Ivory figured this might be her cue.

Gulping down her nervousness, she stepped forward slightly.

"Umm...I...that is well me," She pointed to herself with a slim finger nervously, figuring she should probably introduce herself." Ivory Vitya Erised, sir. First Year Ravenclaw. I found the badge ...a-a-aand the torn robes a little ways in the Forbidden Forest, close to the edge. Just by a little stagnant pool of mud..."

And since Ivory had spoken up, Destiny figured she should as well.

'I found the parchment..only it wasn't really in the forest..the wind must have blown it out?' Blown it out and made her blind!

But the Headmaster didn't need to know all that information.

She felt the squeeze and it made her feel reassured. He was there, she wasn't alone. Okay...

Oliver's question didn't need thinking, but Miranda took some time before she answered. She turned to look at the boy. "No." Was her short answer, giving him a small tug of the corner of her lips, and then turned back to watch the Headmaster.

Okay, so they had found all that stuff in the forest... But how had they gotten there? Before Miranda could get lost in her thoughts, Masterson spoke up about her being present. She had his permission to be there...and Oliver had hers. Though, not like he needed it. But she nodded at what the Groundskeeper had said.

Getting answers. That's all they wanted.

Marie had been standing there quietly just watching and listening when she was brought out of her daze. Headmaster Tate was speaking to Mr. Masterson about the things that had been found.

"Um... I didn't actually find anything, I was with Destiny when the parchment flew onto her face. Professor Mrs. Lawson told me to come along to see you too." She still wasn't sure why she was there but since she had been told to go by the professor she went. Not that she had a choice anyway since Destiny had pulled her along.

Jack bit his lip. "Professor Lawson asked me to help Mr. Masterson escort everyone here," he explained. He also thought about how he hadn't told them about Reese and how she had shown up all beaten and battered as well--now was as good a time as any to break the news.

"Headmaster, Prefect Upstead was found badly injuried in the Entrance Hall just the other night by Prefect Kane and I," he explained. He began to blush--WHY had he not run and told Tate sooner! "To be honest, I was so distraught over finding her in such bad shape that it completely slipped my mind to come find you," he explained. It was understandable, though, right? Reese was his girlfriend! If Tate's girlfriend (if he had one, Jack wasn't too sure on the Headmaster's current status) was in that position he probably would have done the same thing! Still...he felt like a FAIL. "I apologize."

"We took her to the hospital wing immediately, and we saw Alexa there as well," he added, glancing over at Sabel as he spoke, since he had obviously seen what a horrible state she was in as well.

Carter nodded. He had seen Alexa up in the Hospital Wing. "My friend Mina was found like that too, sir." he said. She had turned up after the sleepover. But he had been with her for that. Should he mention that...? She seemed normal there. But she did leave practically in the middle of a sentence and in a hurry. He looked around a bit nervously. Maybe he should have noticed something.

Sabel blinked at the other two, his face paling a little at hearing two other students recount what he had witnessed minutes before. Bile rose up in his throat again as he spared them each a pained look of understanding. At least, whoever had been victim on their ends sounded as if they were managing recovery. Still...

Miranda shifted in her position, feeling slightly impatient with all of this. The clues were all right there, infront of them. Only a few paces forward and both Oliver and her would be able to get some information. She brought her sleeve covered hand up to her mouth and started to chew on her thumb nail through the cloth. She made a face after a moment and dropped it.

"Um, excuse me, sirs?" She asked uncertain, hoping to get the attention of the two men. "C-could we," she gestured to both herself and Oliver, "possibly have a look at that parchment, please?" Now her lower lip was being chewed on as she waited to hear what they would say.

Maybe they would remember something. Even if she didn't feel ready for it yet.

"This is a mess," Tate listened patiently as each student shared their interest in the matter, although it was starting to sound like a ruddy sound-off. The parchment slid absently through his fingers, and at the end, he offered it to the Hufflepuff who had asked to see it.

He glanced at Masterson. "We'll need the Heads to do a bed check to be sure everyone is in the castle, and I believe we need to seriously consider confining the students to the castle. Thoughts on that?"

