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So Close
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 12-07-08 12:25
Ever since Caden's visits to Happy Haven, Ronan had had hope that he would one day see beyond the walls of campus. Even after Professor Carrow had killed Caden, if a dead person could actually be killed, Ronan hadn't stop believing that he'd get out, one way or another. He knew that his mother was looking for him, and if she didn't find him before the the great revolt, then he would find her.
Now the day the students took matters into their own hands had finally arrived. Clutching his wand, Ronan made his way to the gates of Happy Haven, which had been mowed down by a Muggle vehicle. The students piled into the car one by one, while some of the other ones and those associated with the car, defended them from the growing onslaught of hexes aimed their way.
"Ouch!"
Ronan stopped running and looked behind him. A younger girl had slipped on a patch of ice and skinned her knee. Tears rolled down her rosy cheeks.
He ran to her and hurriedly pulled her to her feet. She winced, and though Ronan didn't intend to hurt her, it was imperative that they keep moving or else they might get caught. She was so small, being much younger but also so very emaciated that Ronan scooped her up in his arms and ran with her towards the car.
He got halfway to it when something struck the back of his leg. He stumbled forward, with the girl still in his arms. They fell, and he was careful not to crush her under his weight. Luckily, she didn't hit the ground hard and was cushioned by his arms beneath her.
She looked at him with wide eyes and then at something behind him.
"Go!" he shouted at her.
She scrambled to her feet without hesitation and seemingly having forgotten her skinned knee. Ronan was glad to see her run from him, and quickly rolled onto his back, making sure he had his wand in hand.
He found that the guard who'd hit him with the spell that had cut into his leg (which ached and bled onto the snow), was now engaged in a duel with an adult. Not wasting another second, Ronan climbed to his feet and limped all the way to the Land Rover.
(Kate) Rescued
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 12-07-08 13:10
Kate had been in the loo when the signal had gone up, announcing the start of the revolt against the staff at Happy Haven. She hadn't intended on missing the beginning, and in fact had tried to hold it in, but then she hadn't been sure when she might get a chance to use the restroom again and she certainly didn't want to have an accident. Being really scared could lead to an embarassing moment, after all.
So by the time she left the bathroom, everyone in her dormitory room had left. Kate could hear the sounds of chaos outside, though she hoped it was chaos favorable to the students and not the teachers. Positively frightened at the thought of truly being left behind, Kate gripped her wand and slipped out of the room. Her pace quickened as she navigated her way out of the building and across the snow-covered grounds, as if someone was chasing her even though it didn't seem like anyone had noticed her yet.
She felt like she simply couldn't run fast enough. The hairs on her arms stood on end, not just from the biting cold but also from undiluted fear. Her heart raced, and just when she thought she would begin to hyperventilate, her foot slid across a patch of ice, and she toppled hard onto her hands and knees.
"Ouch!" she cried, and then she started to weep. She'd skinned her knee and she didn't know a healing spell to make it better. She picked up the wand she'd dropped just as an older boy rushed at her and hoisted her roughly to her feet by her armpits. Her whole body felt stiff and the suddeness of the movement surprised her, but before she could react, the boy had her in his arms and ran with her across the grounds to where the other students were headed.
Not much later, she found herself fallen towards the ground again, only this time she didn't hurt herself. She looked the good-looking boy in the face and then gazed up over him, where a fierce-looking individual stood with wand raised and a sadistic grin on his face. The boy only had one word for her: "Go!"
Kate didn't think about it twice. She scrambled to her feet, ignoring the pain in her knee, and ran like the wind to the smashed front gates, where a car waited to take her to safety. Someone helped her into the car, which looked sooooo much bigger on the inside than on the outside. Truly, she'd never seen anything like it. She knew she wasn't in the clear yet, but sitting on the softest seats she'd felt in a long time, Kate started to relax.
She sighed with relief when the boy who'd helped her climbed into the car a few minutes later.
