Sending a message

It was late at night, and cold. The wind chilled Sandra through her basically non-existent cloak, but she payed it no attention. She had braved worse colds before, suffered worse conditions. England was chilly, yes, but not nearly as cold as Russia in the dead of winter. Or even Canada, to be quite honest (stupid Inuits. Sandra could've sworn they had been making fun of her)

The dead body of one Sage, ex-Hogwarts student, was hovering a few feet above the ground behind her. The body was mostly unmarked, but Sandra intended to rectify that shortly. She was here to send a message after all, and it simply would not do to let the little children think that they would earn a quick, painless death.

Finally, the gates. It was late at night, and cold, and none of the ickle-studikens were out, so Sandra had no trouble with being seen.

The first thing she did was chain the body to the gates. The chains themselves were thorned, so they dug into the flesh of Sage - not that it made much difference, to the dead girl, but it sent a message. Sandra whipped her wand across the girl's body several times, gouging long cuts into her flesh. Within only a few moments, Sage's clothes were in tatters, with only the most private of places still being covered (and them only barely. Sandra made sure that the girl's eyes were open, glassy as they were, and then she removed one, leaving nothing but an empty hole. She threw the eyeball down below the girl's feet. Maybe someone would step on it.

Finally, Sandra used her wand to siphon some of the girl's blood out of her body. It was only a few hours old, so the blood was still plenty fresh. She drew several words on the ground in front of Sage's body, which read:


She smiled to herself as she pointed her wand into the sky. Only one thing left to do.

"Morsmordre."

A moment later, and the signature skull/serpent of the Death Eaters was high in the sky. Sandra smirked and vanished into the night.

The innocence of one’s childhood was always wiped away by war in this world. It didn’t matter whether it was a war to end all wars or a petty dispute between peers that gained the title ‘war’. War had never really ended in the Wizarding World. There had been a stalemate – a halt in productions – but the Wizarding War had not ended with Voldemort’s death. If anything, it had just begun. These people were determined to create a world that they wanted to live in. That started with the eradication of Muggleborns; then they moved on to anything else that threatened their fragile existence – Squibs most likely. Elijah would never be too fond of the latter as Squibs had always disturbed him, but Muggleborns he did not mind. Some of his family detested both. He didn’t see the point to it. This statement was evidence enough of that.

He’d seen from one of the windows in the library, a beam of emerald light shoot into the sky. Elijah, like many other people, raced to the windows to see. What they found was something they’d never imagined they’d see in their lifetimes; or at least, certainly not during school. Murmurs and even shrieks of fear erupted immediately and some, including Elijah, even walked out to investigate. He knew his own morbid fascination with the dead. The evidence of that was on the train. He refused to believe that memory to be true; that he smoked a cigarette while inspecting some poor boy’s lung. He had though, much to Elijah’s later horror.

With the help of a few other people, Elijah forced open the Entrance Hall doors. It was a lengthy run down to the gates where the mark was hovering but no one seemed to care. Bewildered, Elijah ran after the excited First Years who were wearing grins on their faces. Elijah was almost pleased to find their ignorance. He could not turn around and leave them to find whatever the Death Eaters had left for them. It was a gift; no doubt a very generous one.

As they all neared though, it became apparent that the gift was more generous than the Death Eaters had ever before sought to give. Elijah stopped midstride and stumbled, barely catching himself as he plummeted to the ground. He pushed himself back up again but slowed, no longer running but not quite drifting as he usually did. He walked purposefully with a grimace on his face. It was worse than anyone could have imagined. A girl, chained to the gates of the school.

Elijah stayed rooted to the spot he’d found for himself. He wasn’t nearly as confident as he’d been when squeezing the lung on the train. He was probably still drunk then. Now, he was completely sober and nicotine free – much to his body’s chagrin – and as he stood there, the gravity of the situation dawned on him. They were in fact in the middle of a war and this casualty was going to be one that paled in comparison to the hundreds that would soon die.

He would have been a liar if he claimed he wasn't scared - because he was.

Jack was in the bathroom, which was surprisingly- yet very comfortably- empty. Typically the bathrooms were packed, which Jack hated, but today she seemed to be lucky in that this bathroom was almost deserted. She sniffed, washing her hands carefully and deliberately, getting an idea about a mirror-themed prank. Maybe charm the mirror to show a different reflection- something to really freak people out...

