[Forest] The Darkness that surrounds us

[Mandrake Black]

His name was Mandrake Black. These two words were all he knew as he stumbled through the dark trunks and shrubs of the surrounding forest, fighting his way through the complex root systems of the trees. His pace quickened with each step, curiosity getting the better of him. He now began to run, and a sweat broke out upon his forehead, a chill on his spine. His black robes billowed behind him, their once sleek and shiny color now gave way to a dirty, dim, almost gray color. His thick black hair, which once sat neatly on his head, or in a ponytail on his shoulders was filled with streaks of gray and dirt. It was plastered to his cheeks and the back of his neck. The once great wizard now appeared to be pathetic.

Mandrake stumbled into a small clearing in the trees, the only light was a green glow, coming from a small candle sitting in the center of a clearing, illuminating a headstone. Mandrake tensed up, goosebumps growing on his skin. He whipped out his wand lightening fast and turned to face no one. He looked around, and deciding he couldn't sense anyone nearby, he headed for the stone. Once upon it he sunk to his knees, the candle just below his chin, giving his face a ghostly look to it as he read the stone. Mandrake fell back, a hoarse scream choked out of his throat, and he passed out.

Mandrake awoke suddenly upon the forest floor. He sat up, let out a sigh and looked around groggily. He saw the candle. It sat in the same spot still alight. He jumped to his feet and drew his wand once more. He waved it and the dirt the sat in front of the headstone vanished revealing a casket, covered in carvings and other odd things. The candle floated there in mid air, where the dirt should be. He reached out and grabbed it and instantly his body was filled with coldness and despair. He struggled to move it but finally it was out of the way, still alight.

Mandrake waved his wand again and the casket lid blew open. The clearing was flooded in a purple light, the candle now no longer lit. The light was coming from the casket. Mandrake was thrown back from the casket onto the cold ground. He stared at the light and from it out walked a person. Mandrake shot a stunning curse at the man but it simply bounced off of him. The man grew closer and Mandrake noticed that it was himself walking to him.

Mandrake tried to speak but a gurgling sound fell out of his mouth. This new Mandrake stood over top of him and bent down and touched his head. A searing pain shot through Mandrakes head and he closed his eyes in pain. He opened them a moment later and there stood no one. He looked at the grave and the dirt was back, the candle lit once more.

Suddenly memories came flooding back to him. Memories he had long since forgotten. He remembered his childhood, his job at the school known as hogwarts, his brother, his mother and father. He remembered his battle with the being known as Morziak, he remembered his death, his rebirth, his faked funeral. He remembered the darkness that consumed hogwarts, he remembered going east in search of its origins, and then he remembered the forest. He shook his head, and stood once more. A smile spread across his lips as he walked through the forest, dawn creeping upon him. Finally he found what he was looking for. The path that led to Hogwarts.

He walked it slowly, his smile becoming a high pitched cackling laugh, a laugh that didn't suit his kind features. He stumbled through the trees and was bathed in light from the sun overhead. It was midday. He looked around. No one was in sight. He saw the school in front of him. He knew the students were in class now, so he lounged against the nearest tree, waiting for someone to come notice his presence. He new it wouldn't be long, it was a school after all. His smiled again at the thought of strangers just falling upon Hogwarts grounds. Mandrake Black had returned.

[Ellie Rook]

Professor Hubbles had been right in saying that making Ellie Rook the new Head Girl that it would clear her schedule up. Ellie no longer had long prefect duties in which she spent hours walking around aimlessly looking for kids out of turn. However, now, Ellie had a few meeting with the Headmaster himself (something Ellie didn't really look forward seeing as it complicated so many things), but besides that, Elie just had to sit and wait for the prefects to come to her. Quidditch duties were trying enough, but Ellie had given the team a few days off. It seemed that the odd behavior of the castle and whatever was going on seemed to tired out and take the attention of her team more then it was given to Ellie, their captain.

Ellie loved Thursdays. She had Transfiguration early in the morning and then, she had the whole day to herself. She would usually be getting ready to head down to the pitch, but considering she had the day off, she found herself with nothing to do.

Opening the door to her new single headgirl's room, Ellie step upon a slip of parchment. From her view she could see bold, yet elegant handwriting. Ellie recognized it immediately as Dan's, and it didn't take her but a moment to pick of the parchment and read the cursive.

