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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Nov 14, 2006 9:56:52 GMT
Standing and watching the lake washing upon the shore, Leigh was quiet, thinking about what to do. He wanted to rid himself of the Ministry, but how to do it he did not know, well a way that would not involve any students. He had to resign from his position before the old witch could find a fault in his classes, despite no harm coming to any students that he could not handle. He breathed out deeply, the mist of the cold air clouding his vision.
He had to keep his job, to keep at least one place safe from the Ministry's hands. He had to rid the school, himself and the students of their influence, but of what way he could do it, he did not know. Leigh looked out on the lake, few holes in the ice for magical creatures to come and go with ease, sometimes as their true forms or unnatural forms.
A huge beat of wings erupted above him, a heavy landing of a heavy creature following suit. Leigh sensed the dragon he shared a bond with, the great Antipodean Opaleye striking a pose behind him, wings flared and a deep rumbling noise coming from its throat.
'Shiela, it's time we did something... may cost us our sanity, but it's time to call upon an old friend to come and purge the Ministry from the school.' Leigh said to Shiela, her nose flaring as she sensed whom Leigh was talking about. 'He's the only one who can do it, without any repurcussions.' With a look over his shoulder, the dragon roared loudly, the sound forcing snow to fall off the leaves.
It was then that Leigh used Shiela's senses, due to their mind link and knew someone was coming, but who it was he could not tell. Leigh turned to meet the person, narrowing his eyes on who dared interupt his peaceful moment of thought.
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Post by Gabriel Vandesar on Nov 14, 2006 10:06:49 GMT
Vandesar stopped a few feet from Addis as he turned to face him. His face was expressionless, but a cold, moody dislike was present in the knit of his eyebrows. He was leaning on one hip, arms folded across his chest loosely. He had made sure his wand was clearly visible to Addis, slipped into the leather belt around his waist. 'Leigh Addis,' he said simply. 'I don't suppose I need to explain to you the many laws you are potentially violating if you don't have a license for that thing,' he said, his lip curling as his eyes narrowed at the dragon.
The Unspeakable wished dearly that he did not have to deal with this educator of all people, but, alas - it was the minister's judgment that Leigh Addis be carefully scrutinized and corrected at every oportunity...
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Nov 14, 2006 10:15:28 GMT
'For calling the dragon a "thing" you are potentially putting your life at risk for I am the one who's restraining her.' Leigh replied, speaking to the man harshly. Leigh held a tight grip on the mental reigns over Shiela, the dragon's entire body twitching to inflict pain. Leigh ran his eyes over the man, his eyes ending on the mans wand, visible inside of a leather belt. 'I know why you're here and I won't change my ways. You you threaten me, physically harm me worse, I'll never change my opinion of the Ministry, the Minister, nor you, a lowly subordinate not capable of running more than a metre away from his mother without having his arse wiped clean because he shat himself out of fear.' The dragon growled deeply, the churdling sound sending shock waves through Leigh. The tail began to impatiantly pound on the ground, the indent in the snow deepening greatly with each strike.
'Also just to remind you, I am the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I know a thing or two about defending myself if the need arises.' Leigh continued, flicking his hand out and his wand revealing itself floating in air a few inches from his open palm. 'Push a tiger into a corner, and it will strike back and harm the hunter.' Leigh's eyes became slightly golden, a slight transformation of his into his tiger Animagus form.
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Post by Gabriel Vandesar on Nov 14, 2006 10:26:52 GMT
Vandesar looked to the sky, groaning under his breath in frustration. 'I'm not going to attack you, Addis,' he replied sardoncially. 'Neither of us is beyond the law, I have to remind you, and that dragon is certainly no threat to me, as you and I both fully know that if you were to unlease it on me - she was be executed.' The man could not help but let a sickly pleasant smile spread on his face. He did so hate dragons.
Looking at his feet, Vandesar paced slowly toward Addis, placing his hands behind his back. 'Do you really hate the ministry, friend, or are you just a little bit bitter at your dismisal all those years ago?'