She exited the bathroom, smirking at the thought, and immediately a younger kid collided with her. She spun and stumbled. She pushed herself up and saw people rushing to the windows. Another kid knocked into her and she grabbed him by the collar. "What's going on?" She demanded. His eyes were wide with horrified excitement and he pointed at the window. Clearly shining through was the Dark Mark.

she glanced the corridor and began running. She heard people behind her look and mumble before their footsteps began clattering behind her. She was leading this particular group, but the castle seemed to be rumbling with the stampede of footsteps. She stormed down into the Entrance Hall where people were streaming.

Jack pushed her way towards the front, where people were pulling on the doors. The crowd pushed forward once the door opened and she and those around her became one creature, pounding forward and streaming out on the lawn. At first, the murmurings and the talk was almost deafening, but with each step, a chill settled.

And then the crowd stopped, all of the same mind, and the speaking stopped. A few hushed whispers said, "Sage" and all eyes turned onto the body of the girl hanging on the gates. There was a long silence, broken only by a few whispers and muffled sobs. Jack slowly pushed her way forward and then stumbled out front he throng of people, walking up to the gates.

Her fingers closed around the bars of the gates and she looked up, reaching up towards the girl before pulling away. She turned around. "Someone get Doyle!" She called over the crowd. She felt her hands begin to shake and she balled them into fists. Show no fear, show no fear. That was her only thought. Show no fear. "We need the Headmaster."

Miseria, along with many other students, was on her way to the Hufflepuff's dormotry when she saw a green flashing light outside. She was the first one to react. When the spell hit the sky, she was already standing near the window, staring out. A moment later, she found herself surrounded by other students who were whispering and gasping in horror or surprise.
She didn't stand infront of the student's group for any longer. Making her way through the group, she ran through the corridors.

She was scared. No, terrified actually. Was it the declaration of war? Her wand rested in her pocket and she was ready to take it out in any moment.

It wasn't a surprise to see so many students standing outside, staring at something what was on the gates. She had to push some students away to make her way to the front where she could finally see the victim. “Oh my god.“
Sage. She never talked to the girl, but they were housemates. Former housemates. She stepped closer to the gates, and looked up. She heard Jack's command, but Mis didn't react. “We need to take her down...“ she told to the leader of Potter's Army. Not waiting for someone to disagree with her, she took out her wand and waved with it, whispering quietly. She had to do it three times because of her shaking hands, but finally she was able to unlock the chains and lay Sage's body down.

She gasped when she saw Sage's glassy eye. Yes, eye. The other one was missing. Miseria looked away. But then she took off her jacket and layed it on the body. With her shaking hand, she closed her one remaining eye, and looked at the skull sign in the sky. “I've never thought that they'd go that far...“ she murmured to herself. What next? Will the Death Eaters attack the school or they'll start killing students one by one?

Amelia was not inside the castle when it happened. She was, as would be unsurprising to those who knew her habits, running her usual route around the grounds of the castle. Despite the cold, Amelia had needed the run to clear her head of recent events, and thus has pulled on leggings beneath her running shorts and a long sleeved shirt to block out the wind. The shirt was soaked with sweat down her back, which chilled in the cold night air and sent shocks down her spine each time the fabric connected against the skin of her back.

But these temperature-related shocks were nothing compared to the totally body jolt Amelia felt when the previously dark night was illuminated by a jet of green light coming from the other side of the castle. On a night like this, Amelia would usually have been alone on the grounds, but when the green jet exploded into the Dark Mark, Amelia became all too aware that this night was not like all the others before it.

It was nearly a minute later when Amelia realized that she had stopped running and was instead standing stock still and staring up at the glowing emerald insignia in the sky above what she knew to be the front gates of the castle. She had been fooled by her still racing heart, tricking her into believing she was still exerting herself physically. But her heart was not beating this way to supply her muscle’s need for blood; it was going a mile a minute because of what Amelia knew this must mean.

In spite of the fact that Amelia knew what she would find beneath the mark would be nothing she would want to see, her curiosity, however dark, made her decision for her, and she picked up her feet and began running around the castle to the front, though her steps had a hesitation they had not previously known. As Amelia passed the lake and rounded toward the Whomping Willow, she was assaulted with new sensory input of several people beating on the doors of the entrance hall, followed by the sound of hundreds of footfalls. The sight of her peers pouring from the castle, combined with what she could see them heading toward, brought Amelia to a stop once again, this time about 100 meters to the left of the main gates.

Although she was still plenty far away, the moon’s light kept nothing to the imagination. Hanging limply from the gates of Hogwarts was the body of a girl, a blond girl, probably no older than many of the fifth years that were hanging back from the scene while a braver soul – Jack, judging by the shock of red hair – approached the body, standing close enough to the gate itself to shake the bars.

