Originally Posted by Cassirin

Once Callie turned to her neighbors and Tate was left to his own company once again, he was tempted to turn his attention back to his goblet. It wasn't that the hunk of ancient iron was interesting or amusing. It was just... yeah. Looking at the tables full of happy students hurt him just a little and in a way he hadn't expected.

But he was a Gryffindor and a damned fine one, and when things were difficult, lions got to their feet and roared. Or something like that. They had pride? No, they were in a pride... Merlin, he was stalling again. Tate stood suddenly, unexpectedly, and nearly toppled that enormous goblet with the motion.

He put up a hand to quell the talking and then began to speak himself before really even waiting for complete silence. "End of term is always a bittersweet time. We have the chance to celebrate the hard work you put in this year, both by congratulating our Hufflepuff friends for their House Cup victory and our Ravenclaw brethren for their Quidditch Cup win and by remembering fondly what we've gained for our time here this year. It hasn't been an easy year, what with mysterious illnesses and the situation in Hogsmeade, but you were all pulling for each other. I would venture to say that, in spite of the houses that divide us, we recognize our unity best of all when a little adversity thrusts us together."

He was wandering from the point again, and Tate cleared his throat before continuing. "You lot are cleverer than when you started the year. Some of you know yourselves better, and some of you are just meeting your true selves for the first time. Certainly most of you are taller than when you started, and the way we feed you, I'm certain many of you are a bit wider too." He patted his own stomach, which certainly hadn't suffered during his tenure, although he attempted to practice moderation.

"It's a sad time, too, isn't it? Another year has ended, and we're all closing in on our inevitable departure from these hallowed halls. Some of you have another six years, so you may not feel it keenly yet, but those seventh years... they know what I mean. You can always come back to Hogwarts, but it will never be your home again." He took a deep breath and glanced at that folded piece of parchment next to his plate. "It's sad too for those left behind, because you know that next term, there will be faces missing from the crowd. Perhaps faces you don't even know are missing, but faces that make this place what it is today. Some students... some professors." He glanced meaningfully at Williamson and Jenkins.

"And some Headmasters. I wasn't sure I would tell you... old soldiers are better at slipping away than giving prolonged and mushy goodbyes. I promise not to be mushy, but I'm afraid I'm already prolonged. Perhaps it is my own ego that prompts me to tell you... I wouldn't leave you if I didn't have to. I've never been an educator, as I'm sure my detractors would tell you, but I've always been a champion for this school and for you students. My path leads me elsewhere - someone else requires my efforts for now - but my heart is heavy over it, and so I suppose I'll leave it rest at Hogwarts for a while."

He fell silent for a long time, staring hard at the table top as if he could glare a hole right through it, before he felt contained enough to continue. "It appears I broke my promise not to be mushy, but I seem to be breaking a lot of promises these days. Perhaps it's better for the old lion to go to pasture, and for all the students to break bread together. Let's eat."

Originally Posted by Amarantha de Talone

"If you've lost your memory, then perhaps someone is playing a cruel trick on you. Or perhaps you're just forgetful. I took time from your present, but I didn't obliviate you," Amarantha sniffed at the girl. It seemed she wanted to pin all her woes on Amarantha, when the woman had OBVIOUSLY only taken a few minutes here and there. Maybe a month or two total. It wasn't enough to keep Amarantha settled for another 300 years like last time, so it hardly counted.

"I'm not afraid of growing old. I'm just not interested in doing so. When the Book of Mysteria was available, I could just brew the potion myself, pop it into the pumpkin juice at the feast, and I had 324 years without anyone even being hurt in the long run."

Really... what was one year when you had 100? And who needed it when everyone you knew was under the spell at the same time? "But they moved the book, so I had to resort to your... 'orb'. The spell was limited, and ultimately flawed." Sigh. She'd need a new plan soon, actually, or she'd actually turn 19 on her next birthday. How AWFUL.

"You're just sorry you didn't think of it first," Amarantha sniffed at SAUL too, but with less gusto. He was massive and scary, after all. And massive. And scary.

And he was menacing in her direction, which wasn't NICE. She'd always been nice to him, never stolen any time at ALL from her neighbors in Hogsmeade. They'd been almost friendly, and he was... making fists at her.

