Meetings (Professor Justice)

[Aurellis Noct]

Aurellis walked into the gates on he grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was a cold day, the ground covered with a fresh blanket of snow as he walked calmly along the frozen path to the school. His cloak flapped behind him in the wind, his piercing eyes unblinking as he approached, seeing the school in the misted distance. He smiled a little, memories of his years here lingering, but almost forgotten. The strength returned to his soft eyes, and he trudged along the path to the school, arriving in the entrance hall.
He walked into the Entrance Hall and nodded at a few students that had come down for breakfast, ignoring the gasps that ensued.

That was the Minister!

What's he doing here?!

Professor Justice isn't gonna like this...

He continued up the stairs, wondering if his Owl reached her regarding his visit. He needed to speak to her about several things. The fact that he sent Zadiken there on purpose because he knew Zadiken would protect her and the school. He sent Tony because Tony is the best duelist they have.

The fact the Adam Crowley has escaped from Azkaban.

All of the points were noted, and he knew she would have some questions for him upon arrival. When he arrived at the entrance, he awaited her to come down, or up, depending on where she was, and see he was already there.

[Kaliana Justice]

Kaliana was on her way up to her office hoping for a minutes peace before starting to set the plans in motion to rid the forest of the Sphinxicore and hopefully turn the castle back to normal... Or as normal as it ever got around there, considering it was a magical school. Suddenly she started hearing whispered comments about some unusual visitor.. Are students still rambling on about Tony and Zadiken? Surely not.. They'd been there and Professor Anvion had started offering both of his unusual classes that students were signing up for. Tony had rescued many a student from the beast in the forest so surely it wasn't him..

She was entirely perplexed as she reached the staircase leading to her office and came face to face with the only person in the world she hadn't wanted to see.. She'd even take a personal run in with the darn beast in the forest at this point. The Minister... What is he doing here, I haven't gotten an owl.... She thought silently. Steeling herself for a battle of wills, Kaliana plastered on a smile she figured was probably the most fake anyone had or ever would see. "Minister.. To what do I owe this unbidden pleasure? I didn't receive an owl announcing a visit..?" She said in even tones while trying to hide the sneer threatening to make itself known.

She uttered the password to bring forth the revolving staircase and allow them entrance into the office.. She wanted to bar as many people from getting wind of this as possible, especially students. Which meant that she'd have to take this into closed quarters... No matter how much she wanted to drag the old fart off her grounds. As the staircase came down, she made a mental note to change the word as soon as the man left. Since the fact that the beast was one of alchemic origins and most likely the ministry was behind it, her hate for any official coming from there had grown.

They rode the case up to her office, and she stepped back to allow him entry before her. She figured she should show some semblance of respect sing they could take her job away as fast as she'd gotten hold of it.

[Aurellis Noct]

Ah, the pleasantries of one of the Ministry haters from the nineties. He expected this, of course, because she was there during the battle. During the whole ordeal when the Ministry was taken over, and the students were left to defend themselves. He wasn't anywhere near Britain at the time, but he knew that the war had claimed many students lives, and many muggles... he couldn't help but feel horrid that he was not around to help.

With that aside, he made his way up to her office and stepped up to the chair in front of the desk. He sat there, pensive, for a moment, then leaned forward.

"I know you find me... unwelcome here, but you must know I come here on peaceful terms. I know of the creature that roams the lands, and know exactly how it came to be. I'm certain that Zadiken has briefed you on Adam Crowley. He was a man in the research department on Alchemy, which I shut down after I found that he had been experimenting on Muggles and Wizards, trying to find out why Muggleborns exist... the poor souls. Either way, I'm certain that he released the beast onto the grounds. Why? Because he has somehow escaped from Azkaban within the last three months, and somehow, I have a feeling he knows of, and wants in on the Founder's Chambers." he finished the first part of his concern and gave her a moment to process before continuing.

"I come here offering assistance. I have come here to fire Zadiken from his Auror position, and request that you make him assistant Headmaster of this school. With him, and you, under control, there can be next to no interference from the corrupted members of the Ministry... which there are several."

He took another moment, and sighed. All these long years, and still, he must fight, whether with his own Ministry, or the Headmaster of the school. He was tired, weary, and wanted these wars to stop... but he vowed to himself that he would keep this ministry in line... though, it seemed rather unlikely that it would turn out the way he hoped. Constantly, he fought against the courts, keeping the ministry from occupying the school, but it was difficult...

He awaited Professor Justice to answer his appeal.

[Kaliana Justice]

Kaliana stood until the Minister had taken a seat then lowered herself into the ancient wing-back that she'd favored since getting her placement of Headmistress. She ran a weary eye over the older man waiting on the tirade to start. She had little taste for anyone who interfered in her business, and now it seemed that one part of the ministry was trying to kill students, and faculty while another part.... Well, she wasn't sure exactly what the other part wanted other than possibly to shut the school down.. After all that's what Zadiken had hinted at when he'd gotten there.

