Not Until We Are Lost, Do We Begin To Understand

[alfonztytusjedynak]

February 16, 2008

....who was a victim?....

........what was a victim?..........

Alfonz Jedynak walked along the barren streets of Hogsmeade after a long day of looking for a suitable living arrangement for himself. There was nothing. Absolutely nothing that was to his liking, and even though he was so close to Hogwarts, and to Celina, he still felt to far away. In anyone's mind that had just partook in such events that had taken place at Hogwarts, the fear of being found so close to Hogwarts would be evident, but not with Alfonz. Not when he could have lost so much by being known, and yet his status as a celebrity protected him. Maybe there was an aspect of being professionally known for his Quidditch skills that came in handy (other than the obvious monetary benefits.) Alfonz was lucky, but he doubt he'd be so lucky the next time.

For two weeks now, no word had been heard from his baby sister. Celina had stopped writing him back to all the owls he had been sending. Once a day he sent one with an awkward and random piece of string that meant nothing to him. Not like the ribbon had. Alfonz hoped at least that in Celina's possession it helped her, though with the absence of her letters he only speculated the worst. Alfonz could only hope the reasons why her letters had stopped coming, were because she was getting better, rather than worse. Alfonz couldn't imagine that he had lost her, not without good reason....or without her losing herself.

The robes he wore had no hood, but rather a stiff collar that he wore up as if to hide some of his face from peering and curious eyes. Alfonz needed a drink, and after the day he had been having, mixed with the feelings of regret and loss he felt (among other emotions he suppressed) he found a familiar bar that he found would suit his needs.

Entering the bar, the doors creaked and announced his presence. Alfonz looked around briefly, not recognizing anyone he knew, but he acknowledged the fact that he was not alone in the bar. Some hid in the shadows, to their own accord, while others played cards at a table and didn't pay much mind to his entrance. This was his kind of place. That was for sure.

Walking up to the bar, he nodded at the bartender and asked for the drink he found himself more indulging into since he had officially moved out from his parents house. As the firewhiskey was placed in front of him, he sipped at it, swallowing it slowly as if to let it burn the way down, so that he could still tell that at least some of him could feel. The burning sensation also warmed him, for it had been a bit of a cold walk from the outside. As he sat there, he paid no mind to the shadowy figures, and the card playing people. Closing his eyes, he only thought of a plan...one in which still needed ironing from all the obstacles he found in his path.

((Open to those who it would be appropriate.))

[Tamis Raynor]

A victim: one who is harmed by or made to suffer from an act, circumstance, agency, or condition....

If that was the true definition of a victim, than every soul in The Hog's Head fit the classification; including the woman smuggled away in one of its darkest corners. Hands grasping a cup, the mentioned woman sitting in the said corner did not stand up to the glory of "Headmistress." In fact, only someone who knew her well, or easily identified her demeanor, might recognize her by first glance. The tunic under simple black, open robes was of maroon cotton, trousers also a simple black. Chestnut hair spilled dully on her shoulders, lacking its usual luster. Tamis usually dressed to impress, but today she did not want to draw attention to herself. The chosen attire had the desired effect. Eyes simply passed right past her without really seeing her, marking her as insignificant.

Physically inexpressive as usual, little of what was troubling Raynor actual made it to her face. But, if one was looking for it, a haunting lurked in her eyes, as if she had not slept in two weeks. She hadn't. The Ministry was quick to save their hinds from the public eye and had thrust her into the Headmistress position while at the same time kindly informing her that she will be completing a sentence in the proceeding summer for her "actions" against the Minister. Very tactful of them. Not only did it suffice as an apology to the public for removing her in the first place, but also displaced the center of controversy on her shoulders instead of theirs. Yes, very tactful indeed.

It was the last thing she needed. Many of her students were still frightened, parents were trying to drag many of them out, and all in all Shaw had got away. Knuckles turned white around the glass of butter beer, jostling the contents with the resulting pressure. While Hogwarts was safe and the students had made her proud reclaiming it, because of that fine detail, Robert still won in her mind.

The rusting hinges of the door squealed in protest as someone else entered the dodgy pub. Gray eyes glanced up briefly, away, and then shot back to the newcomer in consideration.

She didn't need the face her was trying to conceal to recognize the man, that she had spent a number of days analyzing him without one. Ah Mr. Jedynak, the one and only quidditch player, have you learned something about respect? Bady's words from that day still rung in her ears. Alfonz Jedynak. Quidditch Player and from what she observed one of Robert's wing men. Connected to Celina? She still refused to believe it. She had not had the heart to even breech such a topic with the girl, the ravenclaw had been through enough.

She considered whipping out her wand and stunning him then and then. Worrying about evidence for her accusation would come later; Brady would happily oblige. But, something in his posture stopped her. He looked as drawn as she felt. And attacking a man in a pub where paranoia and suspicion were highly prized traits would only succeed in getting herself killed.

Instead, she abandoned her cup, sliding out of her chair and up to the bar, taking the seat next to him. After requesting a new drink (despite the inward cringe of how dirty the glass it came in might be), she rested her elbows casually on the counter top, never directly looking at the man.