His piercing eyes fixed upon the man, reminding him silently of the past. 'Well. I suppose the ministry can only expect a certain standard from Aurors in the end.'
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Nov 14, 2006 10:36:01 GMT
'My dismissal was because I was branded a traitor, false accusations that fell quite short.' Leigh said quietly, his eyes narrowing at the reminder of the past. 'I believe you know all about it, Vandesar.'
Leigh's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Shiela would not be executed, regardless of what you did to her. Her death would result in mine, and that would be considered murder, thus putting you into Azkaban as well.' Leigh replied, remaining calm despite the urge to change his form and pounce onto the man. 'Now, why are you really here? Not catching up like old times?'
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Post by Gabriel Vandesar on Nov 14, 2006 12:07:28 GMT
'Call your demise what you will, Addis. In the end you were simply not good enough.' he said bluntly, raising his voice a little. He suddenly remembered all too well their training together. Vandesar felt a throb of pride knowing that it had been he who was responsible for the Addis's dishonorable discharge.
His eyes snapped upon the dragon as it shifted its stance a little to mimic Addis's. Right from when they had first met at the beginning of their training, Addis had always expressed his desire for such a powerful familiar. Now he had one, and Vandesar wondered what else his rival had achieved since his departure from the Ministry.
'I had hoped to keep this meeting formal, dear friend, but I see that we have both failed.' His fingers brushed his wand handle as he bought up a hand to stroke his chin thoughtfully. 'Tell me why, after everything, did you become a teacher of all things...?' he asked with a small smirk.
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Nov 15, 2006 7:41:39 GMT
'I owe you nothing for being what you are.' Leigh replied harshly, locking eyes with the man, his wand still rotating slowly near his open hand. 'But, if you want to know, truthfully, to pass on what I learned by being branded a traitor by the Ministry, to become more than just a mere henchmen for the powerhungry institution that supposedly governs our world. I came to the one place where I would not have to answer to Ministry officials, and that place is here, but even my sanctuary, if I can call it that, is invaded by you.'
'Understand this, it was not easy for me to learn what I did, but what I did learn has been beneficial for the students, for their abilities and the way they grew as individuals. The Ministry fears what I can offer them, and that is why the Ministry fears me as they think what I can offer is dangerous, as you may suspect yourself.' Leigh ran his other hand under Shiela's lower jaw, a deep purring sound rumbling the ground. The dragon rested her head on his shoulder, eyes locked onto Vandesar. 'Is that sufficient for you to take back to your Minister, old friend?'
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Post by Gabriel Vandesar on Nov 15, 2006 9:00:27 GMT
Vandesar laughed coldly. 'Always the rebel, weren't you, Addis? Doing everything in your power to stamp your feet at anyone who was bigger than you...' Vandesar shifted his weight to the other hip, the sunlight catching the small gold ministry badge as he did so.
'As for becoming a teacher, I wouldn't say that was much of a step.' he huffed, inspecting his fingernails in mock disinterest. 'The only thing children are good for is manipulating - which I can see you've done a rather good job of here with some of your students. Perhaps you are a minister in your own right, Addis.' Vandesar raised one eyebrow as he looked back at the man.
The Unspeakable walked past Leigh and Shiela now, stopping with the toes of his shoes just out of reach of the gently lapping water. 'Hogwarts is ours, Addis. It has always been ours.'
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Nov 15, 2006 10:42:26 GMT
'Maybe unlike you, I have goals in life other than kissing an old hags arse. And knowing the Minister I doubt she actually gives you any respect, or even gives you acknowledgement for your successes. I don't doubt she belts you around for failing her, the Russians are like that, though.' Leigh replied, not watching where the man went.
After hearing his words on the students, Leigh remembered a story he heard about Vandesar. 'Minister or not, father or not, the children are the future and believe what they want to believe, not all of us have had a life where our loved ones were torn from us by dark creatures, Vandesar, not all of us have felt the pain, the suffering, the anguish of losing them, fighting for their lives and finding out they died before we could do a thing.' Leigh's face went dark, knowing the story about Vandesar's family and how they were coldly and brutally murdered. 'You hate children because of the loss of your own, but that doesn't mean you can't start anew, Gabriel. You of all people, must believe that.'