"Thank you," she blurted out, when he sat down near her.
He gazed at her thoughtfully for a moment and then nodded. He seemed too out of breath and dazed to talk, and Kate didn't blame him for it one bit. What they'd just lived through had been unreal.
A Force Not To Reckon With
Author: Plum
Date: 12-07-08 17:25
Plum gets the small group that Alex is part of settled with pictures to color. She also keeps an eye on another small group made up of slightly older children who are busy with cutting out shapes from bright sheets of paper. The bell on the front door of Blossom's opens. Plum moves to where she can see into the entrance way. Two boys stand there, stamping their feet from the cold.
Walking out to greet them, Plum asks, "What can I do for you two?"
"We'd like to do the laser tag, please," the taller of the two tells her.
Plum takes the gift certificates they were both probably given at Christmas then nods towards the cloakroom. "Coats, gloves, scarves in there. You can leave your shoes as well. Wands too unless you really want to hang on to them."
They clump into the cloakroom and when they emerge Plum helps them put on the Wizard's Laser Tag equipment and has them tests the special wands that go with it. She then asks, "You know the way downstairs?"
"Yes, miss," the taller one answer again.
"Enjoy," Plum smiles at them.
She goes in to check on the two groups she was overseeing, looking up when Azara Matthews sticks her head in to say, "Fantasia the Storyteller was able to make it afterall. She's just Floo'd in and is setting up."
Hearing this, the children in the room give a cheer. Plum grins at their excitement, her true feelings this morning so far well hidden. Azara suddenly frowns, prompting Plum to ask, "What is it?"
"I forgot to take care of snacks for this morning."
"I'll run over to Briar's. With this being Hogsmeade weekend, the bakery should be well stocked today."
"Yes, good idea. Let me give you the petty coin purse."
While Azara goes to get the money, Plum leads her small charges to the room where Fantasia will do her storytelling. The other children at the daycare today are either already in the room or, like those Plum is leading, are on their way.
A few minutes later Plum is bundled against the cold, the petty coin purse gripped in one hand, which is in turn deep in a pocket. Head down against the wind, Plum dashes as best she can given the ice, snow, and busier than usual street. She crosses the High Street and hurries down to the bakery.
At the door to Briar's Plum, who's still got her head down, literally runs into someone also reaching for the door. A box the person is carrying flies up but a boy with quick reflexes catches it. He returns it unscathed to its owner whom Plum now sees is Laura Reese-Emerson.
The other woman recognizes Plum and speaks before Plum's able to. "Plum! Should I joke about how it's funny running into you here?" she chuckles.
Plum is, to say the least, surprised. She would have thought Kody's mother would be off aiding with the rescue mission, the very place Plum wishes she were.
"Laura, I hadn't thought to see you in Hogsmeade today," Plum says, glad that awhile back Laura had asked Kody's friends to call her by her first name. Glad of it because Plum had always had trouble with remembering whether to call her Mrs. Emerson, Mrs. Reese-Emerson, Ms. Reese-Emerson, or Ms. Reese. Laura is so much easier.
Plum has wanted to help the Resistant, to take a more active part. Unfortunately, her present circumstances don't allow her the time. If she's not working, she's taking care of Alex, or is getting what little sleep she has the time for. Her one consolation today has been that at least Daria was needed to work at Weasley's today, so was also having to miss out on the Happy Haven mission. Plum thinks Anthony is there, though she's had so little chance to speak to him lately she isn't certain. She also doesn't know if Ariella is part of any of it. Ariella's working at Briar's and is newly married. For all Plum knows, Lawrence wouldn't approve of Ariella taking part in anything having to do with the Resistance.
Plum suppresses the heavy sigh that rises. She hardly knows what's going on with anyone who matters to her anymore. Really, when she thinks about it, it's amazing she knows of the Happy Haven mission at all.
Laura Reese-Emerson shifts the box in her hands, her smile growing. "I hadn't thought to be here either."