Finally, she said, "Mr. Jedynak, tell me, how is Robert fairing back among the shadows?"

[alfonztytusjedynak]

He never heard the presence of another, never sensed another, and for the life of him never would have expected another to speak to him; especially, using his name as the woman’s voice seemed to do. Alfonz kept his eyes closed as he drank from his firewhiskey and kept himself in peace as that man’s voice was brought up. Robert Shaw, Alfonz’s eyes opened slowly, and he peered out of the corner of his eye. The hooded figure he could tell was woman from the voice, but anything else he didn’t know. He’d not known Raynor when she had entered Hogwarts during the invasion, and frankly had forgotten most of the students and professors as soon as he had left there. There were only few he would never forget, and Raynor wasn’t one of them.

So, he said nothing. Not right away any way, as he drank his drink and kept his eyes glued forward. He acted casual, not even stirring in his seat. What reason was there to do so? He had never hurt anyone, and frankly no one really knew that he was there other than Celina’s friend Rolen, and Celina herself. Those who thought he may have been there due to Brady’s unwanted outbreak of names could have been mistaken. Wasn’t that the only reason he was still out and about? He hadn’t been caught. Alfonz’s reputation as the Quidditch player had made sure of that. Alfonz had found another use to the celebrity status he had never before wanted. There was a use for everything, and Alfonz was finding this out more and more.

“Shaw, ma’am? You must be mistaken with who I am,” Alfonz stated, his voice calm and collected, though it was laced with an icy chill that could have killed. Alfonz was not pleased with this woman’s intrusion into his time of peace. He found himself in need of a place to live, and somehow to get back into contact with Celina. This woman meant nothing to Alfonz, and she was useless. Or was she?

Alfonz turned to look at the woman more directly and he placed a few coins down for the bartender to pay for her drinks. If she knew about Shaw, than maybe there was more to this woman that met even Alfonz’s eye. An image of Shay flashed into his mind, as they too had found a spark between each other in a tavern, though Alfonz wouldn’t allow himself ever that close to another woman. It was much too dangerous to open himself up with another weakness. “Is there any other reason you’ve decided to disturb me?” Alfonz asked. “Because surely, you must know that I’ve already been informed of what has happened at Hogwarts, and what I was wrongly accused for by the very man that attacked me in Diagon Alley.”

Yes, maybe there was a use for the woman…But Brady’s being the one to accuse and then him also being the very man that had attacked Alfonz during the fall months only helped keep Alfonz out of Azkaban. Who would ever believe the paranoid accusations of a mad ex-auror. Alfonz tried very hard, not to give a smirk of triumph.

[Tamis Raynor]

He was being very careful from what she could gleam with her peripheral vision. Much like herself, he avoided directly looking at the other. There was an intense moment of doubt with her convictions when he did not openly react to her statement. But he was incredibly still; unnaturally glued to his seat as he drank. Which could have simply been the man's demeanor. He did seem rather ... stiff. It was that distinct body language that had pulled at her memory.

The silence continued to draw on, and Raynor started to suspect that she would never get an answer. Her drink arrived and she reached into a pocket of her robes to retrieve the payment just as he responded to her. There was enough frost in his voice to chill the sun in the middle of July. If Tamis was not use to such hostility, she might have physically backed away from him. It certainly was triggering every mental alarm that shouted at her to reconsider her wand.

And then he surprised her. For all of the original defensive signals, he paid out the necessary gold for her mead. She had sparked his curiosity at the least, or he was a gentleman at the most. No matter which, she did not contest the action and let her hand fall away from her pouch.

Taking as much luxury as he did prior to answering, she saluted him with her drink in thanks and took a sip. Tilting her head toward him, a wide smirk spread below the cloak's brim.

"I don't think I'm mistaken at all, Mr. Jedynak. Robert is a very common name, and we are in a common local for shadows, yet you presume I meant Robert Shaw."

He had not recognized her then. She had thought he might, but had not expected it. Tamis was not nearly so arrogant as to think the Deva spent any more than a fleeting thought about the woman their leader hated so dearly. Nor would she want them to. So, she went on with the little game, though it was a very, very dangerous one to play. The man had the potential to be dangerous, no, was dangerous. That was clear enough.

"Is there any other reason you've decided to disturb me? Because surely, you must know that I’ve already been informed of what has happened at Hogwarts, and what I was wrongly accused for by the very man that attacked me in Diagon Alley.”

Rasing her shoulders into a shrug, Raynor shook her head. "Not particularly. But, I hope you can understand, that I do not share your views as to the nature of the accusation. It is had for me to discredit Devon Brady's accusation when I witnessed him make them. And I daresay, you do have a similar voice and build to that man."