“Someone get Doyle!” Amelia heard Jack shouting, despite the panicked sounds of the crowd that was gathering immediately outside the doors of the entrance hall, none daring to get as close as Jack. Amelia took in this command and ran it through her mind three times. She seemed to be on autopilot. The rational part of her mind that had in the past few weeks been alternately thwarted by her body and hear heart was taking its natural place at the helm of her thinking, which allowed her to stamp out her shock and suppress any of the emotion that was welling from her stomach and creeping up her esophagus. Instead, she squared her shoulders and pulled her wand from her waistband.

“Expecto Patronum!” Amelia said strongly, her voice containing no quiver as a hawk burst from the tip of her wand, glowing silvery in the dark night, but not nearly as bright as the dark mark above them. The hawk came to rest on her shoulder, its warmth sending more chills through her body because of the contrast between it and herself.

“Go tell the headmaster a student has been murdered,” Amelia said bluntly, speaking to the patronus that would relay this information, “And has been put on display at the front gates. Tell him to come as quickly as possible.”

The silver hawk inclined its head once to indicate it had understood, and pushed off from Amelia’s shoulder and flew toward the upper floors of the castle which housed the headmaster’s office. Jack was right deducing that the headmaster ought to be informed, but Amelia didn’t know what he was going to be able to do to correct what had been done. In truth, no one could do anything about the girl’s death, but what was more, Amelia doubted there was anything that could stop the momentum this action had put in place, carrying them all forward in a plot that could only lead deathward.

If she hadn’t been being so damn logical, Amelia probably would have collapsed with fear.

((Headmaster, you can feel free to god-mod my patronus telling you this information.))

Ariel had emerged from the Forbidden Forest just as the Dark Mark was shot up into the sky. His hand went to his wand and he felt the Werewolves behind him stiffen. They’d been sent with him as escorts but the stumbling and the sound of twigs breaking from behind told Ariel that he’d be on his own from here on in. He’d been in and around Hogsmeade for much of the day and he’d heard nothing of this. There had been no whispers of what was to come. It seemed as if everyone was ignorant. That made the situation all the more dangerous though. Were there still Death Eaters lingering, waiting to strike?

Ariel didn’t wait to find out. He shot off, joining the throng of people on their descent to the gates. As they neared sure enough there it was; or rather, there she was. Ariel’s breath caught in his throat as his eyes fell on the girl, chained to the gates making a statement on behalf of the Death Eaters. Ariel’s stomach twisted uncomfortably and he pushed a few gossiping third-years out of his way as he made his way to Jack who was notably shaken to Ariel’s eye. He bit his lip and clenched his fist, determined not to start hexing the midgets out of the way.

He managed to make it to Jack in the end after kicking a few of the fourth years that didn’t know the meaning of personal space. He didn’t really want to but it was either that or hexing them within an inch of their lives. There was no need for more death now. Ariel touched Jack’s forearm and looked at her, anxious to see what her plan was. She was the Head of Potter’s Army and this was, as far as Ariel assumed, a light supporter. Well, she was a light supporter. Now look where it got her. The first years were beginning to tear up around the elder ones and Ariel felt about as lost as Jack looked.

Then suddenly, the girl, Sage, was lowered down onto the ground. Ariel looked around and found the source of the magic. It wasn’t right to hang her up there for the world to see. It might have been intended but that didn’t matter. She deserved dignity and respect – even in death. Something though, made Ariel press forward; curiosity most likely. Vaguely he heard Amelia conjured a Patronus but he paid no mind to that as he neared.

When his eyes came to her face, instantly he recoiled. Ariel had seen some gruesome sights before but nothing quite as disturbing as this. He returned back to Jack’s side, determined to put distance between himself and the body but not too much.

“For Christ sake, Doyle.” He hissed, more to himself than anyone else. “Hurry up.”

Then, for some insane reason, Ariel leaned down and picked up the sobbing first year that was under his elbow. It was a rare act of kindness on his part but he needed the reassurance just as much as she did. The first year was tiny. She hardly looked eleven. Still, her anguish was real and Ariel wouldn’t begrudge her. He’d comfort her – and he did. He rubbed slow circles into the brunette’s back and began to sway, lulling her slightly so as to stifle her tears. She sniffled loudly in her ear but Ariel paid the sound little mind for his eyes were still fixed on Jack. He reached out to her with his spare hand and gently grazed her fingers with his own. He was just letting her know that he was there and that she could lean on him, just like the poor little Hufflepuff that was clinging to him for dear life.