"I'll go then. I'm happy to go. YOu just let me go back to get my things from the shop, and I'll leave forever."

Originally Posted by Saul Bunyons

Saul wasn't at all sorry that he didn't still look like he was a child. Who wanted ter look like a creepy porcelain doll forever? Only Amarantha de Talone.

"How d'ya s'pose yer just gonna up an' leave with apologizing?" Saul growled. "And d'ya really think we'd just letcha go back ter yer shop, collect all yer things ya use for this time-stoppin' stuff, and be on yer merry way?"

No no. He shook his head in disgust and closed the remaining gap between them, stepping around Amarantha and wrenching both of her arms up behind her. Saul nodded to Hops and kept the redhead's arms folded tight.

"Call the MLE, Lagerty. We got ourselves a laaaaww breaker here."

Originally Posted by Amarantha de Talone

"I don't have any of the potion left, sir, so I don't have any things required for... time stoppin' stuff." Amarantha found herself suddenly being held captive by the enormous brute, who... REALLY ought to have remembered that he was crazy strong and she was itty bitty by comparison. He was HURTING her.

As for the MLE, well... she would really rather not have to deal with them. Prison didn't agree with her.

"I'm not interested in getting older and living our my years as some decrepit old woman. I want to stay as I am now. Stupid boy." Really. Quite. And terrible listening skills.

"I cannot turn back time, no, but I didn't steal anyone's memories so that is quite unnecessary. I'm sorry you fail to grasp what happened here, but if you just let the big kids handle it today, maybe something interesting will happen once you manage to perfect your reading and listening comprehension skills." And she stuck out her tongue at HIM too. Bad enough to be caught but to be accused of stupid things that she never even DID...

And it was interesting that they were so up in arms at what she did, which had no victims and really was quite harmless, but they condoned the torture she was currently undergoing AND this boy's suggestions that she have her memories stripped. That was really stupid... how would they get her confession if she couldn't remember it?

And Hops was in on it too? Amarantha made sad faces at him, although to little effect. Why were they all TURNING on her like this? It was cruel.

Once he sent off the Patronus, however, Amarantha figured her goose was cooked. Talking of Aurors and MLE and professors went from figurative to literal. GULP.


"You take a really disconcerting amount of pleasure from the idea of punishment and torture. Honestly... if anyone finds their pet has gone missing in the next few years, I hope they look to you, because you have 'future psycopathic killer' written all over your smarmy little face. I hope someone humanizes you, but... well... I won't be around to see it."

Because, you see... Amarantha de Talone had decided she was quite tired of this nonsense and it no longer pleased her to brag about her exploits to her audience captors. It was a shame that after all these years her secret could come out, and to a group that so obviously didn't appreciate that she was so clever and resourceful and, well, lovely, but it had done her heart GOOD to be able to finally brag about it all.

And now she was bored with this. Amarantha sagged forward suddenly, which was less effective if she was more the size of the hulking beast holding her. Still, it unsettled him enough for Bunyon's grip to loosen, and before he could correct, Amarantha stepped hard on his instep and pulled herself free.

All the chatting had done ONE good thing, and that was that most of her audience had their wands lowered and their guards down. Everyone was always so willing to trust that someone else would take care of things, weren't they?

Quickly, quickly, Amarantha darted into the crowd surrounding Bunyons and Hops, hoping to avoid getting hexed because of how closely packed they all were. She reached for the nearest wand as she passed, and it was gratifying to look up into the eyes of the boy who had first caught her and ruined all her fun.

"I'll miss you most of all, my lamb," she winked boldly at him as his wand came free in her grip, and the next moment Amarantha de Talone had apparated away.

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"She got away?" Tate wasn't precisely sure what was going on, but the escape of their captive wasn't exactly good news. Still, it appeared no one was injured, and it sounded as if everyone had pulled together... for as much as they could do. He nodded at the shopkeepers.

"It looks like this situation is well under control, but you lot did well here today. No one hurt, and you knew to get help." He scrubbed his hand through his hair, making it stand on end. "Let's head back to the castle for now, and I'll chat with Saul and Hops. Expect to hear from me for more details, and we'll pass the information on to the MLE."