He gestured for the other students to seat themselves, letting his hand rest heavily on Sabel's shoulder in his attempt at a comforting gesture. "I appreciate all of you coming to tell me this. I'll be honest with you... something bad is happening. Someone is drawing students out of their beds and out of the castle. We don't know how or why... but we're taking steps to make you safe."

"Umm... sir." Carter said deciding to mention something about Mina. "I'm not sure if this was worth mentioning or would help in anyway. But I think I was with my friend that I was telling you about before she was attacked... Is there something that would only... I dunno... posses students at a certain time and they'd act normally at all other times?" he asked. Thinking back Mina suddenly leaving was odd. It was almost like the hypnotism he'd seen before.

"I believe that it would be necessary," Constantine nodded, his eyes glancing every now and again at Miranda. He hadn't been surprised that she had asked to see the poster, and now he was starting to hope that maybe it would jog her memory.

Bed checks and confining students to the castle, what in the name of Merlin was going on?

Marie slowly sat down as she listened to Heamaster Tate talking to Mr. Masterson. She felt like she was in a trance as she listened to them talk.

"You m-mean like someone is c-coming into the dorm rooms and t-taking students.... while they sleep?" Suddenly Marie didn't want to sleep anymore....EVER. She didn't want anyone taking her anywhere.

Jack's mouth fell open in horror. So, Reese had been taken FROM HER BED in the middle of the night?! EEEP! If only Jack could get into the Slytherin common room--he'd gladly give up his sleep to sit there and watch her, and make sure no one touched her again!

"Is there anything I can do, Professor?" he asked sheepishly. "Or, more specifically, anything you WANT me to do? Or the prefects? I could relay a message to them..." he felt like he needed to do SOMETHING after his little slip where he didn't tell Tate right away about Reese.

How were bed checks and confined students going to solve anything!? If the Headmaster is right about someone sneaking in and taking students out of their beds, then it has to be someone that can get into each dorm.. 'A Professor!?' she exclaimed, and immediately covered her mouth with her hands. Buuuut, Professor's could go everywhere in the castle..

Oh Merlin! Destiny was thinking things, and it was never good when she started thinking.. She took a seat next to Marie, who seemed really scared at the moment. Darn Destiny and her lack of people skills! She should comfort her or something..right? 'It's okay Marie..you can cry if you need too.' she whispered. 'I mean..nevermind.'

Yeah. Just keep your mouth shut for now on, Destiny.

Ivory stayed quiet as she stared wide-eyed from one face to another, much like a bystander in a muggle tennis game.

Thoughts would form in her mind and then die off, as it seemed every part of her felt in denial, her mouth gaping open and closed with her indecision, like a fish out of water.

How could this be happening? Here in Hogwarts? If these students were just disappearing under their noses then this was bigger than ... well than alot of things.

Turning quickly as Destiny uttered that one word, she stifled a gasp and mentally shook her head. No...never...no way...but then...well, that would explain the missing students..except, the students had gone missing and then returned

Ivory did a rewind in her head, trying to remember the headmaster's exact words.

Her mind a jumble of thoughts, she cleared her throat.

"But...but...if they are being drawn out of their beds," Ivory licked her suddenly dry lips," then does that mean they were lured away.... Looking down at the floor, she said the last part more to herself. "What would lure them away in the middle of the night?

There were a lot of suggestions going around. A lot of accusations and fear. Enough to make his head start spinning again. There was something about disappearing...something about someone suddenly leaving without word or notice...something about drawing someone out.

The Headmaster's hand suddenly on his shoulder gave him one brief moment of reassurance; enough to utter one thought. "Runes." He managed weakly, resting his head in his hands. "Runes like those found in your office."

It was the only thing that made sense at the moment. Professor Lupa had shown him the runes found in the Headmaster's office; runes that weren't supposed to be there. Runes whose purpose and placement were unknown. Runes that may have been the foulplay that removed the former Headmaster so suddenly from Hogwarts.

Awww, Destiny was trying to comfort Marie when she was supposed to be the one comforting an protecting Destiny. Well anyway that's how it was supposed to be when they were dealing with the ashwinder. This however was something totally different.

