Unsettling News

[Celina Jedynak]

December 1, 2007 7:00pm

Celina hand shook as she continued writing up her professor's article. Overwhelming? Maybe. All the information she had found out about the man in one sitting and now with Raynor's arrest Celina's nerves were secretly shot. She had been reading the Daily Prophet right along, and she knew that Alfonz would be doing the same. It was surprising that she didn't find him at the school requesting her immediate dismissal, not to mention her parents. Actually, it had been unsettling quiet from her family, and anymore she didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing. Soon, however, she knew that break would be there and she'd be protected under the wing of her older brother once more.

As she continued to write the article in the empty news office in silence, her quill jumped at every random sound that she heard. Nerves, shot? Understatement. She just couldn't wait to go home and make sure that Alfonz was alright and she could truly be safe. When had Hogwarts become so unsafe?

Ex-aurors who randomly attack people on the streets, she didn't care for his explanations, vampires, and now their Deputy Head Mistress, her Head of House now in Azkaban...or somewhere. Celina didn't read most of the article...she was too shocked at the fact that it was there to begin with. It had been bad enough when they had banded Defense Against the Dark Arts, but now take the teacher? What was happening at Hogwarts?

A movement from behind signaled someone's arrival or passing by the office. Celina stopped in her tracks with her quill and looked up. Now she really wished that she had sat with the door in front of her, rather than behind.

(Open)

[roarbitz]

Jackson had been just wandering and thinking about all that was going on at Hogwarts. He had read the paper and knew what it had said and what events had gone down. He was dissappointed at the news that Professor Raynor would no longer be teaching them Defense Against the Dark Arts and then later on hearing that she had been arrested her. He liked the head of house and knew that the charges had to be trumped up. There was no way that the deputy could have done something to get her arrested. First off she didn't seem like a person to break the law and secondly he highly doubted that she would do anything to take herself away from her baby girl. The article had said that she stormed into the Ministry of Magic and attempted to...what was it...ah yes assassinate the Minster. The first part he believed the second part he did not.

Now finding himself on the fourth floor and wondering how on earth he could have managed to get up there, when to the best of his knowledge he had been on the ground floor and heading for the Ravenclaw common room. Must have just taken a wrong turn somewhere, not really paying attention to where he was going, he supposed as he glanced around the all to familar corridor. He knew it because he attended Transfiguration there every day or so, but didn't make it a point to hang out when he didn't have to attend the class. Glancing in the doors as he made his way along he noticed that someone was now in the Newspaper's office or workshop, whatever you wanted to call it. Poking his head in he saw that it was a fellow Ravenclaw in his class Celina in the office and said hi.

[Celina Jedynak]

Celina jumped and tipped out of her chair. Barely catching herself on the desk, she spun herself around and hopped on the desk in a sitting position. Her face paler than normal, she let out a held breath and tried to sheepishly smiled. "Hi," she said softly, recognizing the Raven almost immediately as Jack Roarbitz from the house team, and her year. It was odd that he'd be the one that would be there, but she was glad that it was him rather than Professor Marcos or Brady. Definitely glad.

She got off the desk looking around to notice that she had spilled her ink in attempts to get away from the voice from behind. Luckily, it had only gotten on the floor, the edge of the parchment she worked on and....Oh, merlin! She exclaimed to herself as she looked down the side of her skirt that she wore. It was her school uniform, and now it had a black thick line down the side of it from her ink. Fixable? Yes. Without her wand, however, that she had left in her other bag in the common room, No. She sighed and looked back at Jack without saying anything, but just smiling and trying not to blush from her embarrassment of being such a klutz. "So, how are you doing this evening?" Celina asked him, obviously trying to ignore the black line down her skirt, and grabbing some paper towels from the counter to clean up her spill.

She was just glad that it didn't get on her article. Thank Merlin for small favors.

[roarbitz]

Dang. Was he that scary? Or maybe it was something else?. Yeah he would hope for the latter.

It wasn’t even late at night or anything. It was barely seven o’clock and he had caused her to fall out of her seat. Well he didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. It could be taken one of two ways, but judging by the look on her face it was the bad thing. He must have scared her, well at least startled her.

“Sorry.” He stated a bit embarrassedly, but recovering almost immediately as he watched things unfold.. He didn’t really think that by poking his head in and saying hi he would cause her to jump and knock ink everywhere, but he was forgetting that times were a bit different than normal. The Deva was showing themselves more and more and they were actually coming on to Hogwarts grounds and attacking students. Not to mention it seemed like they favored Ravenclaw house, if you could call it a type of favoritism. They certainly did seem to pick on more students from that house than any other. Maybe because of Raynor? There was an interesting idea.

