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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 20:30:36 GMT -5
They were really going to do this. Dare couldn't help a swelling of excitement as he stepped through the school gates with Michael. It was strange; they were only going as far as the jewellery shop in Hogsmeade, and really only to drop something off and draw, but still, he felt almost spy-like for it. They were subverting the system. Taking down the man. He grinned at Michael.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 20:42:16 GMT -5
Michael grinned back, though the sparkle in his eyes wasn't as bright as it could have been. He was worried about the walk to the shop just as much as what could come of it. He turned his eyes ahead, trying to focus on the drawing pad he had tucked beneath his arm. The night before he had decided that sitting there with nothing to do would have been torture and had spent a long time trying to figure out what to do, and had finally settled on the remembered view out Emilian's window.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 20:47:02 GMT -5
"It'll be fine, it's just a walk," Dare said, starting off down the street. He could see the worry behind the smile in Michael's eyes, and didn't want to just let everything fester. "We'll be there in ten minutes, and everything will be cool." Hogsmeade was neither far nor large. Dare didn't think they'd get stopped in that short distance. Whoever it was was watching the shop, wasn't he?
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Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 13, 2008 20:50:49 GMT -5
(((Note to readers; this isn't Herr Snow himself, but "associates" who work for him. Herr Snow wouldn't do the dirty work himself.)))
The boys hadn't gotten far from the gates before three men approached from various places nearby. They headed straight for the boys, slowing as they did so, then exchanging glances. One gave a sharp nod toward the boy with the multi-colored hair, and, as one, they continued, stopping in the boys' path. "Where is she?" one of the men asked. The other two had raised their wands, one aiming at the boys as the other performed revealing spells on the space around them.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 20:57:11 GMT -5
Michael stopped, his eyes narrowing as he instinctively pulled out his own wand, Dare's words flying out of his mind. "Where's who?" he asked, though he knew who they were talking about. Adara. The real question, though, was why the men assumed she would be with them. His eyes stayed on the man that had his wand raised, after an initial flick to the one that had asked the question. He let his wand hang down by his side, but his hand was tight around it, ready for use when needed, though he knew that the men could easily overpower both him and Dare.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 21:00:08 GMT -5
Dare was standing stock-still, far more worried this time than he had been when he'd been cornered by one overly curious man. He had almost given an answer--in the school--when Michael's words sank in. His momentary question didn't even flicker in his eyes before he decided to take Michael's lead and keep his mouth shut. After all, his last experience hadn't ended very well.
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Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 13, 2008 21:05:05 GMT -5
The man with the question flicked a glance at the one using the revealing spells, who shook his head lightly, then continued. "She is here," he said. They hadn't found her yet, but the alert had been raised; she was here. His gaze turned to the boy with the hair, who had remained silent. "Where is Adara Snow?" he demanded.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 21:11:39 GMT -5
"We haven't seen Adara in two days," Michael interjected, refusing to let his eyes flick over to Dare, though Michael silently begged him to verify his words. He didn't know why the men had latched on to them, but he hoped that if they saw the truth of their words then the men would let him and Dare go.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 21:16:48 GMT -5
So now they were admitting they knew her? Dare wasn't entirely certain what their role was in whatever was going on here, but again he trusted Michael's judgment and nodded. "It was in the school," he said. "Haven't seen her since." Truth to the word. Dare had forgotten entirely about the quill she had given him, tucked into the back pocket of his jeans.
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Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 13, 2008 21:18:59 GMT -5
The man with the spells had rounded behind the boys and stopped at the sight of the silver quill. He plucked it out of the boy's pocket and held it up, then moved to hand it to the man who'd been speaking. The man spoke now as he held up the quill. "How did this come to be in your possession?" he asked. They had been assured that the girl would not allow the quill to leave her possession, that she would covet it like a child. The man awaited a reply with cold eyes.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 21:26:22 GMT -5
Michael's jaw clenched, deciding to let Dare answer that question, considering Adara had given the quill to him. He just hoped that Dare wouldn't say something about exactly why she had given it to him. Truth would help them get out, but they couldn't allow all of the truth out, they wouldn't be allowed past if the men thought they were too close to Adara.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 21:30:07 GMT -5
The momentary physical discomfort of the unexpected motion of the quill against his rear was enough of a shock that Dare was already wide-eyed when the question registered. He used that shock, probably written clear across his face, to buy himself a moment to think of what to say. "She gave it to me," he blurted, only just repressing a grimace. His mind scrambled for a reason. "I thought it was cool. It writes silver..." It sounded stupid, but then, maybe that would help.
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Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 13, 2008 21:33:49 GMT -5
The man looked at the boy, judging the truth of his words, and though his job was to be suspicious, it seemed a reasonable story. Still, he couldn't simply accept it and let them pass. He had to be entirely certain. "And she simply gave it to you?" he asked, incredulity written in his otherwise dry voice.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 21:41:05 GMT -5
Michael nodded, "Yes, she did." He had to give in an answer, hoping that the man would just accept and let them move on. That was all he could do, hope. He nearly asked if they could leave, but didn't want to seem too eager in fear of being held longer for it. He wondered faintly if they would cause a problem with his idea of apparating, since he and Dare would be appearing directly in front of the gates.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jul 13, 2008 21:49:03 GMT -5
"She seems nice," Dare said. He forced his gaze away from the man's eyes to the quill. Not only was he wary of another round of legilimency, but he really had gotten attached to the quill. He decided to play off that. "I really like that quill. Could I have it back?" I'm a stupid kid, I know nothing. I don't even know I'm in danger here. Please let me go?
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