Spying in the forest: Lyra

Belle had indeed been at the game and after Andrian had left she had been alone, which of course let her mind wonder. But she had seen something that brought her attention back to the present and had carefully followed Lyra not knowing of course who it was exactly, but something made her skin crawl.

It had not taken her following her prey long when she discovered that Lyra was indeed up to no good. She decided she would see where the Death Eater was going and then report back to Jess and the others.

If Lyra had known she was making someone's skin crawl, she'd have had been ecstatic. Right now, however, she didn't even know she was being stalked, so was completely unaware. The tall brunette whose form she'd borrowed for the day stepped into the forest, sure that after the quidditch match, nobody would be paying any attention to a single insignificant stranger. Hogwarts had always proved itself hopelessly inept when it came to protecting the student body, after all.

The forest was quiet today, so it didn't take Lyra long to realise that her footfalls weren't the only ones in the area. Either the kids had been more efficient than she expected, which was unlikely, for Death Eaters were rarely efficient and children were worse, or something was following her. Lyra's mind cycled through all the animals of the forest. At best it was a wolf, at worst a unicorn. If it was an acromantula or a centaur, she'd have been dead already.

Fortunately, the beech her cloak and mask were hidden at was right there. Despite a plentiful supply of polyjuice potion, Lucius still made them wear this stuffy uniform of sorts. He said it inspired the necessary awe and fear.

Lyra reached the beech and turned to face her attacker. She'd rather get injured herself than have her clothes ruined.

Belle had not been paying as great attention as she should of, one minute the girl was facing a beech and the next right as Belle was moving she was facing her. Belle stopped in her tracks and stared at her, making sure her face was a mask of no emotion. Her wand was in the special holder on her thigh and she moved her hand within better reach.

"A little strange for a stroll in the forest don't you think?" She asked.

A kid. Ergh. Lyra couldn't believe some child had managed to follow so closely without earlier detection. Good thing she was by herself, else her Lord would be less impressed with the story she was going to tell him.

But still, the girl was talkative, and that was good. Lyra wondered what house she was in. Gryffindor, where bravery was prized so highly but brains not so much, or Slytherin, where they thought the creatures of the Forest wouldn't dare spill that pure blood of theirs?

Lyra flexed her wrist and the holster on her arm propelled her wand into her waiting grip. She knew that investment had been a good one.

"Imperio," she answered.

And that's what you get for trying to make small talk with a Death Eater, kids!

One minute Belle was getting ready to grab her wand and the next all her cares had ceased and she felt as if she were floating in a carefree abyss. However she could tell that she was still standing and she heard the girl talk, but it no longer mattered to her.

Normally, at this point, Lyra would've found out her victim's name, because a relaxed victim is far easier to keep under the Imperius Curse than a stressed out one, but she was pushed for time. She had things to do and students to hurt.

She flicked her wand in the direction of the lair and waited for the girl to start walking. The problem with using the imperius in this way was that the girl had no free will and the Forest was full of things to trip over. She'd be torn to shreds from all the sticks and stones by the time she got to the entrance, and then Lyra would have to heal her before she could hurt her properly. At times, she felt like that evil Count guy from The Princess Bride. Much better at it, though.

They got to the entrance of the lair and Lyra manoeuvred them inside. People under the imperius were like puppets, it was hard working them without breaking them. She led the girl beyond the entrance chamber and into one of the far galleries, where after chaining her to the rock, she patted the kid down till she found her wand, then removed it and the curse.

((godmodding permitted by virtue of being under the curse))

Belle came to and quickly if not a little groggy and was instantly alert to the fact that her surroundings had changed. She took in the cave and the gloom of it and her heart sank even further when she realized she was chained to the rock. "Well way to go Belle." She berated herself. "Now how are you going to help the others?"

She sighed and leaned her head back against the rock and closed her eyes for a moment trying to regain everything. She had followed the girl and had confronted her and the next thing she remembered was not carring and now being completely aware that she was in serious trouble. She only hoped that the other Order members, exspecially Andrian would not get hurt in trying to find her and the other missing students.