Hogwarts '06/7

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas locked the door behind him magically - no charm known by those girls could break through it.

"Lup-oh no..." Dinas broke off.

Lupin had been forced into transforming into a werewolf outside of the full moon - doubtless it had been excruciating for him.

But Terrin Dinas could spare him no sympathy - even though the werewolf was lying moaning in the corner of the room.

He was lying there in the corner against the wall...

Dinas forced himself to be cold.

"Crucio," he cast the curse. Nothing but a high-pitched wail from the werewolf.

"Crucio!" he cast a little louder. The werewolf screamed - it was lucky that Dinas had also put sound barriers between the room and the girls.

Then, slowly, the werewolf began to slowly change back into the shape of Professor Lupin. When the process was over and Lupin lay there curled up and very pale, it was clear that the Minister for Magic's Imperius Curse had worn off with the werewolf's effort to fight it (that had probably been what caused the transformation.)

Dinas shook his head and pointed his wand high at him.

"Imperio."

After he had prepared Lupin properly, he opened the door and met the girls.

[choki]

Arven was unable to locate either Misty or Rowena in the Gryffindor common room. The fellow students were practically ignoring her existence. Feeling lonely and scared for the first time, she was hesistant to leave the seemingly safe dormitory. However, she was more worried for the safety of her fellow Gryffindors... or was it more... like friends?

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

He shifted his hair around a bit, and made himself look out of breath.

"Girls," Dinas panted. "Everything's fine. I'm going to take Lupin to the hospital wing right away. I suggest that you don't mention what's happened here to anyone. We have no idea who's involved, it could be dangerous. For now I'm satisfied that Lupin was not acting of his own will - and of course that means that there's someone out there..." he paused, "someone dangerous - and that could be anyone."

"I'll try and investigate - and set right everyone that's acting a little differently. By I have to ask you girls to act as normal, like nothing has happened."

The girls were quiet.

"You have to promise me that," said Dinas sternly.

[Q.Araignee]

Reluctantly, Rowena nodded slowly to Dinas. He was right, she knew that- but it would be hard to not let being attacked by her Potions teacher, or turned upon by an Imperioused friend, affect her just a little. She pushed the thought out of her mind and glanced at both teachers- they looked as if they should be sleeping for a day, which brought a little smile to her face.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Misty also knew that Dinas was right- there was someone out there that was dangerous and had a hold on some of her friends still.

"It wasn't Lupin was it Professor?... Who was holding the other teachers and Terry and Johnathon under Imperious?" Dinas just winked and walked with Lupin to the hospital wing.

"Rowena, come on..we're going to Gryffindor Tower...whoever it is, is still out there...and I don't want to be caught...and you can't be hurt either..."she put her arm around Rowena and smiled. "Everything will be fine."

They walked towards the Fat Lady-taking their time, but also on the lookout.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas marched Lupin down to the hospital wing, asking the matron to put him in a separate bed in a small adjoining room.

He then climbed the stairs up to the Headmaster's Office.

[Q.Araignee]

Rowena felt an immense relief at finding herself back in the familiar warmth of the Gryffindor Common Room. She felt a smile creep onto her face, which broadened at the sight of Arven standing by the fire. She put her wand into a pocket, aware that she probably looked a total mess but that no one would really care, and walked over- flashing a quick smile at Misty behind her.
"Hey, I see Nox got you here alright. How are you feeling?"

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas knocked on the door of the headmaster's office.

It was opened by a blank-faced Professor Weasley. Terrin pushed passed him and hurried into the office. The professors both took a seat next to the desk.

Dinas sighed and whipped his wand out:

"Imperio," he cast.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Misty was overwhealmed by a great sense of relief. They had made it back without serious injury.

"Hey Arven, feeling alright?" she said as she walked over and gave her a hug.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas cast the Imperius Curse five more times on different staff member and students on his way down to his office and lodgings, before he finally settled down and fell asleep.

The first quidditch match of the year was in only three days time.

[choki]

Relieved by the appearances of her two fellow Gryffindors, Arven hugged both of them.

"I'm glad you gals are ok... what happened? I can't remember a single thing after the fall... or was it a fall?"

[Q.Araignee]

After glancing nervously around, to check that there was no one within hearing distance, Rowena spoke hastily.
"You were Imperioused, almost attacked Professor Dinas, and then Stunned by him. I was then supposed to take you to the Hospital Wing, but then Nox turned up to take you so that I could go with Misty and Dinas instead. Only she brought you here...anyway, when we caught up with Lupin Dinas made us wait outside the room. He came out with Lupin, both looking very tired, and said he was taking him up to the Hospital Wing before making us promise to act as if nothing had happened."
She paused for breath, before adding as an afterthought "He said nothing about you when he made us promise, though."

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas woke up the following day and sniffed the cool, crisp morning air. Stage Two of his operation was underway. Soon the quidditch would start, his Hogwarts Quidditch Team would be formed, and he would travel with the team to the International Quidditch Stadium in England that had been used as the venue for the Quidditch World Cup only 14 or-so years ago.

And there his plan will be nearly complete - and he will have the true power he was always destined to possess.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Misty listened to Rowena rambling on- but wasn't really listening intently.

She was staring at the Notice Board. Quidditch Teams will be chosen within the next week, i better start practising.

With that last thought she ran upstairs, grabbed her broom and ran out of the Common Room saying over her shoulder she needed some air.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas growled. Someone had been sticking up false reports indicating that the quidditch team to represent Hogwarts would be chosen within the week.

He stalked up the corridors...