Forbidden Forest. 12:30.
-Dan

Ellie immediately threw her black robes on her bed, pulled on jeans and a sweater and ran out the door. Ellie checked the large clock in the entrance hall. It was just about five after twelve. Ellie slowed down, but continued on her way down to the Forbidden Forest. Ever since the castle seemed to go insane, the Forbidden Forest had lost its frightening appearance. Ellie had felt that whatever was happen in Hogwarts stemmed from the forest, but the Headmaster was keeping his mouth closed, and Ellie hadn't been able to get anything out of him. As she walked down the hill, the soft spring breeze blew through the oncoming trees, the branches bending menacingly toward the castle. Ellie didn't see Dan anywhere, and although they had never met near the forest, Elie knew he would find her. She found a spot right in front of some trees. She glanced to her left, and saw no one, and then to her right.

Ellie smiled as she saw a figure leaning up against a tree about thirty feet away. Ellie started to walk closer, but as she did, her vision became clearer. This was not her Dan. It was an older man, hair dirty and matted, gray flecked among the black. Ellie reached into her back pocket and grasped her wand. She did not recognize the man as anyone that belonged to Hogwarts. Her first duty as Headgirl seemed imminent.

Ellie lifted her wand to point at the man's chest. She stepped up quietly about ten feet away. He seemed to be enjoying the scenery. "Don't move." Ellie said, not really sure of what she was supposed to do to subdue the character. She wasn't completely sure he was bad after all. She wasn't going to go off with all guns blazing. "Your name and your business sir." She said, her eyes on the ragged man. Ellie just realized that she didn't look very official in her jeans and sweatshirt. The Headgirl hoped that she wouldn't have to do anything she regretted.

[Mandrake Black]

"Mandrake no!" Caleb screamed as Mandrake took off running at the figure that lurked at the edge of the forbidden forest. Mandrake drew his wand from his robes and pointed it at the figures chest and bellowed in a growl,

[glow=green,2,300] "Avada Kadavra!" [/glow]

A green light filled Caleb and Mandrakes eyes. Mandrake fell crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap.

"Mandrake!"


"Don't move."

Mandrake opened his eyes with a start as he searched for the interruption of his memory. He turned to notice a student, he presumed anyway, she didn't have robes on so it was difficult to tell. Whatever it was, student or not, she was alone. She was alone. She. was. Alone. Mandrake laughed out loud in the girls face. His laugh turned into a smile. A cold smile. A smile that at one time could charm the most innocent student. Times however, had changed. The rich and charming Mandrake Black gave way to the older not 20 something Mandrake. The lines of greed and malice filled this Mandrake's face, his sleek hair had lost his sheen, his expensive robes were torn. There was no charming this one.

"Don't....Move?" Mandrake spoke in a hoarse deep voice that sounded more like a growl than a voice. His voice had even lost it's charm, "My name dear girl would be Count Mandrake Black. You best not forget the name. And you?" He asked back slowly sliding his hand into his robe pocket gripping tightly around his wand. He looked her up and down and smiled, but then became serious again in a flash.

He stopped leaning on the tree and stood upright, a good six inches taller than the girl. He smiled and cocked his head to the side, and circled her so that she had her back to the forest. He looked past her into the forest, into the tangles of dark tree trunks and shrubbery, a place were even the most knowledgeable wizard could lose their way. He then looked the girl squarely in the eyes and waited for her response, still smiling.

[Erys Grace]

It had been ages since she had explored the grounds in her animagus form, and the lack of being a quadruped for a while had her fingers itching. While it was difficult to extract herself from Ricky's arms--as his werewolf grip was terribly impressive--she had managed to do so, albeit quietly, thank goodness, with only a slight mumble of protest as he fell back to sleep. Staring down at him with a small smile the Slytherin backed away, footsteps soft against the stone floor of the dorms. She wasn't the first to sneak into the male dorms to be close to her significant other, and she wouldn't be the last. Though as for her taking up the role of Dark Arts professor next term, and their relationship? That would be a bit odd to work out. If it could work out between Jack and Jac then it could for them, too.

