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Date: January 16th, 2013
Today's Forecast: The air is reminiscent of spring. The snow, turning slowly into a fine carpet of slush, is slowly disappearing after a decidedly warm spell.
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It is now: Year 7 - Day 4 - Supper/Quidditch Practice

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Next: Day 5: Valentine's Day
Read Today's Daily Prophet: Knights of Walpurgis attack Hogwarts; Belleford steps down as Hogwarts closes until further notice
Welcome to Hogwarts Interactive Role Play, one of the net's best in Harry Potter and Hogwarts role plays. We hope you enjoy your visit.

Here at Hogwarts our students are currently in their Seventh Year. Last year, the war against the Knights crescendoed into a direct attack against the school. Disappearances are still reported (or not) daily, and the Dark Lord and his Knights of Walpurgis have succeeded in spreading their message of "do as thou will" far and wide across the globe. Magical Law Enforcement, which is now the only authority in the wizarding world under Martial Law, has responded by tightening security, controlling the media, and strictly enforcing curfews and other laws. Their control is damaging to the people's freedom, and their hierarchy is a suspicious lot. It is clear that some members of the MLE like their new found power a bit too much, others see it necessary, but all are in serious danger of being consumed by it. But with the picture of just what Azariah Amaranth is after becoming ever clearer, and a third player in the form of a group called SAVIOR entering the scene, what will the MLE do next to ensure that they've got the situation under control?

The Elementium, the Higher Plane that had once been hidden just beyond the veil in the Department of Mysteries, and the Deathly Hallows. The pieces of the puzzle have been identified, but what picture do they make?

Today is Day 1 of Year Seven. Students have had time to recover from the Knight's attack, and are beginning to reluctantly return to the walls of Hogwarts. The safety of the school has been diminished, bringing up the question everyone must ask. Are you safe anywhere these days? It's up to each individual to decide their fate, where will you decide to go?

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The Grounds; Day 3, Martial Lockdown
Topic Started: Sep 14 2009, 06:58:42 PM (423 Views)
Professor Nate Aphelion
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Deputy Headmaster & Transfiguration Professor

Professor Aphelion stood by the front gates waiting for Alastor and Bidelia to join him. Tonight was the first time they would need to place the school under complete lock down as per the MLE's instructions and there were a few things he wanted to discuss with the pair. His mind was still filled with memories of the day's events which saw his student Tristan Nightshade place second in the Tournament. He had been so proud as the young lad acted with such integrity and moral fibre, not succumbing to a primal pack mentality like many did when placed within the emotional roller coaster that was the competition.

Two Aurors were stationed just outside the gates, looking menacing and unyielding. Nate had been told over the years of the training that was required to become one of the elite and it was said to be that process which turned otherwise normal witches and wizards into cold, ruthless individuals. Not all but many, stopped being themselves and became totally different people, totally focused on their job and little else.

While he waited he decided to at least close the gates which he did with a wave of his wand, the clang! as they shut into place echoing through the night.
Cheers to Savannah Edkins for the signature.
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Alastor Moody
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Ex-auror
[ * ]
Moody limped his way down the path of the lawn over to the gates, which had just sealed shut with a loud clang that had caused Moody to scan the area with his magical eye before concluding it was, indeed, just the gate closing. Nate was standing there, his wand out as he spelled the gates shut. Moody greeted him.

"Alright, Nate?" he growled.

His magical eye swerved in its socket. He regarded each auror and member of Magical Law Enforcement with suspicion--well, more so than he regarded most anyone until they proved themselves trustworthy (and even then they could be Knights using polyjuice potion to make themselves appear to be a friend.). A little precaution and healthy skepticism never hut anyone, but Moody feared that a lot of what the MLE was ordering was a little much. Keeping everyone locked in after certain hours, arresting anyone who roams the streets of villages and cities at night--oh, Moody knew good and well about that, even if the Prophet wouldn't report it.

And they say I'm paranoid, thought Moody.
Edited by Alastor Moody, Sep 15 2009, 05:05:14 PM.
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Professor Nate Aphelion
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Good evening, Alastor." Nate acknowledged. "So what's your take on it all?" He was mostly referring to the day's events, always interested to hear what the ex-Auror had to say on things. It made him feel just that little bit more at ease with a mind like Moody's around the castle to assist he and the Headmistress.
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Alastor Moody
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"Well," growled Moody, "with these measures, I think that the MLE ought to have no trouble keeping people...in. Out is another question. Even Belleford says she doesn't know all of the passages in and out of the castle--oh, almost forgot: Barrabas DuMaine is on his way here."