Another shrug of her shoulders followed the statement as she raised her glass for a second sip. But her heart did sink. He did not deny being Alfonz Jedynak. Raynor was an ex-Auror, trained to study people, especially those who were threats to society. The voice was identical. She had wished Brady wrong, hoping it was an illusion of his arrogance and hate for the man. Celina? The name floated through her head again and she pushed it away. No. There was simply no connection.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

A battle fought, already lost as the smirk that threatened to grace his face was removed from even the twenty-one year old’s brain. Alfonz had assumed the man she spoke of was the very man she meant, but at the same time, never mentioned. He looked away from her slowly and back to his drink, taking another swig of it, and gesturing toward the bartender for another one. He could tell, if they progressed anymore than there would not be much left to whatever innocence he still had. Celina was the only reason he fought as hard as he did for the future of the wizarding world, and why he fought for his own freedom. This woman, whoever she could have been, obviously was a threat to be dealt with. One even more of an obstacle than disobeying Shaw was.

And then she spoke again, as Alfonz’s head was focusing on the second drink of his. Witnessed his accusations? Who was this woman? Alfonz thought very hard as to those who were around who not only would have heard, but who would have kept the accusations in their mind. There was only one that Alfonz could think of…but the name escaped him. The woman that Shaw had made such a deal about, taking her wand in front of everyone, and making her send away a few students who eventually led to the downfall of the event. Or at least, to part of it. Alfonz now realized how situational this session with this woman was. Wouldn’t it figure that he would be sitting in the Hogs Head drinking with the manifestation of Hogwarts whom sat right beside him.

Fate? Predestined? Chance? Whatever it was, Alfonz wasn’t sure this was how he wanted to make his way into Hogwarts at all. If anything, this woman had the key to his future in her hands, especially since the battle was already lost on his end unless there was another way around everything. But Alfonz saw none at the moment, and his silence was almost deafening, even to himself.

Alfonz looked over briefly at the woman who indirectly mocked him then by taking a sip out of the drink that he had just paid for. Did she have a use? Alfonz at the moment was only seeing the end of a mission he held so dear. This woman had the power to take Celina away from him for good. Now what was there to do? A smirk playing on his lips as his eyes told stories of hate and determination. An eyebrow rose, and as it did so did his shoulders. “Voice and build? Surely, you must have more than just that,” Alfonz would never reveal his identity…not just yet. He still had one way out of this. The faceless mask had covered his identity. “There are a million men who have my build and a voice like mine in my profession, ma’am….just get to know them, you’ll see.” Alfonz turned his head back towards the front and remained stiff in his chair. Maybe now, the woman would leave him be.

[Tamis Raynor]

An actual chuckle softly escaped her lips, her breath creating ripples on the surface of the mead. A sense of humor in there somewhere to, and intelligence, but the latter was to be expected. Robert valued the mind over anything else, it was only natural that a follower would consequently have one. Sobering quickly, her lips pressed together. While it was debatable as to whether or not he could see the action, the adverse stiffening of her back should have served as signal enough.

"I rather not know them, thank you. I believe I am a bit beyond fawning over muscle and brawn," she replied. Which was true enough. If such was not the case, life might be difficult as she neared her mid-thirties mark, and she would have never married her -- ex -- husband.

Turning her head to look directly at him for the first time, she remained outwardly neutral with a calm she did not feel. Raynor had stared into the eyes of many-a-criminal in her life time. Death Eaters in the past and Shaw being the most recent. They were not like this; passioned with abhoration and an unnamed drive. She found herself asking similar questions as the man was himself; who was he, really? When he broke the eye contact, she took another swing from the drink, now firmly wishing that it was alcoholic.

"You're arrogant and carry yourself with a pride that differs from an ego gained on the Quidditch Pitch. You have a persona, whether you admit to it or not, that draws every eye in the room. I only know one other man that is that biggity, and I do not believe you two get along." A pause. "Maybe three if you count Robert. If I was mistaken in your identity, you would have walked away by now."

Turning her head to face forward again as well, the scene must have appeared very amusing to an outside observer. Each talking while the other was, by appearances, not paying them any heed at all. She finished the fermented honey and pushed the empty mug away. Allowing the silence following her comment to hang for a moment.

"Thank you for the drink," she said at last.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

Why was it that the women Alfonz met at the bars almost seemed more his style than those he would have met after a long game? Not one for fawning? Neither Shay been one who would have fawned or wanted him because of his status, and in just that much these women intrigued Alfonz. Though he didn’t know the older woman’s past, or who she really was to the school of Hogwarts, Alfonz found an intriguing pull at himself to want to find out more about her. It was why after all he probably really hadn’t walked away. Not to mention, Celina was at Hogwarts. And with every statement that came from the woman’s mouth, he had to keep reminding himself of such. The woman could have been the link to get word to his younger sister at least.

“I already would have assumed as much about you. It seems you are more mindful than those who fawn after the others usually are.” Within Alfonz’s repertoire, or whatever one read on him in the tabloids or newspapers, one thing always was said that rang true of him. Alfonz Jedynak, as known as he was, was probably one of the most unknown Quidditch players out in the wizarding world. He ducked away from the spotlight, and when was about to be found, would apperate away taking whatever secrets he held with him. He hated the mindless women who found themselves falling all over the Quidditch players, only wanting to suck the life and fortune out of the willing soul. It was disgusting to Alfonz, and he almost couldn’t even swallow he sip of firewhiskey as he thought about it. “Disgusting displays of what a female should be.” He said outloud, only to have the woman turn at that moment to meet eye contact with him.

