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(OOC: the points deduction was from Louis and Jack correct ? )

Amelia was lucky, in a way, that her mind was shutting out all unnecessary stimuli. Yes it was rather robotic that some of these stimuli were those that made humans feel the way they did, but other stimuli allowed her to remain calm and not cause any more damage than had already been done. For example, Jack yelling at the headmaster for something to do would have been so annoyingly comical to Amelia that she might have been tempted to throw a hex in his direction just to shut him up. And if Xemnas had been of Amelia’s house, she would have reacted much more harshly than Jack had to the boy’s insolence.

But instead, none of this reached Amelia’s brain. It was all filtered out before she became conscious of it, and instead she was thin lipped and quiet while the headmaster dealt with the chaos around them and then got down to business. Even the loss of house points did not faze Amelia at this point – she was waiting to react only to what the headmaster instructed her to do, as though that was the only password that would activate her system.

Doyle’s explanation was quick, but thorough. He highlighted the plight that was facing them as a group – though it was also facing the student body at large – took responsibility for his role in it, but did not dwell on apologies or what-ifs. Then he did what Amelia would have seen coming if she had been thinking with the full range of her mind instead of focusing her attention on one single entity: he asked the four of them – Jack, Elijah, Ariel, and herself – to join in the protection of the castle.

It was the same request the headmaster had made of her after potions earlier that week. It had even come with the same preface: the staff could not do it all, they would need student involvement if they were to protect the student body at large. He had said that he trusted her, asked her because of her abilities. This is what she should have wanted: recognition for how hard she worked, how capable she was. This should have been worth much more than her mother’s nod of approval or yet another ‘O’ on a homework assignment.

But this praise came with a cost. And that cost might be her life.

These were the qualms that had stopped Amelia from answering the headmaster’s question the first time he had proposed it back in Potions. She knew the risks associated with taking on the responsibility he proposed, and although it would have been easier to just agree and move on (she usually agreed to these things in the end anyway), she couldn’t help but give due time to the nagging voice of self-preservation in the back of her mind. So she had walked away, told herself she would think about it and get back to him.

But she was no longer the one dictating when her mind could be made up. The situation had brought the decision to the forefront, and she needed to give Doyle an answer. Amelia took a full minute to compose her thoughts, and try to weigh her options, but the more she pulled things apart into their logical components, the more she began to see that she didn’t really have options. There was really only one option, in light of what had happened, and after she had reached this rational conclusion, Amelia cleared her throat and spoke.

“I’m in,” Amelia said, her voice sounding more monotone than confident. She was not doing this because she had a deeply personal connection to Sage. She wasn’t agreeing because she felt a personal bond to her peers and wanted to be their hero. Amelia Lyons took up the reigns the headmaster had threw to her because she knew, logically, that the only way to protect herself and the school that had granted her sanctuary these last seven years was to stand beside the staff and put what she had learned on the line. It was not an emotional decision, it was a rational one, which was the only reason Amelia was able to make it in her current state.

“Where can I start?” Amelia asked, gripping her wand tighter. She had kept it in her hand since the patronus, and had a lingering feeling that she wouldn’t be keeping it in her waistband anymore given these new circumstances.

Jack nodded as she listened to Doyle, cringing ever so slightly to hear that Louis had lost her house some points, though in the light of recent events, points were not something she should even be considering. There was a young girl on the ground nearby who would never be able to worry about petty school things like points. Jack was not sentimental.. but it sucked if you gave ourself a second to think about it.

Doyle wanted the four of them to work together to protect the school. Jack knew she could work alongside Ariel. She had a feeling if she and Amelia spent too much time together, however, they would eventually butt heads- they were simply much too different. Jack got the impression their relationship was closer to tolerance. And she did not know how she and Elijah would get on. Now that she and Chase were friends, and the two of them had never exactly been friendly or compatible.

But that really did not matter to Jack. When she had began to analyze the situation she had planned to get Potter's Army to do some sort of shifts- only the more competent NEWT students, of course, she did not want to put more people in danger. But this could work to. Then she would not have the blood of her peers this way. And with the fur of them, less risk and they could watch each other's backs.

"I will," she said immediately, nodding firmly. "I can do it."

Xemnas looked back to see if Louis was doing his duty, and he watched as Jack gave him a glare like never before. Woah I was planning on going back to see if she was okay, but Louis is completely older than me and she doesn't even want him there. I'm gonna have an uneasy feeling when I get to the common room, but I must follow Jack's orders Xemnas thought. And after that thought he had heard that because of Louis' "nobility" gryffindor lost house points. This angered him, very much so since he didn't have to worry about death at the moment like Jack. Xemnas gave Louis a glare but a faint one, and continued to escort students back to their common rooms. As he came back to check if there was anybody available he found some hiding in trees, he obviously yelled at them and told him to leave but he got to see that Jack had back up. There was four there but he knew only three of them. Amelia, the one who watched him during the first day of school, and Eli, the strange visitor Xemnas found at the library. He knew now he wouldn't have that uneasy feeling anymore knowing that she was surrounded by excellent students, and possibly excellent duelers. He checked to see if Hitame was okay, just in case and continued on with his objective.