Moody sounded a bit peeved. He really didn't see any need for DuMaine to come personally. He probably wants to see just who is running things around here, Moody thought darkly.
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Barrabas DuMaine
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Late Head of Magical Law Enforcement - Another one bites the dust.

Even as the name was mentioned by the infamous ex-auror, a group of figures could be seen moving towards the pair from across the grounds, a fairly large, well dressed and, well, jovial looking man leading them at the front. Walking was ever so tedious but, hey, even Barrabas DuMaine wasn't able to get past the non-Apparation spell laid upon the Hogwarts grounds.

It didn't take long for him to reach the pair and, after directing the Aurors to halt, he let out a wide grin as he turned towards the two men.

'Ah, Alastor....and, ah...Professor..' He gave only a bare nod when adressing the latter. 'It has been far too long, has it not? Such a shame, Alastor...we could always use someone with your skills and experience still on the force..'

His gaze then swerved left and right, questioningly, before landing back on Alastor....still just about disregarding Nate.

'What....is this all of who have appeared? Belleford did not think this was important enough to make an appearance herself?'

A quirked eyebrow, even still while he was grinning. Underneath, though, that slightly irritated him. He himself had deigned to make an appearance....and Belleford didn't even consider it worth her time? The nerve...
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Professor Nate Aphelion
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Deputy Headmaster & Transfiguration Professor

Professor Aphelion spotted the Head of Magical Law Enforcement approaching them and, though he didn;t agree with all of his methods, was prepared to pay the man the appropriate respect, offering a mostly warm smile and his hand. It was immediately apparent that the respect was not mutual with the Department Head offering Nate barely more than a glance, engaging almost entirely with Alastor. He allowed his hand to drop, his smile turning to a mild frown but he remained silent. Barrabas was not a man he had dealt with in the past and though he was on good terms with a number of people within the Ministry, given his personality and knowledge, this luxury did not extend to everyone.

When the Headmistress was brought up he felt it prudent to speak, "The Headmistress will be along shortly. She had some last minute business to attend to in the castle. The Tournament is keeping her busy to be sure." He held the Headmistress in the highest regard and to hear her good name questioned did not bode well with him. Nate was no fool; he knew what position, informal or not, this man now commanded in the Wizarding World, but he too held a position of considerable informal power and felt it justified to seek to be treated as such.
Edited by Professor Nate Aphelion, Sep 17 2009, 03:54:49 AM.
Cheers to Savannah Edkins for the signature.
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Barrabas DuMaine
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Late Head of Magical Law Enforcement - Another one bites the dust.

As the Professor addressed him, Barrabas turned his gaze towards Nate fully for the first time, quirking an eyebrow as he did so.

'Oh yes, of course Professor....and you are?...'

Barrabas' gaze was completely and utterly innocent....simply put, he had no idea who Nate was. And he didn't tend to pay any respect to such people unless they paid respect to him first.

Of course, him having been so focused on Alastor, he might have missed the initital indication of respect being paid to him in the first place, but well.....Barrabas held Alastor in high regard, difficult as it might be to imagine. He respected those with power. Simple as that.
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Alastor Moody
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[ * ]
Barrabas was jovial as he greeted them. Too jovial, actually. When Barrabas had suggested that skills such as Moody's were needed amongst the aurors, Moody responded:

"You know good and well why I left," said Moody, "I was getting too old for it. In body and spirit." Moody spoke his last sentence with a heavy undertone. Yes, it was true his growing paranoia over the enemies he'd made of the families, friends, and associates of various Dark wizards and witches, as well as his numerous injuries over the years and his age finally getting the best of him had led him to retire, but it also had a lot to do with things in the Ministry having been different in his day. Certain practices were simply not part of Law Enforcement policy--even if they were sometimes tolerated in certain situation. Moody himself despised the Dark arts, and would never have used them in the line of duty. And he always preferred to capture his marks rather than kill them. And yet, towards the end of his career, the tide shifted and it was often that these methods were not only condoned, but even sanctioned by the Ministry.