Slipping soundless from the entrance of the common room Erys fell quickly into her bengal cat form, pawpads pressing gently against the ground as she made her way en route to the grounds. The night was fresh and crisp, and it seemed there were more than a few scents that tugged and prodded at her snout, demanding her attention. Shaking off the urge to chase and hunt--the taste of mouse, while she was accustomed to it, was not desired that evening--the Slytherin caught sight of someone she loved to hate: Ellie. Mrowling in quiet amusement she crouched lower to the ground, following after her in shadows. It was only when the Hufflepuff confronted an unknown figure did Erys step closer, deciding against revealing herself for now as she climbed a nearby tree and cloaked herself within the branches.

Peering down now and almost breaking her cover at Ellie's hilarious attempts to appear significant and worldly in comparison to this stranger Erys watched on, silently kneading the bark underneath her as she took in this scene. The scent of the man, while vague and personally unfamiliar, did hold a twinge of the past. She had probably smelled it when she first came to the school, where it might have been fresh. It was the only explanation she could think of, for she had never seen this man before. It was silly, really, how the "Head Girl" was suspicious of the man wandering the grounds. Surely anyone who roamed this place at night would be looked on with some suspicion, even her.

As the man began to circle her however Erys rolled her eyes, sighing in defeat. If she wanted to keep her teacher's spot and not get fired for not helping Ellie then she'd have to intervene. Leaping down from the tree and landing at the Hufflepuff's feet she quickly changed into her human form, eyes cold but calculating as she kept a discreet hold on her wand in her pocket. "We are out for a walk." The forest was an animagus' playground, really, so if he planned on ushering them in and getting them hopelessly lost he had another thing coming. That wasn't to say she was on the Hufflepuff's side, god no, Erys hated her guts. "Getting yourself in trouble again, Ellie?" Next time the Slytherin wouldn't be around to save her skin.[/color]

[Mandrake Black]

Mandrake smiled at this newcomers presence. He now realized students were smarter nowadays than what they were when he taught here. He also knew, no matter how smarter they were, the still couldn't defeat a wizard like himself. He winked at the new girl and spoke,

"So I see students still like to wander the forest eh? Like to bother it's residence." His arrogance grew with each breath. He leaned close and spoke just louder than a whisper, "Still like to try and be....noble." He leaned back out, and looked at each of them long and hard, in turn.

"I assume you heard who I am, newcomer and as for you I really couldn't care. I see however you are a slytherin. I will be in touch very soon." He said in a mysterious voice, the charm he once had slowly fading back into his tone. He smiled at her, his smile, he felt itched its way into its familiar form, not the rugged smile he had been using lately, but his real smile.

Mandrake pulled his wand out of his robes unnaturally fast as usual and pointed it at the first girl. "You. The BOTH of you," Mandrake said and flicked his wand in the slytherins direction, "Should leave. Now. If you know whats best." He laughed inside his head, at the futile attempts of bravery these two girls tried to pull off. They knew nothing about fighting and dueling and war and death.

Death. Mandrake knew all about death. He straightened up. He would have to be more careful, more alert. He didn't have a horcrux to fall back on this time. He looked aroung looking for any newcomers to approach. He turned back to the girls. "Goodbye then." and waited for them to head back to the castle.



((Sorry for the shortness of my responses. I'm getting back into the swing of writing so if it seems dry and limiting just bear with me for a few days.))

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie was taken a back from the menacing voice. The man had turned toward her as he talked. Ellie noticed his hand disappear and grasp something in his pocket. Ellie figured it was his wand and her senses heightened in that fear. As the man announced himself, Ellie could see that once, this 'count' must have been a figure of elegance and valor. However, now his robes had gone to shreds, his eyes sunken and old, but still pools of what he once was. Ellie could feel something strange in the air.

The new headgirl did not relinquish her stance as seeming threatened her with his own stance. Ellie was asked a question and seriously and with as much honor as the position she held gave her, she responded. "Ellie Rook, Headgirl of Hogwarts. I asked you your business as well sir." She said, continuing to be respectful.

It seemed that Ellie was in over her head. She hoped and prayed that Dan would come running out of the forest, a glimmer of hope as doubt filled the sixth years mind. Ellie was running out of options in her head. The man looked as though he was skilled in the crafts that would leave Ellie defenseless and maybe even injured or worse. However, she stood her ground.