Louis gritted his teeth. "Yes...... Ma'am." Louis looked at the little kid he had been carrying, who was now asleep. Louis rounded up the gryffindors. "Every Gryffindor! Go to the Common room and go to sleep!" He yelled as the kids walked inside. He checked to see if anymore kids were hiding.

Louis didn't care about Gryffindor losing points at the moment. He looked at the other kids who had fallen asleep, he handed the first year he was carrying to Xem. "Take him to his bed now." He told Xem as Louis grabbed the other first years falling down. He would follow Jacks instructions and in the common room, making sure no one got in or out. He then took the sleeping first years and went inside.

Nobody had told the Slytherins to move, so Cassie hadn't. She was still staring at the dead girl with morbid fascination. Rationally, she was aware that this had once been a living, breathing person and that what had happened to the corpse could just as easily be done to her, but somehow, her brain just refused to make the connection.

Around her, people were crying, but Cassie's eyes remained dry. Not because she was putting on a brave front, or because she thought that her parents' clout would protect her, but because, well, she'd never actually met the dead girl. If someone had asked her, she'd have agreed that it was sad the girl was dead, but it was hard to mourn a person you couldn't remember even passing in the halls.

Xemnas heard Louis and shook his head. He was still mad at him but he understood his orders. Xemnas looked back and forth to see if anyone was around one last time, and found no one. He began to walk and as he was going to turn the corner, he looked back to see Jack. She stood there proud and tall, ready for someone to make a move. She was certaintly a role model to Xemnas, he wanted to be just like her when he was her age. Before he left, he whispered good luck ever so softly and ran to the common room. He didn't bother to watch Hitame because he knew she was ready, hr ran , with a child at hand.

James Wake was quite certain that the Ravenclaws, at least, had begun to move. The Gryffindors were herding out too, but the Slytherins... stood stolid and still. James grit his teeth as he moved to the front of the crowd, circling around the students, half in hopes that he would no have to serve as the one to alert them, or force them to move. But like a herd of sheep, they did little in the way of moving. All they did was murmur and watch. Almost like the mood was lost upon them, like the event warranted a large reaction. He found himself standing towards the front of the crowd, the Headmaster, Charms Professor, and a few select students stood.

He cast Sonorus and announced, with his voice thus magnified "Students from SLYTHERIN, RAVENCLAW and GRYFFINDOR! Please return to your dorms for attendance, and curfew." He repeated the message twice before tearing the wand away from his throat (how he hated doing that), and began urging the students away. He did not particularly enjoy stepping up and commanding the rest of the student population, but that was his job. Imperium Squad.

James almost wished they reinstated the Prefect rules, but at this point, what would it change?

Why had they picked him of all people? Elijah could understand Ariel but he failed to understand why they’d pick him. He was a habitual rule breaker – but then again so was Jack. Elijah sighed and figured that he may as well say yes. It was no great sacrifice for him but he didn’t know if he could work with these people. Amelia would sooner throttle him and Ariel would help. Jack would remain impassive as ever or think that he’d try and come onto her or something. Elijah had sworn off redheads for life a month or so ago. Perhaps he should have sworn off of the manipulative female species all together and returned to Bulgaria, to his library and to his tutor. Merlin knew he was better of there. Micah was out of a job at the manor again now. He was teaching some of the Angelovas in his spare time but Fauve and Thierry had been his main focus up until the point where Chase had taken them. He’d been their tutor, their confident, just like he’d been for Elijah. Now, he was forced into the background once more.

Elijah swallowed and nodded. He didn’t trust his voice to be strong enough. He didn’t move either. He stayed where he was, finding himself feeling rather shy around these people. He crossed his arms over his chest and bit his lip before lifting his head and looking across the skyline where magic crackled in defence of the school. Maybe...maybe there was something wrong with the wards. Elijah took his wand out from behind his ear and twirled it idly in his fingers before bringing it between his teeth. He bit the end of it, his tongue reaching out to flick at the wood as he thought. Could there be holes in the wards? Elijah took his wand away and stepped forward.

“Are there any wards that aren’t covering the school? Are there, like, runic spells that could be used or something that would prevent all of those who bare the Dark Mark from passing the perimeter of the site? The Founders put up wards of their own didn’t they? Can we find a way to reinforce what is already there?”

Thaor had just returned to his office from his shop, it had been a rather busy day. Fatigued, and tired from lack of sleep, he walked to his bed, and plopped down. Just then, he heard a commotion outside, he glanced out the window just as he saw the dark mark vanish from the sky. Then it hit him like an addict hitting the ground after an OD. Archer he mumbled as he threw on his cloak.

The walk to the grounds took what seemed an eternity. Passing by what seemed like every student in the school, some looking sickened, some un-naturally emotionless given the situation. None of them said a word to him as he walked past them, many of them gave him a once over, mostly eyes staring at his grayed hair, and baggy eyes. Time had not served him well, he felt physically worse than he looked.

As Thaor reached the Headmaster he said Who? to no one inpaticular before leaning towards Doyle so only he could hear him say It was Archer, she is in charge of the dealings at Hogwarts. I will tell you everything I can once we get this taken care of.. Thaor gave Doyle a look so he knew that he could trust him, this time.

We have to put a end to this, now. No more innocent people need to die. Thaor said, looking towards the deceased.