Of course, Mad-Eye understood where they were coming from. Crime was on the rise, and the very nature of the criminal (from the average low-life smuggler of gold and contraband to the high-profile Dark wizard) had changed. Dark magic was popular even amongst the common thugs, and Unforgivable Curses seemed to be a kind of fad with various syndicates of Dark sorcerers. Aurors and Law Enforcement agents were getting injured and even dieing in the line of duty far more often. Many believed in a harder form of law enforcement. Moody had his disagreements, and was no stranger to voicing them. But Moody was an efficient auror so no one complained when Moody voiced his objections (often in the form of ranting). Most simply sat and quietly listened, though, Moody suspected that they had never listened at all.

And it only got worse, even after Moody had retired. Everywhere people, citizens, were being shaken down for things they might possibly (probably didn't) have. Law Enforcement agents being taken off the street to increase the guard for certain high-profile locations. Authorizing portkey transport for civilians was now the biggest hassle one could possibly imagine, thanks to all the security checks and new guidelines and bureaucracy that was involved. For the first time, Moody saw aurors that stunned first and asked questions later ("Constant vigilance" did not include failure to understand the situation).

To put it bluntly, they were afraid of dieing, which was a disgraceful notion, even if it was an understandable one.

Scratch that. It was only understandable to a point, really. The problem was, as Alastor saw it, that nothing had really changed. Criminals were still criminals. Only their tools and methods had changed. He'd seen spikes in violence and the use of dangerous curses before. Moody had never altered his methods, and he still got the same results. He had been seriously injured long before the statistics had come in on the rise of more dangerous criminal activity in the community. He knew long retired aurors that had been injured far worse than himself--a few paralyzed to the point of not being able to wipe their own asses! To Moody, the sad truth of it was that violent crime was much like the ocean: it swelled up, rose to a certain height, then crashed down hard. Then, it receeded for a time before swelling again. That's what it was. A wave. A natural phenomenon. You can't fight it, you can't change it. It was futile to attempt to stop the wave from coming when it is barreling down upon you. Worse, it was almost as though the department had forgotten what their purpose was in their initiative to "combat" the rise in violence. Instead of being defenders of the people, they had become crusaders.

And so, although his age and the notion that he had quite enough battle scars to be getting on with, were his major reasons for leaving, the changes in department policy simply made the time seem right. Fear, not bravery or a sense of duty, now dominated the department. Moody felt as though he could not stop what was coming. Not the rise in crime, or the rise in fear which creates injustices of its own. Even the people, through the same fear, had willingly allowed these things to go on. They felt secure with these new measures, even if they knew--as Moody still believes they know--that these methods are wrong. A wall of fear had been erected against a wave of destruction, but they forgot that which cements the kind of resolve needed to stand against the tide.

The cement needed to hold against the wave of destruction:
Bravery. Without it, nothing can stand against it. All a wall the likes of theirs was good for was obscuring people's view.


This is why Moody had no love of men like Barrabas. Even now, the wall he'd helped to build, the walls he was now building around all of the Wizarding world as alleged "protection" and "precautions" against Azariah and his Knights, kept him from seeing the simple truth.

The simple truth:
When the wave comes for you, you will be taken out to sea. Best learn to swim.
Edited by Alastor Moody, Sep 17 2009, 05:24:33 PM.
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Professor Nate Aphelion
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Nate's eyebrow mirrored that of Barrabas, surprised that someone wasn't aware of who the faculty of Hogwarts was, especially considering they were mentioned enough in the Prophet. No matter. "Forgive me, I should have introduced myself. I am Nate Aphelion, Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts." And though his tone was cordial and polite, his stomach was stirring with annoyance at having to basically grovel to appease this man. Nate was used to being treated with respect and politeness, something Barrabas Dumaine was clearly lacking.
Cheers to Savannah Edkins for the signature.
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Barrabas DuMaine
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Late Head of Magical Law Enforcement - Another one bites the dust.

'Indeed, Professor, it's a pleasure to meet you....I am sure.'

His tone indicated as though he wasn't quite sure if it was or not...nothing personal, of course. It wasn't as though Barrabas was purposefully breezy in his attitiude...okay, well, maybe a little. Mainly, however, he simply still didn't know anything about the man. He would simply..observe, for the time being.

Returning his attention to Moody instead, he simply chuckled.

'But of course I know Alastor...and yet I'm sure you know that I know, that you know, that should you ever desire to return to your rightful stead....there are many who are yet in need of teaching Alastor. Clumsy oafs. You cannot believe what I had to go through simply to be here today. Absolutely ridiculous.'

