For Whom the Bell Tolls... -open-

[Adam Crowley]

Ah, what an exquisite day to be alive. The chilled weather, the overcast sky, the hustle and bustle of the Castle Town Market... amazing. Absolutely amazing.

Now... to find someone that no one will miss so then he can start his experiments again.

He looked around idly, swiping a roll from a passing cart and biting into it and savoring it. The vendor, seeing him, stopped, and opened their mouth just in time to turn, smile, and start walking away, eyes glazed over. Then, he turned, and punched another man in the face.

"Now." he muttered, taking another bite as the Vendor took out his wand and started using the tickle charm continuously, making the man he assailed wet his pants furiously.

Satisfied, Adam walked away, the vendor, with no memory of what he did, looking around dumbly before being hit with Flipendo by the man he made piss himself. He took another bite of the roll, swiping a bottle of Butterbeer from the unknowing neighboring vendor, and then summoning a hat off of someone's head at least seventy feet away. This was a normal day for Adam, practicing his magical sleight of hand. He was very good at it, and prided himself in the skills he had retained after escaping from that piss poor prison that they called Azkaban.

After a few moments, he spun on his heel and walked towards the other end of the Castle Town, rubbing his goatee slightly, and raised an eyebrow. The thing he let loose in the woods was too smart for his own good, and attacked him as soon as he successfully infused the spirits together. Next time, he'll go for more savage creatures that'll actually MAUL people to DEATH instead of play with it's food. He hmphed, annoyed and wondering what he could do now. He was never without a plan, no, but there was a specific issue he had, and that was the fact that his number one student, Zadiken Anvion was in the damned school, and knew that ths Sphinxicore was his creation. However, this was just a test, and honestly Zadiken was too naive to believe that he didn't have a bigger plan, oh no, that fool was underestimating him.

He swiped a candybar form the candyshop and kept walking, wondering if blowing up the damn town square would alleviate some of his stress... eh... he didn't want to leave a mess for someone to pick up yet...

[Melissa Adler]

Melissa hummed to herself as she waled down main street on her way to do some shopping. It was a lovely day, she'd finished grading all the papers on her desk, the kids where behaving themselves (so far...), and Honeydukes had a fresh batch of her favorite fudge which she had just bought way more then she should have.

Life was good.

Well things could have been better though. the Beast was still a threat to the school, and she had no more idea what to do about it then any other member of the staff. She was the damned Defense against the Dark arts teacher, and she had no defense against the Dark beast that stalked the forest.

She was half tempted to see if her serpent form would let her get close enough to ... that's where her plan fell short. She had no magic while serpent, nor venom though she did have fangs. Maybe a sword would work on it's hide... but then what was the thing's reach? Bait stations with say sheep doped with some kind of potion? No, they couldn't be sure it wasn't immune to most of the nastier potions, and there where other creature in the Forest that might eat the bait....

[Kaliana Justice]

Kaliana had decided she needed to escape from the castle and it's demands for a few short hours though she didn't want to step foot close to any muggle for fear of her temper finally breaking and doing something in-excusable to one. So she opted for a stroll through Hogsmeade, while there picking up some needed supplies that a couple of professors had asked for as well as upping her personal requirements. A smile that rose to her eyes making them sparkle full of mischief in the mid-day sun warmed her face as she thought of something torturous she could do to Zadiken later that day after their classes and other responsibilities were taken care of.

A commotion up ahead pulled her attention and her mood back to somber. From her vantage point it seemed that one shop keep had jumped another for some silly reason. She shrugged as she continued walking to her destination, the broom shoppe, where she planned to see what some newer replacements for the antique ones they had at the school would run. Even if it had to come from her own pocket she was determined to give her students the best that her money could buy.