Jack saw a few other people taking her mindset of rationality rather than sentimentality. Mis removed the chains and Jack turned to also help ease Sage down. She glanced down at the broken body and felt her stomach knot painfully, but Mis covered the body. She turned and saw Amelia sending a Patronus off to Doyle. And then she felt a touch on her arm.

She turned and saw Ari. Her eyebrows met softly and she told him with her eyes that she was glad that he was there.She looked around and saw a third year stumbling forward. Jack walked over and put a hand on his shoulder, lowering her head and her voice. "You don't want to see her," she murmured softly. "You don't." She watched him back up and put an arm around a friend.

Jack saw Ariel pick up a sobbing first year and she looked around the group. Crying, sobbing, sniffling, yelling, haunted looks. People hugging, shaking, falling to the ground, moaning, running away, staring... They all could not think rationally. Jack and Mis and Amelia and others were doing that for them. Jack didn't know what they needed, she felt terrible enough.

She felt Ari brush her fingers and his touch sent a shot of comfort through her body and without cuing the, her fingers curled and caught his. She stepped closer and held tight to his hand. She cleared her throat. "Listen up everyone," she said, doing two things she never thought she would. Holding Ari's hand in public and not hiding it.

"Something bad here happened," she said, over sniffling and cries. "Something terrible. We know who did it." She pointed her hand at the Dark Mark and looked across the group. "Death Eaters killed an innocent Hufflepuff girl. She swallowed. "Please... Please don't panic now. There's nothing we can do except refuse to let them scare us and-" her voice was starting to weaken so she cleared her throat, biting her lip. "And comfort each other."

Sandra could feel the anti-apparition wards lift as she stepped outside their range. She shook her head. The Hogwarts founders had been annoyingly powerful - she was a good mile or two away from the castle. She could still see the Dark Mark in the sky however, shining bright. That made her smile

She checked her watch. It had been what, ten minutes since she had fired it? Maybe. Before going out on her little excursion, Sandra had downed several potions that would boost her speed and endurance. She'd pay for it later, but right now...priceless.

Sandra sat down, crossing her legs and rubbing her hands together to ward off cold. Pulling her wand from her pocket, she began to trace complex sigils through their air. Smoky red/black symbols hovered in the night air in front of her, forming a screen of odd characters. She chuckled and connected two of them, whsipering several words under her breath.

There was a flash of light, and Sandra was suddenly occupying two bodies - both her own and Sage's decomposing corpse.

Perhaps occupying two bodies was a bad term. She was aware of her normal body, yes, but could not make it move. Instead, it was Sage's dead body that was under her control. She was currently under a jacket of some sort, but that didn't stop her from hearing what was going on around her.

"Please... Please don't panic now. There's nothing we can do except refuse to let them scare us and- And comfort each other."

"Oh yes," Sandra said, sitting up, "don't let them scare you, little students." Her voice was creacy and rough, and her movements were stiff. the jacket slid off her face, but her vision was off - Sandra vaguely remembered yanking the girl's eye when she desecrated the corpse.

Several of the students screamed, stumbling back, and Sandra laughed. It was not a pleasant laugh. "It's good to know some of you can still fear," she said. "It makes all this so much more entertaining."

Suddenly, Sage was sitting up. Jack felt her hand tighten on Ari's and she jerked him a step back. The girl could not be alive, simply could not. Jack heard people screaming, heard others running away. Jack turned and pointed her wand at the crowd, thinking Protego Totalum. A small protective barrier whooshed up between the students and the corpse. Just a precaution...

Jack turned back to the body and pointed her wand at it. "We're not afraid of you," Jack said, even though people were screaming and crying behind her, panicking. "Who are you? You are not Sage. What do you expect us to do, bend to your will because you play a few cruel tricks. It's not going to happen. You're not even brave enough to face us. You're going to hide behind a corpse. Pathetic." Jack felt sick saying this to the poor body of the unfortunate girl, but she knew something had to be done. Someone had to stand up.

Sandra laughed, but Sage's half shredded vocal cords made it sound like sandpaper. "And you hide behind a shield, little girl. Are we so different?" She laughed again, grabbing the gate and dragging herself into a sitting position. This body was pathetically weak, and she didn't trust herself to stand. So instead she settled with resting her back against the gate and watching the girl closely. "Are you not afraid?" Must be made of sterner stuff than the rest of them," she said, jerking her head towards the mass of students behind Jack. "A Gryffindor, hm?"

She shifted again. "I've known a lot of Gryffindors. They usually end up dying. Nobly, to be sure...but dead all the same." Sandra coughed, a harsh raspy sound, and continued talking. "Much like this little girl. She cried as she died you know, didn't understand what was happening to her. I made sure she was in pain, don't you worry now."