Entering further into the room he just smiled when Celina went to pick up the ink the muggle way, with a paper towel. “Fine.” he said with a little laugh, “Here let me take care of it.” With a wave of his wand the ink on the table disappeared along with the ink on the parchment. He could get rid of the ink on her skirt too, but didn’t know if that would be stepping over the limit.

[Celina Jedynak]

As she started cleaning up the spill, Jack took the liberty of cleaning it up for her with magic. How foolish was she to leave her wand behind? Very, but instead of saying anything about it she looked over toward Jack, smiled and said, "Oh, thanks." But what else was there to do? The mess was clean and now she was standing there somewhat foolish and had a funny expression on her face. "Oh! No...I mean....just a bit jumpy is all."

Celina went to order the pieces of parchment on the desk where she was working, wondering if Jack was even part of the paper staff. She didn't think so, but Celina was sure that there was more staff than she knew of. "So, are you on the paper or looking to be? Felicity loves new people working on articles and stuff." She smiled, thinking of how funny it probably sounded or coy, but what else was there to say? Celina didn't know. The last time she actually talked to Jack, she was trying not to puke over wood lice. How embarrassing...

[roarbitz]

“No problem.” Jack said smiling and returning his wand, to the back pocket of his levis, where he had drew it from. He wasn’t one for the school uniform and found it to be rather bulky with everything they had to wear to make it regulation. Normally he just wore the shirt and tie, not the sweater or the actual robe, if he didn’t change right after class. Today, however, he had changed into a pair of faded levis and a black sweatshirt with a logo on it. Why it mattered what he was wearing his writer didn’t know, but, hey, it was nice to know, right?

“Jumpy, eh?” he said, still with a trace of a smile on his face.

“No,” laughed Jack, “I’m not on the paper or applying to be. Nope, just lost. Well, not lost but took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up here. I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going and thinking about other things. I must have taken the wrong short cut or something.” he admitted with another smile. “I take it you’re on the staff though?” he asked, wondering what type of an article she was writing.

[Celina Jedynak]

"Yea, I'm on the staff. Trying to get ahead on the next Prophetic Prefect article, and the New Professor Article that I am writing for it..." Celina trailed off thinking about Brady and all she had learned. The man was scary. He might not have been crazy, but that just made him more dangerous in Celina's mind. The man had told her multiple times during the article that he was not crazy, and in Celina's mind that just meant that the attack on her brother was intentional, not accidental. A calculated, thought about mistake. Not one of insanity like many people thought. So, what was worse? A mad man attacking random people on the street? Or one who knew exactly what he was doing? Celina was afraid that in her mind it was the latter of the two.

"Just a bit jumpy...with all that has been going on lately, I don't feel as...well, it's silly really," she looked back from the paper she had her eyes glued to that had the information about the newest Hogwarts professor and turned her eyes towards the floor a bit. But maybe, Jack felt differently than she. "Do you feel safe at Hogwarts?" she whispered looking up at Jack, hoping no one, including Peeves was around to hear.

As she waited for his answer, she softly replied, "Because....I'm not so sure anymore..."

[roarbitz]

“Who did you interview for this edition?” He asked walking over to where she was sitting and looking over her shoulder to see what was up and see if he could catch the names. There were plenty of new professor’s and interesting changes to staff that would make a good article, but could they publish such a thing under a student ran newspaper? Maybe they were just sticking to what the professor’s liked and disliked about thing and not their unique and, in some cases, past history.

He listened intently as she kind of told him why she was a little nervous or on edge, however you wanted to word it. He would be willing to bet that a lot of the students felt the same way, just weren’t openly admitting it, but he could finish that sentence for her, “Safe?” he said with a small smile knowing exactly what she was thinking. He knew this because in the next sentence she voiced it, well whispered it. “I’m not sure any more either. I don’t feel as safe as I once did here,” he admitted in his normal tone. He wasn’t embarrassed to admit it. If you didn’t feel less safe at Hogwarts these days, what with the kidnappings, firings/job openings, hirings, and what not, you were one: a Deva member or two: out of touch with reality.

Of course that was just his opinion, maybe everyone felt the same way before all of these things started happening, who knew. He could only answer for himself. “I try not to dwell on it much and think about other things. I would prefer to enjoy the time at Hogwarts not live in fear and dwell on the ‘what ifs’. If something happens then I’ll deal with it then, but I highly doubt there is anything that could thwart plans that people have to reek havoc with the school. So I don’t worry too much.”

