MINISTRY PRESS CONFERENCE

Miseria knew that it was a bad idea to show her face there.
First and foremost - the reason why it was dangerous to show her face there was because she was a werewolf and now the Ministry, thanks to Gideon of course, declared that those who were not 100% human would be captured, dead or alive, and brought to Ministry to observe them. She did not intend on being a labrat, but then again, when she entered through these doors, she knew that if people would suspect anything, they would capture her immediately.

Secondly, she was a Lupin. Although not many knew her, especially now that her original tradmark blue hair was gone, some were still aware of her curse. Although the situation was serious, Miseria could not remain so grim and dire. She stool solemnly there, near the door and observed people who entered and who sat, recognizing soon Jack and Michael and Gideon Pierce himself, but all those who were surrounding her were complete strangers.

And there was something else she sensed in the air. Another being like her had arrived. The thought that she was not the only one who was too curious to get th information brought a wide smile on her face, and suddenly she could not control her emotions anymore. Mis wanted to laugh out loud. Even if they wanted to control Magical creatures like Gideon proposed, they would Never achieve what they desired. Werewolves, vampires and veelas were all freedom loving creatures. They would stand up against him!

Sighing, almost enjoying the thought, she decided to find herself a spot to sit.

The older O'Sullivan has never been a big fan of the Ministry, since he became a werewolf that fell even lower on the list of his favourite things. Usually Sebastien would avoid the building of the Ministry in a large radius, but today he decided to go on press conference although it would be smarter if he just disappeared. Again. Politicians has never been especially dear, unless you're enjoying in listening one lie after another, as years passed with one politician as a leader he would instead of becoming better in lying they would remain the same, even become worse liars than they were before, like they stopped trying.

Bastien didn't know a thing about their current Minister, well nothing except his name, but knowing what Gideon is trying to do he would always vote for the old Lupin than for Pierce. After all Robert still hasn't tried to force every magical creature to become a slave of the Ministry. Yet. And today, it needed to be good enough for him to chose.

This ex-Slytherin entered the room following one bigger group of people, as a group they were easily noticed, but also the members of the group were harder to recognize than just one man standing alone, so he chose to accompany some workers from the Magical Law Enforcement, they were boring as hell but they were all well known, and no one would expected that one werewolf is hiding among the people who would probably arrest him immediately if they knew, nor anyone would expected that they accompanied one here. Or at least he hoped so, if everything went as he planned he could leave this place unnoticed before the end of the press.

The idea of being trapped somewhere bought back the memories he was trying to forget. He didn't left Oslo just to become another prisoner here in London, no matter what they want from them, he was sure he wouldn't let them do it. If he need to die fighting he would gladly do it, but no blade or wand will touch his skin, not again, he was still wearing scars from the previous time when that happen, he doesn't need any more of them.

Nash took his seat, his tailored suit resting upon his frame with a professional ease that would put most of colleagues to shame. As an associate of the auror's department, Nash was finding it both fascinating and awe-striking this entire charade was being played out. His time in America did little to teach him the ways of showmanship. Most of his skills he had, ironically, garnered for himself.

Stewart watched the entrances, eying the clock from time to time as he considered approaching one of his fellow aurors for a proper seating arrangement. There was no need for him to be lost in this crowd of nominal faces. he checked his watch, his eyes scanning the faces of the dignatories, and the fools that milled about, chattering about their own little problems. The UK seemed to have its issues with purifying its gene pool, Nash surmised. It was probably for the best, but he could understand why some would find it disturbing to keep out the... others.

Nash sighed, wondering when this announcement would start. He had work to do, sitting on his desk. He corrected his posture the moment he slouched. He needed to keep a straight face and show that he was not one of the rabble. This was the image Nash had constructed for himself, and it was the image he had committed himself to. If he failed to do so now, then... perhaps things would get just a tiny bit harder.

Chocola heard about that press conference. She was working in the creatures department but with dragons but she was still what they will end up doing with werewolfes. She wasn't really sure what was happening. The news is something what she doesn't read much and also she have been away long time, even if she have been here now few months she still doesn't know much about it.

Chocola soon walked to the room where it was hold. She wasn't sure what was exactly going on. She aoon leaned towards the wall back at the crowd. She now listened what was going on thwre. She tried to understood what was going on here. She even looked much around. She tried to find someone familiar. She wanted to ask what's going on exactly. It was better than read that newspaper or so.

So far she haven't found that person. Here was just too many people right now. She sighed and kept looking around, she still listned what people were saying still there. Tried to understood them but it was hard.

Brant ported with Jack and Steven to the conference room Jack wore a long black cape his face covered only his eyes looked out. Steven now donned his usual stetson, it sat leaning slightly forward on his head but yet covering his eyes. Brant just wore a dark suit his hair brush back as they walked side by side into the room, Steven moved to one side with Jack both watching and listening to Gideon as he had spoken to the others in the room.