Her eyes were just as intriguing. Gray and stormy, as if they had seen better times, of course Alfonz figured that in retrospect they probably had. They held their own intelligence and secrets, and passions for living that Alfonz only found more use out of. She was more important than Alfonz even knew; otherwise, she wouldn’t look as beaten down; or so Alfonz figured. Was she more of use to him that way? Maybe.

You're arrogant and carry yourself with a pride that differs from an ego gained on the Quidditch Pitch. You have a persona, whether you admit to it or not, that draws every eye in the room. I only know one other man that is that biggity, and I do not believe you two get along…..Maybe three if you count Robert. If I was mistaken in your identity, you would have walked away by now.

“Every eye means nothing to me,” Alfonz responded, a bit too harsh but responded all the same. His temper was a bit trying at the moment, though it could have been from the two drinks that he had just downed in the twenty minutes of being at the tavern. He had had enough to drink, and he knew it so he pushed the mug away from him. It wasn’t that he was a light weight by any means, but he didn’t need whatever happened to be influenced by any more of the intoxicating liquid. “There are only few who matter to me, and even less I get along with. Either way, it involves no one else but myself. Tell me,” he hesitated before continuing. “Is there wrong in really anything? Or only wrong in the way something is carried out?” Alfonz turned his dark cloud like eyes back to look at the woman who he found he needed to be a bit crueler to. She was still a threat, even more so with how intriguing she was turning out to be.

And as for the drink, Alfonz said nothing, for her thanks were not wanted, nor were they needed.

[Tamis Raynor]

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips and quickly fell away. She would hope one did not get the impression of a man-crazy moon-eyed girl when one met her. Anyone who assumed as much would find themselves no longer among the living soon thereafter. She as well had to remind herself that this was one of Shaw's cronies, one of the Deva. While she did not fear him, did not fully consider him a threat, she as well wanted to find out more about him. And he could still try to overpower her, Robert would no doubt glorify any man that brought him Tamis Raynor. Though, in truth, if that was Jedynak's plans, she suspected he would have already tried by now.

After a moment's hesitation, she finally pulled down the cowl of her cloak and shook out her hair. The game was up, now. It was doubtful anyone else would readily recognize her, and she wanted to be able to have full advantage in observing this young man.

“Every eye means nothing to me. There are only few who matter to me, and even less I get along with. Either way, it involves no one else but myself."

The emotion behind those words startled Raynor and she searched his eyes to find an answer to it. Pain, rage, and perhaps something else? It was hard to place, but that polite, sweet little black-haired girl kept coming to mind and her relation to Jedynak. Surely, Celina must have mentioned it before? But the truth was, Raynor did not have enough relation with the girl to speak to her personally. Just what was she to this man, if she was anything at all? Was she one of those few? His words invoked a pity that she didn't dare admit to. It sounded like a very lonely life. Thinking about her smiling daughter and Banks, secretly hidden away in Norway and far from her made her reconsider that. Perhaps no more alone than she was.

His next question broke her train of thought life a red-hot knife, "Tell me, is there wrong in really anything? Or only wrong in the way something is carried out?”

A bitter laugh, void of humor, escaped her mouth at the harsh words, which she did not doubt were intended to sting; and they did. She sized him up the way an expert jockey might size up a horse. He stared right back at her, light eyes and dark meeting in a private test of wills. For that was exactly what she expected the question was. And how she answered it would determine this chance meeting's eventual conclusion.

"You ask a very opinionated question of your Leader's nemesis," she finally started, the sour grimness in her voice notable. "I shall try to avoid the resulting bias." As if to provide conviction for her words, she lapsed into silence, down casting her eyes as she thought. She had lived through three trying times. The First War with the man, that to her, will always be HeWhoMustNotBeNamed, where she lost her family. The Second War with the same man, where she lost her love, and her innocence. And now, the Third War that was determined to crush her at the hands of an once old friend.

"There are opinions." She said at last. "No one is ever wrong, for everyone believes they are right; that they are the ones doing good. You cannot place the concept of "right" or "wrong" on the sides of conflict, for that depends greatly on viewpoint. I do not doubt that you, and those like you, are convinced that you are right to purify the wizarding race and keep it from possibly thinning. Just as I am convinced that I am right to want to stop you, that everyone gifted with magic was gifted for a reason. The way one goes about those convictions is dependent on how firm of a believer they are in their side, and therefore cannot be judged in the way you are asking."

Her eyes lifted again, meeting is dark once more with honest curiosity. "One can only be wrong if they do not truly believe in what they fight for. So, the only way to answer you, is for you to ask yourself; do you believe, truly, that the side you have affilated yourself with is right?"