The undertone wasn't missed by Barrabas...but he chose to ignore it. He didn't want an excuse to start a ridiculous debate, he steered away from such petty things. He was in charge now....so there really was no need for debate, right?

Barrabas then swivelled his head, left to right, sweeping the grounds, as though in search of someone.

'Hm...did I not assign several others to be at Hogwarts beforehand? I trust they shall be present as well?..'
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Alastor Moody
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Ex-auror
[ * ]
Moody regarded Barrabas with contempt that he did not bother to hide. He shot him enough glances to get this point across. He didn't trust him. He'd worked with him long enough to get a good measure of him. He did not like what he saw. Lust for power was a prime motivator for DuMaine, that much was certain. For all that Anton had been on board with the "deadly force" and authorized use of the dark arts in law enforcement initiatives, it was clear, after his death, that he had been anything but motivated by power. With Barrabas running the show, Anton must be rolling in his grave right about now.

The worst part was, Moody knew, those that lust for power have great fear of losing it. Most of those in Law Enforcement were simply misguided fools being roped into the ideas of fearful men, or otherwise being convinced that they must fear as well. But DuMaine...he was a real danger in that he feared, not only Dark wizards and murderers, but all of the people of the Wizarding World as well. He would not allow an organization such as SAVIOR to exist. He would be too suspicious of their motives. All the more reason to act in secret. Thankfully, Anton seemed to have thought of everything. He had chosen his subordinates from all departments, and not from the most skilled or senior members, but from those of the younger set. Bright eyed young men and women straight out of the academy like Carlisle and Emerson. Men like Barrabas were excluded. Anton had deliberately passed over anyone whom he thought might be more loyal to the Ministry itself than to the people. And, to this day, no one outside of SAVIOR, not even Barrabas himself, knows of the existence of a secret organization dedicated to doing what Barrabas certainly didn't have the bollocks to do: Take a proactive stance against Azariah and his Knights.

Even some of Barrabas' own men were not completely loyal to him. They were putting their lives on the line for this. For everyone. And out of love, not fear. It was almost as if, somehow, Anton had foreseen this. True, a shadow organization of highly trained witches and wizards with nearly unlimited power to do as they see fit--all under the Minister of Magic's personal control--his own secret police created for his protection--was a disturbing enough thought on its own. Though Anton had been made commander of this organization, he could not allow Hugh Logan to create his own private army. Fear, again, was a primary motivator. For all his faults, Anton knew well the danger in a fearful politician. So he made sure to take the power away from Hugh, as well as from himself, for the irony was that Anton did not trust himself with the power. He gave it to someone he could trust. Bidelia Belleford, Headmistress of Hogwarts. Odd how that came about. Anton had always been so adamantly against her as Headmistress. His opinion must have changed when he'd met the woman, just as Alastor's opinion of Anton had changed when he had died. And the secret of the Minister's own private organization of assassins and shadow-operatives created to neutralize any perceived threats to himself died with the veteran auror. As did Hugh Logan. As did the very last of the great older men of the Ministry. Moody only regretted not having known just how great Anton truly was before his death.

Even men like Moody can be blinded. Even a magical eye that can see through walls can't see through simple prejudice so easily.

Moody watched as Barrabas swivelled his head, left to right, sweeping the grounds, as though in search of someone.

'Hm...did I not assign several others to be at Hogwarts beforehand? I trust they shall be present as well?..'

Mad-Eye despised that breezy attitude of his. And that chuckle. Even his manners were condescending. He lorded them over Nate and Moody. The ex-auror wanted very much so to slap that grin right off his face.

"You mean Carlisle and Emerson?" growled Moody, "They're probably securing the other floors. Lot's of secret passageways around Hogwarts. Not even Belleford or the paintings of the past Headmasters and Headmistresses think they know all of them. They may or may not be down here in time. I would think we have enough men to be getting on with, don't we?"