Leigh looked at Shiela and into her sparkling eyes, a silent acknowledgement between the two made. Shiela took off, leaving the two men alone, her wings carrying her to the other side of the lake, her mind link with Leigh temporarily blocked. Leigh felt dark without his connection, but knew the privacy was needed.
'You know the story about the loss of my father, the loss of my mother, that was why I tried to become an Auror in the first place, but because of the internal politics, no one liked a person who tried to improve themselves on a daily basis. I pushed myself, trying to be the best I could, and good I became, possibly even great if the issues didn't arise.' Leigh said, continuing. 'We have both lost the most important people in our lives, that may not make us the same, but I can relate to the pain and the hurt of knowing the cause of their deaths and the never ending hunt for their killers.' Leigh closed his eyes, breathing out deeply.
'The school is not a place for a cold hearted person, Vandesar, and you know it.' Leigh retorted, looking at the castle. 'I teach because passing on what I've learned makes me feel alive, knowing that I am at least helping those that may be in danger one day come out of it alive. I know that they will be prepared and know how to remain calm under pressure.'
'I leave this place at the end of the year knowing all of that.' Leigh said, making sure his pride was in check. 'What can you honestly say that you do to benefit anyone other than yourself and the Minister?' Leigh looked at Vandesar, looking at the back of the mans head.
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Post by Gabriel Vandesar on Nov 19, 2006 14:43:42 GMT
Vandesar's eyes grew dark. He had stopped listening to Leigh after a certain point - the point when he had mentioned his son.
'Silence!' Vandesar whipped his wand from his belt, pointing it squarely at Leigh's chest, just below his throat. The tip was shaking. 'Don't you ever mentioned him again. Ever. You have no idea, you pitiful piece of FILTH!' Bitter, unfiltered fury was coursing through the Unspeakable now. Images of a young smiling boy with golden hair flashed through his memory - the sun shinning behind his head as he stood gazing forward, happy and innocent. Vandesar closed his eyes as he heard that sweet laughter...
A single, cold tear escaped Vandesar's right eye, and he quickly retracted his wand, wiping his cheek. He suddenly hated himself for letting Leigh get him in such a state.
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Nov 21, 2006 5:22:45 GMT
'I see I touched a nerve.' Leigh said darkly, a gleeful smirk crossing his lips. He looked down at the wand at the base of his throat, but suddenly retracted. With a sigh, Leigh closed his eyes and shrugged. 'The man whom shows no emotion actually has them, astounding.'
'Both you and I know you wouldn't of done that, Vandesar, even at the mention of your own family.' Leigh said, looking away as he spoke. 'If you did do it, you'd be found out pretty much right away, and you'd be punished for it by the Minister, whom I'd have to say has you wrapped around her little finger.' Leigh raised his hand, wriggling his little finger to indicate his point.
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Post by Gabriel Vandesar on Nov 28, 2006 15:41:41 GMT
Vandesar closed his eyes for a moment, composing himself slowly as Leigh spoke in the background, his words inaudible as the Unspeakable focused inwardly. For many years Vandesar had trained himself to forget, to become a shell, to not look upon the memory of his family's murder with anything more than a small inconvenience.
Of course, some things never went away.
'You're life will be mine, Leigh Addis...' he whispered softly, although he knew full well the other man could hear him. 'The ministry's boot may be placed firmly upon my head, but never upon my heart.' he looked up, his eyes cold and informal as they usually were. 'You're rebellion and selfishness for any cause but your own shall be punished!'
He bought his wand back to his side, his heart beating slowly once more. The first orange streaks of sunset had appeared low over their heads, and Vandesar remembered that it was time to meet with the minister and other officials in the Headmaster's office. With one last look at Leigh, he turned, disappearing from the grassy shore without a sound.
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