Halfway there something.... someone caught her eye. It was a man walking rather coolly through the streets using a simple summoning charm to swipe trinkets from booths on both sides of the street. That wasn't what bothered her, thieves were as plentiful here as they were in any muggle community anyone had ever thought to set foot in, what did send a chill up her spine was the fact that she swore she'd seen him before.... somewhere... Then there was the inkling that he wasn't stealing for any particular reason other than to show off, though he wasn't attempting to draw attention to himself.. She tried to shake the feeling as she entered the shop she'd been aiming toward though she couldn't.

Looking from one display to the next her mind kept going back to the man in the streets and why he looked so familiar. Once she decided on the model of the broom and how many she needed to purchase she walked over to the 'keep and placed the order, being informed that it would take about a week for it to be filled due to the number of brooms needed and that she'd gotten them all etched with the houses as well as the Hogwarts crest. After paying for the order, thirty of the newest Nimbus model that had come out, she exited the shop to continue on to the next.

At the door of Honeyduke's Lana stopped, debating whether or not to indulge in some sinful sweets or not. As she was warring with herself the newest professor at the school exited with a bag full of fudge swaying Lana in the decision to go ahead and do it. After all she could hide it from Zadiken couldn't she..? A warm smile crossed her face as she moved away from the door to allow the defense against the dark arts professor to fully exit before she went in. "Ms. Adler.. How are you this fine day? Enjoying time off I hope?" Lana inquired seeing as she hated being cooped up in her chambers or more so her office and grading papers.

Lana's eyes jumped to a figure walking on the street again and the chill she'd felt previously intensified as dark eyes bored into hers, refusing to let Adler know anything had disturbed her she turned to grab the handle to the door of the shoppe beginning to enter it.

[Adam Crowley]

Now, Adam was never one to pay attention to his surroundings, until he let his eyes fall on two rather important looking women. He recognized one immediately as Headmistress Kaliana Justice, the other... Ms. Adler? Hm. He didn't recognize that name, but either way, they were too important to swipe off to a private part of town, woo incessantly, get them to lower their guard, and then use Imobulus. Nah. He'd wait until later. Wait until he had the school on it's knees, and figured out the secrets that it held.

Of course, even the Headmistress wouldn't know of the nexus of power that hovered around the school... the reason he even stayed nearby was because he knew that he could draw off of the Castle, somewhat, and use it for his alchemic play. He needed a date, though, and he was rather... indisposed, at the moment.

The forces that be had then decided that he would approach the women, the last two women he probably should be speaking to.

"Bright day, ladies." he said, smiling his charming smile, and bowing slightly. He removed the hat as he bowed, showing that his hair was pulled back in a ponytail, it's brunette locks falling over his shoulder as he leaned forward. He stood straight, adjusting his glasses with his middle finger, and smiled at the two. He looked behind him as the vendor brawl continued, and tutted. "Well, it's not a bright day for us all... Say, may I invite you two ladies for some tea? I'm new around here, and I really want to get to know the locals. Of course, Professor Justice, where I'm from, your name has traveled far, Headmistress." he said, putting on his charm and taking her hand, bowing to her again.

He didn't want to overplay it, no, but who would know who he was?

Ah. A name. He almost forgot.

"Before I say anything else, allow me to introduce myself. Peregrin McCoy, son of Octavius McCoy. I specialize in Potions and Divination, as well as Herbology... maybe, if I may ask, I could be of assistance to this school?" he asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets and looking between the two women.

Now, all I have to do is get to where I can be in the school... and avoid Zadiken... and get into Slytherin's damned chamber.

[Melissa Adler]

Mel gave the headmistress a smile "Bonjure Headmistress. Please, we're out of the school, I must insist on Melissa or Mel. And yes, I am enjoying it very much, especially now that I have some 'Just get though this class then you can have a treat..." bribe fudge for when the kids are trying my patience. So what brings you out?" she asked.

her nose wrinkled a little as the man approached them and invited them to tea. While he seemed nice enough something was rubbing her scales the wrong way about him. Maybe it was because when she heard tea she thought of that God awful tea shop down the road..."Perhaps drinks at the Three Broom sticks instead? The tea shop here in town is full of young love that gets as nervous when teachers wander in."