She listened rather impatiently to Minister Noct as he tried to 'fill her in' as he said. Drumming her nails against the top of the massive desk the previous leader had left there she sighed and stopped to think a minute. " The Beast in the forest has made itself known, Zadiken did not inform me of it's presence. He has mentioned Crowley in passing during a meeting we held not long ago... Before a student had gotten attacked out in the open... on the Grounds.. Yes, you heard me right, it came out of the forest. As far as chambers.. What chambers? The only other one I have heard about is Godric's." She said in a rush, in defense of her position and her inbred dislike for the Ministry.

As the man mentioned firing Zadiken from his position her heart stopped. No! Zad said if him and Tony remained there no other could come in.. What is this guy......!? Her head screamed. "Wait just a minute... You came to FIRE Zadiken?! Yet, he just got done telling me that if there were two ministry people on the grounds... That no one else could come in. And you want to FIRE him!? That just opens a whole new world of hurt for this school.. You want to help.. Figure out who the h*ll sent this monster, and who wants what from this school.. And get them to back off.. If it wasn't YOU as you proclaim."

She'd stood up during this rant, her breath coming in short harsh bursts as her anger grew beyond.. Anything.. No one threatened her school, students, and fellow professors.. But NO ONE threatened the one she cared about the most. Had cared about for longer than this guy had had his current job she was pretty sure. Her jaw ached from the clenching of teeth. Whether by herself, with the help of the other professors here, or by some miracle.. If this idiot was indeed sincere, the help of the 'non-corrupt' ministry officials the school was going to stay as it was. If they unearthed those so called other chambers along the way, so be it.

Continuing to grind her teeth together so she wouldn't have to bite her already sore tongue she waited on the old.... man to 'enlighten' her some more on what she needed to do, and when.. Though for people that knew her, knew that was the time when she was most.... dangerous... volatile.. is when someone TELLS her to do something, especially if it's against her....everything.

[Aurellis Noct]

He sat there, taking in what she said, and nodded slowly. Of course. It would take more than just the surface of the statement to get through to her. She was as stubborn as ever, which is why he signed the paper inviting her to the position. Her mother would be proud...

He looked up, and nodded. "Allow me to explain. Adam was a prodigy in the field of Alchemy. He knew it's secrets, it's innate properties that would allow us a broader, more extreme reach to our abilities as Wizards and Witches. He had unlocked so much for us, yet, it was a shame as to why he dabbling in it so much...

"Basically, Professor Justice, he was seeking a way to revive Lord Voldemort from his death, and then use the Lich as a weapon against the Wizarding world. However, the foolish task he had undertaken was impossible, for it it known that once life has left a body, we are quite unable to revive them, lest you want an Inferi. He wanted to seek deeper, to find a way to make the dead more than Inferi... to give them substance, power, and since they'd be dead yet alive... quite immune to the best weapons our modern magic has available."

He took a breath, then continued.

"I fear that it is possible he has followers within the Ministry, and may be amassing a revolt to take over the school and locate the Chambers of the Followers. The reason I want to fire Zadiken, is, well, so then he will not become a direct target. They will see him as having been Obliviated of his memories of the Chambers upon release, and will no longer see him as a threat. Now, from what I know, Dedrian has already resigned from his position... so I would respectfully ask that you not let him leave the grounds for a while... I fear that they may go after him with intent of harm."

He let her take this information in, and crossed his hands in his lap a serious look on his face. He wanted nothing more than to help, but she had to let him in to do so. He would gladly fight for this school again, but he had to gain her trust... to let her see that he cared, and would do much of anything to protect the school he had grown to love his entire life.

[Kaliana Justice]

Kaliana paced as the Minister relayed information concerning the man who Zadiken and now the minister believed was responsible for the creation of the monster currently taking up residence in her forest. Only to come out and demolish her students. She looked at the clock that was placed on the corner of her massive desk. She was in fact supposed to meet up with Zadiken again soon to plan the course of ridding the grounds of the beast. Grinding her teeth together impatiently she waited on the man to finish his ramblings, her anger growing as he mentioned Zadiken's and Tony's memory having to be obliviated. Wouldn't that make things worse? Them not knowing where they were, why they were there.. What dangers they were sent to remedy.?


She almost screamed these exact words at the incorrigible person standing before her suggesting these things. She knew she needed to hear about Crowley and all his 'endeavors' into alchemy. A thing that many people... wizards still regarded as being as close to black magic as possible without actually participating in the morally wrong line of powers. Many dark wizards had also dabbled into alchemic properties to create monsters and objects that were nigh invincible with the current technologies and magics.