[alfonztytusjedynak]

A face that was far from being plan came into light as the woman took down her hood and revealed herself to Alfonz for whom she really was. Yes, it was that woman that had come into the Great Hall on the night of the fifteenth, just two days before Celina’s betrayal and Hjort’s torture. Alfonz looked away, not wanting to see the woman that he was speaking with any longer, for now the realization of how thin the ice he walked on really was.

She laughed at his question, and he only grimaced even more. Did she think he was joking with his words? Did she think him completely heartless? It wouldn’t have surprised Alfonz if she had, but then his train of though was redirected as she called Shaw his leader. A pang felt throughout his whole body like a curse hitting him in the back, made him shift in his chair uncomfortably. leader was not a word that Alfonz would have directly associated with Shaw, even if it was the undeniable truth. The difference between a leader and what Shaw was to Alfonz mattered in the way things were done, and still at this point in time, Alfonz saw no goal achieved by what had happened by taking over Hogwarts.

Deciding not to say anything about the word choice, however, Alfonz listened to the woman speak as if this were more about her and the side she determined that she fought on. As he listened to her, he still kept his eyes looking forward and away from her as if he didn’t care as much as he truly did. Alfonz agreed, but in that aspect, the wrong was what he feared. As true as everything may have been said was, Alfonz found no difference between Shaw and the woman who sat with him.

Alfonz turned his eyes back to the woman, and his face was emotionless. Cold and hard, as if he were a stone statue he measured her up and focused on what was unpleasant about her, making himself focus on anything but the intrigue he found from her, and the energy of want he felt from her. Obviously, there was more to this than even she wanted to admit. What would another want from him? Alfonz suspiciously looked around the bar, and yet found no one else he felt as if he needed to be aware of. When he met back up with her eyes, he felt as if they were searching for more about him than he was willing to give. Why was it that everyone wanted to find out more about him than he was willing to part with? What did this woman want from him?

Her eyes beckoned answers as she asked of him a question there were no out loud answers for.

One can only be wrong if they do not truly believe in what they fight for. So, the only way to answer you, is for you to ask yourself; do you believe, truly, that the side you have affiliated yourself with is right?

There was only a brief pause before a smirk of disbelief caused him to give a bit of a snort at the woman. He already knew his answer, and curtly, he tipped his head and nodded. “And if I ever find myself pulled between, or affiliated, with either of these so-called sides you speak of, miss,” he paused. “I’ll be sure to ask myself that very question you have proposed. Until then,” Alfonz looked around the bar and shrugged as his eyes found their way back to her gray ones. “I’m almost wondering why you’ve decided to disturb my afternoon. Surly, it wasn’t to speak of such trivial issues you must have known would get you nowhere when you have a whole school filled with children that you could be bothering your time with.”

Alfonz felt as if he needed another drink just from the interrogation he felt as if he were being put through. This woman would get nowhere with him, just as the many before hadn’t. No one had physically seen him, and therefore, there was no true proof of him ever being at Hogwarts. And no witnesses were coming forth, ergo, still saved due to his status. But Alfonz didn’t have the feeling that this was what the woman wanted from him, to just question him and find out the truth for herself. Not about him being there, any ways, but about something else. What was she looking for? And did Alfonz dare to ask?

[Tamis Raynor]

A touch of disappointment highlighted her features for the briefest moment and then, just as quickly, the planes of her face smoothed back to their stoic nature. No, it was not the answer she was looking for. But nor had she expected to get it. A smirk mimicking his own crossed her lips -- something frequently happening in this conversation -- as he once again denied his relation to the Deva, but she did not challenge him. Doing so was getting her nowhere

She did not bulk when he returned her scrutiny with stony rigor, but silently withstood it. This unspoken battle of wills reminded her uncannily of the sea breaking against the shoreline; to and fro, back and forth, over and over again as the land constantly battled the water. The land would win the immediate victory when the moon demanded a low tide, but given time, the ocean would turn out to be the ultimate victor; sand erodes to water. Who was which, she wondered?

“I’m almost wondering why you've decided to disturb my afternoon. Surly, it wasn’t to speak of such trivial issues you must have known would get you nowhere when you have a whole school filled with children that you could be bothering your time with.”

Her eyes hardened at that and she sat a little straighter, hinting at the proud undertone that the woman usually carried herself with. Her jaw tightened. It seemed he had finally hit a nerve, and a large one at that. But after a long agonizing moment, she exhaled and her body relaxed back to the comfortable slouch she had adapted for the bar. Well, comfortable if you were use to horrible posture, which she most certainly was not.

"They occupy much of my time," she responded, her turn for having a harshness to her tone, eyes turning away from him to glare at the counter. "I will never again let them be anything but foremost in my mind." Yes, she had learnt the hard way what trusting got her. Fiona had been an ultimate betrayal and a mistake she was not about to repeat.

When she returned her gaze to him, something different burnt there. Compassion? Worry? It was hard to place. But one thing was certain; it wasn't meant for him. But a third party. Again, she hesitated, not wanting to chance ruining this entire conversation. A conversation that she really didn't understand as to why it felt so important to her. But she had to know. Her words were not a lie. Whatever consequence came for what she would say next, she would accept because she truly did put her students first. And he had already opened the door by bringing them into the equation.