All around them, lights were flashing like beacons in the dark, illuminating the space separating the Hogwarts grounds and the rest of the world. Aurors and MLE agents were casting enchantments to repel all manner of Dark wizard and spell, and everything from Dementors to the odd passing butterfly. Nothing was getting in...by land or air, anyway. Moody knew, the Knights had gotten in once, and they still weren't exactly sure how. And Azariah had been in the school twice. Moody was not unconvinced that they could not do it again. Still, having so many aurors about the place would act as a good deterrent. About the only use they were, really.
Edited by !Xabbu Basarwa, Sep 17 2009, 11:46:20 PM.
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Professor Nate Aphelion
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Nate looked on stoically as Barrabas seemed set to dismiss and point out anything and everything that could possibly be wrong with the entire situation. It was almost as if he wanted to find errors with what was taking place. Yet Moody sought to counter every point with an explanation, coming to the defense of the two Aurors Nate knew the man harbored a soft spot for. He concealed a small smile before speaking up again, "Well Barrabas, Moody and myself have to put the final enchantment on the front gates so unless you were intending to stay, which you'd be most welcome to, I'm afraid this little meeting will have to come to an end." His tone was light, conversational, but the last thing Nate wanted was this man to prolong his stay by even another minute at Hogwarts.
Cheers to Savannah Edkins for the signature.
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Barrabas DuMaine
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Late Head of Magical Law Enforcement - Another one bites the dust.

'Perhaps so...perhaps so Alastor...but, given that this is Azariah we are talking about....I think we can both agree that there is no such thing as too safe right now...especially when it comes to our children...or, as some cases may be..grandchildren...wouldn't you think so? What is it you always say...Constant Vigilance?'

Straightening his back even further to the point that he was almost puffing his chest out, he moved towards the group of Aurors he had entered the grounds with, and muttered quiet instructions to them. With a nod, they each spread out in seperate directions.

That's when he arched an eyebrow over in Nate's direction.

'Your offer, I'm sure, would be appreciated...but, I believe I shall take a gander of the school's defenses myself, rather than taking anybody elses word for it...I happen to have invested interest in this school as well, you see, and I don't intend on trusting anyone other than myself with it......as hard as it may be to believe, I have an extraordinarily long history of battling all forms of dark wizards, from petty criminals to psychopathic maniac....I like to think I know how their minds work.'

Just like Barrabas to sing his own praises....well, kind of. It wasn't as if this was unknown in the world. He had been a well known Hit-wizard in the past. He just made sure everybody knew it.
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Professor Nate Aphelion
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Deputy Headmaster & Transfiguration Professor

Nate nodded his head, "If you wish. In the meantime..." He began to cast the enchantments on the gates, muttering under his breath for nearly thirty seconds before lowering his wand to his side. He felt like telling the fool to butt out and that the Ministry had no power over Hogwarts but decided it would only cause more problems than it would solve.

At Dumaine's comment about having an invested interest in the school the connection between a certain Slytherin and the man before him clicked. This must be his son. Or grandson. I'll keep an eye on that one.

"I'll bid you both good nght unless Moody you'd like some company back up to the castle?" His tone suggested he would like to speak with the man out of earshot of present company.
Cheers to Savannah Edkins for the signature.
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Alastor Moody
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Moody, too, lowered his wand. The whole time Nate and Alastor were casting the primary defensive spells upon the grounds, Barrabas was spouting more pompus bullshit.

"...as hard as it may be to believe, I have an extraordinarily long history of battling all forms of dark wizards, from petty criminals to psychopathic maniac....I like to think I know how their minds work," said Barrabas as the last white, glowing tendrils of magic floated from Nate and Moody's wands, spiraling around one another and entwining, before seeming to be absorbed into the iron bars of the gates, which glowed for a moment.

Moody glanced at Nate. His one small brown eye rolled in its socket at DuMaine's words. DuMaine himself had gone to give his men their orders. Moody frowned. He didn't like all this consolidation of power. It would be far too easy for the enemy to gain the upper hand. All it would take would be one well-placed Imperius Curse.

"I'll bid you both good nght unless Moody you'd like some company back up to the castle?" Nate's tone suggested the professor would like to speak with Moody out of earshot of present company.

"I'll be accompanying you, I suppose," said Moody, "Since Barrabas seems to have the situation under control on his own," he said derisively. He couldn't help it. When he was still in the department, he'd gotten used to saying whatever he wanted about whoever he wanted in the Ministry or elsewhere.

((OOC: Go ahead and godmode us to wherever you want them to be out of earshot, Nate.))
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Professor Nate Aphelion
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Deputy Headmaster & Transfiguration Professor

Nate and Moody began the walk back up towards the castle, NAte pleased to be out of the company of Barrabas. "Have you dealt with him before? Has he always been so arrogant and pompous, or is that just since he has the whole wizarding world at his feet?" There was bitterness in his words; Nate was not pleased at how their world was crumbling before their very eyes, and placing the Government into the hands largely of one man was another downhill step.
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