She looked at Destiny, "Thanks but I think I will save the tears for later" she whispered. Like later when no one was around to see her cry. For now she would just sit there liked the scared twelve year old she was. Where was Evan when she needed him?

Runes?

Ivory flashed back to the last Ancient Runes class and how Professor Lupa had shown how the runes could be used to control someone simply by whispering to them. They even made people apparate and disapparate inside Hogwarts!

Wondering if she should speak up about this detail, Ivory bit her lip.

Oh yes! The runes! That made perfect sense. He shuddered at the thought of being under one of those things control. Were those runes hard to make? Or traceable? Surely Headmaster Tate had already thought of those. But Mina wasn't taken from her bed. She was taken from the party. Were the other students taken from their beds? Maybe they too were taken from public places. Not that that would make a difference. It was still a frightening thought.

He took a few deep breaths. It was a good thing his family were muggles. They would pull him out of school in a heartbeat if they knew about the things that had been happening the past two years.

Taken from their beds? BUT.. but... Oliver swallowed, his face suddenly very pale as his mind went walk about. The thought scared him more than sleepwalking and being attacked because the common rooms were supposed to offer sanctuary, right? And if it were true that they had been taken while sleeping, it meant whoever.. or whatever was doing this had access to ALL the common rooms. Merlin.

He was aware that his palm had gone clammy in Miranda's hand even though he didn't feel warm. Quite the reverse in fact and he shivered involuntarily. He let go of her hand as she studied the parchment, looking at her face for any signs of recognition. Had it jogged her memory? He frowned as he watched her.

Miranda frowned. And stared at the Headmaster. And occasionally blinked. Like, once.

She saw the Headmaster offering her the parchment and, letting go of Oliver's hand, she stepped closer to take the piece of paper. "Thankyou." She said in a quiet tone and looked down to see or read whatever it said as she assumed her spot.

"Come&Place your bets, at the grea-..." Miranda looked up and watched the professor, glancing back at Masterson. What the hell did this mean?! She passed the piece to Oliver, not taking her eyes of the two Professors.

Confining the students to the castle!? Oh no... no no no. Her heart started to beat faster. But that would mean... "Cant'-" Masterson had spoken up, cutting her off, and she decided to keep her mouth shut, she knew there was no arguing with them.

Merlin, this was bad. Drawing students out of their beds... No way. How is that even possible? And what would they want with them all!? 'Place your bets...' - that didn't necesarrily mean it had anything to do with them...being found with blood on themselves. Subcounciously, her hand went up to her bruised nose. It didn't hurt as much and it was looking like her normal nose now.

So they were going to take 'steps' to make them all safe? Wasn't this castle supposed to be one of the safest places on earth!?
"Sir," she raised her hand a little, a reflex she had when answering questions in class, "...what if someone could teach us some useful spells to repell attackers or something?" And she didn't mean those kindergarten spells everyone knew.

She had felt safe in this school. But not anymore. If she somehow came face to face with whoever was doing this, she did not want to be unprepared.

Everyone started talking at once, and Jack felt like his head was going to fall off from all the information. Suddenly someone said something--he was pretty sure it was the Slytherin girl--that made him do a double take. A professor? COULD a professor be behind all of this?! He remembered back to his first year with the students who were turned into animals...everyone thought the Transfiguration professor had been behind it, but that hadn't been the case...

STILL they had some CREEEEEPPYYYY people in this castle at the moment. Number one example--Duskurk. That guy just scared the pants off of Jack. Then there was Kazi, but he had always been a scary guy, and if he had been behind this wouldn't he have struck when he first showed up at the castle a few years ago?

Jack felt dizzy. He waited for Tate to reply to his question about getting the prefects to help in...whatever they needed, and he looked over at the Slytherin girl. He'd need to talk to her soon about her little theory, because he had a horrible feeling she was on to something.

"There are spells and potions that only act when they are activated," Tate mused aloud, although he didnt' really like pursuing this line of thinking with the students looking so traumatized. "It's a good question, though, and it provides us with some avenues of research. I would always err on the side of the Imperius Curse, but you are completely correct in that it could be something else."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tailzinator

"I believe that it would be necessary," Constantine nodded, his eyes glancing every now and again at Miranda. He hadn't been surprised that she had asked to see the poster, and now he was starting to hope that maybe it would jog her memory.