Ellie her a rustle behind her and in an instant she glimpse a figure out of the corner of her eye. She caught the black robes of a student. The image of Dan popped into her head, but as the student spoke, her heart sank. Erys Grace had come to her rescue. Ellie grimaced as she turned herself to Erys, her wand, however, stayed pointed at the Count.

"I could have handled it Erys, don't get cocky." Ellie murmured toward the elder girl. But her attention was quickly brought to the problem at hand, which was of course a stranger and menacing man coming onto Hogwarts grounds unwanted. The man addressed Erys and Ellie made a face of disgust.

Ellie took a step back as the wand she had seen grasped came out of the man's pocket with astounding speed. Ellie was now sure that the man was a skilled wizard and perhaps ever herself and Erys could not fight him with any success. Ellie tried to be diplomatic. "Sir, I apologize, I didn't mean any harm. I was just doing my job. Please put down you wand and I can take you to the Headmaster." Ellie had thought it out. As much as Ellie didn't want too, she would have to work with Erys. Ellie would potentially calm the man down and get him to come inside with them. Ellie would send word to the Headmaster with her patronus and if her plan worked, he would show up before they even reached the school, avoided exposing the man to any students.

The plan was set, now Ellie just needed the man to put his wand down. "Please Sir." Ellie said, glancing at Erys, making sure that the Slytherin wasn't going to change side with the opportunity to have the upper hand on the Hufflepuff.

[Mandrake Black]

"Ahh. Head girl. Impressive." Mandrake said a cold sarcastic laugh, "I better watch my back." and his barking laugh erupted from his mouth again. Noticing her puzzled look he spoke,

"It's just funny how you try to intimidate me. ME! You foolish little girl I have no interest in visiting your headmaster or anyone for that matter. My business is my own and as I do not reside in the school I doubt your headmaster shall do anything. You weren't here in my time. Believe me girl I could do terrible things. Things you've never heard of." Mandrake ended his speach abruptly as he noticed a figure in the shadows. He turned back to this girl,

"You should head for your castle and hide behind its walls and crawl into your bed. You shouldn't meddle in other peoples affairs. Affairs the likes of which you know nothing about." He then looked at the animagus,

"And you. Trying to play the hero and swoop in and save the day. I suggest you grow up and listen to your little friend here. I've killed before, greater wizards and witches than you. I have no business with the people of this school but rather business with the school." He then walked behind the girls his wand still pointed at them and spoke to the shadows, "You can come out now Caleb." And he then took his initial spot and faced the girls.

[Caleb Black]

Caleb entered the forest around midday. He knew the path all too well to the familiar clearing in the woods. He wandered the beaten path, a path that once had bushes and tree roots on it was now clear due to the traveling he and Aaron, and sometimes even Fernand had traveled. Caleb laughed. He and his renegade students. Smart Slytherin boys who saw beyond the petty walls of the school.

Caleb was lost in his thoughts when he stumbled into the clearing. He searched looking for some kind of hint. Some clue. Some note. There. Caleb's heart began to pound in his chest, his stomach began to flutter. He sprinted to the headstone, and saw, disbelieving at first, the shoe prints and patterns in the dirt. It was obviously Mandrake since the Black family crest was imprinted in the shoe marks. Caleb stood up, excited now. The time he was been waiting for. Ten long years and it had finally happened. his older brother Mandrake had returned.

Caleb sprinted off back the path he came, his long blond hair flowing behind him. Halfway down the path however he realized he should find Mandrake, and tell Fernand and Aaron later. He sprinted back into the clearing to find the shoe prints. It took him a minute or to but he found the trail. He followed his brothers prints, exactly in the same strides down a path. Caleb frowned when he realized what path this was. He knew the forest better than most and knew instantly it was the path to the school. Caleb broke out into a sprint down the new path, and stopped when he heard voices. He slid behind a tree and listened.

There it was! He heard his brothers voice! But there were two unfamiliar voices. Students Caleb figured and hid waiting for them to leave. Caleb saw the disheveled appearance of his brother. He needed to get Mandrake back to the family estate soon. People have been waiting ten years. Ten years!

Suddenly Mandrake began to approach his hiding spot. Surely he couldn't see him. Surely. He heard his brothers voice call out to him. Caleb laughed at the fact that his brother was still the wizard he once was. Caleb walked out of the shadows and saw two frightened little students standing there. He smiled and stood beside his brother like he used to do. he drew his wand and pointed it at the girl Mandrake didn't have his wand pointed at. He smiled at his victim, the same smile his older brother Mandrake had worn for 40 long years.