"I have disturbed your afternoon on one of their behalf," she said softly. "If you wish me to state it plainly, then so be it. Who is Celina Jedynak to you, and do you intend her harm?"

And there it was, at least in part, the answer that she sought. The second part would have to come later.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

And with time as every bank does erode, so did this woman. Eroding into the very canvas that Alfonz knew she would eventually become, only to bring forth a question that he had readily not expected. Celina. Why was it that so many dared to care for his younger sister now, when they had no right to? Couldn’t they see that without their interference she would be more perfect and more able than with them helping her as so many claimed to want to do. And this woman, of all people, claiming such want to help, as if she were more to Celina than just a school staff member that she would see everyday. It disgusted Alfonz to no ends, and stiffer than the woman had been as he had studied her when he had spoke, he too now became ridged not exactly knowing what to say.

Alfonz waved his hand for another drink. It was now needed more than before with Celina’s name now flung throughout the air, and only an answer to condemn himself would be the result if he didn’t think a bit faster. “Jedynak? It’s a very unique name is it not? One that not many possess, yet you ask if I’m to harm one of us? Don’t you think that would be putting my career on the line as well as a lot more I have going for myself?” Alfonz asked the woman as another drink was set in front of him. He jingled the coins in his pocket and paid for the drink, sending the bartender on his way. Taking a sip, he felt better, but his eyes found their way narrowing at the woman that sat next to him.

“I don’t think we’ve formally been introduce to one another, miss,” Alfonz started as his glare was hard, cold even, but behind the storms brew fear. A fear of the truth that even Alfonz was too afraid to admit but he kept to himself any ways. “My name is Alfonz Tytus Jedynak. I play Quidditch for a living, and make a damn good salary doing such. I provide for myself, but not only for myself, but for the only younger sibling I have,” and here it went. Alfonz found that the only way around this was not to deny the one he was truly determined to save.

Nothing else mattered, and if this woman were on a mission to keep the Jedynak’s apart, she’d have to do it a bit more forcefully than a conversation within the likes of the tavern they then sat in. “Celina Jedynak, you said? She is my younger sister, and if I had ever held a though in my mind that was to harm her, I’d done it long ago, my good woman. And all I have to even say to your question is how absurd you truly must be. Now, I’ll return the question…” He paused, and took another swig of his Firewhiskey, trying to calm his rising temper.

“You say that they take the foremost in your mind, and from your reaction I can definitely tell that you’d do anything to protect them as well, but is that protection of all of them? Or just those you find worthy?” Alfonz remembered who this woman had sent out of the Great Hall, and had heard the whisperings between the Deva of who the students had been and what they had meant to the woman. “Not that I would know, but there are a lot more students than just one woman can truly look after…so how do you choose, and what gives you that right, when there are lives on the line?”

[Tamis Raynor]

Anger, somehow Tamis knew it that would be the emotion she was confronted with. With a calm she didn't feel, she waited patiently as another drink was added to the table. The pungent odor racked her nose, causing her to wrinkle its bridge. Firewhiskey. The foulest drink of them all. Tait had been a fan of it. She might not abhor it so much if the memories of trying to deal with a man bursting with the stuff was still not firm in her mind. It was an experience she was not hoping to repeat. But she did not voice her opinion. More immediate dangers were at hand. If anything the liquor seemed to soothe him; if one could call a defensively crouching wolf soothed.

She allowed him to rant, get out everything that he needed to say. Perhaps the woman was insane. Despite the potent, lethal nature, behind the words, did she look relieved?. In many ways, she was. The young man had answered a good part of her remaining question in one shot. Now there was just the matter of proving her theory. But first, the current problem at hand.

"Forgive me," she responded quietly, "I am Tamis Raynor, Headmistress of Hogwarts, though I assume you know as much. I apologize if my question offended you. Though, you have to see it from my prospective. A man who is so adamant about the life and safety of his family, I thought would more concerned with the threat facing her. Robert, on many occasions has told me no one is safe at Hogwarts, no one. Which he proved already." The particular events that surrounded Arianna Shriver, Celina Jedynak, and Felicity Hjort, were the forefront in her mind. "Again, forgive me my assumptions, I am not so arrogant as to believe I understand the world." Not all of it. But she thought perhaps she understood the man a bit more. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer? Was he sticking his head into the lion's den in an effort to shield her?

Her words were meant to have an impact, but not as much as his rebuttal did, You say that they take the foremost in your mind, and from your reaction I can definitely tell that you'd do anything to protect them as well, but is that protection of all of them? Or just those you find worthy?”

There was no outward response on her face. It was as if the words had turned Raynor into a statue. One might be attempted to believe she had, but the knuckles of the hand lightly grasping the counter had gone white.

He was defensive of his little sister. That much was now evident. His anger was not at her ... directly. But at what she might do, or so Tamis thought. Did he resent her, like so many others now did, for picking the six that she had? And not his sister? She knew what the school and rest of the world thought of her actions. Tamis had played her part a little too well.