Plum reaches for the door and opens it, holding it for Laura to go through. It's far too cold to stand outside to chat. Besides that, they're blocking the bakery entrance.
The heavenly aroma and warmth of the bakery greets them and they welcome both, moving out of the walkway to take a moment to enjoy the warmth. Both inhale deeply, appreciating the wonderful smells enveloping them. Laura then explains, "A charity I'm involved with rescheduled something to today. I couldn't back out. Someone was in Hogsmeade earlier picking up some baked goods but we realized she'd left one item at the Imperial Crown & Cauldron and she somehow left half of our bakery order behind. It was far quicker for me to come myself to get everything. You look tired, dear."
Plum blankly blinks at the non sequiter. Laura gently asks, "Is everything all right?"
Plum blinks again then shakes her head. "Yes, I mean no. I mean, since Mum died things have been hard."
"Kody did say that the reason you haven't been over practicing with the band in such a long time is because you're working several jobs now."
"Yes. I work several jobs and take care of my brother."
"I thought your father was in the picture."
"He is... sort of."
"I'm sorry to pry but I don't understand."
"He had been a heavy drinker but had cleaned up his act. He was doing really well, he and Mum got back together, he had the Arithmancy position at Hogwarts. Things were going so well they got a surprise with Alex. After Mum died... well, Evan hasn't handled things well."
Laura looks at Plum with shock. "Having children who need him hasn't been enough?"
"Apparently not."
"You work full-time at Blossom's. How many other jobs do you have?"
"As of last week, five."
"That's five plus Blossom's."
Plum nods.
"Six. You hold six jobs and are raising a child? Alex is what now? Two?"
"Two as of late December," Plum affirms.
"Someone needs to shake some sense into your father. Where are you living?"
"We have a small place."
"I hear a but in there."
"But Alex and I aren't there that much. I work most nights and take Alex with me and on the nights I'm off, we often sleep upstairs at Blossom's."
"Why is that?"
"The flat isn't a very pleasant place to be, especially if Evan's there."
Laura looks mad, though Plum knows it's not anger directed at her. She puts her free hand on Plum's shoulder. "You quit those other five jobs."
"I can't," Plum says.
Laura's voice gets very no nonsense motherly. "You quit those other five jobs. Cut back to part-time at Blossom's. Alex and you are moving in with us. Merlin knows we've enough room. You will get re-enrolled at St. Emrys. I will not take no for an answer."
Plum blinks again, this time to hold back tears that well and threaten to spill. "I can't take advantage of your kindness."
"Do I seem like someone who allows herself to be taken advantage of? It's settled. Now, I really must get the bakery order and return to the charity event. I expect you with Alex and your things by dinner this evening."
Plum can do nothing but say, "Yes, ma'am," at the force that is Laura Reese-Emerson then with her own task to complete moves to view the bakery showcase, mentally making a list of what to get to take back for snacks.
Escaping
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 12-08-08 06:22
Johanna ran as fast as she could in the direction of the Land Rover. Red sparks passed near her. It was thanks to the classes of professor Isuki that she could move herself more than once to avoid being hit. Felicia was right behind her.
More than once Johanna had thought on turn around and fight against the staff. She wanted to kill Pince, the muggle studies professor. After all why did Coco give her a wand if she couldn’t fight? Of course she wanted to leave this place but not without a revenge. The problem was Felicia. She knew what Johanna wanted, so she was behind her making sure she didn’t escape from the group which was coordinated by Titania Bennett.
“Almost there! Keep up!” encourage Titania.
The Land Rover was now a few meters from the group. Johanna looked behind her. She wanted at least cast one spell. Just one. She stopped and choose a target: the Home Economics professor Dilys Hooch would be perfect. She was waving her wand when Felicia pushed her. Johanna stumbled and fell.
“What’s your idea?” her friend didn’t say anything and helped her to get up. In front of the two girls Kate Dewhurst was helped by an elder boy. The big group had already gone to the Land Rover.