He caught sight of a friendly face and smiled as he walked over to her. " Miss Meilleure, Chocola, Its good to see you again." He said taking her hand in his and lifting it to his lips to gently kiss it. "Even if it is under these circumstances." He glanced back at where Jack and Steven both stood. He caught sights of Tremain and several others he knew from working with Robert. He had an uneasy feeling about this conference. He looked at Chocola knowing he would stay with her. He could see jack and Steven talking as they listened to Gideon and by the look on their faces the didn't like him.

Jack glanced a round he could smell other werewolves in the room and he could smell them. Though he felt they were no threat he kept his eyes on them. Steven watched the others and Brant who now stood with a young lady a small smile on his face. Steven chuckled but watched the room waiting to see just what would come of this not just for him and his family but every half human in the wizading world, he felt that why couldn't Gideon have left things alone, people were happy.

Chocola heard suddenly one familar voice and looked tlwards the voice. She smiled there now. "Hello," she said with smile there now and blushed when he did kiss her hand again. She really isn't used with such treatment. Probably soon she will if they keep meeting.

"So what exactly is going on?" She asked. "I know it has something to do with werewolfes. I haven't really read the news," she added then there now. She should have had read the news there now actually at first coming here but she stays home so less as possible. She doesn't really have time for it and also she doesn't like to read it.

She smiled now there. She also looked around a little bit. She saw few familar faces but she wasn't sure who they were exactly. She have probably seen mostd of them just around the building.

Michael Tremaine wrote:Michael had a knack of finding Jack no matter what. He was very glad she was here today.  Michael was on a mission, and he very much felt he would need back up. When Michael needed back up, it was not at all uncommon for him to want that person to be Jack.

He was always amused at how witches and wizards thought absolutely nothing of a figure whose face was completely concealed by a black cloak.  He had added a bit of a stale firewhiskey smell to the cloak, simply to ward the average wizard away from him.  It was a simple ruse he rarely used, but it suited his purposes today.  He carried his wand deceptively casually in one hand, and he made his way through the crowd to Jack.

He purposely jostled a person slightly behind him--a person who was already highly agitated. The wizard angrily cursed at Michael and shoved him away,  jostling Michael against Jack.  The instant he found himself tossed against her, he slipped a red marble into her pocket.

"Come with me," he whispered into her ear, already starting to slip away again off towards a side passage.

The marble fell into her pocket, and Jack tilted her head, keeping herself as casual as possible. She reached her wand into her own pocket, tapping the smooth surface of the marble. It began to bubble and transform into a marble-shaped cat and she removed the wand, allowing the marble to settle back into its original shape. She could have guessed off the voice, but she was not about to discount the idea that someone would be trying to entrap her.

But only Michael would know this trick. She glanced at Kip who raised an eyebrow, but she merely tilted her head downwards. He ticked his head and rubbed his chin - a slight signal to indicate a change in authority. While she investigated, he was in charge. She pushed her hands into her pockets and turned, quickly slipping between the crowd as she escaped to chase Michael down.

Ariella Rhodes wrote:

The former Hufflepuff was scanning the room again looking for a familiar face. She wanted to make sure that more Order members were around and about. She can't the only one she has already seen a good number of faces but she wanted there to be more. Ariella was hoping that more Order members came to help support their sick co-leader, Oliver. She would help Oliver feel better but she doesn't know what's in this "vaccine" that caused the illness.

She continued scanning the room and her eyes fell upon another familiar face. It seemed like he was trying to hide. Ariella was a bit confused as to why he was hiding. Maybe he's not hiding and it just looked like it from her point of view. She watched him and it finally registered in her mind that the man was Sebastian, the kind librarian at Hogwarts. Well he seems kind but his stoic facial expression surely doesn't show it.

A voice startled Ariella, just a little. She looked and saw that a woman had sat down next to her. She had dark hair and blunt bangs. The woman didn't look familiar at all but she didn't mind. Maybe she would slip about the "vaccines" that were given out at St. Mungos. She smiled and said in reply to her question, "No, you didn't miss anything." Ariella wondered where this young lady worked. Maybe she worked for the Ministry? A good number of witches and wizards do work for the Ministry it's a definite possibility.

"Excuse me but this might be a strange question," she said turning to face the woman who sat next to her. "Do you work for the Ministry?" She asked. Ariella tried not to be too obvious about her wanting to find out about the "vaccines" that were given out. Hopefully their conversation ends up going there or Gideon himself will spill.

"Oh thank God," Estella exclaimed, tone happy. It would only be a shame if she'd miss anything from this conference. She then turned her head just enough to observe Gideon. People hated him and she wondered what sort of courage did the man possess just to stand there and talk as casually as he did. Or maybe he was so confident in himself and the defenses. After all, there were several ministry workers around and those who would attack him would perish under the many spells and curses. She sighed. If it would go down to that, that meant she either had to flee or defend that man standing before them all. For the sake of all people there, she hoped nothing bad would happen.

