shielding charm in front of them. The moment they cast anymore spells they would know someone invisible was at work, but it’d give him time to help McNevin and Fitz. ‘Rennervate!’ Fitz’s body shuddered back to life.

‘It’s me!’ Elijah said as he grabbed McNevin’s hand with his invisible one.

[Nicholas McNiven]

McNiven feared the worst when he found himself defenceless. He knew he could take down one of them but by that happened the other curse would have hit him. However something happened that he really did not predict, a magical shield appeared and blocked the spells. He glanced over and noticed that Fitz was still stunned then a hand appeared from no where and pulled him to his feet. It was only when McNiven heard a familiar voice he realised who it was.

The man even managed to smile, a very rare event that did not suit his features as well as his normal quizzical frown did. Seeing movement out the corner of his eye he noticed that Fitz was stirring again and slowly getting to his feet. Things were starting to become more even, it was three against three. With his free hand McNiven pulled Fitz’s wand out of his pocket and threw it towards his counterpart.

“You maybe needing this my friend. I want you to go after the girl, you and her seem to have a nice rapport going on and I think you should seek revenge from being attacked with your back turned.” McNiven’s face had returned to its normal emotionless state. He now turned to he guess Ellerby was standing. “You take down the stuttering one, it will take him long enough to say the spell you may actually stand a chance. I will fight the boy. I need a rest after that last little scuffle.”

Raising his wand towards his face McNiven gave a small nod in the direction of Moan and then suddenly flicked the wand away. He as ready to make sure this boy did not get in there way anymore tonight and cause the Ministry some headaches.

[Elijah Ellerby]

'Stuttering one...?' Elijah whispered as McNevin abandoned him. Elijah hadn't been expecting to have to fight, and so he turned to the blonde haired man with a face full of apprehension, despite the fact that the man couldn't see him. The woman was already rounding on Fitz and a third offical - whom he had not noticed before - was stood in the background looking quite bewildered.

There was no time to try and fight fair, Elijah realised. 'Expluso!' He shouted, aiming the spell at the tree just behind the man. The trunk exploded in two, splinters and stakes flying everywhere, showing over the offical.

Momentarily distracted, Elijah took the opportunity to send three loosely aimed spells in the woman's direction, before beginning his second attack on the man.

[Thom Moen]

Thom's attempt at authority had been all but drowned out by Quinn's temper getting the better of her. The reporter - who, to be frank, was an extremely random addition - had attempted to actually just walk away with the man Thom was trying to arrest! Gregory too was standing back, mildly lost as to what role he was now playing in this argument, but it was only when the first attack was launched that Thom realised he should've taken control before Quinn got them in trouble.

Before any plan could be formulated, Quinn and McNevin were moving off into the trees, dodging each other's curses, their spells colliding and creating massive shock waves that rocked the atmosphere. Fitz in the madness had been stunned and Gregory was standing there with such a gormless expression, Thom expected it mirrored his own perfectly. 'Gregory, call for backup! Help Quinn! Do something - you're just - so... useless!' He shouted somewhat hypocritically, beginning to panic, shuffling from side to side on the spot indecisively. 'Should've taken a desk job!' He moaned.

'Oh, hang on a minute! Just you stop right there, sir!' Thom said angrily as McNevin was suddenly on his feet, Quinn being warded off by a bombardment of sourceless spells. Thom dived out've the way as the tree behind him shattered inexplicably. 'You're - cough - you're under arrest, didn't you hear?! Now drop your wand!' He said, pointing his wand up at McNevin and shouting 'Crucio!'

Oooooh you're in trouble now. Where did THAT come form? said gleefully, to Thom's complete horror, the voice of Zachary Daniels. Of Course, Zachary was completely right: an Unforgivable was simply unforgivable.

[Nicholas McNiven]

As McNiven drew closer to Moan he could hear him continuously shouting at him that he was under arrest. Many a ministry official had shouted that at him before and it never made a single bit of difference, why would he change for his boy. McNiven was about to strike with a simple stunning spell when he was hit with the Crucio curse. Falling to the ground McNiven was paralyzed with pain for a few seconds, but it soon died out and felt like someone was simply tickling him with a feather.

Luckily for McNiven he was not one to laugh at a simple thing as being tickled, so it made it much easier to push himself up of the ground once gain. He seemed to be spending far to long on the ground at present and his muscles began to ache as he once again began his advance on the boy.

“Remember you need to mean it when you cast a unforgivable curse boy. I handed it to you it was rather painful at first, but something took your attention away. I think you could do with working on it before using it again.”

McNiven’s voice remind just as calm as when he was being questioned only minutes before, however this time his heart was pounding ten to the dozen and he noticed that his body movements were showing that he was getting weaker. His strides were smaller, his stance was not as proud and straight and his chest could be seen moving up and down under his coat. Breathing in deeply through his nose McNiven gripped his wand tightly and pointed it at Thom.

With a blinding flash of light McNiven fired the Conjunctivitis curse at Thom. He knew that once his sight has been almost eliminated he would be able to take his time or even wait for the boy to fire a spell and hit one of his own men. However because the flash was so bright McNiven would be unable to tell weather or not the spell had worked until the boy tried to fight back.