“Let’s go!” said Felicia. Knowing she won’t let Johanna attack anyone, she followed Felicia and entered in the Land Rover which was in fact a big RV.
Intervening
Author: Kody
Date: 12-08-08 16:50
Kody had helped with some of the driving but he's not as comfortable with driving as Drake is. This meant that when the time came to crash the disguised RV through the prison gates he'd been sitting in the front passenger chair, hand on the door handle, ready to have the door open and be out before the Land Rover looking vehicle came to a full stop.
Kody had one guard on the wall around Happy Haven disarmed and immobilized before he'd even fully taken in the scene. Working with others, Kody helped to form a defensive line giving the former students as much fire cover as possible as they made the dash from their dorms to RV/Land Rover.
Just after the girls began pouring out of their dorm, Kody thought he saw a flash of light but got into a fight with another guard and couldn't immediately check it out. In trying to avoid hitting any of the students, Kody made it a close quarter physical match with blows being thrown. It ended when he took a solid hit to his stomach but got in a good, hard upper cut to his opponent's jaw that had the man staggering back. That gave Kody the opening he needed to use a Stupefy charm on the guard.
Amazingly, all in all, the fight took less than a minute.
Glad that the mask he wears is stuck on with a spell and therefore wasn't dislodged in the fistfight, Kody ran in the direction he'd seen that flash, coming to a stop in front of another building. One of the ground floor windows is broken inward.
If he remembers correctly the diagram Coco gave of the place, it's where the head of Happy Haven resides, Alecto Carrow. Kody of course hasn't seen every person at Happy Haven but if Carrow's made an appearance it wasn't in the thick of it in the vicinity of the RV/Land Rover.
Someone tackles Kody from behind. Female hands claw at Kody's face and neck. He turns with his back to the building wall and slams into it, knocking the wind out of the woman just enough for him to break lose of the tight hold. He spins around, only to be tackled this time from the front. She hits him hard but there wasn't enough distance between them for her to build up any great momentum or force to knock him over.
The woman uses her arms, legs, and teeth in an effort to get Kody down or relieve him of his wand. He has no idea why she doesn't have her own so surmises that she either came out to see what the commotion was and forgot her wand and jumped into the fray anyway or she was disarmed at some point. Perhaps she was stunned and her wand taken but the charm wore off.
Not that it matters.
The only thing that matters now is subduing her. She's got herself wrapped around Kody, clawing, scratching, biting, kicking... in other words, anything she can do to someone taller, broader, heavier than she is. Kody is thankful she's not in good position to use kick him between the legs. Knowing that she might be able to get a good, solid kick there if given half a chance, Kody grabs a handful of her long hair and jerks it back, attempting for a better angle to use his wand.
"Stupefy!"
With the woman so savagely attacking him, it's harder to get a square hit than one might think at such close quarters. The charm hits her only glancingly but it's enough to send her into a blank eyed, limp daze.
Confused and with her arms and legs no longer working quite as they should, she stumbles away from Kody. He aims his wand. "Confundo."
Now entirely confused, the woman wanders away, muttering to herself. Kody imagines he sees spittle drooling from her mouth.
All around Happy Haven the rescuers and some of the older students are engaged in fights. There are far more guards than Kody had thought. He doesn't know if Coco had her numbers wrong or if there was an increase in guards since she was last able to talk with the Wynbournes or just what. Levering himself through the broken window, Kody thinks it's a bloody good thing they brought as many people as they did.
Kody moves forward, being as careful as he can not to make lots of noise crunching on the shards of glass and splintered wood. By the time he's at the door leading into an entryway, Kody knows that any noise he made doesn't really matter. The sounds from outside are much louder than he would have thought being inside buffered some by the noise.