[Stella Harper]

It seemed to Stella that she spent ninety percent of her time as an arthropod, crawling amongst the tree roots and leaves of the Forbidden Forest floor. Stella quivered her stinger as she quickly crawled across a log on the edge of the forest. She had been following a man, a man that had sparked her interest. As she watched him lean up against a tree on the edge of the forest, clearly not hiding his presence, Stella remembered the events she had seen.

She had placed herself atop a large rock, her hard underside resting on a spot of moss, a little comfort in the undesirables life. The rock over looked a clearing which Stella found was a favorite spot for deer to graze, a nice meal for her empty stomach. Here Stella waited, watching for her meal. However, the scorpion slowly drifted off to sleep, the soft moss taking over her mind. Stella awoke abruptly to a soft of wooden cracking. Her eyes fell upon a man reaching into what seemed a grave. Stella never knew it was there, and her morbid curiosity took over. A figure appeared out of the long rectangular hole. Stella smirked, as well as a scorpion can smirk. Stella watched as the two figures came together, one dominating over the other. Stella hopped with joy as she saw the figure on the ground writhe with pain. Pure sweetness.

Soon the man was back to earth. The pain had obviously subsided, which disappointed Stalla a bit. Stella watched the man move on, and then quickly followed after, completely hidden by the forest foliage and her animagus form. Soon they came to the present. Stella took a claw and turned over a leaf to get a better glimpse at the man. He was older, but an elegance stood about him. Stella wondered what he was all about.

Soon, the two had company. Stella retreated back into the leaves, making sure she wasn't seen. Stella saw a young girl, sixteen maybe. A little hero. Stella watched the situation unfold. Stella was reminded a lot of herself in the girl, of course Stella was always on the opposite side of the law as the girl, but the defiance astounded her.

Another member of the Hogwarts family joined the group. A Slytherin, trying to play cop. Stella grimace. words were thrown, and threats were made. Stella listened intently to the man, talking about his back ground. Stella immediately grew respect respect for the man. Stella retreat a few yards into the forest and changed into her human form. Her hair had become quite long in the year she had been hiding in the forest. Her clothes were still the same black dress and torn tights with black boots that she found months ago in the trash.

Stella heard the man beckon into the forest for a man named Caleb. This struck Stella as funny. She let out a long high pitched, rather loud laugh. She stepped out of the trees, her wand held in her left hand, laced in between her fingers in a playful manner. She laughed again. "That's not my name." she said with a giggle, taking the tip of her wand up to her shoulder where her dark hair now lay, twirling a small strand of his childishly. "Oh that's your name," Stella said with a laugh laying her eyes on the new man, obviously Caleb. "Having a bit of fun love?" Stella said with a smirk, licking her lips.

[Mandrake Black]

Mandrake sighed as yet another person had intruded on his affairs. He hadn't been back but a couple hours and yet three people already knew of his existence, three women nonetheless! This was getting too ridiulous for Mandrake,

"Listen you," Mandrake said, pointing his wand at this new and unfamiliar face. "You better just get back into your animagus and find somewhere safe to reside. Although I guess it doesnt really matter since nowhere will be safe in a matter of months. IF you want to die Miss then please be my guest and linger here. I havent killed someone for ten years and I'm a tad rusty, so I need practice. The same goes for you two," and he shot a harsh look at the girls.

Mandrake rolled up his sleeves and watched as Caleb did the same. They smiled at each other and turned back to the group. Mandrake grew restless and kept looking around for someone, anyone that might pop out of nowhere. He didn't like being in situations where he was outnumbered, even though it be by two students and a woman.

Mandrake no longer smiled charmingly at the group, instead his handsome features twisted into a face of irritability. He tapped his right hand on his side as his left hand held his wand pointed at the newcomers face. He loked up for a brief second at the sky. It was getting late. Too late.

[Stella Harper]

Stella laughed as the wand was pointed at her. The man had threatened her. She giggled uncontrollably. "Love, I'm here to help." Stella said, lowering her wand. She had been looking so long for someone to take her in. She had layed low in the forest, hidden in the mud and dirts of the forest floor. The once prominent Slytherin had diminished to nothing. She now had nothing, and knew nothing but the evil feeling in her heart. She had once had a moment of weakness which she had longed to return to her mother. Stella had only committed another atrocity, tearing her heart apart for good. It had now become numb and cold.