[Celina Jedynak]

Celina was relieaved a bit to hear that she wasn't the only one who didn't feel as secure anymore as she used to. Maybe she should have felt that way last year, during the lock down when everyone was worried about Drew. But at that time, she didn't know anyone even in her own house and didn't let it effect her as it did many of her housemates. She kept that to herself, not wanting to be thought of as cruel or uncaring. It just hadn't effected her, and her brother had told her before the incident had even occurred not to let things bother her or get in her way if they didn't effect her directly. Now a days, however, it seemed that everything went on somehow impacted her, even if it was because she had made friends with those that she did. In her house, and out.

But at the same time, Jack took the same approach as Alfonz did most of the time. He didn't worry about it, nor did he let it effect him. Celina agreed that that was the best of approaches, but what about now? Even after she had found out that the person Brady had dueled to get himself fired was her brother? Was she supposed to not let that effect her either? "I interviewed Professor Brady. He hasn't taught any classes yet, won't start until after the winter holidays. But he was on campus getting ready and situated, so I thought why not. Plus..." Celina trailed off, letting Jack in to look at some of her notes. "...plus....I....I read the Prophet article and was concerned that they hired a mad man to teach us. I just wanted to make sure that he was safe, and that the student body knew more about him."

It was more than she had ever said to the raven boy, whose presence she now stood in. But if she was to tell the school about her findings, then she figured that it would have to be done one at a time. It wasn't like she could write that he was in fact not a mad man, but a calculated risk in the paper. No, she'd have to sugar coat it. Now more than ever with Raynor gone, and the professors being most of where the control had landed in Celina's eyes. "It was....rather startling....my findings....." she whispered, not exactly knowing how Jack would respond if she just came out and said everything. Especially since, neither one of them really did know each other very well.

[roarbitz]

Brady? Wasn’t that the bloke that was going to be teaching them Transfiguration next quarter? It had to be the ex-auror that the Prophet was going on about. He had seen the name in several times in the Prophet. Once when he was relieved of his duties as a auror, by the Minister himself, and another article where they were criticizing the teacher appointments to the school, well at least questioning the decisions to being a vampire and an hotheaded ex-auror into the school. He had to agree it did seem like unorthodox appointments, but he knew that the Deputy and Headmistress wouldn’t intentionally put the students of the school in danger by hiring nutcases, though he didn’t know which one of the two had actually made the appointments. He couldn’t remember who the Prophet credited or if they credited anyone. “I agree with you there. From what the prophet was saying he’s quite the hothead. What did you find out?” asked Jack taking his eyes off of the paper Celina was working on and landing one her.

“Startling?” he asked a bit perplexed, lowering his voice to match he whisper. “What was so startling about the findings?”

[Celina Jedynak]

Celina fidgeted a bit, avoiding Jack's sideways glance. Did she tell him what she found out? And if she did...just how much? "Well, he kept telling me over and over again that he's not crazy like the prophet explained.....then again, he did also point out, however, that he in fact dueled a man in Diagon Alley." She'd leave Alfonz out of this one. Who Brady had dueled wasn't important. Well, it wouldn't be to Jack per say. And since it still was pretty awkward to Celina still that Alfonz would be in such a situation, she decided that she'd clear up the misconceptions with him when she visited Alfonz over the winter holidays.

"The findings in my opinion are startling because of not just that, but that started it. It also got me thinking though," Celina looked back this time at Jack. A pondering look upon her face as if bringing back to the surface puzzle pieces she had wished to leave behind in her mind. "If he isn't insane or crazy, then what he did to get himself fired from the ministry must have been thought out. A calculated risk he took. Key word here being, calculated." Her reporter's mind that she never knew she had was kicking in, and a, what seemed like, nervous smirk crossed her lips as Celina decided to finish her statements. "That would mean, Jack. That our professor is not as hotheaded or unintelligent as the prophet made him out to be. But instead, he is much worse." She gulped a bit, lowering her whispering voice even more.

"Imagine a man who, when he is not angered, is collected enough to plan out every move he makes. And also, can calculate where that move will take him next in life. All he would have to do would be to wait for the perfect opportunity. It makes me wonder what really happened that day in Professor Brady's life when he....snapped or whatever they are calling it." Celina nodded her head and continued. "Maybe it wasn't an accident at all."