"Define worthy," she suddenly sounded tired. Almost defeated. Almost. "I think your question should be restated as 'who do you sacrifice'? I am not God. I do not claim to hold powers over life and death. I am just a woman, an educator, and very much a mortal one. I cannot protect them, but I can teach them and hope that they will take the knowledge to heart and do what is right for them. " That was why losing Defense had taken her to such extremes, almost broke her. The Ministry had taken her only means of protecting all of them. As an individual, it was impossible. But as an instructor that saw each of them in her class, it became feasible...

When she brought herself to look at the man, her eyes could not exactly be called wet, but the sheen to them belied dryness. She did not know why, but she found herself wanting to justify herself to this man.

"I did those six in the Great Hall that evening no favors. I tried to pick those I hoped would have the skills necessary to defend themselves without looking obvious. I never intended to send them to safety, but to give them a chance to fight and save their classmates." Her throat tightened on the truth she did not want to admit, but now seemed obligated to. "I did not expect to see them all alive and well again."

Clearing her throat, composure returned. "And you, Mr. Jedynak? Do you believe you have the right to choose? Or will you condemn me, but not persecute an entire organization, when lives ride on their choices?"

[alfonztytusjedynak]

Finally, clear answers from this woman that were not all in riddles or words that would hit direct nerves, however, Alfonz took a step back from his position as he heard her out in turn as she had done to him. He had given out too much information and Alfonz knew that. Too much that now could be used against him, and it was as this point in the game where he would yet again keep his answers to the point, but never hitting directly on it. There was no more this woman needed to know from him, especially what he deemed worthy and unworthy.

Alfonz deemed everyone except a few that Celina had ever associated herself with at that school, unworthy. Drew Thornton the most unworthy out of them all, of course, that was before that Hjort half-blood tried to get Celina to escape with her. Everyone knew where that had led them, and now Celina was falling into an abyss, Alfonz feared. He hadn’t received any word from her, and that literally was the worst thing that could have happened in Alfonz’s mind.

And then came into perspective the Hogwarts School itself, which he had never found worthy of Celina’s presence. Though, Durmstrung had never accepted her, she was forced to attend their mother’s worthless school. Celina had developed, and she had developed well from what Alfonz had seen, but there was a time where she had never had any disturbances that stood in her way of doing so. Then their mother’s foolish idea came into play, just months before during the summer holidays. How could the woman think that friends would truly help Celina? Since he had found out, Alfonz had been disgusted with their mother. Especially now, after all these friends had done.

“Worthy?” he repeated her statement. She sounded almost defeated. Alfonz shrugged and gave no expression of anything that he could have been thinking. “It’s none of what you think it means, and only half of what I think it is. But with that, I don’t condemn you for what you’ve done nor would I ever have wanted you to do anything differently…..why would I? It was obvious, you could not.” Alfonz took another swig from his drink as he looked it over and placed it back down on the counter, leaning back in his chair.

From all of what she said, this Raynor woman, finally a name with the face, Alfonz and her focused their energy to accomplish goals that were one in the same. The only difference is that she cared for others than just her own kin. Some would have said that that by itself made her a better person. A more compassionate one that would allow no harm to come to anyone as long as she could first stand in the way of it. Alfonz on the other hand tried to teach only one a moral way of life.

There were differences, however, and Alfonz just snorted as she spoke of them. “None of us are God,” Alfonz stated. “And it shouldn’t be ‘who do you sacrifice’ but ‘what’…” Alfonz would never have sacrificed Celina to Shaw if he didn’t have to on that night. But it was either Celina watching what happened to those impure and un-ambitious, as Shaw would have put it, or herself getting tortured and Alfonz was not about to allow that. It wasn’t who, no; for those who aren’t worthy didn’t count.

And then as she looked at him, and Alfonz looked back she started confessing herself and justifying why she had chosen the way she had in the Great Hall that night. Maybe they were more alike than Alfonz or Raynor would give either of them credit for being. She had chosen those who she felt could survive. She had chosen those who were strong enough to stay alive without the help of others. Was this woman, Tamis Raynor, really confessing that she had played a card that Alfonz would have almost related to…”Survival of the fittest…” he said, pushing his drink away and almost smirking in disbelief. She was sacrificing those who she herself found worthy of proving themselves. Alfonz saw Shaw, female form, different side.

With that known, a bit more respect was built for the woman. A respect that Alfonz would only hold secretly, for without wanting to admit it fully, this woman; this headmistress of Hogwarts actually knew what worth was and in their different ways both her and Alfonz agreed on something. “Where is it my place to condemn you for a choice you made that I am sure I would have made in the same way…” Hadn’t he? Both Hjort and Celina were alive and well. A bit disturbed, but nothing that wouldn’t heal or mend over time, and both were the fittest. Hadn’t he chosen the same way by pleading with Shaw for a compromise than torturing them both?