"I assume the same.. Though how do I know that you are not one of those suspected followers? Also.. Haven't there been more dark wizards who attempted the same? Weren't their fates sealed long ago? If it is Crowley, how did he get wind of anything else being hidden on the grounds? HOW did he get that THING here? He would have left some sort of tracks.. "


She took a breath and sat down, she needed something to do with her hands, her mind.. to work everything through to its conclusion. So she picked up a worry ball and began kneading it. What she deemed needed to be done.. And what was likely to be done it seemed were two very different things. Currently her focus was ridding the castle grounds of the devilish beast that had taken to having a go at students minding their own business walking the grounds. Unfortunately the one it had picked most recently was a new student and hadn't been briefed on the facts of the new dangers surrounding the grounds.


"Forgive me if I'm wrong. But wouldn't wiping their memories counter serve their purpose here? I do not know all the pertinent information concerning the beast or how exactly to take care of it. I have no auror experience and know nothing about the alchemy that is going to be needed to get rid of this thing. As far as leaving the castle... There has been a request put forth that until this thing is done with no one, professor, student, or even I leave these grounds unless absolutely required. As long as Tony proves his worth and loyalty to the castle and me I will do the same by protecting what is mine. This castle is mine, the grounds are mine... Thus the professors are mine, whether they be new, or old acquaintances they are dear to me because they have decided to help me bring this school back from where it was. Those who prove loyal to this castle are protected as family, to the death if need be. Nothing is taking this school away from us and our students."


She moved her shoulders to loosen some of the muscles threatening to cause a migraine and grabbed a bottle of tea that had appeared out of thin air. Thinking she should at least be courteous to her 'guest' she grabbed a second and placed it on the desk in front of him. She uncapped the one in her hands and drank down half the bottle to cool her parched throat. A twinge she couldn't shake lodged directly between her shoulders for the long haul. Something didn't feel right.. Something was off. Though she couldn't put her finger on it. The feeling didn't seem to be coming from the man in front of her.. No... it was something else. Something far different. She could handle the dodgy old man. She could handle half the ministry, with the help of some of the other professors sure, but she could do it.. This felt more like something that was meant for her directly.


She tried to shake the thought and queasy feeling from her stomach as she nursed the last of the tea hoping it would calm her nerves. Maybe I need to eat something.. I seem to remember skipping dinner last night, and breakfast today.. she thought distractedly as she waited the rebuttal from Minister Noct.

[Aurellis Noct]

Aurellis looked at her, and nodded as she spoke, listening to each word. She was right to suspect. Why shouldn't she? The school had always been at odds with the Ministry. He took the tea and nodded graciously, sipping it. He smiled a bit as he tasted it, nodding. Whoever made the tea made it right. He took a moment of silence, then continued.

"It has become standardized in our standard operating procedure upon termination of an Auror or anyone that is within the Department of Secrets would have their memories erased and then reconstructed to suit the needs of the Ministry, to keep secrets from escaping. It's only fair to the Ministry, or so they think. Zadiken is our most trusted Auror. A shoe in for Head of the Department. But I need him here, memories intact."

He closed his eyes and nodded. "All I know is that if things are done right, they will not touch the school, because you and Zadiken will find the chambers, and take care of them properly. they will remain secret to everyone but you two."

He didn't have much else to say... he wanted her approval on firing Zadiken.

[Kaliana Justice]

Kaliana sat glaring half heartedly at the man while he again that he wanted to fire Zadiken, and since Tony had already relinquished his position... supposedly.. without any type of repercussions or persuasion of the dark sort. Her mind was on her now roiling stomach.. Stress hadn't been good to her recently, neither personal or professional. She wanted to get this over with so she could go down to the kitchens and grab at the least a snack to hold her off til dinner time. Yet the minister seemed intent on drawing the meeting longer.. What did he want? Her permission to fire Zadiken, and possibly bring all kinds of additional trouble down on the school and her head.? He didn't look like the type to ask permission... Yet he was waiting on something... But what?

She leveled her gaze on the older man from the multitude of pictures she had hung on one wall. One of her favorites being the sun set over an Alaskan tundra. One of the few rare beauties. She sighed as she opened her mouth.
" Ok, let's say I agree to 'allow' you to fire Zadiken.. Not that you need my permission.. And appoint him to assistant headmaster. With Tony also relinquishing his aurorship doesn't that mean that since no more ministry officials will be here that... Oh, I don't know... They'll start sending MORE? I told you once.. Anyone who proves loyalty to this school or me are welcomed as family and will be treated, even protected as such. Zadiken and I have a....umm... history.. so there is no question as to whether he is welcome or not.. As for Tony he was allowed here as a favor for Professor..... Mr. Anvion.. I do not back track on promises." she stated pointedly at his half question... half... something else.. accusation?
She waited to see what his reply would be while staring none too subtly at the door and the clock residing on her desk.