Stella giggled again and stepped closer to the two men. "I want to help. Look," Stella said, pointing her wand at the two girls. Her eyes gleamed as she glanced back at the men. Stella's mind had begun to broke spending so much time by herself. She needed companionship. These men seemed like good companions. "See, I know what its like sir. I know." Stella could see that the men were tattered like her. She took another step closer, keeping her wand on the girls. "I saw you in the forest." She said with a smile. "I saw. I want to help." She repeated, almost begging now, though she wasn't sure what she was begging for.

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie was positive, there was no doubt in her mind, that this man was bad. Ellie felt herself drawn to him. Recently, unbeknown to Ellie, she had been directly influenced by a dark magic. This magic had started to grown inside of her and the innocence and the goodness of the girl was starting to rot away. Ellie found herself foundering in the presence of the man.

It was the first time in her life that Ellie was grateful for Erys. Ellie would thanks the Slytherin, if she knew that it would mean anything to the older girl. Ellie knew that Erys didn't care, and she wasn't even sure why she had stepped in. In her animagus form, know one would have know what Erys had seen. She could have gotten rid of the Hufflepuff for good. Maybe the Slytherin wasn't all that bad.

If Erys the Slytherin Queen could stand up to the murderer in front of them, Ellie fought the feelings of darkness from inside her and stood up straighter, waiting for her plan to hopefully work out. Surprise!! It didn't. Ellie realized that the man had just happened upon the grounds. He wasn't aiming for them. Ellie was thinking fast, hopefully Erys would come up with something. She knew the Slytherin was feisty and probably wouldn't want to just stand down.

Ellie became nervous when she saw the man step toward the forest, and call someone out to him. Another man, younger, with long light hair stepped out and took his place next to the older man. They seemed to fall into natural positions. The younger man said nothing, Ellie didn't know what to say. They were screwed now. She glanced at Erys, and in that glance the forest rustled again and produced a women. She looked tired, sunken eyes, pale, battered. Ellie took a step back. It was now three against one.

The older man turned toward the women and threatened her. He must have thought that she was on the good side. Ellie wasn't sure what to think. She stood silent unsure of what was going on. The women laughed, and the laugh sent chills down Ellie's spine. She was crazy, insane for sure. Ellie wasn't sure who to point her wand at. She settled for the general direction of the group of older people in front of her. The woman seemed to show whose side she was on, and since it definitly wasn't Ellie's considering the woman's wand was now pointed at her, Ellie shifted her wand to the woman. While the men seemed to be reasonable, and still somewhat civilized, the woman had a wild look in her eye. Ellie wasn't sure what to expect.

"Ok, everyone calm down. I think we've just had a big misunderstanding. I think we can just work it out, if you can just come with me to talk to Professor Hubbles, he'll clear everything up and get you on your way..." Stick to the plan, Ellie thought, it was her only hope.

[Mandrake Black]

Mandrake watched as the woman slowly edged closer to her. He had long since stopped trusting anyone in this cold world. He could trust Caleb. Thats all he knew. This woman had very kind eyes Mandrake noticed however. Very VERY kind eyes. A weird feeling flooded his being. It wasnt fear. Mandrake Black was afraid of nothing. It was a feeling of uneasiness. He loved every second of it. This didn't however, even come close to making Mandrake drop his guard. He turned to the women,

"You say you want to help. Well good. I shall see where you loyalties lie soon enough. As for now I wont kill you. For now." and he turned to his brother and Caleb just shrugged his gently, cocking his head sideways.

Mandrake turned to the women again and gave her a little nod to circle around back of the students. He then looked at Caleb and motioned him to the opposite side, surrounding the students. Mandrake looked both of the students in the eyes and saw the fear. Their fear was like a drug to him, he needed that fear to survive. He needed to strike fear into the hearts of the students, the ones he didnt deem fit anyway.

He smiled to Caleb, and nodded to the women and the three slowly started walking closer to the students. The fear fueling the fire in his stomach. He waved his wand at a nearby tree and watched as the canopy burst suddenly into flame. He waved his wand again and the flame disappeared, the tree unscathed. He had to scare them anyway he could. He was Mandrake Black.

