 Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
Gaston remained motionless, his eyes glued to the door. He hadn't been waiting long when the door opened again. He took a sharp breath, half-expecting it to be Scrimgeour or one of his minions come to spy. Then he heart Katrina's voice, and relief washed over him. He silently removed the disillusionment charm on himself, but before he could answer her, Joshua arrived... with Foster not far behind. Blink, blink. Were these all the people who would be joining them tonight? Such a low turnout... surely the other remaining staff couldn't condone this madness! Well, maybe others would show up.
Gaston cast a quiet, "Muffliato" on the room as he moved into the dim candlelight of the chandelier. He was even thinner and paler than before the holidays and his hair longer and grayer than ever. His eyes were still sad and rimmed in dark shadows, but there was a determined fire in them that had been absent the first half of the term. He was done suffering in silence! He already knew he was unlikely to survive the term, though whether that meant he was fired or that the strain of hiding his true self to comply with the ever-changing rules slowly killed him from the inside remained to be seen. Either way, if he had to go down, he was using every bit of his remaining strength to take Julian Scrimgeour down with him!
"Are we expecting anyone else?" he asked, eyes darting toward the door. He waited a couple of moments for stragglers; then he took a deep breath and said, "Thank you for coming. Sorry about the state of the room; normally I'd offer you some refreshments, but apparently hospitality is not allowed..." His voice dripped with contempt as he said the words. Clearing his throat, he went on, "You all understand that once we go down this path, there's no turning back. If you're not comfortable with putting yourself on the line, back out now."
He paused to allow anyone who might be having second thoughts time to leave before things got underway. Once he was sure the remaining people were staying, he replaced the complicated locking charms on the door. A couple more quick waves of his wand cast a caterwauling charm and made the door imperturbable. "There, now if anyone else joins us, we shall know..." he said with a knowing glint in his eye. "We all know why we're here. In all my years teaching, Julian Scrimgeour is the worst evil Hogwarts has ever faced..." Yes, that included the Inferi and the monster in the portal. At least in those cases, he knew the creatures were going to try to kill him by any means necessary, so he could fight back. With Scrimgeour, it was anyone's guess what they were up against next! "He must be stopped!"
Gaston's eyes darted expectantly from one face to the next. "I have more thoughts on the subject, but I'm interested in hearing what all of you have to say first..." He looked at katrina, half-expecting her to take the floor next. After all, this meeting had been her idea!
__________________ Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led
If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true... |