"Let us say... no more trips to Hogsmeade until this issue is taken care of, and I'll leave it to you to take care of the grounds as you see fit. Perhaps we can ask... our Head Boy to relay a message to the prefects," he nodded toward Jack too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The1HBIC

"You m-mean like someone is c-coming into the dorm rooms and t-taking students.... while they sleep?" Suddenly Marie didn't want to sleep anymore....EVER. She didn't want anyone taking her anywhere.

"No, nothing like that," Tate gave the girl a sharp look. "But students are out of bed when they shouldn't be, and leaving the castle at a time when it is foolish to do so. There is something that is causing that to happen."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Lissy Lou

Jack's mouth fell open in horror. So, Reese had been taken FROM HER BED in the middle of the night?! EEEP! If only Jack could get into the Slytherin common room--he'd gladly give up his sleep to sit there and watch her, and make sure no one touched her again!

"Is there anything I can do, Professor?" he asked sheepishly. "Or, more specifically, anything you WANT me to do? Or the prefects? I could relay a message to them..." he felt like he needed to do SOMETHING after his little slip where he didn't tell Tate right away about Reese.

"You can let the prefects know to be vigilant and to patrol their common rooms and the corridors. I know you all want to report to your Heads first, but if ANYTHING is amiss, you must come and tell me immediately. IMMEDIATELY, Jack."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luna Laufghudd

Miranda frowned. And stared at the Headmaster. And occasionally blinked. Like, once.

She saw the Headmaster offering her the parchment and, letting go of Oliver's hand, she stepped closer to take the piece of paper. "Thankyou." She said in a quiet tone and looked down to see or read whatever it said as she assumed her spot.

"Come&Place your bets, at the grea-..." Miranda looked up and watched the professor, glancing back at Masterson. What the hell did this mean?! She passed the piece to Oliver, not taking her eyes of the two Professors.

Confining the students to the castle!? Oh no... no no no. Her heart started to beat faster. But that would mean... "Cant'-" Masterson had spoken up, cutting her off, and she decided to keep her mouth shut, she knew there was no arguing with them.

Merlin, this was bad. Drawing students out of their beds... No way. How is that even possible? And what would they want with them all!? 'Place your bets...' - that didn't necesarrily mean it had anything to do with them...being found with blood on themselves. Subcounciously, her hand went up to her bruised nose. It didn't hurt as much and it was looking like her normal nose now.

So they were going to take 'steps' to make them all safe? Wasn't this castle supposed to be one of the safest places on earth!?
"Sir," she raised her hand a little, a reflex she had when answering questions in class, "...what if someone could teach us some useful spells to repell attackers or something?" And she didn't mean those kindergarten spells everyone knew.

She had felt safe in this school. But not anymore. If she somehow came face to face with whoever was doing this, she did not want to be unprepared.

"Professor Truebridge is back. Perhaps he would be willing to offer additional defense classes. I'll leave it to you to ask him." The girl looked completely terrified, and Tate couldn't really blame her. After all... she was one of the injured, wasn't she?

"You ARE safe now, Miss Belcanto. Please be reassured that you won't be injured again."

Carter had never felt more like a helpless 12 year old than he did with the Headmaster's confession that something was going on and they weren't quite sure what. They were going to stop visits to Hogsmeade and do head counts. He looked at his fellow schoolmates. He was sure that they all felt the same way he did. He was sure he had gone pale. And now the Headmaster was assuring them that they were safe. That did not sound like it was the case.

He wondered if all the injured students were going to be interviewed again. Maybe something was in common with them all? Maybe there was a way to extract memories from the injured student? But if there was, surely they had already thought of that though.

This made him wonder... "Sir. Do you think this has anything to do with what happened last year...?" he asked quietly. He remembered seeing Professor Lawson bring a student into a Hospital Wing when he was one of the Healer's Healers. In fact, two students were brought up. Not to mention he had heard a rumor (and seen the result) of a few Professors that had been attacked.

Headmaster Tate didn't see her? "Hello." She said to a large group. Saying hello is GREAT for making friends fast.