"I have said it before and I will say it just one more time. I. Have. No. Interest. In. Your. Headmaster. I told you to leave girl and you lingered, you meddled in my affiars and now you will pay for your actions." Mandrake snarled at the girl who spoke up. Obviously she thought she was a noble person. What a fool. Caleb would enjoy smashing her false sense of pride and courage. He always did after all.

[Stella Harper]

Stella could see that the man was looking her over, taking in her character. She smirked as he did so. Stella was about to laugh at how she must look to him. Stella saw him as an elegant man. Even though his robes were torn, she could see what they once were. The other man, was obviously younger, as said, and Stella found it nice to be in the same atmosphere as a person of her age. She smiled her wild smile and tossed her messy curls over her shoulder and out of her eyes. She kept her wand pointed at the misfits.

Stella smiled broadly as she was given her chance. It was all she needed. She now had to prove herself. Her loyalty. It was something Stella was willing to give away to those she saw as deserving. Being apart from the world for so long, the first person to prove to Stella that they were deserving was a pleasant surprise to the young woman.

"Yes, Thank you sir, Thank you. I will show you." Stella said, giggling away happy to have her chance. She starred wildly at the girls, again, seeing that it was scaring them. Seeing their fright, she giggled to herself and hopped childishly. Stella immediately payed her attention to the man as he turned to her and nodded. She giggled back, her way of nodding back in understanding. She inched her way, smiling at first, and then giggling at she made her way around to the back of the two girls. She was thinking about the trap they were in and getting great joy from it. As Stella saw the younger man get into position, she smirked, holding in her laughter, knowing that this was going to be good.

On cue, Stella began to close in the circle. She watched The older man wave his wand, causing fire to explode about their heads. Stella squealed with laughter. She kept her wand pointed at the girl's, but she turned her face up to feel the heat of the flames, giggling still. With another wave, the fire was gone, but Stella continued her little giggling, smiling as she brought her eyes back to the scene. Stella could tell that the man was getting to the end of his rope. Her smile never faded, as she felt they were going to get down to business.

[Erys Grace]

(( Could we establish a posting order? You all shot ahead and left me behind. :/ ))

It took all her willpower not to roll her eyes at the hero comment. "Not my style." She stated simply, knowing full well he was probably aware that saving the Hufflepuff's skin was only a way to further herself, if not keep her where she had worked so hard to get to. If you are a truly a 'Count' as you say you are, then you know that murder is the furthest thing from a bragging right. The Slytherin thought, wondering why murderers these days ran their mouths about all the greatest kills they had achieved. To be honest, the truly worthy were those that could intimidate without needlessly flapping their lips. "Now I apologise, it seems I have taken a stroll at the wrong time. Miss Rook here was the one on grounds patrol, apparently." As for the scent of fear? Erys was no fool, and she knew not to underestimate the trio in front of them, but she wasn't afraid. Peachpuff on her right though, she could smell terror seeping from every pore; she inhaled deeply, but from disgust or pleasure she did not know.

What she did know, however, was she needed to think of something fast. Turning into her animagus form and bolting would be a terrible way to eliminate her earlier stand against cowardice. Death by wand was the lowest form of cowardice, but to kill with one's own hands? Courageous. To murmur a spell was easy.. Much too easy. At his demanding of them to leave, the Slytherin nodded. She'd leave then. "This isn't my place, or my business. I will leave." The annoying prickle of fear to her side captured her attention for a moment, but didn't detract from her surroundings. "Would you be so kind as to tone down the tremors?" It was a wonder she didn't wet herself. The circle was still very open, wide enough for her to extract herself, which she would, albeit graciously. "I am an apprentice at the school, but my title means nothing here. I'm sure we can work something out in the future." The voice that rolled from her lips was respectful, if not persuasive. Slipping between the fellow animagus and resisting the urge to hiss at her--she was an insect personified, after all--the Slytherin stepped away from the cage of flesh, keeping her back to the castle as she faced them and edged back. Never turn your back. Not even to your friends, or your family for that matter.

Erys was an opportunist by nature, and while she may hold a certain ounce of respect for those around her, in the end her blood was what would have to be spilled if she took a fall for someone. There were only so many pints she could offer before they drained her dry.[/color]