“I believe the right is given when there is no other option, and one must choose the lesser of the two evils…” Alfonz said quietly as he looked again away from the woman to think about all of what was said. Both had chosen to do something in order to help all survive. Survival of the fittest…Shaw….Raynor….Alfonz….all had chosen. Now the only question was not were their choices right, but were they beneficial to the cause.

[Tamis Raynor]

Blink. Blink. Blink. Raynor's eyes fluttered open and closed in rapid secession. She expected anger, she expected a degrading. What she did not expect was agreeance. A heavy burden was taken off her shoulders, a pressure that had slowly constricted her lungs had been lifted from her, allowing her to breath again. Someone actually understood. It was the one thing she had never expected from anyone, and was a little disturbed to find it in an alleged enemy. No, not a little. Immensely.

But was this man truly an enemy? The question continued to rack the woman of usual firm standards with uncertainty. She just could not be sure. At moments, what he stated fit with the Deva's views, and then, at others, there was a fevered compassion for those he loved that -- while bordering on obsession -- was genuine. Not that the Deva could be incapable of compassion. But, if he was one hundred percent loyal to his cause, he sure was taking a rather peaceful venture with the opposition.

Now, what was she going to do about all of this? She was no fool. The fact that she easily held this man's future with his sister in her grip had not escaped her. But neither had the knowledge that she had no standing proof that he was actually at Hogwarts that night. And, in the end, she could not bare to break up another family. Her throat constricted whenever she thought of her daughter, a couple months away from your second birthday, and the man she loved that was raising her. Would Leah recognize her anymore? Did Banks still love her, as he did when they were together? No. She couldn't allow herself to dwell on such thoughts. For their decision to separate, for the sake of their daughter, had been right. Tamis was too far into the spotlight. She had married a muggleborn and birthed a "half blood" daughter. She could only imagine what would have happened if Shaw had found her family at the school.

But she could not do that again. She couldn't bring that heartache to another family. Especially when the man seemed to truly care about his sister, and Raynor truthfully did not know enough about either Jedynak to judge. Her brain turned, looking for an answer. And when it finally came to her, she hesitated once more.

It would be inviting a fox into the hen house. How far could she trust him? If this man was not full loyal to Shaw, he might be Raynor's entree point to Robert's inside operation. To do so, she would need to gain his trust. The plan was already forming in her mind, but it was risky, very risky.

"I'm making some adjustments with the Hogwarts staff," she said at last. "Quidditch takes place out on the grounds, in the open. With increasing times of risk, it is my personal opinion that we need another adult supervision at the Pitch. Your qualifications are outstanding, if I read the papers correctly."

She paused, studying him carefully. No, she could not trust him. The man was, after all, dangerous. But she could trust his love for his sister.

"The pay is decent, though slightly less that what you are currently making. If you can withstand excluding yourself from the glory of the press, I want to extend you an offer to work for me."

[alfonztytusjedynak]

As now the time was, Alfonz dropped his mouth slightly only to snap it back closed again. His eyes blinked a couple of times, and this time he shoved the drink so far away from him it was as if he was instantly a turned alcoholic. He snorted, and then turned to face the woman, not only with his face but with his entire body. Had she really just stated what....no. Absolutely not.

It was as if he was sitting with Shaw again, as they too had discussed their entrance into Hogwarts. That had been a bit different, of course, but there Alfonz sat, with himself facing the female version of Shaw, and yet she too was extending the almost exact same offer. Back to Hogwarts? It would be close to Celina, that was for sure, but how could Alfonz trust her? Alfonz couldn’t even trust Shaw, and that was when Shaw didn’t know that his sister was in the school. This woman knew everything...did that make it safer?

And if it did, who did it make it safer for?

Alfonz recited to himself what Raynor had just offered. Qualifications? They’d better be more than outsanding, but Alfonz rarely bragged about something he did because he was good at it. Didn’t it show with how many times he had dissappeared so suddenly after a game? “Do you always believe what you read in the papers?” Alfonz said with a casual smirk, slightly joking to still come to grip with what was just offered.

There was a pause, and she was looking him over again. So in this time, he chose to do the same. She held a lot of strength within her, and taking a risk of this calibur was more than just intriguing, it was facinating. Alfonz almost wondered out of what she got out of all of this. But did he ask and then risk her taking back what offer she had laid out for him on the table?

“Excluding myself from the press? Heh, please. All they ever helped me with was giving out information I rarely thought of them highly for. But I may ask, before anything is said and accomplished...what’s in it for you?” Alfonz stared at the woman, knowing full well that just that question alone could make her take it all back. But there was something about her and the way she spoke, there wasn’t any chance she would. Alfonz wasn’t sure whether or not to fear for his own life, or chuckle at the fact that this woman seemed to need him.

Alfonz thought for a moment after all was said and done. Quidditch? Another set of eyes to supervise? What else would he be required to do? Alfonz looked at the woman and crossed his arms. Did it matter? He’d be closer to Celina and back on the grounds he had just help intrude. The irony of it almost made him smirk wider, but he refrained. After he heard all of what had to be said, he’d make his final decision.