She stopped talking, and turned to the door. A sound? An approaching professor? A mouse scurried along the doorway of the news office and Celina's eyes relaxed from the wide state they were in, and she exhaled a sigh. Turning back around she blushed at her jumpiness and looked back at her papers. The first note caught her eye that she had written. And all she could do was, with her pointer finger, point out to Jack what she had written.

Legilimency

[roarbitz]

“He kept pointing out he wasn’t crazy? Doesn’t that suggest that he might be?” Jack replied with what popped into his head. Normally, if someone was going to adamantly insist that they weren’t crazy or that they were fine than chances are they were, unless he was rebutting what she said then that would be a different story. But would she really have the guts to call him crazy? After everything printed in the Daily Prophet? That would be a big risk in his opinion. Oh so that was the attack on a civilian that they were going on about? Hmm... “Why would he point something out like that?” Jack asked rather tentatively, “Or had you asked him about the attack reported in the Daily Prophet?”

Falling silent again he listened to her theory about him. She did have a point. If he planned the attack out on the person, and it wasn’t just a momentary lost of insanity, then he was far more dangerous to them than if he had just been crazy. He was a methodical criminal that when striking had to make sure that it was perfect. This meant that he probably had had practice in planning things out. The executing part Jack wasn’t really sure about ,because after all he had gotten caught. But if he was admitting to planning then it was something to be concerned about, though, it still could be nothing. It seemed, however that Celina was thinking right along the same lines as him. “Yeah, I know what you’re saying.” Jack said still running over what she had told him in his head.

Straining to hear the next part of what she was saying he looked a little perpelexed, “So you think he meant for himself to get fired from the aurors?” he inquired, in low tones, making sure that he was understanding her correctly. “My guess, if he is admitting to planning it out, that it wasn’t an accident but a well laid plan to attack. The person attacked could have even been thought out as well.” continued Jack not knowing who the person was or even thinking that it could some how be related to Celina.

He too heard the slight noise over by the door and turned. This conversation had made him a bit jumpy to. What if it was Brady standing there? What if he heard what they had been discussing? The last one was unlikely since it seemed that they had both been whispering or taking softly throughout their discussion, but the thought still crossed his mind. Fortunately Jack wouldn’t have to have these questions answered or any others because it was just a mouse that disturbed their conversation. Glancing at the door once more, just to make sure, he returned his attention to Celina and saw that she was pointing something out to him. Legilimency he read with a look of shock on his face. Brady could read minds? Well sort of,? Oh that put a spin on things, unless the note was about someone else, but he doubted it. “If he can see into people’s minds than how are we supposed to protect ourselves from him?”

[Celina Jedynak]

"I think that could be a logical explanation for the duel he had. See, he told me also, that since he was head boy when he attended Hogwarts, he has always had a dream of becoming a professor. Yet, he claimed more than once that his job at the ministry was his life. It made his world go completely astray when he lost the job. So, I asked myself...then why would he risk it unless he knew he could get a better one....his dream job." Celina had put together pieces of a jumbled up puzzle after she had had her interview with Professor Brady. He seemed like a nice enough man, but as Celina knew well, looks could be deceiving. There was something still very wrong about him, Celina was just unsure of exactly what.

Jack's next thought, however, struck a slight nerve with the ravengirl. Planned out who he had attacked? No. From what Brady had explained to her, Alfonz was his normal fresh speaking self. "I don't think he really did plan on who he was attacking. If he had, he'd have to be even more skilled than he claims himself to be." Alfonz was a hard man to find. He rarely left his apartment unless he had errands to run, quidditch, or other things that he never mentioned. When he did leave, Celina knew the routine. Robes, hoods up, and faces covered. Celina had gone out many times with her famous brother. Looking back at the paper, she rolled her eyes. Famous brother...not that he wanted the fame.

"I'm not sure," Celina answered Jack's question of protection. "Legilimency only works when making eye contact....however, Brady's skilled with it. He can do it without even using his wand because he's done it for so long. He's like my bloody father," the last part of her explanation was a slip and Celina turned away not realizing it. Celina had always been forced to admire such a talent, but at the same time she feared it greatly. "Make as less eye contact as possible," she looked up at Jack, making eye contact. "...though, he did say that he wasn't going to use it on the students..." Celina trailed off. She still wasn't sure about Brady and if he would or wouldn't use his ability for his own advantage. And on top of that, if he had in fact planned out how he was to get the position he had now, who wasn't to say that he didn't plan on using Legilimency.

"...I just am not sure of him...." Celina said shrugging.