Then she tiled her head and scanned the room for the people, wondering lazily how many true creatures were brave enough to show their faces.
For the sake of safety, she decided to pay attention to the details. It was her job now, after all, to pin down the creatures that were declared dangerous and not 100% human. She did feel sorry for them. They were now forbidden to do everything. A small mistake and they would be brought in - dead or alive.

She did not feel any concern until her eyes stopped on a couple. It was easy for her to recognize a vampire. They had extremely pale complexion and the aura only a beast specialist could sense. Estella swallowed hard. And she also knew how to make a difference between a human and a half-fledging. What were they doing here? They had a death wish? Frowning, she turned around just in time to hear the question. She turned her eyes towards the girl. She looked so innocent and so out of picture that it washed away her frown and concerned thoughts for a moment.

Her question was out of blue, though. She was either extremely smart or could read minds. Either way, she found that there was no reason to lie. Estella also wanted to know about the vaccines the ministry was giving out, but as a simple worker, and also not being the chosen one, she possessed no answers about it. "Yes."

Michael was confident that Jack would follow.  Jack was far too bright to not get what was, between them, very obvious signaling.  He merely walked off into one of the side doors to one of the Ministry's more "boring" hallways.  Not one that would be used today--one that led to clerks and Ministry "bottom feeders" on the authority food chain.

He waited until he was sure she was there. Then he turned to her, as serious as he'd ever felt, all amusement absent at this moment.  But he was counting on her. He was passing the lives of those he loved into her hands.  He was asking--sort of. But, without a back up plan, and with no more time, he didn't have the luxury of phrasing it more diplomatically.  He had to take it for granted she understood.

"I think its time to end this farce, don't you?" he asked her softly.  "I need you with me today.  I've been prowling around for the last couple of days.  Robert keeps two official Minister's dress robes in his office. One has been missing for the last two days.  And now the other one is gone as well.  I think Mr. Pierce is making a much bolder move today.  Jack, we can't let him take office--no matter the cost."

Killing had never been Michael's job, never his forte. He hated any thought of it, but he also knew that sometimes the greater good was either risked by or rescued by the actions of just one person.  If that needed to happen, he certainly did not want it to be Jack. Jack was younger, with a family.  She had too much yet to live for.  

He himself had a baby coming in the next couple of months, but, Maddie was strong. They both knew that a child this late in life might well mean that Michael would never live to see his son or daughter as an adult. It was just reality.  If someone needed to rid them all of Pierce, he realized it might need to come down to him to do it.

"If we can take him alive, by all means, we need to do so," Michael said. "But if we cannot, I will take him out."

What concerned Michael almost as much was that for the last couple of days, Michael could see and feel Robert's utter rage.  Robert had said barely a syllable to anyone, and he was not eating or sleeping. He was working--feverishly--on something he would not share. Michael had, at times, seen something like this sort of concentration with some of the intense chess games Robert played.

Robert had made mention once before that he thought Pierce saw all the world as some grand maniacal chess game, and everything about the last couple of days told Michael that Robert had been strategizing all these months, waiting for some chance to try to win the game.  This felt now, to Michael, like the chess game was about to meet its climax. Robert was ready to try to put this game to some sort of a close.

"Jack, if it gets nasty and we can't get Pierce, no matter what happens, keep Robert alive.  I've got a strong feeling Robert's going to turn up today, but I've honestly got no idea what he's got planned. I only know that it feels like he's going to make some sort of move himself. I want to buy him time, if he needs it, to do whatever it is he has up his sleeve."

He knew he couldn't do this by himself. Pierce would not be taken easily, nor would he be killed easily.  Nor would he allow his play for power, if that was what he had on his mind, to simply dissolve by the fact that Robert might show up. He didn't know if Pierce had confederates or not, but attempting to arrest or assassinate the Deputy Minister was deadly business not  to be taken lightly, even if it were something sanctioned by a higher level.  

He sighed, half wishing he'd have asked Belby to do the mercenary work. It wasn't as if Belby didn't have that on his dossier credits in his espionage earnings.  But the fact that there was significant activity around her suggested to him that she was planning on coming. That meant Belby's attentions had to be on her.  That was his standing order.  Bottom line, the Lupin family was on the move. What that meant, Michael wasn't privy to, but after a year of silence, they were moving.

Further, keeping the real minister alive was tantamount to keeping England from being completely and permanently imprisoned. Michael wasn't sure, when things began to move, what direction the game would take, but he felt a need for someone to be alert, aware, and able to take any necessary action just from nonverbal cues if that was all there were. No one fitted that bill like Jack. No one.