Kody starts to do a quick reconnaissance of the ground floor but hears a voice drifting down from the first floor just above. He leaps up the stairs, his long legs taking in several at a time. Kody reaches the first floor in time to see a girl who looks somewhat familiar, pointing her wand at a woman wearing a robe.
Something about the situation seemed to be more than just one of the Happy Haven students holding this woman at bay. In an instant Kody knows somehow that this girl is going to kill the woman. She sought this woman out instead of running to the safety Land Rover.
Kody somehow knows all this without having to think about it. Good thing too as he arrived at a point when there was no luxery of stopping to think. The girl is going to kill the woman right now. There is no time to think. Kody simply reacts.
At the same time the girl is all too coolly collectedly saying, "Avada," Kody is grabbing her around the waist, lifting upwards while simultaneously using his other arm to grab her by the wrist, forcing her wand away from her intended target.
The girl, whose name suddenly comes to Kody, cuts off the spell to kick and scream at him. The woman doesn't bother hiding her amusement, laughing loudly at the girl's predicament. She moves, though whether it's to take advantage of the distraction to try and get a wand or to escape, Kody doesn't know.
Tightening his hold on Emerald Green's younger sister, Kody redirects her arm to point her wand back at the woman. "Stop."
The woman growls low in her throat though still looks slightly amused.
"Alecto Carrow?"
"Headmistress Carrow. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"
Olive starts shrieking, "Let me kill her. She's got to die."
Ignoring Olive for the moment even though her legs are making dent in his shins, Kody says to Carrow, "Lie down on the floor, face down, hands on your back, fingers interlaced."
Carrow, who has what Kody thinks of as an insane gleam in her eye, slowly complies. Only then does Kody force Olive's grip to loosen on her wand. He's shifting her so he can aim his own wand at Carrow. Olive jerks away from him and only then does he see that she's got a second wand.
Must have somehow gotten Carrow's from her.
Wand pointed at Carrow, Kody requests of Olive, "Give it to me."
"NO! I'm going to kill her."
"Olive," Kody starts
"Do you know what she did? Do you?"
"Yes."
"Then let me kill her!"
"I'm not going to let you have a deliberate act of murder hanging over you for the rest of your life. Emerald wouldn't have wanted that."
Tears are streaming down Olive's face. "I don't care. MOVE!"
Kody sighs, deciding to immobilize Carrow to make it easier to deal with Olive. He takes the triple precaution of using Stupefy, Petrificus Totalus and conjuring robes that he directs to bind Carrow. Only then does Kody relax a little, giving full attention to Olive.
He drops down to one knee to better look Olive in the eye. "I know your angrier than I can possibly imagine at what this woman did to your sister, to you, to all the students here. I know you're hurting. I know you're so consumed at lashing out at Alecto Carrow that you aren't thinking straight."
"I am too!" Olive screams.
Continuing to keep his voice calm and reasonable, Kody says, "I cannot in good conscience let you murder this woman, no matter what she's done. Besides that, she might know where other prisons are. Would you want others to suffer, to possibly lose their own loved ones because this woman wasn't alive to give vital information just so you could have a second of pleasure at having gotten revenge?"
"I'd enjoy it forever."
"Would you really?"
Olive sobs, thin shoulders shaking. "Just turn away for a moment. Please?"
She sounds very small and defeated. Kody holds out an arm out to Olive and, letting the wand slide to the floor, steps into the hug he offers. Kody lets her cry into his shoulder for several seconds before letting her go long enough to retrieve the other wand. Pocking the wand that was given to Olive by the Resistance via Coco and the wand that he surmises is Carrows, Kody scoops Olive up.
"We've got to go. I don't think they've left yet but the Land Rover will be leaving very soon," he tells her.
Using Mobilicorpus, Kody moves Carrow's still unconscious form downstairs and out through front door. He gets it moving ahead of him as he sprints with Olive in his arms towards the Land Rover, relieved beyond words that it's still there as he really didn't want to attempt a side along apparition with both Olive and Alecto Carrow in tow.